Chapter 3: I'm going to die

Eren couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at his reflection in the pond. The person looking back at him was not his own familiar face. Instead, it was as if a complete stranger was looking back at him.

"It's just as the novel described. A skin as flawlessly as a majestic prince of a Dynasty. Long hair, flaming red akin to the setting sun," Eren muttered, his fingers subconsciously running through his long red hair.

Although he was an Elder in the Devil Sect, he wasn't very old. In fact, he was even younger in this world than he was in real life.

In real life, he was the youngest in his country to be assigned a professor position at an Ivy League University. Even after working there for years, he was only twenty four years old presently.

As per the description in the novel, he was only twenty one years old in this world. He was the youngest Elder in the Devil Sect as well. Even though he was a traitor to this sect, no one knew about it.

It wasn't wrong to say that he had fooled almost everyone in this sect, not letting anyone know that he was a spy from the Mythical Hero Academy.

He saw the visage of the Elder from the novel, the one he had criticized so harshly in his review. It was as if heaven was punishing him by sending him into the body of the same Elder he had called illogical.

His heart raced as he realized the truth that was sinking in. He had indeed become a part of the fantastical world he had only read about moments ago.

The realization sent shivers down his spine, and he struggled to come to terms with this surreal turn of events. He sat on the ground, holding his head.

"I'm going to die... I'm really going to die this time..." He kept repeating, his mind filling with dark thoughts.

He was tossed into an unfamiliar world. It didn't make sense in any way. He was a professor at an Ivy League! Although he did read some fantasy novels, he knew that they were only imaginary. He only believed in sciences but his current situation couldn't be explained with science.

"A higher power?" he muttered as he looked at the sky. "Something beyond science... But why me... Just because of a review?"

He wanted to go back, but he didn't even know where to begin.

"I need to go back to the room! There must be some clues there!"

He was in shock, but he hasn't lost hope yet. He was persistent.

"That's right! Every problem has a solution!" He stood up, his fist tightening. "If there is no solution to a problem, it just means that the solution hasn't been found yet!"

He turned towards the Phoenix. It was only now that he looked at the Giant Phoenix, realizing just how huge this beast actually was.

He didn't understand how the Elder had managed to tame this Phoenix. In the two hundred chapters he read, there was no explanation given for it.

All he knew was that the Phoenix was with him from the first moment he was mentioned.

He even felt slightly scared, his legs hesitating at the thoughts of approaching that fierce bird which could kill him with a simple swing of its claws.

He took a deep breath. In this Devil Sect, this Phoenix was his only ally. It was the only way for him to get to that room, unless he wanted to climb a mountain.

He tried to calm himself. He didn't want the Phoenix to realize that he wasn't its master but an outsider. He didn't want to face the wrath of a mythical beast.

After regaining some composure, he walked towards the Phoenix, trying to use everything he knew about this Elder from the first ten chapters.

He stopped before the Phoenix, reaching out his hand. The Phoenix lowered her head happily, letting Eren pat her.

"Little Sun, it's time to go back home."

The Phoenix nodded. A warm gust of wind wrapped around Eren. The wind carried him in the air, helping him land on the mythical beast's back.

The Phoenix spread out her wings as she soared through the clouds. The Phoenix's feathers shimmered in the sunlight, radiating a dazzling array of colors that painted the sky around them.

On the ground, many people saw the beautiful phoenix flying in the sky. It didn't matter if it was a man or a woman, all of them looked at the Phoenix in amazement.

"One day, I'll become as strong as Elder Ren and tame a mythical beast as well." A young girl said, gazing at the sky in a daze.

"Keep dreaming!" Another girl laughed. "Who do you think Elder Ren is? He is the genius of Devil Dao that's only born once every millennia! Look at his talent and then look at your talent! It's like heaven and earth!"

A dark haired girl joined in, her eyes filled with adoration. "That's right. Elder Ren is so amazing. We can only appreciate him from a distance. But not for long."

"Not for long? What do you mean?" One of the girls asked in confusion.

"Didn't you hear? Tomorrow is the Sect Entrance Exam!" The first girl replied. "Usually, you can only have an opportunity to be selected by an Elder if you become a Core Disciple. But the Entrance Exam is different!"

"The top five performers in the Entrance Exam will have an opportunity to be selected by the Elders. If more than one Elder chooses them, they can decide which Elder they want to go with."

"As for the first rank, he can decide on which Elder he wants to study under, even if no Elder chooses them."

The girl further continued, proudly explaining to her friends. "Elder Ren joined after the Entrance and the Promotion Exam last year, so he missed both the opportunities to select a disciple. But it will be different tomorrow!"

"I heard that all the Elders will be observing the Sect Entrance Examination. I feel so jealous of the new disciples who might have an opportunity to become his personal disciple!"

"Urgh, why couldn't I have joined this year! Why did I have to enter last year!"

"I want to leave the sect and join again, all so I could become Elder Ren's disciple! Unfortunately, that's not allowed."

"My dear sisters, don't worry. Just strive harder to become a Core Disciple. We still have that opportunity! We will definitely succeed! We can't be lazy like the Hero Academy bastards!"

"For Elder Ren!"

"For Elder Ren!"

.....

"Huh? Why do I suddenly feel a cold?" Eren felt a shiver run down his spine. He looked around, not understanding what this strange feeling was.