"What's happening...? Where am I...?"
The thought echoed endlessly in the boy's mind, swallowed by a sea of light. He couldn't feel his body — not his arms, not his legs — nothing. Just a numb existence floating in an infinite expanse of brilliant white.
There was no sky. No ground. No sense of direction. Only light… and silence.
"Did I die...?" The realization struck with a dull thud in his chest. "Yeah... I must have. There's no other explanation."
---
One Hour Earlier
A small, modest room bathed in sunlight. A teenage boy lounged on his bed, eyes glued to his laptop screen, totally absorbed in the climax of an anime episode.
"That baldy still isn't giving it his all. If I copy and refine his full power now, I can win!"
"Here," said a man wrapped in a swirling cosmic aura, tossing a glowing core toward the caped baldy.
"You're late," he added coolly.
The caped baldy's eyes widened as memories of his cyborg student flashed through his mind. Without hesitation, he surged forward — a blur — and launched a devastating punch. The cosmic man mimicked his face and returned the exact same punch with terrifying precision.
Then — everything froze.
A spinning loading circle appeared, mocking him.
"No!! Come on! Not now!" the boy cried, shaking the laptop.
His eyes darted to the corner of the screen.
Data expired. Subscription ended.
"Hahh... are you kidding me?" he groaned, flopping back with a sigh. After a moment, he glanced at his wallet and the clock on the wall.
"Well... might as well grab some cola and snacks too," he muttered, dragging himself up and heading out.
Outside, the sun was warm and the air felt gentle. A perfect, peaceful day. Not a single cloud threatened the sky.
---
A short while later, the boy exited a small shop, plastic bags in hand. Inside them — cola, snacks, vegetables, and meat.
"Careful on your way back! Looks like rain's coming!" the cashier girl called out from inside.
Turning with a smile, he replied, "Got it!"
But as he stepped outside — the sky had changed. Dark clouds swirled above like ink spilling across a canvas. Faint flashes of lightning flickered in the distance.
He paused for a moment, watching the sky.
"It's... kinda beautiful."
Opening his umbrella, he picked up his pace, starting to jog.
High above, unnoticed — a glowing circle began to form in the heart of the storm clouds.
A dragon's roar boomed from the heavens.
He looked up, eyes narrowing —
A massive black bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
Before he could move, it struck him.
---
His body collapsed to the ground.
The bags scattered. His vision faded.
The last thing he saw — a girl running toward him, her expression lost in the haze.
---
"What's happening...? Where am I...?"
There was no sensation. No warmth. No cold.
Only the endless, blinding light.
"I'm dead... I really died."
He tried to move, but there was nothing to move. Not restraint — but oneness. He had become part of the light itself.
"Will I be trapped here forever...? Just the thought is enough to drive me insane."
A hollow chuckle echoed in his mind. "Hah... Guess I have no choice but to get used to it."
Then — a voice. Soft. Gentle. Female.
"You don't have to worry. You won't be stuck here. That world might hurt... but you'll find the happiness you've always been looking for. See you in the real world, Moari Rinkato-san."
Her voice trembled with warmth, fading like a dream.
"Wait—who are you? What do you mean? Don't leave me here!" His thoughts screamed, desperate for answers.
Suddenly — sensation returned. He could feel again.
The brush of air, the pull of gravity, the beat of his heart.
"I'm Lis... I won't forget you. I promise."
Her voice echoed once more, soft as a whisper.
He couldn't see her face, but felt her hand gently touch his eyes.
They opened — and he was staring at a bright, blue sky.
"Wha—?!"
His body twisted instinctively. He was falling.
Below — a vast, ancient forest stretched as far as the eye could see. Giant trees loomed like titans. There was no sign of people, no city, no life.
Panic surged. His heart raced.
Not just because of where he was — but because he was about to crash.
"SPLASH!!"
The serene lake shattered under his impact, waves rippling outward.
"Ugh! Cough... cough!" he sputtered, dragging himself to the shore.
Collapsing onto the grass, he gasped for air, his clothes soaked and heavy. A strange, green moss clung to his leg.
He grabbed it, trying to pull it off — but it wouldn't budge.
"Arghh..."
With one hard yank, it tore away.
Blood oozed from the moss itself.
"...Eh?"
Staring at it, breathing heavy, he slowly stood.
Water dripped from his hair. His body ached.
But a crooked smile tugged at his lips.
"Well then... what now, Isekai?"
His eyes gleamed — for a second — with something unseen.
---
To be continued...
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