"My God, my head hurts."
He groaned softly as a sudden piercing headache struck, wrapping his head with his hands.
Opening his eyes, his legs felt numb, seemingly unable to move.
William lay on the damp ground, his clothes slightly wet. His black hair was covered with dirt from the ground, his black eyes sore and red, and his light brown skin was covered with food crumbs sticking to him.
He rolled his body right side up, trying to grasp the current situation he was in.
'Where the hell am I?'
Upon realization, Will was in an alleyway, trash scattered around the place, smoke rising from the sewers, and drops of water dripping down from the back of an air conditioner.
He blinked repeatedly.
'How did I even get here in the first place?'
The ground was moist, and he felt a gooey texture as he continuously moved his hands up and down against it.
William had the urge to vomit. The first thing he thought of was finding a restroom.
He couldn't move a single inch. His body screamed in agony as he attempted to stand up, but his legs gave out.
Having no choice left, he crawled to a nearby trash bag and threw up inside it.
'What am I doing to myself? How did I even get here? Was I that drunk? I didn't know alcohol could make me this forgetful…' He massaged his temples.
'Try to remember, William. Where were you the night before?'
…
In his memory, he was sitting on a couch, reading a novel on his phone.
"Hey guys, I have an idea!" A boy with a yellow streak in his naturally black hair appeared in his vision.
"What is it this time, man?" Another boy appeared in his memory. He had brown skin and black hair and was taller than most of them.
"Why don't we throw ourselves a graduation party?"
"Shit, alright," the taller boy smirked at the idea. "What do you plan on doing, man?"
"How about we party at Damian's place?"
The other boy in the corner, with a blonde ponytail, furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why my place again?" he groaned.
"Because my place is kinda crowded with my stuff, Andy's place is small, and so is Will's place."
"Don't you even dare throw a party at my place, Lee," he jokingly growled.
"So, what do you say, Damian?"
"I don't know, guys. Don't you think
something might happen to us?"
"Pssh, like what?"
"Uhm—"
"You can't think of an excuse, can you?" Lee smirked.
Damian sighed in frustration. "Fine… but we should clean up the day after."
"Hell yeah!"
…
'I finally remember now.'
William and his three friends were having a graduation after-party, finally enjoying the time of their lives. After all the harrowing hours they spent—from studying for exams to doing various activities to get excellent grades—they managed to graduate at the top of their class.
Receiving the awards and recognition they deserved, they planned a party for themselves.
Although the place was small, it had a cozy atmosphere with a variety of activities to enjoy.
They partied hard, from gaming to drinking, experiencing different ways of enjoying life as much as possible before going their separate ways.
They talked about what they wanted to do after the party while drinking shots of liquor.
And look where it got him.
'Seven shots is my limit. After that, I think I'm going to pass out….'
Attempting to stand up once more, his legs shaking, he steadied himself with the support of the wall, the taste of alcohol still lingering in his mouth.
Crash! Crash!
He suddenly collapsed to the ground with a hoarse yelp, his throat sore. A loud bang echoed from the dumpster nearby—too loud to be a stray animal. It was probably a homeless person rummaging through the trash.
With his guard up, Will spoke, his voice strained. "Who's there?"
The rummaging came to a halt. Whoever was inside had taken notice of him.
"Will, is that you?"
A young man emerged from the dumpster. He was the same age as Will, his hair black with shades of amber yellow streaked through it, his black eyes surrounded by dark eye bags.
He was smiling at Will. The young man jumped out of the dumpster, covered in stains, his clothes in ruins. He attempted to hug Will, but his attempt failed as Will distanced himself.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Will exclaimed.
"Wow, harsh, bro. Is this how you greet someone with a good morning?"
"No, you're covered in trash, dude." Will's gaze trailed off.
"And aren't you being too carefree, Lee? We're currently somewhere for who knows where."
Lee blinked, his eyes sore and red. The mixture of rotten food and alcohol permeated from him.
He was in the same situation as Will, but unfortunately, he woke up inside the dumpster. He grimaced, then replied while rubbing his eyes.
"Bro, I don't even know what happened after I went to Damian's bathroom."
Lee sighed.
"Both of us don't even know where we are right now." Lee scratched the back of his head. "I mean, I don't even know any alleyways near Damian's place."
