08:00.
Ashen Regalia was released.
And the world... trembled.
The servers began to hiss even before the official launch. Thanks to the final trailer — the one with the duel atop the mirrored waters of the Hollow Cathedral — the game had been trending globally for three days straight.
All through the night, forums overflowed with theories, weapon tier lists, and wild guesses about the identity of the developer. And now, the moment had arrived.
08:01.
17,000,000 downloads.
The number spiked like a heart monitor in cardiac arrest. Social media platforms clogged. Digital storefronts became unstable. Discord crashed. Even the backup servers started overheating.
The first gameplay videos appeared less than five minutes after launch.
> "This is the best first boss I've ever faced."
"I screamed when I realized the AI copied my attack pattern and started punishing me."
"This can't be real. It feels too human."
"WHO IS THIS DEVELOPER??"
The eyes of the world were on me — or at least, on my pseudonym.
The official Ashen Regalia account on X/Twitter hit over a million followers in thirty minutes. The hashtag #AshenRegalia took the #1 trending spot worldwide. Even news outlets that usually ignored video games started reporting on it live.
And then, at 08:27...
"BREAKING: Ashen Regalia becomes the most downloaded game on launch in history."
I was seated at my desk, tea mug in hand. My fingers trembled slightly. With every update on the admin panel, another record shattered.
It didn't feel real.
On the screen next to me, international streamer ShomaGamer was playing live for over 150,000 viewers.
> "Okay... this is a work of art. And an emotional torture device," he said, staring at Chapter 3's boss — The Silent Monarch.
The chat exploded:
> "What IS this game??"
"This is genius. I've never seen an enemy adapt to my mistakes like this."
"Forget it — this guy just redefined the genre."
10:00.
The digital publisher sent an email begging for a partnership.
A European studio offered investment.
Hardware companies wanted to license Ashen Regalia for limited-edition consoles.
For weeks, the trailers had dominated the internet. Scenes of brutal battles against adaptive, shadowy enemies; decaying worlds painted with melancholic beauty; immersive soundtracks and merciless combat rooted in pattern recognition. There was no franchise like Dark Souls in this world. Ashen Regalia had no rivals — it was challenging, instinctive, and beautiful in its cruelty.
On the game's official website, right beside the Alpha download button, a short video played. In it, my face. No mask. No filter. Just me, saying:
"I'm Haruki Sakuragi. And this is the world I created for you to conquer. Good luck."
The internet detonated.
Just five hours after launch, Ashen Regalia had 30 million players. In twenty-two hours, it surpassed 100 million. Reactions worldwide ranged from awe to agony, from euphoria to horror all struck by the difficulty, the artistry, the depth. Influencers, critics, streamers, celebrities everyone wanted to understand Ashen Regalia. And more importantly, who Haruki Sakuragi really was.
Major companies reached out. Prestigious studios. Media conglomerates. Investors. The offers were endless: money, partnerships, global publishing.
But my answer was always the same: No.
I didn't create Ashen Regalia to be sold. I made it to prove that one mind, one vision, one well-executed idea... could challenge the entire world.
And that's when the system spoke.
---
[MISSION COMPLETE – LEGACY MARK]
Congratulations. You launched the Alpha version of Ashen Regalia, surpassed 100 million unique players in under 30 days, and maintained a user rating above 4.7 stars across all major platforms. Over 50 influential figures publicly praised your work.
Rewards unlocked:
Combat Style: Digital Arsenal
Transforms your creative abilities into combat intuition. You learn to visualize strategies like systems, predict movements like algorithms, and react with mathematical precision. Ideal for those who think in patterns, structures, and constant innovation.
Bonus Reward Activated:
You surpassed the 100 million mark in under 20 days.
New Passive Skill Acquired: Dominant Presence
Your very presence carries weight. When you enter a room, conversations fade, eyes turn, and silence grows thick. It's not fear, nor worship it's instinctive respect. A silent authority that doesn't need words to be felt.
Effects:
Generates a passive aura of leadership in any environment, making your words more persuasive.
People hesitate before contradicting you, unless absolutely certain.
Significantly enhances the impact of short, direct commands in tense situations.
Can suppress disorder or defuse conflicts through presence alone, if desired.
Naturally recognized as the central figure in any group, even without asserting yourself.
System Note:
"Some lead with shouts. Others with force. True leaders command with the silence between their words."
---
The effect was immediate.
At school, the respect I'd earned through grades became something heavier. Those who used to ignore me now looked away when passing by. Those who already admired me for my academic achievements began treating every word I spoke like it carried hidden wisdom.
Teachers? More concise. More attentive. Some started asking for my thoughts even when unnecessary. And when I spoke, no one interrupted. It was as if the entire classroom had begun to orbit around me.
At home, my mother was the last to notice. To her, I'd always been the diligent, calm son. But soon, she began asking for my opinion on small decisions dinner plans, errands and more importantly, accepting those opinions without question. My father, now busier than ever after his recent promotion, noticed the shift in subtle ways. Whenever he came home, his first words were always directed at me as if my presence anchored the household.
It was strange. And powerful.
But I knew one thing: this was only the beginning.
I had launched a game. Built a digital empire. But my world the real battlefield where I would prove my worth still lay ahead.
And now, I had the tools to shape it as I saw fit.