Hey guys....I guess writer's block hasn't hit me yet as I've roughly decided where I want the first 2 arcs of this story to go to. I know this chapter still leaves many questions unanswered and we still dont know quite enough about the MC yet but give it time. Since i'm writing this story through the MC and other's thoughts you'll gain information gradually throughout the story.

Also remember that many chapters that have been posted may be unclean and need to be cleaned soon. I actually wrote a few of these earlier chapters on my phone but have been slowly trying to make everything much more clean and acceptable for you guys. That's why some grammar and so muny spelling errors occur. Hope you enjoy and remember hopefully by the end of this arc I will go back and clean everything up for everyone.

PS>>> I know you guys are eager to get to the Fantasy and RPG world soon and I can't blame ya that's the best part but after going over it i need to properly hash out Kayle's humble beginnings first. I promise it won't take long as I'm still not giving you the full scoop on our dark and troubled Hero MC. I wanted to give you a glimpse into his thoughts and struggles first before showing certain information about him. So.......hang in there just a little longer haha.

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Chapter 1: All Alone Now

‘It’s been nine months since that day. Hah, I still can’t seem to get those images out of my head.’

Kayle remained still and seated on a small wooden chair in his living room. He is holding something small and shiny in his hand while it was attached to a small, matching silver chain that wrapped around his neck. Twisting the small cross-shaped necklace between his fingers, this was one of the last keep sakes from his deceased mother. Images of fire and sounds of sirens flashed periodically through his mind while he sat there quietly.

The time is roughly 5 a.m. in the morning and the light from the sun has just started to creep in through the window that had no curtains drawn to block it. He had been sitting in the dark for hours.

‘Ughhhh, get out of there!’ I thought to myself quietly while rubbing my head. The doctors gave me medicine to help me sleep apparently, but they didn’t work at all. They are supposed to have the added affect of suppressing dreams in a way, but that didn’t happen either, and even if the medicine did work, it’s not like they could do anything about the nightmares that plague my thoughts during the day. To be honest, I haven’t had a good night's rest since.....

*Beep! Beep! Beep !*

‘My alarm...Guess it’s time to go training’. I wasted none of my time in these last nine months. I gained a decent sum of money from the renter’s insurance I purchased from a while back. Living in the neighborhood I'm at, one would have to be an idiot to not have it. I eventually quit all of my jobs and used some of the money to pay for a gym membership at a local boxing gym. As I threw on a hoodie, I walked to my front door and looked into the mirror that stood beside it to check my appearance before leaving. My body has changed these past several months too it seems. My muscles were very broad and much more defined while also having a somewhat unhealthy skin color to them. Bags that lay under my eyes had shown I hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Ha....what else is new? Since the medication I was given didn’t help much I learned the only way to get my body to sleep is to physically wear it down until it would finally pass out. Before I would climb into bed every night, I began doing pushups after pushups until my body would eventually shuts down and I’d pass out on the floor. I guess I haven’t gotten much use out of this new bed I bought either.

Walking out of my apartment, I began to jog down the hallway and down the stairs for a warm up before I got to the Zhen Fe’s Boxing Gym. This gym was opened decades ago by the founder Zhen Fe, a former legendary of Muay Thai boxer that made it big overseas and brought his unrivaled fighting style into the states. I decided it would be beneficial of me to learn some form of fighting instead of just relying on my brute strength or past experiences. I needed to become stronger......I had to!

Thinking these thoughts, my face began to turned grim as I jogged past the front desk of the apartment building heading outside.

“Oh...Mr. Shaw! We have some mail for you today if you don’t mind picking it up!” said the granny behind the front counter. She was is the landlord of this apartment building that I had moved into a few months back.

“Oh? Well, alright I guess.” I stopped my jog and headed back to the front counter to receive the pieces of mail in the old granny’s hands. Picking them up and skimming through the spam mail, I noticed one of the letters is rather.......extravagant for a normal piece of mail. Such an odd piece of mail didn’t match the others. Sitting the other letters on the counter I opened up the envelope by tearing the strip off the top.....It’s a card? I opened it up....

