Capítulo 2: El mercader y la torre en el horizonte
Kazuo se abrió paso por el bosque, con la mirada fija en el horizonte mientras el sol se filtraba débilmente a través de las hojas. Los sonidos del bosque lo rodeaban, pero no los escuchaba. Su mente estaba enfocada en un solo objetivo: llegar al lugar donde se encontraba el próximo jefe. Las distracciones no tenían cabida en su camino. Los problemas de otras personas no eran su problema.
Entonces llegó el grito.
Era un eco angustioso que cortaba la quietud como un cuchillo. Kazuo se detuvo. No porque lo alarmara, sino porque era imposible ignorarlo. Su habilidad, 'Ojo del Alma', se activó involuntariamente, revelando una escena que no tenía intención de ver.
Un tenue y tembloroso resplandor amarillo se destacaba entre la maleza. A su alrededor, dos figuras palpitaban con una intensa energía roja, violentas y depredadoras. Sus movimientos eran rápidos y precisos, un peligro que irradiaba hostilidad. Kazuo observó el resplandor por un momento, evaluándolo sin emoción. La decisión fue clara. No valía la pena detenerse.
Dio un paso adelante, desviando su atención. Su camino ya estaba trazado. Pero justo cuando estaba a punto de continuar, sucedió algo que rompió su concentración.
'Sálvalos, Kazuo.'
La voz resonó en su mente con una claridad que lo hizo detenerse en seco. Era femenino, suave pero firme, y llevaba un peso que no podía ignorar. No era la primera vez que esa voz le llegaba. Había estado allí antes, enterrado en lo más profundo de sus recuerdos. Pero aun así, su origen se le escapó.
Kazuo frunció el ceño ligeramente, incómodo con la intrusión. Quería seguir adelante. Quería ignorarlo. Sin embargo, la voz se repitió, esta vez más persistente.
'Sálvalos'.
Apretó los puños y dejó escapar un breve suspiro antes de darse la vuelta. Una determinación fría y calculada lo llevó directamente hacia la fuente del grito. El resplandor amarillo era ahora más inestable. Tenía poco tiempo.
Cuando llegó al recodo del camino, la escena se desplegó ante él. Un hombre mayor se arrodilló junto a un carro roto, con las riendas aún enredadas alrededor de su brazo y un cuchillo oxidado temblando en su mano. Las criaturas que lo acosaban eran bajas pero musculosas, con extremidades afiladas y cuerpos metálicos que reflejaban la luz del sol. Sus movimientos coordinados recordaban a los depredadores experimentados jugando con su presa antes de acabar con ella.
The old man closed his eyes, the knife falling from his hand as he waited for the inevitable. The roar of one of the monsters filled the air, and then the sound changed.
A deafening impact echoed through the clearing. The man opened his eyes just in time to see one of the beasts flying through the air, its body thrown with such force that it crashed into a tree and split it in two. The creature fell into the undergrowth, its metallic form motionless as dust settled around it.
The other monster moved quickly, roaring as it spun to attack the intruder. But before it could react, a brutal blow struck it in the centre of its chest. The force was so devastating that its body exploded in a burst of blood and metal fragments, splattering the ground and staining even the sacks on the cart. The red energy pulsing around the creature vanished instantly, leaving it as a fleeting memory in the air.
Kazuo remained in the centre of the clearing, his arm still raised from the last blow. His expression was as blank as ever, but his gaze was fixed on the spot where the creature had disappeared. He showed no signs of exhaustion or satisfaction. Only an overwhelming calm contrasted with the violence he had just unleashed.
The old man remained motionless, his eyes wide as he tried to process what had just happened. 'Thank you...' he murmured, barely able to find his voice. 'I thought... I was going to die.'
Kazuo didn't respond immediately. His 'Eye of the Soul' picked up the man's aura, which now seemed to be stabilising. The yellow light was dimmer, but it had regained some solidity. However, he didn't think much of it. He lowered his arm slowly and began to walk away, his footsteps echoing on the dry leaves.
'Please wait,' said the man, stumbling over his words as he tried to stand up. 'I don't know who you are, but... thank you. My name is Otto, I am a merchant. If you ever visit Raushen, the capital of the Kingdom of Elyndria, look for me. I promise to reward you. Whatever you need.'
Kazuo did not stop. His back remained forward, ignoring the old man's words. But as the shadows of the forest enveloped him, the voice rang out again, clear and persistent:
'Save them, Kazuo.'
