The night sky split silently.Three figures stood at the threshold of a light that seemed to come from nowhere—their presence felt more than seen. Their voices, soft yet undeniable, echoed directly into the consciousness of a young man who hadn't even opened his eyes.
"I'm sorry for drawing you into the troubles of this world."The first voice whispered, tinged with regret.
"As compensation, receive our blessing."The second flowed warmer, like an unseen embrace.
"We trust you… the savior."And the last—calm, yet full of conviction.
Then—Zwiiing…The light fell.
A boy awoke, holding his breath.His body lay on the cold ground, while the scent of damp leaves filled his senses. Slowly, his eyelids lifted, greeting a world that felt unfamiliar.
The night sky stretched above him.The full moon hung high among towering branches, spilling silver light that seeped through the forest, enough to illuminate the surroundings.He blinked several times.His consciousness felt fragmented, as if just pulled back from a very distant place.
"…Huh?"
It took a few seconds for his mind to fully settle. His last memories—the bedroom light, his phone screen, the feeling of drowsiness—felt like someone else's.
He rose halfway into a sitting position, scanning his surroundings.A forest. Strange. Silent.Yet not entirely dark.Moonlight was bright enough to outline the trees and the ground littered with fallen leaves.He stared at his hands, opening and closing them slowly.
"…Where am I…?"His voice was soft, nearly swallowed by the stillness of the night.
He lifted his body carefully, warding off the sudden dizziness. His palms touched the ground, feeling the cold, damp reality—too real for a mere dream.His gaze swept the surroundings.Tall trees, dense dark shadows, and a silence that felt foreign.
Then he saw—
RUMBLE… RUMBLE…!The ground trembled.Clashing metal rang out.Cries. Screams.The sounds tore through the night's silence.
Without realizing it, his feet moved. He pushed through the underbrush, approaching the source of the commotion. Each step felt heavy—not from fear, but from a strange drive growing within him.Curiosity… unexplainable.
And when he passed the edge of the forest—His steps froze.He stood still.
Before him stretched a vast plain turned into a sea of chaos.Two armies clashed mercilessly.Horses neighed wildly, bodies colliding. Swords and spears swung without hesitation, tearing flesh and breaking bones. Blood sprayed, staining the mud-red ground.Torn banners were trampled beneath feet, symbols of pride now meaningless.
This was not a battle.It was a massacre.
His breath caught."…I'm not dreaming, am I?!"The whisper barely audible.
His eyes darted rapidly, trying to make sense of what he saw. Yet the longer he watched, the clearer one thing became.
Armor.Cold weapons.Cavalry formations.All… too ancient.Not something he was meant to see.
His mind began piecing together something he did not want to admit."…Impossible…"
He stepped back half a pace, his breathing uneven.This was not a place he knew.Not a world he remembered.
The realization came slowly, yet unmistakably—like mist parting little by little.
And when he finally understood—His chest throbbed violently."…So… this is what they call being summoned to another world?!"His voice was quiet, still wrapped in disbelief.
But a moment later—Suddenly, a surge of excitement rose within him.He should have retreated.He knew it.
Yet—After understanding his situation, something inside him shifted. The fear that had emerged slowly gave way to an inexplicable enthusiasm.His mind began to race.
If this truly was another world—Then…Would he also receive something?A skill.A power.Something special—like those who were often transferred to other worlds.
His gaze fell upon one side of the battlefield.A group of soldiers moved brutally, attacking without mercy. Even those who had fallen were cut down. Strikes came from behind, without warning. No mercy—no honor.
"Help me—"
A soldier glanced toward him, hand outstretched, face full of desperate fear and hope.
But—Before the words could be completed, a flash of steel passed.The body froze.Blood sprayed.And the voice… was cut off entirely.
Seeing this—Something inside him refused to remain idle.
His gaze slowly fell on a body lying not far away. A soldier, motionless. Beside him, a sword still loosely gripped.He swallowed hard.Then stepped forward.His hand grasped the hilt.
Cold.Heavy.Far heavier than he had imagined.
He lifted it slowly, trying to adjust his still-awkward grip.The clang of metal echoed again—this time closer, more real.He raised his eyes to the battlefield.Confusion lingered in his gaze.
Yet beneath it—Something began to change.
His gaze hardened.It became sharp.
"…Then…"He drew a slow breath."Let's see… what kind of power I have."
He stepped forward.One step into the battlefield.Then another—
And suddenly, the world around him shifted.
The clang of metal sounded far louder up close. The smell of blood and iron pierced his senses mercilessly. The muddy ground made his footing unstable.
Yet he kept moving.The sword in his hand felt heavy, but his body managed to balance it.
His movements were not entirely clumsy.Unknowingly, his body remembered—the running drills, evading, and positioning he had practiced in the past—helping him survive.He had run across fields.Dodged opponents.Chased with all his might.
And amid the chaos—It was enough to keep him from falling immediately.
A soldier turned to face him.They met, silently.No words.No warning.The soldier struck first.
The sword came fast.He reflexively raised his own—Clang!
The impact shook his arm hard.He nearly lost his balance."…Heavy—!"He clenched his teeth.
The next attack followed instantly.He stepped back one pace, then two.Blocking with difficulty.His breath grew ragged.He held on.
Yet gradually—He realized something.
His movements were too stiff.His swings inefficient.Every step… insufficient.
They were different.Those in front of him were not just fighters.They were accustomed to killing.Accustomed to battle.Accustomed to doing whatever it took… to win.
The gap—Was too great.
"…Damn…"Cold sweat ran down his temples.
And then—A presence emerged behind him.Too late.
He only realized it when—
Stab!
Cold pierced his back.His eyes widened.His breath stopped.The sword he had held slipped from his grasp.His body went weak.
He fell to his knees."…Ughh…Guh!"He coughed up fresh blood.The pain spread slowly, yet all at once, sweeping over his body.Warm.Wet.His own blood.His vision began to blur.
His mind spun wildly.It was too fast.Too real."Wait… this isn't… it shouldn't be—"
His breathing grew shallow.No miracle came.No "cool power" saved him.Only pain—And reality.
Footsteps approached.He lifted his face with difficulty.A knight stood before him.Cold.Expressionless.Silent.Unhesitating.
The sword was raised.For a moment—Time seemed to slow.
"…So… this is it…"His thoughts fragmented.The sword descended.Crack!
The sound of a skull cracking echoed briefly.And everything—Went black.