Transcended Identity For A Ruined World

  PROLOGUE

  I am as ruined as the world

  I. Perspective

  [Up until now, I strive to retrieve the world that left scars all over me. Yes, I am still fighting for that world, even though I have already forgotten what it looks like, my appartment, my neighborhood, my school, even the facility of the company I tirelessly work myself up for 10 years, everything is nothing but a flashing slideshow that kept on playing to torture me, everything about that world is intolerable for me, but one thing is for certain. That world that fell into ruins, can still be save.]

  A book I found lying on the ground besides a dumpster talks about a guy who killed a pawnbroker, it is a Russian novel. As I flip page after page, I didn’t realize I was already at the end of the book.

  “I’m already finished?! I was only reading this for 2 days, Ah... I got fixated on this book that I even forgot I still have work tomorrow.”

  I got up and grabbed a glass of water to create a pause, because even though I can’t remember the names of the characters, I do know its core theme.

  “The protagonist who started off as a broken and ruined man, that was later redempted for the bad thing he did. I wonder, can the world also be like him? No matter how I look at it, this world is just filled with Issues, Injustices, Conflicts. Once one problem is resolve, it will last for just a small amount of time and come back worse than ever.”

  I gaze at the window with loathing eyes.

  “Can this world still be fixed?

  I cleared my mind and prepared to sleep.

  I woke up and realized I slept too much, I was late for work, that I didn’t even take a shower or eat. I just took the first bus I saw to work.

  “I made it.”

  While trying to catch my breath after I ran from the 2nd floor up to the 7th floor of the company I’m working for.

  I entered, the room was already filled, I can already sense someone furious walking towards me and that very person who called out to me was my colleague, Lee Yunji-Nim, she is 26yo with long black hair that I’d say its length at least reaches her waist, she is very beautiful, and her body is comparable to that of a model, full of confidence and can command anyone with just her word alone, that I wonder if she really is just the CEO’s adopted daughter, not until I realized, that despite being raised in a noisy environment, she is actually quite about her own self. I sometimes see her cry her eyes out at places where others rarely visit, her strong mind is indeed worth to be recognized, but that’s the very thing destroying her.

  “Han Jisoo you’re late for the celebration, haven’t I told you 15 times last week that an employee would be promoted to one of the highest floors in the company?”

  “I’m sorry Yunji-Nim, I really couldn’t recall hahaha..”

  I didn’t actually forget, nor do I have a bad memory, I lied about it because I don’t care about everything in this company, it robbed me of my dream, instead of sailing the seas and I am here, printing papers and talking to people I don’t know.

  This was nothing more than an average day for me, and everything pleasuring for that would soon be their ultimate downfall.

  -1000 or more papers must be finished each day

  -8am to 7pm of work

  -15 minutes of break for every 2 hours.

  I spent most of my break drinking coffee and reading web novels.

  A man came walking towards me, maybe on his late 40s, he looks at me seriously as if I did something worse than not remembering about the promotion

  “Han Jisoo, you’ll be taking Kim Junseo’s papers for today, he was the one who got promoted.”

  “Really? I was rooting for the guy beside his station though.”

  “How can you say that?! You should be rooting for him since as far as I know you and him go back in high school.”

  Well, just as I thought, I did something worse, not knowing who it was. Are people sensitive to it nowadays? Talk about influence, Kim Junseo’s contributions to the company has made almost every employee on the 7th floor obedient to him, but I never thought it would reach this extent. He has now become an important part of this company, he works his butt up for that promotion, so I should stop criticizing his accomplishment.

  As for my high school years, they were merely a fraction of my life, a small fraction that holds much. I tried my best to appreciate it, but I just can’t. So, what this guy says really left an ache in my heart, it’s like the feeling that It’s time to appreciate it without reason is kicking its way out.

  “I should have known better; I’ll give him my recognition and treat him for a drink later.”

  I said while grinning at my left.

  “For now, I will be taking care of all these papers, so I can finish early.”

  My work was already brutally tiring enough, though I can say the same for everyone here. I really am just arrogant in nature.

  -The Sunset finally Hits

  As I spent the next 9 hours working on it, I only got my break once in the last 2 hours. I did some stretching, ate my fill and drank my coffee.

  I wrapped everything up, then the realization no one came to even bother invite me to the party kicked in.

  I stood up and sighed.

  “The last thing left is to clean my station up and I’m finally good to go.”

  I cleaned up everything, separated my papers and Junseo’s, I turned off my computer and trashed every garbage observable.

  I took the elevator down to the 2nd floor, I sat there because I was too tired to even stand, I don’t even know if I can make it to the nearest train station.

  When I was almost at the exit door, I felt that I forgot something, I searched for my bag and it was my phone I forgot, I think I confused it with the unfinished chocolate bar I ate.

  I entered the elevator again and went up back to the 7th floor. I searched the trash can and finally found my phone. I was too exhausted that this happened.

  I waited for the elevator and once it opened, I saw Yunji-nim inside.

  “Yunji-Nim, how are you?” I asked

  A blank and almost unheard answer came to her mouth.

