POV ???
Okay, my name's Edward. I'm 32 years old and, like most mortals without superpowers, I live a completely normal life, without emotions, without drama, and most importantly, without any money to spare.
I live alone in a standard apartment, one of those where if you start whistling, the echo of your sadness can be heard.
I'm not complaining; I have plenty of privacy, so I can walk around in my underwear, cook shirtless, or shout "FUCK!" when the game's boss kills me with an unfair bug. All without anyone judging me. And by that, I mean, that's the freedom of true champions.
Hahahaha… well, whatever…
I recently finished an intense game with my Bros in Grand Fantasie. Yes, that MMORPG that no one knows how it's still alive, but there we are, the faithful warriors with the cheap keyboard and taped-together mouse.
We were about to complete a dungeon when one of my Bros said online:
???: Bro, I have to go, my girlfriend's calling me.
And that's when I knew we'd lost another soldier. Another one who fell in battle... not in the game, but in the war of modern love. A moment of silence for him, who's now playing Call of Duty: Domestic Responsibility 2.
Let's get down to business.
Well, I'm just a normal guy. No, I'm not a Japanese man, nor a gringo, nor am I European.
I'm Latino... Yes, you heard right: I'm 100% Latino.
And no, I don't come from one of those tourist countries with magazine-worthy beaches and blondes in bikinis. I come from the country where the sun beats down like a mom's flip-flop, the water keeps going down, and the government smiles at you with its fangs... Well, we'll talk about that later.
I was born in Nicaragua, that beautiful place full of volcanoes, proud of its rice and beans, and certain people with shitty emperor complexes.
My childhood was like a low-budget TV series. I had just enough, but I made do. I was never the most popular, nor the most rejected. I was the typical guy on the corner who says hello and walks away. I didn't have a great body, nor the face of a soap opera actor, nor a car tricked out with LED lights.
I was just me… Edward, the normal guy.
I went to public school (the one where the desks have more graffiti than the Berlin Wall), graduated with decent degrees, and now I'm studying psychology at a private Christian university. Classes are on Saturdays. Not for fun, but because the university system here is like playing on Ultra Hard difficulty without a tutorial.
And during the week, I worked at a dairy factory. I was in charge of packaging: add cheese, seal the bag, repeat. It wasn't glamorous, but the pay is better.
And you know what?
Not all of us end up being doctors, lawyers, or influencers with pearly whites. Sometimes life throws you like a piñata at a children's party: without warning and straight to the ground. Some people graduate and end up selling gourmet empanadas on the street. And that's okay. That's Latin America: surviving is an achievement.
Thanks to my job and the odd bit of extra work, I bought a good computer and a PS2.
Yes, a PS2. Vintage, classic, glorious… That console is my sanctuary. And I have a game collection more valuable than my grades.
Those games are my childhood. I played them with my sister, my cousins from the US, my Bros from school, and a neighbor who seemed mute, but was an NPC in the background.
Those were the good times.
And you know what the best thing about video games is?
They make you strategic.
They train your patience.
They prepare you for frustration… like life itself.
And they teach you not to trust a good-natured NPC.
Yes, life won't be easy... But if you learned how to beat Bad Resident 4: Machete Mode in your underwear without using sprays, you can handle anything.
What could go wrong?
…
…
…
TIME SKIP – DAYS LATER
INSIDE THE APARTMENT
Silence…
…
I'm sitting in a chair, not moving, not speaking. Like a statue, but anxious.
…
I'm processing what they just told me.
One of my colleagues from work called me. He told me the factory closed.
Officially bankrupt… Shit.
…
…
…
And here I am, frozen, as if I were part of the furniture.
Thinking:
What the hell do I do now?
How will I pay the rent, the Tentflix app, and my gaming whims?
And why the hell doesn't the boss worm appear in Bad Resident 3 Remake?
AN: According to the company, "it couldn't be included due to copyright issues," which means: "We didn't want to pay and we didn't give a damn."
Honestly... I'm sad, and I admit it. That job wasn't that great, but it helped people with disabilities, provided decent employment, and kept me busy.
But now, everything's gone to hell...
