Chapter 1: Darkness.
Kazuki Harada floated in an endless void. There was no sound, no sensation. Just the black abyss pressing down on him from every angle.
'Am I dead?' he thought, struggling to move his arms. But they wouldn't respond.
[Welcome, Kazuki Harada. You have been chosen.]
A voice echoed through the darkness, soft yet commanding. It sounded neither male nor female, just a calm, emotionless tone.
[Transferring soul to designated world.]
Suddenly, the void shattered. Light burst forth, blinding Kazuki as he was pulled through a tunnel of colors and sound. His body felt like it was being stretched and compressed at the same time.
Then, just as abruptly, it all stopped.
Kazuki's eyes snapped open. He was lying on a bed of soft grass, a gentle breeze caressing his face. Above him, the sky was a deep, endless blue, with two suns hanging high and bright.
'Where... am I?' he thought, slowly sitting up. His body felt lighter, almost as if he were floating. But before he could gather his bearings, a loud shout echoed through the air.
"Hey! You there!"
Kazuki turned his head. A woman in full armor was marching toward him, her expression stern and unyielding. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back, and her golden eyes were narrowed dangerously.
"What are you doing here, boy?" she demanded, drawing her sword. "Men are forbidden to wander the fields alone. State your name and purpose."
Kazuki blinked, his mind still spinning. "I... I don't know. I just woke up here."
The woman scowled. "Another useless man who's lost his way. Tch."
Before Kazuki could respond, the air shimmered, and a translucent window appeared before his eyes.
[Skill Unlocked: Skill Copy.]
Kazuki's eyes widened. 'What the hell is this?'
[Skill Copy: The user can replicate a single ability from any person or monster they defeat or kill. Current Target: None.]
The woman raised her sword, pointing it directly at Kazuki's throat. "Last chance. Are you going to answer me, or do I have to drag you back to the capital in chains?"
Kazuki swallowed, his heart pounding. But as he stared up at the fierce warrior before him, a single thought echoed through his mind.
'If I can copy her skill... then maybe I can survive in this world.'
And so, the game began.