Blub! Blub! Blub!
The sound of air bubbles bursting was the only thing audible. Cold. Dark. Crushing.
A man's body was sinking, trapped in the endless depths of the water. Gravity seemed to pull him down forcibly, dragging him away from the surface where a faint light shimmered. He tried to open his eyes, but the sting of the saltwater blurred his vision.
What is this? Where am I?
Panic began to creep up, gripping his chest tighter than the water pressure itself. His survival instinct screamed, commanding his muscles to struggle, to swim upwards. Yet, his body refused the command. His legs were stiff, his arms paralyzed by his sides. No matter how hard he tried to send signals from his brain to his fingertips, he remained motionless, like a stone statue cast into the abyss of the ocean.
Why can't I move?! What is actually happening?!
Amidst the mounting panic, a shadow emerged from the abyssal darkness beneath him. At first, it was faint, but then two glowing red points of light pierced the murk. A pair of eyes. Eyes that stared at him with a primal hunger.
The figure—an unknown creature believed to be colossal—moved toward him with impossible speed. The water around him churned violently due to the movement of the monster's massive body. The man's heart raced wildly, as if threatening to explode from his chest. He wanted to scream, but water instantly rushed into his mouth.
The figure was now right in front of him. Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of fangs as sharp as swords, ready to tear flesh and crush bone. In a fear that paralyzed all logic, he finally gave up. He closed his eyes, surrendering to his fate to be devoured by the darkness.
I'm finished...
However, just as those jaws snapped shut...
Thud!
"Ouch!"
The sensation of a hard impact on his hand jolted his consciousness back. The man gasped awake, his breath ragged, cold sweat drenching his temples. His chest heaved rapidly as he realized he was no longer underwater. Oxygen filled his lungs greedily.
"Ah... it was just a dream!" he muttered in a hoarse voice, trying to calm his wildly beating heart.
However, the relief lasted only a split second. He felt a dull ache in his right fist. When he looked forward, his eyes widened in shock.
In front of him, a young man was sprawled on the floor. And not only that, the entire room was now silent. Dozens of pairs of eyes were staring at him. Their gazes were a mix of fear, confusion, and shock.
The young man who had just taken his punch slowly stood up. He rubbed his reddening cheek, then glared sharply at him. There was a flash of anger in the young man's eyes, though hidden behind his delicate features.
"What are you doing? Why did you punch my face?" the young man asked, his voice trembling as he held back his emotions.
Huh?
The newly awakened man's brain spun fast, trying to process the visual before him. Soft pink hair, clear eyes, and facial features that looked familiar...
Isn't he Allen? Why is he here?
Confusion hit him like a tidal wave. He still felt half-dreaming. Unconsciously, he stood up from his chair, his steps slightly unsteady, and gripped both shoulders of the pink-haired young man. He stared at Allen intensely, his gaze piercing and sharp, trying to find answers behind those eyes.
This sudden action made Allen flinch. He looked confused and frightened. The aura radiating from the person in front of him was so dominating.
"Tell me! Who am I?" the man barked. The question sounded ridiculous, but he needed confirmation. He needed an anchor for this reality.
Allen was stunned. His mouth opened slightly in disbelief. Was the noble in front of him playing a joke? However, seeing the seriousness in those eyes, Allen finally answered hesitantly.
"You are Arvin Vedegra! What's wrong with you? Do you have amnesia?"
That name hit him harder than the nightmare had.
Arvin Vedegra?
He released his grip on Allen's shoulders and slumped back into his chair. his gaze blankly staring at the polished mahogany desk in front of him.
Arvin Vedegra. The fourth son of the Duke Vedegra family. A magical genius, but with a rotten personality. A cruel, rude, and arrogant antagonist. In the original storyline, Arvin was the trigger for a civil war and the bringer of chaos to this world.
He glanced at Allen's face again. Allen, the main protagonist. The person destined to become a great hero.
Allen is the person who will kill me in the future!
Fragments of information fused in his mind. This classic European-style classroom, the academy uniforms worn by other students, and Allen's presence...
Don't tell me I've been sent into the world of the BL game: 'The Sign of Destiny'?
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Allen's voice broke his reverie. The pink-haired young man was still standing there, holding his bruised cheek. "Is it because you're a noble, you're free to hit me like this?"
Those words were full of pain and injustice. It was the voice of someone accustomed to being oppressed but still trying to maintain his dignity.
Arvin—the soul now inhabiting the antagonist's body—felt a sting of guilt. He hadn't meant to hit him. It was a reflex from his nightmare.
Without saying much, Arvin stood up again. This time his movements were calmer, more graceful, like a true noble. He approached Allen. Allen flinched back slightly, thinking he would be hit again, but Arvin instead raised his hand and touched Allen's bruised cheek gently.
"Stay still!" Arvin whispered softly.
He focused his mind, summoning a flow of energy that felt foreign yet natural within his new body. A faint green light glowed from his palm. Basic healing magic, but controlled with perfect precision. The pain in Allen's face slowly vanished, replaced by a soothing warm sensation. The bruise faded in seconds.
"You're healed. It's done, right?" Arvin said flatly, pulling his hand back.
Without waiting for an answer or a thank you, Arvin immediately turned around. He grabbed his bag and walked out of the classroom with long strides, leaving a frozen silence behind him.
Did I really enter the game world? Allen's face felt so real in my hand just now. Warm, and... alive.
From a distance, Allen was still transfixed in his spot. His hand touched his now smooth cheek. He was completely confused by Arvin's behavior, which had changed drastically in a matter of minutes—from violent to gentle, then back to cold.
Click!
The heavy classroom door closed behind Arvin, separating him from the students' gazes.
In the vast academy corridor, Arvin walked alone. He didn't go straight home or to the dormitory. He needed time to digest everything.
His eyes swept the surroundings with admiration. He felt the cold stone walls, touching the intricate carvings on the giant pillars that supported the academy's high ceiling. The texture was rough and real. Even the dust clinging to his fingertips felt real.
Wow! So this is the Astoria Magic Academy from the game? Seeing it in person, this building is far bigger and more magnificent than the 2D illustrations on a computer screen!
Several students passing by immediately moved aside, making way. They whispered, glancing at him with a mix of fear and curiosity. Seeing Arvin Vedegra, the arrogant noble, groping building pillars like a villager visiting the city for the first time, was certainly a strange sight.
"Hey, look at young master Arvin..."
"Shh, don't look him in the eye. He seems to be in a bad mood."
They felt puzzled, but not a single one dared to approach him. Arvin's reputation as a cold person who didn't hesitate to be rough with anyone who annoyed him was legendary in this academy.
Arvin noticed their reactions. Ah... it's natural if they only look at me with such strange and fearful gazes. They even look down when I turn my head.
He let out a long sigh. Is this because of Arvin's original character? This body seems to naturally radiate intimidation.
His feet kept moving, carrying him along the long hallway toward the back of the academy, where a vast garden lay. He needed fresh air. He needed a quiet place to think.
I still can't accept all of this!