The world felt... blurred.
A strange mix of weightlessness and crushing gravity wrapped around his entire body, as though he'd been thrown into an endless ocean where up and down had no meaning. His consciousness drifted — sinking, rising — carried by invisible waves into the arms of a world he didn't know.
A slow breath.
The grass beneath him felt soft, like the most luxurious bed. The scent of damp earth and fresh greenery filled his lungs, cool and sharp, brushing against his nerves like a whisper. A light breeze kissed his face, leaving behind a subtle chill.
"…What is this?.. Where am I?"
His head was heavy — leaden. Kano forced his eyes open, only to be blinded instantly. The sun, fierce and unrelenting, hung high above, spilling its golden heat over the entire world around him.
Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield his face.
"…I'm… alive?"
The sensation was so vivid it jolted his heart — a deep, visceral thump in his chest. Suddenly, his body was real again: the cold, the aches, the pins and needles crawling down his limbs — all of it. Undeniably real.
"But... I died, didn't I? The train… the light… the impact… then darkness… What the hell happened?"
His fingers dug into the grass. Wet. Cold. Soft. Alive.
A surge of adrenaline shot through him. He sat up abruptly — the world swayed. His vision blurred, and his head rang like a hive of furious bees.
"Calm down. Calm the hell down. Think logically… Ha. Yeah, right. What part of this is logical? I was just— what?!"
Kano glanced down at his hands.
They weren't his.
Larger. Stronger. Veins like cords beneath sun-kissed skin.
His heartbeat quickened.
"What the… These can't be mine."
He reached up, touched his face.
Sharp cheekbones. A firm jaw. The angles of a stranger.
Everything was wrong.
"It's a dream. Just a dream. Any second now, I'll wake up in my bed... sweating, shaken, but safe."
He closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. Then opened them again—fast.
…Nothing changed.
The forest still rustled gently around him. The sun still burned in the sky. Somewhere nearby, a stream bubbled in tranquil rhythm, as if mocking his disbelief.
"…Shit."
Kano let himself fall back onto the grass, eyes locked on the endless, vivid blue of the sky. His mind spun with a hundred thoughts, and panic still clenched tight around his heart.
"This isn't just a dream. But if not a dream… then what? What the hell happened to me?"
Slowly, he raised his left hand into the light.
There, etched into his skin, was a symbol — glowing faintly red, pulsing like a heartbeat.
A dragon. Coiled and elegant, made of interwoven lines that shimmered like fire trying to stay alive.
"…What the hell is that?"
He reached out, cautiously brushing it with a fingertip, bracing for pain. None came. The mark merely vibrated — a soft, steady thrum, perfectly in sync with his breath.
A curse? Or… the opposite? Something important?
A deep inhale.
A long, slow exhale.
"Alright, Kano. Panic won't help. Think logically… or at least pretend you can."
He took another glance at the forest — hauntingly beautiful, yet quietly menacing.
"If this really is a new world… then the big question is: what the hell do I do now?"
His stomach answered first, grumbling with sharp insistence.
"…Right. Let's start with the basics: water, food, shelter. Not planning to die on day one, thank you very much."
Kano pushed himself to his feet, though his body still felt alien. One unsteady step. Then another.
Slowly — but with growing resolve — he made his way toward the stream.
The world could be anything.
His life might have just been rewritten from scratch.
But he intended to survive.
The gentle sound of flowing water calmed him.
The stream wound its way between smooth stones, crystal-clear and glittering in the sunlight. Droplets danced from rock to rock, weaving a melody that felt eternal.
He stopped at the bank and stared into his reflection.
"…Alright. Let's see if that's really me."
He leaned closer, peering into the water.
A stranger stared back.
High forehead. Sharp cheekbones. A firm jawline. His face looked... too perfect? Like it had been carved with intention. But the eyes — the eyes were the most jarring.
Dark crimson, like embers smoldering beneath ash.
"…My eyes used to be brown."
Almost unconsciously, his fingers touched his face.
The skin was smooth, flawless, despite the fact he hadn't had a proper wash — or any kind of care — in... hours? Days? He honestly had no idea how long it had been since the "accident."
"In theory, this should be the part where I'm in a bathroom, staring at myself in the mirror, going: 'What the hell?!'
But nope. No mirror. No bathroom. Just a stream, and a forest. And zero chance of waking up back home."
