Chapter 3 - Translation

Chapter 2 - Reincarnation of the Strongest Guild Leader When Draco woke up, he realized that his head was throbbing painfully. Cursing darkly, he got up and checked his surroundings, expecting to see his expensive suite. What he saw instead, was a ramshackle room that looked like it could barely house a family of rats, much less a human being. Blinking with surprise, he looked at his chest sharply. No wounds. Just a scrawny body that looked like it could barely take a punch from a child, which was the opposite of the power packed form he was used to. Despite this different scene from what he expected, the sense of familiarity did not escape him. He knew this place and he recognized this body. This was his home and himself from 15 years ago, when he was a cowardly young man who could barely afford to feed himself. He picked up his brick phone and checked the time – 7:00 am, 21/03/2065. Despite his calm outward appearance, his mind was reeling from this. This date meant that Boundless would be launching in exactly five hours. Shops selling the basic game helmet for the Boundless servers would close in less than three hours. His memories of the past which had been blurry, become crisp and clear. These memories were after all, fresh and recent in the mind of this body. Yet, he could also remember everything beyond this date as easily as one with perfect eidetic memory would. He remembered that he had painstakingly saved every scrap of money for the two years Boundless had been announced and was in closed alpha and beta, starving himself in bursts to gather enough to buy the most basic helmet. Since he had very little time, he decided to follow his past self’s actions and purchase the helmet before closure. He walked out of his attic-like bedroom and washed up under his leaky shower which only shot out icy water. Shrugging the discomfort away was easy for the current Draco, while his old self used to spend 10 minutes alternating parts of his body under the shower in order to get used to it. After cleaning himself, he put on his outgoing shirt and wore some summer shorts and slippers before heading out. Walking along the boulevard, he was forced to look at the filthy surroundings of this underdeveloped area that existed on the outskirts of town. Despite the progression of society in the area of technology – or perhaps, because of it – nothing had really changed. The poor were getting poorer and the richer were getting richer. While Draco wasn’t yet at the bottom rung, he wasn’t that far off. Thanks to the leftover insurance money from his deceased parents, he could afford to keep off the streets. Even though this part of town was indisputably shitty, there was still some level of patronage, so it didn’t take him long to reach a small outlet store with a blue banner stating "Get your FIVR helmets for Boundless here with a basic starter’s package for $300!!!" Still, he didn’t head into the shop, rather waiting for a certain event to occur. In less than thirty seconds, four familiar faces emerged from the corner. The moment these fellows locked onto him, they started snickering meanly. The leader of them, an ugly rotund fool by the name of Jarko, walked up to Draco while his man tits shook the heavens and earth. "Well, well, if it isn’t the Draco the cowardly dragon. What are you doing here? Coming to donate money to us so we can start our guild? Oh gee golly, how kind of you." The three skinny and ugly fools behind him took their cue to snigger. Rolling his eyes, Draco sighed. In the original scene years ago, he had been stammering and shaking, eventually being beaten and extorted. The shopkeeper had taken pity on him and loaned Draco a used helmet that was for beta testers in order to play the game. However, Draco decided to rewrite the script for this scene. In the years to come, he would remember this day as the moment when the God of Chaos who threw him into the past had achieved the foundations for his goal. "Piss off Jarko, your stink is clogging my nose. What I’m here to do is none of your f.u.c.k.i.n.g business, shitbag." Draco’s reply was met with silence. Not even in their wildest dreams did these four idiots expect him to retaliate to their provocations. Draco