Versatile: Alternate World

"Akari?! Akari, are you alright? Where are you, do you know where you are?"

"I- I don't know, they put a blindfold on me! E-everything is dark, I don't know what to do! Please help me!"

"Calm down, calm down! Can you tell me anything like what you can hear?"

"Ah! There is...ugh!"

THUD!

"Akari?! Akari?! Please answer me, Akari!"

The voice returned to the man who called me earlier. The guy using a sort of voice changer.

"Now, now, Manato, don't rush. I assure you that I will tell you our location. But before that, I need you to come personally. No bodyguards, no servants, or anyone else other than you. Your presence alone is enough."

"You piece of sh*t..."

"Hahaha, let's spare the vulgarities and come here and face me alone. I am quite generous. I will not harm your beloved as long as you fulfill my conditions. I know you very much, you won't go unless you are sure you will win so I will limit you to arrive here 5 minutes from now on. If you don't, well, you know what will happen, don't you?"

He knows me well, just who is this bastard?!

"...Fine. Where are you guys right now?"

"Go to the top floor of the Nexus Company. I left the elevator possible for you to access the top floor. You can see the master id card to access it on the table beside the elevator. Now, go. Time is ticking. One second late and her life will go bye bye~"

I throw my Holophone back into my pocket before I activated one of the portals I set up not too far from the Nexus Company. I know this is a fishy business but I need to get there before Akari gets harmed by them.

...

The current building of the Nexus Company is empty. It is normal since it is already too late. It's almost 30 minutes before midnight strikes. The streets are also quiet since most people nowadays are currently active in the game during this time especially for those people who are busy during the morning and can only find the time to play at night.

I am not sure what is happening with the Nexus Company and its employees and for the main building to be this deserted, something is indeed not right. Following the instructions of the caller, I went to the elevator, and just beside the elevator door, a small table with the aforementioned ID is placed deliberately.

It's a black ID without anything on it other than some sort of chip similar to the ATM cards, though this one looks like some sort of barcode. Pretty clear this is a VIP ID of some sort though I never heard anything like it before. Under the ID is a small note.

"Welcome to the game, Tsukasa Manato."

Crumpling the paper, I went to the elevator and notice an ID swiper beside the buttons. Seeing that there are no options where to push to reach the top without using the ID is present since the top floor button accessible is not the main top floor, I swipe the ID and without any operation done other than the swiping action, the elevator moved.

When it stopped, the door automatically opened and I arrived at the very top floor of the Nexus Company's main building. This is my first time being on the top floor of this place. After all, this is only accessible to the employees and perhaps even the people with high ranks in the company can only access it as they needed this card to operate the elevator to send them to the top floor.

Still, I look around carefully as there might be ambushes and if I am pretty unlucky, I would be killed by these guys though I won't go down without a fight. My eyes keeps on wandering around until I spotted one lone chair in the middle of the empty room. On that chair is none other than Akari currently tied up and blindfolded. No one else is around but I made sure to check any possible areas where they can attack me to avoid any sort of underhanded attacks.

"Ha! You should at least lower that guard of yours from time to time, Manato. I know you like to play it safe but isn't it a bit excessive?"

From the dark area of the room, someone appeared, and based on his voice, this guy is the one who called me using Akari's phone.

"You bastard, release Akari at once!"

"Whoa there, chill bro. I know you want to already rescue your fiancee but why so hasty? The night is still young and fine. It would be a waste if you just rush it off to morning don't you think?"

PENG!

So quick!

I was able to quickly materialize my Magic Sword out and block his own sword's swing. However, it was too fast and one late block and my head would have been toppled over.

"As expected from one of the strongest Magic Knights, you are indeed worthy to fight against."

SWING! PENG! SWING! PENG!

The unknown assailant is a fast striker and even though I can easily predict his movements, he manages to actually cover his fatal weaknesses that I can easily exploit if he ever stops these chances. But it seems like this guy is already quite familiar with my moves that he didn't have any problem blocking them at all. It was like he is reading me like a book.

I quickly retreated and catch my breath for a second before launching myself again towards the guy once more.

"What's this Manato? Aren't you getting too rusty? Where is your usual style of fighting furiously? You are certainly lagging in terms of progression."

