It's almost a tradition to get caught up in some sort of supernatural phenomenon while crossing between parallel universes.
At least, that's what I've always thought.
For example—Maybe God accidentally zapped you with lightning and killed you. After meeting Him, you'd listen to His apology and then migrate to another world.
There are also tales of people with unbelievably good karma who meet God after death and are granted reincarnation.
The classic one, of course, is jumping in front of a truck (a.k.a. the infamous Truck-kun) to save "Person A" trying to cross the street.
You die in one world, then migrate to another.
Oh, right—one can migrate without dying, too.
Some kind of goddess might summon you to another world through a glowing magic circle.
Or the king's archmage could perform a ritual circle to summon someone from another realm.
Or perhaps a scientific experiment goes horribly wrong, triggering an unexpected chain of events that causes the transfer.
Examples like these are easy to find in stories.
Supernatural phenomena during interdimensional travel are a tradition.
So I've got two questions:
Where the hell is my supernatural phenomenon?!
And—Whose fault is this?!
"How did this even happen?" I mutter to myself, squeezing my eyes shut to remember.
I leave work, head home, take a shower, and go to bed.
Then I wake up the next morning and—BAM—I've migrated to another universe!
No, no, no. I must've missed something, right? Like a crucial summary section or some kind of info box...
If I change the theory entirely, maybe this is a dream. A lucid dream, perhaps—the kind you wake up from the moment you gain awareness. No? The subconscious is known for its paradox of simplicity and complexity. If this really were a dream, I wouldn't remember the beginning. True, that part fits—but the subconscious can't generate completely unknown information.
Meaning, if this were a dream, no matter how realistic, I shouldn't be able to read text.
Therefore, I've just debunked the dream theory. After all, I can easily read the writing around me.
Eliminate the virtual reality theory too, and I'm left with no idea why I'm here.
"Hahh." I sigh deeply, trying to digest the cruel reality once more.
At first, I thought I was in a city in England. These grotesque buildings and structures. The gloomy, suffocating sky. The dark atmosphere. The fog rolling in from nowhere... It took me less than a second to realize something was off.
My bedroom certainly didn't have a view like some grim crime-ridden city. Okay, fine, my old apartment did have a similar view before I moved, but trust me—it didn't look this bad!
I've always been good at adapting. Sudden changes in my environment don't faze me anymore. My family's situation forced me to move schools and cities multiple times as a kid. Just when I'd gotten used to a place or made friends, we'd move again, and I'd have to start from scratch. It was rough at first—opening a new chapter without knowing how to fit in always hurt. But over time, I became indifferent. It's just how life works. The human mind and body are wired to adapt to their surroundings. As the years went by, I got used to change—to the point where it barely mattered where or with whom I was.
That shaped a huge part of who I am.
I'm used to constant change, so I rarely get shocked or surprised.
At least, that's what I used to think.
Until I looked down from the top of a tall building—And saw Gotham City.
Goddammit, it's not even nighttime. Why is this city's atmosphere so dark?
Couldn't it have been Metropolis or Central City instead? Gotham's a bit too cruel, don't you think?
How am I supposed to survive here? At least if I had superpowers or something…
Wait.
Could I?
Let's say I do—what kind of power would it be? I can't think of anything specific. It'd be nice if I had some kind of guiding system, though.
Just to be sure…
System?
You there?
…Guess not.
Alright, this is embarrassing, but I have to make sure.
"Status.""Stats.""Menu. Inventory. Quests. Attributes. Window. Map. Display. System!"
Yeah. Looks like I don't have one of those cheat-like systems that most characters who get isekai'd are blessed with.No level-ups, no RPG-style interface to make things easier. Figures.
At least there's no one around to see me shouting that out loud. It'd be mortifying for a 23-year-old.
Though, my voice did sound a bit… higher? Because of the height? Or maybe the fog?
I touch my throat. "Oooh."
Yeah, definitely different.
Then I spot a puddle nearby, left over from the day before. I slowly step closer, peering down at my reflection in the murky water—and freeze.
Why?
Because the person staring back at me barely looks like me!
No, wait—kind of like me. Just… not the 23-year-old me. The reflection looks like my 12-year-old self! Long chestnut hair, small nose, big eyes, a confused expression…
I don't usually compliment myself, but honestly? I was a pretty cute kid. Adorably so. I can admit that objectively and with a clear conscience.
But this—this isn't just cute. It's… beautiful?
It didn't take long to notice the difference. All the redness, freckles, moles, and acne were gone. My lashes were long, my brows thin and neat, my lips a natural pink. My skin was pale and flawless—like I was wearing perfect makeup that erased every imperfection. Is this the flawless skin every girl dreams of?!
Damn it—even my cold-reddened nose looks adorable!
But seriously, isn't this too beautiful for a 12-year-old?!
I wish my 23-year-old skin looked like this.
Wait, no, that's not the point! Why do I look 12 again? Did crossing dimensions somehow de-age me? No, if that were the case, my skin wouldn't have changed like this. My body was clearly altered. And this red coat and pair of jeans aren't even mine.
Who dressed me like this? At least I'm wearing underwear, right? …Okay, that's fine.
If I had to speculate, these changes to my body and skin suggest that I was brought here by some extremely powerful being. No matter how you look at it, it's suspicious.
Whose job is this?!
Mr. Mxyzptlk? The Presence?
Some kind of pervert?
"Hahh…"
Alright, what now?
Getting back seems impossible, so maybe I should start with short-term goals. Like, say, getting down from this building.
The Gotham skyline looms beneath me, and even though I'm not afraid of heights, I shiver. I sigh. Yeah, jumping down isn't an option. There's gotta be a staircase somewhere, right? If only I had my phone.
