Somewhere in the modern world, on a planet still called Earth, a red-haired college student named Damien Cross strolled through the city streets with a half-eaten bag of chips crinkling in one hand. His red-gold eyes flickered in the sunlight, glinting like fire beneath his messy bangs.
"These chips? God-tier," he muttered to himself between crunches. "Perfect salt-to-crunch ratio. Like, scientifically precise. If I die today, bury me with a family-sized bag. Maybe two."
He tilted the bag, letting the last few crumbs fall into his mouth. "Barbecue... smoky, tangy, a little sweet—flavor profile's killing it today. Whoever invented these deserves a statue. Or at least a knighthood."
Damien, 19 years old and perpetually teetering on the edge of sarcasm and genius, was a self-professed snack connoisseur. A hot-tempered, clever, unpredictable loner with antihero energy and a surprising softness for the right people—though he'd rather punch a wall than admit it. He walked with a lazy confidence, one hand in his hoodie pocket, the other stuffing chips into his mouth like they were oxygen.
"When I get home, I'm gonna crash on the couch, binge that mech anime with the terrible voice acting, and eat the rest of these in peace. Maybe nap. Maybe draw out that dream I had about sentient vending machines. Who knows."
But then, betrayal.
He reached the bottom of the bag.
"...Unacceptable," Damien scowled, shaking the empty bag like it might magically refill. "I just opened this ten minutes ago. Is it me, or are these getting smaller? It's a conspiracy."
With a dramatic sigh, he turned on his heel and headed toward the corner store. "Snack gods, guide me."
The store sat cozily on the corner like a long-time friend. A faded sign above read: Iseri Market: Family-Owned Since 1982.
Inside, the comforting chime of the doorbell jingled as Damien entered.
"Yo, Mr. Iseri," he called. The store owner, a gray-haired man with kind eyes and a worn apron, looked up from the register.
"Ah, Damien. Running low again, are we?"
"You know me, I'm consistent like a sunrise. Got any of the spicy shrimp chips left?"
Mr. Iseri smiled as he leaned back. "Just a few packs near the front. You clean us out like clockwork. Still remember when you were ten and tried to sneak a candy bar in your hoodie."
Damien laughed. "Man, I thought I was a ninja. You caught me before I even hit the door."
"You were always stubborn. Always had opinions about every snack I carried. Still do."
"What can I say? I take my snacking seriously. These chips are the only thing standing between me and total emotional collapse."
Mr. Iseri chuckled. "I swear, you've eaten more ramen and pocky in this place than I have in my entire life."
"Yeah, well, you kind of raised me in here," Damien said, picking up his favorite chips. "This store's been my sanctuary since I was a kid. You should start a loyalty program, honestly. I'd be platinum tier."
"If I gave you rewards every time you showed up, I'd be broke by now."
Damien threw a few bills on the counter. "For the memories. And the sodium."
"Good luck out there, Damien."
"Always," he replied, stepping back into the sunlit streets.
A few blocks later, he passed a small park where a group of kids were playing catch. Laughter and shouts filled the air.
"Throw it higher!"
"No, not like that! You almost hit the duck!"
Damien smirked. "Future supervillains in the making. I respect it."
As he continued walking, he spotted a group of college students he recognized from campus—a trio he'd never talked to but somehow always noticed.
First was Ethan Park—lean swimmer's frame, glasses, calm demeanor. The guy practically breathed logic and lived in his hoodie.
"Tank mains don't get enough credit," Ethan was saying. "You think it's easy holding threat and shielding everyone while DPS chases their kill count? Nah. It's like babysitting toddlers with swords."
Next was Lena Takahashi, athletic with her long black hair tied into a high ponytail, a shinai bag slung casually over her shoulder.
"You say that like I don't train six hours a day," she retorted. "After class, I'm drilling footwork. I've got regionals in a month and I'm not going there to lose."
"It's kind of badass," Maria said, eyes twinkling. She wore a warm pink sweater, long curly hair bouncing with every step.
