[Just a quick spoiler - Archer is nerfed power-wise due to reasons that a certain goddess explains further in]
[London, England, United Kingdom]
A seventeen-year-old boy walked along the sidewalk on a cold Friday evening toward a nearby restaurant. His name was Archer, but he preferred to be called Arch. Despite the cold weather, he was thrilled to be out and about because his childhood friend Alexa had agreed to date him.
Excitedly, he had forgotten about his earlier training session that day. His instructor had been teaching him how to wield a Greek kopis to build strength and prepare for upcoming demonstrations they were scheduled to participate in.
The streets were bustling with people heading to various parties, adding to the lively atmosphere of the night. Archer heard his phone ring, so he pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. "Hello?"
Alexa's cheerful voice echoed through the speaker. ''Arch, where are you? I'm already here.''
''I'm on my way, but I couldn't find a bus or cab, so I had to walk,'' he replied.
''Oh, okay then. No rush; I'm already here. See you soon,'' Alexa said before hanging up.
Archer slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued walking. Suddenly, a notification beeped, and he took out his phone to check it. It was a message from his mother, Micha. [Be careful when you're out]
He chuckled at his mother's anxious nature and replied. [Okay, Mum, I'll be fine. I'll talk to you soon]
He put the phone back into his jacket pocket, but he wasn't paying attention and bumped into someone. A sudden shriek pierced through the air, ''Oh my god, watch where you're walking, idiot!'' Archer's heart raced as he turned to face the source of the voice.
''Sorry I didn't see you there,'' he stammered, trying to move past the girl. But a burly man, who looked like a gorilla, stepped before him. Archer looked up and rolled his eyes. ''What do you want? I already apologized to her,'' he said.
The man didn't budge but spoke in a cocky voice. ''You walked into my girl, mate. You better keep your eyes open when walking down the road on a Friday night.''
Archer couldn't believe what he was hearing. ''It was an accident. Why are you complaining?'' he retorted, hoping to reason with the man.
The man scowled at Archer's words and became hostile. ''Hey, kid, be careful who you talk to with that mouth of yours. It could get you into trouble one day,'' the man warned.
He nodded, not wanting to waste any more time arguing with the man, ''Sure thing,'' he said, trying to walk away and go around the gorilla man and his lady gorilla, but the man moved in his way.
However, Archer quickly sidestepped the man and continued walking, ''Boy, I'm talking to you! Where do you think you're going?!'' the gorilla shouted, clearly angry.
Archer turned around as he heard the shouting and flipped the gorilla man the bird. ''Yeah, well, fuck you!'' he retorted before finally walking away.
After a ten-minute walk, he finally arrived at the restaurant where he was supposed to meet Alexa. He stepped inside and scanned the room. It didn't take long to spot her sitting at a back corner table, patiently waiting for him.
As he approached, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. Her hair was a stunning shade of navy blue, cut short as she always had it. But it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were a striking shade of green that changed color whenever the light hit them.
Alexa was still stunningly gorgeous. He had adored her since the day they first met years ago. Archer approached the table. She greeted him with a smile and waved him over, ''Get over here, Arch! I'm starving and ready to order.''
He took a seat and looked at the menu while they chatted. After a while, the waiter arrived to take their orders, and their meals soon arrived. As they ate, they continued their conversation.
''How's your history class going?'' she inquired.
''It's going pretty well. We're learning about the basics of the Kopis short sword to understand the Greeks better and do well in our recreations. I think my teacher enjoys role-playing too much, though,'' Archer laughed.
Alexa giggled in response. ''Only you would end up stuck in a class like that!''
He grinned and shook his head, replying, ''I'm not stuck. I enjoy learning about history. And the best part is, I've also learned how to wield a short sword.''
They both chuckled as they finished their meal and paid for it before they got ready to leave. Archer noticed the restaurant was surprisingly quiet for a Friday night when it is usually bustling with drunk patrons and couples.
As they left, they thanked the waiter and other staff. When they got outside, Alexa took his hand as they started walking down the street, unaware of a young man following them. They strolled alongside the river, admiring the boats sailing down it as the lights from the nearby building reflected in the water.
