''Shit! If this keeps up, I'm going to fail the course!" a young man's shrill voice echoed across the sidewalk beside the busy road of a massive city. He was complaining as though trying to comfort himself.
Close to him is a young man with black hair tied back in a ponytail, who is like a role model of a sharp man.
It was thought that he would give a typical piece of advice as a good friend would, but on the contrary, he merely bestowed his friend a fleeting glance before he sighed:
"Tsk… No worries''.
"Each time you study, it's a one-time review again … At least''
Honestly, the boys always have a unique method of comfort that is different from the girls.
The young man beside him listened, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"How do you know how I feel? You yourself have never experienced it''
Liam seems to be a perfect man. He always gets high grades in most of his subjects.
Indeed, how can someone like him grasp the anguish of those often anxious about their score?
"Hmm... Maybe you're right." A small smirk crept up on his face as if affirming that such a situation would never happen to him.
The two continued chatting, teasing each other like boys of the same age often do.
And yet, What seemed like a normal conversation, was overshadowed by an unusual gloom in the surroundings—an ominous sign of misfortune.
Alongside the main road, unlike usual days, a strange disruption arose—unsettling sounds and chaotic and eerie rhythms.
"Clang... Clang..."
From the main road, a pickup truck was veering out of its lane, swerving uncontrollably.
The truck became increasingly unstable, heading dangerously close to the sidewalk where the two boys stood. The chaotic noises grew louder and louder.
"Beep... Beep... Beep…"
The alarm horn blared continuously as the man inside the truck shouted with panic and fear in his voice:
"Get out of the way!... My truck's lost control!"
The driver desperately tried to steer the wheel to avoid hitting the pedestrians on the sidewalk. But all his efforts seemed futile, as it appeared the steering wheel cable had snapped.
Whether it was because the truck was too old or the manufacturer had cut corners on materials, it didn't matter. Unfortunately for the man, this truck was his.
With high speed and a sudden brake, the truck flipped over, creating a scene filled with peril, if not outright death. The screeching sound of crashing metal made the situation all the more dangerous.
Strangely, the truck hurtled directly toward Liam and his friend, leaving both in shock.
With his eyes wide open, Liam stared in disbelief as the truck loomed larger in his view. Before his nervous system could even react, somehow, his instincts had already kicked in. Without knowing how Liam had pushed his friend out of the way. He didn't even have time to process his actions before his vision was dragged in another direction.
After that, all he could feel was the pain spreading throughout his body.
All the chaotic sounds seemed to stop. Only one noise remained—the sound of shattering, destruction, and devastation.
"BANG… BANG…"
Debris crumbled and dust rose like white smoke into the air.
If the first chorus was the destructive symphony of the crashing truck, then the second was surely the desperate cry of a young man with a mature voice—that person was none other than Liam's friend.
"Liam!... Liam!" The voice echoed, a mixture of emotions.
The third chorus was an even softer sound—a faint, weak breath.
"Cough... Cough…"
A frail sound came from his throat, struggling to expel foreign objects from his mouth, accompanied by a bitter, metallic taste.
Liam's eyes felt heavy as if they were under some invisible pressure. He tried to open them. Everything in front of him was now blurry, but he still tried to see clearly.
The first person he saw through the haze was his friend. Now, his friend's eyes were filled with panic, his face showing grave concern, and his voice tinged with a hint of panic.
"L-Liam!... Are you still conscious?" His friend kept gently slapping Liam's face, then used his shirt to press against the bleeding wound.
"Hang in there!... You have to survive so I can repay you!" He spoke hurriedly, glancing around to see if anyone would help.
"Is anyone here?... I need... help…" His shouts echoed, but to Liam, they grew fainter and fainter.
Everything around him was now a blur. His friend slowly faded from view, as if shrouded by mist. Liam tried to open his eyes, but it felt like some invisible force was weighing them down. Bit by bit… everything turned to black, and there was no more light.
***
On the calm sea, with not a single wave, small salmon leaped joyfully above the water. The fiery image of the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon. The only thing that appeared out of place, breaking the silence, was a small boat.
"Aaaah…" A shrill cry, like that of a strangled chicken, rang out. The boy on the small boat gasped for breath as if he had never breathed before. Sweat poured down his panic-stricken face.
