Join our discord - https://discord.gg/BszKT9pwnv My pulse hammered in my chest like a drummer gone rogue, each beat screaming panic! louder than the last. Shock wrapped around me tighter than a boa constrictor, squeezing until my brain felt like mush. Okay, Valerie, calm down. One second you're doodling quadratic equations in math class, the next—bam! —meteor strike, and now… this? My head reeled like a top, a whirlwind of Where am I? How'd I get here? Is this some kind of joke?
No solutions, just a huge, shining question mark hovering over my head like a celestial tease. I blinked several times, hoping to restart my senses. The classroom was gone—no chalk dust teasing my nostrils, no Sensei lecturing about polynomials, no bento box ready to rescue me from starvation. Instead, my shoes sank into grass so green that it didn't seem real, like something straight out of a high-budget computer-generated imagery movie. Grass? In math class? Did I sleep through some field trip announcement? My legs were jelly underneath me as I stood up, the world swaying just enough to make me sick. The colors attacked me next—breathtaking greens that seemed to throb with life, blues so dark they glimmered like a loading screen on a game, and a sun low in the sky, tearing the ground with rough, jagged shadows. This isn't California. This isn't even Earth.
What is this, an isekai field trip that ended badly? The wind struck me—cold, salty, smelling of flowers I couldn't identify. Jasmine? Lilies?
No, something weirder, like flowers from a planet that didn't read the Earth handbook. Did I get yeeted into a fantasy novel? Where's my overpowered cheat skill? Around me, my classmates groaned, stirring like they'd been hit by the world's worst hangover. Mia popped up first, brushing dirt off her Pinewood cheer skirt—red-and-white, no weird anime uniforms here, thank you very much. "Valerie!
You alive over there?
"she yelled, her voice piercing my brain haze like a megaphone. "Barely!" I yelled back, getting my footing. Alive, check. Sanity, pending inspection. Hiro came out next, his cool-guy exterior cracking as he looked at the trees—tall, twisted shapes that appeared to have been created by a sci-fi artist on a caffeine high.".
His Pinewood jacket, which we wore like a seifuku since our school thought it was cool, hung off him, wrinkled in confusion. Ren convulsed nearby, snapping awake with a grunt. "Did I pass out in gym again?" he mumbled, scrubbing at his eyes as if he could scrub out the oddness. "Not unless gym got moved to a strange forest," I told him, hauling him to his feet. At least I'm not the only one losing it. The scene sank its claws in deeper—salt tinged the air, waves roared in the distance, their echoes bouncing off trees with roots that pulsed like living veins.
Birds were no assistance—they were singing in crisp, metallic tones, as if somebody had replaced sparrows with robot parrots.
Yes, definitely not Earth.
Unless planet Earth received a glow-up I wasn't privy to. Hiro broke the silence, spinning slowly as the alien trees loomed over us, their branches drooping like they wanted a hug. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice a mix of awe and dread. My brain scrambled for an answer, tossing out theories like confetti—Teleported? VR trap? Concussion dream?—but nothing stuck. Fear gnawed at me, urging me to bolt back to Pinewood's boring beige walls, but there was no exit button in sight.
Then a whisper slipped into my mind, smooth and black: "This is home." I stilled, breath caught in my throat. Uh, what? Who's talking? "Did you guys hear that?" I whispered, looking around at the group.
Mia cocked her head, making a face. "Nope. You okay, Val?"
I forced a smile, shoving the uneasy feeling aside. Wonderful, now I'm hearing voices. Add 'schizophrenia' to the survival list. But that whisper lingered, uninvited, as I glanced up. The clouds roiled in sparkling strata, as though someone had overturned a painter's palette in the sky, and the sun cast shadows that seemed to reach out like claws along the grass.
"Look!" Mia gestured beyond the trees. "Ruins or something!" And sure enough, vines curled around old stone in the distance, crumbling ruins poking out of the ground like discarded bones. I felt a weird pull, like an invisible rope drawing me towards them. Okay, that is not normal. But nothing else here is, either, so. par for the course?
"We can go take a look," Mia said, her cheer-captain voice brooking no argument. "Maybe answers there."
I nodded, swallowing the knot of unease in my gut. Answers sound better than standing here waiting for the trees to snack on us. "Let's move," I said, stepping forward. But the air shimmered fast, a ripple warping around us like a glitch in reality. A heavy presence slammed down, pressing on my chest like a giant's fist, cold and suffocating.