Archer saw many couples holding hands as they walked along the waterfront, and that's when he heard her speak, ''So, Arch, did you mean what you said earlier? That you like me and want to explore a relationship with me?''
He felt his nerves kick in at her question, but he answered honestly nonetheless. ''I like you a lot, Alexa.''
Archer smiled before continuing. ''I'm so happy you agreed to come out with me.''
Hearing his words, a radiant smile lit up her face, and she responded warmly, ''I feel the same way. Let's not rush anything and discover where our journey takes us.''
He nodded eagerly, ''No rush!''
Suddenly, Alexa leaned in and kissed his cheek, leaving him stunned. He started blushing. ''What was that for?'' he asked, still touching his cheek.
She giggled mischievously. ''I just wanted you to stop talking so fast.''
Once Archer realized how he was acting, he burst out laughing. ''Okay, fair enough. I was just excited.''
They both laughed as they continued walking along the river. The temperature dropped, and Archer decided to take Alexa home. Little did they know, they were still being followed by someone they did not want to see or hear from.
They had grown up together and had always been close, but this winter night would change everything. That someone despised their budding love and was determined to destroy it. As they walked hand in hand, the man watching them got closer.
Suddenly, Archer had a premonition and quickly turned around to see a young man pulling out a knife and getting ready to stab Alexa with a look of madness on his face. Without hesitation, he pushed her out of harm's way as the man rushed forward and lunged at her, taking the knife deep into his chest.
''Arghh,'' he felt a searing pain ripple throughout his chest.
The night reverberated with the chilling sound of the blade tearing into his flesh, eliciting a cry of agony from Archer. His gaze lifted to identify the assailant responsible for the stabbing.
''Noah,'' he gasped, bending forward as the boy jumped onto him, relentlessly driving the blade deeper.
Alexa shrieked with horror as she witnessed Noah stabbing him wildly with an evil grin on his face while chanting, ''Only mine, only mine, only mine.''
He struggled to fight against the attack, but Alexa sprang into action. She refused to stand by and watch as her new boyfriend was being stabbed by her obsessed stalker. She launched at Noah and began kicking him in the face, trying to interrupt his attack.
In her relentless effort to shield Archer, she heard Noah's unsettling murmurs, ''Only mine, only mine, only mine.''
Summoning all her strength, she successfully wrestled Noah away, but the toll on Archer became increasingly apparent. His gaze dimmed, and his body weakened, the loss of blood taking a severe toll.
Alexa knew that time was running out, and she desperately hoped help would arrive soon. ''Stay with me, Arch! I'm calling an ambulance!'' she exclaimed, her hands trembling as she pulled out her phone and dialed 999.
Within a minute, sirens could be heard as police cars screeched to a halt on the small street. Two police officers jumped out of the vehicle, one heading towards Noah to detain him while the other began administering first aid to try and save him.
''Troy, get on the radio and tell the ambulance to hurry! We're losing him!'' he shouted in desperation.
As the police worked to stop the bleeding, Alexa was pushed aside until an ambulance arrived. Two paramedics jumped out and quickly put him on a stretcher, rushing him into the ambulance.
The officer took Alexa to the hospital, where they asked for his relative's details. She provided his mother's number, and they called her to inform her of what had happened. The air was filled with the piercing, anguished screams of a woman facing the imminent loss of her child.
Archer's father took the phone and said they would rush to the hospital without delay. The car departed, chasing after the ambulance as other officers secured Noah. Sirens wailed as they sped down the road, the police car closely following the ambulance as it raced toward the hospital.
Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord
https://discord.gg/rkyQyz85DJ
Editor: Ayce-o-Spade.
[Check out my other novels, The Runner's Odyssey and Darkness - A Tale Of The Lost One's Journey]
The ambulance rushed towards the nearby hospital, where doctors immediately sprang into action upon its arrival. Archer was on a stretcher, bleeding out as they pushed him through the bay doors.
