I heard the explosion around me and waited for it to engulf me.

One second has passed…

Two seconds has passed…

Five seconds has passed…

Ten seconds has passed…

Thirty sec—you get the point! Nothing has happened.

I abruptly opened my eyes and an unfamiliar white ceiling came into view.

What's more is the comfortable, fluffy sensation on my back. I slowly sat up, assessing what was currently happening.

I was at the center of an eggshell white room with nothing but a dresser, closet, mirror, and a bed.

That's not just it… no, there was something even more unexplainable happening to me right now.

"Ha… haha…" I awkwardly laughed as I stared into my reflection on the mirror. "Why the hell am I back to being a kid?!"

*****

***

*

"Alright, what the hell's happening?" I said as I paced back and forth in the room.

"Let's reiterate what happened. I was ambushed, then I definitely did not get my ass kicked by that bastard, then I killed him by blowing up my house, which I also was in. So, how the hell am I still alive and as a kid no less?!" I scratched my head in frustration.

I looked back at my reflection. Although I was now back to being a kid, probably when I was around 15 years old, there is a notable difference. My eyes, which were black, were now green, but honestly, compared to what I'm experiencing right now, it's such a small matter.

Sigh, I don't even know where I am. I then jerked my head to my back. How could I forget? There was a balcony behind me!

The stress is making me dumber it seems.

I rushed through the door and into the balcony. It was currently high noon as the sun shined brightly into my eyes, blinding me momentarily.

Then, when my eyes adjusted, I was greeted with a bird's eye view of a bustling city, and it was… beautiful, I guess?

I'm not great with words.

There was a traffic of cars below me, yet when I inhale, there was no trace of fumes; it was completely fresh.

Oddly enough, if I focused a bit, I could see closer to the object I'm focusing at. What I set my sights on were the people walking down the streets with sheathed swords and holstered guns either wrapped around their waist or tied behind their backs.

Was there a live action role-playing event nearby? It seems like not one of them found it strange, even the ones that are not carrying those swords and guns.

"Kyaah! Pervert!"

"Pervert! Call the police!"

Hmm? Pervert? Where? I looked from left to right for the pervert those females from the distance are saying, but I see none.

Until, I felt a cool breeze on my lower body, and it was when I realized…

"Ohh… damn, I'm the pervert."

*****

***

*

Nothing is going my way. Luckily, there were fitting black pants and slightly oversized matching shirts in the closet and dresser. And let's not forget the underwear this time.

Although I'm fairly proud of my little general, I'm no exhibitionist nor will I go commando.

After wearing the clothes, I went out of the bedroom and whistled in admiration as I entered a spacious and somewhat empty, modern loft.

Although, there were no decorations, aside from having the basic furniture, like a TV, couch, and a table, the design and aesthetic of it was pleasing and a sight to see.

I walked down the stairs and went to turn on the TV with a remote, hoping to get an idea to where I am, but it showed nothing but static.

Scratching the back of my head, I turned it off and was about to put the remote down, until I noticed a slim, transparent panel that somehow showed the time and date, which made my eyes widened.

No, it was not because of the panel showing the date and time, after all that was something I was able to make, no, it was the date that shocked me. It read: [12:14 p.m. | March 4, 2545].

"…Oh… God!" Are you kidding me?! You're saying that I have slept for a few centuries or something?! I mean, there's barely any differences in the infrastructure!

Breathing heavily, I calmed myself down by taking deep breaths. No, no, no , it's alright, there should be a logical explanation for all this.

I convinced myself repeatedly that it's just a dream or that someone just played a prank by changing the time, but…

"Who am I kidding?" I sighed, as I rubbed my forehead. "Regardless of what happened, it doesn't answer the reason why I am alive."

I looked to the door on my right that probably leads outside and walked towards it.

As I grabbed the handle, I realized that it wouldn't budge no matter how hard I shake it. Above the handle was a panel that displayed that I needed a card to open it, So I went back to look for it.

Fortunately, it didn't take much time to find it as it was sitting on the table.

It was a simple black card with white outline on its borders and a white circle on the middle with what it seems to be my room number in the middle.

Walking back to the door, I swiped the card on the panel and it flashed a green light as a distinct sound of the door unlocking was made.