could choose to walk by them and let this matter blow off, but he had a different idea. With a dark smirk, Draco sent his fist flying into the guts of the fat fool before him, which made them all gasp. Talking back was one thing, suddenly attacking was another. Just what had this dude eaten that made him so ballsy? "This is for all the times you bullied me, cowtits." However, tubby didn’t fall over in pain. With a surprised grunt, he realized that the fist he thought would hurt him actually did nothing at all. The moment he and his lackeys came to this realization, their previous fear and alarm blew off as they burst into laughter. Draco didn’t make any other move, simply smirking coldly while gazing upon them as one would an insect. This act made the bullies cut their laughter as they grew angry at this scrawny fellow’s scorn. "Alright Draco, I’ll give it to you, you’ve finally grown some balls. But clearly, they’re far too small to... to... urgh.... ARGGHGHHHHH!!" Tubby’s words cut of the moment he started talking too much, realizing that every word he spoke brought exponentially increasing pain to his chest and abdomen area. At the current level, he could barely remain standing and fell to the floor, gasping and shrieking in pain which further increased the ferocity. The faces of the mindless fools behind him turned white as a sheet from the sounds their boss was making. This wasn’t the normal level of agony, this was advanced torment. He wouldn’t sound out of place in a terrorist torture video as a victim right now. Turning to face the other three, Draco spoke slowly but dangerously. "You have 10 seconds to give me every single dollar you have on your body otherwise you’ll end up worse than him. He’s only enduring 50% of the pain thanks to his fat body. You skinny fools will have to bear it all." "Choose wisely. The countdown starts now." The coward inside them reared its ugly head at this moment, as they clamored over each other to drop every single penny they had on them, including what Jarko possessed. Without wasting a second, they dragged the tub of lard away hurriedly, casting fearful looks at Draco as if he would change his mind and attack them. Scoffing, he entered the outlet store to purchase the helmet, but was met with a surreal scene. The cashier, who was a college girl working part time, was trembling like she had been shocked with electricity. Draco had a good impression of her since she had been very kind to him in his past life, so seeing her terrified of him made him feel awkward. Sighing, he decided to try and fix things lest it escalate indirectly. "Sorry about that. Those boys have been beating me up for the past two years and I always took it quietly. Recently, a martial master decided to teach me a few moves, which I used on them, as you saw. If I didn’t, well..." He let her finish the thought in her mind and she realized that four against one would have ended a lot worse than what had just occurred. With that in mind, she regained composure, but still watched him warily. "What do you need, sir?" "I’d like to purchase the Boundless helmet," Draco replied with an easygoing smile. Seeing this, she let go of her wariness as her occupational demeanor fully returned. "Excellent, sir. That would be $200. Would you like to purchase a package as well?" Draco leaned on the counter easily and pretended to be deep in thought. "What are the available packages?" "Well sir, we have the basic package which includes two potions of the health, mana and stamina type, a common weapon of each type which can be resold in-game and a basic kit of the light, medium and heavy categories. This would be $300 just for today. After today, it will move to 000." "There’s the advanced package which includes everything in the basic package with the inclusion of three basic tradeskill books that the player can select in-game. There is also the option for a player to choose between basic crafting resources to start off your trade career without having to grind! This is the optimal package for those who want to double as lifestyle players. This package is priced at $500 for today, but will be 200 for newcomers after tomorrow." "The final package is the Master one. It includes