Originally, good and bad things always come at the same time.
Though it was a somewhat bewildering situation in my otherwise mundane daily life, I could feel that both good and bad things had come to me now.
“Haa…”
……I gulped down the freshly poured cold water from the fridge and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
The refreshing coolness of the water flowed down my throat and spread through my body, reminding me that I was still “alive.”
The headache and nausea that had tormented me all last night had completely subsided with the setting of the moon.
Last night, I truly thought I was going to die, but as dawn broke, all the strange symptoms in my body disappeared.
I woke up not only in perfect health but perhaps even more energetic than usual.
If this was the good thing that had happened to me, then it was indeed good.
“Hmm…”
But there’s always a price to pay for every luxury.
If something good happens, of course, there must be something correspondingly bad to prepare for.
“This is embarrassing.”
I muttered as I stared at my shorts, which had become so loose they were now dragging on the floor.
At the same time, a voice far from what could be called masculine— a delicate, almost girlish voice— reached my ears.
“……”
Silently, I spread my palms open. From my lowered line of sight, two unusually pale hands began to wiggle.
No matter how many times I looked at them, they didn’t resemble a man’s hands at all— soft, smooth palms.
Clink.
Moreover, around my wrists were clean, silver chains draped like accessories, clearly indicating that the owner of this body was no ordinary person.
“Mm…”
When I commanded my mind to “make a fist,” the two palms obediently clenched.
That meant the owner of this body with chains around its wrists was none other than myself.
But my original hands were rough from working at construction sites, with the thick, sturdy shape typical of XY chromosomes.
And I certainly never had the questionable taste to wear something as absurd as chains as accessories.
Frankly, I’d never even heard of chains being fashionable anytime after the 21st century.
“……”
My fingers scratched against my palms, sending a ticklish sensation through me.
That vivid feeling told me this situation wasn’t a dream and that I needed to take it much more seriously.
“……”
I guided my surprisingly light and energetic body to the bathroom.
After turning on the light, I stood boldly in front of the mirror, smudged with handprints.
And what stood in that mirror was, unsurprisingly, not “me.”
Staring blankly back at me was a girl with snow-white short hair and crimson eyes.
“…”
With her white hair and red eyes— an appearance rarely seen in reality— the girl was more beautiful than anyone in the real world.
No, even if you included the two-dimensional world, it would be hard to find a woman more beautiful than her.
“Ah…”
Even I was captivated by her beauty as I carefully stroked my own pale cheek with one hand.
The girl in the mirror mimicked my actions, and the sensation of flawless, supple skin was vividly transmitted to my palm.
This was the moment I became certain that the girl in the mirror was me, that there had been a drastic change in my body during the night when I had lost consciousness due to abnormal symptoms.
“…”
I continued to examine the girl in the mirror— now someone I could call “myself.”
That beautiful white-haired girl was adorned with accessories that contrasted sharply with her delicate appearance.
Silver chains were wrapped around both wrists, and another chain hung around her neck like a necklace. Behind her back, a blood-red chain floated in the air as if defying gravity.
Those alone were striking enough, but what truly caught my attention was something else— the black tiara resting lightly atop her head.
But this was no cheap trinket you’d find at a random store.
The tiara I— no, the girl— was wearing was the kind of elegant, sophisticated piece fit for a queen.
“Haa…”
I let out a deep sigh.
A beautiful girl decked out in terrifying accessories that sent shivers down the spine.
Though she looked like someone you’d never find in reality, I knew exactly who she was.
No, the problem was that I knew her too well.
After all, the wallpaper on my computer was a picture of this very girl.
I saw her face at least once every day.
“…Selverion.”
Staring straight into the crimson eyes in the mirror, I blankly muttered the girl’s name— no, the four-letter name that had now become my own.
Selverion.
The boss of the December stage in the VR game ‘Season Off Fantasy’ —colloquially known as “Siofan”— a game so popular it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t played it.
Season Off Fantasy.
True to its name, which includes the word “season,” Siofan automatically changes its maps, stages, and final boss every month.
