Marcus Harper was no stranger to strange stares. A self-proclaimed bookworm and bona fide otaku, his life revolved around the worlds he crafted in his mind, stitched together from novels, anime, and endless nights spent gaming. His shelves overflowed with tales of adventure and strategy, and his apartment—a blend of university dorm meets nerd haven—was adorned with anime posters and collector's editions of his favorite series. There was always one constant in his life: Overlord. To him, no story came close to its tale of power, ambition, and world-building mastery.
It was a quiet evening, or at least it started that way. Marcus had just finished reading the first half of a dense programming textbook, his eyes shifting from code theory to his favorite pastime. He booted up his streaming service, stretched out on his couch with a bowl of popcorn, and hugged his prized Albedo plushie. The opening theme of Overlord blasted from his screen, and he grinned, mouthing the words as though chanting an incantation himself.
And then, something bizarre happened.
The screen flickered. The power went out. Marcus groaned, sitting up. "Seriously? During the best part?" As he reached for his phone to check the power grid updates, his ceiling fan crackled ominously. Before he could react, a bolt of electricity snapped from the fan, striking just a few inches from him—like a lightning strike indoors. Marcus yelped and jumped back, clutching his plushie as if it were a shield.
Heart pounding, Marcus blinked at the scorched spot on his floor. "Okay, universe, real funny. I get it—lightning indoors is hilarious." He let out a shaky laugh, trying to calm himself. Just as he started to collect his thoughts, he smelled smoke.
The fire began slowly—a curling flame from his desk where old papers had caught on fire. Marcus scrambled, flinging his soda can to douse the flames, but the fizz and pop only seemed to mock his efforts. Within minutes, chaos engulfed his apartment.
Outside, Marcus stood in the cold night air, staring at the smoldering remains of his apartment as firefighters rushed past him. He rubbed his temples, muttering to himself. "I swear, my luck lately has been cursed. First, that guy harassed me over some girl—like I have time for dating anymore!—and now this?"
His face darkened momentarily as he thought about the confrontation earlier in the week. Some guy had accused him of flirting with his girlfriend—a ridiculous claim Marcus didn't even have the energy to process. It wasn't his fault if a girl talked to him! Marcus snorted inwardly.
Reality set in fast: he was homeless. A nerd without a nest. Marcus sighed, kicking a pebble into the street. "All right, universe, you win. I officially have nowhere to go."
Night settled over the city, the dim glow of streetlights his only companion. Marcus trudged to the bus stop, huddling against the bench as he waited. He couldn't help but feel the weight of it all—his bad luck, the bizarre near-death experiences stacking up like a bad sitcom plot.
As he waited, he felt a strange sensation creeping up his spine. The undeniable feeling of being watched. Marcus glanced over his shoulder, squinting into the darkness. Nothing. He shrugged it off, blaming his nerves.
But then he heard it—the hum of an engine. Lights flickered in the distance, growing brighter as they approached. Marcus squinted, seeing the unmistakable outline of a truck.
He froze. "No. No way." The truck inched closer, its headlights flooding the street. Marcus started walking. The truck followed.
"Not today, Truck-kun!" Marcus shouted as he broke into a sprint, the truck roaring to life behind him. He dodged, weaving through narrow alleys, but the truck was relentless. Tears streamed down his face as he ran. "What did I do to deserve this?! I'm not even a protagonist yet!"
His scream echoed through the streets as everything went blank.
Marcus woke in a white void, his head spinning. He groaned, staring at the endless expanse of nothingness. "Where am I? Did I… die? Damn, I was assassinated by Truck-kun! What even is my life?"
Before he could spiral further into existential dread, a figure emerged from the blinding white. The person—or thing—wore a sharp suit, its face eerily featureless. "Welcome, Marcus Harper."
Marcus jumped to his feet, pointing accusingly. "You! This is your fault, isn't it? The lightning strike, the fire, Truck-kun—it was all you wasn't it!"
The figure snapped its fingers, and Marcus's voice vanished. He flailed his arms, mouthing silent protests as the faceless man continued. "Your time on Earth had expired. Measures were taken to ensure you reached this moment. Now, enough about the past—you've been chosen for the isekai program. Rejoice."
Another snap, and Marcus's mouth returned. "Isekai program?" he repeated, his anger giving way to curiosity.
"Indeed. You've been selected for a new life in a world far more suited to your… interests. You'll be granted certain benefits, of course."
Marcus stared, his excitement bubbling under the surface. "Benefits, you say? Okay, I'm listening."
The faceless man conjured a spin wheel, its panels marked with various worlds—some familiar, others cryptic. Marcus groaned. "Is this one of those fanfic events? Can't I just pick a chill place?"
"Spin the wheel," the man said flatly.
Marcus sighed and gave it a hard spin. The wheel blurred, names flashing by: Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Tokyo Ghoul… worlds that screamed danger and despair. Marcus's heart raced as the wheel slowed, finally clicking into place.
Overlord.
Marcus exhaled in relief, a grin spreading across his face. "Okay, okay. This I can work with. If I get a head start, I can make it work."
The man spun another wheel. "Now, your gifts."
Marcus watched as the wheel clicked into place again: Three Requests. He jumped for joy. "Anything I want? This is the best day of my afterlife!"
He paused to think, narrowing down his choices. "First, I want to be sent to the world of Overlord around the time YGGDRASIL launches—preferably a week before. Second, I want to be wealthy in that world. Enough to play with ease and make all the in-game purchases I want. Lastly… I suck at games, so I want to be good—no, I want to be skillful enough to be among the best."
The faceless man nodded, snapping his fingers. Three orbs of light floated into Marcus, merging with him. "It is done."
Before Marcus could celebrate further, the man punched him square in the gut, knocking him out cold.
Marcus woke on a plush sofa, the soft hum of a TV filling the room. He blinked, adjusting to the light. The screen displayed a trailer for YGGDRASIL, its launch just days away.
He sat up, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm here. I'm really here. I can't believe I'll get to play the game."
A thought crossed his mind, and he chuckled to himself. "Although, maybe I should've asked for powers like Blue Marvel. I'd be unstoppable. But hey, this works."
As Marcus explored his new home—a sprawling penthouse—he discovered his wealth exceeded his expectations. Billionaire status, shares in major companies, and no familial ties to complicate things. He was Marcus Harper.
Join my Patreon to support my work and read chapter in advance patreon.com/Writing_when_bored