everything in the two packages mentioned earlier as well as some rare resources, two rare weapons of your choice and three combat skill books that are uncommon. This package is recommended for veteran players who are looking to build an empire in-game. This package costs $700 and will rise to 500 after today." Draco already knew about all this, but he still paid close attention to see if there were any changes. Seeing as they were none, he contemplated his choices. I came here with $200 which should have been taken, but I managed to keep. After beating around those fools, I got an additional 700 since they all planned to buy the basic package while the fat idiot was targeting the advanced one. That means I can buy the master package as well as some basic necessities to carry me until I can profit off boundless. Draco’s brain was alive with rapid fire thoughts, plans being hatched and choices predetermined. Upon reaching a conclusion, he decided to follow the most powerful path, the one that would bring him into opulence long before the date he achieved in his previous life. "I’ll take the master package and three 3rd grade NuSmoothies. Here’s the money," he said, removing 500 and handing it over to the cashier. After processing everything, Draco left the outlet store with his new helmet and three small flasks of the precious NuSmoothies, which were extracted nutrients that were of an optimal balance to increase muscle mass, general fitness and lifespan. He had only gotten to taste this wonderful elixir after a good seven years last time round. When Draco entered his bedroom, he didn’t immediately tear open the box and jump into the game. After all, it was launching in roughly four hours’ time. Instead, Draco stripped until he was in his boxers and began a simple strength exercise. Nothing too strenuous, as his muscles were weak and his body malnourished. After barely five minutes of optimal training, he hit his limit. Well, it seems like this body is too weak to even finish the set. He thought with a frown. He downed a full flask of the NuSmoothies immediately to replenish his body’s stock and to refresh his aching muscles. "Urgh!!... Arrghhh...." He coughed in pain and fell to his knees as what felt like liquid mercury pulsed through his body. I almost forgot how potent NuSmoothies are at the first consumption. It seems mine was pretty intense since my body is so weak. He managed to climb to his feet after the pain elapsed. The moment he did, he felt the qualitative difference in his breathing and movements. Of course, he hadn’t suddenly transformed into an all-star athlete, but he went from a nude chicken to a chicken with plate mail. After that, Draco unboxed the special FIVR helmet and marveled at its beauty. He’d previously stopped using helmets after rising to vice guild leader in Darkrow, instead switching to the full immersive long term pods. However, that technology wasn’t available yet. It would arrive sometime next year and take the world by storm. That would be when Boundless would blow up to become the new world. So I have one year to build an unshakeable empire in boundless before the masses filter in and muddle everything up. Draco didn’t wear the helmet, even after unboxing because there was still a few hours to go until global launch. In the past, he had pretty much done what every other excited kid did: wear the helmet and lie there four hours watching the countdown with excitement. But after almost fifteen years in the game, he couldn’t muster that same level of excitement. Not that he hated the game, he had long treated it less as a "game" and more like another reality. After five years, these people would too, but at this time, it was still a fancy FIVR MMO to them. Draco rummaged through his supplies and surprisingly came across some pins, torn clothes and some plain A4 sheets as well as some of his old notebooks. He pulled a table over and surveyed his room carefully, laying down the design in his mind. When he reached a conclusion, he walked up to the wall opposite the foot of his bed and cleared one side of it. After cutting the old clothes into yarn-like strings, he took various unused sheets of A4 as well as from his old notebooks and pinned them on the wall