In the year 2080, the era of virtual reality games was born—an age where anyone could live out their fantasies within a game, free from any constraints. Dreams were no longer limited to the realms of the impossible. People could fulfill every desire they had, and esports became officialized as national competitions, with thousands of fans flocking to stadiums for the thrill of watching top-tier players battle for supremacy.
A gaming company released a virtual reality game, and it quickly grew into a phenomenon. The game's origin remained a mystery, and it was unlike anything the world had seen. The game’s reality was so immersive that even the NPCs behaved with a level of intelligence comparable to humans. No one knew where the game came from—its mysterious origins only heightened its allure. Every corner of society buzzed about *Eldrich Dominion*, from news channels to pro gamers, social media influencers, and casual players alike.
The game's popularity didn’t solely stem from its unknown creation. It offered something no other MMORPG could: an unrestricted experience. Players could select from countless classes, level up in their own unique ways, and gain skills simply by grinding. There were no limitations to what one could achieve, save for the skills they themselves possessed. If you had the money, you could buy your way to the top. But even those who had nothing to offer in terms of wealth found themselves drawn into the game's world, where grinding and exploration were all that was needed to unlock one’s true potential.
It was a paradise, an escape from the mundane. And for a time, it felt like it would last forever.
But like all things, it was destined to come to an end. A few years after the game's release, the famous players began to vanish without a trace. No one knew what happened to them. They just… disappeared. The media and ordinary people alike panicked. The faces that once dominated leaderboards and streams were now absent, like ghosts fading into oblivion. The whispers of their disappearance spread, leaving only fear in their wake.
I remember the day I saw the news on the television.
"WT... Is this real?!" A voice, filled with disbelief and shock, shouted from a frail body.
The figure, barely holding on to life, stared at the screen. A skinny man in a wheelchair, his body skeletal and pale, clutched a helmet near a coffin-like device. His eyes were wide with astonishment, reflecting the weight of the world.
"If this is true... then that means... I can loot their base!" His voice trembled with excitement, as if the thought of plundering the riches of the greatest players in the game was the only thing that gave him a reason to live.
The man was Alex—the youngest son of the richest human alive. But wealth and status couldn’t save him from the cruel hand of fate. His body was frail, consumed by a terminal illness that had robbed him of his vitality. Yet, in *Eldrich Dominion*, he could escape. He could become someone powerful, someone who ruled over worlds and kingdoms with a mere thought.
Alex wheeled himself toward the device, pressing a button on his chair. Two maids entered his room, their heads lowered in respect as they approached.
"Do you need anything, Mister Alex?" asked the first maid, her voice soft, but laced with concern.
Alex turned to face them, a wry smile pulling at his lips as he spoke. "Well, you know me... just need help to dive into the game again."
The second maid stepped closer, her voice trembling with unease. "Mister, you can’t! The doctor said the radiation isn’t good for your health."
For a long moment, Alex was silent. His eyes, once vibrant, were now hollow, as though life itself had abandoned him. His gaze fell to the ground as he spoke, his voice flat, void of hope.
"What else do you want me to do?" His voice cracked slightly, raw with emotion. "It’s not like I can do anything... I might be the youngest son of the richest man alive, but what does that matter? My life... it's worthless."
He clenched his fists tightly, his body shaking with suppressed rage.
"I never felt alive since the day I came into this world," he continued, bitterness seeping through every word. "And then the only thing I ever enjoyed... *Eldrich Dominion*... it gave me brain cancer."
His hands trembled as he placed the helmet on his head, turning to the maids with a final, weary glance.
"I just have a month left anyways..." he said, his voice a low whisper, filled with sadness. "But... well, I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me so far."
The maids stood there, silently watching as he plugged in the helmet, preparing to dive into the game that was his last escape from the cruel reality of his life.
---
[**Welcome back, The Lord of Asgard**]
A voice echoed in Alex's mind as he felt the familiar sensation of his surroundings shifting. His vision blurred and then cleared, revealing a towering figure, clad in majestic black armor. His hair was a deep brown, gleaming like polished wood, and a single, spiraling horn protruded from his forehead. His eyes, sharp and intense, glowed with a deep red-brown hue, like the embers of a dying fire.
Alex sat upon a throne crafted from the bones of forgotten gods, a seat of absolute power in a kingdom of shadows and flame. His realm was vast and unyielding, a place where even the cries of the tortured souls were like music to his ears. He was not a king; he was a tyrant—a god of destruction, waiting for the day he would reign supreme over this entire world.