His gaze dropped lower.
Hands — broader, muscular, marked with veins.
Chest — wide and solid.
Abs? Definitely present. Thank you, new body.
"…Okay, one point for this world. But everything else? Yeah, big question mark."
He sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck. The usual tan line from office life — gone. His skin looked smooth, unnaturally even, as if someone had airbrushed him with divine care.
His fingers lingered, then slid down over his collarbone and chest.
The texture of his skin felt… different. Denser? Tougher? Hard to describe. But whatever it was — it wasn't the skin of a normal human anymore.
"It's not just that I'm stronger. My whole body… it's been remade. This isn't training. It's like someone redesigned me from the ground up."
He glanced again at the reflection.
A stranger. That guy's not me.
But if he isn't… who is he?
His hand curled into a fist.
Muscles tensed, as if waiting for a command.
"…What happens if I punch a rock right now?"
A mix of curiosity and dread twisted in his gut.
Kano raised his fist — and with all the force he could muster, slammed it into the nearest stone.
CRACK!
"AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!"
Pain.
White-hot, skull-rattling pain.
His knuckles collided with the solid surface, and a blinding flash exploded in his mind — pure agony, searing and immediate.
Kano yanked his hand back with a hiss, clutching it tightly with the other as pain shot through his fingers and up his forearm like wildfire.
"DAMN IT! What the hell did I just do?!"
He started hopping in place, cradling his hand against his chest as if that could somehow soothe the searing agony pulsing through every joint and knuckle.
"Son of a—! What kind of idiot punches a rock? I thought I was some kind of supersoldier, not a brain-dead moron with anger issues!"
Teeth clenched, eyes narrowed, he inspected his trembling hand—pale, throbbing, and furious.
No bones broken, as far as he could tell. But the pain? The pain was very real.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, a sarcastic voice chimed in: Brilliant move, Kano. Welcome to a brand-new world full of wonders and magic—and you've already found a way to injure yourself. Bravo.
He dropped into a crouch, breathing hard, rubbing his bruised knuckles like a sulking child.
"I'm such an idiot… I really thought I'd unlocked some hidden strength or something. Turns out—punching stone? Still hurts. Who would've guessed, right?"
His eyes wandered back to the rock.
Not a crack. Not a scratch.
The only damage? His hand—now raw, stinging, and scraped.
"Well, the verdict's in. No superpowers. Just a fancy dragon mark and zero idea what it actually does. And I've officially earned the title of 'World's Dumbest Wilderness Survivor.'"
With a heavy sigh, Kano rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Okay. New rule: think first, then act. No more punching random things. Especially rocks. And definitely no testing immortality through blunt force trauma."
His gaze drifted toward a nearby stream.
Water.
That's what he needed.
Still muttering curses under his breath, he trudged over and plunged his injured hand into the icy current.
A sharp sting greeted him— then a welcome coolness.
He shut his eyes and listened to the gentle sound of water flowing over stones, letting the rhythm wash over him. Slowly, the chaos in his chest began to settle.
Step one of survival: achieved.
Kano exhaled deeply, lowering his head.
His hand still throbbed with a dull ache, a throbbing reminder that he wasn't a superhero. Not some prophesied warrior sent to save the world.
Just a guy.
A guy who punched a rock.
"Alright, Kano. Let's keep it simple. Don't die. Don't punch any more rocks. And find some damn food. Sounds like a solid plan."
He lifted his head and took in his surroundings.
Forest.
Towering trees stretched endlessly into the sky, their interwoven branches forming a thick canopy above. Light filtered through the leaves in narrow shafts, scattering ghostlike patterns across the forest floor.
Silence.
No roads. No buildings. No people.
"…Of course," he muttered. "Out of all the places to wake up in a fantasy world, it had to be the middle of a forest. Naturally."
He scratched his head, irritation bubbling in his chest.
"If this were a proper fantasy novel, an elven maiden would stroll out of the bushes right about now and explain that I'm the chosen one. Or I'd stumble onto a path leading straight to a nearby town. But nope. Real life? You wake up naked, alone, and hungry in the woods. Perfect."
He rose slowly to his feet.
His body still felt heavy, but the ache in his muscles had dulled. He wasn't stumbling anymore. Wasn't collapsing every time he tried to move. He was even starting to get used to this… new form.
