The alarm clock screamed at 6:00 a.m., and so did he.
"Ugh… another day of being a corporate slave."
The man known online as Ghost dragged himself out of bed like a zombie that had given up halfway through the apocalypse. His real name? Takeshi Kuroda, twenty-six, factory worker by day, gamer by night, professional disappointment by nature.
His apartment was a masterpiece of chaos: instant noodle cups stacked like architectural wonders, energy drink cans forming miniature skyscrapers, and one lonely potted plant that hadn't seen sunlight in months.
"Good morning, Captain Regret," he muttered to his reflection while brushing his teeth. The mirror stared back silently, unimpressed.
For Ghost, life was simple:
Wake up.
Go to work.
Come back.
Game until his soul leaves his body.
Sleep.
Repeat.
He wasn't depressed at least that's what he told himself. He just didn't see the point of doing anything that didn't involve experience points or loot drops.
At 7:10, he grabbed his phone, put on his faded blue jacket, and left the apartment. The air outside was crisp, but he didn't notice; his thumbs were already busy tapping on his screen.
Game: Dungeon Ducks: Quack of Destiny.
Mode: Hardcore.
Mission: Defeat the Flaming Serpent boss.
Ironic, right? The last game he would ever play.
The streets were busy. Cars honked, people shouted, life moved. Takeshi, however, was locked inside his glowing rectangle of joy. He weaved through pedestrians with the agility of a seasoned gamer.
"Just one more combo… come on, come on!"
He didn't even realize he was already crossing the street.
A truck's horn shattered the air.
"TRUUUUUCK!!!"
Takeshi looked uponly to see a massive red truck racing toward him.
His eyes widened, heart froze, and instinct screamed: Move!
He jumped back just as the driver slammed the brakes. The truck stopped inches from him. For a second, time itself held its breath.
Then, Ghost laughed nervously.
"Ha… close one. Not today, Truck-kun."
Fate disagreed.
As he stepped backward in relief, his foot hit the edge of the curb. He lost balance, stumbled
and his head smacked against a steel pole.
"OW wait, what the hell"
Above him, a loose air conditioner on the second floor window shook dangerously.
A single screw gave way.
Then another.
He looked up.
"Oh, come on"
CRASH!
The world went white.
Warmth.
Darkness.
Silence.
At first, Takeshi thought he'd passed out. Then he realized something worse—he couldn't move.
He tried opening his eyes, but everything was blurry and soft, like being underwater. His arms no, wait, they didn't feel like arms.
"What… what is this place?" His voice came out muffled, echoing inside his own skull. "Am I dead? Did I get isekai'd? No way… that's only supposed to happen to the main characters!"
He tried to laugh, but it came out as a wet, bubbling sound.
Around him was a faint glow milky white, pulsating gently. The air (if it even was air) was thick and warm, almost comforting. His body floated in it, surrounded by a thin, smooth wall.
He pressed against it.
It was flexible. Soft.
Like… a shell.
"…Wait. No. Don't tell me."
He pushed harder, and the wall cracked. A bright light spilled through the gaps.
With one final shove, the barrier broke apart, and cold air rushed in.
Takeshi gasped for breath
but instead of human lungs, a tiny chest expanded with a squeaky noise.
He blinked, staring at the world for the first time.
Grass. Sky. Giant trees.
Everything looked… huge.
And then he saw his reflection in a puddle.
Round body. Fluffy yellow feathers.
Two stubby wings.
And a beak.
"No way…" he whispered or tried to. What actually came out was:
"Quack?"
His tiny heart skipped a beat.
He opened his beak again. "What the quack?! No! No, no, no, this isn't real!"
He flapped his wings frantically, splashing mud everywhere.
"I'm a duck?! A freaking duck?! Is this karma for skipping overtime?!"
He looked around. No humans, no signs of civilization just endless wilderness.
The wind was cool, the air fresh, and everything glowed faintly, almost magical.
"Okay… okay, calm down. You've seen worse in RPGs. This is fine. You're just… a duck. In a fantasy world. No big deal."
A faint blue screen blinked in front of him.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]
Takeshi froze. "Oh my god, I do have a system?! Holy feathers!"
[WELCOME, NEW ENTITY: SPECIES – DUCKLING]
[RACE RANK: F]
[CURRENT STATUS: WEAK, CONFUSED, POSSIBLY STUPID]
"Hey! That's rude!"
[PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: …TRY NOT TO GET EATEN]
"Wait EATEN?!"
Rustling echoed from the nearby bushes.
Two glowing red eyes stared at him from the shadows.
Takeshi gulped.
"Okay… first quest: don't die in the tutorial."
The eyes moved closer.
A low growl filled the air.
"Seriously?! Can't I at least get a sword first?!"