"Not as badass as you. You want to be a trauma nurse and a pediatrician? That's next-level."
Maria shrugged, a soft smile on her face. "I just want to help kids. My little cousin got really sick last year and the nurses were amazing. They made everything feel less scary. I want to be that for someone else."
"And Ethan wants to be... what, exactly?" Lena asked, nudging him.
He pushed his glasses up. "Cybersecurity. AI defense systems. Maybe something in digital ethics."
"Wow," Maria said. "We're all doing such different things. I hope we get to do them. You know, actually make it."
Damien listened silently, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Dreams, huh?" he thought. "I guess I've been floating without one. I've always lived in the moment. But if I had to choose... I dunno. Something fun. Something where I don't have to wear a tie or answer phones. Maybe create something weird that outlives me."
But then—
A flash.
Blinding, white, and sudden.
The ground beneath their feet lit up in radiant circles. Ethan, Lena, Maria, and Damien all froze as the light intensified.
"What the hell?!" Ethan shouted, eyes wide behind his glasses.
"Ethan!" Lena snapped. "Do something!"
"What am I, a wizard?!"
"I don't like this! I don't like this at all!" Maria cried, grabbing Ethan's sleeve.
Damien clenched his fists, eyes darting around. "What is this?! Is this some underground VR prank channel?"
Then, they floated.
Weightless.
Light devoured everything.
And then—they were gone.
A second later, they reappeared.
Somewhere else.
Stone walls. Marble pillars. A vaulted ceiling above them. The scent of oil lamps and steel filled the air. They stood in the center of a grand hall.
"Where... are we?" Maria whispered.
Damien didn't answer. His eyes scanned the room.
A circle of people stood around them—knights in armor, nobles in fine robes, and at the far end, two figures seated on thrones.
The man on the left wore regal navy-and-gold armor beneath a cloak. His shoulder-length hair was streaked with silver and black, his blue eyes sharp as blades.
"Welcome," he said, voice echoing. "The three summoned Heroes."
"Who are you?!" Lena demanded.
The man rose. "I am King Alaric Viremont. We need your help... to defeat the awakening Demon King."
All three college kids screamed. "THE DEMON KING?!"
Damien stared, mouth agape.
"...We're not on Earth anymore."
The throne room held its breath.
The three college kids stood frozen in awe, staring up at the majestic pair seated on the golden thrones before them. Queen Seraphina Viremont, regal and composed, sat beside her husband, King Alaric Viremont, whose commanding presence filled the chamber.
Ethan, Maria, and Lena looked at each other, their minds spinning.
"We just met a queen," Maria whispered, her hazel eyes wide. "A real queen. Like, capital-Q queen."
"And a king who summoned us," Ethan muttered, his brain racing to categorize the logic of it all. "This doesn't make sense. This isn't supposed to happen."
Lena clenched her fists. "We're not just visiting either... they want us to fight something. A demon king."
Behind them, Damien stood silently, observing the entire scene unfold. His hands were in his hoodie pockets, his red-gold eyes sharp, absorbing every word. His mind churned.
Summoned to another world. Demon king. Heroes. Are you kidding me?
Maria turned to the king. "Why are we here? Why did you bring us here without asking? We have lives back home!"
King Alaric stepped forward, his voice deep and solemn. "I brought you here because our kingdom—no, our world—is in grave danger. The Demon King, long sealed away, is awakening. If left unchecked, he will plunge this world into eternal ruin."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
"Demon King?!" Maria echoed.
"This is insane!" Lena cried. "You can't just pull people from their lives and expect them to fight monsters! This isn't an anime, this is real life!"
"We don't even have weapons, or training," Ethan added. "We're students. Not warriors."
Damien stood behind them, still silent, his expression unreadable.
They think it's all about the three of them, he thought, sarcasm creeping in. Guess I'm just the peanut gallery here. Summoned to fight a demon lord, huh? Sounds like someone watched too much isekai and took notes.
King Alaric raised his hand. "There is a prophecy..."
"Of course there is," Damien muttered under his breath.
