Matthew was still reeling from the shock when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned, snapping out of his spiraling thoughts, and met Axel's gaze
"What's wrong with you, man?" Axel frowned, his tone light but concerned. "You've been zoning out since the ceremony."
Matthew forced a weak smile. "It's nothing. Just… remembered something strange."
Axel didn't press. He just nodded slowly, though his eyes lingered on Matthew for a moment. "Alright. Let's get you to your dorm."
"Yeah."
They walked together, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridor. The academy halls had grown quieter now that the ceremony was over, but Matthew's mind wasn't at peace.
"You know we don't share the same dorm, right?" Axel added as they turned the corner. "But I'll walk you there. Just in case."
Matthew knew what he meant. Grati and the others like him. Small-time bullies with inflated egos. But that wasn't what unsettled him.
It was the timeline.
The Trial…
He remembered now, vaguely, but clearly enough. In a few weeks, during the academy's trial arc, this entire place would be under siege. Blood would soak the stone floors. Classmates would die. The world would shift violently due to the turmoil it would cause.
He clenched his fists.
He'd written that arc to push the protagonist into growth. But now, with no system of his own and no powerful ability… how was he supposed to survive?
Most of the early loot, treasures, and cultivation opportunities were designed only for Leo. There was almost nothing in these chapters for someone like him.
His thoughts were still racing when Axel stopped in front of a tall wooden door with a number carved in bronze at its center.
Door 5. His room.
"Alright, man." Axel gave him a light pat on the shoulder. "If you need anything, just holler. I doubt your roommates will be a problem, even with, uh…" He hesitated, then sighed. "Even with your… Dao Path."
He tried to keep his tone light, but the concern in his voice was clear.
Matthew nodded slowly. "Thanks, Axel."
Axel gave him a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, then turned and walked off.
As Axel walked off, Matthew watched his retreating figure with a tight feeling in his chest. After a moment of reminiscing, he reached out his hand, twisted the door handle and stepped inside.
The dorm room was simple—stone floors, muted lighting, and two other students already inside. Both looked up as he entered. Matthew studied their faces.
Nothing.
He couldn't remember writing them.
Back then, he'd only focused on Dorm 1—Leo and Grati's room, Dorm 18 for Axel, and Dorm 12, where a minor but important character lived. Everyone else? He had literally written, "There were also students in the other dorms."
Seriously?
He sighed inwardly. Another hole in his world.
Still dazed, he made a blind guess and headed for the side room on the left.
But before he could step inside, a voice cut through the air.
"Why are you going into my room?"
Matthew froze, then turned. A blue-haired youth sat on a bunk, slight freckles on his face, a gamepad resting beside him.
He looked genuinely confused, not hostile.
Matthew had a wry smile as he sighed at his bad luck. He thought that was his room after making some guesses, but he didn't expect that his guess would be wrong. It seems I can make random guesses before it leads to something terrible. He decided in his heart.
Seeing him still standing there smiling weirdly, the boy pointed toward the last door at the far end. "Yours is that one. Did you forget already?"
Matthew quickly thought of an excuse and spoke, "i was lost in thought and didn't realize that I was heading to the wrong room, thanks," he said politely before walking to the room that the youth had pointed to.
The youth stared at him in understanding. As he walked past, the other boy whispered to the young man beside him in a low voice.
"It's best to treat him nicely since he has just awakened a trash ability and is still recovering from it."
The youth nodded as well. Looking at Matthew's desolate back and his figure, which seemed to contain several thoughts and emotions, he could understand how he felt.
"Let's leave it at that for now and continue with our game. i was just about to whoop your ass," the youth said, changing the topic.
The other young man grinned as well, and then they quickly picked up their gamepads and turned their attention to the game.
…
Entering the room, Matthew's gaze met with a small but neat room. One bed, A shelf, A desk, A few scattered books. That was it.
He sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, letting the silence settle.
His expression shifted continuously… conflict, tension, and a hint of fear.
He created this world, though accidentally. Since he didn't expect that he would transmigrate into his own novel, He'd written monsters, wars, and trials to test the MC to the brink. And the first was fast approaching… the attack on the academy, which would happen in a few weeks when they go to take their trial.
Matthew knew that even the main character had a very low chance of surviving the crisis, as only with the system's help did he end up surviving. In the end, there were only about five people who survived the massacre from the dragons!
That's right. He felt the fourth wall stir again—a strange awareness settling over him. Calm and distant, like a narrator remembering his lines. In this novel, humans and dragons fight for supremacy, all in a bid to see which race is stronger. Despite the fact that Humans had five cultivation paths — Summoning, Elemental, Sleeper, Ability Awakener, and Potion Master.
But dragons… they had bloodlines… terrifying bloodlines that could match them in strength perfectly.
Not only that, the reason that humans and the dragons had remained at a stalemate despite humans being stronger by a large margin was the existence of dragon worshippers. These were those that devoted their lives to the belief of dragons being naturally superior.
One of the dragon worshippers was also the reason for the masacre which would happen in a few weeks. Matthew clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white; he had to become strong no matter the cost. In order to live, in order to survive… in order to truly be free… i must survive… no matter the cost!