Pain.It came first. Not sharp, not sudden, but a crushing weight that pinned him in a formless abyss.
His last memory was the blinding screech of brakes, his friend's voice screaming his name—then black.
Now, there was nothing.No light. No sound.Only a faint, rhythmic pulse echoing in the distance.
Then—A flicker.A line of glowing text appeared in front of him, hanging in the void like a message typed in the air.
[System Initialization...]Soul Signature Detected.
Scanning Integrity... 42%
Host Status: Deceased (Confirmed).
Initiating Soul Transfer Protocol...
Soul transfer? he thought, brain struggling to process. This wasn't heaven. It wasn't hell. It was… something else.
Welcome, New User.
Your previous life has been terminated due to… [Uncontrollable Circumstances]
.Current Program: Oblivion's Gate — Main Instance Server.
You have been granted a Reincarnation Ticket.
"Reincarnation…?" his voice echoed, strange and weightless.
Please stand by. Assigning Player ID...
Player ID: [Null_Pending].
Assigning Starting Parameters...
Species: HumanGender: Male
Age: 18
Tutorial Access: Enabled
Light bloomed beneath his feet — not solid, more like a floor made of liquid glass. Around him, the darkness broke apart into lines of code that spiraled upward, forming a tunnel. He felt something pull at his chest, tugging him forward.
Transfer in 3... 2... 1...
The tunnel swallowed him whole.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he noticed was the air — fresh, crisp, and carrying the faint scent of grass. The second thing he noticed was that he was standing in the middle of a cobblestone plaza surrounded by towering gates, each carved with intricate symbols.
Before he could take it all in, the glowing text returned — this time floating right in front of his vision like a holographic panel.
Welcome to the Gate Lobby.
You are currently in Safe Zone #1.
Please proceed to the Tutorial Kiosk for orientation.
His mouth opened, closed, then opened again. This was… a game. A real game.
But before he could process it further—
[SYSTEM ALERT]Time until Gate Assignment: 00:09:57
Please make haste.
He tightened his fists, heart racing. He didn't understand what was happening, but one thing was certain—there was no going back.
Information Section – Chapter 1
Location: Gate Lobby – Safe Zone #1, central spawn area for all new "Players" in Oblivion's Gate Online.
System: AI-driven guide that provides clear, step-by-step instructions for Player integration.
Reincarnation Ticket: One-time opportunity for the deceased to start a new life within the game's world.
Hint for Chapter 2:What lies beyond the gates — and why does the system warn him about "Gate Assignment"?