novelODS Chapter 1 Awakening in Dugu City
Chapter 1 Awakening in Dugu City
There are many different opinions about the truth of this world.
The Redguards say their ancestors emerged from the "Void" and found this place of hammer fall; the Brightonians firmly believe they are descendants of a hybrid of the Holy Spirit and humankind; and the monks of the Grey Apostles chant day and night at the end of the seven thousand stone steps, claiming that the present world is nothing more than a grand dream within the head of God.
Chen Mo knew nothing about any of this.
At that moment, all he knew was that his head was throbbing so badly it felt like it was going to split open.
A sharp headache felt like a blunt axe hacking at his skull from the inside, and the veins in his temples throbbed. He tried to raise his hand to press his forehead, but found his arm as heavy as lead. Not just his arm, but his entire body felt as if it were being crushed by some heavy object, making even breathing difficult.
What... is going on?
Fragments of memory churned deep within his consciousness. He remembered sitting in front of his computer last night, the screen still displaying the mod manager interface for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He had just finished installing the "Different Life" mod, choosing Solitude as his starting point, and casually added a property mod to give the protagonist a ready-made house in Solitude.
and then?
Then he seemed to yawn, thinking, "I'll play a little longer and then go to sleep"...
Then there is no more.
Chen Mo opened his eyes with difficulty.
What came into view was not his five-year-old monitor, nor the computer desk piled with instant noodle buckets, but an unfamiliar ceiling.
Dark wooden beams stretched overhead, their rough yet realistic grain so clear that each line was almost unbelievable. Instead of ceiling lights, there were antique-style wrought iron candlesticks embedded between the beams, their wax dripping down the iron frame in milky-white stalactite-like shapes.
What's going on? Is this some kind of ghost?
He sat up abruptly.
A violent wave of dizziness immediately washed over him, his vision blurred, and his stomach churned. He instinctively grabbed the edge of the bed beneath him—it was rough linen fabric, with a thick, overly soft down comforter underneath.
As his vision gradually cleared, Chen Mo was stunned.
This was a room completely beyond his comprehension.
On the stone walls hung brocades embroidered with his familiar emblem—a silver wolf's head gazing ahead against a deep indigo background. Heavy oak furniture exuded a faint woody scent. A carved desk stood against the wall, upon which lay an open parchment and a quill pen. Deep red velvet curtains hung by the window, a sliver of cool white light seeping through the gaps.
Where the hell is this?
Chen Mo pinched his thigh hard.
pain.
That fucking hurts.
It's not a dream.
He staggered to his feet, his bare feet sinking into the cold stone floor, and shivered. Everything in the room seemed to confirm an absurd possibility—but he refused to believe it.
He rushed to the window and ripped open the curtains.
Then, he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
There is a city outside the window.
A city built on a giant natural arch.
Below, a steep cliff rises, its rock face etched with deep grooves by centuries of sea winds. At the foot of the cliff lies a bustling harbor, where a dozen merchant ships with various sails are moored, the docks teeming with people and goods piled high. Further on, the grey-blue sea stretches to the horizon, the sea breeze carrying a salty, briny scent.
Opposite, a magnificent fortress stood tall, its spires piercing the leaden sky. Flags fluttered on the fortress walls, their designs identical to those on the brocade in the room—a silver wolf's head.
On the other side of the fortress, a uniquely shaped windmill stands quietly, its blades turning slowly in the sea breeze. An elegant stone arch bridge connects it to the fortress, spanning a dazzling valley.
Chen Mo pointed out this place.
How could he not recognize him? He had seen this scene countless times—on the game loading screen, in player screenshots, and in video guides on Bilibili.
Dugu City.
The capital of Skyrim, the center of power for the Imperial Legion in the north, a port city built on the "Great Arch".
He stood frozen by the window, oblivious to the sea breeze that stung his face like a knife.
"Impossible..." he muttered to himself, "This is absolutely impossible..."
He whirled around and frantically searched the room. On the parchment on the desk was unfamiliar handwriting; he recognized every letter, but the combination was like gibberish—it wasn't English, nor Chinese, but strangely, he could decipher every single word: "...purchasing list...blinking rat...Blue Palace..."
There was a bunch of keys in the drawer, made of brass, heavy, and with an antique design.
There is a line of small characters engraved on the end of the key.
"Chen Mo's Home"
The wardrobe door was pulled open—inside hung several clothes he had never seen before: a coarse cloth shirt, a wool coat, leather wristbands, and a heavy dark blue cloak.
A steel sword stood in the corner, its blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.
Chen Mo slowly walked over and reached out to grasp the sword hilt.
The sword was heavier than he had expected, and the leather covering on the hilt was worn smooth, clearly the result of frequent handling. He carefully drew the sword, and his own face was faintly reflected on the blade—
It was his own face.
Yes, it was still that face, slightly puffy from staying up all night, with red marks from squeezing pimples at the corners of his eyes from last night. But those eyes were now filled with a fear and bewilderment Chen Mo had never felt in his twenty-six years of life.
Ding-dong.
The sword slipped from his hand and struck the stone slab with a piercing sound.
Chen Mo staggered back a few steps and plopped back onto the bed.
"A different life..." He stared at his hands, his voice trembling, "Real estate MOD... Dugu City..."
I really time-traveled.
It wasn't a dream, a hallucination, or some idiot friend's prank reality show. The city outside the window, the port, the fortress—those buildings he'd never seen before, yet were so incredibly familiar—
This is the horizon.
This is the world of The Elder Scrolls V.
This is the homeland of the Nords, the battlefield of the Stormcloaks and the Imperial Legions, the place where dragons awaken, and the birthplace of the Dragonborn.
And he, Chen Mo, an ordinary twenty-six-year-old office worker, had just transmigrated here.
Fuck!