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“What do you think?”
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer hums thoughtfully, considering the draft.]
I waited nervously for my investor’s response.
This was only a draft, but I had spent three sleepless nights crafting it. Failure wasn’t an option.
If he rejected it, not only would I have to start over, but I’d also have to break the news to my Constellation. She had looked utterly drained after our last meeting—I couldn’t bear to tell her we’d have to redo the entire thing.
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer points to the character of villain Orpheus, modeled after himself.]
“Yes, I’m listening,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
Was he upset about being cast as a villain?
He had given me free rein, but if he changed his mind now…
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer says it’s not a problem, but he asks why the character fakes his death and assumes a false identity in the beginning.]
“Oh, that part?”
Relief washed over me. At least he wasn’t angry about being used as a villain.
“The purpose of that twist is to deliver a shocking and memorable moment for the players. It’s designed to make Orpheus stand out in their minds.”
As a villain, Orpheus needed to be both infuriating and unforgettable. His ultimate departure had to be compelling enough to leave a lasting impression.
If the character resonated with players, more Constellations would be willing to participate in future episodes.
To achieve that, we needed a villain that was worth the effort.
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer asks if players might find the narrative confusing.]
“That’s not a concern,” I reassured him. “In the climax, Orpheus’s backstory will be revealed, tying everything together.”
The first major story episode of [Akashic Archive], titled [Orpheus of the Abyss], was a monumental undertaking.
In this episode, Orpheus, one of the seven dark gods of the Abyss—known as the Seven Harbingers of Destruction—would be the main antagonist.
Throughout the episode, Orpheus would relentlessly obstruct the protagonist’s journey.
Empowered by the Abyss, he would remain independent of the narrative constraints binding other characters, presenting a persistent and escalating threat.
In the climactic battle, after defeating Orpheus, the protagonist would glimpse his memories and uncover the tragic story of his past.
“And once the story unfolds, Orpheus’s love, Saintess Cartesia—Kate—will also be deeply etched into the players’ minds,” I explained.
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer nods in understanding.]
[Wrathful Magitech Engineer says he is satisfied as long as her image is well-established among the public.]
“I assure you, it will exceed your expectations,” I replied confidently.
A love that kills a Constellation.
A man who embraced villainy for the sake of the woman he loved.
To the people of this world, who were unaccustomed to such stories, this narrative would sear itself into their memories.
It was the perfect recipe for emotional resonance.
***
Schuteral Empire
The Imperial Palace at the heart of the capital
Deep within its grand halls, Crown Prince Raizeol locked himself away in his chambers.
“Ensure that no one enters,” he commanded.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guards tightened their vigilance as the prince shut the door behind them. With a spring in his step, he clutched his magitech device and threw himself onto his bed.
“They finally released the update! I’ve been dying to play this!”
It was [Akashic Archive]’s first major story update.
The thought of the new storyline had haunted him all day during his official duties, making it nearly impossible to focus.
Now, with trembling excitement, he powered on [Akashic Archive].
The black intro screen faded, and his lobby filled with his collection of 4- and 5-star characters greeted him.
“Did you all miss me?”
Apart from [Knight Ren], the rest of his characters were standard roster members featured in side stories. But to the Crown Prince, every single one was a cherished companion.
“A new story, a fresh narrative…”
So far, [Akashic Archive] had offered six story modes:
Despite the crushing schedule of royal life, the Crown Prince had completed all the available content, a testament to how deeply invested he was in the game.
Finally, the moment had come. With a grin, he pressed the start button for the new story.
As he did, his chosen characters merged into him, their essences absorbed by the protagonist of the story—a unique mechanic of [Akashic Archive].
This system allowed the player to inherit the abilities of defeated monsters or aligned characters, granting both gameplay variety and narrative intrigue.
“The first trial was flawless, Jeol,” said the game’s mysterious overseer as the story mode began.
“Not only did you counteract the Abyss’s corruption, but you also perfectly restored the original narrative.”
The Crown Prince knew this was likely referring to the events of the prologue.
In that story, defeating the final boss—the Abyss Queen—required Knight Ren’s sacrifice.
Although the tutorial was designed to make her death inevitable, the real-life Ren, who had played out her story in-game, had managed to save herself—an anomaly that was now considered extraordinary.
“Restoring the original history leaves a bitter taste,” the Crown Prince muttered.
