In a certain city of a certain province in a certain country on a certain planet, a young man walked along a bustling street.

He felt utterly out of place. So… was the world of the “real-life enthusiasts” truly that far from him?

Though the thought crossed his mind, Wude wasn’t a stereotypical shut-in. He had a steady job—modest pay, but enough to save a little each month. Every penny went straight into savings, carefully set aside for the future.

Wude genuinely loved characters from light novels, anime, and games. Yet he knew full well: in this society, fully embracing the life of an “otaku” would lead to misery. Just recently, he’d heard about an “otaku” whose luggage got confiscated at customs for carrying too many… questionable items.

He still had his dignity. He still needed to live. Sure, on the surface, he fit the “protagonist template”: orphaned—check. A sister and a house… well, no sister, but he did own a place. What else was there…? Eh, he couldn’t recall—and honestly, didn’t care to.

Still, someone like him… if he vanished tomorrow, would anyone even mourn? He had to stay strong and keep going. At the very least, he didn’t find life pitiful—not right now.

Then again, trekking to that hidden spot for this limited edition game had been utterly draining. He couldn’t shake the feeling people’s stares followed him into that dim alley… like something was off. Definitely not his imagination.

But now? He could finally grind the night away. After all—what’s sadder than a hard-earned holiday with no game to dive into?

Wude kept walking, utterly unaware his own “legendary”—more like “run-of-the-mill”—isekai adventure was mere steps away.

BOOM!!!

The earth trembled. A nightmare descended without warning.

Buildings crumbled like tissue paper. Screams of agony flooded Wude’s ears.

“An… earthquake?” His spot was relatively safe—no tall structures nearby—so he remained unharmed.

But the scene ahead was hellish. Wude saw, with chilling clarity: rebar spearing through chests, bodies pinned under concrete slabs, blood pooling beneath.

Panic seized everyone. The injured wailed desperately; the unharmed screamed for loved ones.

None of it truly touched Wude. After all—he had no family left.

Instead, his gaze locked onto something hovering before him: a transparent cave, materializing midair from nothing.

Though invisible, he knew it was there. Light warped around it; everything seen through that spot twisted unnaturally.

Drawn by an unseen pull, Wude slowly reached toward the distortion. Just before his fingers made contact—he froze.

A deep, primal fear gripped him. He *knew*: this thing was tied to the earthquake.

But history waits for no one. Destiny would not be denied. A panicked man barreled into Wude from behind, slamming his unprotected back. The force shoved him forward—one step—and his hand brushed the distortion.

The world spun. In an instant, Wude vanished.

“Did I… just bump into someone?” the man finally registered. “My son! Where are you?!” He spun around, running and shouting desperately, utterly oblivious as the distortion slowly faded from view…