“Vhoooooo!!!! Congratulations!!!!” Confetti burst into the air covering the surroundings, myself, and granny in glitter and pieces of paper. Wait, what was that whistling sound, and that voice....where did that come from? The card?

“Umm, what?” said the granny now covered in sparkly colors looking around her counter that is now caked with a thick layer of party supplies. “......” I remained silent as I have absolutely no idea what is going on. Who sent this letter?

As I read the contents of the page I see in big bold letters on the heading, “Global Mythos”. If I remember correctly, that is the major corporation that invented Divine and Conquer Online. After skimming through the letter, I get the gist of what they want from me. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been contacted by this company before. However, this is the first time receiving a letter this.....bizarre.

"Dear Mr. Shaw! Congratulations on your amazing achievements in Divine and Conquer Online!

We would love for a chance to meet with you at your earliest convenience. We understand that due

to the rigors of everyday life you must be truly busy. However, we would love to share with you an

amazing opportunity to you and you alone. We wait eagerly for your reply and look forward to

meeting with you!"

From the office of the President of Global Mythos

- Let The Games Begin!

Not a normal way to end a letter, but that is however letter I have gotten from them ends.....- Let the games begin. I guess if your world famous gaming company it’s normal. I didn’t really pay it much mind though.

“Well, I guess someone else decided to send you a birthday card this year, though I’ve never seen one that shoots out party favors and sounds. I surely can’t top something like that, but here.... I got you something as well. Happy Birthday, Mr. Shaw!” The granny behind the counter handed me another card from behind the desk and presented it to me.

“Huh? Birthday? Oh yah ha ha. I guess it is my birthday huh, I guess I forgot all about it.” Today I had just turned 19, my how the time has flown by. It feels like only yesterday I was celebrating my younger siblings’ birthdays. Upon thinking that to myself, I drew my eyes downward while making a wry smile with my mouth.

“Well, I know it’s not much but I just wanted to show you I was thinking about you. Apparently my granddaughter Rebecca was also planning on baking you something special later, so try to act surprised hahaha!.” Granny made one of her big smiles after handing me the card she taken the time to writer for me. Though it is a small form a kindness, even kindness I’m not use to, I don’t think too much into it.

I guess it takes a lot for me to smile these days, heck even food eventually lost its taste as well to me. Though granny and Rebecca had always been so kindhearted to me, it tended to always get shoved under the rug of my torn heart.

“Ah, well thank you this means a lot, I won’t be back till later so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to eat it today” - Kayle

“ Oh don’t worry about that, it’s your birthday you probably have loads a plans, to get to I’ll bring it up and leave it in your apartment building later. I’ll let Rebecca know, now what are we going to do about this ridiculous mess from that first envelope you opened”. - Granny

“Ahhh that.......” after looking around the surroundings saying that I noticed just how much of a mess this stupid card I got made.

“I’ve never seen a card like that before it really looks like a lot of work went into making it....Hmm well how’s this I can see your in a rush to go work out, how about I just clean this up and consider this your birthday gift yah?”

“Seriously....I’m guessing technology these days just keep on advancing. Even for something as miniscule as the greeting card business has had to step their game up. And that would honestly be great because I’m kinda running late”

“Think nothing of it; have a great birthday Mr. Shaw!!!” Granny said as she waved at me goodbye and turning to the mess I had left her. She really is sweet lady now that I think about it.

As I exit the building, I placed the letter granny gave me into my pocket and began jogging again. I didn’t even open it to read it....It’s not like it would matter anyway.....

‘Eh....I’ll read it later I guess, she did go through the trouble of making it for me.’

As I continued jogging down the loan sidewalk, the sun had raised a short time ago. I like these morning jogs; the cool breeze against my face feels calming to my skin. I close my eyes for a minute to enjoy the gentle breeze blowing against my face.

