Everything was black... then white.

The last thing you remembered was pain—sharp, searing pain—shooting through your entire body as a massive truck barreled into you. One second, you were pushing your friend out of the way; the next, you were flying through the air. Guess that's what happens when you try playing the hero. At least you’d be remembered as one. But what did it matter now? You were dead.

Or so you thought.

At first, there was nothing. An empty void stretching endlessly in all directions. Then, a blinding light. God? The thought barely formed before you started falling—fast. Wind roared in your ears, weightlessness twisting your stomach, and then—

BAM!

A fresh jolt of pain shot through your back, knocking the air from your lungs. Wait... pain? How was that possible? Weren't you supposed to be dead? Groaning, you sat up, rubbing the back of your head. The ground beneath you was soft—grass? Slowly, you opened your eyes, only to be met with a sky so blue, so vivid, it looked like a painting. Puffy white clouds drifted lazily overhead, like something straight out of a cheesy romance anime you used to watch as a kid.

Is this heaven?

A chuckle of disbelief left your lips. After everything—after what your parents and those damn pastors said about your so-called “sins”—you still made it to heaven? Maybe they were wrong. Maybe—

A low, guttural growl cut through your thoughts.

Your breath hitched. Slowly, you turned your head.

There, to your left, stood a beast—a hulking mix between a boar and a wolf, its sharp fangs glistening with saliva as it snarled.

Fear gripped you like a vice.

Shit.

The creature let out a thunderous roar and charged. You barely had time to react, stumbling backward, your limbs moving on pure survival instinct. It missed you by inches, but before you could even process the near-death experience, the monster was already pivoting, its hooves stomping the ground as it prepared to strike again.

You had nowhere to run.

This time, you wouldn’t be able to dodge.

You braced for impact, eyes squeezing shut. This is it.

Then—

"MOVE!"

A voice, sharp and commanding, rang through the air.

Before you could react, someone yanked you aside. The next thing you knew, a flash of red hair streaked past your vision. A woman—tall, fierce-eyed, clad in what looked like armor (though oddly incomplete, with a generous chest window showing more skin than practicality allowed). She moved with impossible speed, brandishing a massive sword that gleamed under the sunlight.

Everything happened so fast.

One moment, the beast was lunging; the next, it was collapsing to the ground, its blood pooling beneath it. The woman barely spared it a glance as she flicked her sword clean, turning to you with an expression of suspicion—yet beneath the hardened exterior, there was something else. A hint of kindness.

You sat there, stunned, your mind struggling to catch up.

One second, you were getting hit by a truck.

The next, you were in a strange world, attacked by a monster, and saved by a woman straight out of a fantasy novel.

The adrenaline left your body all at once, and with shaky limbs, you pushed yourself to your feet, brushing dirt from your clothes.

"You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement. Was that pride? "That was a close call. Lucky I heard the Boarwolf’s roar, or you’d be dead meat."

You nodded, still too dazed to speak.

"Name’s Zoe Amber—daughter of the Chief of the Royal Guard."

Before you could respond, she grabbed your wrist and started dragging you along.

"Come on, I’ll take you to the kingdom."

You had no choice but to follow.

As you walked, she kept sneaking glances at you, her expression thoughtful.

The world around you was breathtaking. Rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see, the sky was impossibly vast, and the air was crisp and clean. It all felt too perfect, too surreal. Maybe this really was heaven...

Then, in the distance, a city came into view.

A towering castle loomed at its heart, standing tall over the land like a guardian watching over its people.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Eldoria," Zoe announced. "Don’t worry, you’re under my protection."

The city was incredible. Bustling markets, towering Victorian-inspired buildings, a vibrant energy that made it feel alive. It was straight out of an anime.

But as you approached a massive stone bridge leading to the castle, a sinking realization hit you.

Wait... why are we heading toward the castle?

The towering gates creaked open before you could voice your concerns.

This is bad. This is really bad.