The realization settled like a weight in Leon's gut—no, Frank's gut. He really was in another world. A place where technology and fantasy coexisted, where holographic billboards hovered over stone towers, and demi-humans roamed freely. It was a lot to take in, but one thing was certain: he had no idea what the hell to do next.
Touring the city with no real direction, he quickly learned an unfortunate truth—he was broke. The world's currency, something called Zeni, was required for just about everything. He discovered this after spotting a woman talking into a sleek, futuristic device that looked like a mix between a smartphone and a floating crystal panel. Curious, he eavesdropped, only to hear her confirming plans for an upcoming airship trip.
"Alright, transfer 500 Zeni to my link," she said into the glowing blue interface.
Leon—or Frank, as he was now—immediately checked his pockets, hoping for some miracle. Instead, he found nothing. No money, no device, no clue how anything worked.
"Right. I'm officially dirt poor. Fantastic start to my new life."
After wandering the city, dodging guards who probably wouldn't take kindly to a guy who woke up in a morgue, he stumbled upon a small barn on the outskirts. Unlike the sleek parts of the city, this place was more rustic, nestled between rolling green fields. Inside, a kind human man and his demi-human wife—a rabbit-eared woman—were tending to some livestock.
With nothing to lose, he approached, explaining his situation in the vaguest way possible. Thankfully, they took pity on him and let him crash in the barn. The wife even left some food and a blanket before heading inside for the night.
Lying on a pile of hay, he let out a deep breath. "Okay… what now?"
Then, everything changed.
A sudden pull, like his very soul was being yanked forward, sent him spiraling into the same void he'd seen before.
And she was there again.
The silver-dressed woman stood before him, her face still blurred, as if reality itself refused to fully render her appearance. Yet, there was an ethereal beauty to her—a presence that felt almost too perfect to be real.
"You again," he muttered. "Alright, spill it. What's going on? Am I dead, or is this just a really elaborate fever dream?"
"Neither," she replied calmly. "You've been chosen."
Leon scoffed. "Yeah, see, that's what people say before dumping some world-ending quest on you. Not interested."
"And yet, you have no choice."
His expression flattened. "Yep. Thought so."
She stepped closer, her form almost shimmering. "Our world is in crisis. An evil force is tipping the balance of power, disrupting the very hierarchy that maintains order. You have been chosen as the next Victor, the one who must rise and confront this imbalance."
Leon squinted at her. "That's awfully vague. Who's the villain? What's this 'imbalance' exactly? And, more importantly, what do I get out of this?"
She tilted her head slightly, amused. "Survival."
"Hah. Great reward. Love that for me."
Before he could push further, a strange sensation overtook him. Images flashed before his eyes—memories that weren't his.
A young man's life, one filled with struggles, loss, and fleeting happiness. Frank—the real Frank—had lived in this world before Leon took over his body. He saw flashes of Frank's childhood, his dreams of becoming an adventurer, his desperate fight for survival in the slums.
Then, his death—a brutal, unfair end at the hands of cloaked figures in an alley. A struggle. A knife. Darkness.
Leon gasped as he snapped back to the void, a single tear escaping his eye. He wiped it away quickly, almost annoyed at the reaction. Why did that hit so hard?
The woman watched him carefully. "Now you understand. The body you inhabit is not just a vessel. It holds a story, one that you are now part of."
He swallowed, his usual humor faltering for once. "Frank… didn't deserve that."
"No," she agreed. "But you can do what he never could."
Before he could respond, the void shattered, and he found himself back in the barn.
Night had fallen. He sat up, disoriented, as if waking from a dream. The barn owners had left a small plate of food beside him, along with something else—a device similar to the one he'd seen in the city.
A note beside it read: Figured you'd need one. Welcome to the world, kid.
Leon picked it up. "Huh. A freebie. Sweet. What do I even call this thing?"
After a moment of thought, he smirked. "How about… a Neura-Link? Sounds techy enough."
Stuffing it into his pocket, he stretched and stepped outside, ready to start figuring things out. First order of business? Getting a job. Turns out, according to city gossip, adventuring paid well. Escorting adventurers, carrying their luggage? 34 Zeni per day.
"Well, it's not a modeling gig, but it beats starving," he muttered, heading toward the city.
Then, right before he could take another step, a screen popped up in front of him.
[ Name: Frank ]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ Skills: Reciprocate, ??? ]
He stared at it, blinking. "...Well, that's new."
And just like that, his journey had officially begun.