I like isekai. But I don't want to go to another world.
Anime, manga, webnovels, or anything related to isekai, I love them all. Even though many people say they're sick of isekai because it's become too cliche, I still love it.
But I don't want to go to isekai.
The reason is simple: I'm an adult now.
I'm no longer the person I used to be – the one who tried to draw magic circles in hopes of going to another world. Now I've grown up. I've accepted that isekai isn't real… though that acceptance was bitter.
Besides, my current life is going pretty well.
Even though there's nothing particularly spectacular about it.
I don't have a girlfriend. I don't even have friends.
But I'm satisfied with my stable life.
And in this peaceful, stable life – something "spectacular" suddenly happened. No, rather than calling it spectacular, it's more accurate to call it a tragedy. I slipped in the bathroom and died.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in heaven or hell.
I was in another world.
Fuck! My teenage dream just came true.
But, like I said, this is a tragedy.
When I looked in the mirror, I saw a miserable body. My right leg was gone, my left arm was gone, and my right eye was missing. My hair was long and messy. My face looked like that of an alcoholic.
What the hell is this? Is this punishment? What did I do wrong?
For some reason, I felt like crying.
My body in my previous life was perfectly fine.
Suddenly, a flood of information poured into my head. It felt like thousands of insects were chewing on my brain. The information was about the previous owner of this body.
By coincidence or fate, his name was the same as mine: Ray Reign.
But what made me bite my lip was the fact that he was poor.
Fuck! Disabled and broke?!
Why did I transmigrate into him?!
I wanted to become a king or a hero!
I sat down and looked around Ray's house. No – since I've become him, this is technically my house now. The place was filled with garbage, mostly alcohol bottles and cigarette butts. Just what you'd expect from someone who failed to fit into society.
If this country weren't welfare-based, he'd probably be dead.
Yes, Ray lived off government aid.
What should I do now?
According to his memories, Ray was an idiot. His grades were terrible. So it's nearly impossible for me to find a job that requires brains. And jobs that require strength? Impossible too – I don't even have limbs!
Okay, I get it. Checkmate.
All that's left is to wait for the Grim Reaper to come pick me up.
Ahahahahahahaha!!!!!
Haaah… No, I can't give up yet.
There are still things I want to do.
I haven't even kissed a girl once.
First, I should understand this world.
Maybe there's something that can help me survive.
This world is a mix of apocalypse, cyberpunk, and the supernatural.
Zombies roam everywhere and dominate the planet. Now, only one nation remains – its name is Areonia. Every city here is surrounded by huge walls to protect the citizens from zombies.
And Areonia is technologically advanced.
Robots and AI can be found on every corner.
But the beauty of Areonia is only skin-deep.
Because the country is ruled by corrupt politicians.
Ironically, this country even has a hero profession.
Good grief, I want to laugh. "Hero" should be a title given to saviors – but here, it's just a job. I thought this kind of thing only existed in fiction, but apparently not.
Of course, the heroes here don't save the nation from corruption – they fight zombies and their gang. lol. They've completely ruined the meaning of the word "hero."
Anyway, Ray once wanted to become a hero.
But he failed his first mission and ended up crippled.
After that, he retired – unknown and forgotten.
What a pathetic ending.
This world is also supernatural. Its power system is based on popularity, reputation, and belief. Popularity determines your power level, reputation determines your lifespan or lifeform, and faith determines your special ability.
Honestly, that's quite complex and deep.
But I don't really like it.
I prefer power systems like magic or martial arts.
Because what I want to wield magical artifacts or divine treasures.
Okay, back to the question – what can I do now?
Answer: Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Getting a job on Earth was already hard enough – how could I possibly survive in a dystopia?
Besides, protagonists who get sent to another world usually receive cheats or systems, right? So what about me? I got a broken body instead. Damn it, fate is unfair!
No, I should at least try.
Maybe I already have one and just haven't noticed.
"System! Villain System! Extract System! SSSSSS-Rank System!"
…Nothing appeared.
"Status Window! Power Window! Ability Window!"
Still nothing. Damn it, I'm starting to lose hope.
"Store Window!"
——❮MIRACLE STORE ❯——
[ What would you like to buy? ]
——————————————
It appeared! It actually appeared! Seriously! A transparent blue screen appeared before me! So I really do have a cheat! Yeah! Maybe I can survive even with this broken body!
But… what's this? "Miracle Store"? What does that mean?
Can I buy something from here?
But there are no products displayed.
Maybe I have to say what I want to buy.
"I want to buy a magic item."
——❮MIRACLE STORE ❯——
1. Aegis (SSS)
2. Gramr (SSS)
3. Ascalon (SSS)
4. Gae Bulg (SSS)
5. Excalibur (SSS)
6. Caladbolg (SSS)
7. Ruyi Jingu Bang (SSS)
8. Totsuka no Tsurugi (SSS)
9. Kusanagi no tsurugi (SSS)
10. … … …
11. … …
12. …
——————————————
A list of products appeared – just as I expected.
There are so many SSS-ranked items for sale.
I want to use them all!