And I was already thinking about quitting and focusing more on my studies. But I didn't want everything to go away like that, without warning. It's like your ex dumping you on MhatsApp.
…
..
.
But my days now are a boring loop:
• Going to the supermarket
• Cleaning
• Washing dishes and laundry
• Cooking
• Playing games
• Calling my mom so she doesn't think I'm dead
• Chatting
• Watching videos
• Thinking about life
• Studying a little
• Sleeping poorly
• Clubbing
• And a bunch of other places.
I even went to a play where a man yelled at a prop chicken about the "end of capitalist corn."
I don't know if it was art or schizophrenia, but it distracted me.
Honestly, I don't understand why the factory went bankrupt, but if you know my country, you know who's to blame.
I won't go into details. I'll just say that here, if you don't applaud the one in charge, you don't work.
And me... I wasn't born to lick boots or repeat empty speeches.
I'm not interested in getting involved in politics. I'm not interested in being part of the circus.
I just want to live peacefully, study, work, and play my fucking video games.
End of statement.
…
Sigh
Thanks to the severance pay and my savings (because I don't spend money on things like dating or socializing), I can survive for about two years. If I don't become so stupid and crazy before then, of course.
But sitting around doing nothing doesn't help.
I need to unplug.
And I know exactly what to do:
Find that damn audio cable for my PS2.
But first of all: take a shower, put on some comfortable clothes, have a quick breakfast, and then walk like a lost soul.
END OF EDWARD'S POV
1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES LATER
THROTTLE STORE – JACKIE USA
Edward: I finally found it!... the fucking PS2 audio cable.
You held it up with both hands like it was a sacred trophy. Your eyes shone like a kid seeing his first controller with a turbo boost.
Edward (whispered): I thought I was going to die without ever hearing the Angel Cry 3 intro again... (You sighed and exhaled as if you'd just come out of a battle.)
Edward: Seriously... why the fuck is it so hard to find this kind of stuff? (She smoothed her hair with her fingers and started walking toward the checkout, but remembered how the whole mess started.)
Okay… to summarize what happened to her, it was like this…
She waited for about half an hour for the bus… but the one that arrived looked like something out of a 2002 movie.
Edward: (He scratched his head in frustration as he remembered) …
Edward: Then, they rerouted the route for a so-called "reconstruction" that took longer than my college degree… That took another 20 minutes off my existence. (Walks down the store aisle while mentally reliving the journey.)
I got off at the stop… walked for about five minutes… I got to the first store…
Edward: (Raises a finger, one by one as he lists) Closed. And the second store… Closed too (with a deathly look on his face, whispering so softly that I remembered my reaction at the time.)
Edward: And finally, the "nice girls" were looking at me like I was a walking ATM... (makes a face of discomfort).
I forgot about that and went to ask someone.
Edward: Excuse me...
You approached a worker wearing a cap, a green vest, and a face that looked like he'd been awake for two days.
Edward: Where are the used electronics?
The guy looked at you without saying anything for a few seconds, as if trying to remember if it was Monday or Sunday.
Worker: In the background... on the right side... past the bikes. (He answered, pointing halfheartedly with a finger.)
Edward: Thanks, bro.
Edward walked to the back. Shelves full of electronic antiques greeted him like a technological jungle. He went through cables, remote controls, broken radios, dusty screens...
Edward: Damn, this looks like the warehouse of a failed technician... but there you are...
Seeing the desired cable, he lit up as if your grandfather had said "well done, my grandson."
He took it carefully, as if it might fall apart if he gripped it too tightly.
Edward: I don't care if it's a multipurpose one, if it's yellowed, or if he sold it to a guy who looks like an NPC. Today... you're mine.
He was heading toward the checkout when, among the shelves near the used electronics section, something caught his eye.
He stopped. His eyes fell on an object that shouldn't have stood out so much... but it did.
...
A hand mirror...
Edward: What's this bullshit?
He approached slowly. The frame was shiny silver, with tiny runes that looked like scribbles... or magical symbols or Latin.
Edward: Hmmm... I wasn't even planning on buying it... but it looks awesome.
