Chapter 1: Get Transferred

Chapter 1: Get Transferred

They say the gods weep for those covered in blood

But it was we mortals who bled—while they watched with clean hands.

The film set hung with palpable tension. As the doors slammed open, almost flew off the hinges. Ashen, the stunningly handsome young star with untidy, dark golden blonde hair and piercingly gorgeous hazel-brown eyes, stormed off the set in rage, his irritation clear. He ranted at his assistant, Lily, whose gentle nature only seemed to make him angrier.

"This is the coffee you brought me? He spoke in a low, taunting voice, each word slicing through the air as quickly as a sparrow, his voice echoing off the cold backdrop of the set. The cup shot from his hand like a curse cast in rage—fast, blinding, and sure to shatter something fragile. It crashed to the floor with a shattering crack, glass and hot liquid exploding in all directions across the shiny floor in a crazed curve.

The sound echoed—bright, like a bell tolling doom.

The crew froze in mid-step. A boom mic quivered. A makeup artist's brush hung in mid-air. Everyone watched the drama before them, much like people watching an automobile accident—shocked but unable to look away. Lily leapt as pieces skipped across her feet. She felt small then, trembling like a porcelain doll set too near the edge of a table. Her legs turned weak, and she collapsed to the floor.

"Seriously, Lily?" Ashen's voice increased now, each word slammed like venom. "You expected me to drink this crap?" Her lips shook. She backed off a pace. Tears pricked on the edges of her eyes like dew on morning grass, curving the harsh set lights.

Then—

"That's enough," the director cut in, his tone hard and cold. "Ashen, get back to your trailer.". With an indignant huff, Ashen turned around, his jaw clenched in annoyance, and stormed back to his trailer. With one last look over his shoulder, he saw the director help Lily to her feet. A pang of genuine remorse lanced his belly, smarting more than he had expected. He wanted to say something, anything, but words caught in his throat.

He spun around abruptly and went into his trailer, shutting the door with a resounding thud that echoed like a gunshot in the quiet of the night. Inside his trailer, the dying light cast on Ashen's furrowed face as he collapsed on the bed, the chilled fabric against his hot skin. He tossed some almonds into his mouth, his mind reeling as he contemplated the tempest of emotions that he had unleashed. Unconsciously, he realized he had been too harsh on Lily. The image of her cowering on the ground, small, twisted his stomach. He wished he had not lost his temper, truly, even as the little nagging voice tried to justify it, muttering about showing her to be on guard against those who would try to take.

But the larger, weightier feeling was the shame of his own temper.

He spat another almond into his mouth and chewed randomly—until something became wedged in his throat. There was a spurt of instant, burning panic in his chest. His eyes protruded. He tried to cough, but nothing would move. He staggered toward the door, reaching for help that wasn't there.

This is it? This is how I die? Choking like a clown—on an almond?!

His regrets burned hotter than any lack of oxygen could, but they were mixed this time with a hopeless hope to make the chaos he'd just created undone.

If I'd been trained instead of being an asshole. Maybe I would have died a hero's death. Maybe I'd have become a strongman.

Blackness crept around the edge of his sight. Then—

// Reincarnation Complete. //

— Initiating Transfer —

Race: Monkey Beastman

Class: Strongman

//Hello, Novbarist, Chosen One. Attempt to eschew existential horror and or dread.//

And all was dark. Slumping onto the floor, a solitary figure surrounded by the silence of the trailer

Reincarnation complete, now bringing into existence. Existing age of 19. Greetings, Ashen Jace Vexley, to the system.

Ashen gradually started to open his eyes, waking up from his daze. Suddenly, he sat up quite forcefully and gazed at the green grassy ground and a stream flowing next to it. Flowers covered the field everywhere.

This is not a hospital. He looked around, trying to stand, but noticed something. "Why in the world is there a tail? No, more importantly, why is it on my actual ass?!?!" His fright caused him to stumble as he ran to the river and looked into the water, noticing a reflection that wasn't his, a human with monkey with golden-blonde fur and red eyes.

After a few seconds of panic, he heard ‌a familiar voice in his head—the same voice he'd heard when he'd passed out. It was a robotic-sounding, female AI-sounding voice, and its message was as clear as day:

Welcome to the world of Novbarist, Ashen Jace Vexley. Your request has been granted. Why are you upset?

Ashen opened his eyes and then asked, "What request?" // system notification//

//You've chosen the monkey beastman tribe. Your chosen strongman class grants you super strength and ruggedness, but a faulty memory. Be careful. Apologies in advance, but there is no option to include or change your reincarnation request,//

After a second of bewilderment, he tuned in to what the voice was saying. His dying thoughts had triggered his isekai, just like in the movies. "I didn't request this! What are you saying can't be altered?" The robot voice responded, //Call me -Marco. Caution —humans are approaching.//

Ashen witnessed a crowd, swords and pitchforks in hand, coming his way.

They seemed furious as they charged towards Ashen, swearing and screaming, "Kill the accursed beastmen!" "They're a plague on this earth!" Ashen didn't move for a moment, just thought Welp, they look friendly. As he stared in bewilderment, all of this was happening too fast. Too fast, before Ashen could do anything, someone used some sort of ability to get to him in an instant.

Wait! How did she do that? Startled and now beginning to panic all over again, as he was just barely able to dodge Ashen, she started striking again, but this time, there was no way to get out of the way. The sword shattered on contact, the moment it hit Ashen, sending metal shards through the air. Both he and the woman had shocked expressions, their gasps caught in the thick silence that followed the shattering crash. At that moment of distraction, Ashen seized the opportunity to make his escape, sprinting into the thick embrace of the woods, his feet pounding against the earth covered in leaves. Sprinting among the tall trees, he was brave enough to look back, his heart racing as he felt he was being chased. Just as panic was building up within him, he bumped into an unexpected barrier—a hard something or someone, causing him to stumble and ending his running abruptly.