The faint hum of a fan filled the room with its constant buzz. Morning had arrived, but Eiden Kurozawa still hadn't gotten up. His eyes opened slowly, staring at the white ceiling that looked far too… empty. He turned in bed, and immediately a strange discomfort ran through him.
—Huh?… Where's my bookshelf?— he thought, sitting up.
He clearly remembered having books stacked in the corner, a movie poster on the wall, even the black backpack he always took to class… but none of that was there.
The room was similar to his, yes, but things were missing. And, even more unsettling, there were objects he had never seen before: a new desk, a modern lamp he had never bought.
—This… isn't normal. What the hell is going on?—
Confused, he reached toward the nightstand, where at least he found his phone. The screen lit up with a familiar glow, and he quickly opened the news.
The headlines hit him like a bucket of ice water:
"Appearance of unknown creatures devastates cities.""Military forces lose control, governments declare state of emergency.""Creatures impossible to classify: comparisons with comics, anime, and movies."
Eiden swallowed hard, his eyes scanning the same headlines over and over. The names of some creatures and their descriptions were all too familiar to him. Beings that shouldn't exist… except in the fiction of his previous world.
—…No way. Those… are from a manga? And that one… it's from a movie I watched years ago. Damn it, this is real!—
His heart raced. Piece by piece, the truth fit together. He wasn't in his room, nor in his world. He had transmigrated.
He jumped to his feet, stumbling into the chair. Rushing into the bathroom, he turned on the light with trembling hands. Before the mirror, the final truth revealed itself: it was him, yes… but younger. The face staring back at him was seventeen years old. His skin was smooth, his features sharper, and his eyes shone with a vitality he thought long lost.
—This is impossible… it's me, but… I'm back at seventeen?—
He touched his face, his hair, his shoulders. Everything was there, and yet everything was different.
—I need… I need to keep looking for answers. There has to be something more behind this— he thought, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
But before he could move, a strange sound echoed in his mind. It didn't come from his phone. It didn't come from anywhere in the room. It was as if a voice had connected directly into his head.
[Attention. This is a global announcement.]
The echo wasn't just inside him. Outside, the cries and murmurs of his neighbors confirmed that everyone was hearing the same thing.
[Humanity is facing collapse. The creatures now flooding your world do not belong to this reality. To restore balance, the World System has been activated. From this moment on, people from every country will be randomly chosen to enter a space beyond reality, known as the Backrooms.]
Eiden held his breath, his pupils widening at that word.
—The Backrooms!— he thought, a shiver running down his spine. —No way… that place exists here too?—
The voice continued:
[The Backrooms are a flaw in existence. A labyrinth divided into levels beginning at Level 0. Its true extent is uncertain: some believe it has an end, others that it is infinite. Inside, you will encounter creatures called Entities, unique resources, and anomalous objects. Players must survive, adapt, and progress. The system will grant rewards for achievements and discoveries. The future of humanity depends on those who participate.]
The neighbors' voices grew louder. Some shouted, others prayed. Eiden, however, smiled. It was a strange gesture amid the chaos, but his memories gave him a privilege few possessed.
—I know that place… I know almost every level. This is real, damn it, but it's an opportunity!—
As excitement surged through him, another notification appeared directly in his mind, this time personal, different from the general voice:
[Congratulations, Eiden Kurozawa. You have been chosen as a player. Your entry into the Backrooms will take place in ten minutes. Prepare yourself.]
Eiden's heart skipped a beat. Ten minutes. That was all the time he had.
—Me… one of the chosen? No, this is perfect!— His thoughts raced so fast he could barely keep up. —If I know what's coming, if my memories are really right… then I can survive. No—more than that: I can lead, I can gain the advantage over everyone.—
He looked around, searching for what to take. His phone, comfortable clothes, anything useful. But then he remembered something vital: the Backrooms didn't forgive mistakes, and the only certainty was that he wouldn't enter with luxuries or military-grade preparation.
Ten minutes. An eternity, and at the same time, a fleeting breath.
—Alright, Eiden, think…— he told himself in the mirror, breathing fast. —You've waited your whole life for a change… and now you have it. This world is screwed, but you already know the rules.—
His reflection gave him back a nervous smile, almost manic, filled with both excitement and fear.
The clock kept ticking. Nine minutes remained until his new life began.