My head throbbed with a sharp, insistent pain, but it wasn't just my skull it radiated through my entire body, every muscle aching as if I'd spent the night in an intense, grueling workout.
*Is this a dream?* I thought, blinking against the haze of confusion, but the agony felt too raw, too visceral to be anything but real.
It pulsed with every heartbeat, grounding me in a reality that made no sense. I forced my eyes to focus, scanning my surroundings, and my stomach dropped.
This wasn't my cramped, dingy room the one I could barely afford the rent for, with its peeling wallpaper and single flickering bulb.
No, this place was leagues beyond that: a sprawling chamber easily four times the size, adorned with elegant drapes cascading from high ceilings, polished wooden furniture that screamed luxury, and a faint scent of lavender lingering in the air like an expensive perfume.
*Did I get kidnapped? Or... did I stumble into someone else's house in a drunken stupor?* Panic clawed at my chest. *Oh god, don't tell me I really did that.*
I twisted my head around, taking in more details the room boasted a massive king-sized bed with silk sheets tangled around me, ornate lamps casting a soft, golden glow, and heavy curtains that blocked out most of the morning light, leaving only slivers peeking through.
My heart raced, pounding in my ears like a drum. I didn't dare glance down at my body yet; terror held me frozen. *What if this is trespassing? My life is ruined.*
Visions flashed through my mind: police sirens wailing, handcuffs clicking shut, endless interrogations in a cold cell.
*How long would I be in custody? Would I even get out?* Judging by the opulence the crystal chandelier sparkling overhead, the plush rug underfoot that felt like walking on clouds this had to belong to some ultra-wealthy man or woman.
They'd throw the book at me, no mercy for a nobody like me.
Finally, summoning what little courage I had, I looked down at my body. My breath caught in my throat. Instead of the familiar soft, chubby skin I'd known all my life, I saw a sculpted physique chiseled abs rippling under taut skin, veins faintly visible like a bodybuilder's after years of discipline.
My hands were like forged steel, fingers long and strong, calloused in a way mine never were. And my legs... they stretched out endlessly, muscular and powerful.
A surge of adrenaline hit me, and I bolted upright, the sheets sliding off with a soft rustle. But as I moved, I realized I wasn't alone. I had been sitting *no, lying* beside someone.
A girl with vibrant red hair, her locks splayed across the pillow like flames caught in a gentle breeze.
As soon as my eyes landed on her, they widened in shock, my jaw slackening. She was unmistakably a character from my favorite game, *Sanctum of Heroines* the one I'd sunk countless hours into, memorizing every detail of its world and heroes.
*But why is she sleeping here? No... why am I here in the first place?* My mind reeled, questions tumbling over each other. I stared at her, taking in her serene face, lashes fluttering slightly in sleep, and a faint blush crept up my cheeks, hot and unwelcome.
She was naked, her bare skin glowing in the dim light, the curve of her shoulder exposed above the sheet. *This can't be right.*
Realization crashed over me like a wave: *Sanctum of Heroines* wasn't just any game it was an eroge, a damn adult game, 18+ with all the explicit content that implied.
I scratched my head vigorously, fingers tangling in unfamiliar hair, trying to make sense of it. *Did she somehow come to the real world? Is that possible?* My thoughts drifted to that one novel I'd read, where game characters crossed over and wreaked havoc, turning the world into a nightmare of terror and chaos.
*Is this something like that?* But in my daze, I'd completely overlooked examining myself further, too absorbed in the whirlwind of fear and confusion.
A soft rustle broke the silence the sound of her stirring. My scratching must have woken her. She shifted under the sheets, her eyes fluttering open, revealing irises as red and piercing as rubies.
Her body was close to perfection, an otaku's dream made flesh: generous curves that flowed seamlessly, full breasts rising and falling with each breath, skin smooth and flawless without a single blemish.
She locked her gaze on me, a sly, knowing smile curling her lips, her expression shifting from sleepy haze to playful tease. "You're awake," she murmured, her voice husky from sleep, laced with a hint of amusement. "Did you enjoy it that much that you banged me all night?"
Her words hung in the air, and my mind blanked for a split second before the pieces snapped together like a puzzle solving itself.
*What do you mean, enjoy?* Heat flooded my face, but then it hit me hard.
It wasn't the game character invading the real world; it was me who'd been pulled into the game. Everything clicked: the full-body ache from what must have been an all-night exertion, the unfamiliar room that matched the game's lavish settings.
My eyes darted to the mirror mounted behind the bed, one I'd ignored in my panic until now. There, staring back, was a reflection that wasn't mine.
Mid-length hair fell in waves, silver strands interwoven with glints of gold that caught the light like precious metal.
Orange eyes intense, focused, almost glowing met my gaze, framed by sharp features that exuded confidence and strength.
The body in the mirror moved as I did, confirming the impossible. I was here, in this world, in this form. My pulse thundered, a mix of terror and exhilaration twisting in my gut as the reality sank in deeper with every passing second.