《Isekai: The Sealed Sorcerer’s Game》 Chapter 1: A Second Chance
The rumble of thunder echoed as a flash of lightning illuminated the night. Kaito Shirogane abruptly opened his eyes, overwhelmed by unbearable dizziness. His entire body was numb, a dull pain radiating from head to toe. An unfamiliar smell, a mixture of dust and ancient magic, lingered in the air. He forced himself to move, but even that required considerable effort. He was lying on a cold, hard floor, surrounded by a barely etched magic circle. He brought a trembling hand to his face and saw blackened veins running along his skin, evidence of a body weakened by time and sealed magic. "Where... am I?" His voice was hoarse, unrecognizable. Memories flooded his mind, a torrent of visions and emotions that took his breath away. He was no longer Kaito Shirogane, a simple office worker in Japan. He now inhabited the body of Aldir, the Grand Archmage, once the most powerful sorcerer in this world. But this power had been taken from him, sealed away for centuries. Now, he could access only a tiny fraction of his former strength, less than one percent of what he once possessed. But that wasn''t all. Other memories resurfaced, dark and filled with resentment. The betrayal. Aldir had been betrayed by his own disciples, those he had trained, the companions with whom he had built a magical empire... they had abandoned him. No, worse, they had destroyed him. Kaito felt a mix of anger and detachment. This wasn''t him. These memories didn''t truly belong to him, but they were embedded in every fiber of this body. He could feel Aldir''s bitterness, his rage, but he wasn''t Aldir. Yet, he understood the injustice. His fists clenched despite his weakness. "They erased him from history. They took everything he had built. They betrayed him and locked him away like a monster. And now, this body belongs to me... but what can I really do in this miserable state?" He took a deep breath. But Aldir was dead. He, Kaito, was alive. This was his second chance. He tried to stand, but his body was so weak that he collapsed heavily onto the floor. A violent coughing fit shook his body, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He hadn''t just lost his strength; he could barely move. He needed time, and this world would likely grant him no respite. Slowly, he crawled toward a nearby wall and leaned against the cold stone. His thoughts raced. He needed to understand this world before acting, to discover what had happened after Aldir''s fall. If his former disciples still reigned, they might recognize him. He could still be hunted.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. He placed a trembling hand on the ground and closed his eyes. The surrounding magical energy was weak, fragmented. But he could still feel a faint connection... a glimmer of hope. "If I can''t regain my power directly... then I''ll have to draw it from elsewhere." He thought deeply. How could he achieve this? He needed a stable and continuous method to amass mana without arousing suspicion. His gaze fell on the old scrolls he had discovered in a dusty chest. One of them, particularly ancient, spoke of advanced illusion magic, a technique allowing the creation of entire worlds through a magical core. This text awakened a distant memory: that of video games from his former world. Kaito had a revelation. A game. A virtual universe where he would control all the rules, where he could attract people without them realizing they were giving him their excess mana. The logic was undeniable. This world was governed by brute force and the politics of magical guilds. He couldn''t simply emerge and reclaim supremacy. But a game... a game was a system in which he dictated every interaction. In such a structure, he could not only shape his own domain but also manipulate players into providing him with mana unknowingly. However, his system couldn''t be a burden. Instead of directly stealing players'' mana, he realized he could siphon only their excess mana, the unused energy that would otherwise dissipate into the air. Thus, players would experience no negative effects and could even experiment with spells that would otherwise be impossible in reality. A game wouldn''t be perceived as a threat. A game would attract thousands of people ready to invest their time and energy. And every incantation, every spell cast within this illusion would allow him to convert this surplus mana into power, slowly but surely. He grimaced. Creating such a system would require enormous preparation. He had neither resources, nor information, nor immediate means to act. He had to survive first. Gathering his remaining strength, he searched for something useful. His eyes scanned the room, noting every crack and debris. Behind a collapsed wall, he found an old wooden chest. At the cost of considerable effort, he managed to open it and discovered several ancient scrolls and a stone imbued with faint traces of mana. "With this, I can maybe start..." he murmured, grasping the stone in his palm. But that wouldn''t be enough. He needed food, a safer shelter, and above all, a way to avoid being discovered too soon. Staying hidden was the priority. He spent several hours analyzing the old scroll, searching for formulas that would allow him to engrave runes even with his limited energy. His breathing became shallow as he attempted to draw a rudimentary magic circle on the ground using a piece of charcoal he had found nearby. Every movement exhausted him, but failure was not an option. "The game will start here. For now, it will be basic... but once I''ve siphoned enough mana, I''ll develop it into the greatest illusion ever created." The players'' mana would become his energy source. The more they played, the more powerful he would become. He had only one thing left to do: send his invitations. He hesitated. Should he really rush? A single mistake and he risked exposing himself to potential enemies. He had to choose his targets carefully, send his invitations without arousing suspicion. A sly smile formed on his tired face. It would be long. It would be difficult. But it was nothing compared to what he had already endured. "Let''s see who will be my first pawns..." Chapter 2: First Players, First Experiences Kaito observed the magical circle he had drawn on the ground. Before his game could be fully operational, he had to ensure everything was functioning correctly. He sat cross-legged and sank into his thoughts. He couldn''t create a world as vast and detailed as the MMORPGs from his former life. Here, everything had to be designed according to the rules of magic. His goal was not only to offer a playground but also to build a system that would allow him to gradually regain his power. Every spell cast by a player would provide him with mana, but he needed