1. January stage: “Land of Birth.”
2. February stage: “Crack in Time.”
3. March stage: “Gorge of Flora,” and so on…
And among them, the only stage that opens exclusively every December— the stage boasting the most brutal difficulty of them all: “The End of the World.”
……Selberion was the final boss of the December stage, guarding that frozen wasteland known as “The End of the World.”
There were many epithets for Selberion— Frost of Ruin, Sovereign of the Frozen Wastes— but of course, the most famous of them all was the title “God of Annihilation.”
There was only one reason this petite girl bore such a grandiose name.
In the eight years since “Siofan” had launched its service, not a single soul had ever managed to defeat Selberion or clear the December stage, “The End of the World.”
True to her role as the boss who crowned the final month of the year, Selberion’s difficulty was in a league entirely separate from the other eleven bosses.
Because of this, hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of players had always knelt before her, vowing to try again next December.
…A beauty so mesmerizing it was impossible to look away, an overwhelming presence that no one had ever conquered, and an object of longing that could only be encountered in December.
The God of Annihilation, Selberion, was the ultimate goal for the hundreds of millions of players in “Siofan,” as well as the character who enjoyed their overwhelming adoration.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was the symbol of “Siofan”— no, she was “Siofan” itself.
“Hmm…”
And yet, overnight, I had somehow become that very Selberion.
Without reason, without cause— just suddenly.
“…”
If I were to be honest, it wasn’t exactly an unpleasant feeling.
Going from a worthless, unemployed nobody to a being with power enough to bring about the end of the world— wasn’t that something?
The shock was fleeting. After all, imagining a world turning into a game and oneself becoming a game character was a fantasy everyone had entertained at least once.
In fact, countless games, novels, and anime had already been churned out with that very premise.
Of course, turning into the game’s final boss rather than a customizable player character was unexpected.
But even so, adapting to the reality of my current body wasn’t all that difficult.
No— perhaps it was simply that I had no hesitation about abandoning the wretched life I’d been living before.
Compared to Selberion, the God of Annihilation, my former life— a failed business owner perpetually hounded by debt— had been devoid of dreams, hope, or anything of the sort.
“…”
Holding onto these complicated emotions, I step out of the bathroom.
Though I’d accepted the fact that I had “become Selberion,” the current situation was still undeniably chaotic.
I needed to figure out what was going on.
At the very least, I had to find out the reason behind this transformation— whether others had undergone similar changes or if it was just me.
Slowly, I walk toward my old smartphone, which I’d left behind last night after checking the emergency alert.
“Emergency alert…”
A somewhat unfamiliar voice— now my own, Selberion’s voice— echoes through the tiny studio.
On the phone, there was another emergency alert from the government, sent two hours ago, while I was still asleep.
*
Regarding the currently occurring abnormal symptoms and physical transformation phenomena (related to Season Off Fantasy), an official statement from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has been released as of 09:00 today.
To all citizens, please remain calm and be sure to check the detailed information through the link below.
The government is making every effort to identify the cause and implement safety measures. Until further notice, we advise staying indoors. [Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters]
*
“Announcement…”
A safety alert message instructing me to read the announcement issued by the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters regarding the current situation.
Without hesitation, I clicked the link attached to the message.
Immediately, a rather lengthy announcement from the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters filled my smartphone screen.
I rolled Selverion’s crimson eyes intently and began carefully reading the announcement from start to finish.
*
[Official Announcement from the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters]
Issued at 09:00 / Ministry of the Interior and Safety – Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters
Subject: Nationwide Safety Advisory Regarding Ongoing Physical Transformations and Emergence of Aberrant Lifeforms
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters hereby issue the following official statement regarding the abnormal phenomena currently spreading nationwide.
1. Game-Based Physical Transformation Phenomenon
As of approximately 04:00 today, reports have emerged from across the country of individuals undergoing rapid physical transformations, taking on the appearance and traits of player characters from the VR game Season Off Fantasy.
