My heart skipped a beat. The familiar panic of being trapped in a game I didn't fully understand hit me, but I swallowed it down. "Alright... alright, Flynn. Maybe they designed it differently," I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper. I forced my breaths to slow down and scanned the interface again.
What will I do?
What can I do?
What do I do?
...
Damn it Flynn! Over thinking wont get you anywhere!
"Menu," I said aloud, but nothing appeared. I tried tapping the air, waving my hand around for some kind of interface panel—still nothing. It was then that I realized I might be missing something. I decided not to panic just yet; after all, I had just arrived in this world, and there was so much to explore.
My new house was cozy—a quaint little wooden cottage with stone floors and simple furniture. A faint glow came from a small lantern hanging in the corner, casting warm light around the room. The bed I was lying on was surprisingly comfortable, far better than the one in my rundown apartment back in the real world. I sat up, took a deep breath, and decided to check things out in the village.
Outside, chaos erupted as screams filled the air. The ground shook with the force of heavy footfalls, and I could smell smoke and fear blending together. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind reeling with confusion. I stepped outside my house, my eyes widening as I saw the village under siege. Monsters—twisted creatures with pale skin and empty eyes—were tearing through the streets.
What the heck?
"Flynn! We need your help!" Andrey's desperate voice cut through the din, echoing from somewhere amidst the chaos. I turned, my eyes catching his frantic form as he tried to fend off one of the creatures with a poorly-crafted iron sword. He looked small and helpless, like a child trying to fight off a hurricane.
"What the hell is happening?" My voice trembled, the scene before me making my breath hitch. This world had felt so peaceful—so deceptively safe—just moments ago.
"Ghouls! They're attacking the village!" Andrey's face was pale with fear, and there was a cut bleeding from his forehead, the crimson dripping down his brow.
I had to hurry, to ensure no one dies, I didn't have time to hesitate. My instincts roared to life, and I reached for the familiar power buried deep within me. The energy surged as I whispered the words that came as naturally as breathing: "Destroyer's Blade!" The air crackled with red light, and the crimson blood-red sword materialized in my hand, humming with destructive power.
I charged forward, the blade feeling weightless in my grip, but a cold pit settled in my stomach. I couldn't unleash my full power—I couldn't afford to destroy the village along with the monsters. The thought made my fingers tighten around the hilt. I had no choice but to face them one by one, to cut them down with precision.
I weaved through the chaos, each movement guided by instinct as I slashed through the hordes. Their ghastly faces twisted into snarls as they lunged, but they were nothing more than shadows to my blade. I felt the tension ease with each successful strike, but something was wrong—my senses were on fire, warning me that the worst was yet to come.
It was too slow.
The progress was too slow
I needed power. But power that wouldn't hurt my allies.
Suddenly, a sharp sensation gripped me, an unfamiliar sense of awareness prickling at the back of my mind. My eyes widened as I raised my hand to the sky, feeling the magic swirling around me. My right eye turned a deeper shade of crimson, my sight sharpening until I could see the entire village as if from above—a mental map, each monster marked by a faint glow.
Please work! I hoped.
I raised my hand against the night sky, I drew a line in the air, tracking the movements of the creatures. The power built in my chest, raw and fierce, and I barely had time to form the incantation before the energy burst out of me. "God-killer's Arts: Life Erase!" I roared, feeling the magic drain from my core.
The world around me lit up with a deafening explosion. A wave of crimson energy shot outward, targeting each ghoul with deadly precision. The air trembled, and then... silence. Dust settled around me as the remains of the creatures vanished, leaving only the village intact.
Villagers stared, mouths agape, and I could hear the relieved cheers and shouts from the crowd. But my heart was still racing. My gaze narrowed as I felt it—the faint trace of another life force, hiding just beyond the village's edge.
"It's not over," I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
A bright yellow beam shot down from the sky, wrapping around me. I barely had time to react before the world shifted and blurred around me. When it stilled, I found myself in a dark, ruined clearing on the outskirts of the village. The air was heavy, thick with the stench of rotting flesh.
My eyes focused on the shape before me—tall, monstrous, with burning eyes that glowed like embers. "Level 24 High Ghoul," the name burned in the air above it, and my stomach twisted. It moved faster than I expected, a blur of shadow and rage, but I managed to bring up my sword just in time.
The clash of its claws against my blade sent a shockwave through my arms. I gritted my teeth, locking eyes with the monster. It was stronger, faster—more dangerous than the Swordsman Ghoul I had faced before. I knew that if I didn't end it quickly, it would rip me apart.
I gripped the sword tighter, channeling the power through my veins. My left eye glowed a bright gold, and I drew a line on the Ghoul's wrist, an invisible mark only I could see. I took a deep breath and pushed, releasing just 2% of my full power.
The effect was instantaneous. The line glowed for a split second before the ghoul's entire body ignited with a crimson flare. It didn't even have time to scream before it was reduced to ashes, the explosion ripping through the clearing and burning away everything in a twenty-foot radius. The charred earth smoked around me, but I could still feel the village—safe and intact behind me.
