Prologue: The King's Awakening
異世界転生: 王の目覚め
The rain fell relentlessly, a heavy downpour that splashed against the cracked pavement of the dim alleyway. Neon signs flickered overhead, casting fractured, ghostly light that danced on the graffiti-stained walls. The scent of decay and exhaust fumes hung thick in the air, a bitter reminder of a city long neglected by its citizens. The underbelly of the world thrived here, its corruption pulsing beneath every drenched surface.
Asuka Aoyama stood, leaning against a cold, damp wall. Her chest heaved, breaths sharp and ragged as she clutched a weathered leather satchel to her chest. Her business suit, once pristine and sharply pressed, was now torn and soaked through, clinging to her form in a way that left her feeling vulnerable, exposed. It was a far cry from the polished office worker she had once been, a woman who had fought to be seen, heard, and respected. Now, she was just a fugitive, a target, her life in danger.
The contents of the satchel—the stack of research papers and the vials filled with the groundbreaking formula she had developed—were her life's work. Years of dedication, of struggle, of being overlooked by her male colleagues, of constantly fighting to prove herself. This research wasn't just a scientific achievement; it was her redemption, a chance to make a difference in a world that had turned its back on the suffering of the many. But, like everything else she had fought for, it was slipping through her fingers.
She could hear them—the sound of boots splashing through the puddles behind her, the relentless pursuit of hired mercenaries sent by the very corporation that had stolen her research. They wouldn't stop until they had her silenced, one way or another.
Her grip tightened on the satchel. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she felt the rush of panic rising, but she couldn't afford to give in to it—not now, not when she had come so far. She scanned her surroundings, eyes flicking desperately for an escape route. The alley twisted ahead into a labyrinth of dead ends and shadows, a maze designed to trap her.
Think, Asuka. Think!
She had to get out. She had no choice.
The sharp crack of a distant whistle broke through her thoughts, followed by the sound of barked orders, and her pulse quickened. They were getting closer.
A bullet had grazed her side earlier, and blood soaked through her clothes, mingling with the rain. The pain was growing, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins kept her moving. She forced herself to take another step, then another. Each movement was agony, but her survival instincts kicked in, and she pushed forward.
"Think, Asuka. You've come too far to lose now," she whispered to herself, the words a quiet mantra that urged her onward.
Her heels slapped against the pavement as she turned into a narrower alley, the walls closing in as the noise of the pursuit grew louder. She stumbled slightly, vision blurring as exhaustion took its toll. The streetlights overhead flickered erratically, casting fleeting shadows that seemed to mock her with their instability. The night, it seemed, was against her.
And then, as if summoned by the chaos itself, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead. A man in a long, dark trench coat stepped forward, blocking her path. His face was obscured by a hood, but his posture was unmistakably confident. He raised a weapon, aiming it directly at her, his lips curling into a mocking grin.
"End of the line, sweetheart," he said, his voice smooth, almost mocking.
Asuka froze, her heart hammering in her chest. For a moment, the world seemed to tilt. She couldn't afford to be caught. Not after everything. The satchel was everything—her life's work, her legacy.
I can't let them take it. I won't let them take it.
Instinctively, her fingers closed around a rusted metal pipe that lay discarded on the ground nearby. She lunged forward, swinging the pipe with all the strength she had left. It connected with the man's arm, sending the gun flying from his grip, the clatter of metal echoing in the alley.
For a split second, she thought she had won. But then a gunshot rang out, loud and sharp in the damp air.
Pain exploded through her leg, and she crumpled to the ground, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. She barely managed to keep a hold on the satchel as blood poured from her leg, mingling with the rain that continued to fall without mercy.
"No... not like this..." she whispered, her vision darkening, her head spinning. The sounds of the city grew distant, and the world around her seemed to blur.
---
Flashback: Asuka's Struggle
Weeks earlier, Asuka had been just another cog in the corporate machine. The days bled into one another, consumed by paperwork, meetings, and the endless grind of a job that never acknowledged her talent. At night, she returned to a cramped apartment, isolated from the world. Despite her brilliance, despite the countless hours she had poured into her research, her ideas were constantly dismissed. And when they weren't dismissed outright, they were stolen.