  “I am alright Jisoo”

  I quietly glanced at her; her shallow eyes don’t match her smile at all. I can clearly tell she just cried.

  I forgot that I told the guy who handed Kim Junseo’s papers that I am going to treat him, I was already prepared to spend my remaining money for this month, since it’s already the last 2 days until my salary.

  “Say, Yunji-Nim, do you mind if I take you out for a drink?”

  I asked while smiling at her generously.

  It took her 2 floors to finally reply, I am not positive that this will go well, but this can be the moment where I can make a connection and help Lee Yunji-Nim in her current condition.

  “Are you okay with that? You sounded like you're resisting.”

  I looked at her awkwardly and then she laughed.

  “I was joking! Jeez man these days, of course I accept, even though I’m rich, I can’t just reject such offer.”

  I can tell she knows I am trying to use this opportunity to get to know each other and help her.

  What left me bewildered is that her words seem too genuine, her calm demeanor even while she’s falling apart.

  I questioned to myself if there’s more people like this in this world, I hope it is greater than the bad ones, then a fixed world would be possible

  I grinned at her and spoke

  “Well, next time when I’m feeling it, you will be the one to treat me, and it will be double the price!” Then I laughed hysterically.

  “Hey not fair! You should know that even if I am rich, there’s still a limit to my money.”

  “Still rich though.” I replied while looking mischievously at her.

  I laughed again and took a short glance at her, she was smiling, smiling as if it was her first time for years. I can’t take my eyes at Lee Yunji-Nim, I’m not experiencing this because of romantic feelings, it was because that smile, it holds no other emotion than happiness. I can’t fathom to grasp if this is real. The world is ruined, everything in it is ruined too.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  I just looked down and cleared my head.

  “Don’t you have a car Yunji-Nim?”

  “I have, but I didn’t used it today, I thought of using the train for some reason.”

  “I see, then we shall take Uber tonight.”

  When we finally reached the bar, I told the bartender to make the best in the house.

  A “Neat Whiskey Cocktail”, I can already tell this bar was not one of the best there is. It’s fine, she didn’t specifically say what bar or anything, so this should be alright with her.

  “Yunji-Nim here’s for you”

  “A Neat Whiskey Cocktail? Is this all you’ve got.”

  My left eye twitched like it was trying to abandon my face.

  “Well, that’s your fault for not telling me which bar we’re going to”

  I said while looking on the opposite side where she is sitting.

  She tilted her head, a smug little smile tugging at her lips.

  “Oh, look at you, now you’re acting like a baby who didn’t get his mommy’s milk.”

  She said it slowly—like she knew it would get under my skin, and she was already enjoying the view.

  “Just drink your fill, and make sure you enjoy that because that costs a lot than it appeared to be-”

  “Give me that whole bottle of whiskey mister.”

  In a sudden moment, she requested a whole bottle, I felt rather scared or curious, it is my first time hanging around with her like this, I can’t even tell weather this is the last time or not, but I’ll stay put, this will be the last time we will bond together like this.

  “But Miss, you already look like you’re going to fall down once you stand up.”

  “Just give it to her Mister, she is permitted to drink as much as she can handle, in our case, I’ll be the one to stop her.”

  An hour later, she did not just drink a whole bottle, but 3 whole bottles, I was stunned in disbelief, she appeared fragile in some cases, but I never thought she was this strong to handle alcohol.

  “Hey Yunji-Nim, are you still there?”

  -No reply-

  “Ajeossi, how much for all of it?”

  “200.5 Won, but I got to handed it to you, this woman didn’t do it without reason, she must be going through something right now.”

  “Yeah, he is right, a person wouldn’t act recklessly without reason”

  I said in my head, as thoughts again began to flow. As my eyes lingered, light as a breath, full of quiet understanding. I glance at her in silence.

  “I tried my best to savor the moment without having to think deeply about my surroundings. I also think it would be better if I asked her some other time about everything, I want her to act for her own benefit, and I know this recklessness she showed comforts her at least a little.”

  “Young man, take care of her, you two may not be that close as far as I can tell, but she will need a person like you by her side. Don’t mind about the payment, it’s my treat now, take her back home and get some rest as well.”

  “But Ajeossi, will that really be, okay? Can’t I at least pay for the Neat Whiskey?”

  I said as I carried Yunji-Nim in my back.

  “No need Young man, go home now, you can still rest.”

  A sudden feeling of curiosity hit me, but I didn’t bother asking him anything, I said my regards and left the bar.

  ‘You can still rest’, I think about it as I walk to the train station. When I finally arrived, I sat with Yunji-Nim beside me. I can’t stop thinking about what he said.

  “Maybe he just meant it farewell.”

  “I shouldn't really think everything through at a deeper scale, that just led me being miserable in the end.”

  “I am so tired, Yunji-Nim's scent is making me feel dizzy, even though I didn’t drink any alcohol, my brain is already at its limit.”

  “Maybe It’s time to rest, rest for tomorrow.”

  When I was about to close my eyes, I began to hear a voice. It came from Yunjin-Nim, in a soothing and crying out voice she says.

  “I...”

  “...still want...’

  “...to...”

  “...drink with you.”

