A sharp pain ran through Kael Drakon's body. His breath came in short gasps, his vision blurred, and his limbs felt weak. He fell onto the cold pavement.
All around him, the world moved on, unaware of what had just happened.
It had been a normal night. Kael was walking home from work, lost in thought, when he heard the loud sound of screeching tires. A bright light filled his vision.
Then—impact.
He had been hit by a truck.
His body had been thrown across the street. His mind barely registered the pain before everything went black.
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(A Void Between Life and Death)
Kael's consciousness drifted in a dark, endless void. He couldn't see, couldn't move, yet he was still aware.
How long had it been? Seconds? Hours? Years?
Then, a voice echoed through the darkness.
[Welcome, Kael Drakon. Your fate has been rewritten.]
Kael's mind sharpened. The voice wasn't human—it was something else. Cold, mechanical, yet filled with power.
"What… What is this?" he asked, his voice barely forming in the void.
The voice continued.
[You have died. But due to special circumstances, your soul has been transferred to another world.]
His thoughts stalled. Another world? Was this some kind of joke?
[Your new body and fate have been altered. You will soon awaken in your new world. Adapt or perish.]
"Wait, I need answers!" Kael shouted.
But the void cracked apart, and his mind was pulled forward into the unknown.
--------------------------------------------------
(E-Rantle)
Kael gasped as cold air filled his lungs. His body jerked as he suddenly woke up, his senses overwhelmed by the sudden transition.
His vision spun. His body felt strange.
The smell of smoke, filth, and food lingered in the air. The ground beneath him was hard and uneven cobblestone.
Kael groaned and slowly pushed himself up. His hands… they weren't the same. They were rough, calloused, and stronger than before. His arms, his entire body—it felt different.
His clothes were old and worn, like something a medieval peasant would wear. A simple tunic and boots, nothing modern.
He looked around. He was in a narrow alleyway, the walls made of ancient stone bricks. Some were cracked and covered in dirt.
Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the bustling sounds of people, horses, and shouting merchants.
This… this wasn't his world.
A cold realization sank into his chest.
He really wasn't on Earth anymore.
Before he could think further, footsteps echoed in the alley.
"Oi, look what we got here."
Kael turned sharply.
Four men stood at the entrance of the alley, blocking his way out.
They wore cheap armor made of leather and rusty iron—and had greedy eyes. Their weapons weren't high quality, but they were still dangerous.
Kael narrowed his eyes. They weren't simple thugs. They looked like low-level adventurers from a fantasy game.
The one in front, a scarred man with rotting teeth, smirked. "Lost, are ya? You look like easy pickings."
Kael didn't respond. He was assessing. These men had daggers and short swords. Not trained, but still dangerous.
"Hand over everything you got," another thug said, stepping forward. "Don't fight, and we won't hurt ya too much."
Kael exhaled slowly. He was alone, unarmed, and unfamiliar with this world. He needed an edge.
But before he could react, the scarred man sneered.
"Do you know who you're dealing with? We are adventurers!!"
Kael frowned. Adventurers?
The second thug laughed at his expression. "What? You look confused. Don't tell me you don't know what adventurers are!"
Kael stayed silent. He had no idea what these men were talking about.
"Are you an idiot?" another one sneered. "We're adventurers from E-Rantel, the capital city! You must be some country bumpkin if you don't even know that."
Kael's mind froze.
E-Rantel.
His heart pounded as his brain pieced everything together.
Adventurers. E-Rantel. Medieval setting.
This was a fantasy world. And if this was E-Rantel… then the country must be…
Kael swallowed and asked carefully, "Is this the Re-Estize Kingdom?"
The thugs stared at him like he was crazy.
"Of course, it is! What, you don't even know where you are?"
His mind exploded with realization.
This was the world of Overlord.
Kael stiffened.
This was not just any fantasy world. This was a place where monsters, magic, and absolute power ruled.
And greatest threat of all—Ainz Ooal Gown.
His breathing steadied. If he wanted to survive, he had to be strong.
His eyes darted around.
There was a pile of bricks nearby.
The first bandit stepped forward, reaching for Kael's collar.
Kael moved first.
He grabbed a brick and slammed it into the man's face.
CRACK!
The bandit stumbled back, clutching his bleeding nose.
The others hesitated. They hadn't expected resistance.
Kael didn't wait. He picked up another brick and hurled it at the second thug's temple.
THUD!
The man collapsed, unconscious.
The third thug cursed and rushed forward, swinging a dagger. Kael sidestepped, grabbed another brick, and smashed it into the thug's knee.
SNAP!
The man screamed as his leg buckled, and he collapsed.
The last thug froze, panic in his eyes.
Kael smirked. "What's wrong? Not so confident now?"
The bandit turned to run.
Kael grabbed a final brick and hurled it at the back of his head.
BAM!
The man collapsed, motionless.
Then a mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[Ding!]
Kael froze as a strange blue screen appeared in front of him.
[Congratulations! You have defeated four enemies. EXP gained: 200.]
His breath hitched.
A system? Like in a game?
More notifications followed.
[System Activated.]
[You have unlocked the 'Lottery System.']
[Defeating enemies grants EXP, which can be used for drawing items and skills from the Lottery.]
Kael's mind raced.
This was real. He had a game-like power.
The final notification appeared.
[Newbie Gift Unlocked.]
[Opening in the next chapter…]
Kael blinked. "What the hell? 'Next chapter'?"
Despite the weird wording, he wasn't complaining.
This world seems dangerous. But now, he had power.
A slow grin spread across his face.
This was just the beginning.