Putting on my best shocked face, I shook my head and choked out, “You want me to fight some kind of evil? I'm just a normal guy!”

Yes, a normal guy who'd been propositioned twice now to become some sort of hero in a magical universe that wasn't my own. Perfectly average…

Thankfully, he couldn't hear my thoughts, and I kept all traces of amusement to myself. He nodded, sympathy pinching his brows.

“I know this must be quite a shock for you, but please, Nexus needs your help. An undead army is almost at our gates, and if they reach us…” He trailed off, eyes going distant, before he shivered and swallowed hard. “They will slaughter the town. The cursed generals have already spread disease and death to all other corners of the world. You're our only hope!”

His tone held nothing but desperation, the desire to see his people safe all but bleeding off him. For all intents and purposes, he seemed sincere.

So why did my gut twist whenever he spoke?

Even now, the urge to get far away raked down my back like nails. There was nothing about him that warranted this wariness, and yet I couldn’t stop it.

And for that matter, why hadn't Karma mentioned that things were like this? She'd told me corruption was rampant and awful people were in abundance, but she hadn't mentioned disease or zombies!

Maybe she didn't know? It seemed impossible to miss such a massive dip in population that disease brought, but she was also a spirit. There was no saying how closely she kept an eye on things.

Damn it, I needed more information before I did anything.

Focusing on him, I raised my palms and prodded, “If you need someone capable and strong, why did you summon a stranger from another world for help? Where I'm from, people don't battle great evils. I'd die if I went up against an entire army!”

Instead of being disheartened by that, his determination rose, and he grabbed my hand, ignoring my attempts to take it back. “That spell only summons the best of the best, I assure you. When it's been used in the past, heroes with devastating powers were pulled into Nexus, and I'm sure you're no different. What special ability did you receive?”

I bit back a grimace at his forceful capture of my hand. He had quite the grip for such an old guy. Giving up on freeing myself, I shrugged.

“I don't know how to even check that kind of thing.” Karma hadn't told me how to analyze myself.

Silas gestured to one of the nearby windows and explained. “Ah, that's right. You must not have such things in your world. My apologies. If you look into any reflective surface and focus, a menu will pop up. From that, you can see your stats, skills, and even quests.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Yup, just like a video game.

Keeping him in the corner of my eye, I did as told and watched as the menu flickered to life.

Nikolas

Level 2

Hit Points: 30/30

Mana 30/30

Status: Healthy

Well, at least I was level two, not one… Though I wasn't sure what kind of difference that made.

Making a note to ask Karma later, I glanced over the second list off to the right. The text was smaller, minimized, and when I focused on it, it expanded in front of me.

Quests

Reputation

Skills

Spells

Stats

I'd have time to check it all out later. For now, I narrowed in on skills. And nearly choked on spit at the next little window to pop up.

Fast Forward, Level Ten Spell

When cast, all enemies within the area of effect rapidly age, crumbling to dust. How wide the area of effect is varies with the amount of mana expended.

Mana Cost: Ranges depending on area of effect.

Karma had said she was borrowing her husband's power, but she hadn't said anything about giving it to me! Was that what I'd used against that thug on Earth?

My stomach rolled at the implication, and I sucked in a breath. “I can't use that. No, I won't. I refuse to kill, and this-!” I shuddered. “They wouldn't even stand a chance.”

I shut the menus and shook my head, ripping my hand free of his grasp as his face slid into a mask of panic.

“The only things you'd be killing are undead creatures. Surely, the lives of the living mean more to you than those things!”

I backed away from his grasping hands and fought through the suffocating feeling of the walls closing in. “I would still die against more than a handful–stop trying to grab me!”

He'd followed me until my back connected with the wall, and only a sharp dodge to the side stopped him from wrapping his fingers into my shirt. The corridors were large, but every second spent with him made them feel smaller and smaller.

He finally stopped advancing, but the frenzied panic didn't leave his eyes. “You're our only hope. You have to stop that army!”

Even if I wanted to use that power again, I doubted I had enough mana to cast it over the entire army. Maybe I could get a hold of Karma and talk to her about this. An undead army marching toward what sounded like the only remaining stronghold of civilization sure seemed apocalyptic, and if this was the catalyst, then she might have a way to stop it.

There wasn't a chance I'd manage it alone, though.

Fighting through the bubbling panic, I focused on Silas and bought myself time. “Just…let me think about this. You dragged me here, into a whole new world, and now I'm supposed to fight an entire army alone? It's too much.”

It was a reasonable request, all things considered, and Silas deflated, relief clear.

“Of course, I'll have a guard escort you to a room. I'd say take your time, but…”

There was none to waste.

I nodded, watching as he snapped his fingers and a guard came running. They were in full plate mail, just like the ones guarding the corridors, and the king gestured to me.

“Bring this young man to the royal guest room. He will be treated with the highest respect, do I make myself clear?”

The guard nodded hastily and saluted, then turned to me. “If you'll follow me?”

I wordlessly fell into step behind him, sparing a glance back at the king. His shoulders drooped, the weight of the world on them as he rubbed tired eyes. A kernel of guilt formed in my chest, and I looked away. “I'll… ask to be brought to you once I make my decision.”

I caught the bob of his head from the corner of my eye, then I followed the guard.

Hopefully, I could get a hold of Karma once I was alone. She'd wanted me to find the catalyst, but we hadn't discussed what I was supposed to do once it was found.