The sea stretched endlessly before him, waves rolling in and breaking against the shore in a slow, steady rhythm. The bright blue sky was dotted with soft white clouds drifting lazily by. Sunlight bathed the golden sand, making it shimmer. A gentle sea breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, calming and relaxing the mind.
Where is this place? How did I end up here?
A young man in a short-sleeved T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops stood staring blankly at the sea, bewildered.
I remember riding a motorcycle taxi home after work... and then...
He tried to recall the moment, only for a sharp pain to stab through his head.
Right, the driver went against traffic... and then a truck hit us...
Is this... heaven? Did I die?
Panic shot through him as he looked around frantically.
Then his eyes met those of a grilled-squid vendor standing at a food stall.
"Fresh grilled squid! Super tasty! Hey, handsome over there—want a skewer?" the vendor called out.
Heaven has grilled squid?
He glanced around. No one else was nearby. He pointed at himself.
"Uh... are you talking to me?" he asked.
"Of course, handsome. Who else?" the vendor replied.
Handsome?
He frowned and looked down at himself.
"What—?! My boobs are gone!!" he shouted in shock.
No wonder my chest felt light… and down there felt heavy…
Curiosity urged him to check inside his pants, but he resisted.
Did I transmigrate into another body? Just like in those novels...?
He crossed his now-flat, muscular chest and frowned deeply as he thought.
No memories of the original owner at all... Whose body is this? My name was Darin... but using a woman's name in a man's body won't do.
Still thinking, Darin walked along the beach. The warm sunlight soothed his skin, though his mind remained in turmoil. His short, wavy black hair fluttered in the breeze.
Colorful umbrellas lined the shore. Beach chairs sat beneath them, occupied by people sunbathing or resting with their eyes closed. Laughter from small groups of tourists blended with the distant squeals of children running along the sand.
Sweet scents of fruit smoothies and the savory aroma of grilled seafood drifted from the beachside stalls, whose smiling owners were busy welcoming customers.
After walking for a while, Darin felt something in his pocket. He reached in and pulled out a wallet, a passport, and a key card.
Gray Walker... wow, I'm now a foreigner?
The former Thai woman stared in amazement at the black-and-white photo and personal details on the passport.
Hmm... Londoner. Born December 24, 2101... Wait—what year is it now? Isn't it 2025? Maybe I should ask someone...
His gaze then caught the name of a hotel on the key card.
Good. I can ask for directions there too.
He turned back toward the grilled-squid vendor.
"Um... could you please tell me how to get to this hotel? And what date and year it is today?"
The vendor raised an eyebrow at him, as if staring at a strange creature.
"You high or something, bro? Forgetting the date? It's June 19th, 2133. And that hotel's right over there."
He pointed to a luxurious building not far from the beach.
Gray Walker's hotel was upscale, complete with a restaurant, bar, spa, and fitness center. It was close enough for him to walk without needing transport.
Upon reaching the hotel, He stepped into the elevator. The reflective walls showed his new appearance.
Deep gray eyes beneath sharp brows. A defined, handsome face. A straight nose and well-shaped lips. Short, wavy black hair. A tall, muscular build—easily over 180 cm, with broad shoulders.
Wow... A literal god...
She stared, entranced.
Ding! The doors are closing.
The automated voice snapped him out of it. He turned toward the doors just as a tall blond man rushed to step inside.
He placed his leg between the doors. He looked at Gray, smirking faintly. His lips moved, as if speaking—but he heard nothing.
Strangely, he felt an odd sense of familiarity. Yet the harder he tried to focus on his face, the blurrier it became.
Then—
The elevator shuddered violently.
Bang!
The doors slammed shut far too fast.
A sickening crunch followed.
"AAAAAAH!!"
He screamed, covering his mouth.
Frantic, he hammered the open button and emergency stop, but nothing responded. The elevator shot upward at high speed.
Right before his eyes, the tall man's body was dragged downward, crushed between the closing doors. Flesh shrank and warped until it disappeared below the floor. Hot, dark red blood seeped into the elevator, staining his white flip-flops crimson.
He stared in horror, mind blank, heart pounding. He stumbled backward and fell, scrambling away from the doors.
"This... no... this isn't real... This has to be a dream!"
His breath tightened. Her vision dimmed—
Darkness swallowed everything.
He opened his eyes to a ceiling. He slowly sat up, inhaling deeply. The room was dim, with only a sliver of light slipping through the thick curtains.
His heart still raced from the nightmare.
Good... it really was a dream... but it felt so real... terrifying...
After calming herself—
"But… where am I now?"
The voice that came out was a low male voice, not the woman's voice he remembered.
Panicking, he checked his body again. He was still Gray Walker.
A sharp pain shot through his head. Gray's memories flooded in, merging with his own.
This world was the setting of the novel he had read only one chapter of. And Gray Walker was its protagonist.
This was the future year 2133—where most humans possessed supernatural powers. Gray, a private detective, had a special ability: "The Reader."
He could read the past of people, animals, objects, and places.
He could also read and copy the abilities others used.
My real body probably didn't survive... even if it did, I can't go back... So I have to live as him now. Well... at least he's handsome. Maybe this won't be so bad.
He sighed weakly.
"First things first—I'm a man now. I'm a man. I'm a man. I must not slip up."
Resolute, he checked the phone on the bedside table.
6:00 AM, June 19th, 2133
[Report due with client today]
This must be the beginning of the novel...
Gray sighed, then went to shower. He blushed at first but eventually managed to undress.
After washing up, shaving, and dressing in a white shirt, black trousers, dark gray vest, and black suit jacket draped over his arm, he admired himself in the full-length mirror for a moment.
He headed downstairs, set the jacket on the couch, made coffee, and prepared breakfast for two.
As he finished eating, footsteps came from the stairs.
"Morning, Gray. You're up early today."
A woman with long messy black hair and gentle gray eyes—strikingly similar to Gray—yawned as she greeted him, dressed in comfy pajamas.
Lyra, Gray's older sister, a novelist. They've lived together since their parents died shortly after Gray graduated.
She's beautiful...
he thought absentmindedly.
"Morning, sis. I've got a client meeting today." he replied.
Lyra sat down and began eating as usual. Gray grabbed his suit jacket and headed to the door.
"Good luck." she said.
"You too. Don't sleep all day or you'll miss your deadline."
He left the house.
He soon reached the crosswalk leading to his office building:
Gray & Fredo — Investigations and Legal Services
As he waited for the signal, he scanned the surroundings out of habit.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
Across the street stood the tall blond man—the same unsettlingly familiar figure. The man smiled faintly at Gray and stepped onto the road while the light was still red.
And again, Gray couldn't see his face clearly—just like in the nightmare.
Gray's heart pounded.
Then—
CRASH!
A black car slammed into the blond man at full speed.
But instead of panicking, Gray felt strangely calm.
As expected. If this follows the novel... I'm still dreaming. Time to wake up.
He closed his eyes.
Heavy eyelids lifted slowly. Darkness gave way to dim white light. The sterile scent of disinfectant mixed with the steady beeping of a heart monitor.
Gray glanced at himself. An IV line was attached to his arm. A feeding tube rested at his nose. Sensors were placed across his body.
Beside his bed sat a young man in a navy three-piece suit, legs crossed, hands folded on his lap. Pale skin. Short blond hair. A sharp nose. Emerald green eyes watching him with playful warmth.
"Good morning, Gray. You finally woke up."
He smiled softly, lips curling at one corner.