The yellow beam enveloped me again, and in a blink, I was back in the village. Relief washed over me like a wave. The ghouls were gone. The village was saved.
"Heavenly Oracle," that's what I had named the spell. I looked up to see a crowd gathered around me, their eyes wide with amazement. They had seen what I had become—what I was capable of. Their cheers filled the air, but I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Flynn... your eyes and hair..." One of the girls pointed at me, her voice trembling.
I blinked, my reflection catching in a puddle by my feet. My hair had turned a bright, shimmering gold. My left eye glowed with a fierce red, while the right was a brilliant gold. I looked like someone—or something—else entirely. A shiver of unease crept up my spine.
"Yeah... I know," I said quietly, feeling an unfamiliar weight settle over my shoulders. I looked down at my hands, feeling the lingering energy pulsing beneath my skin.
For a moment, the world seemed to shrink, and my breath hitched. The reality of my situation crashed down around me, harder than any blade. I was trapped here, in a world that didn't feel like a game anymore. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and a thousand questions swirled in my mind, each one more desperate than the last.
What happens if I die here?
What will become of me?
How do I return home?
I gritted my teeth, forcing the panic down. I had to focus. Answers wouldn't come if I fell apart now. I remembered the words spoken by the AI before I had put on the headset, a warning about traveling to another realm—something I had brushed off as part of the game's narrative. But it wasn't a game. It was real.
I clenched my fists, the crimson blade vanishing in a flicker of red light. For now, the village was safe. I had time, time to figure out what had happened to me, why I had these powers, and how I could control them. My hands were trembling, but I shoved them into my pockets, forcing myself to keep moving.
"Is anyone injured?" I asked Andrey, trying to ignore the way his eyes lingered on my transformed appearance.
"No," he said, a strange mix of relief and concern in his eyes. "Thanks to you, everyone's safe."
I nodded, but his gaze made me uncomfortable. I needed space—needed time to think. "I'm going back to my house," I said, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.
"Right..." Andrey replied, a note of hesitation in his voice. I could see the unasked questions in his eyes, but he didn't voice them. I was grateful for that, at least.
". . ."
Back in my small room, I sank onto the bed, exhaustion washing over me like a tide. My thoughts were a mess—swirling, chaotic—but I forced myself to make a plan. Tomorrow, I would leave the village. There was no future for me here, no answers. The capital was my best bet—a place where knowledge and power converged.
First, I'll leave the village.
Then, reach the capital and find a way to earn money.
Lastly, I'll figure everything out.
The simplicity of the plan calmed me. It was something concrete—something I could control, even if the rest of my world was spinning out of my grasp. I lay back, staring at the ceiling as the moonlight filtered through the cracks in the shutters. My mind drifted back to the ghouls, to the way my power had flared and then settled, to the fear I had felt even as I stood victorious.
This wasn't just a game anymore. It was a life—a new, dangerous, unfamiliar life.
And for better or worse, I was stuck in it.
But if I had to be here… I would make the most of it.
I closed my eyes, a flicker of determination settling in my chest as sleep finally claimed me.
". . ."
The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the village I had called home these past few days. The warmth of the villagers' gratitude was still fresh, their voices ringing in my ears as I set off toward the capital city of Ylza. My mind was restless with the events that had just unfolded, yet I felt a strange sense of purpose—something I hadn't felt in a long time.
As I left the village behind, the road stretched out before me, winding through forests and over hills, lined with ancient oaks whose leaves rustled like whispers in the breeze. The air had a heavy, earthy scent, mingled with the faint crackle of mana that seemed to buzz beneath the surface. I kept my senses sharp, one hand never far from the hilt of my blade. This was no ordinary journey; this was my chance to grow, to understand this strange new world I found myself trapped in.
I encountered a handful of monsters along the way—twisted beasts that lurked in the shadows of the dense undergrowth or roamed the open fields at dusk. They were weaker than the ghouls I had fought before, but that didn't make them any less dangerous. I quickly realized I couldn't rely solely on brute force or overwhelming magical power. I had to be smarter.
One particularly challenging fight involved a pack of shadow hounds that ambushed me under the dim canopy of the woods. They were swift, darting in and out of the darkness, their glowing red eyes cutting through the shadows. I muttered a spell to enhance my reflexes, "God-killer Arts: sharpen senses" feeling the surge of mana sharpen my senses. The world slowed, and I could see their movements, anticipate their strikes. My blood-red sword flashed in the gloom as I dodged, parried, and countered, learning to fight without using the destructive magic that I had.
Each encounter became a lesson—a chance to test my limits. I experimented with my spells, finding the balance between power and restraint. Bit by bit, I learned to control the strange magic within me, channeling it with more precision, learning the words of incantations and the nuances of the arcane energy that pulsed in my veins.
Yet the journey was mostly peaceful, with long stretches of quiet where I had nothing but my thoughts for company. And those thoughts often turned inward. The enormity of what had happened still loomed large in my mind—the way the world had shifted from a game-like curiosity to a grim reality. I found myself wondering about the choices I'd made, the regrets I carried from my old life, and what it meant to truly be given a second chance.
