1 Prologue

I know it might sound unbelievable but things like magic do exist. How do I know that? It's pretty simple...

I lived a simple life as a high school student, like everyone else, listening to lectures and taking notes for exams. I also had a crush on a girl, and my life was proceeding as usual without any major difficulties.

On a certain day, I was thinking of buying a game console and I departed from my residence.

It was 8 o'clock, a silent night. Apart from my footsteps, I couldn't hear a sound or spot anyone on the streets... Oh! It seems there are still some exceptions; the chirping of a cricket brought a calming effect on me, and I could still catch sight of a tram gliding along the rails toward its next destination. At last, I reached my destination. I walked inside and started my search, finding it within a few minutes. I purchased the gaming console and some adventure games, then left the shop after paying the bill.

On the way back home, I took the long route; after all, health is also very important if I want to keep myself from getting sick. As I walked leisurely down the street after buying the console, everything suddenly turned pitch black around me. The world lost its color, and the once familiar surroundings became unrecognizable.

In a split second, I became alert and rooted to the spot. Tension gripped me as darkness engulfed everything, setting my imagination ablaze with countless scenarios.

"I... shouldn't have such bad luck do I...?"

Surrounded by darkness, I felt uneasy... Hastily, I reached into my pocket, grabbed my smartphone, and switched on the flashlight.

Standing alone in the encompassing darkness, with nothing visible in sight, I experienced a sensation akin to being engulfed by the very essence of darkness itself, as if its voracious depths sought to consume me entirely.

Perhaps I should attempt to walk? With that notion in mind, I advanced forward. However, the unease that instinctively gripped me continued to escalate with every step I took. The fear emanating from my heart swelled, and I could hear its rhythmic beating. To calm myself, I hummed some tunes of anime's OP and ED that I could think of, albeit with uneasy feelings. Time passed by, and my feelings of unease continued to grow at a rapid pace. Sweat slowly trickled down my face, forming tiny beads that dripped onto the ground below, each droplet creating subtle ripples that traveled outward, subtly altering the texture of the surroundings.

As for why I find myself here... in this dark and eerie place? I had no answer to that, so I abandoned the thought; it felt like a fool's errand at that moment. Yet, amidst the darkness, I continued my search, hoping to uncover anything of significance... The probability of stumbling upon anything amidst these conditions seemed considerably remote, suggesting that my chances of uncovering something of significance were scant, if not altogether doubtful.

[ Skill ] - <Dark World> acquired.

"Oh!?" I nearly had a heart attack after hearing that! I almost exploded right then and there.

Receiving a skill suddenly out of nowhere, I had question marks floating above my head. I didn't know what to do, and it only heightened my vigilance rather than calming me. Suddenly, the darkness began to twist and turn, transforming my surroundings into a bizarre spectacle. Space began to crack and break down, as if it were some kind of mirror. Faced with the situation at hand, I did not know what I should be doing.

I wonder... will I be able to return home? Or will I perish in this place?

As the world fell silent, I found myself plummeting deeper into the abyss. Images of my family members flashed before my mind, each one disintegrating into dust. My emotions fed on them, absorbing their essence as my very being underwent some kind of transformation.

I resisted, yet it felt as though the world demanded something from me, forcefully casting me into the void.

The sensation of floating was undeniably real, and I found myself able to breathe properly. Surprisingly, I remained calm in this situation, which made my previous fear appear unfounded. As my body rocked and moved at breathtaking speed, I observed the space around me, witnessing many planets passing by. Unbeknownst to me at the time, my soul was undergoing a transformation. It was morphing into something that would assist me in various situations in the future; whether they were dangerous or life-threatening, I would find it easier to navigate any predicament in the near future.

Time passed rapidly here as I watched my body wither, transforming into a skeleton while my flesh turned to ashes, leaving only my bones to drift. My voyage... I couldn't count the years as I witnessed the birth and destruction of planets; it felt like but a moment to me.

What is becoming of me...

The memories of many years flooded my mind, turning my bones into ashes. My transparent soul began to devour these memories and the ashes of my skeleton, shining brightly as cracks began to appear around the space.

Inside my soul, all of my memories began to transmute into pages, one after another, being filled with inscriptions, runes, and many other strange symbols, gradually forming into a seemingly ordinary book. Hovering in the center of my soul, it embodied the essence of my being. Despite years of traveling, this was the first time I encountered such a simplistic yet profound object. Though my hands longed to reach out and touch it, I lacked a physical form. Understanding that it resided within my soul, I concentrated on the desire to make contact with the book.

Dedicating all my focus to making contact with the book, I eagerly reached out. The instant I felt the touch of the book cover, dormant emotions within me resurged. After taking a deep breath, I surveyed my surroundings, only to find myself back where it all began. However, it was clear that no time had passed since I was engulfed in darkness. Confusion washed over me...

But everything that happened to me, all the things I felt and saw with my own eyes, were real. I was sure of that.

Why am I sure of that? Hehe... I can only say... I can feel it. With a casual thought, I waved my hand, and a lump of darkness ignited from my outstretched right fist. Despite its fiery appearance, it emitted no heat.

At that moment, I thought to myself, 'This is boring...'

It was also from that moment on the world underwent drastic transformation.