Somewhere on the planet called Earth, a lone figure strolled through the bustling city streets. Among the sea of ordinary people, he stood out like a flame in the dark—flaming red hair tousled by the breeze, red-gold eyes that glinted like embers, and a half-empty bag of chips crinkling in one hand. His name? Damien Cross. Nineteen years old, draped in a hoodie two sizes too big, sneakers worn down by years of aimless wandering.
Damien was... complicated. Goofy in the way he talked to pigeons like they were old friends, charming when he wanted to be, a secret romantic under all the sarcasm. Smart, but not showy. Loner vibes, definitely. Kind, but not a pushover. And above all else—food-loving. He was the type of guy who could find joy in a perfectly grilled sandwich. But there was a catch.
A bad, bad temper.
As he walked, munching on chips like they were gold dust, he muttered to himself.
"So when I get home, I'm either binging that mecha anime or starting that new manga about the guy who got reincarnated as a vending machine... Decisions, decisions."
He paused, considering. "Actually, ramen first. Then anime. Maybe a nap? No, wait—I forgot to buy that strawberry cream mochi!"
He stopped in his tracks. His eyes twitched. His face scrunched with frustration.
"Damn it! I told myself not to forget it! It was right there on the list! Ughhh, why do I even bother writing notes if I never read them!"
His hand clenched the chip bag until it crinkled angrily. A couple walking past gave him a strange look as he continued to grumble and pace.
"It's always the same—every time I get excited about something, something screws it up! And now what? Just go back and—ugh, it's probably sold out by now!"
He kicked a loose pebble, sending it skittering into the gutter.
"Forget it. This day sucks."
Just then, his tantrum was interrupted by the sound of laughter. Kids playing catch in a nearby park—running, yelling, tossing a ball with the chaotic joy only children could generate.
One girl squealed, "I'm open, throw it to me!"
A boy caught the ball and laughed, "No way, you fumbled last time!"
"That wasn't my fault, you threw it weird!"
"Nuh-uh, it was perfect! You're just slow!"
Another kid chimed in, "Let me throw it, I've got the best arm here!"
"Bet you can't even reach the other side!" someone teased.
Damien couldn't help but smirk, watching them as he walked. There was something wholesome about the scene. Something... grounding.
He sighed, letting go of some of his earlier frustration. "At least someone's having a good day..."
Then everything went sideways.
One of the kids missed the ball. It bounced away—straight into the road.
The kid chased after it.
Damien's heart stopped.
A truck was barreling down the street, horn blaring, tires screeching.
"HEY! WATCH OUT!" Damien screamed, dropping his chips.
Time slowed.
Damien's instincts took over.
He sprinted.
"Don't think. Just move!" he thought. "I can make it—I have to!"
The world blurred around him as his feet pounded the pavement. He could hear the horn growing louder, feel the adrenaline surging. The kid stood frozen.
"MOVE, KID! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
In the final second, Damien dove. Arms wrapped around the boy—he twisted midair—pushed him out of the truck's path.
Then everything went black.
Minutes passed.
Then...
Light.
Warmth.
A breeze.
Damien's senses returned one by one. His eyes fluttered open, vision blurred. Slowly, the world came into focus.
Above him: a vast, brilliant blue sky, unmarred by skyscrapers or smog.
"What the hell...?" he whispered.
He sat up sharply.
Gone were the city streets. Gone was the traffic. Gone was the bag of chips.
He was lying on a bed of moss in a dense, sun-dappled forest. Birds chirped somewhere nearby. The air smelled like pine and fresh rain.
"I should be dead..." he muttered. "I got hit by a truck. I saved that kid. What the hell is this?"
Damien scrambled to his feet, spinning in circles.
"This is... This ain't Earth. This ain't my world. No way."
He took a few shaky steps forward.
"Isekai? Is this an isekai situation?"
That's when it happened.
A fiery screen appeared out of nowhere—floating in the air before him. Glowing red and gold, crackling like embers. Damien staggered back.
"Whoa! What the—?! Is this my... my status screen? Like in all those manga?!"
The screen hovered closer, words beginning to form.
Damien stared.
His heart pounded.
"…This has gotta be a joke."
A fiery screen hovered before Damien, glowing like molten metal in midair. As he blinked, words and data began forming, sharp and clear like something out of a video game menu. His jaw dropped.
