A fierce headache surged like a tide, crashing against the consciousness barrier of Dunn Smith. This was not physiological pain, but a deeper, agonizing pain stemming from the tearing and merging of souls. Countless fragments of unfamiliar memories, loaded with intense emotional color and sensory details, violently encroached upon the mental space that originally belonged to an ordinary young man from the 21st century.
He "saw" himself wearing a black double-breasted frock coat, holding a cane, walking down a street shrouded in mist under the hazy glow of gas lamps; he "smelled" the mixed scent of herbs, sulfur, and purified water in Old Neil's alchemy room within the Blackthorn Security Company; he "felt" Spirituality surging through his body like a trickle, along with the bone-deep fatigue accumulated from long-term lack of deep sleep; he "heard" the tranquil, distant hymn of the Goddess emanating from the depths of St. Selena Cathedral... Nighthawks... Tingen City... SleeplessPathwaySequence 7: Nightmare... sword of the goddess Sesima... The new team member about to report, Klein Moretti... These fragments of information finally coalesced into one name that made his soul tremble—Dunn Smith!
"I... transmigrated? And became Dunn Smith, the good captain from Lord of the Mysteries who sacrificed himself shortly after the beginning?"
He suddenly sprang up from the high-backed chair padded with a dark green velvet cushion, his hands gripping the edge of the hard mahogany desk so tightly his knuckles turned white. The sudden movement made him dizzy, but it also allowed him to more clearly perceive the state of this body—a height of nearly 1.8 meters, a sturdy but not overly muscular build, fine lines around the eyes from chronic staying up late, and the profound power of "Spirituality" within his body, distinct from mere "strength." This power was currently like a dried riverbed, suggesting the original owner might have overused his abilities recently.
Looking around, this was an office filled with Victorian-era style. Dark solid wood bookshelves stretched floor to ceiling, crammed with leather-bound classics and dossiers. Hanging on the walls were a map of Tingen City and decorations bearing the Holy Emblem of the Evernight. The brass gas lamp shades were polished brightly, emitting a steady, warm glow that highlighted the unique mixed scent of old paper, ink, and leather in the room. Outside the window were typical Loen Kingdom rooftops and the pervasive, grayish-white fog carrying a faint smell of coal smoke.
Everything was terrifyingly real.
As a veteran reader of Lord of the Mysteries, he knew Dunn Smith's ending all too well—in the conspiracy woven by Ince Zangwill and 0-08, to fight the descending Offspring of the Evil God and protect Tingen City and his team members, he resolutely consumed the Saint's Ashes, eventually losing control in a tragic manner and being killed. That was a pain point for countless readers who felt things were left unfinished.
And now, he had become Dunn Smith. That ending, like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, sent a chill spreading from his spine all the way to his scalp.
Despair, like an invisible giant hand, choked his throat. He had transmigrated, yet it seemed he was only here to personally experience a predetermined tragedy?
Just at the edge of this Abyss of despair, a completely different, utterly emotionless voice sounded directly from the deepest part of his consciousness, like the friction of cold metal, or the rushing of countless tiny data streams:
[High-Dimensional Soul Fluctuation detected, consciousness frequency matches Underlying Rules... myriad worlds simulator system binding procedure initiating...]
[Scanning host soul state... Scan complete, compatibility 98.7%...]
[Initiating fusion... 10%... 50%... 100%... Fusion successful!]
[Welcome to the myriad worlds simulator, Host: Dunn Smith.]
Dunn (now, he had to fully accept this identity and name) suddenly stopped breathing, his pupils dilated in shock. A Cheat? The standard equipment for a transmigrator? In this absolute dead end, he heard a thunderclap from outside of destiny!
[myriad worlds simulator Function Description:]
[1. This simulator can capture and link scattered time and information fragments from the Myriad Worlds, constructing temporary Simulation Scenarios.]
[2. The Host can input their primary consciousness into the simulation scenario to experience specific fragments. During the simulation, time in the Host's Primary World (the World of Mysteries) flows synchronously.]
[3. Upon completing a simulation fragment, the system will conduct a comprehensive evaluation based on the Host's performance and issue rewards. Rewards include, but are not limited to: Knowledge Fragments from Other Worlds, Special Skill Imprints, Minor Characteristic Enhancements, and One-Time Item Projections.]
[4. Warning: If the Consciousness Body dies in the simulated world, although it will not directly cause physical death in Reality, it will cause severe trauma to the Host's psyche and heavily deplete Spirituality. Please proceed with caution. Furthermore, memory loss will occur randomly upon each startup.]
[Do you wish to start the first simulation experience immediately?]
The information load was immense, but Dunn instantly grasped the core—traveling through different worlds, gaining abilities, and improving himself! Moreover, primary world time flowed synchronously during the simulation! This meant he didn't have to worry about spending too much time in simulation and missing critical moments or encountering danger in the primary world!
What was my name again? Never mind, surviving is what matters. This simulator seems to have some side effects, I forgot them immediately after reading—it must not be important.
Live! I must live! Not only must I avoid the fate of death, but I must also seize control of my own destiny!
Euphoria surged in his heart like lava, nearly breaching the psychological defenses he had just established. But he forcibly suppressed the urge to start the simulation immediately. As the Nighthawks Squad captain, years of Beyonder experience (whether the original owner's or the instincts he now inherited) told him that maintaining calm and vigilance was paramount when facing any unknown power.
He needed time to familiarize himself with the power of this body and to deal with the immediate urgent matter—the true "Protagonist," Klein Moretti, who, according to memory and plot, should be reporting today.
He took several deep breaths, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and walked to the enamel washbasin in the corner of the office, splashing cold water on his face. The mirror reflected the face of a middle-aged gentleman—slightly tired, with slightly graying temples, but with gentle and steady eyes. He tidied the wrinkled collar of his shirt and his black vest, re-establishing the composed demeanor of a captain.
Just then, his sensitive hearing caught movement coming from the Reception Hall outside. A young male voice, carrying a hint of restraint and barely noticeable confusion, was talking to the lively receptionist, Rosanne.
"...Hello, I am Klein Moretti, here to report."
He's here!
Dunn took one last look at himself in the mirror, his eyes now firm and calm. He pushed open the heavy wooden office door with the brass handle and walked out.
His gaze immediately fell upon the slender young man with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a slightly ill-fitting formal suit, his face displaying the shyness of a newcomer and a polite smile. But Dunn, relying on the acute perception of emotion unique to Beyonders of the NightmarePathway, as well as the intuition shared by fellow transmigrators, clearly caught the well-hidden sense of detachment and bewilderment in the depths of those brown eyes—a feeling incompatible with this world.
It was him, Klein Moretti, also a transmigrator, and also a Chess Piece in this grand drama... No, from now on, there was one more Player.
Dunn's characteristic, gentle, and reassuring smile appeared on his face. He stepped forward, his voice steady and strong, carrying a magnetic quality that inspired trust: "Hello, Klein Moretti? Welcome to the Nighthawks Squad. I am the Captain, Dunn Smith."
His eyes met Klein's, and he silently thought: "The story has begun, but perhaps the Script should be rewritten."