"Is this the end of my life?" A man lay weakly, his body paralyzed.
"At least I lived my life to the fullest; I have no regrets." He murmured, staring at the ceiling of the hospital.
"I never thought I'd experience such a terrible accident."
"It seems I won't be able to give power stones to my favorite web novel anymore."
The man recalled his favorite web novel titled Common Sense Hijack System. He began to murmur incoherently again in his mind,
"Well... I guess this really is the end," he thought.
However, as his consciousness slowly faded, he suddenly felt his body grow light, as if he were floating. Instead of darkness, he sensed the warmth of light growing brighter around him. Everything felt surreal, as if his dream wouldn't end.
Suddenly, he awoke fully conscious. The faint sound of trickling water could be heard nearby. A cool breeze brushed his face, and the fresh scent of green trees filled his nose.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. Around him stretched a dense forest as far as he could see. Green grass swayed in the wind, and brightly colored birds chirped melodiously from branch to branch.
"Where... am I?" he murmured, his voice hoarse. Rising slowly, he touched his body, as if ensuring that everything was real.
His body felt energized—healthier than he had felt in years.
"I... am alive? But how is this possible?" he thought. He could still remember his last moments—lying in a hospital bed, his body paralyzed, his breaths shallow.
He tried walking, stepping onto the damp grass. Each step felt real, and every breath was filled with energy. This wasn't a dream. But... this was clearly not his world.
"Is this what they call... reincarnation?" he muttered, slowly coming to terms with this strange possibility.
As he continued to walk, he noticed the clothes he wore—black attire and a pair of rugged leather boots, like something straight out of a fantasy novel. No phone in his pocket, no electronic devices at all. In fact, even when he tried to think of a way to return, there was no answer. He was completely alone in this strange world.
"Oh, fantastic. My life ends only to be reborn as... what? Someone in an isekai world? A hero?" He sighed, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity.
But gradually, he began to smile. He remembered all the isekai stories he had read—filled with adventure, magical powers, and grand destinies. Perhaps this was his second chance, a chance to live a truly new life.
"I need to see my new face!"
He walked toward a nearby river and slowly looked at his reflection in the water.
His eyes widened, "This..." he touched his face, "Arthur D. Bump?"
The man froze, stunned at the reflection in the water. The face staring back was not a good man face—it was look kinda evil, with sharp features and a piercing gaze.
He recognized the face he now had; he had once seen an illustration of a minor character, an extra who fought the hero in a web novel, and he had become that extra. An extra in some lonely Chinese web novel.
And fortunately that lonely Chinese web novel wasn't real, so it wouldn't get plagiarized or pirated and posted on your favorite reading app.
"So... I'm not reincarnated as a hero or some great adventurer," he murmured bitterly, "but as a minor character? A character with only a slap skill?"
He stood there silently, processing this new reality. He stared at his reflection once more, observing every detail of Arthur D. Bump's face, a man he had once looked down on when reading the novel. A character destined only to appear, get beaten up by the hero's party, and disappear without leaving an impression.
He sighed, "This reincarnation is just terrible. But oh well, at least I have a second life." He started to accept his fate.
But suddenly, a strange feeling crossed his mind. In the novel, Arthur D. Bump had a terrible personality and liked to provoke trouble. He frequently got into conflicts with authorities. Without realizing it, Arthur was already marked by many who wanted revenge. Thinking of that possibility, the man began to feel uneasy.
"If this really is that world... I could end up being chased down constantly!" he thought, panicked. "I have to change Arthur's fate before I end up... a target!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Alright, let's try to survive in this world. Maybe, if I can keep a low profile and avoid getting involved with the main characters, I can dodge a miserable fate."
After deciding on his first step, he began walking along the river, searching for the nearest village or town. However, after only a few steps, he noticed something unusual in his pocket. A red paper with the word "Wanted" was printed boldly, and below it, the name Arthur D. Bump was written in large letters. His face was on the paper, complete with a bounty high enough to attract bounty hunters.
"Good grief... I haven't even had a chance to enjoy my new life, and I'm already a wanted man?" he groaned, crumpling the paper in frustration.
Yet, beneath his anxiety, an idea slowly began to form. "Wait, I already know the basic outline of this novel's story. I know who will come, who's strong, and how the characters will act..."
Arthur's eyes—or now, the man's eyes—gleamed with enthusiasm. "I may just be a minor character in this story, but this time, I have an advantage no one else has. I know this world's secrets. If I can use that knowledge well... maybe I can change Arthur's fate. Maybe I can even survive and achieve something great!"
He smiled confidently. "From a one-off enemy… to someone who makes a big impact. Yes, this is my new life!"
After he realized he had reincarnated as a side character with only the "Slap" skill, he walked and gazed at the horizon.
Determined not to follow the path of a loser, he smiled with full confidence and declared,
"I will be the Slap God, but not gonna slap your mother!"
Tap...
Someone tapped his shoulder.