When Ylza's massive walls came into view, rising out of the rolling landscape like a fortress, my breath caught in my throat. The capital was enormous, far beyond anything I had imagined. Banners bearing the city's crest flapped in the breeze above the gate, and I could feel the pulse of life and energy within, as if the very air hummed with the magic of thousands of souls living side by side.
As I approached, a group of armored guards blocked my path, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. I did my best to appear harmless—just another traveler seeking entry—and after a brief inspection, they let me through. The moment I stepped inside the gates, I was overwhelmed. Cobbled streets wound their way through tightly packed buildings, a maze of narrow alleys and open squares bustling with merchants, street performers, and adventurers. Above it all, the imposing spires of Ylza's great citadel loomed, casting shadows that shifted with the passing clouds.
Damn, this place is huge, I thought, glancing up at the towering walls that enclosed the city.
But I didn't have time to admire the architecture. My first priority was finding the Adventurer's Guild—a place I hoped would offer some sense of direction in this chaotic new world. Hours passed as I wandered through the crowded streets, my senses overwhelmed by the noise and the constant movement of the crowd. Just when I was about to give up, I caught sight of a familiar emblem: a crossed sword and staff, carved into the wood above a large, bustling building. Relief washed over me. This was it.
The Guild was larger than I had expected, its heavy wooden door creaking as I pushed it open. Inside, a wave of eyes turned toward me, some curious, others wary. I felt the weight of their stares but ignored them, making my way to the counter where a young woman with a bright smile greeted me.
"I'd like to register as an adventurer," I said, trying to sound confident despite the strange knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach.
"Alright~" she replied with an easy smile. "First, I need your name."
"Flynn. Flynn Neworld."
She jotted it down, nodding. "Okay, Flynn. Now, I just need to measure your magic. Please place your hand on this assessment paper."
I did as instructed, placing my hand on the strange, rune-covered parchment. A pulse of energy passed from my palm into the paper, which began to glow faintly. The clerk's eyes widened as a number appeared, shimmering in golden letters.
"Magic level... 189?!" Her voice broke the quiet hum of conversation, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. "189? Impossible. The highest is 78!" I could hear the people mumbling and whispering about me.
My heart skipped a beat. Shit, I thought. Even with my magic suppressed, it still registered that high?
Before I could explain or make excuses, the girl bolted up the stairs, shouting, "I'm going to get the Guildmaster! Please wait here!"
I tried to remain calm, but panic was clawing at the edges of my mind. The adventurers around me were whispering, glancing my way with expressions that ranged from interest to suspicion. Seconds stretched into minutes, and my thoughts spiraled. What if they see me as a threat? What if they don't trust me?
Soon, the girl returned, a tall man following in her wake. He had a rugged face, half-hidden beneath a thick beard, and his eyes were sharp, assessing. A worn leather coat hung loosely over his shoulders, giving him a rough but authoritative air.
"Is it true?" he asked without preamble, his gaze piercing straight through me.
"Huh?" I stammered, caught off guard by his intensity.
"Your level," he clarified. "Is that number accurate?"
I forced a laugh, my voice shaky. "Oh, that? No, it can't be right! Maybe the paper's broken or something..."
"The assessment paper never lies," he said, his tone flat and unyielding. "Let's talk in my office. Now."
My stomach tightened, but I nodded, following him up the stairs. The room he led me to was simple, with a heavy oak desk and a map of the surrounding regions pinned to the wall. He shut the door behind us, the latch clicking into place with a sense of finality that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Sit," he ordered, gesturing to a chair across from him. I did as I was told, my mind racing.
"What is your class?" he asked, leaning forward, his voice low but steady. "No one your age should have that much power."
Shit! Not this again, I can't lie about my class!
I hesitated, my thoughts tumbling over each other. I couldn't tell him the whole truth—about my sudden appearance in this world, my knowledge of magic that didn't belong here. But if I lied outright, I had a feeling he'd see through it.
"G-God-Killer," I said slowly, trying to keep my voice even. "That's my class."
Everyone was speechless. The God-Killer class was only granted to those who had nerves of steel. Not to mention my Destruction Magic. He studied me for a long moment, his gaze unwavering. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my neck, but I didn't flinch. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
"Alright," he said at last. "We'll leave it at that—for now. But know this, Flynn: if you cause trouble, if you put others at risk... I'll be watching."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "I understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Good. Then welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. A special quest will be posted tomorrow. I suggest you prepare."
I stood, my legs feeling unsteady. "Thank you," I said, bowing slightly before turning to leave. But before I could open the door, he spoke again.
"One more thing," he said, his voice softer. "Be careful with that power of yours. In this world, strength like yours can be both a gift... and a curse."
I paused, his words hanging heavy in the air. Then I nodded and left, feeling a strange mix of relief and uncertainty. The Guild was a start, a way to survive and grow stronger in this world—but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just stepped onto a path far more dangerous than I could imagine.