The creature leapt from the bush a giant, wolf-like beast with black fur and sharp fangs. It was easily ten times his size.
Takeshi turned and ran or, well, waddled as fast as a terrified duck possibly could.
His webbed feet slapped against the grass in panicked rhythm.
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS A WOLF IN THE FIRST AREA?!"
The monster lunged. Takeshi dodged left by instinct, barely escaping its snapping jaws.
"Okay, okay, think, think how do games start again?! Right! Tutorial skills!"
The screen flashed again:
[Skill Unlocked: Fire Quack Lv. 1]
"Fire what now?"
His body moved on its own. He inhaled deeply and released a desperate quack.
"QUAAAAAACK!!"
A tiny spark flew from his beak. It hit the grass… and fizzled out.
The wolf blinked.
Takeshi blinked back.
"Uh… can we pretend that was a warning shot?"
The wolf snarled and lunged again.
"Guess not!"
He turned to run once more, wings flapping wildly, until he tripped on a root and rolled into a puddle.
Mud splashed everywhere.
"Perfect. Just perfect. I died as a human idiot, and now I'm gonna die as a wet duck!"
The wolf pounced.
Instinct screamed again he quacked louder, harder, until something ignited deep inside him.
The world flashed orange.
Heat surged through his tiny body.
The puddle around him steamed.
And from his beak erupted a small but real burst of fire.
FWOOSH!
The wolf yelped, retreating with its fur smoking. It glared once, then disappeared into the forest.
Takeshi lay there, panting. His feathers singed slightly.
"…Did I just… breathe fire?"
He looked down at his trembling wings.
Then at the faint smoke rising from the grass.
A slow smile crept across his beak.
"Maybe this world isn't so bad after all."
For a long moment, Ghost no, Takeshi the Duck just sat there, staring at the smoldering patch of grass in front of him.
Steam rose from the ground, and the faint smell of burned feathers hung in the air.
"Okay… so that happened," he muttered to himself, voice trembling somewhere between awe and panic.
"First, I die by air conditioner. Then, I wake up as a duck. And now, I can apparently shoot fire out of my mouth.
Yeah. Totally normal. Just another Tuesday."
He stood or waddled up and looked around again.
The forest was vast, filled with towering trees that looked like green skyscrapers. Shafts of light poured through the canopy, catching particles of glittering dust that shimmered like tiny stars.
The world felt alive too alive, maybe. The air carried a strange energy, thick and humming with magic.
"Alright, Ghost. Think. You're in a new world. You have a system. You're a… duck. That's fine. Happens all the time in web novels, right?"
He laughed nervously, looking around for anyone to agree with him.
Only silence answered.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Congratulations, you survived your first hostile encounter!
+10 EXP gained.
Skill proficiency increased: [Fire Quack Lv.1 → Lv.2]
"Oh, so I do level up. Nice!" He paused, tilting his little duck head. "Wait. EXP from running away? That's my kind of system."
A small window blinked in front of him.
[Would you like to open your Status Page?]
"Obviously, yes!"
The screen expanded.
Name: Ghost
Species: Duckling (??? Variant)
Rank: F
Level: 1
HP: 10/10
MP: 12/15
Skills: Fire Quack Lv.2
Traits: Gamer's Instinct (Common), Stubborn Soul (Rare)
Titles: "Accidental Survivor"
Condition: Wet, Confused, Slightly Crispy
"'Slightly crispy'? Excuse me?!"
He glared at the system window. It didn't respond.
"Rude."
Still, seeing his own status like that it felt real. He wasn't dreaming. This was his new life.
"Well then," he said, puffing up his chest feathers, "if I'm stuck as a duck, I might as well be the most overpowered duck this world has ever seen."
He spread his stubby wings heroically. The wind ruffled his down, making him look slightly ridiculous.
"Step one: survive. Step two: evolve. Step three…"
He grinned, beak glinting in the sunlight.
"Burn everything that tries to eat me."
A rustle in the bushes interrupted his villainous monologue.
Takeshi froze, eyes darting toward the sound.
"Please not another wolf…"
From the foliage emerged a small creature—round, furry, and squeaking. It was barely half his size, with twitching ears and big glassy eyes.
"A rabbit?" he asked aloud.
The creature tilted its head and squeaked again, adorably.
Then, a blue screen appeared over its head.
[Tiny Forest Bunny – Level 2]
Status: Curious (Not Hostile)
"Oh my god, it's so cute," Takeshi whispered. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I kinda want to pet it."
He approached slowly.
The bunny blinked.
Then, without warning, it jumped right onto his back.
"Hey! Hey! I said pet, not mount!"
The bunny made a cheerful squeak, clearly mistaking him for some kind of ride.
