Chapter 1:The Last Witness

Prologue

Fate would’ve had it for me the moment I woke up, getting suspicious of my sleep–even though my alarm hasn’t gone off yet.

Still, I woke up making sure I didn’t hit the ceiling and slapping the nightstand for my phone and then…

Where the hell is my phone… and where the hell am I!?!?!?

Doing every trick I knew to wake myself up, pinch my arm, slapped my face and even bit my tongue.

Nothing worked.

Then a revelation hit me. A giant smile appeared on my face as every nerve in my body got excited.

‘’DID I JUST GET ISEKAI’D?!?!?!’

just the thought about it made me beyond ecstatic. Just imagine power ups, levels, quests and elves,demons, dwarves-

OHHH my wish comes true. This was it, this was finally it.

( Reader, spoiler: I was so, so, so wrong about literally everything.)

Part 1

“Groans… What time is it?”

Elias mumbled as he swung his hand toward where his phone should’ve been.

Half awake, he pushed himself up and let out a long yawn, sleep deprivation written all over his face.

Maybe doom–scrolling late at night wasn’t the best idea.

But oh well–too late now.

Still half conscious, he swiped his hand across the nightstand.

Nothing.

At the same time, a cold chill brushed across his skin.

“That damn AC… I should probably fix that up soon'’ Elias thought.

But even with the AC blasting, it shouldn’t be this cold.

Elias woke up reaching for his phone out of habit, only to be met with air.

Cold wind brushed across his face, waking him up like someone slapped him awake.

He sat up slowly.

Trees surrounded him.

Tall. Old. Ugly enough to sue.

Strange fruits hung from the branches like weird purple balls staring at him, wanting to ask, who the hell are you?

Elias blinked once. Twice.

Then sighed.

“Ahh these stupid lucid dreams,’’ he muttered.

Because this wasn't new for Elias.

Yesterday he dreamed he killed an evil God and saved a random country called Daimona.

Last week he dreamed about gaining powers, prestige, land, riches and most importantly–women

Basically, every power fantasy a guy could have after binge-reading Cool mangas like Grace Trigger.

Everything Elias wished for.

Groaning dramatically, Elias threw his arms up in the air.

‘’ Ahhh, what would I kill to get Isekai’d…”

He paused.

‘’ Oh, what a man could wish for…’’ As a long sigh escaped.

Still convinced he was dreaming, Elias slapped himself across the face–HARD

The slap echoed through the forest like someone dropped a steak on a grill.

It only left a red handprint.

“...Huh. That should've worked.”

He pinched his forearm until the skin turned tomato red.

Nothing.

A bit anxious he might be late for class, he leaned down and bit his tongue–HARD.

Pain exploded. Tears welled up in his eyes. His tongue went numb.

‘’normally that’d should’ve done the trick…’’

A thought popped up.

Grabbing his chin

‘’ Honestly this reminds me of the Book I read yesterday, Grace tigger”

“Isn't this what happened to the MC–”

He froze

A light bulb went off as the revelation hit him.

A normal person would panic now.

Scream.

Cry.

Maybe pray as well.

But Elias?

Nah.

He just stood up, dusted himself off, and nodded like this was a normal Tuesday morning.

He was a nerd whose greatest lifelong dream was to get Isekai’d.

And he took that dream way too seriously.

And honestly…Can you really blame the man?

To test his theory, Elias took a bite out of a weird, purplish fruit.

He closed his eyes, savoring the flavor.

It was sweet, strange, unlike anything on Earth–

And exactly what he needed to prove this wasn't a dream.

Everything was about to change.

A scream rippled through the trees, sharp and animalistic that the whole forest froze.

Birds stopped chirping.

Even the wind seemed to disappear.

Something was coming.

Something heavy was moving.

Something that was pressed against the air itself, warping it.

Something so terrifying that words couldn’t hope to explain it.

Then-

CRACK.

A branch snapped right below Elias

He froze.

For a moment, the whole forest held its breath

Then–

A grin stretched across Elias’s face.

Laughter burst out of him, echoing through the trees.

“Finally… at last! It's here!” Elias shouted, voice cracking with excitement.

“Everything I wanted!”

His heart was pounding, not with fear but excitement.

His brain was already going wild, quests,magic,princesses,fame–

In Elias’s head he wasn’t a lost college student anymore.

He was the protagonist of his dreams.

With his newfound discovery, Elias was already building scenarios in his head, epic quests, tragic romances, and final boss battles.

Barely holding himself together, he snickered. “Just the thought is making me beyond estatic… “

Elias sat down, legs crossed, staring into the trees with absolute confidence.

‘’Now to wait for the pop-up machine to come by soon’’ Elias whispered proudly.

While Elias waited patiently for the pop-up, plotting out his grand future.

Someone saw him from afar.

Something did.

—

Pov switch

—

I clapped my hands together.

“Abra cadabra!’’

Nothing.

‘’Woosh ‘’

Still nothing.

‘’ I summon you ‘’

Silence.

Magic… didn't work.

Not wanting to admit defeat, I dropped to the ground doing push ups.

