1. A Mysterious Man & The Beginning

[Ting!]

[E-MAIL]

[Hello, Player Ketzyzuka! We, the entire 'Dissidia Epic Final Fantasy' game development team, would like to thank you for the dedication you have given for us. Now, for the fourth time, you have reached the highest level in Dissidia Epic Final Fantasy season 4!]

[In this chance, you have ended season 4 battle stage in Epic Final Fantasy. There is no one who has faithfully accompanied the journey of the Dissidia Epic Final Fantasy game until this fourth season more than you, Ketzyzuka. Thus, we feel you really deserve to be rewarded for your dedicated time throughout the game's four seasons]

[We will also give you a choice whether you want Player Ketzyzuka's identity exposed? If so, we will put your name on our international chat channel leaderboard. If not, please let us know and we'll just send an award. We will only post your player name on our international chat channel leaderboard]

Mal exhaled roughly when reading a series of writings that entered his email. The letter in this email was sent two days ago. For some reason, he still couldn't get excited when he read a message from the developer company of one of the games he subscribed to.

Because this is the fourth time Mal has received this message of thanks.

"I don't feel any euphoria of happiness anymore," Mal muttered, ending with a heavy sigh. "When shouldn't I be passionate?"

Mal's eyes flickered languidly to the computer screen. Yesterday, Mal had already typed a reply to an email to the game developer. He just said yes to the game developer so he could send the award, but not to expose his identity.

Mal knew that if his identity was exposed to the leaderboards on the international chat channel, people would immediately approach him. While Mal's energy is too little to respond to anyone who wants to pretend to be close to him.

"Of course. I should be bursting with joy, who can reach the highest rank like me?" Mal muttered again.

But after he tried to say with enthusiasm, his shoulders slumped again. Mal exhales through the mouth.

"Why is life so boring?" grumbled Mal who then leaned the back of his head on the back of the gaming chair.

For a few seconds, Mal watched the ceiling. If you remember, the income he gets from playing games has made him able to buy the interior in the room. The mall has also been able to help finance daily needs in this house.

Unfortunately, just like in games, Mal reaches a new high: boredom.

"What should I play?" asked Mal slowly. "If I repeat this game, it will taste bland."

"MAL! THERE'S A PACKAGE FOR YOU!"

Mal immediately turned towards the door. His mother's voice startled him from his reverie.

"Package?" Mal immediately straightened his seat with the direction of fixed gaze to the bedroom door. "Is that a reward package from a game developer?"

'That was quick,' Mal thought.

Then, Mal got up from his game chair and immediately stepped out of the room. Mal immediately went down the stairs to approach her mother who was downstairs.

"You put the package on the table," said Rossy, Mal's mother, even before Mal could ask.

Mal walked towards the living room table. He saw a flat cardboard box like a pizza box that had the Dissidia Epic Final Fantasy game symbol on it. At first Mal didn't notice anything, but when he looked closely, there was something different about this box.

Mal saw the game symbol at the top of the box in the form of a black eagle's face in the middle, while on either side of the eagle's face there are wings spread out.

In the previous emblem instead of the black eagle emblem. Only the name 'Final Fantasy' and the name of the character in the game Mal played.

For some reason Mal felt something was up. But at that time Mal didn't want to think about it. He immediately carried the flat cardboard box upstairs to his room.

Mal wasn't in a hurry because he had already guessed what the award from the game developer contained. When he was in bed in his room, the box was put down and the ribbon was slowly opened.

The first thing Mal got was a letter using matt paper. On the edge of the paper there is a layer of gold that glistens when exposed to the reflection of the room lights.

The letter contains congratulations and a token of thanks from the game developer. The mall doesn't really care. He took a flat aluminum box trophy, dominant in gold with a silver box in the middle. On the trophy it says:

'KETZYZUKA

HIGHEST LEVEL PLAYER

ACHIEVE THE PEAK TARGET

FANTASY SURVIVAL GAMES'

Mal immediately smiled wryly with a snort of embarrassment. Shouldn't he be happy to get this trophy? But in reality, after reading his name emblazoned on the gold plated trophy, Mal didn't feel any excitement.

"Same as the previous award," Mal muttered lazily.

The flat box trophy was placed haphazardly beside the cardboard box. Mal again saw another object in the cardboard box. He thought that nothing would be different from the contents of this award shipment.

When checking, Mal found two envelopes with red ribbons. Also two liquid bottles the size of a grown man's index finger. Both are blue.

Suddenly, Mal's brows furrowed. "What's this?"

For a few seconds Mal watched two bottles of liquid. Secretly guessing what is in this liquid, and why did the game developer give him this strange drink?

"As far as I can remember, there weren't two bottles and two letters like this in the previous season's award game," Mal muttered.

Curious, Mal turned his attention to the two envelopes with red bows. Soon Mal took one of the envelopes with a red ribbon and opened it with curiosity.

"Oh, I remember something, Mal, I felt so strange about the person who gave the package box," said Rossy, she stopped her activities of putting plates on an open shelf.

"Hmm?" Mal turned his head, her face showing astonishment. "Weird how?"

"Usually people who deliver packages wear special courier work uniforms, right?" asked Rossy then. "However, the person who delivered the package was wearing a black robe and all black clothes, only the hat is white. There is the same emblem as the one on your package box."

Mal was silent for a few seconds, trying to process Rossy's words. He was astonished and wondered, what did Rossy mean by someone wearing a black robe and all black clothes?

"You mean, like this?" Mal held up a flat box package, intending to display the box's emblem. "Someone's hat with a black eagle on it?"

Rossy nodded her head, then walked closer to Mal after wiping her palms.

With a thoughtful and surprised expression on her face, Rossy said, "It's true. I don't know who that person is, but he claims he knows you very well."