My breath caught, fear spiking sharply.
The others tensed up as well—Hiro's hand wandered towards his sleeve as if reaching for a nonexistent gun; Mia's eyes darted upwards, searching for the origin; Ren trembled more violently, sweat beading on his brow as if he was going to run.
The trees groaned, trembling in a breeze I couldn't feel, and the metal birds fell deathly still.
The silence was worse—dense, heavy, as if the world was holding its breath in anticipation of something horrific.
A light blazed overhead, gentle and spectral, and something drifted down from the heavens. Oh, great. What new horror is this? I shielded my eyes as it came down, slow and elegant, robes rippling like liquid starlight. A being—tall, humanoid, robed in flowing garments—touched down silently, its porcelain mask expressionless and terrifying, regarding us like ants in a jar.
The air grew cold, swirling around us as the figure didn't stir. My breath came out in small clouds, and I wrapped my arms around myself, teeth clicking. This guy's got too much drama in him. Then it spoke—not aloud, but in our minds, a low, booming voice: "I am SEPHA."
I flinched, clutching my head. Telepathy? Seriously? Can this day get any weirder? Spoiler: yes. "Welcome to Aurelia Island," SEPHA trilled, the name dripping with reverence. "Your past lives are behind you. New ones begin here."
"Uh, excuse me?" I stuttered, moving a step forward before my brain caught up.
"What's that s'posed to mean?"
SEPHA's mask didn't flinch, but its gaze nailed me to the spot, heavy and unyielding. "The Dice of Fate govern this world," it said. "You will play the game. Roll or die.".
My stomach dropped. Roll or die? What sort of psychoboard game is this thing? SEPHA started up with the rules in the manner of a bored DM, its voice detached and flat:
Roll the dice once weekly, or your heart stops. Super motivating.
Each roll gains experience, leveling up your dice. RPG mechanics at work.
Rolls always reward items—more loot for better numbers. Gacha feels, eh?
Coins drop often, tradable in shops. Say "Shop Open" to summon one daily. Daily deals, nice.
Skills too, graded F to SR. Just let me go get something OP.
Stat points give you character—you check them under "Status Open." Stats? I'm officially a game character now.
Roll a 1, and you die. Instantly. …Wait, WHAT?
"Hold up," Mia cut in, hands on hips like she was going to shout at a ref. "Die? As in, dead dead?"
SEPHA's mask leaned to one side. "Yes. Random, sudden death. A test of fate.".
My knees went weak, but I braced them. This is insanity. Who approved this death trap? SEPHA gestured with a hand, and shimmering dice appeared before Ren. "You first," it said.
Ren gulped, his shaking hands clasping them together. "M-Me? Why me?" he stuttered, his Pinewood jacket flapping like a flag in a breeze.
"Because fate chose you," SEPHA replied, as if that said it all.
We stood there, breathless, as Ren rolled. The dice sailed through the grass—once, twice—came to rest. A huge, fat 1 glared back up at us. No. Nonono— Lightening burst out of the sky, crashing into Ren before I even had time to blink. He didn't scream—just fell, smoke billowing off his charred jacket as he crashed to the ground, vanished.
"REN!" I yelled, my voice tearing in two. My knees gave way, and I collapsed, tears burning my eyes. Mia turned white as a sheet, hands trembling like leaves. Hiro's face clenched, anger blazing in his scowl at SEPHA. The rest of the group dissolved—screams, wails, their voices echoing off the ruins like a chorus of anguish.
SEPHA's mask tilted again, observing us like we were laboratory rats. "Roll," it said, icy and impersonal. "The game continues.".
"Why?" Mia whispered, her voice cracking. "Why Ren? Why him?"
SEPHA scowled but didn't even flinch. Anger seethed through my terror, hot and acrid. This monster killed Ren like an insect! Hiro moved forward, his fists clenched, defiance radiating from him in waves. "You're a monster," he spat.
It's a game of destiny," SEPHA roared, its voice shaking my bones. "Roll, or join him.".
I dabbed at my tears, drawing myself upright. No. I am not going to let it get the better of me. "We'll survive this," I said stubbornly, voice trembling but resolute. Mia nodded, her resolve setting, and Hiro nodded slowly, decisively. The group huddled closer together, reassuring each other as SEPHA continued to drone on.
"Experience shapes your dice," it said. "Higher levels mean better rewards. Items are your lifeline—weapons, food, shelter. Coins purchase staples; the shop renews daily, so make wise choices. Skills span F to SR—F is weak, SR is scarce. Stat points improve you—pronounce 'Status Open' to view. Roll once a week, or perish."
