Neo closed his eyes and waited.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Ten minutes.
When he finally opened them, he found himself still seated on the ground.
"Oh… God, have I truly transmigrated into Canine Star Beast Tamer? Sh*t!"
For the next two hours, Neo remained where he was, processing this new reality.
Come on, Neo. It's not a big deal. Just accept it…
You've transmigrated into a novel…as an extra, no less…destined to fade into the background once your role is complete. Not a big deal. Not a big…
"F*ck! Why should I fade into the background? Neo Dawson has never been, nor will he ever be, an extra!"
If there was one thing Neo knew about himself, it was that despite his flaws…his short temper, occasional insecurities, and relentless pursuit of perfection…his greatest strength was his unwavering determination. Through sheer hard work and adaptability, he had always managed to stand out among his peers.
Mediocrity was simply unacceptable.
He exhaled deeply. "Sigh… What happened to my former self? Did the Neo of this world take over my body? Damn! I forgot to clear my search history… He's definitely going to think I'm…Ugh, this isn't the time to worry about that. I need to find a way back."
Neo quickly began formulating theories.
"Every novel has an ending. If I reach it, maybe I'll be transported back to my world. Or… perhaps dying in this world would send me back? Or maybe there's some kind of portal linking the two worlds that I just need to find…"
He immediately dismissed the idea of dying…it was both painful and unnecessary.
The remaining options, however, would take time.
Yet…
"Wait a minute… I've transmigrated into my favorite beast-taming novel! I should be celebrating!" His frustration momentarily gave way to excitement.
"So what if my character is just a stepping stone? At least now, I'll finally know what happens after Max Altron leaves New Troy. Ah… If only…if only I could awaken a Beast Space too…"
Neo sighed, but his expression soon brightened.
"I should at least try to awaken one! Wait…every transmigrator has a 'golden finger,' right? A system, a cheat ability… I must have something too!"
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. The tense, gloomy aura that had surrounded him moments ago dissipated completely.
Growl.
"Ugh… First things first, I need food," Neo muttered, struggling to his feet. Even the slightest movement sent sharp pains through his body.
Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists, his frustration morphing into steely determination.
"Those b*stards… I'll make them pay for this. Sooner or later."
With bruises on his face, shoe prints staining his tattered shirt, and a body covered in dust, Neo's declaration might have looked pathetic, but his resolve was anything but.
Neo trudged forward, each step sending dull aches through his battered body. His surroundings were unfamiliar, yet eerily mundane.
Eventually, he reached what appeared to be a residential district…one that, despite being inhabited, seemed strangely lifeless.
Rows of modest, rectangular houses lined the uneven streets.
The buildings were primarily made of dull gray stone, their facades showing signs of wear, with cracks running along the walls and patches of moss creeping near the bases.
Some had chipped paint, others had wooden fences in desperate need of repair. The entire area gave off an air of quiet neglect…functional, but uninspired.
The roads weren't paved, just compacted dirt, with occasional patches of gravel where the ground had worn away.
A few stray weeds poked out from between the stones, struggling for survival.
Dim, flickering streetlights stood at intervals, their aged metal poles rusted in places, suggesting they had been installed long ago and rarely maintained.
A handful of residents moved about, but none seemed particularly lively.
A woman with tired eyes swept her doorstep half-heartedly, her broom making a dull scraping sound against the stone.
A man in worn-out clothes sat on his porch, smoking a crude cigar, his gaze unfocused as if lost in thought.
A few children ran past, their laughter lacking the carefree exuberance Neo would have expected.
A deep sense of ordinariness weighed over the neighborhood…not in a comforting way, but in a way that made it clear that this was a place where people simply existed, rather than lived.
Neo exhaled sharply, adjusting the torn hem of his shirt. His stomach growled again, this time more insistent.
Using his memory, he soon reached outside the worn-out door. Neo lifted his hand to knock when the door was pushed open from inside.
A middle-aged woman wearing a faded floral dress came into Neo's vision. Before Neo could utter a word, the woman rushed and cupped Neo's face.
"Neo? What happened to your face? Did someone bully you?"