What kind of teleportation is this? I'm going to die without even reaching the ground.
I suddenly transported through a passage of shifting colors. The next moment, I appeared above Earth—or at least somewhere outside it. From here, the entire round planet spun silently below me.
Truck-kun could have done a better job. Maybe then I'd have been born into someone else… instead of tumbling here, fear clinging to me like a second skin.
The wind tore past me, screaming in my ears, and for a heartbeat, time itself seemed to fracture. Then the world collapsed. The sensation of falling was disorienting—like being trapped in a maelstrom of light and shadow, endlessly spiraling into oblivion. Fragments of my life flickered before me—distorted, incomprehensible memories, all blurring together. It felt as though I were being torn apart and stitched back together, drifting between worlds.
Then, without warning, the fall ceased.
I crashed into the ground with a bone-shattering impact, the force driving the air from my lungs. Pain erupted in every joint and muscle, sharp and unrelenting. Dust and debris swirled around me as I struggled to rise, my body screaming in protest. My arms and legs felt like lead, each movement a battle against the bruises and fractures that claimed my frame. Through the haze of the fall and the dizzying blur of my vision, I forced my eyes open, scanning the chaotic surroundings for any sign of danger—or a path to survive. Shadows shifted in the periphery, fragments of motion that could be threat or escape, and my chest heaved as I tried to steady my racing thoughts.
I was in a town which lay in a haunted stillness, its crooked towers and spired rooftops silhouetted against a blood-red sky. Cobblestone streets twisted unnaturally, lined with shattered market stalls and abandoned fountains where water no longer flowed. The air was thick and heavy, carrying a strange, magical hum that made every breath sting. Lanterns flickered with dying flames, casting long, quivering shadows over buildings scarred by unknown destruction. Broken banners fluttered in the wind, whispering tales of a kingdom that had been torn apart. Every alley seemed alive with restless movement, and the distant echo of footsteps—or something like them—hollowed through the town, as if the very streets remembered the lives that had once thrived here.
I didn't need anyone to confirm it. I was no longer in my world.
"This place… really gives off dangerous vibes?" My voice came out hoarse, barely more than a whisper, swallowed by the heavy, oppressive air around me.
Before I could gather my thoughts, I heard a rustling noise to my left. My head whipped around, and from the haze and smoke, a figure emerged—a towering, grotesque monster.
It was humanoid, yet its features were twisted beyond recognition. Its gray skin was cracked and pockmarked, jagged spikes protruding from its back. Dark veins pulsed beneath its flesh, glowing faintly with a sickly energy. Its eyes, blood-red and full of malice, locked onto me, sending a chill down my spine. Its claws, long and razor-sharp, flexed as it let out a guttural growl.
I should have been terrified. Anyone would have been. But instead, something strange stirred within me—a sense of exhilaration, not fear. My pulse quickened, but it wasn't from dread. It was the thrill of finally stepping into a fantasy world.
A voice, cool and commanding, echoed inside my mind—distinctly feminine, yet unyielding.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
> Scanning environment…
World recognition: Incomplete
Lifeforms detected: Unknown
Hazard level: HIGH
Loading data…
—----
Scan Complete
> Area identified: Human settlement—status: under attack
Population: Hidden / Non-combatants detected
Threat detected: Demon-class lifeform present
Objective: Survival / Containment recommended
Recommendation: Avoid direct engagement unless necessary
A soft, mechanical hum accompanied the words, as if the voice itself was analyzing every movement, every shadow around me. The AI's tone remained clinical, detached, but the report sent a chill down my spine. This wasn't just a ruined town—it was a town under siege, the people hidden somewhere, terrified, while a monster from a demon race had come to destroy everything.
"My name is Ai. I will be your guide in this world." Her voice was calm, steady, and carried a strange authority, as if she already knew everything about the challenges ahead.
I observed the monster, my hands resting on my chin, weighing the situation.
"Give me any anime character's power so I can defeat this monster—something like a sword, or just anything else" I commanded.
"You need to choose the skill yourself," she replied, calm and measured.