I admit that I felt sluggish. Maybe because I haven't been fighting in the frontlines anymore and I am just busy managing in our guild that I barely have time to go and fight head to head against monsters and other players. However, that doesn't mean I have not fully understood all of my past experiences, I might have gotten rusty but my skills are not to be underestimated.

Using my footwork, I decided to try using the ability I keep on trying to improve. I rarely use it due to the reason that it exerts a lot of force in my legs and I had to shoulder quite a huge pain just to execute this movement. I may have not perfected it due to how I just developed it and my body is not yet compatible with it, once I use it, one of my legs will be too injured to move in the process.

PENG!

First step.

PENG!

Second step.

Every step, I swing my sword. Every swing of my sword, my next foot would move forward. Faster... I needed to be much faster than this!

"Heh, if you become a Samurai class instead of the Magic Knight class, perhaps you can do that footwork and blade work much smoother in performance than this, Manato."

No...I already abandoned the way of the katana long ago. Don't make me remember all of it!

Then...he stopped and moved away from me.

"Why did you stop..." I gritted my teeth.

"Your fighting style is boring. Very boring Manato. I don't know why but you lack the same vigor you have back when you still keep me on the edge. I improved myself too much I guess but you seemed to have been worse. It's not even worth holding back. Tch, I had enough... go," the unknown man waved his hand, shooing me away.

"What...Are you planning something..."

"Did you really think I would have time to do that crap? I am not gonna be bothered. You are too boring now, Manato. My expectation is ruined."

He then went to the sofa nearby and just took a sit there as he grabbed the nearest bottle of wine on the table.

I don't know what he is planning but right now, he is not the main priority. Akari needs to be tended as soon as she needed to be. I immediately went to Akari who is still unconscious. Removing her blindfold, she was certainly crying as her cheeks and the blindfold itself is very damp. What did this guy do to Akari?

Taking off the restraints from her arms, I can also tell that she struggled for a bit. But there is something odd that I am feeling but I can't really explain the feeling.

When I was about to remove the restraints on her legs, I felt a very strange sense of danger.

STAB!

I quickly performed a quick stab on the person who is trying to assault me.

"Guhk... agh..." blood oozes out of the stab wound as I stabbed it too deep this time using the pocket knife I am carrying always in my pocket to cut off the restraints of Akari.

But...I still got caught off guard.

STAB!

A sharp pain registered to my chest when a kunai appeared to be embedded in my flesh.

"Damn...it!" I grit my teeth in pain. It seems like the kunai has a paralyzing and poison effect in it. I managed to avoid getting stabbed in the vital signs but the poison is flowing right through me.

"I knew that something is wrong... Akari..."

Yes. That's right. The one who assaulted me is none other than Akari. I knew something is wrong with her but I can't just pinpoint what is currently wrong. Maybe I have developed something that would allow me to detect anything that can lead to betrayal and stuff after countless betrayals and lies I faced in my entire life.

Akari already died. I stabbed her chest with the pocket knife with full force on her heart. I made sure it is fatal. However, it is still not fast enough as she managed to deliver a final kunai to stab me with poison and paralysis effect. I am not a cleric and my class has no skills that can heal the effects of these things, that is why I am stuck with suffering.

The only thing I can do is lie down and wait for my doom. My body can barely move but I can also feel my life draining due to the poison in my body. The only thing I can do is delay my death by delaying the poison passing in my body and maintaining my sanity.

I refuse to die like this so I forcefully use my mana to boost my whole body and allow me to move again. This way, even if I am paralyzed, using my natural mana, I can break it and move again though at the very end after the effects of it are gone, my whole body will also suffer from the process. But that is fine since I won't die from that. I won't just lie there and wait for my death. I need to find someone to help me. Suppressing the poison forcefully is not going to do me any good if I fail to remove it.

"Guh!" I felt a heavy pain in my chest as I suppress the poison and regain my energy back. It was painful like you have been smashed by a bludgeon in full force. I spit out a bit of blood on my mouth but I didn't stop suppressing it.

CLAP CLAP CLAP

That bastard... he is clapping...

