Chapter 1: The Incident

  “What would you do if you were transported to another world?” That question probably created endless sleepless nights for any modern anime fan. I, Ichirou Kyoichi, a typical Japanese high school boy, had often pondered this very scenario, dreaming of epic quests or romantic harem adventures. However, the reality of my situation was far from anything I had ever fantasized about.

  My everyday life revolved around anime, manga, and light novels—especially the ones featuring the “villainess” trope. I even owned a motorcycle that I loved riding. But why I was allowed to drive at my age is a tale for another time. On one particularly fateful day, I overslept, waking up in a panic. In a desperate attempt to conceal my tardiness, I hopped on my bike and chased after the school bus. Sleep deprivation makes you do impulsive things, and at that moment, I thought I could blend into the mix.

  The ride started out fine, a typical chase when suddenly, before my eyes, an otherworldly black hole opened right in front of the bus. As fate would have it, in all my impulsivity, I couldn’t stop in time. I was swallowed by that void, falling into the unknown.

  What awaited me on the other side? An endless ocean, stretching as far as the eye could see. My swimming skills were decent, but as I flailed about in panic, I quickly realized staying afloat would be impossible for long. The salty water stung my eyes, and soon enough, exhaustion began to creep in. I felt hope slip through my fingers like sand, and amidst those turbulent thoughts, I lost consciousness.

  When I opened my eyes again, I wasn’t drowning. No, I was lying on a ground that felt strangely firm yet fluid beneath me. As I gained my bearings, I discovered I was inside a building—at the bottom of an ocean. The structure felt unfamiliar, almost surreal, encapsulated in a darkness that swallowed the light. Despite the overwhelming pressure of the water outside, I found that it was warm and surprisingly comfortable.

  Panic slowly morphed into hazy curiosity. I began to stand, shaking the disorientation from my head. I could barely see, but I sensed a lingering presence in the darkness, something moving just beyond my line of sight. I moved cautiously, my instincts honed while riding my motorcycle, reminding me to be aware of my surroundings.

  As I stepped carefully, I felt my foot slip into an opening—at least, that’s what I thought it was at first. I’d unknowingly stumbled upon a hole in the ground, or perhaps a staircase leading deeper into the building.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “What a bizarre situation…” I muttered under my breath, philosophy and surrealism swirling together in my mind. I braced myself, wishing I could summon the kind of resolve off a protag from my favorite stories. The gravity of my reality was suffocating, but that instinct for survival propelled me forward.

  Suddenly, an overwhelming force slammed into my back, sending me tumbling down what turned out to be a staircase. The water cushioned my fall, masking the impact, but just as I began to regain my composure, I sensed movement behind me.

  Curiosity morphed into dread as I turned, and what I saw froze my blood. Three giant, luminescent eyes glowed in the dark, accompanied by a metallic body emerged from the shadows. It was an insect-like robot, its three sleek legs scuttling erratically. A mechanical stinger extended from its abdomen, glistening ominously in the dim light.

  In an instinctual reaction, I raised my arm to shield myself. The pain that followed was searing, raw, overwhelming. As the stinger drove into my flesh, darkness claimed me once more, but in that final moment, a flicker of realization washed over me. Whatever this world was, it was far more dangerous than I could ever have imagined.

  When I awoke again, this time I was surrounded by dim light and the faint hum of machinery. My arm throbbed with an intensity that pulled me fully back to reality. I shot up, gripping the last remnants of my clarity, scanning my surroundings. I was in a small chamber filled with strange, alien technology—a world of bizarre devices I could barely comprehend.

  The walls were slick and shimmering, bioluminescent patterns pulsing softly beneath my fingers as I touched them. Panic surged within me at the thought of that creature, but as I looked down at my arm, I realized the wound was bandaged—not by me, but by something else entirely.

  An unsettling chill crept down my spine given to the ambiguity of my current situation. Where was I? What had saved me? I had a deepening sense that I was not alone in this strange underwater edifice. I pulled myself up and took a couple of steps forward, my heart racing as I approached an opening that seemed to lead to another chamber.

  With every uncertain step, I felt the merging of my fate and the destiny of this submerged world drawing closer together, and underneath the fear simmered a flicker of determination. Perhaps, as absurd as it sounded, maybe I had a part to play in this vast and mysterious universe.

  The question looming ahead of me? How to survive the dangers that lurked in the abyss, emerged from the darkest shadows of my own imagination. It was no longer about fantasy; it was about understanding the rules of this world—and if there was any way for me to return home.

  Little did I know, I was about to uncover the secrets of the abyss, meet strange allies, and perhaps even redefine what it meant to be a hero in a world that defied all logic.

  And thus, my journey began.