Anthony Michaels sat in his messy bedroom in the dark staring at his screen with heavy bags under his eyes. He had spent the entire night staring at his computer screen surfing the internet, playing games, and watching random videos online.

It was now morning and while other people were going to work or school, he stayed indoors. There was no need for Anothony to worry about something like that. Stuff like that was pointless to him. He’ll just do what makes him happy and play his pirated games and watch his pirated shows.

“Anthony? Are you up?” An older woman’s voice called out.

“I’m fine mom!” He shouted through the door.

“Alright honey. Have you picked your classes for next semester?” Her mother asked.

“I told you I’m doing it soon. Stop bothering me!” He screamed through the door. Anthony actually didn’t plan on actually enrolling in any more classes for college. He officially decided to drop out this semester and was planning to stay in his room for the next few months to enjoy his newfound freedom.

“Okay, uh, breakfast is ready! I’ll leave it at the dining table for you. Lunch is in the fridge!” She said in a concerned voice.

“Yes! Okay!” Anthony shouted gritting his teeth. She didn’t understand, she just didn’t understand how tough it was being him. To live his life.

He wasn’t always like this. But his last year of high school was hell, but he gritted his teeth and bared with the difficulties thinking life would be different once he graduated. They were for the first month or so, but his college classmates soon turned on him as well.

Bastards, the lot of them. Scum that deserved to die, he was better off staying indoors where no one could hurt him. He didn’t deserve this, he was a good person, and the world screwed him over, it wasn’t fair.

“Would you like things to change?” A voice said right behind him.

Swivelling that chair around in alarm he saw a stranger wearing a baseball cap, grey hoodie, and jeans. What stood out most about this intruder was that his eyes had no iris or pupils. They were pure white and glowing.

Anthony opened his mouth to scream. Only no noise came out. The stranger simply tutted and wagged his finger. Anthony simply stared at the stranger in fear, unable to speak.

“Okay Anthony. I’m going to let you speak now. Will you be quiet now?” Hallow asked after a good five minutes of Anthony panicking.

“Anthony, I’m leaving for work now! I’ll be back around five!” Her mother called out.

Before Anthony could reply, the stranger called out instead, “Alright mom! Stop bothering me, I’m busy!” He shouted with the exact same voice as Anthony, down to his infection. Once they heard the door close Anthony found that he could speak again.

“What are you? What do you want?” Anthony asked cowering.

“Anthony, relax. I’m a friend.” The stranger said gently, “My name is Hallow. I’m here to help you.”

“Help? What do you mean?” Anthony said looking confused.

“You haven’t had the best experience in life now have? Your life as a teenager had been lackluster. Which led to assholes and backstabbers to leave you alone and out to dry.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“How do you know that?” Anthony said surprised.

“Because I did my homework. My boss believes that life gave you a raw deal and you deserve something better. Something more.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean to take you to another world. A life where you can live life to the fullest. Where your abilities get properly recognized and people actually care about you, genuinely.” Hallow said as he showed an illusion of people cheering his name out.

“Another world? Like an isekai?” Anthony said not quite believing it.

“Why did you just repeat ‘another world’ in Japanese?” Hallow said pausing for a moment looking confused.

“Because it’s like an anime genre.”

“Right.” Hallow said, “Hmm. You said anime right?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Then do you know of an… ‘anime’ called…” Hallow took a pause to brace himself, “A Warrior’s Arcane Ascension: The Path to Dominance?”

“I love that series! I just watched the movie last night!” Anthony said excitedly, “You’re going to send me to that world?”

“Yes.” Hallow said with a smile and nod.

“Wait? So will I help the main character?”

“No. You will be the main character. You will be Anthony Knight. The main character and all-powerful warrior of The Academy of Strarth.” Hallow said, knowing what to say to convince him.

“I’m the hero? I get all his cheats?” Anthony asked bouncing up and down.

“Yes.”

“I get all the hot girls?”

“As long as you follow the script. Yes. Even more, you can get the once not originally meant to be love interests as long as you charm them.”

“I can control the story? I can make it better? I always knew I can do a better job than that soft coward! He never makes a move on the girls!”

“Indeed.”

“Yes, yes, yes! Isekai here I come! Take me! Take me! Take me!” Anthony said hugging Hallow in joy, who was trying his hardest to not laugh.

“Of course, all I need to do now is take you there. Close your eyes. Next time you open them, you’ll be the hero of Strarth.” Hallow said.

“Alright then.” Anthony said as he closed his eyes.

Hallow then reached out and took out his soul. The process itself was quick and painless for Anthony, but it left quite a mess with the remains of Anthony. He could’ve done it cleaner, but that wasn’t very fun. No matter, it wasn’t like they were coming back anyway. It wouldn’t affect Anthony. Stashing his soul away Hallow then left the room and travelled to his next destination.

***

A number of hours later five in the afternoon rolled around and Anthony’s mother returned home. She looked over to the kitchen table that still had Anthony’s cold breakfast.

“Oh.” She said in disappointment. She then opened the fridge and pulled out Anthony’s lunch container and went upstairs.

“Anthony, I know that you’re busy and going through a lot. But you need some food to keep up your energy.” She said gently knocking on the door to Anthony’s room.

Frowning when she got no reply she pressed her ear to the door and heard nothing. Growing concerned she called out one last time, “Anthony I’m coming in.” She said opening the door and entering the room.

She didn’t even get a step inside when she saw it everywhere. It was all over the floor, walls, and computer, her son was missing, or even worse, perhaps he was all across the room. She dropped the container of food and screamed.

***

Rei Kono sat in her office chair tapping away on her keyboard in her very small cubicle, when her boss came sauntering over.

“Kono, I need you to remake this report. The corrections have already been noted. Get this done by tomorrow.” He ordered.

“Yes sir.” She said nodding and immediately slamming her head onto the desk once he left, “I need a smoke break.” She muttered.

Leaving her desk, she went up the elevator and to the rooftop so she could light up a cigarette and take a long draw from it. She was getting really fed up with her job. But there weren’t many other openings elsewhere so what was she to do? She leaned over balcony and stared down at the sprawling city below.

“Well, your life is going nowhere.” A voice from behind her said. Turning around she was confused to see a stranger she never met before standing in front of her in a hoodie and jeans. What was most striking about his was his pure white glowing eyes.

“Huh?” She exclaimed confused.

“Though you aren’t in a pathetic state as your soon-to-be ally. Ah, who cares? It’s more fun like this. You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you’ll be able to handle what happens next.” He said as he tapped her forehead.

Down at the streets, people were roaming around. A kid being led by the hand of his mother was walking down the streets when a shadow above him caught his attention.

Looking up he saw a woman falling from the sky. Unable to say a word, he simply watched as the woman crashed straight into a parked car. As the alarms of the car rang and people whipped to see the mess around him, he heard her mother scream, and he could only stare.