Even though humanity had triumphed over the Abyss’s armies, the cost of an irreplaceable hero’s sacrifice felt hollow.
The Crown Prince found himself mildly irritated by the overseer’s insistence on historical fidelity over a more satisfying, happy ending.
With a flick of his wrist, the overseer summoned a new book into his hands.
“Here it is: the second trial. Once again, we’re dealing with a story corrupted by the Abyss.”
The pages of the book turned by themselves as the overseer continued.
“This time, however, the Abyss has sent a servant into the story. Don’t worry, though. Based on our measurements, it’s not one of the top-ranking Harbingers of Destruction, the Seven Stars of Annihilation. It seems to be a lower-tier minion at best.”
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. “And if it’s not?”
“If a high-ranking Harbinger had infiltrated, you wouldn’t even need to ask. It would be chaos.”
The overseer chuckled, attempting what he probably thought was a reassuring smile. The Crown Prince merely furrowed his brow.
“No matter what happens, I’ll be here to save you,” the overseer said, puffing up his chest.
Hah.
What nonsense. If anything went wrong, he could simply turn off the game and restart.
This was, after all, just entertainment.
The Crown Prince brushed off any notions of danger.
With the overseer’s lengthy explanation finally over, the book in his hand began to glow.
“Let’s begin the second trial,” the overseer declared as light enveloped the Crown Prince.
When the brightness subsided, the Crown Prince found himself surrounded by a pristine white space.
“Hero! You’ve awakened!”
A young woman appeared out of nowhere, grasping his hand excitedly.
Ding!
A holographic summary of the new storyline appeared before his eyes:
[The Hero Born to Stop the Otherworldly Invasion]
“A hero, huh?”
The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. It seemed that in this story, the protagonist would play the role of a legendary savior.
A slight smirk crossed his lips. This was going to be interesting.
***
The Crown Prince, now occupying the body of the summoned Hero, trailed behind the saintess who had introduced herself as Cartecia. With enthusiasm, she guided him through the sanctuary, introducing him to its key figures.
“This is Sprite, the commander of the Holy Knights,” Cartecia announced.
“A Hero joining our cause? That brings us one step closer to victory!” Sprite declared, clasping the Crown Prince’s hand with fervor.
“This is Salonir, the Grand Mage overseeing the sanctuary’s arcane division,” she continued.
“A pleasure to meet you, Hero,” Salonir greeted, his voice calm but tinged with authority.
“And here is…”
One by one, Cartecia presented the sanctuary’s leaders, from the ration distributors to the tactical advisors.
As the introductions went on, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but assess the sanctuary through a critical lens.
Compared to the Empire he ruled in reality, the sanctuary felt underwhelming. The walls looked hastily constructed, the weapons and equipment outdated. Even the soldiers seemed to lack the discipline and rigor of seasoned troops.
This fragile base seemed ill-equipped to withstand the Abyss’s monstrous invasions, let alone reclaim the surface.
“Could this world, like the side stories, be a historical fiction of a parallel dimension?” the Crown Prince mused.
The idea of a Hero battling Abyssal corruption or a sanctuary falling to destruction was nowhere to be found in the known history of his own world.
Unlike [Knight Ren]’s story, which directly tied into the realities of Reiphania, this world seemed entirely detached from his reality.
“For our last stop, let me show you our sanctuary’s pride and joy: the Magitech Division!” Cartecia’s voice brimmed with pride as she led the Crown Prince to a workshop on the sanctuary’s outskirts.
The lab was sprawling yet cluttered, filled with glowing machinery and half-assembled constructs.
“And this,” Cartecia gestured toward a figure emerging from the shadows, “is Ian Carlyuga, the head of the Magitech Division.”
A bespectacled man stepped forward, adjusting his glasses with a polished gesture before extending his hand toward the Crown Prince.
“Ian Carlyuga. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
His calm demeanor and gentle features painted the perfect image of an idealistic scholar—a quintessential researcher devoted to his craft.
At that moment, the Crown Prince felt no particular significance about Ian. He seemed like just another ally.
How could the Crown Prince have known?
Ian Carlyuga wasn’t just a key character in the unfolding narrative; he would become the linchpin of the story.
Not only would Ian play a pivotal role as a villain lurking in the shadows, but he would also come to embody everything the Crown Prince admired—and feared—in a leader.