The first thing Phoenix was aware of was her body being thrown around in the back of some sort of cart. The rough wood was doing wonders for exfoliating her skin, so much so that she could feel parts of it ripped open. Pain shot through her body with every jolt and bump, and she winced, trying to suppress any sounds that might reveal her consciousness. Her arms were tied at the wrist, and her legs bound as well, rendering her helpless. Motherfucker. She knew enough about being held captive from the Army and SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) School that she had to continue to act like she was still knocked out.

“How much further, Bento?” The voice belonged to the smaller man she had previously tried to fight, the one whose face was etched with an unsettling mixture of arrogance and cruelty.

“Not much further now. We’re coming out of the tree line for the Shadow Woods. Just in time too; it’s getting dark,” Bento replied, his tone casual, as if they were discussing the weather rather than transporting captives. The cart continued to rock, and for the first time since she got to this new world, light filtered through her eyelids. Phoenix almost groaned in appreciation for the natural warmth, a stark contrast to the colder atmosphere of the woods. She slit open her eyes just enough to make out the silhouette of another person bound on the floor of the cart as well. It was another woman, dried blood running down her face, tracing a path through the dirt and grime that caked her skin. Well fuck, I'm headed to some sort of slave trade bullshit aren't I?

There were visible bruises around her eyes, and it was clear someone had strangled her. A fire ignited in Phoenix’s heart seeing the woman in that condition, one that wanted to kill every last motherfucker who thought it was okay to lay their hands on women like that. The cart began to slow, and she heard another voice muffled from the outside, a sound that made her stomach churn.

“Bento and Tristan, welcome back! I trust the hunting was good?”

Phoenix gagged a bit at the word “hunting.” Right. Hunting for women to do god knows what to.

“Very, we got one who will serve well in the quarters. However, the second—she’s my investment into…” Bento’s voice trailed off as he lowered it, speaking conspiratorially. Phoenix strained to catch the rest of the conversation but could only make out fragments.

“Open the gates!” The sound of a metal gate rising echoed ominously, and the cart lurched forward again. Knowing that the two were riding up front, Phoenix risked opening her eyes fully, trying to glance out the bars and see where she was. As the cart rolled forward, text flashed briefly in her vision:

You have entered: Volska

Volska is a main port city located in The Shadow Kingdom, off the coast of The Abyssal Viel Sea. Originally established 2,000 years ago, it was known for its grand architecture and flourishing trade. This city once attracted scholars, artisans, and adventurers from distant lands. Now it attracts pirates, fanatics, and worshippers of the Shadow.

By the sound of the horses pulling the cart, they were heading down a cobblestone street. Buildings flashed by the bars made of stone and wood, their shadows looming ominously in the fading light. The woman next to her began to groan, her eyes fluttering open. Instinctively, she started to struggle against her bonds, confusion and fear swimming in her eyes. Goddamnit, she needs to be still and quiet.

Phoenix risked a grunt, hoping to catch the woman’s attention without revealing her own consciousness. The instant their eyes met, she shook her head, silently imploring her to remain quiet. Fortunately, the woman seemed to understand; she ceased her frantic movements, her gaze darting between Phoenix and the approaching city.

Stolen story; please report.

They stared at each other, both trapped in a web of uncertainty, awaiting their fates with bated breath. After what felt like an eternity, the cart finally came to a halt. The back was thrown open with a loud bang. A man’s face appeared, a scar slicing through his right eye, and his yellowed teeth were bared in a twisted grin.

“Oh, these two are perfect,” he said, a sickly gleam in his eyes. Sick Motherfucker. Phoenix felt a surge of anger at the sight of him, a determination to fight back welling up within her. Tired of being helpless, she kicked her bound feet, catching the man unexpectedly in the chest. He stumbled backward, unprepared for her action, slipped on gravel behind him landing hard on the ground, momentarily stunned.

Bento and Tristan rushed around to assist him up, his face turned into a mask of fury as he rose.

“Bitch! You’re going right to the arena! Do you hear me? You’re going to die in there!” the man screamed, spit flying in her face as he raged. Phoenix met his gaze, her resolve hardening. You just wait. I’m going to remember you, and I’m going to kill you when I escape, she thought venomously.

Bento and Tristan grabbed her, their hands like iron shackles as they overwhelmed her struggles with ease. She was dragged away from the cart, the rough cobblestones scraping against her skin, and turned back just in time to see the other woman being pulled in the opposite direction, her expression one of panic and despair.

They entered a bustling courtyard filled with the sounds of bartering and trading, the air thick with the scent of sweat and desperation. A manor loomed behind another gate, its dark silhouette casting an ominous shadow over the scene. People and horses were everywhere, and as she was dragged through the crowd, some jeered, others laughed, while most kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact as if the sight of her was too shameful to bear.

She felt their eyes on her—some filled with pity, others with malice—as she was brought through the gates toward the manor and dragged down to the cellar. The chill of the stone walls sent shivers down her spine as she was thrown into one of the middle cells, the door slamming shut behind her with a deafening clang.

You have been imprisoned!

Location: Volska Dungeon

Thanks for that utterly informative notification. I hadn’t noticed, Phoenix thought bitterly, rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the situation. She turned around and found another woman sitting in the corner of the dimly lit cell, her presence a small comfort in the otherwise bleak surroundings. Besides the woman, there was nothing else in the cell except a bucket in the corner, which she knew the purpose of all too well.

“What’s your name?” the woman asked, her voice contrasted to the silence. She had dirty blonde hair that was braided behind her head, and the tattered rags she wore were covered in dirt and mud.

“Name’s Phoenix,” she responded, her voice rough from neglecting it. The words felt foreign on her tongue, but she forced them out. “What about you?”

“My name’s Becca, welcome to hell.” The woman’s gaze hardened as she glanced around the cell, as if the very walls were a reminder of her plight. “So, what did you do to end up here?”

Phoenix took a deep breath, highlighting her time in the forest and briefly mentioning her arrival from another planet that didn’t have any sort of system or even magic, just a sudden drop into the Shadow Woods. Becca listened silently through the entire story, her expression a mix of disbelief and sympathy.

“Damn, that’s some bad luck. Getting dropped in a forest is one thing, but getting dropped in the Shadow Woods is a whole other beast.” Becca shook her head, her voice tinged with bitterness. “I guess it’s good you got dropped into an F-ranked world like ours instead of an A or B-ranked; you wouldn’t have survived a night. Brand new to the system with no cultivation, you’d be dead before you knew it.”

“What hell does that mean?” Phoenix thought, and asked her, genuine confusion evident in her tone. Becca’s face sported a shocked expression.

“You really didn’t come from a system-run planet? I thought they were only myths," Her eyes widened, "I was only playing along before, thought you took a knock to the head or something making you confused.” Phoenix couldn’t help but feel a pang of irony at the statement. She had grown up thinking everything in this new world was a myth, only to find herself trapped in one.

“Think of me like a newborn who knows nothing about this world or how any of this works,” she replied, annoyance creeping into her voice at her own ignorance. Really, Light? You couldn’t have given me any sort of beginner's guide to surviving on this planet? She cursed at him, hoping somewhere, somehow, he was listening to her.

“Alright, it’s almost time for the guard change,” Becca said, her tone shifting from shock to a more serious note. “After that, I’ll try to explain and answer what questions you have.” As they waited in the dim light of the cell, Phoenix felt the weight of her situation settling in.