Name: Damien Cross
Age: 19
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Level: 1
Class: Fire Mage
Titles: Reincarnated One, Flame-Touched, The One Watched by Fire
Health Points (HP): 120/120
Magic Points (MP): 220/220
Strength: 10
Agility: 13
Endurance: 14
Mana: 25
Luck: 9
Charm: 12
Normal Skills:
Appraisal – Analyze objects, creatures, and people to reveal detailed information
Fire Resistance – Reduces damage and effects from fire-based attacks
Mana Sense – Detects mana signatures and sources in the environment
Cooking – Enhances quality and effects of prepared food
Quick Cast – Reduces casting time for all spells
Night Vision – Enables clear sight in darkness or low-light conditions
Martial Arts – Basic combat knowledge for close-range fighting
Sprint – Temporarily increases movement speed
Quick Recovery – Accelerates healing and fatigue recovery
Inventory – Access a personal storage space outside physical limits
Ability Skills:
Flame Affinity – Enhances control and potency of fire magic
Battle Instinct – Temporarily sharpens awareness in combat, increasing reaction time
Heat Immunity – Immunity to high temperatures and heat-based environments
Temper Flare – Unleashes a burst of fire power when emotionally provoked
Danger Sense – Warns of incoming threats or lethal intent
Pain Resistance – Reduces impact and interference of pain during battle
Magic Fire Skills:
Fireball – Shoots a medium-sized orb of explosive fire at a target
Ignite – Sets objects or enemies on fire with a touch or gaze
Ember Spark – Releases small sparks for ignition or distraction
Heat Touch – Temporarily heats physical surfaces, melting or burning on contact
Unique Skills:
Infernal Instinct – In combat, taps into primal flame magic to amplify attacks unpredictably
Phoenix Core – Grants a passive healing aura and resurrection once under lethal damage
Weapons:
Items:
Damien stared at the screen, mouth open.
"Okay... What in the crispy hell is this? I've got... magic skills? Titles? Phoenix Core?! Is this for real?"
Curious, he slowly raised his hand and clicked his fingers together. A soft whoosh followed by a flicker of flame danced across his palm. He gasped.
"No way... That actually worked!"
With wide eyes and a grin spreading across his face, he twirled the flame between his fingers like a coin, tossing it from hand to hand.
"This is nuts. I'm literally playing with fire! Heh. Literally."
He crouched slightly, aimed his hand at a nearby tree, and smirked.
"Alright... let's test this out. FIREBALL!"
A glowing orb of fire formed in his palm and launched forward with surprising force. It struck the tree, erupting in a small explosion of heat and smoke. Bark cracked and splintered—leaving a wide, charred hole through the trunk.
"WHOA!" Damien blinked. "That... That was awesome! I just shot a fireball! Like, a real one! That hole's huge!"
He walked over to inspect the crater, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I could definitely get used to this. Being a fire mage in a fantasy world? Hell yes."
The forest stretched before him like an open map.
"Guess I should explore. Who knows what this world has to offer?"
With a deep breath and a new sense of purpose, Damien turned and started walking. The canopy above shifted with the breeze, and the afternoon sun filtered through the leaves in golden shafts.
Hours passed. Birds chirped. Insects buzzed. It was peaceful.
Until...
Rustling.
Damien froze, turning his head toward the sound.
"That wasn't the wind," he whispered. "Please don't be a giant spider... Please don't be a giant spider."
The bushes parted.
Out hopped a strange creature: a rabbit—but not just any rabbit. Its fur was snowy white, but its eyes glowed red with a faint inner light. A sharp, jagged horn protruded from its forehead.
"...Is that a horned rabbit? That thing's actually kinda cute... in a demonic murder-fluff sort of way."
He cautiously stepped forward.
"Hey there, little guy... You lost or—"
Danger Sense Activated.
Damien's eyes widened.
"Wait, what—?"
Too late.
The horned rabbit launched forward with unnatural speed and slammed into Damien's stomach like a furry missile. He flew backward, crashing into a tree with a loud WHUMP.
"Guh—!" Damien gasped, wind knocked clean out of him.
He hit the ground, coughing. The rabbit bounced in place, emitting sharp screeches like it was mocking him.
"Okay... ow. That actually hurt."
He staggered to his feet, holding his ribs.
"You wanna play rough, you weird little goat-bunny? Fine. I can do rough."
Steam began to rise from his body. Flames flickered along his arms and shoulders.
His red-gold eyes narrowed.
He cracked his neck.
"You want a fight, you ugly furball? Then let's fight."
Damien narrowed his red-gold eyes, fixing his gaze on the creature before him. "Appraisal," he said.
A new screen flashed before his eyes, glowing in front of the horned rabbit.
Name: Horned Rabbit
Race: Beast
Level: 3
Skills:
Horn Thrust – A sudden lunge attack using its horn to pierce enemies
Rapid Hop – High-speed evasive movement in multiple directions
Panic Kick – A flurry of rapid, panicked kicks when cornered
Grass Camouflage – Temporarily blends into forest terrain for ambush
Keen Sense – Heightened hearing and smell for threat detection
Damien let out a low whistle.
"Not bad for a murderous puffball. Those skills are actually legit..."
He raised his hand. "Alright, let's try this again. FIREBALL!"
A ball of flame ignited in his palm and shot forward.
But the horned rabbit's Rapid Hop kicked in—it blurred out of the way, and the fireball hit the ground behind it, erupting in a small explosion.
Damien spun around. The rabbit was already behind him, twitching with its eerie screech.
"You cheeky little—!"
They clashed. Damien slung fire attacks, small embers and heat touches, while the horned rabbit dodged with ridiculous agility and countered with surprise lunges and kicks. The forest echoed with blasts, cracks, and Damien's frustrated muttering.
The rabbit launched another Horn Thrust, forcing Damien to roll aside and counter with a burning sweep of his arm.
