1 Start.....
Sunlight poured through the broad windows, illuminating the quiet room. Outside, cars rolled down the Japanese street.
The only sounds of scratching of a pencil and the occasional eraser rubbing could be heard inside.
Asuka leaned back in his chair, one hand raking through his ponytail of long black hair.
Despite the slump of his slender shoulders, his delicate features still held a certain handsomeness.
His unusual blue eyes narrowed at the sketchpad before him. With a huff of frustration, he tapped the pencil rapidly against the table's edge.
Pages filled with discarded drafts and sketches fluttered with each impatient tap.
Asuka's gaze wandered to the stack of rejection letters and poor sales reports piled in the corner.
Memories from his days at the prestigious Mangaka Academy came flooding back, constantly overshadowed by classmates blessed with otherworldly talents. No matter the endless late nights spent slaving over his drafting desk, his work could never rise above sheer averageness.
As the thin trail of smoke curled up from the half burnt cigarette between his lips, Asuka couldn't help but scoff at the motivational saying.
"Hard work can make up for lack of talent? Yeah, right." His voice dripped with bitter sarcasm. "Those were clearly lies told by naturally gifted people. it's just that their talent showed up later in life, they were talented all along. Hard work can never make up for a lack of talent!"
He took one last puff before crushing the spent cigarette into the ashtray with more force than necessary. "Bastards giving me false hope..."
He knew deep down his stories were clichéd trash compared to the innovative, creative works that were dominating the market. But for regulars like him, some walls were simply too high to climb through effort alone.
"No matter how hard you work, how determined you are, or how badly you want it, those things alone won't allow you to beat chosen ones."
Asuka's gaze drifted outside, his unusual blue eyes dulling as he watched people going about their day on the street below. A defeated sigh slipped out.
"It's time to quit." he muttered, devoid of emotion. After years of trying his hardest, he knew the harsh reality, he just didn't have what it takes.
The dream of making it big with a hit manga was now nothing but a dream.
As that sorry reality sank in, Asuka kept mindlessly gazing outside. But then everything went suddenly black. Like someone flipped a switch. No lights, no sounds, just...nothing.
A strange, dead silence.
"What the Fuck!?" Asuka startled upright in his chair, confused as all got out. Had he just gone blind or something? He blinked hard and rubbed his eyes frantically, but it made no difference, just pitch blackness surrounding him.
His heart started racing as panic set in. Because really, could his life get any more screwed up than it already was? Asuka opened his mouth, some kind of desperate shout building up inside him.
But then he just...didn't. What was even the point anymore?
So he just sat there, blind and mute in the suffocating void. This nothingness perfectly summed up how hopeless his future looked.
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[System Initializing…]
[Loading integration process…]
[User registration in progress…]
[Operation complete.]
[Alert: Imminent threat detected. Your world is on the edge of destruction. The Great Apocalypse looms, threatening the demise of all lower realm worlds. ]
[Important: Earth inhabitants, a glimmer of hope remains. You are granted an opportunity to migrate to the End Horizon, a place where the remnants of shattered worlds like soon-to-be yours meet. This place is overflowing with unimaginable beings, dragons, angels, demons, fairies, and more.]
[Caution: The End Horizon's capacity is limited. Only one-third of your population can be accommodated. The remainder must face extinction. ]
[Selection Process: Fate will not dictate your survival. Instead, ten trials have been devised to identify the worthy. To secure your place in the End Horizon, conquer these challenges.]
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Asuka stared hard at the blue text glowing before him, a crease forming between his brows as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
He'd read and written his fair share of isekai stories, but to have something so outlandish play out in real life? It was just unbelievable.
For several long moments, he simply sat frozen, lips parted slightly as jumbled thoughts whirled inside his head.
Was this actual reality, or some fevered dream cooked up by his frustrated psyche? Asuka reached out as if to touch the ethereal words, but his fingers passed through the projection, leaving him even more confused.
Yet, the more he dwelled on the implausibility of it all, the less it seemed to matter.
After having the rug abruptly pulled from under his lifelong dream, this... this felt like a strange miracle.
A second chance at something bigger than the life that had slowly crushed his spirit over the years.
While he couldn't begin to comprehend what cosmic force had set these events into motion, a hesitant smile tugged at the corner of Asuka's mouth.
An ember of anticipation flickered to life within him, the first spark of excitement he'd felt in longer than he could remember.
As it took hold and began to bloom outward, warmth flushed his cheeks. A breathy chuckle of disbelief escaped his lips, and Asuka's smile stretched into a wide grin.
For once, instead of frantic analysis, he allowed himself to simply experience the moment as it unfolded.
"So only a one third survive, huh?" Asuka muttered, undaunted by the dire odds. His eyes glinted with resolve.
Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on the table, fingers curling into determined fists as anticipation coursed through his veins. A ferocious smile spread over his lips.
"And if I'm not one of the chosen?" He shook his head, undeterred. "I don't care anymore. I've been given the second chance, the new life, that I've longed for."
Asuka paused, as realization hit in those piercing blue eyes. "Ha, with all the isekai manga I've read, I've got a wealth of knowledge for situations just like this."
His grin widened, sharp and eager. "Let's see how fun and dark this new world gets."
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{A/N}
Hey guys, Pls comment.. anything is fine, I am a new author so more than anything your comment boosts my motivation.
Thanks for Reading... I hope you like it.
And again, Pls Don't forget to Comment, even hate ones are appreciated....
