Cold.
The liquid pressed into him from all sides, clinging to his skin, seeping into his nose, flooding his lungs until he thought he would drown. His chest hammered against his ribs like a war drum, panic detonating in every nerve.
What the fuck… what the FUCK?
Park Suhoo's mind splintered. Just a moment ago he had been in his chair, cigarette dangling from his lips, raging at anonymous comments. Now—now he was entombed. Suspended. Tubes wormed into his veins, needles sunk into his chest, wires biting into his flesh like parasites.
He tried to scream, but bubbles burst from his throat instead. Again, his reflection swam in the glass in front of him — long blue hair drifting like seaweed, horns jutting from his pale forehead, and those cursed sapphire eyes staring back at him.
It wasn't him! It wasn't him!
"No… no, no, no, no!" his thoughts screamed. His body thrashed, muscles straining, trying to rip free of the restraints.
Then, he heard the machine around him stir into life, making the sound his shitty AC made when he pressed open. Shit.
He froze solid, scared to make another move but it was too late. After a mechanical whir, and the sound of something shifting inside the tubes, came the feeling of something both burning and cold rushing into his bloodstreams from the tubes connected to him.
"FUck!"
His panic spiked—then dulled, a heavy haze blanketing his mind.
"N-no… no, don't—"
His eyelids drooped. His body went slack. The chemical calm forced into his veins dragged him down like iron chains in a lake.
No… not yet…!
He clenched his teeth, forcing his eyes open, fighting the drowsiness clawing at his brain. He couldn't afford to pass out yet. Not before he confirmed the truth.
If this is really… my novel's world…
His thoughts gathered, frantic and sharp. He bit down hard, focusing with everything he had. And then, with nothing but his will, he called it out:
Status.
The world answered.
A translucent window blinked into existence before his eyes, glowing faintly in the liquid.
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Null
Race: Homunculus (Artificial Lifeform) (Near-Completion)
Path: Null
Titles: [Interdimensional Wanderer] — Heightened sensitivity to surrounding energies. [New!]
Attributes
Strength: Null
Endurance: Null
Vitality: Null
Agility: Null
Wisdom: Null
Intellect: Null
Mana: Null
Aura: Null
Core: Null
Skills: Null
Equipment
- Inventory: Null
His breath hitched.
Blank. Every field empty. Except one. He mentally clicked on the title, despite his mind nearly succumbing to the heavy dosage of tranquilizer seeping into this homunculus body of his.
Title: [Interdimensional Wanderer].
The letters pulsed softly, as if mocking him. And then text shimmered beneath the title:
[Interdimensional Wanderer]:A title granted to one who has crossed realities. Bestows heightened sensitivity to surrounding energies.
Suhoo's lips trembled. Bubbles leaked out of his mouth.
"…Shit."
That was all the confirmation he needed. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a hallucination.
He was in his own novel.
How To Save The World From 10 Evil Gods?
And worse—he wasn't the hero. He wasn't even a side character. He was the disposable mini-boss.
The chemical fog pressed heavier into his mind, his limbs too heavy to resist. Darkness closed in.
"...Fuck."
The last thought flickered through him before his consciousness drowned under the drugs, his reflection staring back at him through the glass, its perfect doll-like features twisted in silent despair.