"A prophecy of three summoned heroes," the king continued. "They will rise from another world in our darkest hour. They will defeat the Demon King and bring peace to all nations."
The trio looked at each other, their thoughts now swirling with doubt and disbelief.
"Three heroes," Ethan said slowly. "That's us... it has to be, right?"
"Why us?" Maria asked, her voice small. "What makes us special?"
Lena looked to the king. "And if it's just the three of us... then why..."
Ethan raised his hand suddenly. "I have one question."
King Alaric nodded. "Speak, Hero Ethan."
Ethan turned and pointed behind him—directly at Damien.
Damien raised an eyebrow but didn't move. So now I get a spotlight?
"You said there were three summoned heroes," Ethan said, "but he makes four. Why is he here?"
Everyone turned toward Damien. He rolled his eyes slightly. "Yeah, real subtle, dude."
The nobles whispered. The knights exchanged looks. The royal mages stirred uneasily.
"Why is there a fourth?!"
"Is this an accident?"
"Was the summoning flawed?"
King Alaric stared at Damien, a furrow forming in his brow.
He's studying me like I'm a bomb about to go off, Damien thought. Great.
One of the mages spoke up. "Archmage Valen Dreimos! What happened? You crafted the summoning circle. Explain this."
A man near the edge of the room stepped forward. His snow-white hair framed a cold, intelligent face. His robes shimmered with glowing runes.
"The summoning was successful," Valen said, his glassy gray eyes glowing faintly. "Three heroes were summoned. However... the presence of a fourth may indicate a rare anomaly. Perhaps a glitch... a breach in the circle's parameters."
Gasps and murmurs erupted across the chamber.
"A glitch?"
"You mean... he's not supposed to be here?"
Damien clenched his jaw.
They're talking like I'm not even standing here.
His temper snapped.
"DON'T IGNORE ME!" Damien shouted. His voice boomed through the room, echoing against stone.
Knights immediately stepped forward, hands on hilts.
Damien glared. "What do you mean, I'm an 'accidental summoning'?! Say it again. Say it to my face."
Valen met his eyes with a sigh. "You were not part of the intended spell. The circle was meant for three."
Damien's breath hitched. "So you're telling me... I wasn't even supposed to be here?"
King Alaric lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry. If the summoning brought you as a result of a flaw... then you cannot return. Hero or not, you are now bound to this world."
The words hit Damien like bricks.
"...What?"
Alaric looked at him with pity. "You cannot go back. The passage is sealed. You are... stuck here."
Damien's world shattered.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T GO BACK HOME?!"
His scream was raw, filled with rage and disbelief. The knights tensed. Swords were raised in silent threat.
Maria gasped. "This isn't what we signed up for..."
Ethan backed up a step. "He's going to snap."
Lena kept her hand near her side, heart pounding.
King Alaric stepped forward to speak, but another voice rang out:
"Everyone. Calm down."
It was serene yet powerful. Every head turned to the source.
A woman stood beside the throne—platinum-blonde hair braided intricately, her eyes pale violet and unreadable. Holy sigils shimmered along her flowing gown.
"Who are you?" Maria asked.
King Alaric exhaled. "This is my wife, Queen Seraphina Viremont."
The queen nodded gracefully. "Nice to meet you, summoned heroes."
Damien, still furious, stood stiffly as her gaze fell on him.
Why is she looking at me like she sees through me?
"I understand you're scared," she said gently, "but please, calm yourself. You are not alone."
Damien trembled. "How can I calm down? I can't go back. My life's gone. I'm stuck in a fantasy novel without a map."
"And we will help you," Queen Seraphina said. "You are not forgotten. You are not unwanted."
Damien stared at the floor, his fists tight. After a long moment, he gave a single nod.
King Alaric and Queen Seraphina exchanged a silent glance and nodded.
Damien sighed, thinking to himself.
Trapped in another world. No way back. No friends. No plan. Nothing to call mine. Just me... and this crazy, impossible mess.
