The dull throb in his head made the room spin as he forced himself to sit up.
"Ugh! My head... it's like the whole world is spinning around me." He rubbed his temples, his voice barely a hoarse whisper.
"Where am I? And why does my body feel like it's been through hell?"
As he glanced around, his gaze settled on his unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn't his modest bedroom back home. The space around him was vast, filled with an air of antiquity and adorned with ornate furnishings, each piece seemingly carved with the rich history of a forgotten era.
A sturdy, ancient wooden table sat by the wall, embellished with intricate carvings, while a majestic wardrobe stood tall, decorated with lavish motifs that captured his attention despite the pounding in his skull.
Unlike his old sparse apartment that held little more than a single table and wardrobe, this place exuded a quiet yet undeniable grandeur. He couldn't help but feel an unsettling sense of awe mixed with confusion.
"Where is this place? And why am I here?"
He tried to recall the events that led him to this unfamiliar room, but his memory was blank, like fragments of a story slipping through his grasp. The last thing he remembered was reading a novel—a fantasy tale he'd just started. "Rising of the Supreme Sword Immortal".
He usually didn't read novels much, but that particular one caught his attention, so he decided to give it a try. Surprisingly, he was thoroughly enjoying it, especially for someone reading a novel for the first time, making it all the way to chapter 210.
From then, the story took a turn for the worse. The main character's arrogance grew unbearable, each decision more reckless and foolish than the last. Annoyed, he'd even left a long complaint to the author.
Could it be…? Had his critique somehow brought him here? Was he actually inside the novel, just like his classmates always talked about in the classroom?
"No, no, that's impossible," he muttered, his mind racing. "People don't just… end up inside books. There's no way."
Still, he searched for any other possible explanations. Could he have been kidnapped? No, that made no sense. He had no enemies, no one who'd want to go to this much trouble for a simple nobody and loner like him. There'd be nothing to gain, even if they killed him.
And why would he end up in a room that looked like it belonged in some ancient, martial fantasy world?
As he wrestled with his thoughts, a sudden knock echoed through the room. Before he could respond, the door flew open, revealing a figure that made his heart skip a beat.
He wanted to say, "Hey! You can't just enter anyone's room without permission." but the words caught in his throat. A crushing pressure radiated from the intruder, making it hard for him to breathe. He felt as though he might choke to death and quickly fell silent.
"Ugghh!"
He gasped, instinctively trying to turn his head to see the man's face, but a sharp pain stopped him in his tracks. Glancing down, he noticed his body was bruised and broken; his right arm and left leg throbbed painfully. Every slight movement sent fresh jolts of agony through him.
The figure stepped closer, his face hard and unreadable, his voice cold. "Xue Taiyang, you have been sentenced to three days in Frost Mountain Cave for your assault on Yang Lie."
The boy stared at the figure who looked like a middle-aged man, his face clouded with confusion. "What are you talking about, old man? And who the hell is Xue Taiyang? My name is Reon. Why would I assault Yang Lie? I don't even know who that is!" Reon thought, his mind reeling with bewilderment.
Wait! Xue... Taiyang—why does that name sound so familiar? And Yang Lie... isn't he the main character of the novel I was reading last night?
"Furthermore, your residence will be confiscated, and you will be demoted from an Inner Disciple to an Outer Disciple. Do you understand?" The middle-age man added.
Indeed, this familiar line is reminiscent of "Rising of the Supreme Sword Immortal" novel. However, it wasn't attributed to the main character; rather, it was associated with a lesser subordinate of minor third-rate villain who incited the protagonist in the Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony and ultimately met his demise—Xue Taiyang.
"Wh-WHAT?! I'm Xue Taiyang?! NO WAY! THIS CAN'T BE REAL!!!"
"No... no way! Does this mean I've actually entered the world of the novel and taken over Xue Taiyang's body?!"
Reon was screaming internally, struggling to come to terms with it. Beads of sweat began to form as the panic set in.
This bastard will be dead before the novel even reaches chapter 20. Given the state of my body, it seems he has already been beaten by the main character. That means I have only about a week left to live.
Once Xue Taiyang emerges from Frost Mountain Cave, he'll try to kill the protagonist to avenge his humiliation and ultimately die at the hands of the very character he seeks to eliminate.
"Why aren't you answering?" The stern voice of the middle-aged man snapped Reon out of his daze.
Wait! I need to calm down; I can't act suspiciously. If he discovers that I am not Xue Taiyang but rather another soul residing in his body, I could die right here.
From his attire, it appears that he is a minor Elder responsible for overseeing the Outer Sect disciples and possibly was present during the Sect's Disciple Selection Ceremony.
What I say next will decide whether I live or die.
Suddenly a notification echoed in his mind, a faint but familiar chime that sent a chill down his spine.
.
.
.
[Ding! The Host has awakened "Heaven Plundering System"]
[Ding! The Host has been given four options to choose from. Please select one option carefully; any mistake could lead to your death.]
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