I awaken abruptly, the shrill sound of my alarm yanking me from the depths of unconsciousness. With a groggy hand, I fumble for my phone and silence the relentless sound.

‘What a horrendous nightmare...’ I mumble to myself, still haunted by the vividness of the dream. My heart pounds in my chest as I lay in the familiar comfort of my bed, trying to shake off the lingering dread.

Needing to ground myself in reality, I slide out from beneath the warm covers and scan around before I head to the kitchen. Yes, this is my house. I pour myself a glass of water, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. As I sip, I wander over to the living room window and push it open.

The morning air is crisp, and I take a deep breath, allowing the tranquility of the scene to wash over me. Outside, the village is serene, untouched by the chaos of my dream. A smile lingers on my lips as the realization settles in: it was all just a dream. My eyes follow a bird gliding gracefully across the sky, a symbol of freedom and peace.

But wait—something’s off. A faint wisp of smoke trails behind the bird, curling upward like a dark omen. My pulse quickens as the peaceful illusion shatters, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease.

My senses slowly return, and I find myself being carried like a dead cow. One man grips my wrists while another clutches my ankles, dragging me somewhere I don’t know. Just when I thought I had escaped the nightmare, it's clear to me now what is dream and reality. With a sickening thud, they toss me into a burning pile of bodies that freak the shit out of me.

I scramble frantically to free myself from the searing heat, only to find my escape cut short by a dozen swords aimed at my neck. My screams pierce the air, drawing the attention of the soldiers. But who could blame me? Anyone would scream if they suddenly faced the threat of being cremated alive!

“Wait!” I throw my hands up in surrender, only to notice the shopping bag I’d been carrying is gone. Where are my shoes?! A surge of emotions hits me all at once—despair, confusion, pain—and the dread that this is real.

The soldiers surrounding me glance at each other, their expressions ranging from disgust to confusion. They exchange words I can’t quite make out, muttering as they size me up. I carefully look around me just to confirm what’s going on right now because everything doesn’t really make any sense. From what I can see, they are in the war, and the winners are the soldiers wearing red ornaments, and the pile of bodies burning behind me is—no, let’s stop thinking about it.

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“I... I’m not one of them,” I stammer, trying to steady my voice as I look from one warrior to the next. They narrow their eyes, but I can tell they understand me. “Look, I don’t belong here. I was just passing by and somehow got caught up in... whatever this is. Just let me go—I swear, I’ll forget all of it!”

I can feel my heart thudding, each beat a desperate plea. The silence stretches, thick and stifling.

“What’s happening over there?” A man steps forward, appearing to be in his late thirties, his gaze as sharp as his armor. I’m on my knees, hands raised in surrender, while another soldier’s sword hovers close enough to feel its chill.

“Someone survived, but he doesn’t look like an Ando warrior. What should we do?” one of the soldiers asks, his tone uncertain.

I hold my breath, waiting for the verdict, a dry lump of fear stuck in my throat.

The man surveys me, unmoved. “Take him. He looks suspicious regardless. Let His Majesty decide what to do with the others.”

The warriors turn their attention to a few other survivors, who stand like ghosts, faces pale, eyes hollow with horror. A warrior grabs my arm roughly, and I let my body go limp, feigning weakness as they haul me onto a rickety wooden cart. Terror paralyzes my legs, but I don’t fight them. My clothes are soaked, the sticky scent of cranberry juice clinging to me—a reminder of a world that feels a million miles away. Next to me lies a shrouded body, lifeless and cold.

I can’t bear to look, so I turn away, staring instead at the other captives as they’re dragged along. They look like warriors from some history book, but with gear too strange and advanced for anything I’d seen before. And yet, their expressions hold that same mix of fear and defiance, as if this war is as timeless as they are.

This can’t be happening. I didn’t get isekai’d into another world like in those anime shows, right? I almost laugh at how absurd that sounds. But one of the warriors on horseback catches my eye, his gleaming, otherworldly armor practically shouting, Welcome to another dimension.

I can’t stop the smirk. Have I lost my mind? Did I work myself to death back in my world? No, I definitely went to the mall today. This cranberry juice all over me is proof. But my shoes... and my bag... And the fact that I almost got tossed into a bonfire tells me this is no dream.

The cart lurches to a stop, jerking me back to the present. Before us looms a massive gate, flanked by stone pillars carved with symbols that seem to shimmer in the sunlight. I thought we were in some barren wasteland, but now I hear water rushing somewhere close, see trees thick with green leaves, vibrant flowers spilling over the edges of stone walls.

As the gate creaked open, an awe-inspiring castle came into view, seamlessly blending Western and Eastern architectural marvels. Stepping inside, I was spellbound by the intricately carved walls, each adorned with shimmering gold that danced in the sunlight. It seems my eyes are deceiving me because it’s gold— A freaking damn gold! The entire place was a mesmerizing showcase of opulence and artistry, making it hard to believe my eyes.

I can’t deceive myself anymore. I am really in another world!