"Can you believe it, ladies and gentlemen… at just 10 years old, Leo has accomplished the impossible. He has cleared Oasis—a game no one has beaten since its beginning and become the youngest, and only administrator in history. Leo, how do you feel right now?"
Sitting opposite Mr. J. Jonah Johnson, CEO of Daily Bugle channel, in a grand artificially constructed newsroom was Leo or rather, his avatar.
A slim teenage boy with messy white hair and deep crystal blue eyes leaned back lazily, a cup of virtual coffee resting in his hand. He looked like someone barely holding himself together.
For the past 100 hours, Leo had been locked onto the final challenge without logging out even once. No real food, no real sleep, only the artificial stimulation of the VR keeping his body from collapsing.
It was his obsession that had pushed him this far. Five years with no friends, no family, no responsibilities, just Oasis. The virtual money and sponsorships he earned had barely kept his real-world life afloat, but now, standing at the very top, all of the struggles seems worth it.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. Then another. And another, until it grew into an unrestrained, maniac laughter that echoed across the broadcast. The audience fell into an uneasy silence as Leo tilted his head back and drained his cup.
Instantly, the neural interface responded, flooding his brain with bursts of dopamine. The forced stimulation kept his exhausted mind awake, barely holding back.
The host maintained his smile, though it had clearly stiffened. "You didn't quite answer the question, Leo. How do you feel after achieving the impossible?"
Leo blinked slowly, his half-lidded eyes struggling to focus. "I feel… good," he murmured after a pause. Then, almost as an afterthought, "And sleepy. Can we do this later?"
For a brief moment, the entire broadcast seemed to freeze. The host let out a small, strained laugh. "Ah… of course, we can, if you're not feeling well—"
The stream was paused.
The polite expression vanished from the host's face as he grabbed Leo's avatar by the shoulder and shook him. "Hey, don't mess around, you signed for an exclusive first interview with us before becoming the administrator? you don't get to pass out now of all times."
Leo didn't argue. He didn't even look at him. He simply raised a sluggish thumb in response. Then, with a small flick of his interface settings, his avatar straightened. His posture corrected itself and the exhaustion was masked behind an artificially energized expression.
The stream resumed almost instantly.
"Apologies for that brief interruption, ladies and gentlemen. Leo is back with us." The host leaned slightly forward, regaining his composure. "So, Leo, now that you seem better, how does it feel to stand at the very top of Oasis?"
This time, Leo smiled properly. It looked convincing enough.
"I've never been this excited in my life," he said smoothly. "It still feels unreal, to be honest." He paused.
The faint energy he had forced into his voice disappeared, and his body slackened. The light in his eyes faded, and his avatar went completely still, as if someone had simply switched him off.
The stream cut again.
This time, the host didn't bother maintaining appearances. He grabbed Leo by the collar, his voice rising. "Hey! This isn't funny anymore... wake up!"
There was no response. Not even the slightest movement.
"Oasis, confirm his status. Has he Logged out?"
The AI responded without delay. "Negative. There is no logout entry detected." A brief pause followed as it processed further data. "Analyzing vital signals from the haptic suit…"
The room seemed to grow quieter with each passing second.
"Mr. Leo's neural activity has ceased."
"He is… dead."
Leo, the youngest player to ever conquer the unbeatable Oasis game, had died his small body pushed far beyond its limits by relentless sleep deprivation and an overreliance on neural stimulants—yet a fulfilled smile still lingered on his face.
On the other end of existence, far beyond anything Leo had ever known, a soul stirred.
It woke as if from the most satisfying sleep of its life, letting out a long yawn. For a brief moment, there was nothing no fatigue, no pain from the endless hours of gaming.
Then he opened his eyes.
Standing before him was a figure calm, composed, and waiting...
Leo blinked, his mind still hazy. The being in front of him looked like a simple NPC.
He had a Blue skin, small stature, light purple eyes and a faint halo resting behind his head not like the flashy designs of NPCs Leo had seen in Oasis.
Leo frowned slightly and glanced down at himself.
No avatar, just his original form, a frail ten-year-old body.
"Are you… the creator's avatar?" Leo asked, tilting his head. "Didn't expect it to look this simple."
