The stairwell smelled like old paint and damp concrete. Every step echoed louder than it should have in the empty building.
step..step…step
By the time I reached the top floor, my legs felt heavy. Cheap apartments always came with conditions. No elevator, thin walls, and a climb that reminded you every night why the rent was low.
I unlocked the door and slipped inside.
Click.
Light filled the room. Nothing had changed. Same cramped space. Same desk pushed against the wall. The same chair was waiting for me like it always did.
I dropped my bag, kicked off my shoes, and turned on my computer. The familiar hum settled the silence, steady and predictable. That sound alone eased something in my chest.
I sat down.
The game loaded.
A vast world stretched across the screen—mountains layered behind mountains, roads that faded into nothing, forests so large that most players never bothered to cross them. I liked that kind of game. I never cared much for fighting or fast action. What I liked was wandering. Going where there were no markers. Finding places no one talked about.
I moved forward without any goal. Just walking.
Exploring.
My eyes ached from staring too long.
I blinked once. Then again. The screen blurred, sharpened, blurred again. I leaned back in the chair for just a second—
Rustle.
Cold air brushed against my face.
I frowned and shifted, reaching for the blanket out of habit. My fingers closed on nothing.
The air smelled wrong. Not dust. Not electronics. Something clean. Sharp. Like soil and leaves after rain.
I tried again, slower, feeling around for the edge of the blanket.
Nothing.
My back hurts.
Not the dull ache of a bad mattress, but a sharp, uneven pressure. I slid my hand beneath me, irritation mixing with confusion.
Grass.
My fingers froze.
"…What?"
I pressed down again. Cool. Damp. Blades bending under my palm.
A thin laugh escaped me.
"Okay… that's new."
I opened my eyes.
Trees.
Not shadows. Not wallpaper. Real trunks, thick and tall, stretched upward until the leaves swallowed the sky. No walls. No ceiling. No humming electronics.
Just forest.
My breath caught.
"What the hell…?"
I pushed myself upright too fast and had to steady myself. My eyes moved in a slow circle, searching for anything familiar.
"…It's a forest."
Saying it out loud didn't make it better.
"How did I end up here?"
My thoughts raced backward. Work. Late shift. Home. Computer. Chair. That was it. No drinking. No strange food. No reason for this.
Anger flared.
"If this is a prank," I shouted, "come out!"
My voice echoed between the trees and faded.
Nothing answered.
I waited, heart pounding, then tried again.
"This isn't funny!"
Only silence replied.
My hands went to my pockets.
Empty.
No phone. No keys. No wallet.
A rush of air tore past my side, strong enough to stir the grass. Then again—faster.
Roar.
The sound rolled through the forest, deep enough to vibrate in my chest.
I looked up.
Something massive crossed the sky.
A lion.
No...wings.
Huge wings spread wide, carrying its enormous body effortlessly through the air. Its shadow swept over the treetops, swallowing the light for a heartbeat before it passed.
I couldn't move.
My breathing stopped.
"…No."
My hands trembled. That thing shouldn't exist. Reality didn't work like that.
"This is a dream," I whispered.
I pinched my arm.
Nothing changed.
My jaw tightened. I staggered to the nearest tree and slammed my knuckles into the trunk.
Pain exploded up my hand.
"Shit—!"
I collapsed onto the grass, clutching my fingers as the ache throbbed and spread.
Too real.
Minutes passed.
The forest didn't fade. The pain didn't disappear.
My breathing slowed, uneven but steady.
"…Okay."
I stared at the crushed grass beneath my palm.
"If this isn't a dream…"
There were only a few explanations left. None of them was comforting. All of them were familiar.
I lifted my head and looked around again. This time, I noticed things—the density of the trees, the uneven ground, the way light filtered through the leaves. The world felt wide. Untouched.
"…Another world."
The words felt heavy.
No summoning circle. No voices. No people are rushing toward me.
"And I'm still me."
Same clothes. Same body. No borrowed memories. No inherited grudges. No need to fight with the demon lord.
I let out a slow breath.
"…Alright. One last thing."
I straightened.
"If there's anyone watching me," I said quietly, "now would be a good time."
Nothing happened.
I waited a few seconds, then tried again.
"Help. Status. Anything."
The forest answered with the wind moving through the leaves.
"…Figures."
I stood there, doing nothing. No shouting this time. No testing. Just listening.
A minute passed.
Then another.
The silence stayed.
My shoulders slowly sagged.
"So that's it," I muttered. "No guide. No instructions."
The weight of it settled in properly.
I didn't know where I was.
I didn't know who lived in this world—or if anyone did.
I didn't know what was safe, what was dangerous, or what could kill me in minutes.
No memories.
No map.
No one to ask.
My chest tightened.
"…How am I supposed to survive like this?"
The trees felt taller now. Endless. Easy to get lost in.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"…Okay," I said softly. "Then I'll figure it out myself."
I opened them.
Text appeared in the air.
[Connecting…]
I froze.
The forest remained silent.
[Activation in progress…]