Damian (1)
D+3780 days. Not the date I started dating someone. This is the number of days I've held the number one spot on the rankings.
The game I play is called Esperro. A world set in the 19th century, blending guns, magic, swords, and machines. It's a VR-based game—a realistic game world. With diverse classes and abilities, Esperro enjoyed massive popularity. I loved playing it too.
Then, the thought hit me: I wanted the top spot. Once I set my mind on something, I had to see it through, or it wouldn't satisfy me. Naturally, I claimed the number one ranking. And I held it for over seven years.
The nickname that stuck to me because of that was... 「Top Priority for Staff Recruitment.」 Exactly as it sounds—a moniker suggesting they should hire me as staff.
The reason? My builds. Because of me, the devs had to tweak the balance patches constantly. Dual-shield tank builds. All-in DPS healer builds. Perfect evasion archer builds, and more. My builds were revolutionary, but tricky to pull off—not something just anyone could copy.
The community forums were flooded with talk about me. My influence was that huge—on players and devs alike.
"Come on in!"
"Bro! Thanks for today! See you tomorrow!"
"See ya tomorrow!"
Today's tasks were done. I logged out my main character, but I didn't quit the game entirely. I had another character—a secret hobby of mine. Raising an alt. Playing undercover with it was fun, like being a stealth pro.
This alt was also in the top ranks. But no one knew it was mine. Before wrapping up the day, I logged into the alt.
Then, moments later, a weird announcement popped up.
Hello. This is Orion, the Esperro development team. First, congratulations. You've been selected by our team, and we've prepared a new experience for those chosen starting tomorrow. We hope you enjoy it.
Time until new update: 09:59:59......
Update? It was a message from the devs. A new update? And it kicks in tomorrow morning? This was odd. Why announce an update at the last second? And calling it a "selection"? Some secret update?
......
The chat was dead silent. Normally, sudden update news would blow up the chat.
Just in case, I checked my main. Weirdly, no message there.
Chats erupted into chaos between those who got it and those who didn't. Clearly, it wasn't for everyone—just the "selected," as the message said. The recipients were all top rankers in their class rankings.
But why no message on my main, the overall number one? I couldn't figure the criteria, but stuff like this happened sometimes. Game companies recruiting secret testers for projects. Who was I to know?
I shrugged it off and quit the game. My alt got selected anyway.
"Ughhh!"
My whole body ached. I'd played from morning till bedtime—makes sense.
Maybe check that thing I downloaded yesterday.
I removed the VR gear and headed to my PC instead of bed. To check the Esperro mod I'd grabbed.
Click.
Esperro had various modes—for fun, like skin swaps or adding new skills. But they forced single-player only since they altered the game.
Hidden boss playable mode, huh. I never bothered with mods. Esperro was an online game; solo play felt pointless.
But after 10 years, I'd maxed every class, raised multiples with different builds. I knew every story, line, skill, item. No new builds left to invent.
Then I found one that caught my eye: a mod adding a new playable character. A hidden boss, no less.
◈ Train hidden boss character.
◈ Restore Unique class grade Weapon Summoner.
◈ Restore Damian-exclusive tutorial.
*This mod fully restores the hidden boss character. Includes powerful strength and all of Damian's penalties.
Hidden boss Damian.Esperro's secret boss in a nutshell. He had final-boss-level power, created by the final boss to absorb. People said he was harder than the actual final boss.
I've died to him countless times.
His skills were broken. He didn't use just one or two weapons—he wielded any like familiars. Item grade irrelevant. And he fully applied their options.
This guy was designed unbreakable. Imagine: legendary weapons designed for single use, but he summons dozens. Options stack, skills synergize into insane effects. Devs must've lost their minds making him.
Playing as that Damian? Sweet.
Curious what fun the Weapon Summoner class offered. Summoner-focused build? Magic-heavy? Swordplay? My heart raced. Endorphins surging at the build possibilities.
After a hassle of installation, it was past 11 PM.
Sleep first. Too wiped. It installed fine. Wanted to test, but exhaustion won. Tidied up, hit the bed.
Update tomorrow—set an alarm.
Wonder what it was. A spark of excitement as I closed my eyes.
I opened my eyes. I was in some unknown space. A week now. Hundreds of blinks, same situation.
Freezing chill. Chemical stench. Cobweb ceiling. Dim lantern the only light.
......Am I really.
A week on a cot, body bound. Where was this? What happened to me?
My mind swirled with fear and anxiety, but oddly, I stayed calm.
Over time, eavesdropping on the periodic visitors clued me in. This was inside Esperro. In the body of Damian, my last login.
......No idea how.
Screeech.
Someone entered. The status-check guys.
"Hm, looks like Experiment 51 succeeded."
New voice. Not the usuals.
Heavy cologne. From Damian's story—the lab director, described spritzing pungent perfume.
Up close, damn strong.
"How's this subject's status?"
"All good, sir. Swordsman, mage, summoner abilities stabilized."
"New abilities?"
"Implemented."
Damian was the first injected with swordsman, mage, summoner powers—gaining Weapon Summoner.
"Weapon-reading ability succeeded too. Now he can glean info from enemies' weapons."
"Good. Once awakened, he'll infer emotions from weapons alone. Though his brain might fry."
"Yes. To stabilize, we injected Nerve Stabilizer N7—keeps him composed in any situation."
"Perfect. On plan."
Right—Damian got that drug. Explains the calm.
"One issue: when meds fully metabolize or mana depletes, extreme pain and blackout."
"Hm. Needs periodic dosing for control."
Periodic agony. Damian's biggest flaw—leads to Mental Breakdown, berserk.
"He wants a perfect subject to absorb. This one's his power source. Force it, fix the side effects."
"Yes! Next experiment scheduled!"
Another forced test. The one from story: shattering Damian's mind.
Survive, and he'll absorb me anyway.
Can't let this happen. Endure experiments? Still die absorbed.
Escape before next test.
Dunno how I got here. But I know I can't stay. Gotta get out.
Damian's tutorial begins.
Abilities unlocked.
Weapon Summoner class acquired.
Right then—the class unlocked. Does this mean Damian's story starts?
Won't go down like this.
This power might be my only shot. I'll escape the game somehow. And repay those who did this tenfold.