My fear flared up again, knotting my gut as the rules piled up. Weekly rolls. Death on a 1. This is what we have to live with now. Mia's eyes widened, the weight crashing down on her. Hiro's defiance faltered, fear creeping in as his shoulders sagged. Whispers buzzed around the group—plots, theories, last-ditch efforts to buck the trend.
SEPHA's mask glowed, unfazed by our distress. My hand shook, holding my jacket, but Mia's voice intervened. "We'll get through this together," she stated, fierce and quiet.
"Right," Hiro nodded, jaw clenching.
My heart stilled, her words centering me. Together. We can do this. SEPHA's voice broke in one last time: "The game has begun."
We turned to the ruins, united, ready to roll. Pinewood's gone. Ren's gone. But we're still kicking. And I'll be damned if this game takes us down.
The Aftermath: Picking Up the Pieces
Air heavy, heavy with the scent of ozone and charred things. Ren's form wasn't stirring, a brutal reminder of SEPHA's regulations seared into the lawn. My chest hurt, a throbbing ache that would not subside. He was just here. Telling bad jokes, stumbling over his own feet. Now he's. gone. I balled my hands into fists, fingernails biting into my palms. This isn't fair. None of this is.
Mia crouched beside me, her hand on Ren's jacket as if she could bring him back to life. "He didn't deserve this," she whispered, her voice hardly audible.
"None of us do," Hiro snapped back, his voice as sharp as a razor. He prowled a small circuit, his eyes darting between SEPHA and the wreckage like he was planning a rebellion. Good luck with that, pal. This thing has lightning on speed dial.
I glared at SEPHA, who was still standing there, mask blank and aggravatingly serene. What are you even? God? Alien? Masochistic game dev? No response, just that creepy stare. "So what now?" I asked, attempting to sound forceful. "We just… roll and pray?"
SEPHA's head tilted, as though slightly entertained. "You learn. You endure. The Dice of Fate decide.". "Great," I grumbled. Very useful. Five stars for customer service. I looked around at the group—nine of us remained, glaring and terrified. "Does anyone have dice yet?"
Hiro lifted a hand, sparkling dice floating before him. "Guess I'm up," he said, tense voice. He seized them from the air, flipping them between fingers as though he could bully destiny itself. Yeah, Hiro, inform those dice who's in charge. "Wait," Mia said, catching his arm. "What if—"
"No use delaying," he interrupted, breaking loose. "We've got a week, right? May as well know what we're dealing with." He rolled the dice, and my heart stuck in my throat. They struck the ground, spinning—then came to rest. A 4. No lightning. No death. Just a faint tinkle, and a rusty dagger appeared in his hand.
"Huh," said Hiro, flipping it over. "Not bad."
Better than a 1," I said with a joke, relief flooding me. Alright, so it's not instant doom every time. Progress.
SEPHA's voice echoed again: "Four experience points. One item: Rusty Dagger. Two coins." Two bronze coins fell into Hiro's hand.
Coins?" Mia perked up, examining them. "For the shop thing?
"Shop Open," SEPHA responded, as if it were explaining a vending machine.
Hiro shrugged. "Shop Open." A holographic screen burst into life—rows of goods shining dimly. Bread, water, a rope, some bandages. Simple survival gear, marked in coins. "Ten coins for bread?" he complained. "Rip-off."
"Better than starving," I replied, looking at the list. Note to self: roll high, stock up. My own dice manifested, floating before me. Guess it's my turn. I snatched them, their heat vibrating against my skin. "Here goes nothing," I said, rolling them.
They tumbled, spun, and fell—a 6. There was a chime, and a leather pouch fell into my hands. Ooh, booty! "Six experience points," SEPHA said. "One item: Water Pouch. Three coins."
"Jackpot!" I smiled, rattling the pouch. It sloshed promisingly. Water's a beginning. Now I just require, like, a sword or something.
Mia was next, and she got a 5—a wooden staff and two coins. "Not bad," she said, hefting it in her hand. "Could whack something with this.".
Like SEPHA?" I whispered, grinning.
"Don't try to tempt me," she replied, smiling despite herself.
The others rolled too—3s and 6s, no 1s, thank God. We scored a haul: a flint, a blanket, dried fruit, more coins. Baby steps. We're not dead yet. But Ren's absence loomed over us, a shadow we couldn't shake.
