What have I gotten myself into?
Ahcehera gritted her teeth as she forced her exhausted body forward.
Pain coursed through every muscle. Her arms felt like they had been filled with molten lead, and each breath burned her lungs. Blood dripped from countless wounds scattered across her body, staining her torn clothing and the scorched battlefield beneath her feet.
Yet she refused to stop.
I can't stop now.
Not when survival was within reach.
With a sharp cry, she swung her sword. The blade flashed through the smoke-filled air and cleaved through one of the beast's remaining heads. Dark blood sprayed outward.
The monstrous creature released a deafening howl that echoed across the battlefield. The ground trembled beneath its enormous body. Ahcehera staggered backward, gripping her sword tightly.
"What kind of monster are you?" she muttered.
The creature convulsed violently. Its massive form twisted as if enduring unbearable agony. Flames flickered between its jaws while crimson eyes burned with hatred. For a brief moment, Ahcehera thought the battle was finally over.
Then the remaining heads lifted. Their gazes locked onto her. Murderous intent radiated from every one of them. A chill ran down her spine. The beast lunged.
Instinct took over. Ahcehera threw herself aside just as enormous jaws snapped shut where she had been standing. The impact shattered the ground. Chunks of debris exploded into the air. Heat washed across her face as another head unleashed a torrent of fire.
She rolled behind a ruined stone pillar moments before the flames engulfed the area. The intense heat scorched her skin. Smoke filled her lungs. Coughing violently, Ahcehera forced herself back to her feet.
Her entire body trembled. She was reaching her limit. Yet the monster showed no signs of slowing down.
How is this thing still alive?
The question echoed inside her mind.
Back on Earth, she had spent years battling an illness she could never defeat. Every day had been a struggle, and every breath had felt precious.
She had accepted death long ago.
But now?
Now she had been given another chance.
A second life.
A healthy body.
A future.
She refused to throw it away.
Determination ignited within her chest.
The beast charged once more.
This time, Ahcehera didn't retreat. She ran forward. The distance between them closed rapidly.
The monster roared.
Ahcehera roared back.
The sword in her hand felt lighter than before. Almost as if it had become an extension of her body. The original Ahcehera's memories surged through her mind.
Combat drills, swordsmanship lessons, military training, and battle experience. Movements she had never learned became instinctive.
She stepped sideways, dodged a claw, and spun beneath snapping jaws. Then struck.
The blade pierced deep into the creature's chest. A horrifying scream erupted from the beast. Cracks of crimson light spread across its body. The enormous creature froze. For several seconds, everything became still.
Then the monster collapsed. The battlefield shook violently. Dust and debris rose into the air.
Ahcehera stumbled backward. Her sword slipped slightly in her grasp.
Did I win?
The beast's body began dissolving into black mist.
Relief flooded her chest. A shaky laugh escaped her lips. She had done it. She had survived.
Then the mist moved.
Her smile disappeared.
The black fog twisted unnaturally.
It condensed.
Expanded.
Split apart.
Dozens of smaller creatures emerged. Each one looked like a miniature version of the beast she had just defeated.
Rows of sharp teeth, glowing crimson eyes, twisted horns, and snarling expressions.
Ahcehera stared in disbelief.
"No way."
The creatures charged like a tidal wave.
Panic surged through her. Her arms already felt numb. Her legs threatened to collapse beneath her. Yet there was no time to rest.
The first creature leaped toward her.
She swung instinctively.
The beast split apart and dissolved into smoke.
Another one attacked.
Then another.
Soon, they surrounded her from every direction.
The battlefield descended into chaos. Claws tore through her sleeves. Fangs snapped inches from her throat. Several attacks were connected.
Fresh wounds opened across her arms and legs. Pain exploded throughout her body. Blood continued flowing freely. Yet she continued fighting.
I can't die.
The thought burned brightly within her mind.
I refuse to die again.
The smaller creatures lacked the overwhelming strength of their predecessor. But their numbers made them far more dangerous.
They attacked relentlessly.
Without hesitation, fear, or mercy.
Ahcehera's sword danced through the swarm.
She dodged.
Countered.
Struck.
Again and again.
The battle became a blur.
Time lost all meaning.
Minutes felt like hours.
Each movement drained what little strength she had left, and still she endured. For years, she had watched life pass her by from a hospital bed.
She had never attended university.
Never traveled.
Never fallen in love.
Never lived.
Now fate had given her another opportunity. Even if she had become the villainess princess, and if this world were the most dangerous territory she'd ever been.
She wanted to live.
That desire became her strength.
One by one, the creatures fell. Their bodies dissolved into dust. Their numbers gradually dwindled. The tide receded.
Until finally--
Silence.
The last creature collapsed. Its body shattered into particles of light. The battlefield became still. Ahcehera stood frozen for several moments.
Then her sword slipped from her fingers.
Clang.
The weapon struck the ground.
Her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the bloodstained earth. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Every muscle screamed in agony. She had never felt this exhausted before. Yet despite the pain, she found herself smiling.
She was alive.
Truly alive.
Then a cold mechanical voice echoed across the battlefield.
[War Simulation Completed.]
Ahcehera's eyes widened.
The voice continued.
[Achievement Unlocked.]
[Unprecedented Victory.]
[Highest Difficulty Cleared.]
[First Successful Completion Recorded.]
"...What?"
She blinked.
The battlefield vanished. Darkness swallowed everything. For a brief moment, she felt weightless. Then the world returned.
Ahcehera found herself standing inside a metallic room illuminated by soft blue lights. The blood was gone. The battlefield was gone. Even her wounds had disappeared. Only her memories remained.
Rows of holographic screens floated around her. Countless battle scenarios rotated across the displays.
[Statistics.]
[Rankings.]
[Combat records.]
[Simulation histories.]
The technology looked centuries beyond anything she had seen on Earth.
Her mouth slowly fell open. "No wonder this world is set in the Andromeda Galaxy..."
One screen caught her attention. It displayed the simulation she had just completed.
[Difficulty Level: Extreme.]
[Status: Newly Released.]
[Successful Completions: 0.]
[Current Record Holder: Ahcehera Bloodstone.]
Ahcehera stared.
Then she laughed.
A dry, exhausted laugh.
"So I really was the first idiot who tried it."
The original princess had clearly possessed questionable judgment.
Who in their right mind would challenge the highest difficulty without testing easier levels first?
Curiosity overcame her. She stepped closer and examined the simulation interface.
The system described advanced military technology used throughout the Sirius Kingdom. Hyper-realistic combat simulations. Adaptive enemy intelligence. Neural combat training. Battlefield immersion exceeding ninety-nine percent realism.
No wonder everything felt real.
She could still remember the pain.
The fear, the exhaustion, and the sensation of blood dripping from her wounds.
Everything had felt genuine.
This technology is terrifying.
And amazing.
The realization struck her. She wasn't in a medieval fantasy world. She was inside an interstellar civilization, a galaxy-spanning empire with technology beyond Earth's imagination.
The thought made her heart race. For the first time since arriving in this world, excitement replaced fear. Perhaps this second life could become something extraordinary after all.