"Alright. Let's start with the basics. What do you need when you're dumped in the middle of nowhere? Food. Water. Shelter. Water's covered. Next stop—food."
Kano scanned the trees.
No fruits.
No familiar plants.
"But what the hell am I supposed to eat?" Kano muttered, scanning the underbrush. "I don't even know what's edible here. This is a magic world—we're probably talking about berries that make you vomit your soul out. Or mushrooms that'll have me seeing tap-dancing elves in top hats."
Cautiously, he ventured deeper into the woods, hoping to stumble across something useful.
A few steps in, he spotted a bush—its branches trembling with movement. A small flock of birds pecked eagerly at the berries. Like a true survivalist who'd watched exactly one episode of some wilderness show, Kano shrugged, picked a handful for himself, and kept moving.
His legs, surprisingly, carried him with smooth, almost effortless precision.
"Well, at least I've still got my shoes. Could be worse—I could've rubbed my feet bloody in the first five minutes. Though these things are definitely starting to pinch…"
He pressed forward.
The forest felt endless.
The shadows between the trees twisted and merged, forming a kind of natural maze. Roots clawed at his feet, making him stumble now and then. Each time he paused, glanced behind him, tried to remember the way he came.
But the path had long since vanished.
He was lost.
"…I'm an idiot. A full-fledged, certified idiot. Smashed my hand on a rock like a caveman. Didn't scout the area. Just marched into the woods like some brave adventurer. And now? Welcome to Lost in the Forest—starring your host: a clueless jackass."
He stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Okay, Kano. Deep breath. Yes, you're in another world. Yes, you're completely lost. But you've got…"
He looked down at his hands.
One was still aching from the rock incident.
The other… was clutching a stick he'd picked up along the way.
"…Right. The ultimate survival toolkit: one stick, and two fists. Well—one and a half. 'Cause this one's still throbbing like hell."
His stomach grumbled in betrayal.
"Perfect. Hunger. Because of course, why not? Let's just tick starving to death off the bingo card."
He looked around again.
Trees.
Bushes.
Not a single edible thing in sight, aside from a few suspect berries.
"If this were a game, I'd have an inventory full of apples, roast meat, maybe even a sandwich or two. But nooo. Real life's got nothing but trees, thorns, and a big fat middle finger."
Something bright caught his eye in the grass.
Kano stepped closer, cautiously.
A mushroom.
Red.
With white spots.
He knelt, examining it like it might bite.
And sighed. Loudly.
"Of course. Of course. Classic fantasy world mushroom. Let me guess—first rule of survival? The more colorful the fungus, the quicker you drop dead."
He started to turn away… then hesitated.
"…But what if it's not poison? What if it's like, I don't know—some magical energy booster? Local version of a protein bar? A mana mushroom?"
His hand crept toward it on reflex.
But then his imagination kicked in—a vivid, horrifying vision of himself writhing on the ground five minutes later, hallucinating fire-breathing squirrels or, worse, foaming at the mouth like some downed RPG character with zero HP.
Kano jerked his hand back.
"Nope. Nope nope nope. Not that desperate yet."
He stood up straight, scratched the back of his head, and glanced skyward.
The trees loomed above him, their thick canopies blotting out nearly all the sunlight.
"Okay. Mushrooms are a bad idea. So what's next?"
Suddenly, something rustled in the grass nearby.
Kano spun, heart in his throat.
A rustle.
Soft. Almost inaudible.
Kano's heart skipped, then sped up.
He raised his stick slowly, as if it were a sword, not a broken branch.
"Please… let it be something small. Something harmless. Not teeth. Not claws. Definitely not fangs."
From the grass emerged...
Something fluffy.
Kano froze.
A rabbit.
Just a rabbit. A large, fuzzy creature with long ears and fur that shimmered strangely under the dappled light.
It stopped.
Its beady black eyes met his.
His stomach growled again—loudly.
The rabbit twitched.
So did Kano.
For a moment, they both stood still, locked in some kind of primal, silent standoff.
"…Okay," he whispered. "That's dinner. That's definitely dinner. If I catch it, I might actually live through this day."
He slowly raised his stick.
The rabbit tilted its head.
Kano stepped forward.
The rabbit hopped back.
And then— like someone had fired it from a goddamn catapult—it vanished into the bushes with a single, explosive leap.