He tried to sit up but collapsed again, causing a sharp pain to shoot through his lower body. Something was preventing him from controlling this body. His eyes opened wide, straining as much as they could. He pushed himself up with his hands. The first thing he saw was the old, rotting wooden floor, followed by his own small, trembling arms.
"What... the... hell?" He said shakily, his childlike voice weak.
He was utterly bewildered by what had happened. Just moments ago, he had been hit by a pickup truck, barely hanging on to life.
He tried to open his leaden eyes. After he managed to pry them open, the scene before him was completely unfamiliar. He struggled to move his body, trying to get used to this tiny form.
After a few minutes of adjusting, he could move more freely and walked to the edge of the boat. Looking down at the water, his eyes widened in shock, blinking in disbelief. He stared hard at his reflection on the water's surface, the gentle ripples distorting the image slightly.
After a few moments of gathering his thoughts, he began to grasp the situation and reluctantly accepted reality.
"So this is... transmigration?" He ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he tried to calm his mind. Before him was a weak, youthful face, with pale skin and distinct black hair. Most notably, there was a flame-shaped tattoo on the left corner of his forehead.
"For now, I need to rest. After all, this body…" He gazed one last time at his reflection, then stepped back into the boat's cabin before nightfall.
But unfortunately, this world wasn't going to let the boy rest.
The boat shook violently. Feeling the vibrations beneath his feet, Liam frowned, then let out a curse.
"What the hell could happen next?"
From the mysterious sea, powerful waves began to rise. Shark fins surfaced, circling the boat. The sound of the ocean, combined with the encroaching darkness, created a tense atmosphere. The sharks rammed the boat, causing it to shake violently. Cracks started appearing along the boat's frame.
"If this keeps up, the boat's going to sink. Am I going to die again?" Liam clutched his head, realizing the danger of the situation.
"The sea around the boat is too dark. I can't see land or any other boats." He glanced around, trying to find a solution. From one corner of the boat, he spotted a small, slightly rusty short sword, still sharp enough to cut through flesh. He hurried over, grabbing it with a sliver of hope.
Before he could even grip the handle firmly, a cold wind blew past, sending a shiver down his spine. His frail body curled up, and thoughts began to form in his mind.
"The sudden darkness... The waves and wind…"
He pondered for a moment, recalling some knowledge from his university days, and then grimaced.
"As if the sharks weren't enough... A big storm is coming."
He looked around at the battered, broken boat, further confirming his suspicion. Looking out at the sea, he sighed, seemingly resigned to his fate.
Minutes passed, and the situation grew worse.
The boat shook more violently, but now it wasn't just because of the sharks—it was because the storm had finally formed. Waves crashed down onto the boat. Still, some of the sharks persistently circled, waiting for the boat to be destroyed, as if they were unwilling to give up on their prey.
Sitting against the side of the boat, Liam nonchalantly tossed the short sword. Heavy rain began pouring down on him. The raindrops ran down his face, but if you looked closely, they were actually tears. After all, everyone is afraid of death, and Liam is no exception.
"Damn it!... Aaaah!" Liam screamed until his voice was hoarse and he couldn't yell any longer. But sadly, his scream was drowned out by the sound of the waves and rain.
The storm grew fiercer by the second. The waves were on the verge of capsizing the boat. It rocked violently back and forth. But it was this very shaking that caused something from the boat's hold to fall toward Liam. They were objects that looked like apples but with sharp spikes protruding from them.
"What's this?" Liam, with a tired expression, picked up the spiked apple and joked to himself, "Better to be a full ghost than a hungry one, right?"
He took a small bite. The sweet and sour taste spread through his mouth, but suddenly, his chest burned like a fire consuming his insides. He clutched his throat and stomach, writhing in pain. His veins bulged visibly on his skin, so much so that he could feel their pulse.
From afar, a colossal wave, like a sea god ready to sweep everything away, rushed toward him. Liam struggled to his feet, his face contorting as he faced death once more until he muttered unconsciously:
"…F-Fck."
The wave crashed, sweeping everything away. The boat was nowhere to be seen, leaving only debris floating on the water's surface.