“Bro...Brother. Ple..Please save meh me.....AHH gahchah” Screams of my younger sister Kaylan and horrifying images began to consume my thoughts as the memory I do not want to re-live keeps popping back up.

“Hahahaha. So weak....hehehehahaha!” - ?

‘Hmmm.....guess I can’t even get a break from this while I’m awake either.....figures.’ As I open up my eyes, I had already been jogging for some time while the waking nightmares periodically flashed through my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed, but I had already reached Zhen Fe’s Gym. It had a huge statue of Zhen Fe in his glory days with the title of ‘The Emperor’ on a plaque that was placed on the statues base. It was early so the only people there were usually me and Zhen Fe. After entering into the gym, I walk over to my own personal corner I had been training at for a few months now. I began swinging at the punching bag that had been chained to the ceiling. Since this was mine alone, Zhen Fe usually left me to myself for my morning exercises before we begin sparring with other trainees and instructors who showed up later.

*Bam!!!! Bam!!! BAM!!!!*

Swing after swing, I concentrated my punches directly into the center of the bag that had multiple tape and scrape marks covering it.

*Bam!! BAM!!!! BAAAAM!!!! ching ching chinglingigling!!!*

After the last swing the bag left its stationary point and swung upwards towards the ceiling causing loud rattlings noises from the chain that was holding it. This bag was one of the heaviest ones this gym had. It wasn’t used by trainees much so it was practically brand new when I got to it. However over just a couple days the lining holding the leather in place from the bag began to tear and rip over the consecutive punches and kicks I had been laying into it.

Although it had a good weight to it, it still felt too light. It didn’t have enough weight to receive some of my blows that were concentrated on single points for extended periods of time. The bag I was using is now beat up. But isn’t that what it’s for?

Master Fe always said.....”When you’re angry, hit the bag. When you’re hungry and want something to eat, hit the bag. When you’re tired....come hit the bag. When you’re bored....come hit the bag. I had drilled these words into memory as I had used these lifeless punching bags as outlets for my intense hatred for months now. It wasn’t going to hold up much longer though I could tell. My punches and kicks had gained tremendous power after learning to use my weight appropriately by changing my fighting stance. I had also learned new breathing techniques that had made my core stronger than it ever had been. It was true....I was much stronger than I once was, but it’s still not enough.

As the bag began to fall back down into place, I lowered my stance and tried to land a strike on the center of the bag while rotating my body and aiming my shin at the center position.

*“THWACKKKK! ...... BAMMMMM!!!!!!!”*

The power from my spin kick that landed at the same point I had been swinging at for hours now connected perfectly with my shin and sent the bag flying. Breaking the chain that held it in place, the bag flew back and crashed into the wall behind it making a lot of noise.

“WOW!” Apparently Zhen Fe and several trainers and trainees had eventually entered into the gym and had been watching me without me noticing. Looking back at them I could see why they would be surprised. The chain didn't tear the bag so much as the force from my kick broke the clamp that was connected to the ceiling that chain was connected to.

‘Wow....that is pretty crazy. Even I’m surprised at my growth, but I could swear for a brief moment it felt like the air around me split open before sending tiny tremors and shockwaves after my leg connected with the center bag. Damn....I’m starting to feel like a badass already.........No.....It’s still not enough.

Memories again began to flood into my thoughts, reminding me of my lack of strength.

“Hey Shaw!.... How’s about you and I go a couple rounds today?” said one of the instructors who worked under Zhen Fe while breaking me away from my dark twisted thoughts.

After hours of swinging and sweat dripping from my body, I am hardly tired at all. I looked down at my taped wrists and hands and began to clinch my fists.

I swiveled my head to the side while not even facing the instructor and said in a quiet voice that could only be heard by those who were paying attention to me.

“Hope you’re prepared.....”