"Leo, smile!"
"'Cause that scythe is definitely coming your way!"
Welcome to a totally-not-terrifying prison on a lonely island in a sea of doom. On the dock, a square-faced prison guard gleefully spins a scythe like he's hosting Hell's Got Talent. In front of him, a black-haired teen named Leo is running for his life, carrying a helmet and a whole lot of regret.
Behind him? A crowd of guards placing bets like it's the Super Bowl—but the stakes? Leo's limbs.
"Right hand, I'm calling it! Gotta be the right hand!"
"Hey, isn't he the son of the former deputy warden? Who'll clean toilets if he loses a hand?"
"I'm betting on the right leg. Feels lucky."
And then—whoosh! The scythe is flung! Leo dodges like a ninja, hits the dirt, and the blade slices just his sleeve before embedding itself in the dock.
"Damn it! Not even a scratch?! You suck!"
Cue disappointed gambling guards exchanging coins. Leo, meanwhile, is gasping for breath on the ground like someone who just met Death on a Tinder date.
But Leo? He's oddly calm. Cold brown eyes watching the guards like he's reading their obituaries. Because here's the twist—he knows they're all going to die in three to five days.
Why? Oh, no biggie—he's a transmigrator. And he didn't just wake up in any fantasy world—he landed in a shutdown gacha mobile game.
Yes, a niche anime game he ironically mocked and then spent thousands on because the art style hit his exact fetish profile. He collected every character, memorized their lore, bought the artbooks, merch... the works. And just when the game's servers went offline—BAM! He got sucked into it, waking up as a nobody prison guard, basically tutorial fodder for the hero to kick around.
The prison is called Black Sea Prison, home base of the game's protagonist—some buried relic child from a lost civilization. Digging for ruins began after the current warden realized there was forgotten tech buried below. And according to the game's plot? The guards and inmates all die gruesomely after the protagonist is unearthed. So Leo has one mission: GTFO.
His escape plan? Hide inside a supply ship—literally in a water barrel. Yes, his grand plan is Pokémon-style barrel sneaking. And today? One of those monthly supply ships is docking. Game on.
Leo lay there for a moment, catching his breath and silently thanking whatever cosmic force had decided to spare him. He knew he couldn't stay down forever. The guards were already preparing for another round.
With a swift roll to the side, Leo sprang to his feet and bolted toward the nearest stack of crates. He ducked behind them just as the scythe was flung again, the blade missing him by mere inches.
"He's fast," one of the guards muttered. "Too fast."
Leo peeked out from behind the crates, assessing his options. The supply ship was docked, its crew unloading crates with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine. He needed to get on that ship, and fast.
Spotting a large Crates near the ship's edge, an idea struck him. It was a long shot, but it was better than waiting around to become a human pincushion.
He waited for the perfect moment—a brief lull in the guards' attention—and made a break for the Crates.
"Safeee"
But alas—one last regret: he won't get to see the game's most beloved CG waifu, the icy silver-haired girl Emilia. Red eyes, gold-white uniform, immaculate white tights, and a face that's eternally "bored and beautiful." Nicknamed "Silver Moon of Clarity," she's the face of the game. Her intro CG? Legendary. Half-torn clothes, glowy moonlight vibes... Leo still dreams of her. But dreams won't get him out alive.
...Until, plot twist! He meets a filthy, trembling female prisoner with black hair and dull brown eyes—disguised, yes, but eerily familiar. Then boom—system popup.
[Emilia Summer Unlocked]
[Detected: Malicious Wish]
[Wish Loading…]
Leo freezes. She's here?! Already?! But... how? She's not supposed to appear until later in the game! Then he remembers an old event CG—the one where she disguises herself to go on a date with the player.
That disguise?
Black hair. Brown eyes. Average looks. Just like... this prisoner.
"It is her."
And so begins a deadly reunion, with a waifu who may or may not want to murder him... or save him. Maybe both.
Leo crouched behind a stack of crates, the salty sea breeze mingling with the stench of fish and rusted metal. The supply ship loomed ahead, its crew bustling with activity, oblivious to the chaos that was about to unfold.
He clutched the system interface, eyes scanning for any anomalies. The appearance of Emilia—disguised and ahead of schedule—had thrown a wrench into his plans. But Leo was nothing if not adaptable.
"System," he whispered, "analyze Emilia's current state."
Processing...
Status: Conflicted. Loyalty: Uncertain. Threat Level: Moderate.
Great. Just what he needed—a wildcard waifu with a potential murder streak.
He glanced back at the disguised Emilia, who was now cautiously approaching him, her eyes darting around nervously.
"You... you're not from here, are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leo hesitated. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford, but perhaps a temporary alliance could be beneficial.
"No," he admitted. "And neither are you."
Emilia's eyes widened, a mix of relief and suspicion flickering across her face.
"Then we need to get out of here. Together."
Leo nodded, formulating a new plan. The barrel escape might still work, but now with an unexpected companion.
As they moved towards the ship, the system pinged again.
New Quest: Escape with Emilia. Reward: Unknown.
Unknown? That was new. But Leo had a feeling that whatever lay ahead, it was going to be anything but predictable.
Leo and Emilia crouched behind a stack of crates, the salty sea breeze mingling with the stench of fish and rusted metal. The supply ship loomed ahead, its crew bustling with activity, oblivious to the chaos that was about to unfold.
"Alright," Leo whispered, "the plan is simple. We sneak aboard the ship, hide in the barrel, and wait for the right moment to escape."
Emilia raised an eyebrow. "A barrel? Really?"
Leo nodded. "It's foolproof. Trust me."
Emilia sighed but nodded. "If you say so."
As they crept toward the ship, Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. This was exactly like one of those anime scenes where the protagonist and his waifu sneak aboard a ship in a barrel. Only this time, he was the one in the barrel.
They reached the ship's side and hoisted themselves aboard, careful not to attract attention. Once on deck, they made their way to the storage area where the barrels were kept.
Leo spotted the perfect barrel—a large, sturdy one near the back. "This is it," he said, pointing to it.
Emilia gave him a skeptical look. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
Leo grinned. "Absolutely."
They climbed into the barrel, and Leo pulled the lid down over them. It was cramped, smelly, and uncomfortable, but it was their best shot.
As the ship set sail, Leo couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, this is one way to start a new adventure."
Emilia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Just try not to get us caught."
Leo gave her a thumbs-up. "No promises."
And so, they drifted off into the unknown, their fates intertwined in a barrel of laughs.