Damien stood quietly, arms crossed, but the fire in his chest still burned. Anger, confusion, and the crushing weight of reality that he might never go home—it was all still there. He clenched his jaw, his red-gold eyes simmering.
I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this.
He stared blankly at the ornate throne room walls, tuning in as another voice broke the tension.
"How are we supposed to defeat a Demon Lord?" Ethan raised his hand, eyes serious. The king turned to him.
"What is it, Hero Ethan?"
"We have no powers. No skills. We're just college students," Ethan said, calm but firm. "You want us to save your world, but how are we supposed to even survive in it?"
Maria and Lena quickly echoed his concern.
"He's right," Maria said softly. "We don't know how to fight. We were in class, studying for midterms, not monster hunting."
"I trained in kendo, yeah," Lena added, "but fighting demons? That's a whole different level."
Damien listened silently behind them, expression unreadable.
Yeah... how do you expect a bunch of students to slay some apocalyptic monster? What kind of powers are we even talking about here? Flying? Fireballs? Magic swords?
King Alaric nodded gravely. "A fair concern. Allow me to defer to our Grand Sage. He will explain everything."
He looked at Archmage Valen Dreimos, who stepped forward. The two nodded respectfully at each other.
"Summoned Heroes," Valen said, voice smooth and cold. "I am Archmage Valen Dreimos, Royal Court Magician and Ritual Architect. I designed the summoning circle that brought you here."
The college students all reacted.
"A real wizard..." Maria murmured.
"This is unreal," Lena whispered.
Ethan nodded once. "A sage. Like in fantasy novels."
Damien raised an eyebrow.
Alright, let's see what magic man has to say.
Valen bowed slightly to the royal family. "I thank the king and queen for trusting me with such grave responsibilities."
King Alaric smiled slightly. "You have our faith, Valen."
Valen turned back to the students. "In this world, all living things are connected to the magic system—a network of energy and spiritual will. It shapes our classes, affinities, and potential. Every person is aligned with certain powers at birth. Heroes, however, manifest unique roles tied to prophecy."
The students absorbed his words, minds racing.
"Magic affinity? Classes? Skills?" Ethan whispered.
"So it's like an RPG system," Maria said.
"Or a divine upgrade," Lena muttered.
Damien crossed his arms tighter.
Sounds like a cosmic lottery. Wonder what kind of gimmick I'd even get if I had powers...
Valen lifted a hand. A pulse of light shimmered into existence. A glowing golden magic circle appeared on the floor. From it, a tall podium rose, topped with a clear crystal orb radiating energy.
"This," Valen announced, "is the Crystal Orb of Truth. It reveals your class rank, elemental affinity, blessings, and unique skills."
The students gasped.
"Seriously? It shows all that?" Ethan said.
"Like a fantasy stat check," Lena murmured.
Orb of Truth... sounds like a magic mood ring, Damien thought. Alright, showtime, then.
Valen gestured. "One at a time. Please approach and place your hand upon the orb."
Ethan was the first to step up. He placed his hand gently on the orb.
A calm but powerful blue aura pulsed outward. Glyphs rose like protective armor around him. A glowing screen of magic symbols appeared in the air:
Class: Shield Hero
Affinity: Earth & Light
Skills Unlocked: [Aegis Wall], [Counter Guard], [Barrier Shift]
Title: Guardian of Unbroken Will
A sense of calm and safety swept through the hall.
"I feel... protected," Maria whispered.
"The air just got thicker, but stable," Lena said.
King Alaric nodded proudly. "A strong protector."
Queen Seraphina smiled. "He will be a shield in more than name."
Valen clasped his hands. "Fascinating. A balance of resilience and holy light. A rare affinity."
Damien smirked slightly.
Shield Hero, huh? Bet he's thrilled to play tank again.
Next, Lena approached.
She touched the orb. A sharp flash of white-gold light exploded outward. Glyphs shaped themselves into a gleaming longsword that floated above her head. The screen displayed:
Class: Sword Hero
Affinity: Light & Wind
Skills Unlocked: [Sword Flash], [Wind Step], [Bladestorm Slash]
Title: Blade of the Chosen
The air felt charged with motion.