As he was about to stand, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hollowed halls of his kingdom. *Tap, tap.*
A figure emerged from the darkness, tall and imposing. The figure’s eyes, a piercing shade of blue, locked onto Alex. Silver hair cascaded down his back, and in his hand, he carried a weapon of unmatched beauty: a divine sword that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow.
"My lord," the figure bowed low, his voice filled with respect, though there was a wicked gleam in his eyes. "It is an honor to see you again. What is your command for today? Shall I raise armies? Conquer more lands? Or perhaps you wish to torment the citizens of the Holy Empire?"
Alex remained silent for a moment, his gaze unwavering as he stared at the man. "Holy Empire?" His voice was laced with confusion, yet his avatar did not betray a hint of emotion.
"Yes, my lord. A few months ago, you ordered the conquest of the Holy Empire," Lucifero, his loyal general, replied, his pride evident in his posture.
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"Ah... you've done well, Lucifero," Alex said, his lips curling into a small, approving smile. "Now, tell me, what of Alisia Von Astin?" His voice dropped to a quiet murmur as he rubbed his chin in thought.
Lucifero's grin widened into something darker. "We captured her as per your instructions. But she was a tough one, my lord. We tried everything to break her spirit, but she resisted. We are still... 'persuading' her in the torture chamber."
"What?!" Alex’s eyes flared with fury, and he stood from his throne, his voice like ice. "Then what happened to the citizens of the Empire? You know we need her to lead."
The tension in the room grew heavy as Lucifero stood unmoving, his pride unshaken in the face of the wrath of his overlord. His voice, though respectful, carried a trace of doubt as he spoke, "My lord, we have conquered empires before. We’ve wiped out entire populations, burned cities to the ground. Why the concern? Have you... softened?"
"Soft?" Alex's voice boomed as he stepped forward, closing the gap between them. His glare could pierce mountains. "What do you think you're talking about? I’m surprised at your stupidity. The Holy Empire controls 35% of this continent—Dracunia. We can’t just let that go to waste."
He placed a hand on Lucifero’s shoulder, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "Do you want to test my patience?"
Lucifero’s eyes widened in shock. He knew all too well the consequences of crossing the supreme ruler. He immediately straightened and bowed deeply. "I dare not oppose you, my lord. Forgive my insolence. I will bring Alisia before you."
With a flick of his hand, Lucifero vanished, leaving Alex standing there, contemplating his reign.
---
As Alex gazed out from the grand balcony of his golden castle, overlooking a city steeped in wealth and power, he thought to himself. It had been twenty years since he first started playing *Eldrich Dominion*, and in that time, he had built an empire that spanned 30% of the planet. The world in which he ruled was massive—2,000 times the size of Earth—but still, he had conquered it all.
Admired by thousands, feared by even more, Alex had become the game’s most powerful player. No one dared to approach him. Yet, in the quiet of his heart, he wondered: had he become soft? Or had the game... become his reality?
Alex stood at the edge of the vast balcony, and every race imaginable could be found in this opulent city—each one, whether man, elf, or beast, bound by an unspoken oath of loyalty to him. His soldiers, cold-eyed and unyielding, stood at attention, ready to spill blood at his command.
The setting sun painted the sky in hues of crimson and gold, casting an ethereal light over the land. Alex’s gaze lingered on the horizon, pondering how much more this world held. What mysteries remained, waiting to be unraveled? The thought was fleeting, overshadowed by a deep sense of quiet ambition. His time was not yet over. There were still wars to wage, worlds to conquer.
As he breathed in the cool air, contemplating the vastness of his empire, a sharp voice pierced the calm.
"My lord, you are deep in thought this evening." The voice, dripping with playful affection, belonged to Gabriel, the angelic figure who had become his creation.
Turning with barely contained irritation, Alex’s cold eyes met hers. Floating before him, Gabriel’s golden eyes shimmered with mischief, her wings spread wide, as if challenging him to ignore her presence. Her black hair framed a face of near-perfect beauty, tempting even the most stoic of men.
“Gabriel,” Alex said, his tone flat, tinged with annoyance. “What is it?”
She descended gracefully, landing just before him. Her movements were deliberate, each one designed to draw his attention. With a playful bow, her lips parted in a teasing smile. “My lord, you seem distant.His thoughts were interrupted by a voice—sharp and cutting through the calm.
"Lord, are you not happy to see your most beautiful creation?s” Her words were laced with a light, almost seductive mockery, as she ran a finger across her lips.
It was true. Gabriel was breathtaking, her beauty a flawless creation—one that could command the heart of any man or woman. But to Alex, her beauty was nothing more than another tool, one among many in his empire.
"I didn't miss you, Gabriel," Alex replied dismissively, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "If I had to choose between you and Medusa, I'd pick Medusa. At least she have some decency."