One day, she had overheard her boss—ruthless and ambitious—taking credit for her latest innovation: a formula designed to eradicate a deadly disease that had claimed countless lives in impoverished communities. It was the breakthrough she had been working towards for years. But the moment she had overheard that conversation, the moment she knew the truth, she realized how deeply corrupt the company she had worked for truly was.
The final straw had come when her boss had threatened to fire her if she didn't "cooperate" with his demands, demands she knew would mean the exploitation of her research for profit rather than the benefit of humanity. The betrayal was suffocating, and it left her with only one choice.
She had spent months in secret, gathering evidence, refining the formula, and preparing to expose the truth. But her efforts were in vain. The leak had come. A corporate spy had exposed everything, and the company had retaliated by sending hired mercenaries to retrieve her research—by any means necessary.
---
Present: The Chase Intensifies
A sharp whistle pierced through the rain. Asuka's breath hitched. They were closing in.
She pushed herself up, stumbling toward a narrow alley that led deeper into the maze of the city's underbelly. Her vision blurred again from the pain in her leg, but she kept moving. There was no other choice.
Her heart raced as she heard footsteps behind her, closer now. She risked a glance back—just as a bullet whizzed past her ear. The sound of boots splashing in the rain was growing louder, and she knew, with a sinking feeling, that her time was running out.
Then, ahead, a shadow loomed—a figure blocking her way.
A man, tall and imposing, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He raised a gun, aiming it straight at her.
"End of the line, sweetheart," he said, the words dripping with cruel finality.
---
Encounter with the Divine
But then something extraordinary happened.
The rain froze midair. The world around Asuka seemed to still, as if time itself had stopped. The sounds of the city vanished, replaced by an eerie, all-encompassing silence. The sensation of weightlessness overcame her, and she looked down in confusion.
A warm, golden light enveloped her, lifting her from the cold pavement. The pain in her leg and side vanished, replaced by a soothing warmth that spread through her body, calming her racing heart.
A voice echoed in her mind, deep, ancient, and commanding.
"Asuka Aoyama. Your end in this world has come, yet your destiny begins anew. By the will of the divine, you shall be reborn. Not as a pawn of this shattered world, but as a sovereign of another."
She gasped, her breath catching in her throat. "What... what are you talking about?"
The voice continued, the words imbued with a strange power.
"You have suffered betrayal, hardship, and despair. Yet your will to fight has never faltered. Such resolve is worthy of a ruler. In a world plagued by chaos and war, you shall rise as the Drag King, uniting fractured lands and wielding the power of dragons."
"Drag King?" Asuka repeated, her voice trembling with confusion. "I'm not... I'm not a ruler. I'm not even a fighter!"
"You will learn," the voice responded. "The path ahead is yours to shape. Rise, sovereign of Drakos."
---
Arrival in the New World
Asuka's eyes fluttered open to a new world, one bathed in the warm glow of sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves. The scent of wildflowers and earth filled her lungs, a stark contrast to the foul, polluted air she had known in her former life.
She sat up, her body feeling strangely lighter, stronger. Her hand brushed against soft moss, and as she turned to look at her reflection in a nearby pond, she froze.
The woman staring back at her was nothing like the Asuka she had known. Her hair, once plain and unremarkable, was now streaked with silver, flowing down her back in long, jet-black waves. Her eyes were a piercing crimson, and her body was lean, yet undeniably powerful. A regal cloak adorned her form, its intricate patterns glimmering in the sunlight.
Hereyes widened as she took in the transformation. The woman in the reflection was regal, but her expression was one of confusion, a sense of unpreparedness that mirrored her own feelings.
This isn't possible...
The events leading up to this moment felt surreal, a blur of pain, fear, and the strange voice that had spoken to her mind. She touched her forehead, as if trying to convince herself that it was all real. The soft, unfamiliar fabric of her cloak brushed against her fingers, reminding her that this was not a dream.
