บท 1: Another World
In the cramped confines of his small room, Ryan sat engrossed in front of his computer, deeply immersed in the virtual world of "Kingdoms vs. Empire"—a strategic game centered on the art of empire building.
"Seriously? Do these fools really think they can topple my empire so easily?" he muttered under his breath, frustration lacing his tone.
His screen painted a scene of rebellion; the kingdoms he had painstakingly brought under his empire's wing were now in revolt, threatening to dismantle everything he had built.
"Kingdoms vs. Empire" starts players off as mere villagers, tasking them with evolving their settlements through various stages: from village to town, then city, and ultimately, to a kingdom. To ascend to the status of an empire, a player must conquer at least three kingdoms, compelling the defeated to pledge allegiance under their empire's flag. This hierarchical structure positioned empires as formidable forces, commanding resources and loyalty from the subjugated kingdoms.
Yet, the game's most intriguing feature was the possibility of a kingdom, quietly amassing power within an empire, to rally other players in a clandestine plot to overthrow their overlords. This dynamic underpinning of strategy and betrayal gave "Kingdoms vs. Empire" its compelling title.
At this moment, Ryan found himself at the heart of such a conspiracy, with key kingdoms he once controlled now leading a rebellion against him. The chatbox on his screen was a storm of taunts and jeers from the traitorous players.
"End of the line for you, Solomon_D_NTR!"
"Prepare to be dethroned, Solomon! Your so-called empire's days are numbered!"
"I must say, your capital, Bathsheba, had its charm and strength. Too bad it'll soon be nothing more than a footnote in your fall from grace."
"Empire? More like a quaint little kingdom, soon to be a mere city."
"Or maybe just a village!"
"Xoxoxoxo..."
Laughter and mocking emotes flooded the chat.
Ryan's eyes flickered with irritation as he caught a glimpse of the mocking messages flooding the chat. With a scowl, he snapped back, "This is the end for you, you bastards." His fingers flew across the keyboard as he retorted, "Really? You think I'm going down without a fight? Think again. My empire hasn't played its final card yet."
The other players shrugged off Ryan's words with a mix of disbelief and mockery. "Yeah, right, keep dreaming," one taunted. "What a joke," chimed another. "Enough with the lies!"
As the rebels, commanding kingdoms of their own, launched a massive assault on the city of Bathsheba, deploying a formidable force of 3 million soldiers, cavalry, and archers, Ryan remained unfazed. A smirk played on his lips as he coolly navigated to his castle's arsenal. The screen displayed an array of military options, among which his secret weapons were hidden.
At his command, advanced crossbows, trebuchets, and, most notably, gunpowder and explosives were unveiled. These were the ace up Ryan's sleeve, developed over two years of meticulous planning and strategy within the world of Kingdoms vs. Empires. Now, as the enemy forces closed in, he was ready to turn the tables with his technological marvels, signaling a dramatic shift in the battle's tide.
Without a moment's delay, Ryan unleashed his secret arsenal onto the battlefield, dramatically altering the course of the conflict. His once-beleaguered forces surged forward, repelling the invaders with newfound vigor and even seizing the upper hand.
Confusion and panic spread through the ranks of the attacking players. "What's going on here?" one exclaimed. "They've got advanced crossbows and trebuchets!" another cried out in disbelief. "And that's not all—they're using gunpowder and explosives! When did such powerful weapons make their way into the game?"
Frustration mounted among the rebels. "Fall back!" one shouted, fearing the loss of his army. "We've poured too much into this uprising, too many of our resources. We have to overpower the empire, or it's all been for nothing. I might as well quit this damn game!"
Laughter broke out among some, even as they acknowledged the heavy investments they had made. "You've sunk too much money into this; you won't quit," one jeered. Yet, rallying spirits emerged. "We must defeat the empire to recoup our investments!" another declared. "He can't possibly have an endless supply of gunpowder and explosives. Let's push forward!"
Encouraged by their own bravado, the players regrouped and mounted a counterattack against Ryan's empire.
"Pathetic! You think you can challenge my empire?" Ryan laughed in scorn. But his laughter soon turned into a fit of coughing, so severe that he struggled to catch his breath. In the midst of his coughing spree, his head dropped onto the keyboard, inadvertently sending a nonsensical string of characters sprawling across the chat: "Jsidkeisjj29848_!$20(2!#+#+82!2!)"
The players, puzzled by this cryptic message from Solomon_D_NTR, were unaware of the dire situation. Ryan had laughed himself into such a fit that he could no longer breathe, and tragically, he passed away from the ordeal.
Meanwhile, his empire, operating on the momentum and strategies he had set in motion, continued to fend off the rebellion, securing victory after victory with its superior military might and groundbreaking weaponry.
But as Ryan's empire stood victorious in the virtual world, its creator had departed for another realm, leaving behind a legacy of triumph in the face of treachery—a legacy that none of his adversaries, still embroiled in their virtual conquests, could fully comprehend.
...
...
...
As the carriage lumbered through the otherworldly landscape, its wheels thudding against the uneven path that carved its way through a dense forest, the jolting motion eventually roused a young man from his slumber. With locks of blond hair framing his face and eyes that glimmered an unusual shade of red, he blinked awake to the reality of his surroundings.
"Your Highness, you're awake," came a voice, pulling him further from the fog of sleep.
Turning towards the source, he found himself gazing at a middle-aged man dressed in the height of medieval elegance, his attire both luxurious and formal. The man offered him a smile, tinged with a hint of apology. "It seems the journey's roughness has interrupted your rest. My deepest apologies, Your Highness..."
The young man, still grappling with confusion over his current predicament, managed a weak shake of his head. "It's alright," he assured, though his voice betrayed his lingering disorientation.
Acknowledging the response, the older man promised, "I'll have a word with the coachman to ease the pace. We wouldn't want to add to your discomfort."
Grateful, yet still combating the dizziness that the carriage's relentless shaking induced, the young man merely nodded in agreement.
Following through, the attendant leaned forward to knock on the carriage wall before sliding open a window to issue his instructions. His voice, firm yet courteous, reminded those outside—particularly the coachman—to temper their speed, all in the effort to spare their royal passenger further unease.
What those attending him failed to realize, however, was the profound mystery cloaking the young man's identity. The soul that now animated him belonged to Ryan, a young man from another era and world entirely—our modern Earth. Unbeknownst to them, their prince had become the vessel for an entirely different consciousness.
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