"Fantasy in web novels has become such a difficult field, Ray. Everything feels recycled—the same patterns, the same events. A hero transported to another world. An author trapped in his own story. A lone reader of a failed novel. A catastrophe that opens gateways to other realms… It's getting harder and harder to find something truly good."
Her words, once spoken casually beneath a tree, now hammered inside my skull like an iron mallet.
I was still struggling to process what was happening. I pinched my cheek several times, desperate to confirm I wasn't dreaming.
But the pain was real. Too real. My strength faltered, my body nearly collapsing under the weight of it.
Out of all eight billion people in the world… why was *I* the one chosen?
Slowly, despair began to coil around my heart and soul, slithering like a venomous serpent.
I fell to my knees, my mind utterly incapable of grasping the situation.
Just a moment ago, I had been in a café with Rosanna. Now, here I was—alone—in this wretched nightmare.
A ragged breath escaped between my teeth.
"Why me…? For the love of hell's creator—why me?"
Even with all the experiences of my so-called past life as an adult, I couldn't maintain my composure.
And how could I? Anyone in my place would break just the same.
This cursed world was toying with me.
As I sank deeper into despair, her face returned to me—Rosanna. My only friend. The most precious person in my life.
She was still in that other world, waiting for me to come back.
"I know she'll wait for me. She'll search for me, even if…"
I forced myself to gather my scattered thoughts, pushing back against the panic clawing at my chest.
Here and now—that was all that mattered. I had been transported to this world, and I had to find a way to leave it, no matter the cost.
Whoever the bastard was that dragged me here, none of it mattered. All I needed was a way out.
But first—I had to understand where I was and what kind of world this was.
If all the nonsense Rosanna used to tell me was true, then I could very well be in danger just standing in this sinister forest.
At that moment, I shoved my doubts aside and decided to walk in a random direction, hoping I might stumble upon something.
But before I could take a step, a strange sound rang in my ears.
A small blue screen materialized before my eyes, floating freely in the air.
"System interface…"
I muttered in disbelief, my gaze falling upon a single word at the bottom of the display.
*Link.*
The word glowed faint green, surrounded by nothing else on the screen.
It reminded me of logging into a video game—but the difference was, this was terrifyingly real.
Based on everything I knew, the wise choice would be to avoid anything unknown and mysterious. Such paths were often shrouded in danger, riddled with hidden traps.
But here, my choices were both bitter.
Either ignore the only lead I had—the system screen—and wander aimlessly, raising my chances of dying… or worse.
Or take the risk, link with this strange system, and gain at least one thread to follow.
I took a deep breath, hesitated, then reluctantly pressed the *Link* option.
The screen pulsed with light.
«User has agreed to link.»
«Synchronization starting…»
«Synchronization complete.»
«User successfully linked to the Engineer System.»
I read the words as they flashed red across the interface, disappearing one after another.
Then, a moment later, a sharp gasp escaped me. Unconsciously, I staggered a step back.
The system's background had changed. What appeared behind the text wasn't anything I could have expected.
It was… a photo.
A picture of me and Rosanna in a park.
The same one she had used as the wallpaper for her phone—and her computer. She had refused to remove it ever since the day she first set it.
"D-does this… have something to do with her…?"
As if in answer, the screen flared again, presenting two new windows.
I hadn't even processed the first shock before the second hit me like a bolt of lightning.
"Y-you're joking… right?"
But the system wasn't joking.
The first window bore the title: *Chapters of Master of the Last World.*
With a trembling finger, I tapped it. The screen expanded.
«Here you can find all chapters of the novel. There's no need to worry about forgetting events or missing scenarios—you may read them anytime to ensure you remain fully aware of all future developments.»
I covered my face with a hand, a dark expression twisting my features.
"Of all the damned things that could've happened… I've been transported *into Rosanna's novel.*"
It was as if a block of ice had been pressed against my spine, a violent shiver rattling my body. I cursed silently.
I glanced at the glowing screen once more before lowering my gaze to the grassy earth beneath my bare feet.
"The Reaper's scythe is hanging over my neck…"
*Master of the Last World.*
It was Rosanna's masterpiece—her most polished, most brilliant, and also most dangerous creation.
Whenever she'd recounted its events to me, it felt as though her imagination had ripped beyond its limits.
She had poured everything into it. Countless entities, monstrous creatures, religions, continents, entire worlds beyond reckoning. Things most people would never even dream of.
And in this world, only two things reigned supreme: sharp intellect—or overwhelming power. And some possessed both. Nothing else mattered.
I felt myself teetering on the brink of despair, sinking into a void.
I inhaled sharply, forcing air into my lungs, and struggled to steady myself. Not every possibility was against me.
If I knew where I was, and what was going to happen… then, in a way, I held an advantage. I just needed to figure out how to use it.
"Yes… yes, Ray. Calm down. You're an adult, aren't you…?"
Slowly, I scrolled upward through the chapters. The novel contained 800 of them, divided into four volumes.
It wasn't even close to finished. Rosanna still had far more planned. I knew her well enough to guess she would add at least four or five more volumes.
"Wait… what's this?"
At the end of each volume, I noticed something peculiar.
End of Volume One: *Special Chapter — A Message for You.*
End of Volume Two: *Special Chapter — A Belated Apology.*
End of Volume Three: *Special Chapter — A Confession from the Heart.*
End of Volume Four: *Special Chapter — A Farewell Gift.*
I scratched my chin in thought.
"That's… strange."