Awakening in an Alternate World -I

[In an Unknown Location]

Four unknown entities are conversing with each other, but if you're thinking they are doing so while drinking tea, then you're dead wrong.

They are making decisions that can affect realities, yet they talk and play a game as if losing would result in one of them giving away their reality.

Let me give you a simple idea of how bold their decision-making is by examining the chart of realities, shall we?

1. World: Yes, the one you live in, called the world. It could be a small or big planet, but we reside on Earth. Our planet is just a fraction of the entire solar system. Think about it, even if our Earth were destroyed, the solar system wouldn't die with it; it would continue to function.

2. Galaxy: Many solar systems create a galaxy, and so far, humans haven't been able to transform Mars into a habitable place. The galaxy we live in is the Milky Way galaxy, with 100 billion solar systems comprising it.

3. Universe: We don't know the extent of our universe due to our current technology limitations. In this novel, there are 100 billion galaxies that make up the universe.

4. Cosmos: A cosmos is formed by 100 billion universes.

5. Reality: A single reality is created by 100 billion cosmos.

Let's take a moment to think this. Our planet has a population of only 7 billion humans. So, how many living beings can inhabit this vast reality? And these four entities are using this very reality for their game.

While they were deeply focused on their game, suddenly one of the entities spoke up.

"Interesting. An unknown soul attempting to cross realities. Judging by the strength of the soul, it seems to be that of a child. I have never seen a soul crossing our realm to travel to another reality," Entity 1 said.

"This must be a mistake. How can a soul survive in this place?" Entity 2 questioned.

"This is highly unusual. I cannot determine its origin. This soul cannot be allowed to leave this space," Entity 3 stated.

"There are many things to take note of. Firstly, we cannot see its original reality, which is unusual because, besides the Emperor, we are the strongest beings in existence. If we can't see through its origin, it means someone is protecting it, and most likely, that person will be our enemy, trying to use this soul in our realm for their game," Entity 4 analyzed.

"But this is impossible! How can someone be so bold as to use our reality as their playground? We must inform the Emperor," Entity 3 exclaimed, and suddenly, a shadow appeared.

Little did they know, this soul not only came from a different reality but would also pose a future threat to their lives. In that moment, one of the Elders made a decision.

"Let's kill him right now. I have a bad feeling about his origin. I can't trust my All-Seeing Eyes too much. I'll trust my instinct," Entity 1 said and attacked the soul.

[disintegrate]

After the words left his mouth, the surrounding energy became chaotic, causing the soul that was attempting to transmigrate to start disintegrating.

Half of the soul appeared destroyed, but there was something protecting it. The soul began absorbing energies from its surroundings, attempting to heal itself.

"That resolves any future troubles. There is nothing in this reality that can affect our lives now, hahaha," Entity 1 said happily. He continued speaking as if nothing had happened, swiftly changing the topic and resuming their game.

Meanwhile, as this unfortunate soul traveled to restore itself, a sudden glitch occurred in the fabric of reality. All the energy present there was absorbed into the soul, as if it had a blank black hole within.

Suddenly, changes took place, and a large cube-like structure was absorbed into the soul, along with all the energy. The soul and the energy teleported from that place to a barren galaxy, where a blue planet resided.

All the Entities who had previously attempted to kill the soul were discussing its demise. However, their conversation abruptly halted when they witnessed a vision of the future.

The revelation threw their entire existence into chaos as they saw the fate of all their beings. Despite their efforts to locate the soul, they found nothing. After numerous failed attempts, one of them commanded a shadow that appeared behind them.

"Dispatch our forces to all the realities within our domain. If they come across anything suspicious, annihilate those realities," ordered Entity 1.

"Yes, Elder. I will inform the Primordials. Although they are the weakest among us, they possess the ability to effortlessly obliterate realities," responded the shadow.

"Carry out the orders accordingly. Destroy any reality that seems suspicious. And don't rely too heavily on the Primordials; they are too weak to be trusted. You may accompany them if necessary," Entity 1 cautioned.

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[ Prime Timeline Origin Point ]

Date: 10th July 2145

I awoke from my sleep, unsure why, but it felt like emerging from a long hibernation, much like a patient coming out of a coma, feeling hollow inside.

My heart raced in my chest, the weight of it heavy, as I tried to shake off my grogginess. With a confused expression, I scanned the room, noticing everything appearing normal, yet subtly different—no, the differences were too pronounced.

Then, in a sudden rush, my memories flooded back, reminding me of my true identity. I couldn't fathom why thoughts of my identity surfaced at this moment, but my life history played before my eyes.

