"Hey, have you heard? Andrew D from Class Two got a B-level evaluation in Detective Chinatown dungeon yesterday and earned two thousand samsara points!?"
"For real!?"
"Of course it's true. The news is all over school, and you're the only one who didn't know."
"Damn, Andrew D is amazing! No wonder he's considered a genius in our school!"
"A genius? That's nothing. Just a few days ago, Goddess Yuhan from Class One managed to get a Devil Fruit in the One Piece dungeon. That's what you call real talent! I even heard she's already been specially recruited by the University of Supernatural Powers!"
"Could you not mention Miss Yuhan? It's depressing…"
"I don't envy her. Sure, the worlds in the Samsara Tower are full of rewards, but they're also insanely dangerous. One wrong step and you're dead! Everything she has come at the cost of her life on the line. I'd rather stick to the safe zones. At least we won't die there."
"Yeah… that makes sense."
"Sigh, if only I had a billion jade coins…"
"A billion? What for?"
"To buy a Super Soldier Serum! Didn't you hear? Someone brought one back from the Marvel dungeon last month and sold it off! The government bought it for a sky-high price of one billion jade coins! They say it can increase physical fitness tenfold in a short time. I want one so badly…"
"As if! Even if you had ten billion, you wouldn't find one now. Stuff like that is practically priceless!"
—-
The lively chatter buzzing in the classroom left Fenric completely dumbfounded.
What the hell are these guys talking about? Marvel? Detective Chinatown? Aren't those movies I've already watched?
And then...
Fenric glanced around. The classroom was spacious, with a blackboard at the front. A bold red banner hung above it, carrying an oppressive slogan:
[There are only 17 days left until the college entrance examination!]
Students in matching uniforms surrounded him. He looked down at himself—he was wearing the same uniform.
Wait… didn't I already graduate from university? Why am I back in high school, right before the college entrance exam?
"Did I… transmigrate?" he muttered under his breath.
It was the only explanation that made sense.
Just as he thought that, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his skull, as though something was forcibly drilling into his brain.
"Ugh—!" Fenric groaned, clutching his head as he collapsed onto the desk.
Memories—foreign yet familiar—flooded into his mind.
—-
A long time passed before the pain finally faded. Fenric sat up slowly, breathing hard.
So… I really did transmigrate!?
From the memories, he learned that this was indeed a parallel world. Civilization here was almost identical to his original Earth… with one major difference:
This world had something called Samsara Space.
A virtual second world where anyone between the ages of 16 and 35 could participate. In Samsara Space, people could enter various "dungeon worlds," complete missions, earn samsara points, and grow stronger. What's more—any ability gained in Samsara Space could be brought back and used in reality!
And those dungeon worlds? They weren't simulations. They were real!
To Fenric's shock, the worlds were based on the movies, anime, and games he'd known in his previous life—Marvel, One Piece, League of Legends, and more!
No one knew who created Samsara Space. The most widely accepted theory? The gods themselves.
In this world, none of those works exist. Everyone sees the dungeon worlds as mysteries…
"And me?" Fenric's eyes gleamed. I'm the only one who knows the plot!
Knowing the storylines meant foresight. Foresight meant he could always make the right choices. Dungeons that were nightmares for others would be like playgrounds to him.
With this advantage… I can dominate Samsara Space!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The afternoon bell rang, snapping Fenric out of his thoughts.
The last class ended, and students began packing up. Fenric didn't hear a single word of the lecture. His mind was on the future.
With my knowledge, I'm unique. I can clear dungeons others can't survive. I'll become stronger than anyone!
As soon as the final bell rang, Fenric bolted out of the classroom and headed straight home.
Outside the campus, recruitment posters plastered the walls:
[Ford Security Company – Hiring Bodyguards. Monthly salary:§50,000. Requirement: Minimum E-rank strength. Abilities preferred.]
(Note: § is Jade Coin.)
[Sandi Fighting Club – Hiring Combat Coaches. Monthly salary: §100,000. Requirement: Minimum D-rank strength. Must be proficient in at least one martial art.]
[Mang—Ō Group – Hiring Private Bodyguards. Ability users prioritized. Salary negotiable.]
Even the government had put up posters, recruiting ability users and offering benefits based on strength.
Samsara Space wasn't just entertainment—it had become a cornerstone of society.
Fenric looked at the posters and smiled faintly.
Soon… I'll be the one everyone's fighting to recruit~
As for the original owner's poor grades? That didn't matter anymore.
When he got home, the house was empty. This body belonged to a boy from a single-parent family. His father, a factory worker, often worked night shifts and might not come home tonight.
Fenric cooked a simple bowl of noodles and waited for midnight.
The global opening time for Samsara Space was synchronized. In Jadeveil Nation, the country where his body was born and lived, it would open at exactly midnight. Other regions would adjust for time zones.
Entering Samsara Space was simple. The moment it opened, every eligible person—ages 16 to 35—would find a full moon tattoo on their arm. Press and hold it for five seconds, and you'd be transported inside.
Fast. Convenient. Brutal.