These changes are involuntary, and no infectious or contagious properties have been confirmed at this time.
However, some cases involve severe mental disorientation and high-risk behavior.
The government has tentatively classified this phenomenon as a “Reality-Virtual Structural Collapse-Induced Mutation Reaction.”
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of National Defense, and other relevant agencies are jointly investigating the cause and analyzing its impact.
2. Warning Regarding “Light Fractures” in the Sky and Materialization of Aberrant Lifeforms
At the same time, multiple “Light Fractures” have been observed in the skies above major cities and high-altitude areas nationwide.
Aberrant lifeforms resembling monsters from Season Off Fantasy have been confirmed to materialize from these fractures and invade real-world spaces.
As of now, the reported lifeforms exhibit the following characteristics:
– Possess physical forms and demonstrate autonomous thought and movement.
– Highly aggressive, with multiple confirmed cases of direct threats to civilians.
– Some entities exhibit abilities seen in-game, such as long-range magic and high-speed movement.
– Biological data unknown; some emit unrecognizable languages or vocalizations.
The government has classified these lifeforms as “Anomalies” and, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Defense and the National Police Agency, has initiated nationwide containment and elimination operations.
3. Public Safety Guidelines and Recommendations
Citizens must adhere to the following measures:
– Cease all outdoor activities immediately and remain indoors at home or the nearest safe location.
– Do not approach any observed Anomalies or Light Fractures.
– If experiencing physical transformation symptoms, refrain from reckless actions or self-experimentation and immediately report to a public health center or nearby hospital.
– To prevent conflicts among the Affected (those experiencing transformation symptoms), maintain calm judgment and follow government directives in all personal interactions.
– Strictly refrain from spreading rumors, unverified videos, or unconfirmed information. Violators will face legal consequences.
The government prioritizes the safety and lives of its citizens and will continue to monitor the situation in real time while implementing further countermeasures.
All official updates will be provided via the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters website (www.safekorea.go.kr) and public broadcasting channels.
We urge all citizens to remain vigilant and comply with these instructions for your safety.
Ministry of the Interior and Safety
Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters
*
“…….”
The government’s announcement contained several rather shocking details.
If the government’s statement wasn’t some sort of hidden-camera prank on the public, then it seemed that I wasn’t the only one who had transformed into a character from Season Off Fantasy.
It appeared to be a phenomenon affecting all players who were currently playing— or had ever played— the game.
I still didn’t understand why I had transformed into December’s stage boss, “Selverion,” instead of my own playable character, but the subsequent contents of the announcement made me drop that question entirely.
…Monsters from Season Off Fantasy were emerging and attacking through rifts of light.
It wasn’t just people turning into their characters.
Where there were heroes, there were also villains.
The monsters from Season Off Fantasy were pouring out of the luminous rifts in the sky, indiscriminately attacking civilians.
Amid this inexplicable crisis, the government claimed to have mobilized the military and police to begin suppression operations.
But it was questionable whether modern weaponry could overpower Season Off Fantasy’s formidable monsters— those horrifying creatures boasting overwhelming numbers and firepower.
Since they had appeared in populated cities, the use of missiles and asymmetric warfare was inevitably restricted.
Under those conditions, it was highly unlikely that the real-world military could halt their advance.
– Kyaaaaaaaah!
– Kieeeeeeeeeen!
“….”
It seemed our neighborhood wasn’t exempt from the threat of these demonic beasts.
Just by tilting my ear slightly toward the window, I could hear the grotesque cries of monsters coming from all directions.
The same savage, piercing howls I had only ever heard in the virtual world— they matched perfectly.
“…….”
With a dazed expression, I stared out at the now war-torn landscape of Seoul beyond my window.
A transformation— perhaps the next evolution of humanity— had begun.
Players turning into their Season Off Fantasy avatars, monsters pouring from rifts of light in the sky.
And me, transformed into Selverion, December’s unbeaten final boss.
I couldn’t predict or even begin to imagine what would happen next.
But one thing was certain.
Many things were about to change.