against each other. With an old and barely functioning marker he unearthed from his old school supplies, he began using the papers as a canvas for his art. He wasn’t doing anything fancy, just drawing a rough layout of the Domain he had started in and based his guild in his past life, Sturgehaven Kingdom. The Kingdom had twenty mid-tier cities, four high-tier cities including the capital and countless small-tier cities scattered across the territory. Right now, Draco wasn’t going to bother himself with the thousands of kingdoms in the first update of Boundless. Trying to rule the whole game in such a short time would be a pipe dream. It would be definitely possible for him to reach the pinnacle of his past life, but it would require time and there was no shortcut for that. He labelled each of the key towns that had resources, rare quest lines and hidden quests that would immediately set him apart from the common folk. Having once ruled the whole land, he knew almost everything there was about it, which dungeons gave what loot and resources, which zonal areas had the rarest hidden chests as well as legacies and which NPCs granted one time rewards that could never be duplicated. Draco spent over two and half hours listing them all on his makeshift canvas. Even though it was arguably large, there still wasn’t enough space for him to write it all without cramming. Probably he was the only one who could read this legibly, which he didn’t really care about. After taking a short rest since his arms felt like lead after all that writing, Draco studied it for a while to determine his path forward. He had just splattered all the information he knew onto his canvas. Now was the time to analyze and find the path forward. "Yep, so it’s gonna have to be that way, huh?" He murmured to himself, lost in a mixture of remembrance and contemplation. Nodding to himself, he turned to the FIVR helmet and strapped in on dexterously. There was no need to read manuals and ponder over its assemblage, he had done this every day for over seven years in his past life. ｢Loading...｣ ｢Brain scan initiating... please wait... 1%... 2%...3%...｣ ｢Brain scan complete.｣ ｢Welcome to Boundless! This world is governed by the unique AI hive mind of the GloryGore studios and for all intents and purposes...｣ The annoying disclaimer came on, the devs explaining how they had no hand in anything going on in-game apart from small issues. The usual corporate lingo that essentially meant "Hey, you bought it, so don’t sue us if it messes up". ｢Would you like to initiate the tutorial? Y/N｣ "No." ｢Please create your Boundless account.｣ ｢Username: Draco Password: ********* Account type: Free Package: Master｣ With the account created and his details set, Draco was brought into a room that had a starry backdrop, as if he were floating in space. Overlaid on his vision was a countdown timer that told him there was less than fifteen minutes to go until the game launched. Draco decided to use the time wisely and opened the character creation menu. Selecting the human race, his character appeared before him in full glory. In the age of VR and FIVR, there was no such thing as catfishing or the like anymore. Avatars would resemble their owners with only certain changes to cosmetics available. You couldn’t change skin color, height or build, but simple touchups could be made to make you look more attractive than in the real world. Of course, a monkey with makeup was a still a monkey so without a foundation, nothing would change. Draco nodded his head at his appearance. Although he was skinny and looked somewhat malnourished, there was no way to effectively smother his above average handsomeness. It wasn’t overbearing, but not negligible either. Enough to make you take a second look and fantasize, but not enough to make you put in the effort. His dark hair was curly and messy, forming bangs on his forehead. He had bright green eyes and thin lips. His face was developed and angular which was the basis for his attractiveness. His avatar was garbed in a basic tunic and some trousers. He had some leather battle boots on his soles that allowed him to fight and run at the same time. Naturally, no weapons or ornaments were on the avatar’s body at this juncture. Satisfied, he made his selection and confirmed it. Just as he was done, the area reverberated and the world seemed to crumble slowly. ｢Select starting town: ___________｣ Draco quickly chose the town he planned to initiate his path to victory. "Stagnant Moss town." ｢Town selected, transferring...｣ With a ’pop’ sound, Draco’s consciousness was pulled into the world of boundless and his new journey in this land was about to begin. !

