Chapter 1: The Mall
The world blurred into focus, a hazy mess of swirling colors and disorienting sounds. Noah's head pounded, a throbbing ache that made his vision swim. He forced himself to stay still, his breathing shallow and controlled. He was a strategist, a planner, a master of his emotions. Panic wouldn't help.
He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, sending him sprawling back onto the soft bed. He lay there, eyes closed, taking deep breaths, willing his mind to settle.
Gradually, the dizziness subsided, and his senses returned to him. He opened his eyes and scanned the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. It was a simple room, sparsely furnished, with a single bed, a small table, and a window overlooking a breathtaking view of the ocean. The waves crashed against the shore, their rhythmic roar a soothing counterpoint to the pounding in his head.
Noah sat up again, cautiously this time, his gaze sweeping over the room, searching for any clues. The room was tidy, almost sterile, with no personal items, no photographs, nothing to hint at his whereabouts or his identity.
A chill ran down his spine. He wasn't in his own world. He had no memory of how he got here.
Then, a screen flickered into existence in front of him.
It was holographic, shimmering in the air, and it displayed a single line of text:
Welcome to the System.
Noah stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. This was no ordinary screen. It pulsed with an unseen energy, radiating a warmth that sent a shiver down his spine.
Caution: You have transmigrated to a high-risk world. Hunter x Hunter. This world is inhabited by individuals with exceptional abilities, such as the Ant King. Proceed with caution.
Noah's breath hitched. Hunter x Hunter. He knew that name. It was a world he had devoured in countless hours spent reading manga, watching anime, and playing video games. A world where humans pushed their physical and mental limits, seeking out adventure and testing the boundaries of human potential. A world of incredible danger, where death was always a possibility.
He recalled a scene from the anime, the chilling image of the Ant King, a formidable creature of unimaginable power. The screen's warning echoed in his mind. He was in a dangerous world, a world he'd only experienced through fiction, a world he now had to navigate.
Then, the screen shifted, revealing a new menu:
Mall
The word shimmered in front of him, almost invitingly. He reached out, hesitantly, and brushed his fingertips against it. The screen rippled, responding to his touch.
A vast, three-dimensional space unfolded before him, a sprawling marketplace filled with countless items from different anime worlds. It was a virtual wonderland, a treasure trove of weapons, armor, tools, and other objects of incredible power.
This was his system, his cheat. A chance to survive, to thrive, to make his mark on this dangerous world. He was in a high-risk world, but he wasn't helpless. He had the Mall.
And he had a plan.