He waddled in circles, flapping his wings.
"Get off! I'm not a taxi!"
The bunny finally hopped down, looking smug. Takeshi glared.
"Alright, you little furball. Let's make a deal. You show me where to find food, and I don't accidentally barbecue you, deal?"
It squeaked again, as if saying challenge accepted, and started hopping deeper into the forest.
"Guess I have a guide now," Takeshi said, sighing. "My first party member is a rabbit. Figures."
They walked—or hopped and waddled for a while. The deeper they went, the more surreal the world became.
Mushrooms the size of tables glowed faintly.
Floating orbs of light drifted lazily through the air, leaving trails of sparkles behind them.
Somewhere far away, the echo of a dragon's roar rolled across the sky.
Takeshi's feathers prickled.
"This place is like a fantasy MMO on ultra settings. Beautiful, but also terrifying."
His stomach growled.
"Speaking of terrifying… I haven't eaten since well, since dying."
The bunny stopped suddenly and pointed its paw toward a nearby bush.
Bright red berries gleamed between the leaves.
"Oh, food!" Takeshi rushed forward and pecked at one.
[Warning: Item identified "Exploding Berry" (Common Trap Plant)]
"…Wait, exploding what "
BOOM!
The bush detonated in a puff of smoke and sparks.
Takeshi flew backward, covered in soot.
The bunny rolled on the ground laughing or whatever sound bunnies made when they laughed.
"Ha ha, hilarious!" he shouted, coughing out black smoke. "Nearly turned me into fried duck nuggets, but sure, laugh it up!"
He stood up, feathers charred again.
"Note to self: trust issues with flora from now on."
Later, after several failed attempts at finding safe food, he stumbled upon a small pond.
Clear water, soft grass, and a few shimmering fish.
"Finally, something that doesn't explode."
He peered into the water, admiring his reflection again.
Still weird. Still fluffy. Still very much a duck.
"…You know, I'm kind of cute," he said to himself.
Then he frowned. "Wait, why am I thinking that? Get it together, Ghost."
The bunny, sitting beside him, dipped its paw in the water.
For a brief second, the surface shimmered and images appeared.
A city surrounded by walls. People casting spells. Creatures flying across the sky.
"Whoa," Takeshi whispered. "Is that… civilization?"
The bunny nodded.
"Perfect. That's where I'm going. Step four: find humans, beg for food, and hope no one tries to roast me."
He looked toward the distant horizon, determination shining in his tiny duck eyes.
"For the first time in forever, I have… a purpose."
As the sun began to set, the forest turned gold. Shadows stretched, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures filled the air.
Takeshi and the bunny set up near a fallen log.
"Well, this'll be my camp," he said. "No fire, though I'd rather not burn down the forest on my first day."
He laid down on a patch of soft moss.
For a while, silence reigned except for the occasional quack as he talked to himself.
"You know, I used to spend all my nights gaming," he murmured. "Grinding levels, farming loot, chasing fake achievements. And now…"
He looked at his small wings.
"I'm literally grinding to survive. Kind of poetic, isn't it?"
A notification pinged softly.
[Hidden Title Unlocked: "Existential Duck"]
"…Okay, that's just mean," he grumbled. "Who programmed this system? Satan?"
The bunny squeaked sleepily beside him.
The stars came out, bright and endless, painting the sky with colors he'd never seen before.
For the first time since his ridiculous death, Takeshi smiled not out of sarcasm, but genuine wonder.
"This world might be crazy," he whispered, "but it's beautiful."
His eyes began to close.
Suddenly, a low rumble echoed in the distance.
The ground trembled.
Birds flew from the trees in panic.
Takeshi snapped awake. "What now?!"
A pillar of crimson light erupted far away, piercing the sky.
The system chimed ominously.
[WARNING: DUNGEON EVENT – "Flameborn Ruins" detected nearby.]
[Recommended Level: 20+]
Takeshi blinked.
"I'm level one," he said flatly.
Then, after a pause, he grinned.
"Well… I am the Flaming Duck, aren't I?"
The bunny stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Don't look at me like that," he said, stretching his wings. "We're not going in there. We're just… going to peek. Maybe steal some loot. Definitely not die. Probably."
He turned toward the glowing horizon, heart pounding with equal parts fear and excitement.
"Adventure time, I guess."
He waddled forward into the night, the rabbit reluctantly following behind.
The night air was cool and heavy, filled with the faint hum of magic.
Takeshi waddled through the forest, guided by the flickering red light in the distance.
Each step he took left small webbed prints in the dirt, glowing faintly with embers that died seconds later.
"Okay, let's review," he muttered as he marched. "Step one: Don't die. Step two: Don't get eaten. Step three: Avoid things labeled 'Recommended Level: 20+.'"