"Woah," Maria whispered.
"She feels... sharp," Ethan said.
Lena clenched her fists. "Sword Hero. I can work with that."
King Alaric nodded. "Your precision and courage are evident."
Valen spoke calmly. "A natural fighter with strong synergy. Excellent for leading the vanguard."
Figures she'd get something flashy, Damien thought. Probably already imagining the tournament arc.
Maria stepped forward, nervous but curious. She placed her hand on the orb.
A soft, warm green-pink light enveloped the chamber. Gentle waves of healing magic pulsed outward like a heartbeat. The screen read:
Class: Healing Hero
Affinity: Water & Light
Skills Unlocked: [Greater Heal], [Purify], [Revitalizing Prayer]
Title: Saint of Soothing Grace
Everyone in the room exhaled, visibly more relaxed.
"That feels... peaceful," Lena said.
"My tension just melted," Ethan whispered.
Maria blinked back tears. "I feel like... like this is who I'm meant to be."
Queen Seraphina beamed. "You carry light not only in magic, but in spirit."
Valen bowed slightly. "Healing Heroes are sacred. Their role may be support, but their presence turns tides."
Damien narrowed his eyes.
Shield, sword, healer. Perfect little hero team... he thought bitterly. And here I am. The glitch.
Valen continued. "These three are critical roles in our prophecy. Together, their synergy can shape the course of fate."
Damien's brows twitched.
So I get nothing? No powers? Not even a title?
Queen Seraphina glanced at him and noticed the storm behind his eyes.
"Damien..."
He looked at her warily. "Yeah?"
"Why don't you try the orb?"
The room stilled.
Ethan, Maria, and Lena looked at each other, surprised.
King Alaric looked to Seraphina, then nodded. "Go ahead."
Damien hesitated. Everyone was watching him now. The knights tensed slightly. Valen stood still, observing with piercing calm.
Damien walked forward slowly. Okay. No pressure. Just let a magic orb confirm you're a cosmic accident.
He stared at the glowing orb. It hummed faintly.
What if it doesn't glow? What if it rejects me? Or worse... what if it shows something I don't want to know?
He took a breath. In. Out.
"Let's do this."
He raised his hand...
Damien exhaled slowly, his palm resting on the glowing crystal orb.
A few seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
The orb remained dim. Silent. Still.
The chamber murmured.
"Why isn't it glowing?"
"Is he... unranked?"
"Did the magic reject him?"
The royal mages and nobles exchanged uneasy glances. Their whispers filled the room.
"No reaction. Strange."
"Is it possible he doesn't have a class at all?"
"He may truly be a summoning error."
The three college students looked at each other.
"Why isn't anything happening?" Maria asked, worried.
"Maybe he doesn't have powers," Ethan said quietly.
"That can't be right," Lena muttered. "He was summoned too. There has to be something."
Valen folded his arms. "Not every person is granted a class. Especially not one summoned by accident."
King Alaric and Queen Seraphina shared a glance.
"Strange..." Alaric murmured. "Even the orb of truth reacts to most commoners."
"And yet... nothing," Seraphina said softly.
Damien's jaw clenched. He looked down at the orb, his hand still pressed against it.
Nothing? I got dragged to another world, lost everything, and I don't even get a class? A spark? A flame? Anything?!
He felt the heat of frustration rising in his chest, swirling with disappointment.
This world hates me too.
He began to pull his hand away.
But then—
BOOM!
The orb exploded in a column of violent crimson flame.
The ground cracked beneath the pedestal as glyphs spiraled wildly into the air, spinning like burning embers caught in a hurricane.
The entire hall trembled.
Gasps and screams filled the room.
The nobles stepped back.
"What is happening?!"
"Is that... fire?! From him?!"
"That's not normal magic!"
"No, that's something else entirely!"
The three college students watched in awe and fear.
"It exploded... like it couldn't contain him," Ethan whispered.
"That's insane," Lena said, shielding her eyes from the heat. "I've never seen anything like that."