Where am I? What happened to me?
She stood, testing the strength of her new legs, feeling the power that coursed through her as she moved. Her body, though unfamiliar, felt... different. Stronger. More attuned to the land around her. The air was fresh, and the sunlight warmed her skin. It was so unlike the cold, damp streets of her old life.
A rustle in the bushes behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. Her reflexes kicked in before her mind had a chance to fully process the situation. She spun around, one hand instinctively reaching for something—anything—that could be used as a weapon. But her fingers grasped empty air.
A figure emerged from the trees, stepping into the clearing. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with long, unkempt dark hair and eyes that glimmered like molten gold. His presence was commanding, and despite the peacefulness of the surroundings, an air of danger clung to him like a second skin. He wore battle-worn armor, a cloak much like hers, but his seemed to be marked with the scars of countless battles.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Asuka stood there, trying to gather her thoughts, unsure of what to do.
The man finally broke the silence, his voice deep and calm. "So, you've awakened."
She narrowed her eyes, her guard still up. "Where am I? What is this place?"
He tilted his head slightly, as if considering her question. "This is Drakos. A world teetering on the brink of ruin. And you, Asuka Aoyama, are the one chosen to save it."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Drakos? Chosen? I—I don't understand."
He took a step closer, his gaze steady and unyielding. "You were reborn for this world. The Divine will has granted you the power of the Drag King, a sovereign with the strength to unite the warring factions and lead them to peace. You must gather the dragons, the ancient protectors of this land, and restore balance before this world is lost forever."
Her mind raced, her thoughts scattered in a whirlwind of disbelief. Drag King? Dragons? The words made no sense, and yet they rang with an undeniable truth, one that settled deep within her chest, making her heart beat faster.
"You... you're saying I'm supposed to be some kind of ruler?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The man's lips twitched into a half-smile, though his eyes remained serious. "Yes. You have been chosen because of your unshakable resolve. But this path will not be easy. There are those who will seek to challenge you, to use your power for their own gain. You must be prepared to face them."
Asuka's mind spun. She had never asked for any of this. She had only wanted to live a life of purpose—something more than the soul-crushing monotony of her old job. But this? Being thrust into a war-torn world, a place where dragons roamed and kingdoms fought for dominance? It felt like too much.
"I'm not a ruler," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not... I'm not even a warrior. I'm just... me."
The man's gaze softened slightly, though there was no mistaking the gravity in his words. "And that is why you are the one. In your world, you were underestimated. Your talents were ignored, your worth diminished. But in Drakos, your strength is not defined by the limitations of your past. You are not just Asuka Aoyama, the woman who struggled to be seen. You are the Drag King, born to unite the fractured lands of this world."
Her chest tightened. The weight of his words felt overwhelming, but something within her stirred—a quiet flicker of hope, a spark of possibility. Could this be what I've been waiting for?
Before she could respond, the man stepped forward, offering a hand to her. "If you accept this role, you must commit to it fully. There is no turning back once you begin this journey. But if you do, you will become a ruler unlike any other."
She looked down at his outstretched hand. Her instincts screamed at her to run, to refuse, to find a way back to her old life. But deep down, she knew that would be impossible. Whatever had happened to her, whatever this world was, there was no escaping it now.
Her eyes lifted to meet his, and for the first time since waking in this strange world, Asuka felt a surge of determination. She had been given a second chance—an opportunity to become something greater than she had ever imagined.
The decision seemed impossible, but in her heart, she knew what she had to do.
"I accept," she said, her voice steady.
The man's golden eyes flickered with approval. "Then it begins, Drag King."
---
As Asuka took his hand, a surge of energy coursed through her, the weight of destiny settling upon her shoulders like a heavy mantle. She had been reborn, not just for herself, but for a world in need of a savior. And now, there was no turning back.
The journey ahead would be filled with challenges, with battles, both physical and internal, as she learned to wield the power of the Drag King. But one thing was certain: she would fight, not just for survival, but for the chance to build a future—a future where she could finally be the ruler she was meant to be.