Alternate Liberation

Akira stared at the golden ring in his hand. It looked simple, yet it radiated a warmth that seeped through his entire body, as though it was alive. The energy from the ring made him feel grounded yet calm, a strange duality of strength and serenity. The golden light from the Valkyrie still lingered faintly within him.

"What… is this?" he murmured softly.

He carefully slid the ring onto his finger. The moment it touched his skin, a gentle golden glow enveloped his surroundings, as if the ring was responding to his presence.

In the blink of an eye, a large wooden chest appeared before him, seemingly materializing out of thin air. The chest was ancient, its surface etched with intricate designs, yet it emitted a faint glow as if imbued with some mysterious power.

"What… is this?" Akira whispered, stepping closer, his breath catching with excitement. He reached out and touched the lid, the wood creaking softly as he opened it.

Inside, the chest was filled with items that seemed meticulously prepared just for him. Each object exuded a sense of purpose, as if destined for an important mission yet to unfold.

Akira's gaze fell on a pair of swords resting on a black velvet cloth. With slightly trembling hands, he picked them up.

"These swords… They're beautiful and terrifying at the same time," he muttered. His right hand gripped the pure white blade, while his left held the jet-black one that seemed to absorb all light around it, like an endless night.

He gave the swords a light swing. Both felt perfectly balanced, as though they were crafted specifically for him. Despite their light weight, they carried an aura of immense power.

"So, this is what a legendary weapon feels like," he said with a grin, the excitement of a childhood dream—a fantasy of becoming an adventurer in an RPG—flooding back to him.

Akira placed the swords back into the chest and picked up a metallic bracelet with six glowing energy tubes in different colors. As he slipped it onto his wrist, the tubes lit up, displaying varying percentages:

• Red: 80%

• Yellow: 30%

• Green: 50%

• Blue: 20%

• White: 60%

• Black: 0%

"What do these colors mean? And why aren't they full? Some aren't even active…" he wondered aloud, staring at the bracelet in confusion.

Next, he found a peculiar magnifying glass in the chest. When he used it to examine the twin swords, glowing text appeared in the air:

"Zen Sabers:

• White Sword (Sol): Unleashes holy power

• Black Sword (Luna): Absorbs and manipulates chaos energy"

"This… is amazing!" Akira exclaimed with a small laugh. It felt like he had stepped into the world of an RPG, equipped with magical items of endless utility.

He then unfolded a map he found in the chest. The strange parchment glowed faintly, and as he opened it, the entire world of Arcadia appeared in intricate detail—like a fantastical version of Google Earth.

"This world… it's even bigger than I imagined," he murmured, his eyes scanning the map.

When he moved the map to the area the Valkyrie had mentioned, a small red marker appeared with the words: "First Objective."

"Got it. This must be where I need to go," he said, nodding with determination.

Continuing his exploration, Akira found a complete set of camping gear, including a compact tent, a water flask, cooking supplies, and several outfits tailored for various environments. He also discovered a collection of strange currencies, their designs unfamiliar yet fascinating.

He changed into one of the new outfits—adaptive clothing that adjusted to the temperature. The moment the fabric touched his skin, warmth spread through his body, shielding him from the icy cold.

Once he finished inspecting the contents, he muttered, "I guess it all goes back into the ring now…"

The moment he thought about the ring on his finger, the wooden chest began to glow with golden light. The light enveloped the chest, and it vanished slowly, as though absorbed back into the ring.

"This is… really convenient," he said, glancing at the ring, now appearing as ordinary as before.

Akira looked up at the crystalline ceiling above him, its soft blue glow casting an ethereal light across the room. He took a deep breath and turned toward the hidden path the Valkyrie had directed him to.

"It's time to begin."

With those words, he stepped forward, venturing into the long passage ahead. Though he had no idea what awaited him, a sense of purpose filled his heart.

This was the beginning of an adventure he had longed for his entire life. And he knew there was no turning back now.