Reality Quest: The Monarch

Author: My arms are better, so I started writing again and I came to release this story, it was just to finish my set, 4 stories, and that's it, I hope you like it, I don't know if I got anything wrong, correct me if I did, ok? Enjoy the chapter.

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[Void, Realm of Forgetfulness]

In the unfathomable abyss where light and darkness intertwined in a silent dance, [Damian Magnus] floated, immersed in thought. His figure, though radiant, seemed burdened by a sense of incompleteness. Around him, countless forgotten souls hovered, faintly shimmering—witnesses to lives that had vanished from the world's memories. There, in that space where time seemed an illusion and reality unraveled, he pondered.

[Damian Magnus], a pseudo-god and creator of worlds, had reasons to be proud. He had already conceived three stories he deemed magnificent, narratives woven from the threads of his imagination and vibrating with the lives of the characters he had brought into existence. Yet, despite these creative triumphs, something troubled him, a void he could not fill. He yearned for something new, something that would challenge his creativity.

"Perhaps..." he murmured to himself, arms crossed, "...a story inspired by Korean manhwas is what's missing."

Being an [Author], after all, was no simple task. It was a craft that demanded more than mere creation. It required shaping entire universes, building the rules that governed them, breathing life into the souls that would inhabit those worlds, and above all, ensuring everything flowed cohesively. But there was also an unparalleled beauty in this work. To be an [Author] meant transforming abstract ideas into tangible realities—a gift reserved only for those blessed with boundless imagination and the skill to express it.

[Damian Magnus] extended a hand, and in the vast emptiness surrounding him, a luminous sphere began floating in his direction. It was a new soul, freshly arrived in the [Realm of Forgetfulness]. He smirked. Luck was on his side; the soul had emerged precisely within his domain.

He held it gently, as if afraid to damage it, and observed it with interest. "Hmm... Let's see the options..." he murmured as his other hand rose, summoning three translucent spheres that began to orbit his fingers. Each one represented a world he had already created, his precious jewels.

"Well, these are some of my favorite worlds," he remarked to himself, his tone laced with satisfaction bordering on pride.

With a snap of his fingers, [Damian Magnus] initiated the process. A white sphere burst into light before him, expanding until it enveloped the soul. The light pulsed softly, shaping the essence of the spirit until it took on a vague, humanoid form—faceless and featureless, just the outline of a male figure sculpted from pure white energy.

"Hello, human. How are you?" asked [Damian Magnus], his voice tinged with curiosity and a faint hint of provocation.

His form, which had been an abstraction of power until then, transformed into the appearance of a young man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His skin was as flawless as polished marble, and he wore luxurious garments that shimmered like fabric woven from starlight. Everything about him exuded perfection, yet there was something that made it clear he was more than human. He could be anything—but never a mere mortal.

The soul hesitated, its energy flickering as it processed the situation.

"Dead, I suppose, considering my... death," it replied, with an almost sarcastic tone. It was clear that the [Identity] the soul carried in life still influenced its essence. He was Jack.

[Damian Magnus] laughed heartily, a sound that reverberated through the void like a multi-layered symphony. "Hahaha! Well, you're right, my dear Jack. Dead you are, no doubt. But let's get to the point. I'm not a fan of wasting time on meaningless pleasantries."

Jack tilted his head slightly—or at least seemed to, given his lack of a face. It was hard to discern his emotions, but his essence radiated confusion.

"To sum it up, here's the plan: you're going to reincarnate. And, as compensation for your death, I'll grant you one wish—a single wish, but it must be specific. Before that, however..." [Damian Magnus] waved his arms, and three new orbs appeared before Jack, each pulsing with a distinct color and unique energy.

"These are the options for the worlds where you can start anew. I could describe them to you, but simply looking at them will tell you exactly what each one offers."

Jack, or rather, the formless soul that had once been Jack, seemed to hesitate before approaching the orbs, drawn to their hypnotic glow. [Damian Magnus], on the other hand, leaned back in the air as if seated on an invisible throne, watching with a satisfied smile.

"Come now, human... Choose wisely. Your next story is about to begin."

