At the dead of night beneath a dim moon, the sound of metal striking against metal echoed across the village as women and children hid inside their homes in fear.
The brave warriors fought desperately against the dirty, green-skinned, long-eared creatures.
Hee-hee-hee!
The grotesque laughter of the goblins drifted across the battlefield as they jumped up and down in excitement, pushing forward with ruthless attacks and forcing the unwilling warriors back step by step.
As the goblins were winning.
A sudden bright arc of light tore through the darkness.
For a brief moment, the night itself seemed to split apart.
Unable to endure the sudden radiance, everyone shut their eyes. When they finally opened them again, a lone figure stood in the middle of the battlefield.
A young man.
He held a massive axe in his hand.
Beneath his feet lay shattered bodies of the very green creatures scattered across the ground, torn apart as if butchered without mercy.
A thick sickening stench filled the air as green blood soaked into the soil.
A deep silence fell over the battlefield.
Humans and goblins alike stood frozen, staring at the scene before them.
It was a disgusting sight to behold.
"Just a single strike has drained me already," the young man muttered, exhaling softly.
"I feel so weak…"
Despite his words, a crooked smile formed on his face.
GRAAHK!
SKREE!
From the rear of the goblin forces, a muscular goblin stepped forward. Its body was larger than the rest, its eyes burning with fury.
The chieftain raised its spear high and let out a deafening war cry.
The goblins surged forward once more.
Before they could close the distance, the young man took a single step.
In the blink of an eye, his axe came down.
The heavy blade swept through the battlefield, tearing through dozens of goblins in a single motion. Bodies were sent flying, limbs crushed, bones shattered.
"What a joke," he said calmly.
"A mere goblin acting almighty before me?"
He didn't even bother looking at them.
"Even with my eyes closed, I could crush you effortlessly."
The warriors could only stare in disbelief.
The young man stood alone, swinging his axe again and again, cutting down goblins and even their chieftain without the slightest hint of panic.
Then—
"Draven!"
"Our savior!"
"Draven, gift of the gods!"
The warriors began chanting his name, striking their weapons together. The sound spread quickly, echoing through the village.
Soon, the women and children joined in.
The night filled with a single name. DRAVEN
—————
Who was that young man?
"Oh, sorry, my bad. That was me, Draven Cross. The player with countless awards attached to my name, now respawned in the real world of Kingdom Evolution Online.
Respawned? No, calling it that is genuinely wrong.
The true one is, I entered this world with my real body.
After years of immersive play, I had conquered the final boss, and now? Now, I was forced to restart everything with my real and fragile body, back to square one in a game world where I once reigned supreme, except this time, it was real.
Let me take you back to the last moment that led me here."
<<<<<<<
A few days earlier.
"The rangers have just confirmed that the Black Queen's armies will soon arrive."
A broad man clad in white armor reported as he stood beside a tall, masked youth with twin axes strapped to his back.
The masked figure merely nodded, standing atop the kingdom walls with his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, as though he was awaiting a particular person arrival.
He was the leader of the Eterna Guild, the number one ranked guild that surpassed every other faction through sheer and overwhelming power.
Most players joined the guild solely due to the leader's influence.
The gathered players stared at him, sensing a supreme aura of confidence radiating from his presence. Admiration filled their eyes, a sign of respect for the legend who had never lost a battle and could turn the impossible into reality.
Kingdom Evolution Online was the first VRMMO to capture the attention of players across the entire world from the very day of its release.
On that first day alone, downloads surged into the millions and over the years, the number exceeded a billion. Players did not merely play the game. They lived within it, experiencing a realistic game-world.
Kingdom building, brutal warfare, strategy, and honor were no longer confined to screens. Everything was experienced through their own bodies using the magical game helmets developed by the company.
"Are all preparations completed?"
He finally spoke, his voice shockingly young.
No one was surprised. The name Deathcleaver was known to all. He was an orphan who began gaming at the age of five and rose to fame, shaking the gaming world with a talent none could rival.
When Kingdom Evolution Online was launched, he was only thirteen. From that day onward, he devoted his entire life to the game. Now, at nineteen, his name was known and discussed across the world.
"All preparations are complete and each players are in their respective position," replied the white-armored man, the guild's second-in-command and its most powerful mage.
Suddenly, in the distance, a massive cloud of dust surged forward as the ground trembled beneath the sound of countless marching feet, resembling an earthquake on the verge of breaking loose.
The Black Queen's army had arrived.
When the dust finally settled, an endless sea of monsters stretched beyond the kingdom gates. Lizardmen, Cyclopes, Wargs, Manticores, Goblins, countless races gathered as one, their presence creating a suffocating tension in the air.
Draven stood atop the walls with a calm expression, his eyes fixed forward as though the monsters before him were not even worthy of his attention.
In an instant, thick clouds rolled across the sky as darkness descended, spreading rapidly throughout the battlefield.
Moments later, massive shadows swept overhead as winged beasts surged forward, their thunderous cries shaking the air.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Draven's voice rang out across the battlefield.
"So this is the undefeatable Deathcleaver, guardian of the Eterna Kingdom."
A cold, feminine voice suddenly echoed from above the kingdom.