"I don't feel like choosing. What about you—choose for me," I said. My mind swirled with possibilities—should I pick my strongest skill, my favorite, or maybe try the ones of a weak character who becomes powerful? I couldn't decide. I trusted her judgment. Whatever skill she chose, I would make it work. Victory would be mine.
"Sure," she answered.
The monster lunged forward.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
[Skill Activated: Kirito – Dual Blades]
[Skill Level: Basic. Mastery: 0%]
In an instant, my clothes shifted. Dark fabric wrapped around me, sleek and form-fitting, while streams of blue light traced along the edges, flowing like living energy. It wasn't Kirito's exact form—this was mine, a unique adaptation, the power fusing with my body.
I flexed my hands instinctively. Twin blades materialized, humming with latent energy. The air around me vibrated with potential, every pulse echoing the system's quiet assessment:
"Skill ready. Engage at will."
—
Well not a bad choice
I charged, swinging my twin blades straight at the monster's head. Sparks flew as steel met flesh—or whatever hide this abomination had—but it was no use. With a single, brutal motion, it blocked my strike and sent me hurtling backward.
I skidded across the cracked cobblestones, dust and debris flying in every direction. Pain shot through my arms and legs from the impact, but I forced myself to stay upright.
Perfectly still, I planted my feet, letting the blue streams of energy from my form shimmer and flow, stabilizing me. The system's hum filled my mind, assessing, calculating, ready to guide my next move.
"This monster is nothing compared to you. You can take him down easily—you just need to believe in yourself. You're more powerful than him," she said.
Well… look at that. Is she really an AI? I couldn't believe I was actually fighting in a fantasy world. Her presence—and her unwavering belief—surged through me, igniting something fierce inside.
I charged again in an instant, my body a blur of black and blue light. My right blade slammed into the monster's claws with a violent clash, sparks scattering as I forced him backward, inch by inch. Momentum carried me forward—I reached him in a heartbeat.
I swung my left blade, then my right again, movements flowing seamlessly, fast and precise—just like Kirito. Each strike was relentless, a storm of steel and energy tearing through the air.
SYSTEM ALERT: Skill Available
Skill Activated: [Star Burst Stream]
Blue energy surged along my blades, crackling and vibrating with raw power. The air itself seemed to shiver as light and steel fused into a single, unstoppable force. The monster staggered under the first wave of the attack,
It was as if my body had learned the movements of a master swordsman. Fluid. Precise. Every strike and parry came instinctively, as though I had practiced them for years. Years of watching Kirito's battles flooded my mind, and somehow, my body replicated them perfectly. I wasn't just fighting—I was fighting like Kirito.
The monster's defenses crumbled under the relentless flurry of strikes, my blades slicing through its armor as if it were paper. With one final, powerful slash, I cleaved through its chest. The creature let out a blood-curdling scream before collapsing to the ground.
I stood over its fallen body, panting, arms trembling from the exertion. A glowing message materialized in the air before me:
[Mission Complete. You have defeated the Monster Horde. Village Protected.]
[Kirito – Dual Blades. Mastery: 3%. Skill Level: Basic.]
"Well done. You've done a great job," said the AI, her voice calm but warm.
A small smile tugged at my lips. For the first time, I felt the weight of victory—not just in strength, but in trust.
This wasn't a dream. This was my reality.
Slowly, the silence of the town was broken. Doors creaked open, and windows cracked as villagers cautiously emerged from their hiding places. Their eyes, once wide with terror, now shone with relief, hope tentatively returning. Mothers clutched their children close, elders stepped forward shakily, and shopkeepers peeked from behind ruined stalls, all witnessing the fallen monster—and the stranger who had saved them.
Dust swirled in the air, catching the glow of the lingering blue light from my form. For the first time, the town felt alive—not with fear, but with quiet gratitude. Whispers spread like a gentle wind: "We are safe."
I stood tall among the ruins, twin blades still humming faintly at my sides, letting the moment sink in. The villagers were safe. For now, at least, the nightmare had ended—and I had become their shield.
End of Chapter.