Dreambreaker

Chapter 5: I have been...transmigrated?

A teenage boy lay motionless on a bed.

His stillness would deceive a casual observer to think that he is dead.

Like a lifeless corpse, the boy held his gaze open, fixated on the void without any shift for over three hours.

Noah, consumed by a weird sense of emptiness, merely existed within the confines of his bed—devoid of any movement.

***

Noah's POV(Point of view):

'Why do I feel...this way?'

'I don't know'

I dont know or maybe, I do know?

But the reality...the reality. It felt like reality and dream have switched places.

Today, the fine line between nightmare and reality was blurred.

"Kuhum", a dry cough escaped my throat.

But I didn't move. I felt like there was no purpose.

I didn't felt any strength in me to get up.

A tiny sense of regret crept in me as slowly the remorse of the years I had spent enduring a life I no longer desired settled in.

In this moment, I found myself grappling with the overwhelming sense of losing myself that had overshadowed my existence.

'What happened to them?', I thought about my family.

I don't even know if I'll ever get to meet my family ever again.

My vision began to blur until the sensation of tears trickling down my temple made me realise why.

I detested my being and loathed this world.

Since the day I was born, I have been plagued with the unusual golden blood condition, causing fleeting, excruciating pain and recurrent, fatal episodes.

With my life always hanging by a precarious thread of fate, I never knew when my end would come.

I gritted my teeth.

My existence was a question which always kept my mother worried.

How she must have felt, watching her son slowly die over the years?

It was a feeling I could somewhat relate to.

Death, followed me like a constant companion, having claimed my fami-

No, I am not exactly sure about if they are alive or not...

They must be alive. Yes, they must be alive. Nothing happened to them.

'Yes, th-that's right, nothing happened to them. N-nothing...'

Before I realised, my fist clenched.

Who was I bullshiting?

I don't know what exactly happened during that... burst of light...but ..it felt like a nuke and when I opened my eyes...

The Alpha nanite, Nano, alerted me

[User's emotions are displaying abnormal patterns]

I heard the monotonous mechanical voice resonate in my head.

[As an SAI-nanite, I am incapable of feeling emotions like a living organism] Nano explained.

[However, my purpose is to ensure your survival.]

[Therefore, my advice to you, Master Noah, is not to squander this opportunity at life. Your grandfather, Dr. Hope Reynar and your father, John Grey, have made tremendous efforts to keep you alive.]

Though I was feeling somewhat lifeless, I knew that Nano was right.

My family had made tremendous sacrifices to keep me alive, and I shouldn't waste this opportunity.

***

Rising from my bed I resurveyed the room. It had a simple décor. Simple but effective.

Basic necessities comprised the space—a simple white bed, an old wooden desk, a towering wardrobe, and a petite bathroom tucked in the corner.

My gaze landed on the ancient smartphone resting upon the desk. I had noticed it before, but my thoughts were scattered at that time.

Earlier, I had attempted to gather clues about my situation by stepping outside.

It would have been more logical to investigate using the phone, but my mind was elsewhere.

I thought of countless possibilities, each more strange than the last: death, rebirth, transmigration, teleportation, time travel, memory error, comatose, simulation, different planet, alternate timeline... My mind was a chaotic mess of hypotheses.

In an attempt to find some semblance of answers, I cautiously approached the desk, searching for any shred of information.

The last thing I remembered was a blinding flash of light that lit up the sky.

When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a clear blue sky, unlike the usual red-orange sky.

I wasn't exactly able to understand what happened. Nano informed me that something wasn't quiet right. And indeed, the world felt different..like...how am I suppose to explain?

Status window, blue sky...this world, something about it felt eerily familiar.

But I dismissed that thought since it wasn't possible. There had to be something else going on.

As I picked the smartphone, my brow furrowed subconsciously.

Why?

The reflection of my face on the screen appeared altered.

Although it was still my own reflection, it resembled that of my 16-year-old self rather than my current 23-year-old appearance.

I already had a hunch of what was going on based on the discontinuity I felt when I tried to move around earlier.

I went to the bathroom to confirm it.

Looking in the bathroom mirror, my reflection resembled my 16-year-old self.

Strangely, I appeared slightly shorter than my usual height of 6 feet, measuring around 5'7 inches tall.

I also noticed that my body was thinner than usual and my face seemed more pale.

My hair and eyes remained consistently dark.

As I leaned closer to the mirror, I realized that my eyes were not the familiar dark brown I was used to seeing. Instead, my iris was entirely black, giving my gaze an intensity.

The white outer layer of my eyes only made the blackness more distinct, creating a stark contrast.

I tried to open the smart phone looking for answers,but it was locked.

'Well, who gives a shit?'

"Nano."

[Affirmative. Initiating hacking sequence.]

WHAM_

Information one after another started appearing before me.

_______________

User Id: Noah Grey

Age:16

Picture:(An ugly image)

Program : Hero program 1st year

School rank :1872/2000

Profession : none

________________

"What is this Hero program?"

Is it some cast of production?

In an instant, a flood of memories overwhelmed my mind, confirming all the suspicions I had been harboring. They were vivid recollections of someone named 'Noah Grey,' yet they were not my own memories.

A revolting sensation gripped me tightly, making me feel sick to my core.