The being didn't react to the remark. Instead, he turned and began walking.
"Explaining everything would take time instead..." the NPC said, raising a finger before gently touching the center of Leo's forehead. In an instant, a flood of information surged into his mind, memories and rules compressed, transmitted directly into his consciousness.
Leo didn't panic. Instead, his eyes lit up with excitement as he absorbed it all, processing the overwhelming stream like a true nerd and diehard gamer he was.
"You will address me as Grand Minister not NPC," he added, his tone neither strict nor gentle.
As they walked through the vast, undefined space, the Grand Minister began explaining.
Leo listened quietly as the truth unfolded, how his body had given out during the interview, how the strain had finally caught up to him, and how his soul had been pulled into this place.
"I died smiling… ha. That was to be expected—I achieved my life's goal. But… why am I here?" Leo asked, piecing together the Grand Minister's explanation.
"…because you were deemed worthy of Omni Kings recognition," the Grand Minister finished.
Leo's expression didn't change much, but his eyes sharpened slightly.
"Any being who has, willingly or otherwise, gained dominion over a mortal world qualifies for the title of 'Ascended'."
'Administrator of Oasis was my accomplishment, so that counted as ruling a world.'
"You now have two options," the Grand Minister went on. "First, you may proceed to meet King Yama. Your soul will be judged, whether to be sent to hell or reincarnated."
"Or… you may choose to participate in the games of His Majesty the Omni-Kings."
Leo looked at the Grand Minister once again this time his gaze cold, almost amused.
"And what do I get if I win this 'game'?" he asked without hesitation.
"You will be granted a wish. One that the Omni-Kings themselves will fulfill based on your performance in the world you are sent to."
Leo's eyes flickered faintly.
"…A wish, huh," he murmured. "Not bad." A small grin formed.
"I'll play."
The moment the words left his mouth, the space around them shifted. Without warning, both Leo and the Grand Minister vanished from where they stood, transported instantly toward the domain of the Omni-Kings.
The scenery before Leo was an endless white expanse, stretching in every direction with no end in sight. There were no walls, no ceiling only scattered white pillars rising from the ground, supporting nothing at all.
"Greetings, Your Majesties. As informed previously, I have brought the second ascendant."
The Grand Minister bowed. Leo followed a moment later, though his eyes lingered on the childish rulers ahead, doubt flickering across his face.
"Hey, Xeni 2—he's here. Your Ascendant."
The two identical beings seated upon their throne turned their attention to him. Without a word, they floated down, their movements light and playful, floating effortlessly.
Two tall bodyguards silently emerged from the white floor behind them, following at a respectful distance.
The rulers began circling Leo, their wide eyes filled with curiosity. One full rotation. Then they stopped directly in front of him.
"Hello, Leo. You can call me Xeni 1," the first said cheerfully.
"And I'm Xeni 2. Nice to meet you!" the second added, smiling brightly.
Leo steadied himself and greeted.
"Nice to meet you as well."
"I assume the Grand Minister explained everything already?" Xeni 1 asked, tilting his head.
"Yes, yes—you agreed to play the game willingly, correct?" Xeni 2 continued, not waiting, bouncing slightly in midair.
Leo took a slow breath.
"Yes, Your Majesties. I am… also a game enthusiast like you. I chose to participate willingly."
"Hm… is that so?" Xeni 1 clapped his small hands together, eyes lighting up. "Too bad—you can't join my team. I already promised Xeni 2."
At the same time, both of them extended their tiny hands toward Leo, grinning like children. Leo hesitated for only a moment before extending his own, his palm meeting theirs.
When the distortion settled, they arrived in a place that could only be described as nothingness.
There was no ground, no sky—only an endless void. Far in the distance, barely visible, a single dot of light flickered. It might have been millions of light-years away. The planet of El, the previous Ascendant who had drawn the Black Clover world.
Then, suddenly—
A massive sphere of light ignited above them, as large as the sun from Leo's previous world. Its glow spread outward, illuminating the emptiness.
"We call this place the Null Realm and you will stay here," Xeni 2 said.
"After you conquer the planet we will create for you," he continued, "you will be moved to the outer universe. There, you will meet other Conquerors and understand what that title truly means."