Instinctively, I reach into my pocket—and feel something there.
No, not that! That's not what I meant!
I haven't turned into a boy!
I mean there's something in my pocket!
I pull it out—and feel a ring.
Could it be…?
A Lantern Ring?
I pull it out quickly for a closer look. Definitely not green. And it doesn't look like any Lantern Ring I've ever seen. Kind of disappointing, honestly. Not that I'd have enough willpower for one anyway. As much as it bruises my ego, the truth is—probably not. And the other rings mess with your mind. Do I have the mental fortitude to resist that? Also no. Let's be real—if random people could become superheroes, the normal world would be full of them already. I'm just an ordinary person. I'm not arrogant enough to think I have a hero's will or resilience. Just a face in the crowd.
…And now I sound like I'm trying to comfort myself. Anyway, back to the ring. It's just an ordinary silver band—though on closer inspection, it's engraved with intricate, detailed patterns. Looks expensive.
I slip it onto my finger.
Yep. Same as before. No change.
I'd hoped finding it in my pocket meant it was special, but guess not.
Though, one more idea comes to mind. It's stupid, but… should I try it?
Everything so far has already been stupid. Might as well lower my IQ a bit more.
I bite my finger.
And fail to draw blood.
Naruto made it look so easy. I guess that's one more difference between fiction and reality. Let's not get discouraged.
I grab a small piece of debris nearby and manage to nick my thumb. A drop of blood falls onto the ring.
The blood seeps into the carved patterns, glowing crimson across the silver surface. The ring emits a faint red light.
I've read enough Wuxia novels to recognize this trope. A dimensional storage ring—accessing a pocket dimension through the item itself. If my guess is right…
Though, can I really activate it without knowing how? The novels never explain that part. The protagonists just… do it, like breathing.
As the light intensifies, I start feeling something. When the glow finally fades, realization hits me like lightning.
The ring has accepted me as its owner—I can feel it. For the first time ever, I can define the concept of "soul." It's like gaining a brand-new sense beyond the five I already had. It's indescribable yet overwhelming. The ring absorbed my soul's imprint through my blood and granted me access.
A true supernatural phenomenon.
My hunch was right. It really is a dimensional ring. I can sense the pocket dimension it connects to. I can't see inside it, but I can feel it. Like a small room—intimately linked to me.
Inside that space are only two things:
A card, and a book.
I decide to check the card first. I pull it out of the pocket dimension, and it materializes instantly in my hand. My heart races. Maybe not a superpower, but definitely something extraordinary. For an ordinary person like me, this is thrilling.
It's an ID card. My ID.
"Thea Rodsman."
...
That's… not my name.
"****** ******"
Now I understand. There's a curse preventing me from saying my real name. Every time I try, the words distort. Even thinking about it hurts. A piercing headache floods my mind. It's like something's interfering with my thoughts—and it's terrifying.
Why would this exist?
To stop me from revealing knowledge about this world?
I hope not.
Well, thinking too hard about it just makes it worse. For now, let's focus on the book in the pocket dimension—and shelf this horrifying curse thing for later. Why not, right?!
I reach out mentally and pull the book into reality, trying to distract myself from the dread.
"The Sword Path"
No way! Could it be—?!
A martial arts manual. Straight out of a Wuxia novel. And it's about the Sword Path.
I've actually gained something supernatural. This is good. Very good.
From what I know of Wuxia, books like this let you master martial arts, surpass human limits—even achieve immortality!
The Path of Cultivation—classic Chinese philosophy. Wuxia stories are all about defying the heavens through enlightenment of the Dao.
I'm curious what's written inside. I always thought it was strange in those novels how characters instantly learned techniques just by reading them, like it was nothing—same with storage rings.
Time to find out for myself.
The moment I open the book, a blinding yellow light bursts out, searing my vision. It makes the ring's glow look weak in comparison.
Suddenly, my mind is flooded with knowledge that doesn't belong to me.
The contents of The Sword Path unfold within my consciousness.
The Way, the Sword, breath, body, and dantian—all of it streams into my mind like a river. There's too much to fully comprehend at once.
The knowledge flows through like a ribbon, embedding itself into my memory.
When I recall the book, fragments of its contents flash in my thoughts.
Hard to describe—but undeniably extraordinary.
When my eyes finally open again, the book is gone. Seems it was a one-time use. If I'd known, maybe I wouldn't have used it. Actually—no, I probably still would've. After being thrown into another world against my will, I think I've earned the right to be a little selfish.
I don't think I could explain the knowledge aloud even if I wanted to. It's supernatural—a kind of divine secret. If it could be easily shared, it wouldn't be so valuable.
Shame, though. Someone like Batman could probably make much better use of it.
Still, no point dwelling on what's done.
Let's review what I know.
The Sword Dao seems to be just one path to the Great Dao. The infinite Dao permeates every corner of the universe, and my understanding of it will shape my physical and mental growth.
To link the human body with the Dao, one must open the dantian. It's both a vessel and a source of energy—a bridge between body and Dao. The beginning of spiritual cultivation.
The dantian lies beneath the navel, and to awaken it, certain conditions must be met:
The path of the mind must be open.The path of the heart must be open.The path of the body must be open.All acupuncture points must be unblocked.
When the mind, heart, and body are united, energy flows through the acupuncture points and reaches its peak.
When balance within the body is achieved—yin and yang must be reversed.
The beginning and the end are reflections of one another. Just as birth mirrors death.The end signifies a new beginning, and death opens the door to new life. To step onto the path of immortality, one must overturn the natural order—escape the fate of existence—and forge their own destiny.
In short—
To embark on the immortal journey… I have to die first?!
Are you kidding me?!
Whose damn idea is this?!