When Serena came to, the air was thick with unfamiliar voices.
"Is that really her? The Ghostly Queen?"
"She looks… kind of ordinary. Wasn't she supposed to be scary?"
"Don't question it! If Master says it's her, it is her."
Her throat was dry. She coughed and tried to sit up. "Where… am I?"
"She's awake!" someone shouted.
Her vision cleared slowly. Thank goodness she was still alive! Quietly, she observed her surroundings. The room was dim, barely lit by a flickering torch in the corner. Its walls were stained with brown reddish streaks. The stench of mold, rusted metal, and… something rotten hit her nose.
She looked down and froze.
There, beside her foot... Was that… a skull?
"Argh!" Serena screamed, eyes wide with panic as she jolted awake, only to realize she couldn't move.
Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. Her wrists and ankles were bound tightly to a chair, and the cold bite of metal cuffs dug into her skin. She looked around frantically.
What the hell was this place?!
The dimly lit room was lined with strange metal tools sharp, curved, and definitely not meant for fixing furniture. Okay. Breathe. Just breathe.
'Stay calm, Serena. Panicking won't help… probably.' She took a deep breath, though her hands trembled.
"Who are you people?" she demanded, trying to sound braver than she felt. "Why did you kidnap me?"
Maybe. Just maybe. This had something to do with her brother. That little trouble magnet had a talent for dragging her into chaos. Last time it was a stolen bike, this time… could it be loan sharks?
"Let me guess," she sighed. "Did my dumb little brother borrow money again?"
The men exchanged awkward glances.
"Five hundred? A thousand?" she snapped. One freaking million?! She was going to skin him alive. "I knew letting him hang out with Madame Porter's gambling grandson was a bad idea!"
She groaned and slumped against the chair. "I'm going to kill him… if I ever get out of here alive."
"What is she even talking about?" one of them whispered.
Before Serena could demand answers, a low chuckle echoed through the room. It was quiet… but chilling. There was something unsettling about it, like a warning wrapped in amusement. It crawled down her spine, making the tiny hairs on her neck stand up.
She slowly turned toward the sound.
Seated casually in a luxurious black chair...no, it was more like a throne, was a man dressed entirely in black. His posture was relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, and beside him lounged a full-grown tiger, its amber eyes watching her as its master calmly stroked its fur.
'What in the ever-loving hell did my brother drag me into this time?' Serena thought, trying not to freak out.
The man stood, and it was even more intimidating than the laugh. He was tall, built like a Greek statue, with lean muscle and arms inked with striking tattoos. His aura screamed danger and unfortunately, hot.
For a brief second, Serena's inner fangirl betrayed her. 'Damn, he's fine.'
Then his voice cut through her thoughts like a blade. "Still playing dumb, Ghostly Queen?"
Wait. Ghostly what now?
Serena stared at him, utterly confused. "Ghostly Queen? I think you've got the wrong girl," she said, backing up slightly though her eyes kept flicking to the massive tiger padding silently beside him. A tiger. Who even had pet tigers in real life?
"Please don't come closer with that overgrown jungle cat," she added quickly, laughing nervously.
The man didn't stop. In fact, he walked straight up to her, his sharp gaze fixed on her like he was trying to see through her soul. His tiger followed, calm and poised like it belonged in a villain's lair which, considering the bloody dungeon setting, felt disturbingly accurate.
"I think there's been a huge misunderstanding," Serena continued, holding up her hands. "I'm not whoever this... Ghostly Queen is. I'm just a tired schoolteacher with bills to pay and back pain!"
He stopped in front of her and suddenly leaned in, so close she could feel his breath. Her heart skipped a beat or three. His face really was stupidly perfect, like some villainous male lead from a dark romance drama. And his scent? Unfairly good. Dark cologne and danger.
He raised a brow, then reached out and, without a word, slid her glasses off.
"Hey!" she yelped, blinking up at him.
But he only stared harder, like removing her glasses had confirmed something. Serena stiffened.
"You think you can fool me with that flimsy disguise?" the man sneered, tilting his head slightly, a dangerous smirk tugging at his lips.
"Disguise? You mean my face?" She laughed awkwardly. "Seriously, I'm not this Ghostly Quack... I mean, Queen!"
One of the men standing nearby stepped forward cautiously, his voice unsure. "Master… this woman really does seem like a regular civilian. Maybe she just happens to look like her?"
"Yes! Thank you!" Serena nodded quickly, throwing him a grateful look. Finally, some logic in this room.
But the air suddenly grew tense. The mysterious man's eyes turned cold as he looked toward the one who dared speak. He let out a sharp tsk, and his tiger growled low in its throat. "Are you doubting me?" he asked, his voice smooth but laced with menace.
"N-No, Master! I would never, please forgive me!" the man stammered, bowing deeply.
"That's what I thought," the man said flatly, then turned his full attention back to Serena, his gaze dark and intense. "You shouldn't have gotten involved," he said. "The underworld is mine. You and your so-called boss are just asking for death if you think you can challenge me."