I am Alex Williams, a 21-year-old computer programmer. I possess a slightly handsome face, with blue eyes and stylish black hair. Most of my free time is dedicated to enjoying gaming, reading novels, and eagerly anticipating new anime releases—it's what brings joy to my days.

"If we consider others' perspectives, I am not particularly sociable. I prefer to mind my own business, even if a fourth world war were to happen—I simply don't care. Why? Because I can't change the outcome, and if I can't change anything, why bother thinking about it?

Like many unsociable beings like myself, I also experienced childhood trauma, but mine was due to my father. My father is in the army; he was an army officer. I hardly saw him during my childhood, which is why my childhood was traumatic.

Like many children, I wanted to spend my childhood with my dad, but I never had the chance because my father worked outside of our planet. He would rarely return to be with his family. This might not be considered trauma by some people, but trauma can be different for everyone.

To escape from this, I thought playing games would help. When I was ten years old, I hardly talked to children my age because I couldn't relate to them. Instead, I spent most of my time playing games, reading novels, and watching anime.

As I recalled my life history, I thought for a second that it made sense. I was a child back then, and now I understand everything, so I don't have any problems with my childhood. I'm fine. However, my personality has completely changed, so I remain the same. I'm not the talkative type, nor do I care about anyone except for my family. Then I snapped back to my senses.

The sun streamed through the half-closed blinds, casting long shadows across the room. I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the light, my thoughts still hazy from sleep. As I reached for my phone on the nightstand, I was taken aback.

With trembling fingers, I unlocked the screen, only to be greeted by a barrage of notifications. My heart skipped a beat as I scrolled through the messages, each one more perplexing than the last.

News alerts, social media posts, and text messages all conveyed the same astonishing news: the discovery of mana, an extraordinary energy source that had suddenly appeared in our world.

I blinked, my mind struggling to process the implications. Mana? Wasn't that something out of fantasy novels and video games? But the evidence was overwhelming, and the world seemed to be buzzing with excitement, confusion, and fear.

My mind raced with a flurry of thoughts. How was this even possible? Mana is a fictional energy humans created for novels, games, and so on. Why was mana appearing in our world? Wait, now that I think about it, my room seems different, and this smartphone in my hand is significantly different from what I know.

Is this some kind of joke? After checking everything and realizing that I have been transmigrated, not into a different world, but into an alternate reality of my own world.

I can't help but wonder if I am some kind of protagonist, or if this reality is a novel itself. The reason I think this is simple, I have read many novels in my past life, and they often start with a scenario like this. There's a 99% chance that I am myself in a novel, and a 1% chance that another world exists, and I got here due to some glitch.

I was lost in my thoughts when suddenly, I felt my heart begin to crack. The pain was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and it brought tears streaming down my face. Oh my God, this has to be a joke. Wait, Alex, calm down and think carefully.

However, I quickly pushed away the dangerous thought. There must be countless reasons for my transmigration into this alternate reality. Perhaps it was a result of cosmic forces at play, or maybe it was a glitch in the matrix, a hiccup in the fabric of existence.

The possibilities seemed endless. I'll find out no matter what, but how did I die in my past life? Well, that's one more question, and I don't have any answers.

But as I think further, another thought crossed my mind. In the countless novels I've read, it was rare to find a transmigrator without some sort of system, cheat, or special power.

Considering all the transmigrator I've seen in novels, if I'm hoping for a cheat, then being myself in a novel would be a 100% guarantee. But was I just an unlikely exception to the rule? Where was my system, my cheat code, or even a hint of extraordinary abilities?

It seems I'm the unlucky one. Wait a minute, why are you thinking about this, you idiot? Let's gather information about the situation. This won't help because your imagination is running wild.

With a wry smile, I acknowledged the irony of my situation. As my thoughts raced and my emotions swirled, a bold idea sparked within me. If I couldn't rely on existing cheats or systems, why not create one for myself?

While it seemed implausible to bend the fabric of reality and obtain extraordinary abilities out of thin air, perhaps there were ways to develop my own unique advantages within the confines of this world.

But as quickly as the idea surfaced, a wave of doubt crashed over me. Who was I to think I could create something that defied the very rules of this universe? I couldn't just conjure up a cheat or special power. The limits of my abilities were firmly rooted in the reality I now found myself in.

I shook my head, trying to clear away the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. It felt as if I had broken the fourth wall, questioning my existence as a protagonist in a novel. The mere act of thinking about it felt surreal, and I reminded myself to stay grounded in the present moment.