"Hm hm…" Xeni 1 hummed in agreement.
"I understand," Leo replied, absorbing their words, a quiet anticipation building within him.
"Good," Xeni 2 said, his tone suddenly sharper. "Now listen carefully."
"I will explain how this game works."
At once, golden light flooded the Null Realm.
Cards began to materialize out of nothing.
Soon, over a hundred thousand massive golden cards floated before him, their backs facing Leo. Each one looked identical, yet each seemed to call to him in a different way.
Xeni 2 continued, "First, we decide the format of the game and the conditions required for you to earn the title of Conqueror."
"Next, we choose the world where you will be reincarnated."
"And after that…" His eyes gleamed. "You will draw a power of your choosing from the World's Memory. That will be our parting gift." Leo raised his hand slightly.
"Can we select the world first, then the game format and finally the power?" At Leo's question, two exchanged a glance.
"Hm… no one has asked us that before," Xeni 1 said.
"But it's simple enough," Xeni 2 added. "We'll allow it."
He gestured toward the endless sea of golden cards and they shook again as if answering their call.
"These cards contain the memories of worlds that once existed. And drawing them… is not random."
"You may set conditions—about the kind of game you want, the world you wish to enter, and the type of power you desire."
"The cards that match your conditions will respond." The golden cards shifted.
Whenever Leo's gaze lingered on one, it drifted forward inviting, yet still hiding its content.
"World's Memory…" Leo murmured, then he spoke, calmly.
"A decent difficult world. One where I'm not trapped in a single place… I want to explore, to go on adventures, to experience all kinds of wonders. Not virtually, but in reality this time."
The condition wasn't greedy, more than anything, Leo wanted to live different this time—to enjoy life… not die alone.
The moment his words settled, ten cards drifted forward.
Each glowed with a different hue, Leo didn't hesitate.
He reached out and chose the one that resonated with him the most.
The card flipped.
[Congratulations. A world named "One Piece" has been selected from the World's Memory.]
"Congratulations, Leo," the two Omni-Kings said in unison, their excitement unmistakable.
[World Overview:]
It's a world made up of countless islands spread across vast, dangerous seas. People travel by ship, and every island is distinct—some peaceful, others ruled by pirates or world governments.
Power decides everything. Some gain strange abilities by eating devil fruits, while others train their will and bodies to grow stronger.
There is World government that maintains order, enforced by its navy. But pirates roam freely, chasing treasure, freedom and their dreams.
On the surface, the world seems stable. But beneath it lies a hidden history—one that is never meant to be uncovered.
"I smell… adventure," Leo said, a grin forming as he read the World's description. The World's Memory truly understood his intent.
He took a moment to process everything. The structure of this world was simple enough pirates and navy, constantly clashing.
Seeing that Leo was ready, Xeni 2 hummed thoughtfully.
"Now do the same thing," he said. "Think of the kind of game you want to play. Something similar will appear." Pretty easy, Leo thought.
He closed his eyes, forming the conditions clearly in his mind.
'Show me the most entertaining game I can play in this world… not overly complex.'
"Draw."
The countless golden cards trembled. One by one, their glow dimmed, fading into nothing as they failed to meet his condition.
When it ended, only five cards remained.
With his eyes still closed, he reached forward and chose the one that called to him the most.
[Congratulations. You have drawn a game from the World's Memory.]
Condition 1: Select the Route
~ Pirate
~Marine
~Revolutionary
~World Noble
~Other (Random)
Condition 2: ??? (Complete the first condition to unlock)
"Hmm… nothing difficult to choose... Pirate it is…"
Condition 2: Find the One Piece
Condition 3: ??? (Complete the second condition to unlock)
"Congratulations, Leo!" one of the Omni-Kings exclaimed, visibly excited.
"A difficult but entertaining game you have drawn!" Xeni 2 added. "But what is the third condition? I can't wait to see it!"
"What is 'One Piece'?" Leo asked, glancing toward the Grand Minister.
"It is the most desired treasure of that world," the Grand Minister replied calmly. "Whoever finds it is said to become the King of the Pirates." Leo looked back at the card as the text shifted once more.
