I awaken abruptly, the shrill sound of my alarm yanking me from the depths of unconsciousness. With a groggy hand, I fumble for my phone and silence the relentless sound.

‘What a horrendous nightmare...’ I mumble to myself, still haunted by the vividness of the dream. My heart pounds in my chest as I lay in the familiar comfort of my bed, trying to shake off the lingering dread.

Needing to ground myself in reality, I slide out from beneath the warm covers and head to the kitchen. I pour myself a glass of water, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat. As I sip, I wander over to the living room window and push it open.

The morning air is crisp, and I take a deep breath, allowing the tranquility of the scene to wash over me. Outside, the village is serene, untouched by the chaos of my dream. My eyes follow a bird gliding gracefully across the sky, a symbol of freedom and peace.

But wait—what's that? My gaze sharpens, and I notice a thin wisp of smoke trailing behind the bird. The peaceful illusion shatters, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease.

My senses slowly return, and I find myself being carried like a dead cow. One man grips my wrists while another clutches my ankles, dragging me somewhere I don’t know. Just when I thought I had escaped the nightmare, it's clear to me now what is dream and reality. With a sickening thud, they toss me into a burning pile of bodies that freak the shit out of me.

I scramble frantically to free myself from the searing heat, only to find my escape cut short by a dozen swords aimed at my neck. My screams pierce the air, drawing the attention of the soldiers. But who could blame me? Anyone would scream if they suddenly faced the threat of being cremated alive!

I raised both my hands in a gesture of surrender, only to realize that the shopping bag I was carrying had vanished from my grasp. Different emotions hit me all at once: despair, fear, confusion, and pain. It felt like I was stuck in a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up.

Warriors looked at me like I was some kind of freak and started discussing themselves. I carefully look around me just to confirm what’s going on right now because everything doesn’t really make any sense. From what I can see, they are in the war, and the winners are the soldiers wearing red ornaments, and the pile of bodies burning behind me is—no, let’s stop thinking about it.

"I... I'm not one of them," I stammered, my voice trembling as I tried to gauge whether they understood me. Their sharp gazes locked onto me, confirming they did. "Look, I dress differently. I was just passing by and got caught up in your fight. If you could just let me go, I'll forget everything. I swear!" My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the desperation in my plea. The air was thick with tension, and every second felt like an eternity as I awaited their response.

”…”

“What is happening over there?” A man, appearing to be in his late 30s, strides forward, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene. I am kneeling, hands raised, while a warrior's sword hovers menacingly near my neck.

“Someone seems to have survived, but he doesn’t look like an Ando warrior. What should we do?” the warrior asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

My heart races as I await the man’s verdict, my throat dries with fear.

“Take him for now. He looks suspicious, regardless. Let His Majesty decide what to do with the rest of them,” the man finally commands, his voice unwavering.

With that, the warriors shift their gaze to the few survivors who, though alive, bear the haunted look of the walking dead.

I gazed at the beautiful sky, wishing that everything was just a nightmare, but reality had a brutal way of asserting its presence. My hands and feet were bound as I lay on a creaky wooden cart. Terror had paralyzed my legs, so I feigned an inability to walk. Though I appeared to be drenched in blood, the scent of cranberry juice clung to me—a sticky reminder of the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Beside me, a lifeless body lay shrouded in a sack of clothes.

I quickly turned my head away, unable to bear the sight, and instead focused on the other captives being dragged along. They looked like warriors plucked from the annals of history, yet their gear was far more advanced than anything from the old days. Their eyes, however, held the same ancient fear and defiance, a testament to the unchanging nature of human struggle.

‘Ugh, I have no idea what's going on anymore. It's not like I got Isekai’d into another world like in those anime I used to watch. I mean, that stuff’s just fantasy—there’s no way a whole other world exists, let alone a fantasy one, right?’ I smirked at the absurdity of my thoughts, then caught the eye of a warrior on horseback. His armor practically screamed, ‘I’m from another world.’

"…" 

‘Ha, I must have gone insane. Did I overwork myself to death? No, I definitely went to the mall. This sticky feeling in my oversized shirt is proof of it. I don’t know what happened to my shoes and the bag I am carrying, but the fact that I almost burned alive while tied up here proves that I did not die. Then, did I really get transported? Why? Where? It looks like I am in some kind of desert in Saudi Arabia but the people here don’t look like Arabians, though. Ah, I don’t know anymore! My head hurts from overthinking; it’s not like I can get an answer on my own.’

The ride came to an abrupt halt, jolting me from my daydreams. We found ourselves before an imposing gate, flanked by pillars etched with cryptic symbols. I had assumed we were in the middle of a barren desert, but the surroundings told a different story. Lush trees and vibrant plants were everywhere, and I could hear the soothing rush of a waterfall.

As the gate creaked open, an awe-inspiring castle came into view, seamlessly blending Western and Eastern architectural marvels. Stepping inside, I was spellbound by the intricately carved walls, each adorned with shimmering gold that danced in the sunlight. It seems my eyes are deceiving me because it’s gold— A freaking damn gold! The entire place was a mesmerizing showcase of opulence and artistry, making it hard to believe my eyes.

I can’t deceive myself anymore. I am really in another world!