Darkness.
It stretched endlessly in every direction, silent and cold. There was no sky, no earth, no wind—only an empty void where time itself seemed to have stopped.
"…Am I dead?"
Kael's voice echoed into nothingness.
The last thing he remembered was crossing a busy road on Earth after finishing a late-night shift. Tires screeched. A blinding light swallowed his vision.
Then… nothing.
"So this is how it ends."
He laughed bitterly.
"No wife. No family. No fortune. Just work, sleep, repeat…"
A soft chuckle echoed through the darkness.
"You humans truly regret everything only after death."
Kael froze.
A woman stepped out of the darkness.
She was breathtaking, dressed in a flowing silver gown embroidered with stars. Her long white hair floated as though underwater, and her golden eyes held the brilliance of galaxies.
"I am Astraea," she said. "The Goddess of Destiny."
Kael blinked.
"So… heaven is real?"
She smiled.
"Not exactly."
With a wave of her hand, the darkness shattered like glass.
Countless worlds appeared around them—kingdoms floating among clouds, dragons soaring over mountains, ancient forests glowing beneath twin moons, and oceans that sparkled with magical light.
"You are no longer in your world."
Kael stared in awe.
"What is this place?"
"The continent of Elyndor."
"A world where magic decides status."
"A world where dragons rule the skies."
"A world where gods interfere only when they find someone… interesting."
"And me?"
"You were chosen."
Before Kael could ask another question, Astraea raised a finger.
A golden window appeared before him.
King's Harem System Activated
Host: Kael
Race: Human
Age: 18
Level: 1
Mana: 10
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Intelligence: 15
Charm: 20
Luck: ???
Special Title: The Last King
"Harem System?" Kael frowned.
"What kind of ridiculous name is that?"
Astraea laughed.
"It is more than its name suggests. Long ago, the kings of this world united kingdoms not only through conquest, but through alliances, trust, and marriage."
"The system exists to help you gather loyal companions, forge alliances, and restore a fallen empire."
"So I don't just… collect women?"
"No."
Her expression turned serious.
"If you treat people as trophies, the system will reject you."
"Loyalty cannot be forced."
"Love cannot be purchased."
"Every companion who chooses to stand beside you does so because of your actions."
Kael nodded slowly.
"That… actually makes sense."
Astraea smiled.
"I chose well."
Another notification appeared.
Main Quest
Restore the Kingdom of Aetherion.
Difficulty: Impossible
Reward: Unknown
Failure: Permanent Death
Kael's smile disappeared.
"Impossible?"
"You'll understand soon."
A portal opened beneath his feet.
"W-Wait! You haven't explained anything!"
"You'll figure it out."
"What kind of goddess says that?"
"The entertaining kind."
Before he could complain further, gravity seized him.
He plummeted through the portal.
A freezing wind slammed into his face.
Kael opened his eyes just in time to realize he was falling from the sky.
"…ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Clouds rushed past.
Below him lay an enormous continent unlike anything he had ever imagined.
Snow-covered mountains pierced the heavens.
Ancient forests stretched farther than the eye could see.
Rivers glowed with blue mana.
Massive cities surrounded castles larger than modern skyscrapers.
Dragons flew in the distance.
One of them glanced at Kael.
"…Why is the dragon looking at me?"
The dragon roared.
"…Oh no."
It turned.
Its wings beat once.
The gigantic creature shot toward him like a living comet.
"Why am I being hunted before I've even landed?!"
Kael flailed helplessly.
Suddenly—
Ding!
Emergency Skill Unlocked
Royal Blink
Consumes all mana.
Teleport to the nearest safe location.
Activate?
YES / NO
"YES!"
A burst of golden light surrounded him.
The dragon's jaws snapped shut on empty air.
Kael vanished.
A heartbeat later—
Splash!
He crashed into a crystal-clear lake.
Cold water filled his mouth as he sank beneath the surface.
He kicked desperately and finally broke through, coughing and gasping.
"I… I'm alive."
A calm voice drifted across the water.
"That depends."
Kael looked up.
Standing on the lakeshore was a tall woman in emerald robes, her long black hair flowing behind her. A staff of polished oak rested in one hand, and a silver wolf sat calmly beside her.
She looked to be in her early thirties, carrying herself with the quiet confidence of someone who feared nothing.
The system chimed.
Important Character Detected
Name: Lady Elara
Title: Grand Archmage of the Emerald Forest
Power Level: Extremely High
Relationship: Stranger
Elara studied him for a moment before speaking.
"You fell from the sky."
"That is usually a bad omen."
Kael managed a weak smile.
"I've been in this world for less than five minutes."
"I think you're right."
She couldn't help but laugh.
And somewhere far beyond the clouds, the Goddess Astraea watched with an amused smile.
"The game," she whispered, "has finally begun.