Kano blinked.
Stared at the empty grass where it had stood just moments ago.
"…It's gone."
He inhaled sharply.
Exhaled even harder.
Then looked up at the sky and shut his eyes.
"Right. Okay, Kano. You're a warrior. A hunter. A predator. And you just lost… to a rabbit."
He lowered the stick, dragged a hand down his face, and let out a bitter sigh.
"Fantastic. Just perfect. What's next? Gonna lose a poker match to an apple?"
His mood was spiraling.
Hunger.
Exhaustion.
A creeping sense of despair.
He'd been wandering for what felt like hours, and all he had to show for it was a stick… and one rabbit-shaped hole in his meal plan.
Then— another sound.
A rustle again.
But deeper.
Heavier.
Kano froze.
"…Okay. That's definitely not a rabbit."
He tightened his grip on the stick.
And from between the trees…
An enormous deer stepped out.
Graceful. Powerful. Regal, even.
It moved like it owned the forest.
It glanced his way—and then looked past him. As if he wasn't even worth acknowledging.
Kano blinked.
"…No, I mean, I'm glad it's not some bloodthirsty monster, sure—but come on! Why is every creature here acting like I'm invisible?! I'm on the verge of starvation, people!"
The deer lingered a moment longer, then casually turned and walked away, antlers brushing past low-hanging branches like it ruled this forest.
Kano exhaled, defeated.
"I'm not even seen as a threat. Just… a nothing."
He glanced skyward again.
"Hey, universe? Can we make a deal? I'm not asking for much. Just something edible. Something that doesn't come with teeth or hallucinations. Please."
His stomach groaned in protest.
The sun dipped low.
Night was coming.
His first night in a new world.
And Kano had absolutely no idea how he was going to survive it.
The forest thickened with gloom.
What little light remained barely slipped through the leafy canopy, casting long, warped shadows that shifted like ghosts across the forest floor.
Kano stood in the middle of a small clearing and exhaled slowly, deeply.
"Alright, Kano. No proper food. Lost the stream, so no water either. It's gonna get cold real soon. But that's fine, right? Totally fine?!"
His eyes darted around, scanning for even the most pitiful hint of shelter.
Trees.
Bushes.
Rocks.
No cozy inn. No bed with a fluffy blanket. Just trees and dirt and the creeping certainty of frostbite.
"Wonderful. Just amazing. Where's my VIP tent with heated floors and breakfast in bed?"
His arms wrapped instinctively around himself, trying to conserve warmth.
"Okay, stop whining. You need shelter. Anything that'll keep the rain off, the wind out, and the monsters from chewing your face off while you sleep."
He trudged toward a large tree with thick, gnarled roots pushing up through the ground. There, between the roots, was a shallow hollow—barely enough space to curl up in, but it was better than nothing. If he added branches, leaves, whatever he could find… maybe it'd be enough.
Kano looked around, rolled up his sleeves.
"Alright. Tonight, I'm an architect."
He grabbed the first long branch. Then another. And another.
Ten minutes later, he had something that—if you squinted, tilted your head, and used a bit of imagination—resembled a shelter. A pile of twigs leaned uncertainly against one another like drunkards at closing time.
He wiped sweat from his forehead, examined his work… and frowned.
"Well… I mean. It's still better than sleeping out in the open."
He stepped back and admired his crooked creation.
"Look at that! A true masterpiece! Pure genius! If this thing makes it through the night, I'm officially declaring it a world wonder."
With a resigned grunt, he began gathering dry leaves to line the inside—just enough to soften the cold, hard ground.
"There we go. Welcome to the Bear-Adjacent Inn. Amenities include a drafty breeze, soul-chilling cold, and a constant sense of impending doom!"
He plopped down inside, curling his arms around his knees.
The western sky still glowed faintly red, but night was falling fast.
Kano listened.
The rustle of leaves.
A distant, eerie cry.
Then another.
His skin went clammy with cold sweat.
"Oh great. Here we go. Was that… an owl? Or some kind of demonic forest predator that just picked up my scent?"
He hugged himself tighter, every muscle tense, ears straining for the next sound.
He closed his eyes.
Breathed in.
Breathed out.
"It's fine. Just the night. Just a forest at night. I'm not in a horror movie. I'm not in a monster trap. I'm just… surviving."
Rustle.