I pushed the handle down and opened the door, revealing the hallway. I looked at the front of the door, and sure enough, there was a series of numbers there that matched with the card.

However, it was an irrelevant detail. I need to find information.

Popping my head out of the room, I looked around. There was no one around nor was there any security camera. I heaved a sigh of relief, since that means that I wasn't being held captive.

I then slowly went out, took a deep breathe, and walked down the hallway to the elevator.

Pressing the button, I waited for the elevator to come up, which surprisingly wasn't long, considering how high up I am.

The door opened, revealing its interior. The walls were made with glass panels, showing the view of the city. However, I couldn't be bothered to admire it right now.

I went in the elevator and saw that I was in the 201st floor. Pressing the button for the ground floor, I thought that it would take a few minutes for me to reach the ground floor, but once again, it only took a few seconds, yet I didn't feel like the elevator has sped up in any way.

It's too odd…

However, I quickly shook my head, as the doors opened, revealing a glistening and luxurious lobby.

Normal people would be intimidated by this kind of setting, but for me, who has been to countless of events with this kind of class, it wasn't a big deal.

Stepping out the elevator shaft, I went my way towards the exit.

"Ah!" a female voice sounded a few meters beside me. "You're finally out, Mr. Bennett?"

Finally out? I looked at the source of the voice and it was a beautiful blonde woman, probably in her 30s, working behind the desk. She had an amiable yet professional smile as she looked at me.

Normally, with someone as young, mature, and beautiful as her, I would hit on her or something, but what she said had bothered me.

"Y-yeah." I honestly have no idea what to respond. Finally out? Then that would mean that I have went in at one point and didn't just appear, probably willingly too.

She seemed confused with my lack of response, but still acted professionally as she said, "Seeing that you're finally out, I can finally give you this."

She went out to the back and, a couple of minutes later, came back with a black briefcase. She handed it to me as she said, "I've fulfilled the request and you don't have to worry, sir, for I have, as requested, didn't take a single look inside and took real good care of it"

Taking a glance all over the briefcase, there were no locks present in the briefcase, yet she says that. I gave her a curious look.

She probably took it as me being suspicious of her as she hurriedly explained, "I'm just a normal citizen, sir. Even if I did had the intention of looking, I wouldn't be able to open it, much less take a peek!"

Couldn't open it? Yeah, right. And what's with that phrasing? 'Just a normal citizen.'

Taking my eyes off her, I examined closely the briefcase and saw that it was made by me, proof was in the corner where I embedded my initials for any personal projects I've done that are not related to work!

Maybe the answer is in the briefcase? With that thought in mind, I unlocked it.

Yes, there was in fact a lock, since it was mine. It was a hidden one behind the handle of the briefcase that requires the fingerprint and heat signature of the authorized people. It was just a small side project I made and I didn't introduce it to the market since it doesn't do anything remarkable.

Soon enough, the briefcase popped open and I looked inside it.

"Now"—she clapped her hand once—"that's done. My job is here done." She slightly bowed her head and went on her way.

"Haha… um." Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead as I motioned for her to come back, which she does. "If you don't mind me asking, but who requested you to give it to me?"

Now, she's really confused and even looked like I am insulting her intelligence, however, probably from seeing my genuine and nervous expression, she took a deep breathe and said, "It seems like you've forgotten, sir. It was you, sir."

"Haha… You're joking with me, right?"I muttered under my breath.

The lady soon walked away as her footsteps became more and more distant.

What was in the briefcase was nothing more than a bank check worth a few hundred thousand UNV, a smartphone, an identification card, and a note that read, "Arthur, if you're reading this then that means you've awoken; alive and well, I presume.

You may have a hundreds, if not thousands, of questions in your mind right now, but, right now, I want you to remain calm for what's about to happen.

Welcome to the world of Vanteer; the world that you have created.

This is not a drill nor is it a dream. It is reality. A reality that you have to live in if you want to survive.

You may be asking who I am, and I could tell you, but I won't. It wouldn't benefit you in anyway if I told you right now.

However, if you truly wish to know who I am or why you're here, then become stronger and survive until the ending!

The real ending.

"Become strong; strong enough to rival the 'protagonist' and his friends, and do it soon, because, right now, you're nothing more than a mob in your novel!"