Arthur always been a reader.
Not just someone who enjoys stories, but someone who immersed him self in those stories an connected with its characters. A person who clung to them to drown out the silence of the world that never cared if he existed.
In stories, there were chosen ones. Destiny. Power. A purpose.
In reality?
He was a background character in someone else's life.
No matter how hard he tried, good grades , polite smiles, working on weekends. He was always overlooked…forgettable the kind of guy that you bummed into and forget him five minutes later.
And being quiet and reserved didn't help at all. Or the fact that his parents worked constantly . Or that his teachers always praised effort and hard work but handed opportunities to someone louder , someone shinier. Even if they do nothing but sit back and have fun.
By the time Arthur turned 19 he realized two things.
That fate was a bitch That wouldn't give second chances.
But fiction did
So he watched and read dozen of animes and comics . Form isekais to shounen and even romance animes or comics where even spider man not just the hero but even Peter Parker inspired him a nobody who knows what it means to be in the bottom yet strives forward every day to save people because it's right.
The only person who never treated him like he is invisible was his younger brother leo
Leo was eight years younger, endlessly curious, and always asking questions.
"Big bro, if you got isekai'd, what would your cheat skill be?"
Arthur smiled at that memory now, lying on the scorched floor.
' It wouldn't matter' he thought bitterly.' Fate would find a way to screw me over anyway.'
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The day has started normal . That always made it worse in every storie, right?
Leo had come early from school . And our parents still at work like usual. I was curled up in a blanket in my room, binge watching re:zero for the fourth time . I had plans to rewatch mob psycho later maybe even start reading shadow slave.
Then the building shock like an earthquake had struck.
The first explosion wasn't loud rather instant , but it caused a chain reaction that led to multiple explosions each shaking the building and causing furniture to collapse and even cracks to appear on the walls and ceiling . I got thrown around in my room disorientating me ,but the damage wasn't sever at least I thought so.
The moment I fully regained my conscience and was able think properly. I found smoke and fire eating everything around me.
A gas leak, they'd say later. Faulty piping. One of those things.
But to me , it was life again spitting in my face.
"LEO!"
I swang the bedroom door open smoke filling my lungs . The hallway already caving in
"LEO!"I screamed again racing barefoot across burning floorboards " answer me"
A faint terrified voice barely reached my eat
" Big bro…please help me…I don't want to die"
I ran as fast as I could towards the sound.
I found him in the living room , pinned under a fallen book shelf the fire closing in .
I didn't think, no I couldn't think . I instinctively dropped down to my knees grabbing the book shelf, leading my fingers to blister immediately .
Leo was crying ,struggling to breathe .
"I can't move"
"I got you " I rasped barley " I got you,alright. I won't let you die"
The shelf wouldn't budge. It was heavy solid wood, stacked with books.
My arms trembled. legs burned. The fire was everywhere now. The ceiling groaned. Glass shattered behind him.
"I can't … it's too heavy. "I cried as my fingers bled but a look at my brother tears burned hotter than those flames.
"No not this time… I lived a meaningless life but if there is a god out there please let me save save this one soul. Please let my life end with a propose."
Arthur screamed with All his might , his muscle tore apart, and blood from his earlier wounds seeped through his sleeves . But his will was stronger, he refused the fate imposed on him and lifted with all of his reaming strength, just enough
"GO!"
Leo scrambled out, tears streaming down his soot-covered face.
"Arthur!"
"Run!" Arthur shouted. "Get to the stairwell!"
Leo hesitated. "But!"
"GO!"
Reluctant but due to his brother firm orders he ran out as fast as he could. The moment he vanished into the hallway. The book shelf dropped down but so did Arthur
The pain arrived all at once like a delayed punishment for being a hero.
His back crashed his legs pinned. Fire licked across his chest, devouring what was left of his shirt. Smoke poured into his lungs. His bloodied fingers curled uselessly against the floor.
So this is it…
He laughed. It came out as a dry cough.
Saved him... But no happy ending for me, huh?
The posters on the walls were gone. His figures had melted. His world the one filled with color and emotion was turning to ash.
Always the side character, he thought.
Always the one who helps the hero, then dies off-screen.
Even fate thinks I'm a joke.
He stared at the ceiling, flames dancing above him.
It's hot…
Then
[Skill: Heat Resistance] has been acquired.]
Arthur blinked " what?"
The fire stopped hurting. Not gone but dulled, like a distant pain.
"Is this the coldness of death, no wonder it stopped burning"
[Skill: Cold Resistance] has been acquired.]
No way. This... this is Rimuru's death scene.
He exhaled shakily. Was this real? Was he hallucinating?
If this is it... then I'm doing this my way.
Give me Gluttony. Great Sage. Degenerate
[Unique Skill: Gluttony] has been acquired.]
[Unique Skill: Great Sage] has been acquired.]
[Unique Skill: Degenerate] has been acquired.]
[Analyzing thought pattern: narrative awareness of multiple worlds detected.]
[Ultimate Skill: Fourth Wall has been acquired.]
[Narrative traits identified: Protagonist.]
[Unique Skill: Protagonist has been acquired.]
[ Soul Compatiblelity with another reincarnated individual 100%: Soul fusion complete.]
"An ultimate skill and a unique one, finally something good, please be Kim dokja 's skill but don't make me ugly I beg of you I already suffered enough"
The flames faded. His vision dimmed.
But this time, it wasn't emptiness he felt.
It was momentum.
A story not ending rather beginning. I guess you could say this is the beginning after the end hahah...
He remembered Leo's voice. His little brother running. Crying.
I saved him... I finally made a difference.
That's not enough.
this time, I'm not just going to read the story.
No more a servant of fate.
No more background role.
"This time… I'm the main character."