Kazuo continued along the forest path, leaving the merchant and the defeated creatures behind. The tension of battle was now a thing of the past, and his gaze remained fixed on the horizon. But even as he walked with his usual calculated calm, something disturbed him.
'Save them, Kazuo.'
The female voice continued to echo in his mind, persistent like an echo that refused to fade away. His jaw tightened slightly as he tried to block it out, but the intrusion was so clear that it seemed engraved in the depths of his thoughts. It was annoying. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to face the weight it carried.
'Shut up,' he muttered under his breath, his tone cold and laced with irritation.
He didn't understand why that voice had so much power over him. It was almost as if it was mocking his presence in this place, as if he couldn't escape it no matter how hard he tried. But what bothered him most wasn't the voice itself, but what it did to him. Because with each repetition, it inevitably took him back to the moment he never wanted to remember. The moment when he once felt loved.
The rain fell heavily on the city pavement, hitting the ground in a steady rhythm that mingled with the murmurs of the crowd. The lights from the billboards and giant screens bathed the atmosphere in artificial tones, reflecting off the puddles and filling the space with a vibrant, cold light.
Kazuo walked among the people, just another figure in a sea of strangers. Around him, life went on without him, ignoring his presence as if he were invisible. His expression was the same as always: empty, unperturbed. Despite the noise and movement, there was nothing in this world that could distract him from his indifference.
A man and a woman walked together, their hands intertwined as they laughed at something only they understood. Further ahead, a little girl ran towards her mother, laughing with joy as the woman lifted her into the air with a hug. It was a perfect scene, almost unreal, but Kazuo did not take his eyes off it. And he felt nothing.
It had been too long since anything had managed to touch him. The emotions that others found so natural were like a foreign language to him. He had long ago accepted that they would never return.
The screen of a nearby building caught his attention for a moment. It was large and eye-catching, its bright lights standing out against the grey of the city. It showed images of combat, fantastical worlds and characters immersed in epic battles.
'Welcome to Aether's Realm! The ultimate immersive MMORPG! Experience adventure like never before!'
The images showed players facing colossal creatures, each blow accompanied by spectacular effects that filled the screen. But what really stood out in the ad was the last line:
'Special exclusive access giveaway! Only a lucky few will be able to experience this world with free equipment and gameplay. Will you be one of them?'
Kazuo stared at the advertisement for a moment, but then looked away. It didn't matter. It was just another empty promise in a world built on illusions.
Suddenly, a young man bumped into him as he ran through the crowd. The impact was strong enough to knock him off balance, but the boy didn't even stop. Kazuo barely glanced at him, but his attention was drawn to an old woman who was kneeling nearby, picking up the belongings the young man had knocked out of her hands when he pushed her.
Without saying a word, he bent down and picked up some of the items, handing them to her without a word. The old woman looked up and gave him a warm smile. 'Thank you, young man. How kind of you.'
Kazuo didn't reply. He got up and continued on his way.
That's when he saw something on the ground: a shiny ticket, partially covered by a puddle of water. It was the same one that appeared in the advertisement, a pass for special access to Aether's Realm. It surely belonged to the young man who had run by, but when Kazuo looked up to find him, he was gone.
After a moment of silence, Kazuo picked up the ticket and put it in his pocket, without thinking too much about it. There was no clear reason. He just did it.
Days later, as he was walking home, his phone vibrated with an unexpected notification: 'Congratulations. You have been selected as one of the players for Aether's Realm. Submit your access code to receive your immersion equipment.'
Kazuo stared at the screen in silence. He could ignore it. He could throw away the ticket and forget about the game. But he didn't.
When the day arrived, he put on the immersion visor without any expectations. He had no desires. He had nothing to lose. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness envelop him. And when he opened them, he was no longer in his world.
The memory faded, and Kazuo clenched his fists. This place bothered him. Everything about this world bothered him. And now he understood that there was no way to escape it. Not while he was here.
As he moved forward, the air changed. The tension emanating from the Tower of Echoes grew more palpable with each step. When he finally reached the entrance, the shadow of the structure stretched out before him, a challenge in physical form. Kazuo pushed open the metal doors, letting the sound of grinding fill the air. The interior was dark, suffocating, and his senses adjusted to the new environment.
But before he could move forward, a scream broke the silence. 'Help! Please, help me!'
The sound reverberated off the walls, amplified by the echo. Kazuo stopped, his gaze fixed on the darkness in front of him. His irritation grew, but he kept moving forward. Because in this world, there was no other choice.