Power of Runes

Chapter 1 - 1: Transmigration

The world dissolved around Ash after he killed the final boss monster in the game Apocalypse Online.

"I did it.....I actually did it," he muttered, grinning so wide that his cheeks hurt as he struggled to suppress a laugh.

Golden letters filled the air around him with "Victory" written everywhere in shining brilliance.

{You are the first person to complete the game}

{First clear reward will be given}

Ash was jumping with excitement in the place he stood.

When the World's first real life VR game was released the whole world was thrown into chaos.

The graphics inside the game was 100% real, so was the pain.

Even the game company itself was shocked by the overwhelming success of their creation.

Apocalypse Online became a global sensation, played by everyone—even a 20-year-old unemployed orphan like Ash.

Inside the game you can experience magic and all sorts of adventure that is not possible in real life.

But most importantly, the game company had promised a jaw-dropping reward to the first player to clear it: 10% of the company's shares.

"Just Imagine the money I will get, I won't have to worry about money for rest of my life"

But in the five years since the game's release, people have forgotten about it because defeating the boss was extremely difficult.

Ash barely managed to stop himself from jumping out of his VR pod and dancing all over his Room.

But his happiness was short lived,

{First clear reward: 'WISH'}

{You can wish for anything, it will be granted}

His cheeky grin faltered, the glimmer of mischief in his eyes fading into a distant, blank expression.

"Is it a joke?" he muttered,

The silence that followed only confirmed it, heavy and suffocating.

"Shit."

His voice trembled with frustration, his hands curling into fists.

"Those fuckers... Do they really think it's funny? To pull something like this?"

Anger burned in his chest, but it wasn't the fiery kind that fueled action—it was the kind that clawed at his insides, helpless and raw.

He clenched his jaw, his words now laced with bitterness.

"Of course, it's just a game to them. People like that—they have money, power, and all the privilege in the world to make someone else's life their goddamn playground."

The weight of reality sank in as his shoulders slumped.

Accepting his defeat, he let out a long, tired sigh.

"There's nothing I can do to them," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, "In this world, money and power are everything. And I have neither."

Ash knew the world was cruel—he had witnessed it firsthand, living alone after his parents' death when he was just 10 years old.

He had been bulli—

{Speak your wish}

Ash Scoffed, "Yeah, sure. If possible just Transmigrate me, it's a dream of every novel reader", his voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Should I demand compensation for emotional damage I suffered due to this prank" he muttered.

The prank killed his excitement, so he left the game to boast about his first clear on the game forum.

His figure transformed into blur as he left the game.

In the reward room just as Ash left the game, a mechanical voice spoke,

{Analysis of Ash Burn's memories is completed.....

A screen flashed before his eyes, glowing with soft blue light.

**