Massaging his forehead, Will looked around once more. His vision was blurry, and he tried to rub his eyes to make it better, but to no avail.
"Have you seen Andy or Damian?"
Lee shook his head.
Will clicked his tongue sharply, pressing his teeth into his thumb, tension tightening in his jaw.
"Shit… I can't move right now."
"I can't carry you either, bro."
Will groaned softly, his shoulders slumping.
"Just wait for me to sober up."
…
Finally out of the alley, they emerged into an unfamiliar place. It was a futuristic sight—towering skyscrapers exuding a modern-era feel.
Unfortunately, the place was in desolation. The buildings were in shambles, windows shattered, and walls crumbling as if a natural disaster had swept through.
In the middle of the road lay a massive crater, its edges jagged and raw. Stains of red and black splattered around the area. Judging by the stains, it seemed the events had occurred recently.
At the center of the crater lay a lifeless, disfigured monster, its corpse covered in various wounds, its insides spilling out. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid tang of burning metal.
"What the hell?!"
"Oh my God!"
Will's face paled, his eyes wide, while Lee's mouth parted in awe, both frozen before the sight that defied reality.
"The hell's going on?" Will quivered.
Lee's reaction, however, was different.
"It's something like out of the movies. Maybe this is just one of those movie sets, bro." Lee curiously approached the corpse, staring at it in fascination.
"How much budget did they have to make the place look like this? And better yet, look at that monster on the road—you can see the realistic details, too! Oh, I wonder what the movie's called!"
Lee squirmed like an excited child, a grin creeping across his face. His fingers twitched as he instinctively reached for his phone, the discovery lighting a spark in his eyes.
"Oh wait, shit, I don't even have my phone!"
Will looked around the place. Although the thought of it being a movie set was suspicious, he knew it was highly improbable.
It was impossible for them to have been moved out of town while dead drunk.
Besides, if a movie was being filmed here, gossip would have spread like wildfire at their school.
"I don't think this place is safe. If it was a movie set, there'd be people working here, preparing it all day."
"Yeah, I'm kinda confused too. Did they cancel the filming, or are they on break?"
Will looked at his friend with worry. "Regardless, we shouldn't be here."
Suddenly, the corpse began to tremble, emitting an eerie, rhythmic sound. It was like the rapid pulsation of liquid, accelerating with each beat.
Will's eyes widened. "Hey, get out of there!" His grip tightened around his friend's hand, pulling sharply, his heart racing as a silent alarm surged through him.
They sprinted toward a partially intact building.
Inside, they ducked down, hands clamped over their ears, bracing for the inevitable.
The corpse detonated, sending a viscous ooze splattering across the area. The acidic substance hissed as it slowly ate through the concrete.
They exchanged glances, wide-eyed and silent, each trying to make sense of the chaos that had just unfolded.
"What the hell was that?!" Lee shouted, confused.
"Did I trigger something to make it explode like that?!"
William was silent, processing what had just happened.
'What the hell happened? Why'd we wake up in some random alley? And is this seriously a movie set or something? It's already noon—there's no way people haven't seen us lying here like this.'
"Lee, we need to get out of here. Something doesn't feel right."
"Why? We just got here, bro. I want to look around more." Lee grabbed his hand, refusing to move from his spot.
He was acting like a curious kid at the zoo, wanting to explore more after seeing amazing animal stunts during a talent show.
"Don't you want to know who the recruited actors are? It could be Dwayne Johnson or Keanu Reeves."
'You're such a kid.'
"Fine, let's look around that area." Will pointed at a skyscraper. 'There might be some people there who could help us out. I'll try to talk to them and see if they can help us get back home.'
…
Two police officers cruised the streets in their patrol vehicle, the night air thick with the remnants of chaos.
"We caught two boys dead drunk on the streets last night. Kids these days, pushing their limits," one officer muttered, taking a sip of his steaming coffee. He glanced at his partner. "I get it—my daughter's their age, hanging out, experimenting—but those two went too far. They're way too young to be drinking and ending up unconscious in the streets!"
His partner nodded, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, but you would've tried alcohol too when we were their age. Honestly, though, I hope those boys are alright. They have a high chance of being infected by the Nightmare Spell, especially in a place like this."
The first officer stared into his coffee cup, his expression mournful. "Yeah, in a place like this…"
Their conversation was abruptly cut off by a deafening explosion. The officers snapped to attention, urgency electrifying the air. They sped toward the source, sirens wailing.