Jack stared at the three orbs before him. They shone brightly, each pulsating with an energy that evoked memories of his past life. As he observed them, something stirred within him. He knew those worlds. Not just superficially—he had explored them in life, gotten lost in them, thrilled at their stories, and even felt the impact of their messages.

The first orb radiated a bluish-gray light, like the moon's reflection on a tense night.

This was the world of Reality Quest. Fragmented images of the manhwa flashed through Jack's mind like an old film: the protagonist, dead from the exhaustion of endless gaming, returning to the past with a max-level game system, only to have his powers sealed shortly after. It was a world of street fights, hidden mysteries, and, above all, the suspense surrounding the protagonist's father's death.

Jack remembered how he had devoured Reality Quest with enthusiasm while he was alive. The suspense gripped him with every page, and he recalled how his heart tightened during emotional moments. He had even cried at times, cheered for the protagonist at others, and felt frustrated by how foolish the protagonist could be. The tension of the mystery and the human drama had captivated him. But when he caught up with the weekly chapters, something changed.

The wait for new releases demotivated him. He hated the feeling of being stuck, waiting for more chapters like someone climbing a long staircase, step by step.

The second orb emanated a golden, radiant light, filled with power and ambition. It was the world of Solo Leveling, where Sung Jin-Woo, the weakest hunter, overcame every challenge and ascended to become the strongest being in the world. Jack could almost feel the fervor of the epic battles and the moments of pure glory that the protagonist experienced.

He had read Solo Leveling for the first time years before his death. The protagonist's journey was a mix of inspiration and pure entertainment, and Jack never grew tired of the badass scenes. When he reached the final chapter, he felt a deep satisfaction, as if he had lived the adventure alongside Jin-Woo. Even so, despite his excitement, he knew that the world of Solo Leveling was unforgiving, filled with deadly enemies and challenges that not everyone could face.

The third orb pulsed with a white light that shifted between soft and radiant, almost like the glow of a sunrise. This was the world of The Beginning After The End, where a king reincarnated into the body of a baby and took the name Arthur Leywin. Jack vividly remembered how he had become immersed in that diverse and twist-filled world.

He had only read the manhwa, following Arthur's journey with enthusiasm. Jack loved the story's complexity, the character development, and the twists that kept him glued to the screen. He even celebrated the series' return after a break in the illustrations, but his own death had prevented him from continuing. It was as if a story he cherished had been ripped from his hands before it could be completed.

Jack felt nostalgic. These three worlds weren't just options for a new life; they were fragments of a passion he had carried in his heart while he was still alive. They had made him laugh, cry, and dream, and now he had the chance to live in one of them.

[Damian Magnus] observed him with an amused smile, watching the human's internal struggle. "You recognized them all, didn't you?" said the pseudo-god, crossing his arms. "I knew this would make the choice harder for you."

Jack continued to stare at the spheres, his mind racing with possibilities. He wanted to choose wisely but knew that any decision would have its consequences. After all, each world presented unique challenges, and he would have only one wish to aid him.

"So, human," said [Damian Magnus], leaning forward, a near-predatory glint in his eyes. "What will your choice be?"

Jack reached out, hesitant, his hand hovering over the glowing spheres. His fingers lingered for a moment above the golden sphere of Solo Leveling, but he passed it by. Then his hand moved toward the white sphere of The Beginning After The End, only to pull away again. Finally, with a determined sigh, he touched the bluish-gray sphere of Reality Quest.

"Reality Quest," he declared, his voice firm and resolute.

[Damian Magnus] smiled. It was a smile of satisfaction, as if he had already known Jack would choose this world. Of course, the pseudo-god had his reasons for believing so. Reality Quest had three elements that always captivated humans: a practical system, intriguing girls, and a story shrouded in mysteries. These factors didn't just draw attention but created a challenging and engaging world.

Jack knew it too. He wanted to make the most of those features.

"So, what will your wish be?" asked [Damian Magnus], crossing his arms with a curious tone.

Jack raised his head—or what would be his head in soul form. "I want a system like the protagonist's... but improved."

[Damian Magnus] raised an eyebrow, clearly appreciating the simplicity and specificity of the request.

"Simple and straight to the point," he said, nodding thoughtfully.

