Chapter 1: Lucky
The evening sun bled across the sky, painting the clouds with streaks of orange and crimson. Crows cawed in the distance as a boy lay alone in the grass, arms behind his head, staring blankly at the horizon.
"Why is it always me?" he muttered. "Guess I really am the unluckiest person alive... or whatever this place calls life."
His name was Lucky, though irony clung to it like a curse. He didn't belong to this world not really. Somewhere deep inside, he remembered another place, another life. One with purpose. One he desperately wanted to return to.
With a sigh, Lucky stood, brushing dirt from his simple shirt. "No point lying around." He made his way to the small wooden hut he called home, picked up his axe, and headed into the forest. The trees waited, and so did the measly wages he earned by cutting them down.
Thud. Thud.
Each swing of his axe echoed in the quiet woods, sweat trailing down his brow as day gave way to dusk. By the time he bundled the logs and slung them over his shoulder, darkness had fallen, and a cool breeze crept through the trees.
Then rustle.
Lucky froze. Something was moving in the bushes.
"Don't tell me... a ghost?" he whispered.
From the shadows emerged an old man. His long white hair swayed with the wind, and he leaned heavily on a wooden staff.
Lucky took a cautious step back. "Who are you?"
The old man gave a soft smile. "Would you like to enter the Trials and claim the power of Clovir?"
Lucky blinked. "What do you mean? What trials? What power?"
"In simpler terms," the man said, "Would you like superpowers?"
There was a pause.
"...Superpowers?" Lucky echoed.
"Exactly. Follow me, if you dare."
The old man turned, walking slowly into the forest. Lucky hesitated. Was this a trap? A dream? Still... something about the man felt real. Right, even.
With cautious steps, Lucky followed.
They arrived at a clearing, where a glowing portal swirled with blue energy, casting light over the trees.
"What... is that?" Lucky asked.
"A door to your destiny," the old man said. "You can step through, or walk away. It's your choice." Without another word, he vanished into the shadows.
Lucky stared at the portal. "He said if I want to..." His hands clenched. "Damn it."
He stepped forward and entered.
The world twisted.
He stood before a massive temple floating in a glitched space, surrounded by shattered stars and void. All around him were statues monsters, gods, cosmic beings carved in ancient stone.
"This place is insane," Lucky whispered. "What kind of power could possibly come from "
A sudden crash cut him off. The ground trembled.
From behind a statue emerged a grotesque creature with four legs, two glowing eyes, and jagged claws. It roared, saliva dripping from its fangs.
Lucky's heart pounded. "Monster!" He ran to the temple doors but they slammed shut behind him.
Trapped.
He backed away, falling to the ground. "That old man... is this what he wanted? For me to die?"
Tears welled in his eyes.
"Why always me...?"
A sudden surge of light exploded before him. A white golden sword appeared, floating inches from the ground, wrapped in divine energy. Lucky reached out, grasping it as warmth surged through his veins.
The monster lunged.
With a cry, Lucky swung the blade. Light split the air as the sword cleaved through the beast's head. Blood sprayed across his face as the monster collapsed, lifeless.
Lucky dropped to his knees, panting. His hand trembled.
"This sword... it's not normal."
He looked around but the temple was fading, dissolving into nothingness. In a blink, he was back in the forest. The portal was gone. Silence returned.
Lucky let out a long breath.
"...What the hell just happened?"