[Summary:]
Reach the final island, Laugh Tale, and find the One Piece.
Upon doing so, you will be offered a choice, and the third condition will be presented accordingly.
[Difficulty: Hard]
"Treasure hunting… this sounds like a fun game," Leo said, a spark of excitement in his voice.
"Yes. Now choose an ability you wish to receive from us," Xeni 2 said, his tone turning slightly serious. "But remember—do not be too greedy. The greater the power you seek, the harsher the limitations will be."
Leo nodded.
As a hardcore gamer, he understood balance better than most. Even the best games could be ruined if things weren't properly balanced.
"Thank you for the warning," he said.
Still… he had already chosen a Hard difficulty game and world, which allowed him to select a more powerful ability without worrying about balance.
"What kind of ability should it be…" Leo muttered to himself as he stared into the vast sea of cards before him.
Taking a long breath, organizing his thoughts he spoke.
"Grant me an ability similar to my previous world game avatar, one that allows me, through direct or indirect contact, to deconstruct and reconstruct anything, living or non-living. Simple in concept, limitless in use."
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then three cards materialized before Leo, floating silently in the void as he made his selection.
[Congratulations.]
[Ascendant has drawn a Unique-Grade ability from World's Memory.]
[Ability Name: Reconstruct Deconstruct Fruit (Similar to Overhaul from My hero academia)]
[Ability Description:]
A contact-based ability that allows the user to deconstruct and reconstruct anything, living or non-living.
"…Not exactly the same," he muttered under his breath. "But this works..."
"Thank you for granting me this ability, Xeni's… but I have two simple request," Leo said, now that everything had settled.
"Yes, yes… ask away," Xeni 2 replied casually.
"First, I want to retain the appearance of my avatar from my previous world." Leo said and Xeni 2 agreed without hesitation.
"I don't mean to disrespect you but I've been listening," Leo said, his gaze steady. "You keep referring to this world as a game. And from what I understand… you intend to interfere whenever it suits you. Isn't that right Xeni's?"
"That is correct!" Xeni 2 replied cheerfully. "We will issue missions, and by completing them, you can earn Xeni Coins and many more things."
Leo didn't interrupt this time. He simply stood there for a moment… then spoke.
"I don't need Xeni Coins—no matter how valuable they are." His voice was calm. "My second request is, I don't want you interfering in this world… not until I've conquered it." He paused, eyes narrowing slightly.
"And please don't refer to this reality—my reality—as a game again."
Xeni 2 tilted his head, humming thoughtfully.
"Hm… this isn't the first time someone has asked us that," he said. "But you should know—this will increase the world's difficulty significantly. We only wish to help you. Are you sure?"
"Thank you for the concern," Leo replied, unwavering. "But this is my second request."
A brief silence followed.
"Very well… we agree." Both Xeni nodded, raising their pinky fingers toward him.
Leo hesitated for a fraction of a second… then hooked his finger with theirs making a promise.
Bowing his head slightly. "Thank you for everything, Omni-Kings… Grand Minister."
"Your Welcome, Now Go," one of the Omni-Kings said, slowly floating higher alongside the Grand Minister. "Make this Ascent the most entertaining. We're looking forward to it."
"Let's see if you can clear this world where 5 Ascendants have failed before you." With that, they vanished.
The space beneath Leo shifted.
A massive blue sphere, accompanied by many smaller planets, emerged before him. Its surface began unfolding at a rapid pace, time accelerating to an incomprehensible degree.
Oceans surged into existence. Mountain ranges rose from nothing. Cities formed, expanded, collapsed, and were rebuilt again—entire civilizations flashing by in mere moments.
History was being written and erased before his eyes, then, suddenly, a wave of drowsiness washed over him.
The last thing he felt was the sensation of falling, as his soul descended toward a new beginning.
***
Author's Note:This is the start of my second fanfic. If you're confused about the world or game system, check the first few chapters of my Black Clover fanfic, I've explained everything there in detail.
I'm just a random guy trying to improve my writing through fanfics… with the goal of one day writing the most loved story in the world.
Yeah, I know it is close to impossible but as a legend once said—People's dreams… have no end!
Goodbye!!