As I felt the blood pour out, my body started to get cold, but as it did, the surrounding forest solidified. 

 

Was I really going to die here? The blood continued to leak out of me, but I couldn't even lift my hand to stop it. 

 

I focused, looking down at my hands, and realized that I was holding something.

 

"Don't let go of that Soul Coin. You need that to cross over, and without it, you will die," Leng said from above me, and I nodded, finally realizing something.

 

There was no pain, but that was when my arms gave out and I flopped forward. My body felt like an ice-cold rock.

 

"Alright! Enough of being so dramatic! Get up and let me explain who I actually am, and why I choose to give you a Soul Coin! Hahah!" Leng laughed, and I frowned into the grass.

 

The cold and heaviness had vanished, so I pushed myself off the ground. When I finally got up, I looked down at my stomach and narrowed my eyes. There was a massive slice in my Rolling Tones t-shirt I had been wearing under my red winter coat.

 

"Can you start by explaining how my blood got all over the floor of your house?" I demanded as I looked up at Leng, but then winced as I watched him wipe blood off his hands on a napkin.

 

"I sliced you open with my hand. If you would like, I can show you how to get back to your reality. It is the same way that you got to this one," Leng explained, and I put up my hands to stop him.

 

"Sorry, no thanks. You were saying? Why did you give me this coin?" I asked, opening my hand to look for the coin but it was gone.

 

I was about to start panicking, but Leng laughed. "While outside of your reality, the Soul Coin remains within you, allowing you to get stronger, and learn amazing skills from the monsters of these worlds! Not only that, but you can take everything back to your own world!"

 

"Wait, what?!" 

 

My mind was still trying to catch up with the fact I was in another world. Now this psychopath was telling me I could get stronger here and then take that power and whatever else back to earth?! 

 

Leng chuckled at my bewildered expression. "Calm down, Johnathan. You've been chosen to become my Soul Seeker, someone who can traverse between worlds and gain unique abilities from each. The Soul Coin you hold is the key to unlocking these powers and taking them back to your reality."

 

I scratched my head, trying to make sense of everything. "Seeker? Powers? Monsters? This sounds like some fantasy novel or video game."

 

Leng grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "Reality is often stranger than fiction, my boy. You have the potential to explore worlds beyond your imagination and bring back the experiences, skills, and treasures you acquire. But, of course, there are challenges along the way."

 

He gestured to the forest around us, and I realized that the landscape had shifted. We were now in the heart of a dense, mystical forest, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow on the towering trees.

 

"Your first trial is to survive in this realm, defeat the creatures that roam here, and grow stronger. The Soul Coin will guide you, and each time you face a challenge, it will absorb the essence of the defeated monsters, granting you their abilities."

 

I took a deep breath, trying to process the gravity of the situation. "So, I'm basically in a game where I have to level up and gain powers by fighting monsters?"

 

Leng nodded. "In a simplified way, yes. But remember, the choices you make, the friendships you form, and the challenges you overcome will shape your journey. It's not just about power; it's about understanding the value of life, as we discussed earlier."

 

I frowned, remembering his previous question about the value of a life. "Why is that so important?"

 

"Because you are going to see many things that will test your resolve. You will learn the value of life, you will find something to hate about this world, but most importantly, Johnathan," Leng said, looking deep into my eyes. "You will find something to love, but that will not be what you think."

 

There was a lot of cryptic mumbo jumbo like some NPC in a game, but the last part made me curious. 

 

'Will not be what I think?' I thought, and that probably meant, not a personal love relationship. I had to wonder what else it could be, not that I was emotionally available right now.

 

I had just been stabbed, brought to the brink of death, and transported to another world, and I am still talking to the person who tried to kill me! Girls were far from my mind.

 

"Okay, this all sounds fine and dandy, but why? Why are you doing this, and why did you pick me?" I asked, and Leng gave me a completely blank look.

 

"You were the person that came when I ordered my pizza. I had just eaten the owners of the house after coming to your world, and was curious how many humans I would have to eat to find someone like you!" Leng laughed, but I didn't find this funny at all.

 

"W-what are you?" I tried to demand, but my words slipped. 

 

Just what had I gotten myself into?!

 

"Me? I am Leng Rakan Thorn, the Tenth Emperor's Candidate! This is the world that I rule, Lunaro!" Leng declared, and I just stared at him, slack-jawed.

 

I lifted up my right hand with my index finger up, about to say something, but then let it fall. I had no clue what I was supposed to say to that!

 

"Ah! You must be blown away by my greatness! But fear not my valiant, tiny, little, weak, and pathetic champion! I have brought you here to train! You do not need to worry that I am a god, or that this world looks up to me. It is nothing, really. Compared to ruling over everything? This is but a single candle!" 

 

I stood there, dumbfounded, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. Leng Rakan Thorn, the Tenth Emperor's Candidate, and ruler of Lunaro had just revealed himself to be a pizza-loving, dimension-hopping entity. It was beyond surreal.

 

"So, you're telling me that you brought me here to be your... what? Trainee? Apprentice?" I asked, struggling to find the right words.

 

Leng nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! You, my dear Johnathan, are now my Soul Seeker, a special individual chosen to explore different worlds, face challenges, and absorb the essence of monsters to gain incredible powers. It's a fantastic opportunity, don't you think?"

 

I scratched my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the concept. "And what if I don't want to be your Soul Seeker? What if I just want to go back home and live my boring, mundane life?"

 

Leng's expression darkened, and for a moment, I felt a twinge of fear. "Ah, my dear Johnathan, you see, there's a little catch. Once you've stepped into the realm of the Soul Seeker, there's no turning back. The only way to return to your world is to fulfill your destiny and, of course, entertain me."

 

"Entertain you?" I repeated, disbelief evident in my voice.

 

Leng grinned, revealing his sharp teeth once again. "Oh, yes! Your adventures, struggles, victories, and even failures will provide me with endless amusement. It's a win-win situation, don't you think?"

 

"Hardly sounds like a win-win," I said, crossing my arms, trying to seem defiant, but this dude was pretty terrifying.

 

"Well, if you remember what I said, the only way to cross back to your world is to bring yourself close to death, right? What do you think would happen if I just bit your head off right now? Do you think that the Soul Coin will let you travel back?" Leng asked, still grinning, and I uncrossed my arms.

 

"So what do I do first?" I asked, deciding that this was not a situation where arguing or resisting would lead to anything good.

 

Leng's grin widened. "Ah, now we're talking! First things first, let me guide you through the basics of your new reality."

 

He started explaining the intricacies of Lunaro, the mystical forest we were in, the different realms that existed, and the variety of creatures that roamed each domain. I listened intently, realizing that my survival and success depended on understanding this bizarre world.

 

As I absorbed the information, Leng handed me a small, leather-bound book. "This is your Seeker's Journal. It will record your experiences, the abilities you gain, and the monsters you encounter. A crucial tool for any aspiring Soul Seeker."

 

I opened the journal, flipping through its pages. It seemed to have a mind of its own, filling in details as Leng spoke. It was both fascinating and unsettling.

 

"Now, let's get you started on your first trial," Leng said and then disappeared.