Helping others has always come naturally to me, even after all the losses I’ve endured. The first tragedy happened years ago when I lost nearly all my family members during a vacation trip. I couldn’t go with them because I was out of town with my grandmother. A few years later, she passed away too, taken by old age, leaving an even deeper void in my life.

  In an attempt to honor their memory, I chose to follow the path they had paved—one of helping others. My father, a veterinarian, often treated neighborhood pets for free, doing everything he could unless the costs were too steep. My mother, on the other hand, was a teacher who devoted herself to the community.

  Though I couldn’t impact people’s lives in the same significant ways they did, I decided to help however I could. Whether it was helping an elderly person cross the street or assisting someone with moving boxes, I never hesitated to lend a hand. This was my life for many years—until the attack happened.

  It came so suddenly that we had no chance to react. Bombardments and colossal monsters annihilated our world. The sense of despair and anguish was unbearable. Fragments of that day haunted me endlessly, replaying in my mind while I remained trapped in a formless, incorporeal state.

  What felt like an eternity passed until something—or someone—pulled me from the loop of memories. It was a presence so immense and incomprehensible that I could barely grasp it. When it spoke, its voice was deep and commanding:

  “I’ve finally found you.”

  I woke from the trance, disoriented and confused. My voice trembled as I asked:

  “Where am I? Who are you? What happened?”

  “Calm down,” the entity replied, its tone firm yet patient. “There isn’t much time. Who I am doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that your world has been destroyed by an ancient malevolent entity.”

  I stared, unable to process the gravity of what it was saying. The being continued:

  “This entity is old and relentless, consuming worlds in its pursuit of power. If it succeeds, it will bring complete chaos. For eons, I and other higher gods have been fighting against it.”

  For a brief moment, its voice softened, filled with a sorrow that felt infinite.

  “We’ve tried everything to stop it without destroying the multiverse. We’ve sent souls to doomed worlds, hoping they could grow strong enough to fight it. But most failed, either corrupted by promises of power or killed before they could make a difference.”

  “And you, little soul, are our last chance. We have already exhausted nearly all our attempts to combat this evil.”

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  The entity's voice resonated with a grave and melancholic tone, as if each word bore the weight of countless eras of failure and unending struggle.

  “If you fail or refuse, our only alternative will be a direct battle. But that will result in the destruction of countless universes in the process.”

  My heart raced. The responsibility was overwhelming, almost suffocating. How could someone like me bear such a burden?

  “Do not think you will be left to your own devices,” the entity continued, sensing my hesitation. “We will grant you blessings and unique abilities. With them, you will have a chance to evolve and face this evil. But know that the journey will be arduous, and the temptation of corruption will always be present.”

  These words echoed in my mind, mixing fear with hope. I needed to decide, and quickly. I looked again at the sea of souls behind me, their expressions of pain and despair etched into my memory.

  “I accept,” I finally said, with determination.

  “Thank you,” the entity said as a bright light enveloped me.

  The world around me faded, but I still heard its voice:

  “You will be sent to one of the worlds under my protection. It holds many elements that will be familiar to you. Once you arrive, all your questions will be answered.”

  Those were the last words I heard before everything went dark.

  “Hmmm... Where am I? This looks like a forest.”

  Before I could try to understand what was happening, two voices spoke simultaneously:

  “Finally, you’re awake, Master. We were starting to get worried.”

  I jumped back, my body immediately on alert. My eyes scanned the bushes around me.

  “Ugh! Aaaah! Who’s there? Come out of the bushes now!”

  “Calm down, Master,” said one of the voices in a calm tone.

  “You’ve just woken up. If you’re not careful, you might hurt yourself,” said the other.

  I looked up and saw two birds perched on a nearby branch. One had white feathers that shimmered softly under the sunlight, while the other had plumage as black as night, absorbing the light around it.

  “W-w-what? Who are you?” I stammered, still trying to understand.

  “We are your familiars, Master,” the two said in unison.

  “My familiars? What does that mean?”

  One of them, the white-feathered one, tilted its head before answering.

  “Familiars are fragments of your power, which are usually born with you. But since your situation is a bit... different, as you came from another world, we were created the moment you crossed the barrier between worlds by the god you made the contact with.”

  I processed the information for a moment, still trying to piece everything together.

  “Hmmm, I see... So, did that god say anything else?”

  “Not much, Master. Just that you should check the tutorial,” replied the black-feathered one.

  “Tutorial?”

  “Yes. Simply think or say the word ‘Status.’”

  I sighed, still skeptical, but decided to try.

  “All right... Status.”

  Suddenly, a glowing blue panel appeared in front of me, floating in the air. Shimmering white letters displayed information, and I stood there, wide-eyed at the sight.

  “Wow... This is... unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

  “What do you think, Master? Impressive, isn’t it?” asked the white bird, hopping down to a lower branch.

  “More than I expected, to be honest.” I looked at the other bird, now perched on a nearby rock.

  “So, this system is going to help me fight?”

  “Exactly, Master,” it replied with a slight nod. “But you’ll need practice to unlock your full potential.”

  I frowned, still trying to process everything.

  “Right... So, what happens now?”

  “The tutorial will guide you,” said the white-feathered one in a reassuring tone. “You should start soon. This world is dangerous.”

  “A tutorial, huh? All right... Where do I begin?”

  As if answering my question, the status panel disappeared, replaced by a new screen.