'I expected as much,' he reflected, observing Jack with sharp eyes. 'In a world like Reality Quest or even Solo Leveling, having a powerful system is essential. Even in The Beginning After The End, a system like this could change everything. At least he was precise, which makes my job easier.'

With a fluid gesture, [Damian Magnus] extended his hand, materializing a glowing orange orb, about the size of a baseball. The orb floated between his fingers for a moment, emitting a soft, pulsating light.

"Here it is," said the pseudo-god, handing the orb to Jack. "When you arrive in your new world, you'll receive the system you asked for, along with the memories of the body you'll inhabit. Oh, and I included a bonus."

Jack tilted his head, curious. "Bonus? Why?

[Damian Magnus] smiled, but this time his smile was more enigmatic. "Because I want to. Do I need a reason to be generous?" He chuckled softly, clearly amused by Jack's perplexity.

Before Jack could respond, [Damian Magnus] snapped his fingers, and an iridescent portal opened behind him. The portal's energy was mesmerizing, a blend of colors and shapes that seemed to defy any logic or reason.

"Here's your path," said the pseudo-god, pointing to the portal. "It will take you directly to the world of Reality Quest and your new body."

Jack hesitated for a moment, staring at the portal with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He took a step forward, but before he could enter on his own, [Damian Magnus] unexpectedly pushed him.

"Hey, wait—!" Jack tried to protest, but it was too late. He was hurled into the portal, disappearing amidst the swirling colors.

When the portal closed, [Damian Magnus] stood still for a moment, staring at the emptiness where Jack had been.

"Do I need a reason to give gifts? Humans really are strange…" he murmured to himself before vanishing, leaving the Void silent once again.

...

A piercing pain shot through my head, radiating through every inch of my body. My consciousness, dormant until now, returned abruptly, bringing with it sight and hearing. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust my eyes to the scene in front of me. The first thing I saw was a face. An ugly face, with distorted features and an insane grin plastered across it.

I was lying on the ground, and he was standing over me, stepping on my chest as if I were a piece of trash.

Who the hell is he?!

Before I could react or say anything, a translucent screen appeared before my eyes.

[Initializing System... System Initialized!]

The floating text on the screen glowed with a bluish hue, loading for a few seconds before changing to a new message.

[The System Initialization Reward has arrived!]

[You received 100 Attack Power Points!]

[You received 100 Agility Points!]

[You received 100 Defense Points!]

[You received 100 Mentality Points!]

Before I could understand what was happening, another alert appeared:

[Alert!]

[Mission started!]

[Main Mission: Defeat the Boss. Reward: 500 Points and 10,000 Credits]

[Secondary Mission: Defeat the NPCs 0/3. Reward: 100 Points and 1,000 Credits]

Boss? Wait... does that mean...

My eyes quickly moved to the guy who was still stepping on my chest. He was laughing, along with his henchmen. Three figures were laughing loudly, enjoying my situation. So that's it: the "Boss" and the "NPCs" were them.

But how the hell am I supposed to defeat so many at once?!

That's when another message appeared on the screen.

[Your reward has arrived!]

My eyes widened as I read it. The screen in front of me flashed brightly, and an involuntary smile appeared on my face.

"Hey, Sung-Woo, why are you smiling?" asked one of the thugs, looking at me with suspicion.

But I didn't answer. With a quick and firm motion, I grabbed the "Boss's" ankle that was stepping on my chest.

"Get off me."

My voice came out strong and full of authority. Before he could react, I pushed him hard. He lost his balance, and I turned to a thug scraping his legs on the ground and, with a palm strike at an invisible speed, sent his face straight into the floor. The impact was so strong that the sound echoed like the snap of a dry branch.

The thugs' laughter stopped immediately, replaced by confused and fearful looks.

"Now, who will be next?" I asked, with a smile that exuded confidence.

A purple glow, invisible to those around me like an aura, shone as I looked at the henchman I had defeated, and the screen reappeared.

[Side Mission: Defeat the NPCs 1/3. Reward: 100 Points and 1000 Credits]

"Alright, let's finish this." I cracked my neck, feeling the discomfort in it. As soon as I cracked it, I felt better and the discomfort vanished. "Cheolwoo Min."

[Cheolwoo Min, Tutorial Boss]