"Ember Spark!"
Tiny embers scattered into the rabbit's path, making it halt for a split second—just enough for Damien to charge in and land a punch charged with Heat Touch. The rabbit let out a sharp cry and kicked out with Panic Kick, smacking him in the side.
"Gah—! You're strong for something so small!"
Damien staggered back, wiping blood from his lip. The rabbit was already circling him.
It dashed forward again.
"Flame Wall!" he shouted instinctively, slamming both hands to the ground. A low burst of fire flared up like a barrier between them, but the rabbit leapt over it.
"Persistent little rat—!"
Damien jumped back and fired another Fireball, which the rabbit narrowly avoided. The forest behind exploded again with sparks and falling leaves.
"That was almost point blank! What are you, the ninja of rabbits?!"
More minutes passed. Dodges. Missed spells. Close-range brawls. Damien's movements were starting to slow. Sweat rolled down his brow, and the heat around him grew.
Flames licked up his arms. His patience was gone. His breath grew heavy and his voice low.
Steam hissed from his skin. His magic pulsed.
"I've had enough of this game."
The horned rabbit lowered itself again, preparing one final, deadly dash.
Damien growled, fire flaring up around his body. "I'm going to finish you—NOW!"
The flames around him surged, spiraling and concentrating into his hand. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the sudden magic surge. His red-gold eyes glowed.
The rabbit darted forward.
"FIREBALL!!!!"
A massive fireball, three times the size of any before, roared to life in his palm and screamed toward the rabbit.
BOOM!!
The explosion lit up the woods. A shockwave rippled outwards, trees swayed, leaves blew off in a whirlwind. Smoke blanketed the area.
Damien dropped to one knee, panting, shaking. His shirt was scorched, his arms were singed, and his hands trembled.
As the smoke cleared, silence followed.
A blackened crater smoldered in the ground.
No horned rabbit.
He stared for a moment—then let out a breathless, broken laugh.
"Hah... Holy crap... I just beat my first monster. I've been here for what, a few hours? And I already nuked a demon bunny."
A familiar chime echoed through the forest.
DING!
LEVEL UP!
You have reached Level 3!
New Stats Gained:
HP: +20
MP: +40
Strength: +3
Agility: +3
Endurance: +2
Mana: +5
Skill Progress:
Fireball → Fireball (Rank 2): Damage significantly increased. Casting time slightly reduced. Explosion radius expanded. Mana cost slightly increased.
Heat Touch: Upgraded to Blazing Touch – Now adds minor burn damage over time.
Quick Cast: Efficiency improved. Can now combo into a second fire spell with reduced delay.
New Passive Skill Unlocked:
Flame Feedback – Successful fire spell attacks restore 2% MP instantly. Stacks with Quick Recovery.
Bonus Perk Earned:
Beginner Combatant – Slight increase to reaction speed and physical resilience in combat.
Damien stared at the screen as the data settled into place. He could actually feel it—his core felt stronger, more focused. The fire that had exhausted him before now felt like a flowing river through his veins.
"Rank 2 Fireball... that explains the crater," he muttered with a proud smirk.
Another wave of energy pulsed through him. His fatigue was melting away, replaced by something brighter, steadier. Quick Recovery activated, flushing his system with fresh mana and stamina.
He stood tall, stretching.
"Man, this feels good. Like leveling up in an RPG, but real. The grind might actually be worth it."
The sun was now dipping lower, casting long shadows.
"Alright. Before some other crazy beast shows up, I need shelter."
He wandered for a while, scouting a suitable spot. Eventually, he settled under a large oak tree, its roots spreading wide like natural bedding. He cleared an area and built a simple campfire with dry sticks and leaves.
Click.
With a snap of his fingers, a small flame lit up in his palm. He flicked it into the fire pit. The flames caught instantly, casting warm light in the darkening woods.
Damien sat on a log nearby, watching the fire flicker.
"What a damn day... Hit by a truck, woke up in a fantasy forest, nearly died to a rabbit, and blew it up with a fireball. Leveled up twice. Not bad for day one."
He leaned back, eyes scanning the sky. The stars shimmered overhead, and a full moon glowed brightly.
He smiled.
"Alright. New goal: join an adventurer's guild, earn some gold, travel the world... meet weird people, eat good food, fight cool monsters. Sounds like a plan."
As the fire crackled, his eyelids drooped. He yawned and laid down beneath the tree.
Sleep came fast.
Eight hours later, morning light warmed the forest.
Damien stretched and yawned, rubbing his eyes. Birds chirped around him.
He sat up. "Alright, day two. Let's see what this world throws at me next."
After walking for a few hours, his stomach growled loudly.
"Ughhh... I'm starving. I'd sell my soul for a bowl of ramen. Where's a tavern when you need one?!"
He trudged forward dramatically.
About an hour later, he reached the edge of the forest—and there, up ahead, nestled between rolling hills and farmland, was a small village.
His eyes lit up.
"A village! Thank you, food gods! I'm coming for your bread, your stew, and whatever else you got!"
He began walking faster, excitement in his step.
TO BE CONTINUED