The driver grabbed the wire communicator as fast as he could. "Calling for a nearby Awakened—east area outside the outskirts!"
Moments later, they spotted two boys, disheveled and dirty, walking as if they had no care in the world.
'What are these boys—?!' The first officer muttered as the patrol car's horn blared, commanding their attention.
"What are you boys doing here?" the officer shouted, his eyes wide with concern. "This area's contaminated with Nightmare Creatures!"
"Nightmare Creatures?" both boys said in unison.
"Get inside the car! We need to get you out of here—you might already be infected by the Nightmare Spell."
The boy with yellow bangs glanced at his friend, deep in thought. He was about to interrupt when Will spoke up.
"Thank you, officer, for your concern. I hope you'll find an Awakened to help us." Will smiled wearily.
'What the fuck are you—' Lee was about to retort when Will elbowed him.
Lee was about to express his anger until he saw Will's expression, silently telling him to remain calm.
"We'll talk later, Lee, but first, show some respect to the officers. They're risking their lives by being here." He jabbed a finger at his friend, voice low and intense, before glancing over his shoulder at the officers, tension creeping into his posture.
"Sorry—he can be a little childish sometimes. But my friend here is the smartest guy I know... well, in terms of academics, that is."
"I-is that so? Well, thank you, young man. I appreciate your sincerity. It's rare to see polite kids these days."
Nervous laughter bubbled between them. Will cleared his throat, smoothing his shirt as he forced a polite smile. "We'll be getting in the car now."
"Young man, do you mind telling me your name?" the officer asked. "My name is Walter, and this is my partner, Howard."
"My name is William, and this is my friend Lee."
The officer's expression remained neutral as he inclined his head, motioning toward the vehicle with a clear command.
The boys exchanged quick glances before shuffling toward the open door. As they climbed in, Officer Walter grabbed the communicator, ready to relay his next orders.
"This is Officer Walter, patrolling near the west side of the outskirts. Found two young boys walking in the area. Requesting nearby Awakeneds to come to the nearest station."
On the ride toward the station, the police officers were talking to each other while the two boys in the back of the vehicle lowered their heads, trying not to do anything unnecessary that could get them in more trouble.
Will rested his elbows on his knees, his fingers pressed against his temples as he stared blankly ahead. A deep breath escaped him, and he closed his eyes briefly, seeking solace in the coolness of his palms.
'I can't believe it, we're really in Shadow Slave. And the thing we encountered was really a Nightmare Creature.'
He really was transported inside one of the novels he had read. But the problem was that the novel wasn't finished yet. He had just finished reading the West Antarctica Arc, and beyond that, he didn't know anything. After all, he didn't have time to binge-read all of them—he could, but he wanted to take it slow and enjoy the buildup of the story. It's more enjoyable to take your time and fully understand the plot.
He considered this both a boon and a curse. A boon because certain classified knowledge here doesn't affect you to the point of death. And a curse because even having a chance of survival is low. But he was confident in his skills. After all, he took Mixed Martial Arts classes and also stick-related martial arts such as Arnis and Bōjutsu.
But with all this martial arts training, can he even survive the Nightmare Spell? Even if he did survive, could he survive the First Nightmare?
But with all that being said, he was determined to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. He had his friends by his side, and his knowledge of the events that would happen in the novel.
Even though it's limited, it's enough to say that he might have a high chance of surviving all of these events. He just needed to keep getting stronger.
Lost in thought, his gaze wandered, eyes distant and unfocused. Then, a jolt—his body stiffened, shoulders jerking upward as his head snapped to the side. The hand on his shoulder lingered, its warmth a stark contrast to the chill that shot through his chest. He blinked rapidly, his friend's face coming into focus, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of their mouth.
Lee's skin was pale, shadows clinging beneath his eyes like bruises. His lips pressed together, thinning as if holding back words too heavy to speak. His brow furrowed, a faint twitch pulling at the corner of his mouth, his eyes dull and tired. The crease deepened, hanging in the silence between them.
'Now that I look at him, he looks like he has a high chance of being infected. He looks like he's about to pass out. I wonder how much time we have left?'
'I wonder what day it is? I need to know how long before the winter solstice will arrive.'