**Chapitre 2 – La Réincarnation du Chef de Guilde le Plus Puissant** Lorsque Draco rouvrit les yeux, une douleur lancinante lui martelait les tempes. Maugréant entre ses dents, il se redressa et inspecta son environnement, s'attendant à retrouver le luxe de sa suite habituelle. Au lieu de cela, ses yeux découvrirent une pièce délabrée, à peine digne d'abriter une famille de rats – encore moins un être humain. Clignant des paupières sous l'effet de la surprise, il palpa son torse avec méfiance. Aucune blessure. Seulement un corps chétif qui semblait incapable de résister au coup de poing d'un enfant, radicalement différent de la carrure athlétique dont il avait l'habitude. Pourtant, devant cette scène si éloignée de ses attentes, une étrange familiarité l'envahit. Il connaissait cet endroit. Il reconnaissait ce corps. C'était sa maison – et son propre être – d'il y a quinze ans, lorsqu'il n'était qu'un jeune lâche incapable de subvenir à ses besoins. D'un geste machinal, il saisit son antique téléphone et vérifia l'heure : 7h00, 21/03/2065. Sous son calme apparent, son esprit bouillonnait. Cette date signifiait que *Boundless* serait lancé dans exactement cinq heures. Les boutiques vendant les casques de jeu standards fermeraient leurs portes dans moins de trois heures. Ses souvenirs, jusqu'alors flous, redevinrent d'une netteté cristalline. Frais et récents dans l'esprit de ce corps, ils coexistaient désormais avec la parfaite mémoire eidétique de tout ce qui suivrait cette date charnière. Il se rappela avoir économisé chaque centime pendant les deux années d'alpha et de bêta fermées de *Boundless*, se privant de nourriture pour rassembler la somme nécessaire au casque d'entrée de gamme. Le temps pressant, il opta pour reproduire les actions de son passé et se procurer l'appareil avant la fermeture des magasins. Quittant sa chambre mansardée, il subit le jet glacé de sa douche fuante. L'actuel Draco ignora cette gêne avec aisance, là où son ancien moi perdait dix minutes à exposer progressivement chaque membre à l'eau froide. Une fois lavé, il enfila une chemise fripée, un short d'été et des tongs avant de sortir. En parcourant le boulevard, il ne put s'empêcher de contempler l'environnement crasseux de cette zone périphérique sous-développée. Malgré – ou peut-être à cause – des avancées technologiques de la société, rien n'avait fondamentalement changé. Les pauvres s'appauvrissaient, les riches s'enrichissaient. Draco n'atteignait pas encore le fond de l'échelle sociale, mais il en approchait dangereusement. Seul l'héritage modeste de ses parents décédés le préservait encore de la rue. Bien que minable, le quartier conservait une certaine activité commerciale. Il ne lui fallut que peu de temps pour repérer une boutique modeste arborant une bannière bleue proclamant : « Casques FIVR pour *Boundless* – Packs départ à 300$ seulement !!! » Pourtant, il n'entra pas immédiatement. Il attendit. Moins de trente secondes plus tard, quatre silhouettes familières débarquèrent au coin de la rue. Dès qu'ils l'aperçurent, leurs ricanements méchants emplirent l'air. Leur leader, un balourd difforme répondant au nom de Jarko, s'avança, ses pectoraux flasques oscillant grotesquement. « Eh bien, eh bien, si ce n'est pas Draco le dragon pleutre. Tu viens nous offrir ton argent pour fonder notre guilde ? Quelle générosité touchante. » Les trois comparses faméliques derrière lui explosèrent de rire. Draco se contenta de rouler des yeux. Des années plus tôt, lors de cette même scène, il avait bégayé de terreur avant de se faire dépouiller et tabasser. Le vendeur compatissant lui avait alors prêté un casque d'occasion réservé aux bêta-testeurs. Mais aujourd'hui, Draco avait décidé de réécrire l'histoire. Plus tard, il se souviendrait de cet instant comme celui où le