As he touched it, he felt a chill. Not from fear, but from familiarity... as if the object had been waiting for him.
Edward (thinking): Why do I feel like this... I already know it?
He put it down, and without a second thought, added it to his purchase. He paid for everything, left the store... and went straight home.
HOME – NIGHT
Edward arrived late because of traffic. He opened the door, left the mirror and the bag with the cable on the bed. He took off his shoes as if they were full of stones, and went straight to the microwave.
Edward: Chicken and rice, lifesaver... I summon you. (While heating up his dinner, he took off his shirt and went to the bathroom.)
Edward: Shit... I'm covered in dust even in my pores... damn wind that smells like cement.
He took a quick shower. Then he ate standing up in front of the turned-off TV, and then sat on the floor in front of the console. He connected the cables to his PS2. Everything fit perfectly. But just before he pressed the power button...
~Music~...
A soft, ethereal melody... like someone playing a mix of a harp and a synthesizer floated through the air.
Edward: What the fuck...?
He turned around. The melody was coming from the mirror above the bed. It was slowly beginning to glow.
Edward approached, somewhat tense, but curious. He took it in his right hand...
Edward: This is... hot?
The glow intensified.
Edward: WHAT THE FUC—?!
FLASH!
A blinding flash exploded in the room. The entire space turned white. The walls, the ceiling, the bed... everything disappeared as if it had never been there.
Total silence.
Only the silhouette of the mirror above the bed remained.
UNKNOWN LOCATION
…
…
Edward: —CK!... Oh?
The light slowly faded. His feet were no longer on the floor of the apartment, but on the tall grass. The leaves were moving in the wind.
He was in the middle of a vast valley, surrounded by distant mountains and trees on the horizon. The sky was bright blue, cloudless.
Edward: Where the hell am I...? (He spins in circles, looking around).
Edward: Wait a minute... (He raised his eyebrows. He searched his pockets desperately) My cell phone! (He reached into his back pocket, but he couldn't feel it).
Just then... something caught his eye on his left arm. He waved it in front of him.
His expression changed from bewilderment to shock.
What had once been his arm... was now covered in a dark gauntlet, like a fusion of metal and something organic. Sharp claws appeared on each of his fingers; there were gold and white veins running through it like live circuits. And in the center of his palm, a red gem gleamed, pulsing like a heart.
Edward: What the... fuck... (He lightly slapped his right hand over his left, as if to confirm it wasn't a hallucination).
Edward: This... this isn't normal. (Thinking) Is this what they call it in an isekai world?
As Edward inspected the gauntlet that fused perfectly with his left arm, something else caught his attention…
In front of him stretched a stone path with smooth plates, perfectly fitted together, like a well-designed route through a city or town.
Edward: Well… I have no choice. Let's see how far I can find a spot and some information to figure out where the hell I am…
So Edward started walking down that unfamiliar path.
Almost two hours into a long walk…
Edward was panting from exhaustion.
The heat was stifling, and there wasn't a single cloud to give him a bit of shade.
Edward: Fuck this sun… I feel like I'm frying inside.
Near the path, he saw a few scattered trees, so he detoured slightly to take a short break in their shade. He sat down on the grass, exhaling heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his forearm.
Edward (thinking): Will I die here like a background character?
After a few minutes of rest, he got up again and resumed his walk.
…
…
In the distance, he spotted what appeared to be a signpost between the edges of the path. Curious, he walked faster until he was in front of it.
It was a post with metal signs and neon lights.
An arrow pointed straight ahead with the name:
▶ Bluefields
And another pointed to the right with another name:
➤ Cotton Tree
Edward stopped, arms crossed, and thought about it for a moment. He looked at both paths. There were no clear signs, no maps, no NPCs to give him a direction.
Edward: Hmm... let's go with the classics.
He raised his hands and said in a childish tone:
Edward: Tiny little marín of do pingüé, a cúcara mácara puppet was... Bluefields it's going to be!
He took the straight road to Bluefields.
30 minutes later…
After walking a little further and resting briefly under another tree, Edward resumed his journey, although fatigue was beginning to weigh on him.