"Alex, calm down," I whispered to myself, seeking comfort in the sound of my own voice. I took a deep breath, allowing the air to fill my lungs and steady my racing heart. It was crucial to remain level-headed, to focus on what I could control rather than getting lost in the realm of what-ifs and impossible desires.

Let's find some information, then I'll try to think about it more. Seeking more information, I instinctively turned on my phone.

The urgent voices of news anchors filled the room as they discussed the phenomenon that had captivated the globe. Images of shimmering energy and individuals demonstrating extraordinary abilities flashed across the screen.

"Scientists are calling it the Mana Awakening," one reporter exclaimed. "The sudden appearance of this mysterious energy has ignited a new era of possibilities. People across the world are exhibiting previously unimaginable powers, from manipulating elements to healing wounds."

I hastily dressed and made my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing through the quiet house. The familiar scents of breakfast and the comforting hum of appliances greeted me, momentarily grounding me in the ordinary. But my thoughts were consumed by the extraordinary world.

As I entered the living room, the television caught my eye once again. The news anchor's voice took on a more serious tone, and my attention sharpened.

"In a surprising twist, some reports suggest that individuals may have awakened their abilities because of mana. Some of them are attempting to help others who have also awakened their abilities, forming teams to hunt down the monsters emerging from the dungeons," the anchor revealed. "Experts are working to understand the correlation between these dungeons and the emergence of mana."

Well, after thinking about it, that makes perfect sense. If something is trying to destroy this planet with this dungeon, then someone is trying to give people a gift so they can protect their home. Light and dark, what am I thinking? How did I become like this? Then I focus on television so I can gather more information.

The news anchor's voice fills the room once again. "Incredible scenes are unfolding worldwide as individuals tap into their mana reserves and embark on perilous journeys within dungeons. These dungeons are vast labyrinths brimming with challenges and treasures, accessible only to those who possess the power of mana."

I see, so some people have become brave after awakening. Well, they will surely die. Because when you try to become a hero, there is only one fate that awaits—death.

If one day I confirm that I am in a novel, I will never do this kind of shit as the protagonist. But the word "protagonist." It makes me feel like I'm a puppet. I'm not going to become someone else's puppet. Even if someone is writing my story right now, as I have seen in a novel, I'm not going to follow your script, you fucker.

I hope I'm thinking too much. I'll still believe I'm in a dream. When I wake up from it, I'll find my home as lovely as before. Because becoming a protagonist of something may feel awesome to many people, but I'm not one of them because I love my freedom.

I thought I could go outside and find out more information about this world and this mana thing because if this is not a dream, then I'm wasting my precious time in this situation. Time is the most important thing.

However, I held back my desires. I knew that I was weak, and venturing outside of this apartment would only lead to my death. Humans, empowered by the freedom granted by mana, were revealing their true nature, which often involved ruthless actions.

Let's gather information from my smartphone. The internet is my playground because I'm a fucking programmer. I know how to use my brain to obtain information.

I'll try to awaken myself too because if this is my new reality, then I have to forget about behaving like a noob. I'll use my knowledge from my past life, but there's nothing there except the novel experiences I gained from reading many novels. I'll become strong and find out how I got here in this world.

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[Future Alex]

Seeing my past self, I was thinking, "This is my origin point." After seeing it many times, I can't figure out how I got here in this world. If you're wondering what I'm doing here, then my answer is simple: just like you, I'm witnessing my own story to find my mistakes and learn from them.

But seeing my past self, the thought crosses my mind, "Is this idiot really me?" Well, time changes people and everything, and I'm not an exception. Seeing myself like this makes me reflect on my old days on this planet, but my past self was unaware of what was coming next.

Hello, readers! I'm Alex, your protagonist. Don't worry, I won't give you any spoilers. The fact that I'm here doesn't mean anything significant. With my current power, I can easily change the story as I please, but back then, my past self wasn't that mature.

So, you can follow my story for as long as I allow you to see. After a few chapters, you will experience the story through my own eyes. None of that nonsense where the author explains everything like shit. Well, I'll see you guys in the future, in my time.

I enjoy spending time with my past self. If you're wondering how I'm talking to you, you'll find out soon, once this idiot awakens his abilities.

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Author's note: Thank you for taking the time to read my novel. I appreciate your support and feedback. As a new writer, I'm open to constructive criticism and suggestions to improve my storytelling. I encourage you to continue reading until Chapter 5 and share your thoughts on what you enjoy and what you feel can be enhanced. Your feedback is valuable in shaping the future of this novel. Thank you for giving me a chance to share my writing with you.