Chapter 1: A Twist Of Fate

"Am I the villain of this story?"

"No."

"I'm just a guy that would do whatever it takes in order to survive."

"So, where did my story start? Right, it was back in my apartment."

...

Sean Rivers sat at his desk with a sense of achievement coursing through his veins. He was finally going to upload the last chapter of his online serialized novel, 'The Arcane Chronicles,' and now, with a few tweaks and editing for all the typos, he was ready to upload the final chapter of his masterpiece, 'Fate's Reckoning,' which marked the end of an incredible journey he had shared with his readers.

"Alright, I'm finally done," Sean said, as he then proceeded to hover the cursor over the upload button and clicked it. Feeling a mix of satisfaction and bittersweet emotions, he took a deep breath and began typing a heartfelt message to his dedicated fans, expressing his gratitude for their support throughout the years.

"Dear readers,

I can't find the words to express my gratitude for each and every one of you who embarked on this journey with me. Your enthusiasm and encouragement have fueled my imagination and pushed me to create the best possible ending for our beloved characters. It has been an honor to have your companionship in this world of magic, danger, and adventure.

I have read most of the comments, messages, and reviews, and I want you all to know that your words have touched me deeply. Thank you for staying by my side until the very end. I hope you find the conclusion of 'Fate's Reckoning' satisfying, and may it leave a lasting impression on your hearts.

With utmost appreciation, Sean Rivers"

As the comments began pouring in, Sean couldn't help but smile at the overwhelmingly positive response from his fans. He replied to several comments, and among the sea of messages, one caught his eye. It was from a reader named 'LilyRaven,' who had been a massive supporter throughout his writing journey. "Thank you, Sean, for bringing us on this incredible adventure! I can't wait to read the final chapter and see how it all ends!"

Sean's fingers moved across the keyboard as he replied, "Thank you, LilyRaven! Your support has meant the world to me. I hope the ending lives up to your expectations. Enjoy the final chapter!" expressing his joy and answering questions about the series. Eventually, exhaustion caught up with Sean, and he reluctantly bid his fans goodnight. He closed his laptop and crawled into bed, a contented smile on his lips. He was finally able to bring his book to a close, and now he could rest.

Sean settled into bed, content and eager to dream of new stories and future writing endeavors. Unbeknownst to him, a twist of fate was about to turn his life into a tale far more extraordinary than any he had ever written.

Suddenly, as the clock struck midnight Sean's body began to shimmer brightly so bright he had to shield his eyes and he mumbled, "The hell's going on?"

When the glow finally subsided, Sean fluttered his eyes open, but he wasn't in his room anymore.

"Where am I?" he muttered, gazing around and taking in the massive and luxurious room he now found himself in.

"What happened to my body?" His gaze fell on his hands, which were now larger, more muscular, and with complex tattoos running up his forearms.

"What in the world?" Sean exclaimed, his heart pounding in his chest. He flexed his fingers, noticing they were much stronger.

These weren't the arms of a shut-in author who spent most of his time writing at home.

He swung his legs over the edge of the king-sized bed and stood, feeling the weight of his new body. It was far more impressive compared to his former self.

"This physique... it's so stacked," Sean said. As he continued to gaze at his body, the tattoos started to seem somewhat familiar. "Wait, these tattoos..."

Driven by curiosity, he began to search for a mirror, hoping his reflection would help him understand what was going on. He finally found one beside the massive closet in the room.

"Wait... that black-styled hair, those devilishly sharp green eyes, that body frame, this set of matching snake tattoos on my chest and arms..." He paused momentarily as the pieces slowly fell into place. Finally, he concluded, "Isn't this Richard Blackthorn? From my novel, the villain of 'The Arcane Chronicles'?"

Sean stood before the mirror, his mind racing with the new reality he faced. He had been reborn into the world of his own novel, trapped within the body of the villain, Richard Blackthorn.

"Wait a sec," Sean murmured to himself, his voice laced with both awe and fear. "I've turned into the actual villain? The one I wrote about who brought about the world's ruin... the global apocalypse event?"

"I don't understand... Was I reborn somehow?"

"But... I don't remember dying... Transmigration?"

"But why my novel? And why in Richard's body? Isn't he going to die at the hands of the protagonist?"

As he spoke, the lines he wrote that signified Richard's end flashed before his eyes. The scene appeared all too vivid, his lifeless body hovering in some dark space... A chill ran down his spine, a feeling of dread settling over him.

The flash ended...

"This has to be a dream... Yes, a dream. So, I'll just pinch myself, and I'm sure I'll wake up," he thought, wanting to believe it. What he saw an instant ago had terrified him.

Sean used his left hand to pinch his face, but he wasn't used to the strength of his new body. He pinched a little too hard. "Owww, that hurt like hell... Damn it, seems... I'm not dreaming after all."

He slowly lowered his hand and turned his head to gaze at his reflection in the mirror. His green eyes were shaking with fear, and his cheek was slightly reddened.

"But if this is not a dream, does that mean... I've really become the villain?"

"So... I'm doomed then?" Silence settled in the room. Suddenly waking up to discover you would be dying soon would be a terrifying discovery for anyone, especially if they hadn't lived out their lives or enjoyed it as much as they wanted. What would be a natural response for a person who had found themselves in such a scenario?

"No."

"I refuse to roll over and die because of some damned plot I wrote." He gritted his teeth, clenching his fists tightly until they turned white.

Gazing at his reflection intensely, he narrowed his eyes and said, "I am the author of this novel. Previous plot be damned; from here on out, I'm writing a new story, one where the villain lives to see the end!"