  I looked at Lee Yunji-Nim, with gentle eyes that deliberately responded to her words. She said it as if this will be the last time, and that she still wants to do it again. Though I, convinced that this will be the last time and that I’ll just let her life flow the way it should be.

  “Why do I feel the same way?”

  “Have I underestimated the world? Yunji-Nim and Bartender-Ajeossi, they both are an exception to the world I always believed and see to be, a ruined world.”

  I clenched my fist and grinned my teeth, while looking down all depressed.

  “Can the world just be filled with these kinds of people?”

  The Train announced the station we are currently at.

  “Just two more station, it will take us 40 minutes to get there, maybe I’ll take a short nap.”

  I closed my eyes and when everything was all black. I felt a sudden change in the atmosphere, it feels light, more comfortable and peaceful feeling. It had led me to sleep more than I should have.

  As I began to fall into the white void, when I still feel paused from the world.”

  [Shows the world is getting destroyed by an abyssal figure that seems to have tentacles.]

  [Meteorites began to rain all over the world, all cities in Korea fall into complete chaos.]

  The World is crying out harder than ever, even if it is already ruined. It still holds the hope to be fixed. I can’t do anything about it, in the end I can’t. I have leaped into another world while the world I knew began to fall apart more.

  [Your World is now Ruined]

  I wake up in a forest where the grass is wet, I am still wearing the same clothes.

  My eyes opened, the Sun shines brightly directly at me, at the first minutes I was laying there, I finally felt the wet grass touching my hands. Only then did I realize, I wasn’t in the train station anymore. I’m in a place, a year that entirely feels unfamiliar.

  “Grass? What-”

  “Where am I?”

  “This doesn’t look like a train, just where-?”

  My eyes widen and my heart began to pound fast

  “Yunji-Nim? Where is she?!”

  I hear a sword clashing nearby, two armies are fighting to death. They were riding their horses as they swung their swords. There is even a catapult firing from both sides.

  “Just where am I.”

  A system then appeared in front of me, it shows my world falling into ruin, it flashes everything that is happening in it, hundreds of meteorites came falling, volcanoes are erupting, ground began to crack. Every Disaster that I can think of is happening in my world right now.

  The system then says.

  “You’re World is experiencing its judgement, the chaos it holds have reach the abyssal gods of the void.”

  “Abyssal gods?”

  The system then began to work again.

  “Would you wish to revert the ruined world, but it will soon pay an even worse price?”

  “Later on, pay the price?”

  I looked at the question, afraid to utter a single word. The world that I have always hated is now finally in total ruins. My mind is filled with thoughts and my body has no longer have the will to move from the place it’s standing.

  The system pops in again Infront of me.

  “Or...”

  “...stay here in this world and walk on a journey to find answers on how to save your world.”

  “In 1 minute, if you still haven’t chosen any of the two, both worlds will be destroyed, and you will be transported into the void for eternity.”

  The time then began to move too, after the 30 seconds past I have finally made my choice.

  “Wise choice”

  “You will be Identity 869; you will travel this world for answers. This world doesn’t seek heroes nor villains. So, you are welcome to do whatever you want.”

  [Commencing Path Types]

  I gasped from what I am seeing is just like one of those in video games.

  “There are 4 Paths for your Identity.”

  “The Path of the Warrior”

  “It grants you 15+ in strength and in endurance. It also comes with a battle Axe and a Shield.”

  “The Path of the Wise”

  “You will receive 15+ intelligent right after accepting this class, though you won’t have any weapons, you will have 300 coins and a beginner book for mages to study on your journey.”

  “The Path of the Ruler”

  “You will only receive a skill of influence level 1, a ring that can expand your skill over to 5 people and 500 coins.”

  “The Path of the Blade”

  “You will receive a boost in your strength by 3+, 6+ in your agility and 3+ in your speed. This will come with a rusty double edge sword as well.”

  “The Path of the Savior”

  “This Path grants you the skill to heal and to shield for others sake. You cannot use the skills for your own, not until you have them level up to 3. It will also give you 5+ in your HP and 5+ in your Endurance.”

  “And last the Path is...”

  “The Path of the god”

  “You will not recieve anything, besides the potential to become a god, the type of god will depend on which outer god will pick you as their successor.”

  I spent the next minutes trying to choose the Path I am going to take, the armies nearby are still fighting. I am wondering if Yunji-Nim is okay, I can’t help but worry.

  “It says in my profile that I am Identity 869, there are definitely people from the ruined world transported here too.”

  “We were given the task to seek answers, and in that process, we can do whatever we want.”

  I tried to calm myself down by thinking about Yunji-Nim's words in the train before I got here. I don’t know how many identies are there, but two things are for certain, other identities aren’t to be trusted and Yunji-Nim is probably one of us.

  “I will find her, and we will drink together again.”

  [You have selected your Path]

  “Your items have now been transported in your inventory.”

  With a final glance, I slipped the blade through my belt and turned away. The war continues to rage on behind me, steel meeting screams in the trees, but I walked and steadily, into the shadowed woods beyond.

  “Path of the Blade Identity 869”

  “Just wait and be safe Yunji-Nim, I’ll make sure to find you!”