As I scrolled down, more and more appeared – no end in sight. There might even be magic items that can heal any illness.
This is amazing!
With Miracle Store, I might be able to become an anomaly in this world. There is no need to build an image to gain belief, popularity, or reputation to gain power.
But there's a problem… The Miracle Store is still a store.
To buy something, I need money.
Ironically, I'm broke.
"Wait, is there a pay-later feature?"
I clicked on one of the products.
[ Name: Excalibur (SSS) ]
[ Origin: Magic World ]
[ Price: One Apex Undead Core ]
[ Description: The sharpest sword in the universe that can even cut through dimensions and destiny. It can fly at the user's will, be stored within the soul, and generate unlimited magical energy ]
[ Would you like to purchase it? ]
Undead Core? What does that mean? It's definitely not money, right? Perhaps purchases at this shop won't always use money, but barter instead. That's my assumption. Whatever it is, my answer is...
"Yes, I'll buy it."
[ Insufficient funds ]
[ Would you like to use the pay-later feature? ]
So it does exist! "Yes! I'll use pay-later!"
[ Thank you for your purchase ]
[ You will die in one month if payment is not completed ]
"Wait… what?! Die?!!!! Isn't that penalty too extreme?! You should've told me something that important beforehand!" A white sword suddenly appeared in front me. "I want to return this sword!"
[ Purchased items cannot be refunded ]
"Fuck! This is a scam!"
Even worse, Miracle Store is MY power – and I got scammed by my OWN power! I feel like the biggest idiot alive! Fuck!
But still, all I can do now is accept it.
I looked at the sword with tired eyes.
The long sword I bought – Excalibur – looked magnificent. It was wrapped in golden light. Its hilt was white with golden wing-shaped guards, and its double-edged blade gleamed pure white.
Just looking at its sharpness made my skin crawl.
It looked like it could slice through souls.
When I gently swung it, the air around the slash distorted – as if I had cut through space itself. This sword definitely deserved its SSS rank. Its sharpness was absurd.
Apex Undead are the highest class of Undead. They are so powerful they can bring chaos to the world. In fact, the reason this world is overrun by zombies is because of one Apex Undead.
But with Excalibur, I believe I can defeat them.
If I can't, I'll break this sword before die.
So first, I need to find an Apex Undead.
I turned on the TV for news. Maybe it would mention one.
{When someone has a good reputation, they become a Spirit. But when someone has a bad reputation, they become an Undead. Undead are walking corpses that eat the living. Those killed by Undead turn into zombies.}
I switched the boring educational channel.
{The War Lord has returned. He is an Apex Undead capable of controlling zombies. With millions of undead under his command, he's attacking humanity once again. His first target: Upsilon City.}
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! I'm so lucky!"
In an instant, I found an Apex Undead.
And even better – Upsilon City is where I live.
That's luck among luck!
All that's left is to slay him and take his core.
But… even with Excalibur, can I really kill the War Lord? He's the highest class of Undead, while I'm just a cripple. I don't even have combat experience.
Now I can't help but wonder –
Am I really lucky to have found an Apex Undead this quickly? Wouldn't it have been better if the Apex Undead appeared after I gained some combat experience? Hmmm…
Thinking about it is pointless.
I should just come up with a trick to defeat the War Lord.
Excalibur is a sword that can fly. I can control it remotely. Without having to get close or fight directly, I might be able to kill him from afar.
Alright, let's go with that plan.
I turned my attention back to the television. The reporters were still broadcasting the War Lord using a helicopter. Not only him – there were also millions of zombies preparing to destroy the city.
Based on the news, I learned that the War Lord was located on the west side of the city. Using my mind, I commanded Excalibur to fly there.
Of course, since the War Lord was outside the city, I couldn't see the sword directly. However, I could still track it through the television broadcast. I truly appreciated those brave reporters.
{A sword!!! A flying sword just appeared!!!}
Yeah, I get that you're shocked by something so out of the ordinary, but don't focus the camera on my sword! If I can't see the War Lord, I can't kill him!!! Heeeyyy!!!
{The sword seems to be heading toward the War Lord!}
Good! Keep the camera on that Undead!
The War Lord's appearance didn't fit a post-apocalyptic or cyberpunk world at all. His appearance was straight out of fantasy – a body made of bones, wearing a royal cloak, and a skull adorned with a crown. Inside his eye sockets burned small red flames.
Whatever – time to strike.
For some reason, my heart was pounding.
I made Excalibur fly at full speed, aiming straight for the War Lord's skull. The War Lord instantly commanded his zombie army to act as his shield. But it was pointless – Excalibur was absurdly sharp. The sword pierced through the horde as if slicing through air.
Thud! Excalibur finally stabbed into the War Lord's skull.
And then… the Apex Undead didn't move anymore.
Wait a minute!!! That's it?! You're an Apex-class Undead! There's no way you'd die from a single strike, right?! Hey! Move, you bastard! I'm not falling for your tricks!!!
After waiting for a few seconds, the Undead still didn't move.
"Don't tell me… Excalibur is just that strong?!"
One strike – and the Apex Undead was dead instantly.