the players to be engaged enough to explore and progress. "A game where magic is at the center of everything... and where each individual must discover their own path," he murmured. He infused part of his energy into the illusion and began shaping the environment. A vast plain, bordered by enchanted forests and mysterious ruins. At the center, a rudimentary village where players could gather. Further away, hunting areas populated by weak creatures: wandering goblins, spectral wolves, and a few elemental slimes. Then, he set up several essential NPCs: Finally, he created a point of interest: an ancient tower, visible from anywhere in the plain. Its intriguing presence would naturally entice players to explore it later. He took a deep breath and placed his hand on the ground, initiating the process that would discreetly send invitations to individuals in this world. The illusion was set, ready to be explored. A strange wind swept across the plain, lifting a thin veil of golden dust. One by one, glowing fragments appeared, materializing the first players. The manifestation was not immediate. For a few moments, the space seemed to slightly distort, as if the fabric of reality hesitated before stabilizing. Then, gradually, silhouettes began to take form¡ªfirst blurry, then clearer. A stocky man with muscular arms looked around, confused. A young woman dressed in a mage¡¯s robe immediately analyzed her surroundings. A nervous-looking teenager stared at his trembling hands, breathing heavily. They exchanged glances, searching for bearings, before their attention was drawn to a floating luminous panel in front of them, projecting golden letters into the air: Welcome to the Domain of Arcana. Beneath this inscription, a simple directive was displayed: Explore, learn, and grow. The stocky man was the first to react. He scanned his surroundings, visibly agitated, before clenching his fist and growling: "What the hell is this? I was just drinking peacefully, and now¡­ bam, I¡¯m here!" The mage frowned. She opened a floating interface in front of her and examined her status:If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. She murmured, more to herself than to the others, "A real progression system¡­ it¡¯s far more complex than I expected." The teenager, still hesitant, timidly raised his hand and attempted a spell. A faint glow appeared briefly before fading instantly. He swallowed hard before stammering, "Ah¡­ I think I¡¯m really bad at magic¡­" Alissia, seemingly more pragmatic, carefully observed the surroundings. They were in a vast clearing where the ground was scattered with worn paving stones, remnants of an ancient road. Further away, a path snaked toward a village where a few smoke trails lazily rose into the sky. "Well. This isn¡¯t a dream. We need to understand where we are and how we can progress." The stocky man shrugged. "Yeah¡­ If we¡¯re here, might as well see what this is about." The group moved cautiously toward the village, curiosity mixed with wariness. As they approached, the environment came to life. The wind carried woody scents, the trees rustled gently in the breeze, and in the distance, the sound of a hammer striking iron could be heard. Upon reaching the village outskirts, a simple-clad NPC approached them with a friendly smile. His voice was warm, though slightly mechanical: "Welcome, travelers! You seem lost, but don¡¯t worry, this village is a good starting point for any adventurer. You¡¯ll find equipment, training grounds, and if you¡¯re looking for work, our quest board will surely help." The stocky man crossed his arms. "How come he talks like he''s reading from a script? He looks human, but something feels off¡­" He squinted at the man. "He talks like a real person¡­ but he doesn¡¯t react like one." Alissia ignored his comment and continued her observations. Everything was astonishingly well-structured. The buildings, though simple, were logically arranged. A bit further, a circular space likely served as a training ground, and at the village¡¯s center stood a large stone fountain, around which other NPCs gathered. The teenager, still nervous, murmured, "This is strange¡­ It feels like a trial set up by a higher entity¡­ but everything seems so real." A new prompt suddenly appeared before them, a simple floating text box proposing their first quest:
Magic Beginners: Test your first spell at the training grounds.
Alissia wasted no time. She accepted the quest with a simple gesture and turned to her companions. "We should try it. If we need to understand this world, we might as well follow the steps." They headed toward the training grounds, each still skeptical of their situation. As they approached, a hooded figure passed nearby, observing their arrival with a keen eye. He was another NPC, an old man with a piercing gaze, leaning against a stone wall. "Newcomers, huh¡­ Hmph. I hope they won¡¯t be as incompetent as the last ones." Ignoring the man for now, the group continued until they reached the training grounds. Before them lay a wide area of packed earth, surrounded by wooden stakes engraved with runic symbols. Another text box appeared:
Use your first magic skill on one of the training dummies.
Alissia stepped forward first. She raised her hand and cast her spell: a flame shot from her palm and struck a wooden dummy. The impact was minor, but the dummy briefly lit up with a red glow, signaling success. The stocky man grimaced. "Magic¡­ Not sure I like this." He attempted to punch one of the dummies, but nothing happened. The teenager hesitated for a moment, then timidly raised his hand. A small green light appeared before vanishing instantly. "Did that work?" he asked uncertainly. Another dialogue box appeared before them:
You have completed the first step. Continue training to improve your skills.
As they prepared to try again, a new presence emerged. A figure cloaked in dark robes slowly approached, his face hidden beneath a hood. His voice was hoarse and measured. "You¡­ are novices?" The group turned to him, wary. Alissia was the first to respond. "Who are you?" The man didn¡¯t answer immediately. He examined each of them as if assessing them before speaking again. "You want to become stronger? Then stop wasting time here. True power isn¡¯t obtained by casting spells on wood." Without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of an alley. A heavy silence fell. The stocky man raised an eyebrow. "What a nice welcome." The teenager swallowed hard. "He seemed¡­ strange." Alissia pondered for a moment before making a decision. "We should see where he went. If we want to understand this world, we need to explore every aspect of it." Meanwhile, Kaito remained hidden behind his illusion, observing. This was only the beginning, and already, the players'' first choices were shaping their destiny.