The dull throb in his head made the room spin as he forced himself to sit up.
"Ugh..."
He groaned, pressing a hand to his temple.
"My head..."
His vision blurred for a moment.
"Where... am I?"
A sharp ache coursed through his limbs as he tried to move.
"And why does my body feel like it's been through hell?"
He forced his eyes open, taking in his surroundings.
The room was Vast and Unfamiliar, steeped in an air of Ancient Grandeur.
Ornate furnishings filled the space—an intricately carved wooden table stood by the wall, while a towering wardrobe, adorned with lavish motifs, housed ancient scrolls that drew his attention despite the relentless pounding in his skull.
This wasn't his modest home. Compared to his sparse apartment, this place felt like a relic of a forgotten era, exuding quiet yet undeniable majesty.
He couldn't help but feel an unsettling sense of awe mixed with confusion.
"Where... is this place? And why am I here?"
His mind scrambled for answers, trying to piece together the events that led him to this unfamiliar room.
But there was only a blank void where his memories should have been.
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 fantasy 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 Protagonist's arrogance grew unbearable, each decision more reckless and foolish than the last. He'd also devolved into an insufferable simp.
Frustrated, he couldn't help but leave a lengthy complaint to the author.
And now... he was here.
A horrifying thought clawed at the edges of his mind.
No...No way... that's impossible.
People don't just wake up inside books. That only happens in stories, in the wild theories his classmates used to talk about for fun.
Still, he searched for any other possible explanations.
Kidnapped? No, that made no sense. He had no enemies—no one who would go to such lengths for a simple nobody like him.
There was nothing to gain, even if they killed him.
And yet, he found himself in a room that looked like it belonged in an ancient martial fantasy world.
His heart pounded. Was this a Dream? A Hallucination?
As he wrestled with his thoughts, a sudden knock shattered the eerie silence.
Before he could respond...
Bang!
The door flew open without warning.
A figure stepped inside.
He wanted to say, "Hey! You can't just enter anyone's room without permission." but the words caught in his throat.
Reon's breath hitched. His entire body locked up as an invisible weight crashed down on him.
A suffocating pressure filled the room, sending shivers through his spine.
He couldn't move. Couldn't speak.
A crushing, oppressive aura radiated from the intruder.
I-I can't breathe...
"Ugghh!"
Pain flared across his body. His right arm and left leg throbbed violently, fresh waves of agony pulsing with every heartbeat.
The man stepped forward, his voice as cold as steel.
"Xue Taiyang, you have been sentenced to three days in Frost Mountain Cave for your assault on Yang Lie."
Reon's eyes widened with confusion.
"What the hell are you talking about, old man?
Xue... Taiyang?
Who the hell is Xue Taiyang?
My name is Reon.
And why would I assault Yang Lie? I don't even know who that is!"
His mind reeled, his thoughts a chaotic storm. He wanted to argue, to demand an explanation, but the words caught in his throat.
Then, realization struck like a thunderclap.
"Wait... Xue... Taiyang—why does that name sound so familiar?"
"And Yang Lie... isn't he the Protagonist of the novel I was reading last night?"
"And Xue Taiyang..."
The middle-aged man's voice rang out again.
"Furthermore, your residence will be confiscated, and you will be demoted from Inner Disciple to Outer Disciple. Do you understand?"
Indeed, this familiar line is reminiscent of "Rising of the Supreme Sword Immortal" novel.
However, it wasn't attributed to any main characters; 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.
Wait. No. No, no, no. That can't be right.
"No... no way."
"D-Does this mean I've actually entered the world of the novel"
"And..."
"I... I've taken over Xue Taiyang's body?!"
His breathing turned shallow. His hands trembled.
The realization struck like a hammer.
I'm going to die.
This bastard's fate is sealed before the novel even reaches Chapter 20. Judging by the state of my body, it's clear I've already taken the beating from the protagonist.
Once Xue Taiyang crawls out of Frost Mountain Cave, he'll attempt to kill the protagonist, seeking vengeance for his humiliation—only to be struck down by the very man he wants to eliminate.
A week.
That's all he had.
His mind raced. He had to think. He had to find a way out of this mess.
"Why aren't you answering?"
The elder's sharp voice jolted him back to the present.
Reon's stomach clenched.
He couldn't afford to panic. He couldn't afford to act suspiciously. If this man realized he wasn't truly Xue Taiyang, he might be executed on the spot.
Think, damn it. THINK.
From his attire, the man seemed to be a Minor Elder overseeing the Outer Sect disciples. He had likely witnessed the Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony firsthand.
What I say next could decide whether I live... or die.
Then—
[Ding!]
Reon Froze.
An Impossible, yet Unmistakable Notification.
[The Host has awakened the "Heaven Plundering System."]
A Crisp, Mechanical voice—Young and Unmistakably Feminine—echoed in his mind.
And then—
[Ding! The Host has been given four options to choose from. Please select one carefully—any mistake could lead to your death.]