I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

Azure Federation.

Iron Tower City.

Universal time, morning, 7:45 AM.

Polaris took a deep breath and stepped into the sleep pod.

He propped himself up on the frame of the pod's door, turned his head to look outside the room at the dishes on the living room table that he hadn't had time to wash, and sighed.

He had woken up early today, excited, all for the public beta launch of "Era of Mystery." After waiting for more than two months, the day had finally arrived.

Polaris lay down in the sleep pod, the door slowly closed, nutrient solution started pouring in, streaming over his face. As the signal from the equipment connected, he gradually sank into a dream.

"Grandma's illness, the doctors said it could be cured, but she needs an amputation... I want to get her mechanical prostheses, so she might not be so sad.

But that requires a lot of money... If possible, one must not take out loans from the Consortium, the interest is too high, impossible to repay.

This game is my hope. With my many years of gaming experience, I can certainly make a name for myself inside. Earn enough money, cure grandma's illness, take her away from Iron Tower City, go to a better city in the Federation, live a good life...!"

Several thoughts flashed through Polaris's mind.

[User "Polaris" is requesting access...]

[Connecting to game...]

[Connection successful!]

[Loading...]

[Load successful!]

In the darkness, the sound of wind began to appear around his ears.

A glimmer of light shone, transforming into a kerosene lamp, hanging above his head, illuminating the small area.

"Huh, I don't remember this thing from the beta test."

He curiously let out a soft exclamation.

Below the faint glow of the kerosene lamp, there was a vintage full-length mirror standing in front of him.

Polaris walked over and looked at his reflection in the mirror.

In the mirror was an ordinary man, with short black hair, plain features, but with a gaze that held an extra bit of determination.

He was dressed in slacks and a high-collared white shirt, with a Mechanical Glove on his hands and a Firearm slung at his waist.

[Do you wish to load the beta save "Polaris"?]

"Yes."

Polaris confirmed.

The next second, he felt himself take on a form and tactile sensation.

He looked down to examine himself and discovered that his body had inherited the image from the mirror, exactly the character he played during the beta test.

Polaris continued to walk forward, and the full-length mirror beside him collapsed like a sandcastle, turned into fine sand and drifted away, disappearing into the darkness.

The kerosene lamp above his head went out, and another lit up ahead, seemingly guiding the way forward.

Polaris followed the light, walking steadily ahead.

Soon, a rush of intense light covered his vision, everything he could see was white.

Boom!

There was a sudden shock in his mind.

Immediately after, Polaris found that his vision returned to normal.

But now he was high in the sky, looking down below.

Around him were wisps of mist like clouds, and from the heavens, light pierced through the clouds forming a holy and solemn column of light.

Below was an expansive and majestic complex of buildings that seemed to be a city.

"This is..."

He was astonished, unable to speak.
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"Yes... this is Tresor, the homeland of the Sun, the central land bathed in direct sunlight..."

A pure and young woman's voice rang out in Polaris's mind.

She described emotionlessly, as if talking to herself, yet also like a narrator.

"...This is the land cherished by the Gods, a place blessed by the Gods."

As the woman's voice faded, Polaris thought he could vaguely see a young woman in a golden palace, kneeling on the ground, whispering softly.

Without any introduction, he inexplicably came to know the young woman's identity and name—

The Sun King's daughter, Anna Tresor.

The mist in front of Polaris began to swirl.

Whoosh...!

As the clouds parted again, the scene that emerged showed various other cities, towns, and villages, each distinct, full of the charm of diversity.

After a flash, the scene settled on a grand and solemn church. Like a towering spire, its peak adorned with Angels holding baskets of fruit, surrounding a central Goddess.

In the baskets were all the ripe, sweet Red Apples.

"This is the Red Apple Church..."

Polaris thought to himself.

Above the scene, a series of comments floated by.

"Awesome! These buildings can only be seen in the game!" "Red Apple Church!" "The Seven Righteous God Churches are truly prestigious..." "That Jack's scummy church got destroyed!" "What Jack?!"

Seeing the barrage of comments, Polaris realized that these scenes appearing before him were from the game's intro CG, the official trailer.

"Mystic Realm, touching the Transcendent... Climb the Sequence, the path to godhood..."

The pure woman's voice whispered on.

The scene shifted to a lavish yet feminine room.

A man with green hair, bare-chested and wearing only a pair of burlap trousers, walked to a bookcase, pulling out a thick volume, his face revealing an excited smile.

Behind him, on the large bed, one could see half of a woman's body, seemingly asleep.

Comments flew past—

"Gan Ziwen! My idol!" "Who's this ugly dude?" "Protect our great commander with the Lost Names!" "One of the two Transcendents in the beta test?" "Madam, you don't want your husband to be laughed at for being too short, right?" "Got it! I'll ascend next!"

Polaris showed a look of surprise; he hadn't expected that the intro CG would feature players from the beta test.