Andrew swung his fist experimentally, punching the air in front of him. His arm shot forward faster than before, surprising him with the speed. It wasn't a massive boost, but it was definitely noticeable.
"So the pill worked," he muttered, a small grin spreading across his face. His gamble had paid off.
He made a mental note: if the world was going to act like a cultivation novel, then maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to take random pills.
Having searched the small house and finding no more loot boxes—or "super drugs"—Andrew gave up on his hunt. He sank onto an iron stool that wasn't broken, its surface decorated with faded paintings of two triangular-headed aliens. One looked younger, perhaps a sibling.
"What a depressing world," he muttered.
His eyes fell on something else, a small spider-like device with a lens at the center. Tentatively, he picked it up, half-expecting it to scurry away.
The object remained still, and Andrew noticed a red button on its back. Curiosity won out. He pressed the button.
A blinding light shot out, and he quickly turned the device away from his face. The beam hit the wall instead, the colors shifting from white to red to yellow. A short projection began to play.
In the image, two triangular-headed aliens walked down a clean street bustling with activity. The smaller one, likely a child, stuck close to the older one as they visited stalls and purchased peculiar plants that barked softly when touched.
Andrew watched the scene, his thoughts drifting. The bond between the two reminded him of his own mother. As a child, he had always wanted her to spend more time with him—buying junk food or silly games like the other kids and their parents. But she never had the time.
Her focus had been on his academics, ensuring he studied even during summer breaks. While he owed much of his success to her, a part of him still wished for the fun memories they never shared.
Frustration welled up alongside the memories, and Andrew kicked the device. The projection blinked out as the machine skidded across the floor.
"Enough of this sentimental nonsense," he muttered bitterly.
He shook his head, annoyed at himself for letting his mind wander back to Earth. That part of his life was over. There was no use thinking about it now.
Still irritated, Andrew slumped to the ground, not caring how dirty it was.
Strange caller, can you hear me? he thought.
No response came, no flash of memory or vision.
"Can you hear me…?" he whispered aloud.
Again, nothing.
Andrew's frustration mounted. "Damn it! I just want to know what this 'champion' stuff means. Why bring me here? What's the point of dumping me in a dying world full of monsters? It's not like I'm here to save it—it's already too far gone! So why?"
Silence.
Andrew sighed, letting his head fall back against the wall. He turned his gaze to the massive hole on the far side of the room, half-expecting to see something staring back at him. But the opening remained empty.
For a moment, his thoughts turned back to Earth. He thought of Sarmia, his sister. He almost wanted to call her and berate her for abandoning him on a beach five years ago. And maybe apologize for telling her boyfriend she was planning to poison him.
Andrew chuckled softly at the memory, but his smile faded as movement near the hole caught his eye.
A creature stepped into view, its form unmistakable—a dinosaur-like silhouette, slightly taller than him. Its body was composed entirely of shifting metallic bugs that crawled and rearranged themselves, giving the illusion of muscles and sinew.
Andrew's heart pounded. He scrambled back from the hole, but his sudden movements drew the creature's attention. Its head turned sharply toward him, glowing red eyes focusing on his position.
He knew what would come next.
"It's going to howl," he hissed.
Without hesitation, Andrew dashed for the hole. Sliding through it, he closed the distance to the creature just as it tilted its head back and opened its jagged, bug-filled maw.
He grabbed a curved piece of iron lying nearby—likely weighing over two hundred pounds—and hurled it with surprising ease. The metal struck the creature square in the back of its head, cutting off its howl mid-breath.
The dinosaur spun toward him, frantically reassembling the swarm of insects that made up its form. Andrew didn't wait. He charged forward, raising his sword, and swung it at the creature's neck.
The blade cut halfway through, but the resistance was immense. Suppressing the pain in his shoulder, Andrew gripped the sword with both hands, wrenching it free before swinging again. This time, the blade sliced through the other side, severing the creature's head entirely.
The head tumbled to the ground, scattering bugs in its wake.
Andrew stumbled back, panting heavily. He watched as the creature's body disintegrated into a wave of scattering insects. The dark energy from his body surged toward the remains, and another black coin rose from the dissipating swarm.
Without hesitation, Andrew pocketed the coin.
But when he reached for the first coin, it wasn't there.
"What the hell?" he muttered.
Before he could panic, the coin reappeared in his hand as if summoned by thought.
Andrew blinked. "Uh… disappear?"
The coin dissolved into a black mist that entered his body.
"Shit!" he yelped, nearly falling backward. But nothing seemed to change. No sudden power surge, no transformation.
"So it stores itself inside me?" he muttered, intrigued. "Reappear."
The coin materialized again. Andrew stared at it, fascinated.
"Now that's new," a voice said from behind him.
Andrew froze, spinning around to face the speaker.
A woman stood there—or something resembling a woman. Her ears were slightly pointed, her golden-specked skin embedded with faint, glowing patterns. Her eyes were like flames, and her black hair shifted and flickered like fire, though it gave off no light.
"Who… and what are you?" Andrew demanded, raising his sword.
The woman rubbed her chin thoughtfully, a faint blue light flashing over her as she donned a martial arts robe. Energy crackled in her palm as she raised it toward him.
"Ah. You must be a monster in disguise," she said calmly.
"Wait—"
She dashed forward with incredible speed, her fist slamming into his abdomen before he could react. Energy surged from her strike, and pain exploded through Andrew's body as he was flung meters away.
He hit the ground hard, blood spurting from his mouth and nose. Every injury he'd ever experienced paled in comparison to this.
"God," he groaned, barely able to move.
The woman's footsteps approached. She grabbed him by the hair, lifting his head.
"Why did you take the form of—"
Andrew spat in her face.
Her expression froze, the sheer audacity of the act catching her off guard. She raised an eyebrow, then narrowed her fiery eyes. "Are you… an Earthling? A human?"
"What?" Andrew coughed. "I'm both."
The woman frowned, her voice tinged with disbelief. "How are you here?"
Andrew glared at her. "Is America gone?"
She shook her head. "No. Your planet should still be functioning normally. That's what confuses me."
Andrew sagged in relief but didn't trust her. She conjured a pixelated can filled with red liquid and placed it near him.
"This is a healing concoction," she said. "Drink it. It's weak, but it'll keep you alive."
Though furious at her sudden shift in attitude, Andrew downed the bitter liquid.