"It's beautiful... terrifying, but beautiful," Maria breathed.
Valen's face had gone pale.
"Impossible... The orb has never responded this way in over two hundred years."
King Alaric stared, stunned. "Such violent power... is this truly a class reaction?"
Queen Seraphina whispered, "It feels like the flames themselves are alive..."
And then—
A voice echoed through the air.
"And the story begins to burn."
Everyone turned.
A woman stood by the entrance, floating more than walking.
She looked to be in her thirties, with long black hair flowing like it was suspended underwater. One eye gold, one silver—never blinking at the same time. She wore black-and-white robes adorned with embroidered constellations.
Queen Seraphina stepped forward. "Prophetess Mirra?! Why are you here?"
Mirra smiled faintly. "I felt power awaken. Power that can either begin... or end the world."
The queen inhaled sharply.
What does she mean? Damien... could be that powerful?
Damien, now engulfed in crimson flame, stared at his hands. The fire didn't burn him. It danced over his skin like it belonged there.
I feel... alive. Like I've been asleep my whole life until now.
Suddenly, a soft ding echoed in his mind.
A glowing screen appeared before him:
Status Screen
Name: Damien Cross
Age: 19
Race: Human (Anomaly-Type)
Level: 1
Class: Fire Mage
Titles:
Accidental Hero
World's Fourth Mistake
The Fire That Shouldn't Exist
Walking Catastrophe (Unranked)
Affinity: Fire
Health Points: 5,000 / 5,000
Magic Points: ∞ (Unstable)
Stats:
Strength: 100
Agility: 120
Endurance: 200
Mana: 9999+
Luck: ???
Charm: 140
Normal Skills:
Fire Resistance: MAX – Immune to all natural fire
Enhanced Reflexes-sharpens the user's reaction time beyond normal human limits. It allows Damien to automatically react to threats, dodge attacks before they land
Appraisal (Corrupted)-Reveals too much; glitches divine protections
Environmental Immunity: Heat – Walks through lava like it's warm sand
Danger Sense – Passive instinctive reaction to life-threatening threats
Ability Skills:
Flame Fist – Enchants user's fists with condensed, explosive flame
Flame Step EX – Short-range teleport that explodes at start and end
Ignition Drive – Temporarily boosts power based on emotional state
Heat Sense – Detects living beings by thermal aura
Ember Pulse – Releases a shockwave of burning energy
Magic Fire Skills:
Fireball EX – Enhanced; explosion radius 20x normal
Flare Lance – High-velocity flame javelin
Fire Wall – Defensive flame barrier
Living Flame – Summons a sentient wisp of fire that follows commands
Flame Cloak Omega – Burning armor aura, repels melee
Explosion – Full-field catastrophic detonation
Unique Skills:
Fire Devourer – Absorbs fire attacks to grow stronger
Soul-Flame Resonance – Power scales with passion, rage, or loyalty
Ashborn Rebirth – Revives once per day in a firestorm
Weapons:
Spellfire Gauntlets – Conducts raw magic through Damien's fists
Items:
(Empty)
Damien stared, wide-eyed.
Then he grinned.
Fire Mage... yeah. That tracks.
Valen stepped forward, cautious. "He... he is a mage. Not just any. A Primordial Flame bearer. That magic is older than recorded history."
"A true anomaly," King Alaric said in awe.
Queen Seraphina added, "And yet... it feels like fate."
Ethan blinked. "Damien's a Fire Mage. With a title."
Maria gasped. "Ember of the Unknown Flame... that sounds so intense."
Lena smirked. "Well... guess he got his class after all. And it's no joke."
The nobles whispered frantically.
"He holds ancient magic..."
"Is he dangerous?"
"What if the prophecy was wrong? What if it was four heroes?"
Valen rubbed his chin. "This changes everything. He may not be part of the original summoning, but his presence is now undeniable."
Damien closed his hand into a fist. The flames curled into it.
He smiled faintly. "Looks like it's time to turn up the heat in this world."
To be continued...