His feet ached. Sweat soaked his shirt. But then…
He came across something unexpected.
A vast field covered in bioluminescent blue flowers, whose light blue petals flickered gently with a hypnotic rhythm. As if the ground were breathing.
Edward: What is this place...? It looks like the Windows wallpaper, but in 4K, 100% real, not fake.
Beyond the field, he saw what looked like a village, hidden among structures.
Exhausted but motivated, Edward walked faster.
A few meters from the entrance, he found a small stream of crystal-clear water running peacefully between the smooth stones.
Edward: Thank goodness!
He knelt by the water, drank desperately, and splashed water all over his face. The sensation was almost heavenly.
Edward: This tastes much better than the bottled water in my fridge...
After a few seconds, he stood up, now looking clearly toward the village entrance.
It was a metal arch with neon lights that formed the word:
BLUEFIELDS
The letters glowed blue and light blue, and on either side of the arch were metal poles with cables connecting them deeper into the city.
From where he stood, Edward could see that the houses were a strange but harmonious mix: medieval structures, Victorian details, and distinctly futuristic components. Wood, stone, metal reinforcements, solar-paneled roofs, and electric poles with sleek, modern designs.
Edward: This place... it's crazy. It looks like someone put Zkyrin, Cyberpunk, and a colonial documentary in a blender.
As he approached the entrance, two lightly armored guards noticed him and signaled.
Guard 1: Hold it right there, traveler!
Edward: Hey, calm down! I don't have any weapons! (low voice) Although my other "weapon" is for finding affectionate women... (returning to his normal voice) I don't even know where I am...
Guard 2: Documents, authorization, or ID, please.
Edward: Uh... do I look like I know where I'm standing?
The guards looked at each other. One of them sighed.
Guard 1: Follow me. You'll have to register as an "outsider."
You were escorted to a small, metal-framed office not far from the entrance arch. The interior was simple: a desk, folding chairs, a floating lamp with a luminous sphere, and a suspended hologram with strange symbols.
A third, apparently an officer, pulled out some kind of form projected from a floating tablet.
Officer: Name
Edward: Edward
Officer: Political affiliation, guild, or summoning zone?
Edward: ...What?
Officer: (Sigh)... leave it blank... Nationality.
Edward: ...Nicaraguan. I guess.
Officer: Any registered skills?
Edward: Sleep for 12 hours without dying. Does that count?
Officer: Approved. Final touch on the hologram.
They gave you some kind of bracelet with a digital seal.
Officer: This is a ticket to enter this town, but if you lose it again... (with a serious face) you'll have to pay for losing your bracelet and the fine for entering illegally.
Edward: R-right (you stated nervously, wondering if you'd lose this bracelet).
Officer: Fine, and I hope you better understand... *um* stupid stranger.
Edward: (You turn around and walk away, but keep your voice low) Fucking officer.
Officer: Oh, did you say something?
Edward (nervous): N-nothing.
You left the office as quickly as possible to avoid a fine or possibly jail.
When you left the office, the air felt different.
Cleaner, calmer, as if your old world was far inferior and shittier than this new one. But still... it's weird.
You walked down a central street and noticed the villagers wearing all sorts of strange attire: modified medieval clothes, Victorian suits, combinations with modern jackets, and elegant capes. Some carried floating devices like holographic cell phones on the palm of their hands.
Edward (thinking): This is way off-script... what the fuck is this place?
You were about to ask a question to a woman floating on a metallic unicycle when something flashed in front of you.
The gauntlet on your left arm reacted.
The red gem emitted a vibrant flash, and a holographic interface appeared in front of you, like something straight out of a video game.
It was a floating map, with strange symbols, marked routes, rotating coordinates. Everything was indecipherable.
Edward: What the fuck is this now?
Suddenly, a soft but sensual robotic female voice activated from the same gauntlet.
???: "Welcome to the Worldbound, Summoner."
Edward: WHAT THE FUCK?! (You staggered in fright and nearly drooled from the shock.)
And so the protagonist had a rough life in his world, but we'll see how he survives in this new world. Although he's in for a big surprise: he'll use it as company. See you next chapter.