Exploring the Island: The First Steps
With the rules of SEPHA seared into our brains, we looked to the ruins. The forest was broad, strange and living—trees throbbing, birds clashing, a wind blowing that strange floral-salt combination. This place is crazy. Beautiful, but crazy. The ruins beckoned, their stones whispering secrets I couldn't interpret.
Let's go," said Hiro, taking a dagger in his hand. "Standing here's asking for trouble.".
"Agreed," Mia replied, staff thumping the earth. "Perhaps there's cover. Or signs."
I nodded, clutching my water pouch. Clues would be great. Like, why us? Why here? We walked on, grass crunching beneath our feet. The trees were taller close up, bark shining softly, roots throbbing like they had a pulse. Creepy but sorta cool. Are they alive-alive? I reached out to touch one, half-hoping it would snatch me. It didn't, but the pulse sped up beneath my hand. Okay, that's a nope from me.
The ruins grew more distinct—fallen arches, moss-grown walls, vines snaking through fissures. I spotted something myself—a glowing flower, tucked away in a corner, its petals blue and shining. Attractive. Wary, but attractive. "Hey, look at this," I said, gesturing.
Hiro looked at it squinting. "Looks strange. Don't touch it.
"Weren't going to," I lied, withdrawing my hand. Okay, okay. Maybe I was. Sue me, I'm curious.
Mia cleaned the ruins, staff at the ready. "This place feels… old. Like it's watching us."
"Great, more creepy vibes," I said under my breath. Voices first, now paranoid architecture. Great. We moved beneath an arch, shadows enveloping us. The air cooled, and I caught a slight hum in my ears—low, constant, like machinery deep underground. What's that? Power? Magic? Alien technology? My mind went wild imagining glowing runes or concealed traps. If this is a game, where's the tutorial?
We fanned out, excavating. Hiro uncovered a broken tablet with symbols etched into it—squiggles and dots, nothing legible. "Code?" he speculated, tracing it.
Or painting, Mia added. "In any case, it's not talking.".
I kicked a rock, seeing it scatter. "Perhaps it's a map. Or a warning sign. 'Beware of jerks with dice,' you know?" Hiro snorted. "Too late for that." Our banter was interrupted by a shriek—Lila, one of the quieter girls, holding her arm. She had been caught by a thorny creeper, blood seeping down. "It moved!" she panted. Hold still," Mia said, rushing over. She yanked the vine off, the thorns withdrawing like it was alive. Okay, that's freaky. Killer plants now? We bandaged Lila up with one of the shop hauls, but the mood shifted—warier, tighter. "Status Open," I spoke, trying out SEPHA's tip. A screen winked in my mind: Valerie Dice Level: 1 (6/10 EXP) Stats: STR 5, AGI 6, INT 7 Skills: None Items: Water Pouch Coins: 3 Not bad. Could be worse. "Anyone else check theirs?" I asked. Hiro nodded. "Strength 6, Agility 5. Dagger's mine. Four EXP.". Mia recruited more staff. "Intelligence 8. Five EXP. Guess I'm the brains around here." "Always were," I quipped, smiling. Stats, skills, items… we're in it now. Night Falls: Facing the Game The sun set, coloring the sky with purples and golds. We made ourselves comfortable in the ruins, utilizing the blanket and flint to start a fire. The sounds of the forest changed—metallic chirps disappeared, substituted by low thrumming hums from the trees. Night mode engaged. Hope there aren't any monsters. My stomach rumbled, and I took a sip of my water pouch. Food next on the agenda. Can't battle fate on an empty tank. Hiro sat sharpening his dagger on a stone, eyes distant. "Ren should be here," he muttered to himself. "Yeah," Mia said, poking at the fire. "He'd already be complaining about the cold." I ground out a laugh, but it hurt. He'd be alive if it weren't for that damn 1. "We'll do it for him," I stated matter-of-factly. "Win this idiot game." "Damn right," Hiro said, clenching his hold on his dagger. SEPHA's words echoed in my head—roll or die. One week to train, to level up, to survive. The ruins loomed around us, holding secrets we'd have to find. Aurelia Island. Dice of Fate. We're players now, whether we like it or not. "Shop Open," I grumbled, shopping. A loaf of bread mocked me—10 coins. Seven to go. Time to roll high. I gripped my dice, determination setting. Pinewood's gone. Ren's gone. But we're not. And I'll combat this destiny with all that I have.