He paused. "So naturally, I'm heading straight toward one. Genius move, Ghost. Just pure survival instincts."
The bunny beside him squeaked nervously, trying to tug at his wing.
"Relax," Takeshi said, puffing his chest. "We're just going to observe. From a safe distance. Maybe pick up a treasure chest that someone forgot. You know, typical isekai side quest stuff."
They reached a cliff edge overlooking a vast crater.
At the center burned a swirling vortex of red and orange light the Flameborn Ruins.
Rivers of molten lava ran like veins through cracked black stone. Towering ruins rose from the ground, their edges glowing with ancient runes.
"Okay," Takeshi whispered, "that's… beautiful. And terrifying. Like if Hell had a tourist brochure."
A low rumble shook the ground.
The system chimed in his vision.
[WARNING: You are entering a Dungeon Zone.]
[Monsters will be aggressive. Escape difficulty: High.]
"Right, right. We're just looking. Totally not entering"
The ground beneath him gave way.
"WAIT, WHAT"
He and the bunny tumbled down the slope, rolling through ash and sparks until they hit the bottom with a thud.
"...Well," Takeshi groaned, lying on his back, "guess we're in now."
[Dungeon Entry Confirmed.]
Welcome to: Flameborn Ruins.
Flames burst to life along the walls, revealing charred statues of warriors and beasts. The air was suffocatingly hot.
The bunny clung to his feathers, trembling.
"Yeah, me too," Takeshi whispered. "This place feels… wrong."
A flicker of movement caught his eye.
From the darkness emerged small creatures like lizards made of magma, eyes glowing molten orange.
[Lava Sprites – Level 5]
Status: Hostile
"Oh, perfect," he said flatly. "Level five mobs. I'm level one. What could possibly go wrong?"
The sprites hissed and leapt forward.
Takeshi flapped his wings frantically, launching a desperate Fire Quack.
A weak puff of flame burst from his beak, hitting one sprite in the face.
It barely flinched.
"Oh, come on!" he shouted. "That's supposed to be super effective!"
The lizards surrounded him, circling closer.
He tried to back up, but his webbed feet slipped on the hot stone.
The heat was unbearable his feathers began to smoke.
Panic surged. His heart pounded. His vision blurred red.
"I… I don't want to die again," he gasped. "Not like this. Not as barbecue!"
Then something snapped inside him.
The air shimmered.
The heat bent around his body.
And suddenly, he wasn't afraid anymore.
A second voice deep, echoing, ancient whispered in his mind:
"Flame is life.
Flame is rage.
You were born of ash… and you will rise from it."
Takeshi's eyes glowed orange. His feathers ignited, but not painfully — the fire welcomed him.
The sprites froze, hissing uncertainly.
"...Okay," Takeshi said slowly, a smirk curling his beak. "Now this… this feels awesome."
He flapped his wings once and the entire chamber exploded in light.
Flames surged outward like a living storm, engulfing the lizards. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
When the light faded, the sprites lay melted into the stone.
Smoke curled around him as his feathers burned with controlled flame, flickering like molten gold.
[Skill Unlocked: Phoenix Flame Lv.1]
[Title Earned: The Flaming Duck]
The system's text floated proudly in front of him, glowing crimson.
Takeshi stood in awe, looking down at his blazing wings.
"I just… nuked everything," he whispered. "I'm a literal fire duck."
The bunny stared up at him, wide-eyed, fur singed but alive.
Takeshi grinned. "Hey, told you we'd be fine."
Then his fire suddenly went out.
Smoke rose from his feathers.
And his knees or whatever ducks have instead gave out.
[MP: 0/15]
[Status: Burned Out, Exhausted]
He collapsed face-first into the dirt.
"Okay, maybe… not fine fine," he muttered weakly. "But still… awesome."
Hours later, the dungeon's glow dimmed. Takeshi awoke to the bunny nudging him with its nose.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm up," he groaned, rolling over.
The fire was gone, but a faint warmth still pulsed under his feathers like an ember waiting to reignite.
The system pinged softly.
[Quest Updated: Path of the Flame]
Objective: Awaken your inner power and discover the source of the Phoenix Flame.]
He looked toward the deeper tunnels of the ruins, where faint sparks still danced in the air.
"Guess the universe isn't done messing with me yet," he said.
He stood up, stretching his small but determined wings.
"Alright, world. Bring it on. I'm not just a duck anymore."
He smirked. "I'm the Flaming Duck."
The bunny hopped beside him, squeaking in agreement.
Together, they walked toward the next passage, leaving small trails of light behind them.
And far above, through the night sky, the crimson glow of the dungeon flared once more a signal to the entire continent that something extraordinary had awakened.