Alexa arrived at the hospital soon after, accompanied by two police officers. Once inside, a nurse took her to a private room, where the police officers asked her to recount what had happened.
In a state of shock, she struggled to recount what had happened. All she knew was that Noah was obsessed with her and had done something she never thought he could. Despite telling him she wasn't interested, he still pursued her.
But this was the first time he had ever caused harm to anyone. As she sunk into her wild thoughts, an officer called out her name, jolting her out of the daze and causing her to shake her head as she spoke. "We were on a date and had just made our relationship official. We decided to head home when Noah suddenly appeared with a knife. But Archer pushed me out of the way.''
She became more incoherent as she spoke, "He kept stabbing him, and he wouldn't stop until I kicked him in the face."
Her tears flowed uncontrollably as they fell to the ground as she continued. "He didn't stand a chance."
She struggled to speak clearly, so the police ceased their questioning. Suddenly, a woman in her early twenties with brown hair similar to Archer's entered the room. When she spotted Alexa, she embraced the crying young woman.
It was Archer's older sister by a year, Ellie. Once Alexa calmed down, she revealed that he had saved her life. She began to apologize, but the brown-haired woman interrupted her. "It's not your fault. The one to blame is the bastard who stabbed him.''
Soon after, the rest of Archer's family arrived, including his five sisters, three brothers, and parents. They all crowded around Alexa, asking what happened until Ellie intervened. "Come on, guys! Stop crowding her. I'll explain.''
After she recounted the events, they began to cry and pray to any god who would listen to ensure the boy's well-being. Alexa's distress escalated as she reflected on the happy memories she shared with the dying boy.
Hours later, the doctors arrived and were wheeling a hospital bed with the unconscious Archer asleep on it. The doctors and nurses advised them to maintain a safe distance as Archer remained precarious.
With a heavy heart, they disclosed the grim extent of Archer's injuries to the distressed family as the head doctor approached them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, your son has sustained catastrophic injuries. To be frank, he is fortunate to be still alive..."
Only to be cut off by the sound of an alarm, the doctor panicked, and everyone's faces turned ashen as they rushed back into the room. Alexa trailed behind them and witnessed him having a seizure on the bed, blood gushing out of his mouth as the doctors scrambled to stabilize him.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Alexa crumpled to the ground, her knees giving out. Archer's mother rushed to her side, tears streaming down her face as she embraced her.
"He'll be okay, he'll be okay." She whispered.
The alarm continued to beep in the background until the noise just stopped. Despite the doctors' best efforts, they were unable to save him. A physician stepped forward and announced Archer's time of death. "The time of death is 11:39 PM.''
He turned to the shocked family and offered his heartfelt condolences. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss."
Alexa's sorrow overwhelmed her, and her tears flowed even more intensely. Archer departed on the day he got what he'd always wanted. As the family grieved the loss of their son and Alexa was quiet while crying, Archer was stuck in the darkness and was scared.
But this was merely the start of a journey that changed the world.
___________________________________
[On a planet far from Earth called Thrylos]
Abruptly, a young boy snapped awake, his fear echoing in a piercing scream as he cried out in terror. He took deep breaths to calm himself down. Once he was fine, he looked around the unfamiliar room, confused and disoriented.
Archer knew he wasn't in his house or anywhere he had ever been. His hands were small and pale, and he struggled to clear the cobwebs from his mind. The room was medium-sized, with furniture made of red-colored wood and a window on the left side.
He slowly rose from bed with aching legs, wincing at the discomfort as he shuffled to the window and opened it. That's when his eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before him. He saw a medieval-looking city that stretched as far as the eye could see, bordered by a massive forest and lake.
He noticed that most houses were constructed from stone, with occasional wooden decorations on the exterior. Suddenly, a massive headache struck, causing him to collapse to the floor with a loud thud.
Writhing in agony, he was bombarded with fragmented memories that didn't belong to him, making the situation even more unbearable. He rolled around as they settled in and slowly began comprehending what was happening to him.
"Ahh, so he killed me, huh?" Archer muttered.
