Chapter 0
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Episode 0 - Adel.
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Click! Click! Click! Click!
The computer screen illuminated the dark office dimly.
On it was displayed a finished character: he had his eyes covered with white bandaged, hair the same color, as pale as the light of the moon, and a face that anyone would consider perfect.
While observing the screen, I couldn't help but think:
"The character is ready, but..."
¡Crujir!
Just then, the door to my office opened.
A woman entered with several papers in her hands.
"Hello, boss."
I nodded in response to her greeting and looked at my assistant, then at the documents she was holding.
She placed them on my desk, and after a second, I asked:
"That idiot again..."
My assistant sighed.
"Even if he's friends with the CEO, he's still in a higher position than you."
"So what? My position and that guy's are practically the same."
With another sigh, my assistant decided not to pursue the subject any further.
After all, strictly speaking, my position was second only to the CEO and the company owner.
Looking at the papers once more, I asked.
"Then, this is..."
My assistant, understanding immediately, nodded.
"Oh, sí. They're for you to give them the seal of approval."
"Understood."
Then I returned my attention to the computer.
Shortly after, my assistant, who had not moved, asked:
"Boss, is the story for the new character ready?"
"Yes... well, something like that. I finished the character and his story. However, due to how cruel he is, the game could be rated for adults only, and changing that would take quite a bit of time."
"That would delay the release of the update, wouldn't it?"
I nodded without taking my eyes off the screen.
My assistant stood next to me and observed the character design.
"For the final villain of the story... and also the final boss... isn't his design too... beautiful? I mean, handsome, even cute... despite being a villain."
She tilted her head slightly.
"The design is the least important thing. What matters is its power. As the final boss, both his strength and his story are essential. However, in multiplayer mode, he will be a playable character, so the final boss may change."
The game I've been working on for years will finally come to a conclusion with the next update.
In single-player mode, you can only choose one character: the protagonist, and follow the main story.
In contrast, in multiplayer mode, you can select a wide variety of characters, except for the protagonist.
The final villain will also be playable.
After all, in multiplayer mode, decisions are free: the final enemy can be another character... or even the entire story can change.
This means that if you select any character from multiplayer mode and insert them into single-player mode...
Essentially, they become someone who didn't exist in the story before, but now they're part of it.
"But, boss... what exactly happens with the story?"
"As I said, it might be too intense for a young audience. Laws in various countries might force us to make a lot of changes."
When I spoke, my assistant responded:
"Then, the story of the character is over."
"Yes. But just in case, I'll write another version... in case the investors don't accept this one."
My assistant nodded after my explanation. Then, after observing the character design closely, he said.
"Given how you designed it, with that smile, it seems more like a happy character than the story's final enemy."
"Mhm."
My assistant nodded.
However, when I looked more closely at the character's smile, I couldn't help but frown.
For some reason...
It seemed fake.
And he seemed lonely.
Above all, he seemed...
Sad.
'Is it just my imagination, or is it because of how cruel his story is?'
I shook my head, dismissing the idea.
Then I looked at my assistant.
"Don't you have any work to do?"
"Oh... eh... Sure. Sorry, boss. I'm leaving."
After he left, I let out a sigh.
Then, I moved the cursor across the screen. I was going to test how playable this character was.
'Adel, eh...'
That's his name.
Adel is blind, but his other senses are far more acute than anyone could imagine.
Although, technically, it's not total blindness. He can't see "normally," like any other character.
His vision is completely black, yet he can perceive things that no one else could.
"Additionally, it's quite strong from the beginning, although not so much as to break the balance between the other characters."
In any case, when I finally placed the cursor over the button to start the test, I clicked it.
The screen turned completely black.
'Mhm... What's going on?'
Not expecting this, I frowned. However, a few seconds later, the darkness disappeared.
"I thought the computer was damaged..."
But then, the same old interface appeared, showing Adel with a forced smile.
This time, however, there was something different.
It was as if she were looking at me.
"What the hell..."
Before I could react, a sharp headache hit me.
My vision clouded over suddenly.
And, in a matter of seconds, everything around me turned dark.
***
"Ugh... What the hell was that?"
Still with a slight headache, I tried to look around, but...
'Why can't I see anything?'
Everything was dark.
It was like having my eyes closed, but I was sure I had them open.
'It can't be...'
I brought my hand to my face.
Something was covering my eyes.
After carefully feeling around, I realized that it was tied with a bandage.
When I took it off, I still couldn't see anything.
I put it back in place.
A thought immediately crossed my mind.
"I'm... blind."
What does this mean?
Panicking, I moved my hands around, searching for something to hold on to.
I soon felt a firm surface.
I pressed against it and, with some effort, moved my legs until I was standing.
It seemed like a bed because it was so soft.
There must have been a small table nearby.
I advanced slowly, waving my hands as I walked through what seemed to be a room.
"Ha, this is..."
I stopped.
I concentrated.
I concentrated as much as I could.
Then...
White lines began to appear in the darkness.
At first, they were weak and blurry, but gradually, they began to form outlines.
Those lines drew the surroundings around me.
It was as if someone were tracing the world on a black canvas with a white pencil.
In a matter of seconds, everything took shape.
And that only confirmed my suspicions.
"I'm definitely in Adel's body. The villain and final enemy of Holy Land."
That revelation should have been shocking for anyone.
But I didn't feel anything in particular.
'That means I'm inside the game... In that case...'
I wasn't sure how I would "see" this. But, being a blind character, the setup had to be different.
"Status Window"
It would normally appear in front of me.
But this time it was different.
It was as if something were projected directly into my mind.
Mentally, as if by magic.
Something appeared in my imagination.
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Name: Adel
Age: 18
Status: Player
Mana: ★ ★ ★ 〖88.59%〗
■| Sword Arts
∆ Mercenary Fencing.
■| Traits
∆ True Sight (Mastery/Max)
∆ Senses of the Nine Heavens (Mastery/Max+)
∆ Weakness Detection (Mastery/Max)
∆ Mana Sense (Mastery/Max)
∆ Immunity to Pain (Mastery/Max)
∆ Without emotions (Mastery/Perfection)
∆ Beyond Limits (Mastery/Max)
■| Unique Trait
∆ Eyes of the End
■| Heart's Strength
∆ Elixir of Recovery
■| Equipped Items
∆ Bandage Beyond Reason (Rank/Mythic)
■| Runes
〖Inventory〗 〖Quests〗
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"As I expected, everything else is the same, but..."
The last one left me perplexed.
"Are these simple bandages of Mythic rank?"
"And that Unique Trait..."
Waking up in Adel's body, or even in the Holy Land game, didn't stir any emotion in me.
But the rank of the bandages... and that trait...
They awakened in me a slight sense of disbelief.