As Kiryu slowly regained consciousness, he found himself in a place that was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The smooth, metallic walls of the cell surrounded him, their cold surface reflecting the dim light that filtered in from above. Confusion and disorientation washed over him as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

Shaking off the remnants of sleep, Kiryu pushed himself up into a sitting position, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what had happened. His last memories were hazy, fragmented images of collapsing on the floor of a train station, the sharp taste of blood lingering on his tongue.

But beyond that, everything was a blur.

Frowning, Kiryu glanced around the cell, taking in the strange sight of holographic statistics floating in the air just outside the bars. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie, a far cry from the mundane reality he was accustomed to. He reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the terminal, but nothing happened.

The room around him was unlike anything he had ever seen before, with its sleek, futuristic design and advanced technology. It was as if he had been transported into a world straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with floating holograms and digital displays.

Kiryu approached the bars of his cell, his gaze fixed on the floating digital holograms that hovered just outside. He reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing against the shimmering light, but there was no denying their solidity. They were real, tangible, and utterly inexplicable.

Frowning, Kiryu took off one of his shoes and hurled it at the holograms, watching as it passed harmlessly through the shimmering light without so much as a ripple. He stared in disbelief, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

But as Kiryu took in his surroundings, a sense of unease settled over him.

Could it be possible that he had somehow been transported to another world, another reality entirely?

It seemed impossible, absurd even.

And yet, as Kiryu looked around him, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this strange new world than met the eye.

Then he caught the sight of his reflection in the digital mirror on top of the sink of his cell. Kiryu froze as he gazed upon it. Staring back at him was not his own face, with its familiar features. The face of a character he knew all too well from his favorite video game, Pitch Black Void.

A teenager with gold eyes, short ruffled black hair, wearing black and green jacket.

A surge of panic shot through Kiryu as he realized the implications of what he was seeing. This wasn't just some strange dream or hallucination.

Somehow, inexplicably…

Due to some kind of divine joke…

He had been transported into the world of his favorite game itself.

Then he mused, whether this could even be considered a “transported to another world”.

Taking a deep breath, Kiryu forced himself to stay calm. He had to think rationally about his situation. He tried to rationalize it, to convince himself that it was all just a trick of the mind, or even a very elaborate prank. He searched around him to confirm it. He yelled loudly, threatening those who were trying to prank him with a legal suit. Then he struck by reality as he once again saw the reflection of himself on the other side of the cell, same image was still displayed in front of him. He covered his mouth his disbelief.

Either the prank show he was in had created a technology to swap the body of their victim or… he tried to pinch himself, to make attempts that he knew would wake him up from a dream, but it was no use. The reality of his situation was undeniable.

Closing his eyes, Kiryu took a moment to gather his thoughts.

And as if to cope with his situation, his mind suddenly made him remember certain fictional series that he encountered. And Kiryu couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the absurdity of his situation. Here he was, trapped in a strange cell with a strange body that he only encountered or interacted behind a monitor, these all resembled something out of an isekai light novel, a genre of Japanese fiction he had always found too cringeworthy to take seriously. And yet, here he was, living out his own version of that tired trope.

"Reincarnated in another world, huh?" he muttered to himself, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Guess I really did die from stress and exhaustion after all."

Despite the humor he tried to find in the situation, Kiryu couldn't shake the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

This wasn't some fantastical adventure or whimsical fantasy.

This was his new reality now, and he had no idea yet on how he was going to navigate it.

Then Kiryu walked around in his cell, grappling with the surreal reality of his situation. This current situation was eerily similar or even familiar that his mind started to think that he was sent to the scene right after the events of his saved game file. He couldn't help but think back to the last save file he had in the game. It was a new playthrough, one that he had started just a night before and he had been excited to test out a ship.

If he remembered correctly, the ship he was currently in was an M-size mineral mining ship, a massive vessel that even rivaled the size the largest of M Terran miners in size. It boasted a cargo storage capacity of 20,000 cubic meters, making it ideal for hauling valuable resources across the vast expanse of space.

But despite its impressive size and capabilities, Kiryu couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment as he recalled the events that had led to his current predicament. He was actually attacked by pirates which had commandeered his vessel. All because he had disabled the ship's turrets in an attempt to avoid shooting another one of his ship that he intends to test.

With a resigned shrug, Kiryu shook off the sense of frustration that threatened to overwhelm him.

"It is what it is," he muttered to himself, forcing a wry smile. In the world of Pitch Black Void, similar in life, sometimes things didn't go according to plan. All he could do was adapt and evolve his way of thinking. Something that made him alive after working tirelessly in his corporate job.

But before he could dwell any further on his virtual escapades, Kiryu was interrupted by a sudden echoing sound that reverberated through the cell. Frowning, he turned towards the source of the noise, his senses on high alert as he strained to identify its origin.

As the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, Kiryu's senses sharpened, his mind racing through possibilities and strategies to handle the situation at hand. He could tell from the hurried pace and the echoing of multiple pairs of footsteps that there were likely dozens of people coming his way. And whatever their intentions, he needed to be prepared.

But as he braced himself for the encounter, a memory from his past life resurfaced, sending a shiver of realization down his spine. If this truly was his save file from the game, then he knew all too well what awaited him.

“Pirates...”

His last playthrough had ended with his capture by pirates, a ordeal that had caused him to quit in frustration for destroying his immersion to welcome his beloved ship into the game.

With a resigned sigh, Kiryu acknowledged the gravity of his situation. But rather than dwelling on his past failures or the implications of his newfound reality, he knew that he needed to focus on the task at hand. Drawing on his experience from countless hours spent playing the game, Kiryu began to formulate a plan. He considered various scenarios and strategies, weighing the risks and benefits of each in his mind.

But as he pondered his options, a thought occurred to him. A notion that he had taken note of in his past life.

A grin spread across Kiryu's face as the realization dawned on him.

What if he could apply the same tactics and strategies from the game to his current situation? What if he could turn the tables on his captors and outsmart them at their own game?

Settling back into the chair in his cell, Kiryu awaited the arrival of his captors with a sense of anticipation and excitement. Armed with his wits, his determination and the knowledge gleaned from his virtual adventures.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Kiryu's grin widened, his mind buzzing with possibilities. He may have been thrust into a strange and unfamiliar world, but he refused to be a mere pawn in someone else's game.

He was Kiryu, a former shipping magnate and overlord.

And he was now ready to play again.