The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 1

Fifteen years.

It was a long enough time for a single drop of water to bore a hole through a great rock.

I had invested all of that long time into a game.

It wasn't as if I was short on money, nor did I have any particular goals I wanted to achieve in life.

That's not to say I was a famous ranker or incredibly well-known for some unique playstyle.

Although I had been playing the game since it was first released, I had only ever played the tutorial.

I had no complaints.

It was the choice I made, and I had fun.

In any case, after fifteen years of playing the tutorial, I was confident that I had enjoyed everything there was to enjoy here.

In other words, I had run out of things to do.

So, I spoke to the system, intending to finally move on to the main game.

-Impossible.

This thing that looked like a lightbulb told me it was impossible.

Dumbfounded, I asked why it wasn't possible.

The system answered my question as if I had asked something obvious.

-Because as of today, Pantheon is terminating its service.

Even more dumbfounded, I stared blankly at the system.

But contrary to my feelings, my mind quickly raced to a conclusion.

'No matter what I do here, nothing will change.'

Still, I was curious about the reason, so I asked.

I felt like I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully at night if I didn't hear why.

But the answer that came back was truly something else.

To be precise, it was too much like a fantasy.

-Because Pantheon has fulfilled its role.

"What role?"

-The role of preparing you for the reality to come.

"The reality to come?"

-Yes. From now on, you all must enter dungeons that will appear in reality and fight monsters.

After hearing that, I gave a single nod and calmly opened my mouth.

"......This is so absurd that I'm actually becoming calm."

(End of Chapter)