Chapter 1
Ugh.
Hurts.
It hurts.
My head hurts.
Sleeping peacefully in his one-story apartment, the sounds of water flowing silently and the gentle rustling of leaves and trees entered his mind, followed by an intense wave of pain and dizziness—as though someone had ruthlessly struck his head with a hammer several times.
Lyon groaned, feeling incredibly bewildered by the sudden pain and the unknown circumstances that made no sense.
He remembered coming home from work last night, feeling exhausted as he collapsed on his bed. There was no one to welcome him when he came home—no family members or girlfriend, as he was an orphan and single at that.
And now, he was feeling this sudden pain, dizziness, and confusion about the strange situation he found himself in.
Where the hell am I?
Lyon clutched his head, feeling an intense headache. He slowly but shakily raised one hand to his eyes sockets, adjusting slightly as he forced them open.
Gradually, his vision began to clear. Opening his eyes, he stared at the beautiful but strange and unfamiliar surroundings in front of him. Everywhere was filled with trees, and in the distance, there was a pond formed by a waterfall flowing down from a big mountain on the horizon.
It was night, and a large silver moon hung high in the sky. Its moonlight illuminated everything with a soft, silver radiance.
Looking at the moon gave him a kind of comfort he couldn't explain. It was strange—as though he had returned to his mother's embrace.
Wh–what!
Lyon was stunned and mesmerized as he stared at the moon, then looked around, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
Is this real? For real?
He rubbed his eyes, trying to make sure he wasn't seeing things. One moment, he had been in his house—and the next, he was in this unknown, beautiful forest.
He stood there dazed, his mind blank for a few moments.
Is this a rainforest? Am I in the Amazon or something? But if this is the Amazon rainforest, doesn't that mean I'm going to starve to death? But wait—no, that's not the most important thing. How did I even get here in the first place?
Now that his headache had subsided to a bearable level, he finally had some time to regain his composure. He began to think and plan how to survive in these circumstances.
First, he would approach the pond to drink some water and quench his thirst, maybe apply some to his head since the pain still lingered. Then, perhaps, he could catch some fish and think about how to survive and eventually escape this forest.
He approached the pond with slow but steady steps. His legs were still shaky, but he somehow managed to reach the pond. Standing in front of it, he bent down slightly, scooped some water with his hands, and splashed it across his face.
Feeling refreshed, he splashed even more water and then drank a few handfuls. As his mind became calmer and cooler, with the headache completely gone, he stared at his reflection in the water silently.
In the reflection, the face of a pale young man with gray hair and gray eyes appeared. His facial features were ordinary, but his temperament and bearing were calm and refined.
Seeing his face in the reflection, Lyon fell into silence as his mind began to work rapidly, trying to make sense of these ridiculous yet undeniable circumstances.
So, I didn't transmigrate into the body of another person like those web novel protagonists.
So where am I? On Earth? In a rainforest? If so, where? And how does suddenly appearing from one place to another make any sense? Even if this is Earth, teleportation isn't possible.
Also… why does it feel like the moon is somehow larger than normal?
Wait, is it possible that I've transmigrated into another world—but with my own body?
Although he had read a few web novels where this happened to the protagonist, he never thought it could happen to him. But if that was the case, then how—and by who?
Is this the work of a so-called system or someone manipulating things behind the scenes, using me as a pawn? Or maybe the system that might appear is actually a trap set by someone?
A storm of questions, theories, and scenarios formed in Lyon's mind as he thought rapidly, trying to come up with counterstrategies while considering every possibility.
Even if someone is plotting behind the scenes or manipulating me, no matter what—they will pay the price.
Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes as Lyon's face cracked into a slight but calm smile. If anyone who knew Lyon saw this, they would be terrified—because in his entire life, Lyon had only smiled like that a few times, and every time he did, it was a disaster for his enemies.
Lyon calmly analyzed his surroundings as he silently chose a direction to explore, hoping to find signs of human life.
Then he looked at the mountain looming on the horizon. The mountain was vast and colossal. Lyon had the illusion that even Mount Everest would look like a child compared to this massive mountain in the distance.
Even though it sounded ridiculous, Lyon leaned toward believing it was true.
He began to judge the pros and cons of exploring the mountain.
I definitely need to reach the top of that mountain. Maybe I'll find some clues about human life there—and possibly a way out of this forest.
But that mountain might contain many dangers. I don't know if I can survive long enough to make it.
Lyon hesitated for a few moments before his expression turned into one of cold determination.
Even if I don't go there, I'll still have to explore somewhere else—and there's no guarantee I won't encounter danger.
Since there are no better options or alternatives, I might as well take the risk and explore it.
If I succeed, I might find a way out of my current situation.
Thinking this, he took a deep breath and started walking. He walked with slow but calm steps as he began his journey toward the colossal mountain on the horizon.
He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready to face it. No matter what, he would give his best and never give up, no matter the circumstances.
He would keep trying until he found a way—or until death embraced him.