"Bravo Manato. Even if you are struggling right now, I didn't think you will be able to give me quite a show. I am quite impressed that you managed to know that Akari is going to betray you!"

"You are behind all of this..."

"Oh? I didn't know you are sharp on this one."

"I can feel that Akari has something hiding from me but to think she is working for you..."

"Yes, Manato. I am quite a crafty guy, right? To think your fiancee was never in love with you in the first place and was instead a big traitor, planning to take your life away. But I didn't expect you to be this sharp to already know that she is the traitor. I made sure everything is perfect but it seems nothing can easily escape your eyes."

"Who the heck are you... why are you doing this to me...?

"Ahhh, I take back that you are sharp. You are still a dense bastard I see. Well, maybe it is time for the big reveal? You are about to die anyway so let's do that."

And he removed his mask. The moment I saw his face, all of the blood in my body started to boil and the rage that has been hiding in my body has finally been unleashed.

"KAZUKIII!!!! YOU BASTARD!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

His whole laugh echoed throughout the whole building. He looked at me with crazy eyes and grinned. I am slowly losing my consciousness too. As much as I want to kill this bastard, my consciousness and my body refuse to cooperate.

"GAME OVER, MANATO."

...

...

...

I opened my eyes when I smell rotten trash. I can also feel the groggy feeling of lying down on the trash bags. Yeah, that's right, I was thrown in the trash. The kunai is still embedded in my chest and the poison is still flowing in my body. However, since I managed to delay the poison, it only managed to incapacitate me instead of killing me. Of course, I cannot move my body anymore. Pain is already registered in my body and just a single finger moving would be too much for my body to even handle.

"Young man..."

That voice... I still remember that voice... it was like someone from the game with demons and angels with a single guy in the middle of the destroyed Tokyo exploring it. However, this voice is much deeper and much more mature. You can say that his voice has this "chad" energy vibe in him but more on the side of the "manly" and "daddy" combined. I think some girls like this type of voice.

"Stop thinking useless crap, young man. Time is running short."

"Wha..." I realized I am not daydreaming. Someone is indeed talking to me.

"Now you are capable of rational thoughts now? You shouldn't keep doing that."

I have finally seen this person talking to me after squinting my eyes. However, I didn't expect to see someone that I always see nowadays on the television. Nobuhiko Kasaguchi, the developer of the VR game, Alternate World which became the game that changed the world that allowed people to use magic and different things that only in fantasy can be done.

He still has this chad aura on him. I don't know why he is there but he is standing there menacingly at me.

"How is the life you had so far?" he asked.

I gritted my teeth but I still responded. "If I said it's pretty terrible, would you believe me?"

"Well, I didn't experience what happened to your life but I already witnessed what happened to you. Just that alone is clear that you have suffered too much in this life."

"Ha... yeah, and look, I am here in the trash, waiting for my time to die. This is the most pathetic time of my life and the lamest way to die. I can't even graduate to my virginity, damn it."

"Alright, I think I heard enough. You are the perfect candidate for this."

He then held out his hand and handed something to my hands. I can't move my body but I can tell that the one he handed me is a little device that looks like some sort of button. There is also a small syringe that was also on my other free hand. Based on the shape alone, it is clearly a syringe.

"If you are disappointed in this life's outcome, push the button. If you just wanted to end all of this, don't bother pushing it. However, if you still want to fight, push it. After you push the button use the syringe. I have a gift for you."

"Wait, what? Hey, old man! Care to explain?! Hey?!"

I wanted to get more information about what he was talking about but he walks away after handing out the items in my hands. I can't see what the heck he handed to me and all I can tell is that I only needed to push the button.

Whatever Nobuhiko gave me, is something that he wanted me to use. I am confused as f*ck but I am frustrated in this life. He said I should push the button if I am disappointed by the outcome of my life. As much as this is suspicious, I am already dying and I don't know how long before the last amount of lifespan left in me will keep me alive. Nothing will be gone from me if I push this button as I will be dying anyway. I will use it then. There is nothing wrong with using it, I guess. Also, it seems like my time is almost up, I can feel the pain in my chest coming back again. Might as well push the button Nobuhiko gave me.

It's now or never.

CLICK!

