Fushou had always been an ordinary man. As a construction worker in the bustling streets of Manila, his life revolved around sweat and grit, the grinding hours that seemed never-ending. But amidst the daily struggles, there was one thing that kept him going—his dream of traveling to Japan. The country of anime, manga, and light novels—things that gave him comfort after long days of work. Fushou spent his weekends watching his favorite shows, diving into stories of heroes with immense power, transported to magical worlds. But little did he know, his own life was about to take an unexpected turn.
It was an ordinary afternoon, the sun beating down on the construction site, casting a harsh glare on the workers below. Fushou wiped the sweat off his brow, his mind drifting to the newest anime he had watched the night before. He thought about how nice it would be to escape to a world of magic, where he could fight monsters, discover hidden treasures, and live a life of adventure. He chuckled at the thought. "If only life could be like that," he muttered.
As Fushou finished his lunch and stood to resume his work, he noticed something off—a loud creaking noise echoed through the site. His heart dropped as he looked up to see a massive scaffolding tower begin to sway dangerously above him. The workers around him yelled, scrambling to get out of the way. But Fushou was frozen, his body locked in place by fear. The structure began to collapse, falling directly toward him.
This is it, he thought. He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable crash, but it never came. Instead, he felt a strange sensation—a pull, like something was dragging him away from the danger.
When Fushou opened his eyes again, the construction site was gone. The city skyline, the blaring horns of cars, the workers, all of it had disappeared. He found himself standing in a strange clearing, surrounded by tall, dark trees, their branches twisting unnaturally toward the sky. The air was heavy with the scent of earth and unfamiliar foliage.
"Where... am I?" he whispered, his voice shaky.
As he tried to gather his thoughts, Fushou noticed other people around him—strangers, all looking equally confused. They were a mix of different ages and nationalities, all seemingly plucked from their lives and deposited into this unknown place. He scanned the faces, but no one seemed to recognize each other.
A booming voice suddenly filled the air, causing everyone to freeze. "Welcome, chosen ones, to the land of Zephira," it announced. The voice was deep and commanding, but it held an otherworldly quality that sent chills down Fushou's spine. "You have been summoned to this world as heroes, tasked with defending it from the darkness that looms on the horizon."
Fushou's heart raced. Summoned? Like in an isekai? He glanced at the others, many of whom were murmuring similar things—words like "isekai," "summoning," and "heroes" floated in the air. It felt surreal, like he had stepped into one of the stories he had always fantasized about.
But reality quickly set in. This wasn't a game. This wasn't an anime where he could just hit restart if things went wrong. He was really here, in some unfamiliar world, with no idea of how to get back.
"Each of you possesses a skill that will aid you in your journey," the voice continued. "You will need to master your abilities, fight the forces of evil, and ensure the safety of Zephira. Only the strongest will survive."
A flash of light erupted from the ground in front of each of them, and a strange floating screen appeared in Fushou's vision. His eyes widened as he saw what was written:
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Name: Fushou Sagara
Class: Traveler
Skill: Search (Unranked)
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"Search?" Fushou frowned. It didn't sound like anything special. As the others around him began to receive impressive skills like "Fire Magic," "Sword Mastery," and "Healing," he felt an immediate sinking feeling. His "Search" skill was unranked, something that seemed completely useless in comparison.
"What am I supposed to do with that?" he muttered, watching as others eagerly tried out their new abilities. Sparks of magic flew, swords materialized out of thin air, and people gasped in amazement as they demonstrated their powers.
Fushou stood still, his thoughts racing. Am I really the weakest one here?
But before he could dwell on it further, another thought crossed his mind—he was alive. Somehow, that collapsing scaffolding had brought him here. He had been given a second chance, a new life in a different world. It didn't matter if his skill was "Search." He'd figure out how to use it.
Determined, he opened the status screen again and focused on the word "Search." A glowing icon appeared, and a soft, mechanical voice echoed in his mind: "Please input query."
Input query? Fushou thought, confused for a moment. Then, an idea struck him. "Uh, find... monsters," he said out loud, feeling a bit silly.
Almost instantly, his vision shifted. He could suddenly see faint glowing dots in the distance, scattered all around him. Some were larger, brighter than others. Monsters, he realized. His skill allowed him to locate creatures in the surrounding area.
A small smile crept onto Fushou's face. It might not be as flashy as fire magic, but this could be useful. Very useful.
Unbeknownst to Fushou, this "unranked" skill would soon prove to be one of the most powerful abilities in Zephira, allowing him to uncover secrets others could not even begin to imagine.
And so, his journey began.