The Underworld? They were an actual mafia organization?!
"Please, just listen! You've got the wrong person!" Serena pleaded, her voice trembling as panic bubbled in her chest.
But the man didn't even blink. "If I were to eliminate Rayne's most loyal subordinate, the one who handles his dirtiest work, it would deal quite the blow to him," he said casually, stroking the tiger beside him. "Maybe I should feed her to my pet."
"I'M NOT THE FUCKING GHOSTLY QUEEN!" Serena snapped, her patience completely shattered.
"You talk too much," he muttered coldly. With a swift motion, he pulled out a sleek black pistol and pointed it directly at her forehead.
Serena's blood ran cold.
"I would've preferred to drag this out, but I'm a busy man. Consider this a merciful end," he said, cocking the gun.
"No, no, no! Please don't—!"
"Goodbye, Ghostly Queen." He grinned darkly, finger tightening on the trigger.
BANG!
Silence.
Everything turned white.
"Huh…? Is this… heaven?" Serena blinked, floating in a glowing, empty space.
She looked down—her eyes widened.
"WHY AM I NAKED?! What kind of twisted afterlife is this?!"
"That idiotic maniac didn't even give me a chance to explain," Serena grumbled, arms crossed as she floated in the white void.
Suddenly, a soft ding echoed through the space.
A glowing panel popped up in front of her like a hologram screen straight out of a sci-fi anime. Bold text scrolled across the top: 'System Initializing… Loading Host Data…'
Serena blinked in confusion. "Huh? What now?"
Lines of text began appearing one after another.
Name: Serena Addams
Age: 23
Race: Human
Status: Deceased
Personality: Pro-level procrastinator, emotionally unstable, semi-functioning adult
Magic Abilities: None
Time of Death: 11:34 AM
Cause of Death: Gunshot (Very avoidable)
"What in the actual—?!" Serena's eye twitched. "Who's calling me emotionally unstable and semi-functioning?!"
Another ding.
'Welcome, Host! You have been selected by the [Unfortunate Souls Recycle System]!'
Mission: Survive, adapt, and complete tasks in your assigned world!
Rewards: Power, status, rare items… and possibly a chance to go home.
Penalty for failure: Painful death. Again.
"What kind of messed-up game show is this?!"
Just then, a soft ding echoed through the void.
"Congratulations, Host!" a calm, robotic female voice announced. "You have been selected by the Creator to become one of the rare dimensional heroes. Your mission: complete all assigned tasks to earn the chance to return to your original world."
Serena blinked. "Wait—what?"
Another glowing panel popped up in front of her, floating mid-air:
[NOTICE]
You have died in your original world.
Do you wish to:
Option1: Accept your mission and continue living
Option 2: Decline and face permanent erasure
Below were two shining buttons: [Option 1] or [Option 2]
Serena's jaw dropped. "Wait a sec… Is this one of those Isekai system things?!"
Her eyes sparkled with sudden anime fan excitement. "Am I gonna be sent into a magical world with dragons and hot elves and overpowered abilities?!"
But her smile quickly faded.
Her mom… still in the hospital. Her annoying little brother… who'd eat cup noodles for days without her. A pang hit her chest.
Her life hadn't been perfect. It was boring, stressful, and filled with bills but it was still hers. She never got to say goodbye.
Well… if completing the missions could send her back to her world, then why not? Serena clenched her fists. She'd go back, hunt down that trigger-happy maniac, and punch him straight in the jaw. Simply, she had nothing to lose anyway.
With a deep breath, she jabbed the glowing [Option 1] button.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Host Name: Serena Addams
World Assigned: Random
Role: Unknown
Guide System: System 5060
Current Level: 1 (Beginner Tier)
Tip: Leveling up unlocks new skills, titles, and survival tools. Complete quests to grow stronger!
[Starting Countdown: 10… 9… 8…]
Serena couldn't help the small grin that tugged at her lips. It really was like those anime she watched at 2 a.m, random world assignments, cool stats, missions... maybe even swords or flying pets?
*3… 2… 1—*
Suddenly, her entire body felt like it was being vacuumed through a cosmic straw. Light flashed, pressure surged, and then—
"Congratulations, Host #101. Welcome to the world: 'Love Me, Bury Me'…"
Serena's eyes snapped open. "Wait, what did you just say?!"
But the answer came too quickly. Waves of unfamiliar memories rushed into her brain her new identity, the twisted rules of this world, and the blood-soaked history behind its name.
She clutched her head. The pain! It felt like a thousand knives stabbed her brain.
Her face paled.
No heroic rise. No harem. No epic magic system.
This world was a cursed survival game. Backstabbing, betrayal, heartbreak… and death. Lots of death.
Serena's eye twitched. "System 5060, I want a refund. Or an exit button. Now."
The system responded cheerfully, "Error: Escape not permitted. Please enjoy your new life. Try not to die too fast, Host!"
Then, she decided to jump off a cliff... If it meant leaving this world.