"What the hell?! How did I end up in another world?!" I exhaled, raving mad.

I clutched my head, my fingers clawing desperately at my skull as I sank to my knees.

"A world filled with monsters and magic?! This is bullshit! Are you fucking with me, fate? Making me live one hell was not enough?!" A fierce growl escaped me, a mix of panic and anger intertwining in my voice.

[Monitoring and regulating blood pressure.]

[Deploying Oxytocin to regulate emotional state.]

[Numbing down brain limbic system and re-engaging.]

In an instant, a calmness washed over me, as all my worries melted away. After sometime, my reasoning was back.

***

So 'this Noah Grey' was from 'this world', and we shared the same face. Same name.

He was six years younger than me.

Further researching I found that the 'Hero Program' was created to train the younger generation in the art of combat, preparing them to deal with the monsters and demons.

The Central Union, which was akin to the government, implemented this program to ensure that they had capable soldiers in times of crisis.

The institution where 'this Noah Grey'was enrolled is called Arcanum Blades Academy.

'Central Union, the Hero program, Arcanum Blades Academy, the status window, the blue sky. It couldn't be... but it was. The names of places in this world, the names of the continents, the names of the "monsters" and races... it was all too familiar.'

I picked up my phone and hastily checked the world map.

This is the one time in my life that I wanted to be proven wrong.

But deep down, I knew these memories were real. I don't know how.

After hours of research, I went silent.

Not a single word escaped my lips as I slowly sank to the floor.

I have been transported into my own novel. Haven't I?

'How?'

What is this paradox? Bootstrap Paradox?Grandfather Paradox?

"That brilliant burst of light...when I was... inside the train seems to be the cause.."

But Noah Grey? I never created a character named 'Noah Grey' in the novel. Why would I create a character named after me in my novel.

As I tried to make sense of my situation, I realized there were only two possible explanations for what was happening.

The first was that the burst of light had somehow transported me into the pages of my own novel.

The second possibility was far more ominous.

Perhaps the burst of light had been something much more destructive, like an anti matter explosion.

If that were the case, then I must have died and been reincarnated inside the body of Noah Grey, in this alternate world.

The second idea was quickly dismissed as I remembered that I had been injected with nano machines, which meant this body was definitely my own.

The paradox was eating away at my thoughts, and I couldn't ignore it.

After some more thinking, I finally came up with a new explanation that could explain my current situation.

It was possible that my body and the body of Noah Grey of this world had been switched, and our lives went with them.

In other words, his memories and accomplishments were now mine, and vice versa.

This also meant that his family, friends, and social hierarchy now were mine as well.

????????! —My stomach let out a fierce growl, and I realized my hunger.

The paradox I was in seemed like it would take more than a day to understand, but right now I should eat something.

***

I headed towards the corner of the room where the freeze was.

I grabbed two water bottles and unscrewed the cap of one.

The water gushed into my mouth, instantly quenching my thirst.

Next I took out jam, ketchup, a bottle of milk and two eggs.

I also spotted a packet of bread on the top shelf of the cabin.

Using my culinary skills, I whipped up an omelet and toast, which I eagerly devoured while sitting on my bed.

'This world was a world filled with magic and monsters.'

If I want to survive, than I will have to become strong. Finding the solution to the paradox shouldn't be my first priority as it might even take me my whole life.

But survive how? The problem is the current academy I was supposed to attend is Arcanum Blades Academy, where the main protagonist of the novel, Aeravat is supposed to attend.

And with the motherfucker around, I can be sure as hell to die someday.

After emptying the milk bottle, I felt somewhat refreshed.

With the bottle of milk still in my hand, I began to think of a way to guarantee my survival.

'In this world, magic, skills, sword arts, and family arts are the usual means of becoming stronger.'

While these are excellent ways to gain strength, one needs a lot of money and effort to acquire even a single sword art or skill.

There are other items that can ensure my survival, such as high-grade items, potions, and elixirs.

But, the greatest way to survive is to be able to escape.

I remember mentioning eight mysteries in this world while writing the manuscript.

I had planned to add 15 mysteries, but I never got around to finalizing my work.

Of those eight mysteries, one mystery can allow the user to teleport.

I placed the empty bottle down with a 'thump' and fixated my gaze onto the ground.

"Then it's settled," I declared. "I'll go after the mystery of teleportation."

Out of all the mysteries available, I selected this one for a particular reason.

It was located on the outskirts of Krenada city, the same city I am in.

***

THE NEXT DAY

Setting my foot outside of the apartment complex, I headed towards the train station.

Right now my first priority was to get [Mystery of Teleportation].

With this mystery no matter what comes after my ass, I will always have an escape. Then I can plan on what to do with my life.

In order to find [Mystery of Teleportation] I need to visit Avalonia forest which is in outskirts of Krenada city.

"Here's my card"

Passing the card to the lady in the ticket office, I checked the map of the station.

"Where to?"

"Avalonia" I replied.

"That will be 5 Den," she handed back my card.

Thinking about this and that I sat on my seat.

As the train slowly started to take its pace I saw two teenagers heading for the seat before me.

My eyes widened in shock, cause I knew those two.

Red eyes and black hair—Aurora Lewis, also known as queen of thunder and the other one bully of the school and rival to Aeravat- Takahasi Aoi

Two of the main cast.