Dominance of Viled Heart

Prologue

Ping!

The sound jolts me from my momentary daze. The end of the month is here, but the money I’ve been waiting for still hasn’t arrived. Did I get scammed? I grab my phone, barely interested—until my eyes widen at the notification.

[[Payment has been sent.]]

“Yes!” A wide grin spreads across my face.

He’s legit!

Excitement bubbles up inside me as I lick the leftover cheese powder from my fingers—every bite of my late-night cheesy curls is worth it! I quickly clean my hands with a wet wipe and open my banking app to confirm.

Nothing excites me more than seeing numbers in my bank account.

It’s midnight, and there I am, sprawled in front of my computer, the screen’s still glow illuminating my workspace. Snack crumbs litter my desk, and my fizzy soft drink is drained to the last drop in my hand.

I flick the can into the trash with a triumphant wrist flick. 'Finally, I can buy my dream shoes!' I exclaim, twirling in my office chair.

For six long months, I’ve been stashing away spare change and savings into a time-deposit account to take advantage of compounding interest. I’m not rich, so I have to be smart with my money. But today, the wait is over—all for this moment.

[[Congratulations! You have reached your goal of buying shoes, earning boosted interest based on the selected due date of your Time Deposit Plus account. Your accumulated amount will be automatically credited to your savings.]]

My eyes shine the brightest as I check my account. I’ve been counting down to this month, praying they still have my size in stock. With my latest project wrapped up, I shut down my computer, stretch my hands, and sink into bed.

Satisfaction washes over me—nothing beats waking up to a glimmering bank account!

After a refreshing four-hour nap and a quick shower, I throw on the first outfit I find, something playful to match my buoyant mood. A quick twist of my hair into a messy bun, a little makeup, and I’m ready.

“Looks good,” I mumble at my reflection. A little mantra to lift my spirits.

Before stepping out, I take one last glance at my home. It’s still new, carrying that fresh scent of accomplishment. It's been only a year since I bought it, but it already feels like a dream come true. No one knows the tears and struggles I endured to get here, but I made it. Sure, I don’t have a car yet, but that can wait. Today is all about one thing…

“My dream shoes!!”

Walking through the massive entrance of the popular mall, I’m nearly overwhelmed by its sheer size, my excitement pulling me in every direction as I look around at a large shopping mall in the Ph. As soon as I grasp the shopping bag with my new shoes—on sale, no less—it feels like I’ve hit the jackpot. I can almost hear celebratory cheers in my mind: a new home, a thriving career, and now, the shoes I’ve dreamed of for ages. And what’s a celebration without a drink? 

This is living!

A quick glance at my phone tells me I might have enjoyed myself a little too much. The sun is already dipping below the horizon. I don’t have a car, and traveling at night isn’t the safest option. “Time to go home.”

As I push open the mall’s glass door, a sudden gust of air sweeps past me, sending a chill down my spine. My shopping bag slips from my grasp, and I lunge forward to catch it. Just as my fingers close around the handle—

The world lurches.

I stagger, blinking rapidly, thinking it’s just exhaustion. But the moment I regain my balance, my stomach knots.

The air feels heavier.

Everything is too still—like the world is holding its breath. The lights flicker, casting eerie, stretched shadows at my feet. I blink again, and—

What the… hell?

The bustling mall is gone.

Instead, I’m standing in the middle of a battlefield. Armored warriors on horseback clash in a frenzied war, their swords clashing and war cries ripping through the air. It’s like I’ve stepped straight into a scene from the movie, 300—but more vivid, more real, more terrifying.

Frozen in place, my mind scrambles to process the chaos around me. My cranberry drink trembles in my hand as I turn my gaze away from the brutal clash, where the thunder of hooves and the warriors’ roars drown out my thoughts, overwhelming my senses.

I try to step back, but I bump into someone, losing my grip on the drink. Sticky, bright liquid splatters across my shirt, its absurd normalcy jarring against the horrific scene unfolding around me. I stumble backward, panic rising as I mutter frantic curses under my breath.

Shit! Shit! What the hell is happening?!

“This must be a dream. It has to be.” The words slip out in a desperate whisper. I scan my surroundings, my breath catching at the endless desert stretching beyond the battlefield. “There’s no way this is real.”

Then, something heavy crashes to the ground in front of me. A severed head rolls to my feet, blood still streaming from its neck. Its lifeless eyes twitch as if they’re about to open—and for one horrifying moment, they lock onto mine.

A wave of nausea slams into me. I stagger back, crawling away in terror. My hands dig into the scorching sand, fingers tightening around my shopping bag as if it’s my last link to sanity. My head pounds, my vision blurs, and as the world tilts, I feel myself slipping under.

You know how it goes in those fantasy stories: one minute, you’re lounging in your newly purchased house, planning your future—and the next, bam! You’re transported to another world. But instead of a magical princess, a cunning villainess, or a super-powered hero, I’m just… me.

No royal bloodline, no epic abilities, and definitely no mystical creature sidekick. Just a regular person with no money, no connections, and, oh yeah—no idea how to get home. Perfect!

You’d think I’d at least get some cool perks out of this. Maybe a wise old mentor to give me cryptic advice? Nope. A magical artifact I could use to return home? Ha, I wish!

I once dreamed of a princess life, but instead, I’m dragged around like a sack of potatoes, barely conscious and soaked in what’s probably an absurd amount of cranberry juice… mixed with something far more disturbing.

Ugh, the smell!

And to top it off? I find myself tossed into a pile of burning bodies, almost getting cremated alive. Yup, definitely the dream escape I was hoping for.

Now, instead of worrying about dinner, I’m trying not to get beheaded. Who the hell thought getting isekai’d was a good idea? I need a refund—on my shoes and my life!

But hey, maybe I’ll figure a way out of this mess. Or at least get a refund on those shoes I never got to wear.

Welcome to my life—or whatever this is now. Can I at least get a guideline or a warning sign?!