Dieu du Chaos, l'ayant renvoyé dans le passé, avait scellé son destin. « Dégage, Jarko, ton haleine de porc me pique les narines. Ce que je fous ici ne regarde pas ta gueule de sac à purin. » Un silence sidéré accueillit sa réplique. Ces quatre abrutis n'auraient jamais imaginé une contre-attaque verbale. Draco aurait pu poursuivre son chemin, mais il avait un autre plan. Un sourire noir aux lèvres, il envoya son poing dans le ventre du gros balourd, provoquant une onde de choc parmi le groupe. Répondre était une chose, attaquer de but en blanc en était une autre. « Ça, c'est pour toutes tes brimades, sac à graisse. » Pourtant, le colosse ne s'effondra pas. Après un grognement surpris, il réalisa que le coup supposé douloureux n'avait eu aucun effet. Voyant cela, ses acolytes retrouvèrent leur arrogance et éclatèrent d'un rire gras. Draco resta impassible, les observant avec le mépris réservé aux insectes. Son attitude glaça progressivement leurs rires, remplacés par une rage maladroite face à son dédain. « Bon, Draco, t'as enfin trouvé tes couilles, je te l'accorde. Mais visiblement, elles sont trop petites pour... pour... ARGGGHHHHH !!! » La voix de Jarko se brisa net lorsqu'une douleur exponentielle envahit son torse et son abdomen. Il s'effondra en hurlant, chaque cri amplifiant son supplice. Les trois comparses blêmirent. Ce n'était pas une simple douleur, mais une torture raffinée – du niveau des pires vidéos de sévices extrêmes. Se tournant vers eux, Draco articula lentement, chaque mot chargé de menace : « Vous avez dix secondes pour me vider vos poches. Sinon, vous subirez pire que lui. Sa graisse l'amortit à 50%. Vous, les squelettes, prendrez la dose complète. » « Choisissez avec sagesse. Le compte à rebours commence... maintenant. » La lâcheté refit surface instantanément. Ils se bousculèrent pour vider leurs poches, y compris celles de Jarko, avant de traîner le tas de graisse hurlant loin de là, jetant des regards terrorisés vers Draco. Ricanant, il pénétra enfin dans la boutique, mais y découvrit une scène surréaliste. La caissière, une étudiante à temps partiel, tremblait comme une feuille. Draco gardait d'elle un bon souvenir – elle avait été gentille avec lui dans sa vie précédente. La voir terrifiée le contraria. Il soupira, décidé à rectifier la situation avant qu'elle ne dégénère. « Désolé pour ce spectacle. Ces types me harcèlent depuis deux ans sans que je réagisse. Un maître d'arts martiaux m'a récemment enseigné quelques techniques... que vous venez de voir. Si je n'avais rien fait... » Il laissa la phrase en suspens, permettant à la jeune femme d'imaginer l'issue d'un combat un contre quatre. Rassérénée, elle retrouva son professionnalisme, tout en le surveillant avec prudence. « Que puis-je faire pour vous, monsieur ? » « Je souhaite acheter un casque *Boundless* », répondit Draco avec un sourire apaisant. Voyant cela, elle abandonna ses dernières réticences. « Excellent choix, monsieur. 200$ pour le casque de base. Désirez-vous un pack d'accompagnement ? » Draco s'accouda nonchalamment au comptoir. « Quelles sont les options ? » « Le pack basique inclut deux potions de santé, mana et endurance, une arme commune de chaque type (revendables en jeu), et un kit d'armure basique léger, moyen et lourd. Prix spécial à 300$ aujourd'hui seulement – demain, il passera à 000. » « Le pack avancé comprend tout le basique, plus trois manuels de compétences artisanales à choisir en jeu, ainsi que des ressources de base pour démarrer sans farm. Idéal pour les joueurs "mode vie". 500$ aujourd'hui, 200$ demain. » « Enfin, le pack Maître inclut tout ce qui précède, plus des ressources rares, deux armes rares au choix et trois manuels de compétences de combat peu communes. Recommandé aux vétérans visant à bâtir un empire. 700$ aujourd'hui, 500$ demain. » Bien que connaissant déjà ces informations, Draco écouta attentivement, vérifiant d'éventuels changements. N'en détectant aucun, il pesa ses options. *Je suis venu avec 200$, normalement volés par ces idiots. Grâce à eux, j'ai maintenant 700$ supplémentaires – assez pour le pack Maître et quelques provisions.