[EXECUTING PROJECT RESET... COMPLETE...BOOTING UP IN THREE...TWO...ONE... BOOT COMPLETE...PROCEED TO DELETE THE CURRENT TIMELINE'S FUTURE AND RETURN TO THE PAST. REBOOTING... SUBJECT MANATO TSUKASA... REGISTRATION COMPLETE. SETUP COMPLETE. GOOD LUCK IN THIS LIFE, SUBJECT ALPHA.]

All of a sudden, my whole body felt like it has been stretched, and then, I was sucked into the void, stretched out like rubber. In fact, it seems like what I am experiencing right now is similar to what would happen to an object or someone entering a black hole. I can only scream but it seems like even my voice is being sucked by an unknown force.

Then, all of a sudden, I saw myself in a place with a massive tree. It was very big that even the tallest buildings on Earth can't even compare. I also noticed a woman with white hair, wearing a kimono, and is currently hugging a box in her hands. It seems she noticed my presence. I can't see her face that much and my vision is starting to get blurry too.

"So...you must be... .... ... I... see... I... will be waiting..."

The girl was speaking but for some unknown reason, I can't understand half of what she just said. I wanted to respond to her but then I was sucked into the void and my consciousness faded.

...

...

...

BLAG!

I was forced to open my eyes and grab the back of my head. It was so painful that my head seems to be vibrating a lot.

"Ugh... I fell from my bed..."

It was so painful even though the bed and the floor isn't that far. It seems I am rolling around the bed for too long before I fell. I rub my head for a bit but then I realized that I am currently holding something in my hands.

"A syringe? What is...Urk!"

While staring at the syringe, all of a sudden, memories suddenly flooded my head. It was like a flow of data has been downloaded to my head, causing me to feel a severe headache. I screamed as clutched my head in pain.

As soon as it disappeared, I finally remembered.

"Huh? Did I just return to the past?!"

I quickly went to the mirror and saw my younger self. I tried pinching myself in my side and it hurts a lot which I regret doing so. I shouldn't have pinched it so hard. Anyways, back to this current situation that I am in. If I am back to the past and my body regressed, that means everything that happened is now possible to be changed?

The pros of being able to get back to the past and redo all of the things that I have not done are now possible! I tried recalling all of the future memories of my adult self and to my surprise, they are still there. With my eidetic memory, I will not be able to forget anything at all with this! It's a very perfect guide!

However, there is also a big problem. If I change some of the things that should have happened in the past timeline and make the outcome different, there is a chance that there will also be a lot of changes that will cause everything to be troublesome and the memories I have in the past timeline will be useless!

So that means it also has cons. However, even if it is a bad thing, I am now unable to escape this brand new ride of my life. Without any chances to return to the original timeline, my only way is to live again on the current timeline.

My old memories and the current memories of my young body merged together and since I have not done anything weird in the past few days, the new memory that merged with my old memories didn't have any contradicting memories that would make me confused as a result.

I look at my calendar to check the date. January 7th. I see the date for the release of Alternate World and the Reality Verse is a year from now on. The gap is not that much but that is plenty enough. The current school year is also canceled due to an upgrade to the teaching styles all around the world. Due to this change, the Ministry of Education decided to postpone a single year to integrate the new upgrade and will allow the teachers to use this new thing for teaching quite a lot better.

This is a good chance for me. I am living alone in our house in Tokyo. My parents are in Nagoya managing their business so I am free to do what I wanted to do. The first target is to at least accumulate at least 5,000,000 yen(around 44,000 dollars) this year. It is a big amount especially for a student without a job like me. If I am already playing the game, this amount of money is easily earned in a single day but since the game has yet to launch and the purpose for earning this much is for buying the console, this needs hard work and perseverance.

It is a good thing for me that I don't need to worry about daily necessities and rent payments since our house is our own property and about utilities like water and electricity, it is also not a problem which is why I can easily focus on earning money.

Since the Alternate World will change the world forever, a good startup in the game would help me a lot and I don't need to borrow from those bastards just to play. I am going to change my destiny. Especially Kazuki and Akari, just you two wait in the future, even though you two have yet to do anything from me, but I will make sure that you two will not be the same people in the past. I swear on my power.