Although he had read novels about it, he never once thought it would happen to him. That's when he started piecing together the information. What immediately caught his attention was the presence of magic and the size of the world named Thrylos, which was five times the size of Earth.
It was home to numerous continents and islands, many uncharted and mysterious. He was currently on the continent of Pluoria, which lay west of the central continent Verdantia.
Verdantia was the thriving homeland of two formidable empires, the Nightshade and Novgorod Empires. These represented the strongest elven and human dominions and held the status of superpowers.
As he came to his senses, he realized that his name in this life was also Archer, a thirteen-year-old boy who was the fourth son of Duke Leonard Ashguard. Archer's mother was the Duke's second wife, and he had twelve children, four of whom were with his mother, including himself.
His Father was the Duke of the Mistwood Duchy, located in the western region of the Avalon Empire. From his seat in Vassia City, Leonard governed the Duchy with the primary duty of protecting it against potential dangers posed by the neighboring Videzeme, Lionheart, and Sabat Kingdoms.
The Avalon Empire was under the rule of Emperor Osoric Avalon and his Empress Chloe Avalon, a cat demi-human from the south. The Empire was undoubtedly the top power on the Western continent, boasting a diverse population that prioritized trade and commerce.
The climate was comparable to that of the Mediterranean and North Africa on Earth, prompting residents to wear loose-fitting robes to stay cool. After recalling all the essential information, he struggled to his feet. That's when he noticed a mirror on the wall and made his way over to it.
When he approached, he saw striking features: snow-white hair and long, pointed ears like elf ears but sharper. Archer's bright, violet eyes were mesmerizing, and his appearance made him stand out as back on Earth. He was average at best but now very handsome, which shocked him.
"Wow, I love my new eyes and am extremely handsome. Hehe," he mused.
However, his joy was short-lived as he recalled the reason why the original Archer had been injured and ultimately passed away. His father, who used captured beasts to train his children and soldiers, had forced the previous him to fight a feline-like creature several months ago.
Although they battled fiercely, the beast struck him in the head, likely causing brain damage. Before losing consciousness, he remembered his father looking at him with disdain before walking away.
While he was getting better, only one girl he didn't know came to visit him and brought him food daily. Not even his mother came to visit and refused to do so due to her Dragon-kin pride, which valued strength above everything.
As she considered him weak, she saw no reason to bother. Archer was lost in his thoughts when he suddenly coughed, causing a maid to rush in and startle him.
"Young master Archer!" She exclaimed.
He turned to see a girl about thirteen years old with short blonde hair and blue eyes. When Archer saw her, the first thought that came to his fuzzy mind was.
'A Loli maid, so cliche Haha'
The girl rushed forward, excitedly stopping in front of Archer with a worried look as she started checking on him.
"Yes, I am awake." He replied.
"So, how do you feel, young master?" She asked in a concerned tone.
Archer shook his head before speaking. "It seems like I've lost a lot of memories. For example, I don't know your name?"
The girl looked hurt before smiling. "Young master, let me introduce myself again."
She stood up and gave him a slight bow. "I'm Ella, your maid assigned to you by your mother, Lady Larka Ashguard."
After that, she smiled at him, stunning Archer with her beauty. Shaking his head, he asked, "Could you bring me some food and water, please?"
She smiled and hurried out of the room to get what he had requested. Turning back to his thoughts, he remembered the system in this world similar to the RPG games back on Earth.
'Status.'
[Archer Ashguard]
[Race:---]
[Age: 13]
[Rank:---]
[Experience: 000/1000]
[Level: 0]
[HP: 200/200]
[Mana: 800/800]
[Magic:----]
[Strength: 45]
[Constitution: 30]
[Stamina: 60]
[Charisma: 200]
[Intelligence: 80]
[SP: 0]
[Spells:]
[Skills: Spell Creation, Mana Regeneration]
Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord
https://discord.gg/rkyQyz85DJ
Editor: Ayce-o-Spade.
[Check out my other novels, The Runner's Odyssey and Darkness - A Tale Of The Lost One's Journey]
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