* Son esprit fourmillait déjà de plans préétablis. Après une brève réflexion, il opta pour la voie la plus directe vers le pouvoir. « Je prends le pack Maître et trois NuSmoothies grade 3. Voici l'argent », déclara-t-il en tendant 500$. Transaction complétée, Draco quitta la boutique avec son précieux casque et trois fioles de NuSmoothies – ces élixirs nutritionnels optimisant masse musculaire, condition physique et longévité. Dans sa vie précédente, il n'y avait goûté qu'après sept années de jeu. De retour dans sa chambre, Draco ne se jeta pas immédiatement sur l'emballage du casque. Le lancement officiel n'aurait lieu que dans quatre heures. À la place, il se dévêtit jusqu'à son caleçon et entama une séance d'exercices basiques. Son corps sous-alimenté atteignit ses limites après cinq minutes à peine. *Ce corps est vraiment trop faible*, songea-t-il, contrarié. Il avala une fiole entière de NuSmoothie pour restaurer son énergie. « Urgh !... ARGHHH ! » Une douleur fulgurante le plia en deux, comme si du mercure brûlant coulait dans ses veines. *J'avais oublié l'intensité de la première dose – surtout dans un corps aussi fragile.* Une fois la douleur dissipée, il se releva, notant immédiatement une amélioration de sa respiration et de sa mobilité. Loin d'être transformé en athlète, il avait néanmoins franchi un seuil significatif. Il déballa ensuite le casque FIVR avec une certaine nostalgie. Dans sa vie précédente, après être devenu vice-chef de guilde chez *Darkrow*, il avait abandonné les casques pour des pods d'immersion longue durée – technologie encore inexistante. Son arrivée l'année suivante révolutionnerait le monde, propulsant *Boundless* au statut de seconde réalité. *J'ai un an pour bâtir un empire inébranlable avant l'arrivée des masses.* Plutôt qu'enfiler immédiatement le casque comme un joueur excité, Draco entreprit une tâche méthodique. Il fouilla ses affaires, dénichant épingles, vieux vêtements, feuilles A4 vierges et anciens cahiers. Après avoir dégagé un mur, il improvisa un tableau de planification en épinglant les feuilles et en découpant les tissus en ficelles. Avec un marqueur usagé, il esquissa le Domaine où il avait fondé sa guilde dans sa vie antérieure : le Royaume de Sturgehaven. Vingt villes moyennes, quatre cités majeures dont la capitale, et d'innombrables bourgades. Pour l'instant, il ignorerait les milliers d'autres royaumes qui apparaîtraient lors de la première mise à jour. Il annota chaque lieu stratégique – ressources rares, quêtes cachées, donjons lucratifs – avec la précision de quelqu'un ayant autrefois régné sur ces terres. Deux heures et demie plus tard, son mur ressemblait à un fouillis indéchiffrable pour quiconque, mais lui s'y retrouvait parfaitement. Après une pause pour soulager ses bras endoloris, il étudia son œuvre pour affiner sa stratégie. « Ouais, ça passera par là », murmura-t-il, perdu dans ses calculs. Haussant les épaules, il enfila enfin le casque avec la dextérité de l'expérience – inutile de consulter le manuel après sept ans d'usage quotidien dans sa vie précédente. ｢Chargement...｣ ｢Scan cérébral en cours... 1%... 2%... 3%...｣ ｢Scan terminé. Bienvenue dans *Boundless* !｣ L'avertissement juridique habituel défila – la classique décharge de responsabilité des développeurs. Draco l'ignora avec l'indifférence du vétéran. ｢Tutoriel ? O/N｣ « Non. » ｢Création de compte : Pseudonyme : Draco Type : Gratuit Pack : Maître｣ Il se retrouva alors dans un espace étoilé, un compte à rebours affichant moins de quinze minutes avant le lancement. Ouvrant le menu de personnage, il opta pour la race humaine. En cette ère de FIVR, les avatars reflétaient fidèlement leur propriétaire, ne permettant que des ajustements cosmétiques mineurs. Draco observa son reflet numérique – ce même visage anguleux aux yeux vert vif et cheveux noirs en bataille, légèrement amaigri mais d'une beauté indéniablement au-dessus de la moyenne. Vêtu d'une simple tunique et de bottes de cuir basiques, il valida sa création au moment où l'espace commença à se fracturer. ｢Sélectionnez votre ville de départ : ___________｣ Sans hésitation, il choisit le point de départ de son ascension : « Ville de Stagnant Moss. » ｢Transfert en cours...｣ Avec un *pop* caractéristique, la conscience de Draco fut aspirée dans l'univers de *Boundless*, marquant le début de sa revanche sur le destin.