Everyone's attention was on me as I stood still, blood covering my naked body. The realization of my nakedness didn’t occur until much later. For now, I focused on projecting fear—on making them hesitate. With only one hand, a couple of them could take me down if they had the guts to attack. My presence alone had to be my shield.
After a moment of silence, I thought to myself, 'Bunch of cowards. How can you let a one-handed man frighten you like this?' Then, it hit me. The throne was mine.
Someone began approaching. I readied myself, gathering my remaining fingers into a fist, prepared to strike. But the figure knelt before me and spoke.
“How can I serve you, sir? I watched you closely during that attack, and I believe you are smart and strong enough to lead us.”
I hesitated, lowering my hand. “My hand... How is it back?”
“This world is different from Earth,” he said. “You should hear a voice soon. It explains the general rules. It starts about five minutes after you leave your shell and lasts for around ten minutes. Everyone here has experienced it.”
I turned to the others and asked, “Is this true?”
Several nodded hesitantly. “Y... yes,” came the murmured reply.
I faced the man again. “Stand up. Show me your face.”
He obeyed, revealing a sharp-featured face, black hair, and rectangular glasses.
“I want this to be the last time anyone kneels before me. Understood?”
“Yes, understood,” he replied firmly.
“What is your name?”
“Akira,” he said.
“Akira,” I repeated. “Listen, everyone. While I’m busy with this ‘voice,’ Akira will oversee a different task. I want all of you to start exploring the boundaries of this platform. Map the surroundings, look for any hidden pathways or structures, and report back. Akira, ensure that no one goes too far or acts recklessly. And give Selia some clothes—she’ll stay here and help organize the findings.”
Selia was on the ground, wrapped in pieces of a broken shell. Her distant expression told me she was hearing the voice already. 'My turn will come soon.'
“Ray,” came a whisper in my mind. 'Is that it?'
“Akira, what are you waiting for?” I ordered.
“Yes, sir,” he nodded and walked away.
“Ray, welcome to my world.” The voice was clear now, yet I felt disconnected from my body.
“You don’t need to worry about your body,” it continued. “Focus on the information I’m about to share. Unlike Earth, you will not feel hunger here. Food replenishes stamina and mana but isn’t necessary for survival. You’ve already experienced the second rule: killing others allows you to heal, provided the body part you wish to restore is intact on their corpse. Finally, the ‘awakening day’ will begin once everyone is prepared.”
'As I thought, killing isn’t forbidden here. But what’s this awakening day? And mana? Magic? Why hasn’t anyone used it yet?'
“The awakening day is when you will gain magical abilities. To ensure fairness, you can choose your power, but it will come with a curse tailored to your choice and personality.”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“What if I choose the power of a god? Or no power at all?” I asked.
“The price of godlike powers is your life, as the curse would kill you instantly. Any power can be chosen, but the curse it brings will always match its magnitude. Choosing no power spares you from a curse, but the test at the end of awakening day will require a power to survive.”
“Can you give me an example of a power and its curse?”
“I’ve given you enough information. Farewell, Ray.”
Noise returned to my ears as my vision cleared. I was back on the platform, fully clothed and armed with a long one-handed sword. Akira approached me.
“Everyone receives clothes and a weapon aligned with their fighting style after hearing the voice,” he explained. “The perimeter exploration you requested is underway.”
I nodded, mulling over what I’d learned. 'Exploration will tell us more about this world. Knowing our surroundings is essential to survival.'
“We have 83 people here,” Akira continued, “and 40 more still in their shells.”
“Good. Let me know the moment anyone finds something unusual.”
While Akira supervised, Selia approached me.
“Boss... or King Ray?” she asked hesitantly.
“I’m not your boss anymore, and I don’t plan to be a king. Call me Ray.”
“Thank you, Ray.” She took my hand between hers and said, “I know, deep down, you’re a good person.”
After a pause, I asked, “Have you thought about your ability?”
“Yes, I want to read minds.”
'Crap. I forgot about that one.' “That’s not a good choice.”
“Why? It seems useful.”
“It won’t help you survive in a world full of magic.”
She frowned. “Then I’ll choose something else.”
“What about curse breaking? If you get it, I’ll protect you.”
She released my hand and turned away. “Sounds boring, but I’ll think about it. I came to tell you Akira’s team has discovered a potential exit point on the edge of the platform.”
Akira returned to report findings from the exploration. Standing before the gathered crowd of 119 people, plus Akira, myself, and 2 more still in their shells, I addressed them.
“We have much to understand about this world and little time to waste. Akira has identified a potential exit point, but before we act, I need everyone to remain vigilant. This is not a place for complacency. Learn your strengths. Prepare yourselves. Survival here demands focus and discipline.”
The crowd murmured in agreement, their fear evident but tempered by resolve. Then a deep, powerful voice cut through the noise.
“You think you’ve found an exit? Foolish. There are no such paths here. Humans, this is the awakening day."
The sky darkened as the voice continued. “You will gain an ability of your choosing but must live with a curse tailored to your power and personality. Here are the rules:
- How your ability works will be tied to how you imagine it and to its given name.
- Powers can evolve based on your initial imagination.
- You must pass a survival test with your new power.
- Curses can be broken by fulfilling specific tasks or conditions tied to your power.
Beware: some choices may lead to immediate death. You have five minutes to decide. Farewell.”
'I know what I’ll choose,' I thought, a smile forming.
Five minutes passed. The platform disappeared, and we found ourselves free-falling.
“Everyone, activate your abilities, please!” I shouted. 'Did I just say please? Doesn’t matter. Let’s see what they’ve chosen.'
Elemental powers filled the air: fire, water, lightning, ice, earth, and wind. Many froze, unable to react. Akira soared above with eagle-like wings, gliding effortlessly through the chaos. He flew to me, his wings casting a commanding shadow.
“Need help?” he asked.
“No. Help Selia instead.” She was panicking, clearly struggling to make sense of her situation.
“Anyone who can fly, assist the others who can’t!” I ordered.
The air swirled with chaos as powers collided and people scrambled to survive. I chose not to concern myself with them. Instead, I increased my speed, plummeting toward the ground like a meteor. I landed with a thunderous impact, bending nearby trees with the force. The dust settled as I straightened, smirking. Then, without warning, a voice echoed in my mind.
"Magnificent, Ray. Look at them falling—weak, desperate. Their lives already belong to you. Soon, so will their wills."
I froze, my smirk fading as I clenched my teeth. 'Who’s speaking to me?' Silence followed, but the unsettling weight of the words lingered. I looked up, the chaos above a stark contrast to the stillness within me.