His eyes snapped open.
Something moved in the bushes.
Kano clenched his fists, heart pounding, ready to swing the stick like a sword if he had to.
But instead of some nightmare beast…
A small fox stepped into the clearing.
It stopped a few meters away, head tilted, as if trying to assess the strange creature huddled in twigs and leaf-bedding.
Kano blinked.
"Wait. You're… a fox? Not a demon? Not a shapeshifter?"
The little creature sniffed the air, ears flicking.
Then, with almost royal calm, it padded closer—unbothered, unafraid.
Kano froze.
"Is this… normal? Why isn't it scared? Why is it acting like this is its campsite and I'm the guest? Is this some local breed of overly confident woodland critters…?"
The fox sat down right in front of his makeshift shelter, staring at him intently.
Kano glanced at the only food he had—his pitiful handful of berries.
The fox followed his gaze.
"You hungry? Want to share?" he asked, his voice softer now.
The fox's little nose twitched.
It looked at the berries.
Then at him.
Kano sighed.
"Well. Guess I've officially lost it. Talking to a fox. Sharing dinner. Fantastic. But hey… why not."
He picked out a few berries and gently tossed them forward.
The fox sniffed, took a cautious step, and began eating with zero hesitation.
Kano watched, somewhere between amazement and exhaustion.
"No suspicion? Not even a taste test? Do I really look that pathetic? Like, 'Don't worry, he's not a threat—just a lost idiot with no food or future.' Is that the vibe I give off?"
Once the berries were gone, the fox sat a while longer… then curled up beside the shelter, a soft ball of fur against the creeping chill.
Kano looked at it.
Then at his sad little lean-to.
Then back at the fox.
And sighed.
"Well. Guess I have a friend now. Fuzzy and shameless, but… a friend."
He rubbed his face, fatigue catching up with him like a slow tide.
The sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the snapping twigs—no longer seemed so ominous.
The shadows no longer felt like threats.
Even the cold had dulled, softened by the quiet presence of the sleeping fox.
Kano nestled into the leaf bedding, exhaled deeply, and let his eyes fall shut.
"I'm still alive. That means I've got a chance."
His mind drifted.
The forest continued breathing around him—alive, vast, untamed.
And then, in sleep… he dreamed.
A city.
Familiar streets.
Home.
Everything was just as it used to be. Calm. Ordinary.
And then— a plunge.
Darkness.
Soundless.
Scentless.
Shapeless.
Only falling.
Endless.
Kano was falling—no, flying—his body dissolving into the void, while around him, like stars born of memory, fragments of his past spun by.
The smile of a stranger as he held a door open.
A boy he'd once given his last coins to for a bus fare.
The laughter and cruel shouts of classmates mocking him— while he said nothing… and still helped others.
And then—that final moment.
A platform. A girl slipping.
Kano lunging forward.
The flash of a train's light.
"I died…"
"I never accomplished anything…"
"I wasn't worth anything…"
And then— the world stopped.
Space drew in, tight as lungs before a scream.
Darkness thickened, heavy and viscous like oil.
And then—eyes.
Two.
Enormous.
Burning with a cold, piercing blue.
Pupil-less. Emotionless.
But they saw.
Everything.
And Kano knew—they weren't simply watching.
They knew.
His fear.
His shame.
His pain.
His truth.
A voice echoed in his mind.
Calm. Deep.
Like something he had always known.
A sound older than thought.
"Look."
The world shattered again.
Visions tore through him.
War.
Cities consumed by flame.
Skies devoured by fire.
Blood mingling with mana.
Races destroying each other.
Children screaming over the bodies of their parents.
Gods who no longer heard prayers.
A world writhing in its death throes— a world that no longer begged for salvation.
"You will either save them…"
"…or finish the destruction."
"You have the right to choose."
And in that instant— everything compressed.
Aura.
Space.
Time.
The entire universe seemed to collapse inward—into him.
It hurt.
It hurt like the weight of all human history was blazing through his nerves.
Tears poured from his eyes unbidden, but even crying felt like pain.
The scream didn't come from his throat—it was torn from his very soul.
"Aaaaah!"
And then— everything vanished.
Kano's eyes flew open.
He gasped, like breaking the surface after drowning.
Forest. A stream. Cold.
The darkness around him was once again just… darkness.
But he— he was no longer the same.