Lee leaned in closer, his lips barely moving, the sound escaping like a breath rather than a word. His eyes flickered toward the officers, cautious, before returning to meet the gaze in front of him. The faint murmur blended into the background noise, barely enough to reach the officers' ears.
"Bro, I have a question."
Will gestured for him to go ahead.
"Sure, go ahead."
Lee calmed himself down, formulating the words in his mind for what he wanted to say.
"The officers asked us about being infected by something called the Nightmare Spell… You replied as if you know what's going on. Now, I might sound delusional when I say this, but it's either that we got isekai'd to some fantasy world or am I just high and all of this is just an illusion in my mind?"
Will's lips twitched, his chest shaking almost imperceptibly. He pressed them together, trying to stifle a reaction, but a quiet chuckle slipped out anyway. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he shot a sideways glance, amusement flickering despite his best effort to hold it back.
"Yes, we've been transported into another world." Will paused and then continued, "And no, I doubt that any of us consumed something that crazy at the party."
"Shit, really? Which one?"
"It's something you don't know since you don't like reading web novels."
"What? That's kind of unfair. How come you only know this shit and I don't?!"
Lee's shoulders slumped, his eyes reflecting a deep, unspoken disappointment. His mind wandered to distant fantasies—wielding gleaming swords, infusing weapons with shimmering magic, his body growing stronger with every challenge, just like in the webtoons and mangas he consumed.
He could almost feel the weight of the blade in his hand, the rush of power coursing through him as he leveled up from defeating his foes.
Oh, the bliss he would have felt if he were reincarnated in one of those animes or mangas he knew of. Everything would have been a breeze!
A heavy, frustrated sigh escaped his lips.
"So, can you tell me what novel we are in, bro? Tell me the details, the important ones first. Especially the main character, what's he like?"
Will talked about the world-building, power systems, and the main cast. Since they didn't have much time to talk about everything, he only shared details about how to handle the Nightmare Spell. To make his explanations even simpler, Will connected all of these information to the webtoons that he and Lee read from time to time.
Then he talked about Sunless, but only shared details on how everyone else sees him.
As Will spoke, Lee's brow lifted ever so slightly, a familiar gleam in his eyes. He shifted in his seat, arms crossing casually, but the smirk playing at his lips gave him away. When Will paused, Lee leaned in, his tone slipping into that practiced ease. His hand waved dismissively in the air as he picked apart the protagonist's traits with precision, a wry chuckle underlining each point. His words, sharp but playful, hinted at how much he relished this—breaking down the character's tropes with the same casual air as if he were discussing an old habit.
"So basically, he's a generic MC who likes to keep things low-key and earn money for himself. So, even though he has all those negative traits that people see in him, he's still a good-hearted softy inside. He's like a sad loner who shows off if he wants to. An edgelord who pretends to be an Alpha, but most of the time he's a beta?"
William blinked, baffled at his friend's response.
'I really don't know Sunless quite well, since I haven't finished the novel yet, let alone the novel being finished. So, I guess his conjecture about him is right, I guess?…'
Will coughed awkwardly.
"I mean, you're not wrong. I guess you could say he's something like that. But, I guess you still need to get to know him better."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, I'm just basing my opinion on him from stereotypes." Lee paused and then continued, "So when do we get to know him?"
"Well, seeing that we look like this, I think we'll be heading off to our first Nightmare Spell. But… I really don't know what date it is, so it's quite hard to tell... Oh, and remember, we'll be fighting all alone, Lee. Can you handle yourself?"
Lee smirked, his excitement burning inside his heart. His inner 8th-grade syndrome was about to be let out, but he decided not to, since he had grown out of that.
"Yeah, I can handle myself. I feel the surge of confidence within me!" he silently yelled.
'Is he really going to be okay? I mean completely relying his entire lifeline on his experience of reading webtoons and mangas. But I guess he's going to be alright.'
Will's shoulders slumped, his breath escaping in a barely audible sigh. His gaze flicked toward Lee, lingering for a moment before his head dipped in a reluctant nod, as if surrendering to the inevitable.
Outside, the hum of the engine quieted, followed by the faint click of the car shifting gears. The vehicle rolled to a stop, and through the window, the looming outline of the station came into view. The officer in the front turned off the ignition, his hand already reaching for the door handle.
"We're here now, boys. Behave yourselves."