The Beginning
The first thing Dani felt was the cold, damp earth beneath him. It clung to his skin, its chill biting into his bones as he blinked up at a blood-red sky. The air was thick, suffused with a metallic tang that made his stomach churn. He struggled to his feet, heart pounding as he took in his surroundings—twisted trees with blackened bark, jagged rocks scattered across the uneven ground, and the distant sound of something roaring.
"This… this can't be real," Dani whispered, clutching his head as fragmented memories flooded back. The world was eerily familiar. He'd read about this place before, devouring every word of the novel late into countless nights.
The realization hit him like a thunderclap. He'd transmigrated into the world of Dimensional Collapse.
Panic surged through him as he instinctively activated the one thing that felt natural: a strange, glowing interface appeared before his eyes.
[Skill Activated: Mind's Eye (Rank Unknown)]
Information began flooding his vision—details about the environment, the dangerous creatures lurking nearby, and even a map of his immediate surroundings. Dani's breath caught as he stared at the swirling numbers and text.
"Well… at least I have this," he muttered, trying to calm his racing thoughts.
A Fight in the Distance
A sharp scream pierced the air, yanking Dani out of his thoughts. He turned toward the source of the commotion and spotted a group of three people—a girl wielding a battered sword and two boys clutching makeshift weapons—engaged in a desperate battle with a hulking, monstrous creature.
The beast towered over them, its hide gleaming like polished armor and its claws slicing through the air with lethal precision. The girl fought valiantly, her movements precise, but her strikes barely scratched the creature's thick hide.
"They're going to die," Dani muttered, his "Mind's Eye" kicking in automatically. A flood of data scrolled before him:
[Name: Arya Lane] Rank: D
Potential: S Rank
Class: Swordsman
Strengths: Exceptional technique, strong willpower
Weaknesses: Lack of experience, inadequate weapon
The boys, however, were labeled simply as [Extras]. Dani's lips twitched at the term—it seemed even the system deemed them insignificant.
The Intervention
The monster roared, swiping its claws dangerously close to Arya. She stumbled back, breathing hard, as the boys shouted useless encouragement from behind her.
"Idiots," Dani muttered. He had no intention of getting involved. But then he saw it.
[Monster Weakness Identified: Vulnerable Spot - Neck (Unprotected)].
He hesitated. "If she dies here, I lose an S-rank potential ally. Damn it."
Without thinking, Dani cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Aim for the neck! Stab it in the neck!"
The group froze. Arya shot him a sharp look, sweat dripping from her brow. "Who are you?"
"Just do it!" Dani yelled. "You'll die otherwise!"
Arya gritted her teeth, uncertainty flickering in her eyes, but desperation won out. With a shout, she leapt forward, dodging the monster's claws, and drove her sword into its neck with all her strength.
The monster's roar turned into a strangled gurgle before it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Aftermath
The trio stood there, panting and covered in blood, as Dani cautiously approached. Arya looked at him warily, her sword still raised.
"How did you know its weak spot?" she demanded.
Dani shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Lucky guess."
Arya didn't seem convinced, but one of the boys interjected, "Hey, we should thank him! We'd be dead if he hadn't told us."
"Thank you," Arya said begrudgingly, lowering her weapon.
Dani activated "Mind's Eye" again, carefully examining her. Rank D now, but with the potential to be S. A swordsman this skilled would be invaluable.
The boys, on the other hand, were nothing special. Dani dismissed them almost immediately.
"Just passing through," Dani said, turning away before they could ask more questions. He had no intention of revealing his hand so soon.
As he walked away, he couldn't help but smirk. The game had begun.