Darkness.
That was all I could see. No light, no shapes—just an endless void. I couldn't feel anything either, not even my own body. For a brief moment, I thought I might be dead. But I shook off the thought.
The last thing I remembered was playing Hunter's Academy, the new game everyone had been talking about. I had been fully immersed in it, and now… I was here. Stuck in this endless dark.
But then, the darkness began to lift.
A faint light seeped in, growing brighter. I tried to speak instinctively, but as soon as I opened my mouth, a sharp metallic taste filled it. My body ached all over, like I'd been crushed under something heavy.
"Kurgh—!" I groaned, clutching myself. The pain was overwhelming, spreading from my limbs to my chest, sharp and unrelenting. It felt like I'd been hit by a car—though I wouldn't really know, having never been hit by one.
I managed to steady myself, breathing through the pain, and finally took in my surroundings. I was lying in a hospital room. White walls, a faint smell of antiseptic, and the hum of machines around me.
'What the hell? Was I in an accident?'
Before I could piece it together, a warm voice broke through my confusion.
"So, you're finally awake."
I turned to see a gentle-looking woman. She seemed middle-aged, with a kind face that reminded me of a nurse from some old drama.
"Yeah, I guess," I muttered, my voice hoarse.
She smiled faintly. "So, Mr. Daemon, what's the story this time? Are you still going to say you fell down the stairs?"
I blinked, caught off guard. Fell down the stairs?
What was she talking about? The last thing I remembered was sitting in front of my computer, playing a game. How did I end up here, let alone "falling down the stairs"?
And, my name is Damien, not Daemon.
Just as I was about to respond to her, a sudden sound interrupted me.
Ding!
I froze, startled. Then, out of nowhere, a black-and-white screen appeared right in front of my eyes, like something straight out of a video game.
"What the…?" I muttered, but before I could make sense of it, a cold, robotic voice spoke.
[Hello, Mr. Damien. Welcome to the world of Hunter Academy Online.]
My heart skipped a beat. Transmigrated? Daemon Gracefall? What kind of weird dream was this?
The screen flickered, and more text appeared.
[Quest 1: Go back to your room.
Reward: Healed injuries.]
I stared at the words in disbelief. A quest? A reward? Was this real? My aching body suggested it was, but my mind struggled to keep up.
What was going on?
I wanted to shout, "And give me more information, you bastard!" but I swallowed the string of curses threatening to burst out of my mouth. This wasn't the time to lose it.
Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the nurse. She was watching me with a calm, curious expression, completely unaware of the chaos going on in my head.
"Um," I started, trying to sound as normal as possible, "would it be possible for you to… take me to my room?"
The words tasted awkward, but I couldn't exactly admit I had no idea where my room was. As much as I wanted to yell, "What the hell is going on here?" I decided to keep my calm. The last thing I needed was to be labeled as crazy.
The nurse's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were trying to figure me out. But after a moment, she gave a small nod.
"Very well," she said simply.
I let out a silent sigh of relief. Whatever was happening, I had to play along—for now.
**********
As I reached my room, I immediately threw myself into the bed.
'Hunter Academy Online.'
The game was set in a world where ordinary humans awakened to mana, unlocking powers that made them superhuman. But the story wasn't a smooth rise to glory—it was a struggle for survival.
Five hundred years ago, humans first awakened to mana. It was chaotic at first, with no control, no understanding of their newfound abilities. That's when the elves arrived. With their natural affinity for mana, they quickly exploited humanity's disarray, seizing a large portion of their lands.
Then came the orcs. Unlike the elves, orcs weren't graceful or magical, but their immense strength and resilience allowed them to carve out their own share of human territory.
But the worst was yet to come. The demon race—the ultimate villains of the game—entered the scene. They were powerful enough to conquer entire planets, forcing the elves and orcs out of their own worlds. Now, the demons set their sights on this planet, aiming to claim it for themselves.
Humanity, however, did what it does best: adapt. Despite their slow start, humans began to master mana, learning to wield it with precision and purpose. Over centuries of relentless effort, they rose to stand toe-to-toe with the other races.
That was the backdrop of Hunter's Academy Online, the world I thought I was just playing in. Now, it seemed like I was living it.
'Open.'
I thought the word, and suddenly, countless messages floated into view, shimmering in the air like holograms.
[You have several unread messages.]
"Open them," I said aloud, my voice still hoarse.
The screen shifted, and lines of text began appearing one after another.
- Congratulations! You have chosen to be a player.
- Character Background:
You have transmigrated into the body of Daemon Gracefall. Daemon's story is one of tragedy and resolve. He lost his mother, father, and younger sister to a demon attack. Fueled by grief and anger, he dedicated his entire life to training, dreaming of revenge.
Finally, his hard work paid off—he awakened his mana. Determined to grow stronger, he enrolled in Aegis Hunter Academy, the finest academy in the human domain. It was supposed to be his first step toward justice, but reality was harsher than he had imagined.
Daemon quickly realized how weak he truly was compared to his peers. Worse, certain students began to target him, bullying him relentlessly. Over time, the bullying escalated into physical assaults, breaking not just his body, but his spirit.
---------------------------------------------------------
I stared at the words, a sinking feeling in my chest. This was the body I was in? The life I'd stepped into?
"Great," I muttered under my breath, trying to process it all.
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog in my mind. There was no time to waste. I needed to finish reading the rest of the messages. I scrolled through the text until I reached the last one.
- Congratulations, you have completed the quest. Would you like to claim your reward?
Without thinking, I pressed "Yes."
As soon as the words left my lips, I felt a strange warmth wash over me. It started in my chest and spread out through my body. I glanced down at my limbs, and to my amazement, the pain and bruises that had been crippling me just moments ago began to fade.
The soreness, the aches—gone. My skin, once battered and bruised, now looked healthy again. I watched in awe as the wounds healed in an instant, as though they had never existed.
"Damn... this is really something," I muttered under my breath, completely speechless.
Just moments ago, I had been in so much pain I wasn't sure I'd survive another minute. But now, I felt completely healed, as if nothing had ever happened.
It was hard to believe, but the proof was right there in front of me—my body was back to normal.