Nightmare’s Call - Chapter 28 - The Beginning: Part 1

Warning This fiction contains:

Graphic Violence Profanity Sensitive Content

Summary – Level 1:

Delve is an isekai litrpg that follows an average guy who just happened to wake up in a forest one day. He wasn’t summoned to defeat the demon lord or to save the world or anything like that, at least as far as he can tell. The only creature there to greet him was a regular old squirrel.

Soon enough, he meets other people, only to discover that he can’t speak the language, and that not everybody immediately trusts random pajama-wearing strangers they met in the middle of the wilderness. Things generally go downhill from there, at least until the blue boxes start appearing.

Delve is a story about finding your way in a new, strange, and dangerous world. It’s about avoiding death, figuring out what the heck is going on, and trying to make some friends along the way. It’s not about getting home, so much as finding a new one.

Did I mention that there will be math?

Summary – Level 2:

Okay, but what are you in for, really?

Well, this story is supposed to be realistic, or at least, as realistic as a fantasy litrpg can be. The main character doesn’t instantly become an all-powerful god and murder-hobo his way across the universe. Delve is, at its heart, a progression fantasy, but that progression is meant to feel earned. The numbers in this story actually mean something. Everything is calculated, and if you find a rounding error, I expect you to tell me about it. That said, if math isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty more that the story has to offer. Characters are meant to feel real, and progression isn’t only about personal power; it’s also about allies, connections, and above all, knowledge. Figuring out how the system works is a significant theme.

...

What, you want more details? Okay, fine, but this is going to get a bit spoiler-y. Are you sure?

Yes!

Really sure? I mean, this summary is practically half as long as the first chap–

Now!

Okay, okay!

The main character becomes a magic user, but he takes a route that is not very popular in adventurer culture, namely that of a support. There is a full magic system with various spells, skills, and abilities, but our MC decides that aura magic is the way to go, and that the only stat worth investing in is mana regeneration. Most people at the Adventurer’s Guild think that this makes him a bit of a dumbass, but he’s playing the long game. We’ll see how that works out for him, won’t we?

Because of his build, the MC levels up fast, at least compared to normal people. There are no cheats, though, and he is limited in other ways. There are some clear and pretty obvious downsides to his build. That’s what makes it fun, no?

Morals? Our MC has them. Again, we’ll see how that works out for him. Realism, remember? Would you be okay with killing someone and looting their body? I sure hope not.

POV? The focus is on the main character, but there will be occasional varying perspectives from people around him, or involved in the events related to the main plot. It isn’t going to jump all over the place.

Tech is standard medieval stasis. No smartphones, but the MC does have a technical background. Computers and their programming might be involved. There might even be a bit of uplifting down the road, who knows? Anyway, it isn’t the focus. He isn’t going to invent the gun in chapter 1 and change the face of warfare.

Romance is not a major focus. Friendships are more the name of the game, though there will be some characters in romantic relationships.

There is exploration, though not as much of the geographical nature as you might expect. It is more about exploration of the system and the culture.

The pace is slow and detailed, sometimes verging on slice-of-life. The action is meant to be realistic and grounded in the numbers, and it is intended to have meaning beyond simply punching things until they stop moving.

The general tone of the story is grey, and some parts can get quite dark. People die. Sometimes, people with names, but not anywhere near GoT level. There is plenty of light, too, though, to balance the darkness. The world is dangerous, but overcoming that danger is why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far through the summary, you clearly like words. I hope you enjoy the story!

Shen Meng is a factory worker who encountered a car accident while delivering a contract to a business partner.While she was bedridden and suffering alone, she suddenly discovered a spatial power.Before she could be happy for two days, the side effects of the space emerged, causing her to have strange dreams almost every night.Realizing the situation quickly, Shen Meng hurriedly sold her house and car and started hoarding supplies frantically in case she ended up in a place lacking food and clothing, fearing she might starve to death.While she was once again on her way to stock up, another car accident occurred. When she opened her eyes again, she had transmigrated into a period novel as a vicious supporting role doomed to a tragic end for opposing the female protagonist Jinli.Not only was her own reputation destroyed, ending in an accidental tragic death, but her four children also became extreme due to lack of guidance and frequent childhood abuse, resulting in psychological issues leading to tragic fates.Moreover, the man, who had been a soldier contributing to the country, was ambushed and hit on the back of the head, becoming mentally impaired forever, and he drowned in the river during winter while holding the clothes they married in.To change her destiny, Shen Meng had to redeem her reputation and guide the children towards good as they were descendants of a hero, and she couldn't stand watching them fall.Occupying the original body's identity, Shen Meng decided to be filial to the elderly, take care of the children, and lead the whole family towards a prosperous path.Just that the man, who always protected the country and had a lukewarm relationship with her, seemed to look at her increasingly passionately.

The female soldier king traverses into a useless little girl, confronting the strongest ghost lord who is both salty and sweet.She is the first legendary female soldier king in history, who traversed and was actually sold by a scumbag!!Unable to cultivate, abandoned, and cursed for a hundred lives, without a good ending?She holds a book defying fate, enslaving the heavens, making the earth her servant. Whoever splashes dirty water on her, she boils it and splashes it back.Punching scumbags, kicking white lotuses, with the universe in her left hand and the world in her right, she counterattacks in one fell swoop, changing the winds and clouds.Behind her, a lazy voice calls out.“Stop right there. I've confirmed through the eyes, you are the woman this lord wants to flirt with.”

Twenty years ago, the Gu family’s eldest daughter, Gu Wan, went missing without any news on her whereabouts.

The Gu family was left with only the youngest daughter, Gu Chu, so they doted on her.

Twenty years later, Gu Wan returned. Gu Chu was thrilled and she showed her sister around the city, even giving her everything she treasured.

However, Gu Chu gradually realized that Gu Wan was here to take everything away from her, including her fiance! Their mother said, “We owe Gu Wan all of this. We all do, especially you! Gu Wan only went missing back then because you insisted on having a candy.

That’s why Gu Wan went out and ended up going missing!

She had suffered for twenty years out there! You will never be able to fully repay Gu Wan what you owed her!

Hence, the engagement with the Feng family should be given to Gu Wan!”

Their mother even said, “When we arranged this marriage with the Feng family, although we didn’t specify if it was for Gu Wan or Gu Chu, the elder child should take precedence.

Gu Wan should’ve been the first choice. And now that she’s back, she should take what was rightfully hers. What’s wrong with that?” Gu Chu wanted to defend herself.

She didn’t understand why Gu Wan would lie because she didn’t go missing because of her. Yet, the man chose to marry her sister, and that was when Gu Chu regained her senses.

It was just a man. Men weren’t reliable, so she didn’t want him anymore! Their mother even used their family’s shares to bribe Young Master Feng.

However, Gu Chu was surprised when the quiet and unsmiling Young Master Feng suddenly had a change of personality.

Three times a day, he would propose to her. Gu Chu asked, “Are you in such a hurry to have a wife?” Young Master Feng answered, “I’ve been planning this for a long time. Please bear with me.”

Later on, Gu Chu found out his secret. So he had actually been planning for a long time after all…