“17…18…19–ahhh–!”

I collapsed.

Barely.

‘’ Why…? I gasped it's the same as always’’

‘’ am i actually dreaming?’’

I sat still, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down my face.

‘’No…no…’’ I Whispered quietly

“Just gotta wait for the pop-up…”

My voice shook.

“Yeah… just have to wait… then I'll rise up.”

Grrrrr…

“Ugh, I’m starving.”

I exhaled slowly.

“Yeah. Definitely not a dream.”

I stood up, stretching with a long yawn.

“So… what’s good to eat around here anyway?”

I looked around and immediately noticed the same purplish fruit hanging from every tree.

Delicious, sure— but way too sweet for my liking.

I needed real food.

Then I saw it.

A weird, four-eyed creature creeping between the trees.

Ugly? Absolutely.

Edible? …probably.

Food was food. No time to be picky.

I lunged forward, laughing like a madman.

“Come here, buddy!”

The thing squealed and bolted, making the strangest noises as it ran. Fast—but not fast enough.

I tackled it to the ground.

“Ah-ha!”

I grinned down at it like I’d just won a trophy

“Caught ya now, buddy”

I was already planning ways how to cook it when—

Grrrrr…

…okay

My stomach growled…

…

But it definitely didn’t growl that loud.

A shadow fell over me.

Teeth gritted behind me.

A low, vicious growl rumbled through the air.

I turned around slowly, forcing a very nervous smile.

The most hideous four-eyed creature I’ve ever seen stared straight into my soul.

I looked back at the little one in my hands.

Then back at the massive one towering over me.

…Yeah.

Definitely the parent.

You could tell by the genes.

I gently put the small one down, patting it awkwardly.

“Who's a good boy… yeah…you are“ I said through a terrified grin

That little prick started crying.

Perfect.

The parent and I locked eyes.

I gave a small, shaky wave.

Then I booked it the hell out of there

“AHHHH!”

I ran like my life depended on it, mostly because it did.

I didn’t know what was worse, being chased or the fact everytime I looked back, grateful I didn’t look like that

“It’s fine” I panted. “ This is nothing compared to back in my old da—“

I tripped

Face first into the mud.

Fear stabbed me

“No, no,no…not like this. Not like this”

The creature looked over me

This was it

My dreams are over

My life is about to end–by the most hideous thing.

it leaned down

Sniffed.

It’s faced twisted with disgust.

And it stepped back, like I was a wet dog it didn’t want to touch.

I blinked.

Looked down at myself.

Took a sniff.

…

Yea.

totally understandable.

The beast vanished into the trees, leaving me alone in the mud.

And once it was gone–so was my adrenaline.

I got up and dusted myself off.

The mud was gone, but the smell clung to me.

“Can’t stand this’’ I muttered.

“Disgusting.”

The sky darkened as the moon rose overhead.

Even now, there was still no pop-up.

No system. No help.

No weapons.

No shelter.

Hunger gnawing at my stomach.

These were all the things you didn’t want when night fell.

Especially in a place you didn’t understand.

I looked around.

The chirping of birds stopped.

The air grew colder.

I could barely see fifteen feet in front of me.

And this stupid mud wasn’t helping.

Then I heard it–a distant rumble from the trees.

Terrified, I ducked behind a tree, holding my breath.

I didn’t know what it was.

I didn’t know what it looked like.

And I didn’t know if it knew I was here.

Hoping.

…I don’t wanna die.

Please.

Not like this.

Take me back.

Please.

…

When the heavy footsteps finally faded, I collapsed.

When I first woke up here, all I could think about was the glory of being isekai’d.

But now?

I’d never felt this helpless… this vulnerable.

‘’I should’ve eaten those fruits,’’ I muttered.

‘’why was I so arrogant?’’

My stomach gnawed at me.

The cold seeped through my bones.

‘I don’t want this anymore’’ I whispered.

“ please… let me go back’’

I sank to my knees.

Mud freezing against my skin.

‘’ is this really how it ends?’’

‘’Curse this world,’’ I breathed

Hope slipped through my fingers.

But survival wouldn’t let me stop.

I forced myself up, weak and starving.

And I walked.

Endlessly.

Hoping for something.

Time blurred.

My legs moved without purpose, without thought.

Shivering and filthy, after failing to summon anything. No spell, no skill window, not even a pity pop-up, I just crouched down and questioned every life decision I’ve ever made.

That’s when I heard it.

A whisper.

“Elias… meet me here.”

I froze.

It wasn’t a sound. It was inside my thoughts.

Yet somehow… I knew exactly where “here” was, like the coordinates were printed into my soul.

With nothing left to lose, I ran.

Branches whipping past my face.

My breath burned.

heart pounded—

until I saw him.

A familiar silhouette.

Erase my memories.

blind me.

strip away every sense I have.

I’d still recognize those wings anywhere.

“…Michael?” I whispered, barely breathing.

The figure opened his holy wings.

light pouring off him like a second sun, his presence almost blinding me as he stepped forward.

We stood face to face.

Whatever I thought this world was…

I was wrong.