"I will spare your life if you surrender and become my subordinate."
She went straight to the point, making it clear she was not here for childish games.
Her beauty was breathtaking. Dark eyes gleamed like precious gemstones, and her long black hair danced freely with the wind.
A red slit dress clung tightly to her pale skin, outlining her graceful curves. Her pink lips curved into a dangerous smile capable of stirring desire in countless men with a single glance.
With such an angelic appearance, no one would believe she was the terrifying witch responsible for the destruction of countless kingdoms.
The players were unable to resist. They were instantly captivated by her beauty, an irresistible urge rising within their hearts.
Draven was the only one unaffected, already familiar with the infamous charm of the witch Elandra Moirae, the nightmare of every kingdom.
"I can see the lust hidden within your hearts. You wish to touch me, to feel my skin and indulge in every part of me until you are satisfied. Surrender, give in to your desires, and I will belong to you forever, teasing you until your hearts' content."
Her alluring voice echoed directly within the minds of the players.
Unaware of their actions, as though controlled by an unseen force, several of them began to lower their guard, their eyes glazed with desire as they stared at her tempting form.
An axe suddenly tore through the sky with a deafening roar, carrying pure destructive intent.
The witch casually sidestepped the attack and turned her attention toward Draven, her concentration on the players broken.
"Resist her charm with your will and steel your hearts against her voice," Draven shouted, his command echoing through the battlefield.
The players snapped free from her influence, regaining their senses.
Gratitude flickered in their eyes as they looked toward Draven, now hovering in the sky with twin axes gripped firmly in his hands.
He stood like a god of the axe, an overwhelming pressure radiating from his body as the one and only Deathcleaver, prepared to cleave through any obstacle in his path.
"What are you waiting for? Follow me and crush these pathetic fools," the second-in-command shouted as he launched the first attack, hurling blazing fireballs into the mass of monsters below.
The players surged forward, colliding with the endless tide of enemies.
Draven moved alone toward the true threat, Elandra Moirae.
The air grew heavy, crackling with dark magic as the witch prepared her attack, gazing at him as though he were already dead.
Draven remained calm. He was an unstoppable force, bearing the fate of the kingdom and his guild upon his shoulders.
"Here they come," he muttered softly.
Whoosh!~~
He swung his axe toward the left, intercepting a dark shadow that was about to emerge.
They clashed head-on, battling for two long hours and exchanging hundreds of attacks within mere minutes.
Though his body was riddled with injuries, Draven remained composed, finally treating her as a serious opponent. As rumored, she was overwhelmingly powerful.
The witch fared no better. Deep gashes from his axe marred her body, soaking her dress with blood.
"Your resistance is truly charming," Elandra laughed eerily. "The more you struggle, the more I desire to make you my eternal servant. Come, let me see how you break beneath my hands."
A chilling gust swept across the battlefield as she waved her hand. From the black mist surrounding her, a dracolich emerged, its skeletal wings spreading wide as its glowing red eyes locked onto Draven, its roar shaking the land like an earthquake.
Draven was driven back by the impact as the skeletal wings wrapped around him, sealing off his escape and attempting to crush his body.
[Cleave of Light!]
He did not hesitate. As a deeply experienced gamer who had conquered countless impossible battles, he unleashed his skill without fear.
A colossal shadow descended from his axe, ripping through bone and decaying flesh alike.
The dracolich was consumed by the radiant axe art.
"Staff of Destruction!"
The witch conjured a black staff, glowing runes spiraling around it as destructive qi surged through the sky, causing the entire battlefield to tremble.
Draven did not give her the chance to complete her spell. He closed the distance instantly.
His axe flared with murderous intent, surging like a raging storm.
Before the staff's power could erupt, he stepped forward and cleaved downward.
Boom!
The strike shattered the dark energy, tearing the mist apart. Her body staggered as blood flowed from her shoulder, crushed by the overwhelming cleaver intent.
Just as the finishing blow was about to land, the Staff of Destruction formed a dark shield, protecting her at the last moment.
A surge of black energy erupted around her, halting the attack that should have ended her life.
Draven swung again and again, but his attacks failed to break through the barrier.
The witch began chanting in a low voice, her staff raised toward the sky.
"...Now, heed my voice and let the curse befall my target."
Dark light enveloped her as she prepared to escape.
"Let me see how you survive my ultimate Cursebloom."
But Draven was faster.
His axe flashed through the air.
There was no sound as it cleaved cleanly through her skull.
Elandra's eyes widened in shock and terror as her lifeless body plummeted from the sky.
He had emerged victorious once more.
[Player Deathcleaver has become the first-ever player to defeat and defend against the world's most terrifying nightmare witch, Elandra Moirae, within his territory. Congratulations!]
"Finally," Draven smiled when he saw the notification.
But at that moment, a massive wave of dark energy erupted from the witch's fallen corpse. Her ultimate curse bloomed at last, slamming into him before he could react.
[Player Deathcleaver has fallen to the final strike of the witch, Elandra Moirae.]
After years of grinding and countless victories, he had finally defeated the final bosses and secured an undefeated record.
Yet in the end, the number one player still fell.
Not to brute force.
Not to overwhelming power.
But to a curse -- a damn curse.