Gabriel faltered for only a moment, her face momentarily twisting in hurt before she quickly masked it with a forced smile. Unbothered, Alex turned his back, heading toward his throne, the cold steel of his words hanging in the air.
Without another word, Gabriel floated behind him, hovering like an ethereal shadow, a constant presence that he could neither ignore nor escape.
As Alex settled into his throne, a shrill scream echoed through the vast hall—a woman’s voice, filled with raw fury and accusation.
“You vile wretch!” The voice screamed, each word dripping with contempt. “How dare you slaughter innocents and spread chaos throughout the Dracunia continent?!”
The source of the cry was brought before him—a woman, chained and bloodied, her body marred with the marks of countless tortures. Her defiance was as palpable as her pain. The woman’s hatred burned in her eyes as she glared at Alex, a warrior spirit unbroken even in her broken form.
Gabriel stepped forward, summoning her spear with a fluid motion, her gaze turning to Alex. It was clear she awaited permission to deal with the woman before them.
Alex raised a hand, halting her. “No,” he said calmly. “Not yet. We still have a use for her.”
The woman, Axsilia, snarled, her voice like a whip. “I’d rather die than follow you, monster. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to my people. I swear it.”
Alex’s gaze hardened, his patience thinning. He was not moved by her words. "You have no choice," he replied coldly. "Join me, and I will spare the citizens of the Holy Empire. Refuse, and—"
With a sharp snap of his fingers, a hologram appeared before Axsilia, showing a scene of slaughter. A city—her city—burning, its citizens trapped and cornered like cattle in a slaughterhouse. Screams filled the air, the scene unfolding in gruesome detail.
Axsilia's eyes widened, her resolve faltering as the brutal reality of Alex's power washed over her. The faces of the innocents, those she swore to protect, appeared before her, doomed by her refusal.
She grit her teeth, her voice trembling, but defiant. “I know your tricks, Alex. You need them to rule. You need their loyalty. Without them, what are you? Nothing but a tyrant, no different than the monsters you claim to fight. I won’t give in.”
Alex’s lips curled into a cold smile. “So that’s how you see it, Axsilia?”
He turned to Lucifero, his trusted enforcer, who nodded silently, ready to carry out his lord’s command. The room seemed to grow colder as Alex’s gaze bore into Axsilia. Without another word, the order was given.
Lucifero raised his fist, and with terrifying force, struck Axsilia. The punch sent shockwaves through the room, cracking the stone floor beneath her. As her body crumpled to the ground, Lucifero placed a foot on her head, the weight of his presence suffocating her pride.
Axsilia’s defiance didn’t falter—her eyes still gleamed with hate, even as her body lay broken before him. “It won’t matter, Alex. I will die, but I will never bow to you.”
Alex's eyes narrowed, his voice steady and unyielding. "No, Axsilia. You will live. And if you refuse to join me..." His fingers snapped again, and the scene in the hologram shifted, showing the destruction of the entire empire.
Axsilia's heart skipped a beat as she watched her people—her soldiers, her citizens—fall, torn apart by beasts and crushed under the weight of his unrelenting army. The skies rang with screams, the ground painted red with blood. The once-proud empire was reduced to nothing.
“No... please…” Axsilia’s voice cracked as she fell to her knees, tears welling in her eyes. “I’ll join you. Please, don’t let them die. They’re innocent. They didn’t deserve this.”
But Alex’s gaze remained cold, the flicker of empathy nowhere to be found. His empire had its price, and Axsilia was learning it the hard way. The massacre continued, each life extinguished with the brutal efficiency of a man who knew no mercy.
Finally, the carnage ceased. The screams faded into silence, leaving only the death-ridden landscape in its wake. Axsilia, broken and devoid of spirit, could only look at the ruin around her, the faces of the millions who had perished.
Alex, unbothered by her suffering, spoke once more. "So, will you join me now? I didn’t kill everyone. Just a small city of yours. Perhaps your hometown?” His voice was laced with cruel amusement.
Her body, once full of fire, now sat lifeless in front of him. Her soul had been shattered beyond repair. And yet, Alex’s words seemed to linger, echoing in the empty space between them.
A series of notifications flashed before Alex’s eyes, the cold mechanical hum of his system always a welcome companion.
*Ding*
[Congratulations, you have acquired the trait: Pure Evil.]
*Ding*
[Congratulations, you are the first person in the world to have killed 300 billion people.]
*Ding*
*Ding*
*Ding*
A warning appeared, causing Alex to raise an eyebrow.
*Warning*
[You have enraged the Goddess of the Holy Empire. The Curse of the Goddess will now be applied to you.]
"huh what?!"
