Transported Into An Evil Empire.

It was all normal, just how I liked it. I woke up early, got ready and started watching the first few episodes of my favourite anime. It was a long journey but I had finally got through the hundreds of episodes, and now I was on my last one.

But I had class, this last one could wait, I would watch it when I came back.

I got on my bike and made my way to campus, followed by a lecture on history, something related to anthropology and early humans, I took my notes and paid attention as this was a subject I was very interested in, not that I ever wanted to live in a very primitive, stone age world, a scab could kill me.

Once that was over and done with, I devoted some time to study in the library, which may or may not have consisted mostly of looking at memes on my phone instead of actual study. Once I felt like I understood most of the info, I could finally get back to the last episode of that show.

I got on my bike and cycled as fast as possible, I did not want to waste any time. I switched to the highest gear and sped down and trudged up hills until my apartment block was just on the other side of the street.

Look left, Look right, Look left, it’s alright.

I pedalled onwards and just as I was about to go onto the opposite curb, felt something beside me.

It looked like a ghost truck, it appeared translucent and ethereal, like something out of this world, I couldn’t help but stop and look as it continued rushing towards me.

Splat!

I was trapped in a dark box, I felt tiny and weak, I couldn’t see anything. I tried pushing out but nothing happened. This enclosure was too strong, too tough, it felt like icey steel, I had goosebumps all over and I was shivering.

Is this death? Are you just stuck in this compartment forever, just letting consciousness run until you can’t think or feel anymore?

There has to be more, there is more, I don’t know what this is, but I know it's not all there is to the afterlife.

I pushed again, this time revitalised with strength, as if my confidence boosted me.

The box faltered, it bent around my hands, and with a final push with my legs, it burst open.

“Damn sonny, how did you get in there?”

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I saw a dark man standing over me, shadowed by the sun.

“There are easier ways to scrap these boxes, have this.” He tossed a crowbar to me and I instinctively caught it. “Should crack open with only the slightest amount of pressure, using your hands is a chore and get you cut.”

I stood there, dumbfounded and confused.

“Get to work maggot! I’m being nice cause you’re new, but I ain't gonna be like this much more.”

“Yes sir!” I blurted out of nowhere, I had a talent for looking the part, I was able to sneak into concerts and events. I quickly followed this with a salute, then crawled out of this box.

I was able to see my foreman - foreman? We’re scrappers, so that’s the term if he’s the boss, yeah - and he was adorned in very fancy metal armour, complete with gold swirls and dragon insignia which did little more than to signify rank and importance.

I could certainly fit in, but i needed to learn where the absolute fuck am I, I would start by finishing today’s job and then asking around, it wasn’t too hard, this metal was very weak.

I walked up to rows of metal boxes and broke a slit with my crowbar near the top and wrenched upwards,taking off the top, then i made my way to the sides, making a slit, wrenching out, and I would just kick the rest down once I could make my way inside freely

I saw some very exhausted and soot covered men carrying these scrapped boxes into a pit.

I gathered the sheets of metal I had scrapped and held it above my head on both hands, seeing as there was no other way to comfortably do it, the shape was awkward.

-

I need to get back home, I need to finish that anime, things need to go back to normal. I got lashed for not carrying these sheets of metal fast enough, and again for not carrying enough.

I scrapped three boxes and jogged with the sheets above my head, tossed it down the pit and went back. I could never do this work for more than 3 days, my back was hurting, I was wheezing and it hadn’t even been 2 hours yet, the sun had barely shifted.

“Maggot, faster!” He ordered. “What level’re you anyway, how did you even get assigned this job, work’s barely started and your having a fit.”

“Level?” I asked.

“Y’don’t know about levels, how have you even gone about living, how old are you?”

“19..”

"19 and I doubt you’re even level 3 yet, did your parents feed you dirt? Say ‘Status’”

“Uh..”

“Now maggot!”

“Yes sir! Status."

[James Green]

[Health:25/30]

[Level: 1]

[Stats:]

[Strength:5]

[Speed:4]

[Vitality: 3]

[Mind: 5]

[Free points: 3]

[Skills:]

[Loot boxes:]

[Basic: 1]

I read my stats to him and he howled in laughter.

“No skills, all single digit stats? Hah! How the fuck!?”

I stood there, all awkward and confused, I didn’t know what these numbers meant.

“Come with me.” He said, quickly changing his tone and walking off, I followed closely and was led to a small with a name on it.

FOREMAN

RATH TUK

“Give me access to your sheet, I’ll kill you if you were lying about what you said, the empire has got no space for spies.”