Chapter 1 - An Unexpected Beginning

In the bustling metropolis of London, the year was 2023, and it was just another day in the life of Edward Latez. As the early morning sun cast its gentle glow over the city, Edward, a barista by profession, embarked on his familiar daily commute. The rhythmic hum of urban life filled the air as he navigated the bustling streets.

However, this seemingly ordinary day would soon take a most extraordinary turn. Edward's attention was torn from his smartphone screen by an abrupt and vivid red light that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. His reflexes kicked in, and he slammed on the brakes, bringing his car to an abrupt halt.

As he peered through the windshield, trying to fathom the inexplicable sight before him, his world was plunged into surreal chaos. Three massive trucks hurtled toward him at an alarming speed. Panic gripped him, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, shit, a truck!"

In the blink of an eye, the impending collision was upon him. But when Edward dared to open his eyes, he found himself standing in a starkly contrasting environment—a bright white room that seemed to defy the laws of space and time. Before him stood a figure, dark and mysterious, its form shifting and indescribable, emanating an aura of enigmatic dread. A wave of terror washed over Edward.

"Who are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

The black figure smiled, its expression as inscrutable as its form, and replied, "Me? I am >--|--<."

Perplexed by the cryptic response, Edward ventured, "Sorry, but could you clarify that?"

The figure's smile faded, and it spoke with an air of enigmatic authority, "You wouldn't be able to comprehend it anyway. Let's move on. You're familiar with the theme, right?"

Edward's mind raced as he considered the figure's words. "Which theme are you referring to?" he finally inquired.

"In Isekai manga," the figure explained, "the ones where people are transported to other worlds with all sorts of powers."

Understanding dawned on Edward, and he nodded. "Yes, of course, gaining an overpowered ability and being isekai'd."

The black figure chuckled softly. "Yes, an overpowered ability indeed."

Without warning, a black panel materialized before Edward, presenting two ominous options: "YES" and "NO."

Without hesitation, Edward pressed "YES" enthusiastically, his curiosity piqued. "Well, nice! I'm getting isekai'd," he exclaimed.

In an instant, Edward vanished, leaving behind the white room and the enigmatic figure, who burst into laughter, thoroughly amused by Edward's gullibility. "What a fool! He actually believed it was a gift," the figure taunted.

As Edward found himself in an entirely new place, he wasted no time in shouting, "STATUS!" Yet, to his dismay, nothing appeared before him. He repeated the word "STATUS!" repeatedly, growing increasingly frustrated with each futile attempt, until he lost hope of obtaining any overpowered ability.

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"That deceitful son of a bitch lied to me," Edward muttered, sighing heavily. "Well, this isn't the first time I've encountered such problems anyway."

But his momentary frustration was interrupted by a sudden and sharp pain. An arrow had sliced through his shoulder, causing him to cry out in agony. To his astonishment, the wound closed up instantly, without any lingering pain or blood.

Edward quickly turned to identify his assailant—a goblin, armed with a bow and a malicious grin. Ignoring the injury, he scanned his surroundings and spotted a stone nearby. Determined, he snatched it up, hoping to close the distance and strike the goblin.

However, the goblin proved to be just as cunning as Edward. It fired a second arrow, grazing Edward's right cheek. Edward, without noticing the wound from the goblin's arrow, went straight for the creature and, to his knowledge, delivered a relentless barrage of blows. However, the wound had miraculously healed, unbeknownst to him.

Yet, as quickly as his victory had come, Edward was overwhelmed by an inexplicable wave of exhaustion. His vision blurred, and he sank into a deep and unbidden slumber.

When he finally awoke, it was to a world shrouded in darkness, punctuated by eerie and unsettling sounds that sent shivers down his spine. "Where am I?" he wondered aloud.

A peculiar and unsettling noise caught his attention, intensifying his sense of unease. "What was that sound?" he exclaimed, his anxiety mounting.

Desperate for answers, Edward shouted into the abyss, "IS ANYONE THERE?"

As his voice echoed into the darkness, the eerie sounds seemed to draw nearer, creeping ever closer from the inky void. Filled with an overpowering sense of dread, Edward bolted away, driven by the primal instinct to escape the unknown. After what felt like an agonizing eternity, he spotted a faint glimmer of light ahead and raced toward it, hope and desperation guiding his way.

As he approached the source of light, figures emerged from the shadows, their presence a welcome relief to Edward. He wasted no time in beseeching them for answers. "Can you please tell me where I am?"

But as his eyes met the group that had materialized before him, he realized with a sudden jolt that ten thieves had someone captive. Edward's logic and beliefs crumbled in the face of this bewildering reality, and he acted on instinct, impulsively lashing out with a punch aimed squarely at one of the thieves.

The thieves, momentarily taken aback by Edward's unexpected aggression, barely had time to react before he struck again with another swift blow.

"HOLD THAT FUCKING BASTARD!" one of the thieves shouted, and they retaliated with a fierce counterattack. Edward soon found himself overwhelmed as one of the thieves seized his arm, rendering him powerless to fend them off. In the midst of the chaos, one of the thieves drew a menacing sword and plunged it into Edward's chest.

Edward gasped in pain, but to his astonishment, the wound closed up rapidly, leaving no trace of injury. Overcome by a surge of adrenaline, he managed to wrest the thief's sword from his waist, driving it into the thief's leg before swinging a second blade at his neck.

The thief fell lifeless to the ground, and Edward's injuries miraculously healed once more, this time without the torment of pain. With newfound strength and clarity, he continued his rampage, mercilessly dispatching the remaining thieves.

Only one thief remained, crawling and pleading for salvation. Desperation marked his voice as he cried out, "PLEASE, ANYONE, HELP ME!"

Summoning every ounce of his strength, Edward seized a sword and flung it with unerring accuracy, striking the final thief's head. As life ebbed from the thief, Edward was struck by the surreal nature of his newfound abilities.

With the thieves vanquished, he turned his attention to the captive figure, whose identity had remained concealed beneath a hood. As he removed the hood, his eyes widened in astonishment and curiosity. Before him lay a beautiful young girl, her distinctive cat ears revealing her unique nature.

Edward couldn't help but grin, his world forever changed by this unexpected and extraordinary journey.

CHAPTER 1 END