Authors note:

This isn't your typical Isekai.

They aren't special, they don't have super smarts or powers, and they sure as heck didn't want to end up in the world they did. They had a pretty decent life before being whisked away to another world. Maybe not perfect, but it wasn't bad by any means.

The hero isn't overpowered in any way, they aren't even a hero, truth be told. More like a non player character if there was a word to describe how insignificant they are.

But when they end up waking up in Paradigm City, they know what they must do. Survive! This is a world headed for a certain end, and if something isn't done they are going down with it. And more than anything, they just want to get back home.

So now our little adventure begins.

She awoke with a start. The noise and commotion of nearby vehicles, police and construction weren't what she had expected. The early morning sounds of an industrial city street level are startling wake up calls. After a second or two of terror and blurry eyes, she began to notice everything around her, but none of it was familiar. Dingy, musty overcoat over dirty jeans and ripped t shirt, socks that felt uncomfortably sweat and filth caked, beat up boots with torn up gloves. Typically curly chestnut hair is matted and knotted with dirt.

'What the hell?' The woman examines her body, and other than appearing to be in homeless attire and myriad levels of dirt she is fine. She still hasn't entirely registered everything, however, and only then notices that she is on a broken mattress in a back alley, two other men of similar homelessness are nearby. Checking her pockets, the young woman cannot find a device she can't live without, her smartphone. But looking around there is no sign she had it with her when she ended up in the alley. Or any other possessions she would be familiar with.

She gets up and starts walking away with no real destination in mind. Barely around the corner she hears the men fighting for the mattress she had left behind. She didn't care, and had no intention of sleeping in an alley again if she could help it. Passing a window, she catches a glimpse of a face unfamiliar, both younger and more haggard than she remembers. Eyes no longer blue, but black, both in the circles surrounding them and the iris.

'Where am I, what happened to me?' The face staring back in the shop glass looked to be about eighteen, a decade younger than the woman remembered being. Just then an old gentleman with a yamaka walked out of a bar carrying a newspaper. 'Welp, best chance I got right now.'

"Excuse me sir, if you are done with that paper could I trouble you for it?" She hoped her appearance wouldn't cause him ignore her. 'If I can get a recent paper maybe I can find out what has happened.'

The older gent looked at her from behind his orange tinted glasses, but unlike every other person on the street to pass her by, this man had no disdain apparent in his features. Something about the man was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on why that was. "Of course, if you need it..." she reached out for it and he pulled the paper away, "if you'll tell me your name."

"My... name? Why would you want that?" Confusion was evident, as was the panic in her voice.

"Call it professional curiosity."

"Ray."

"You have a last name too, young lady?"

"... Law." Hesitant to speak her name, she still gave it. Well, a truncated version at any rate.

He handed her the paper, "Well Ms Law, I suggest you make yourself scarce. This isn't a place for young ladies to be hanging around."

"Yeah, thanks." With that Ray made a quick escape from the rundown neighborhood, newspaper in hand. About three or so blocks away a long black vehicle passed her by, and unlike the others in the area, this one looked well cared for.

'Guess drug dealers are still a thing...' it was only then Ray noticed that all the vehicles on the road, be it car or semi truck, looked antiquated. Like something her grandparents might have driven in their youth, nothing like the smart cars and SUV's that Ray was used to seeing. 'Forget where, when am I?'

A few more blocks away from the bar and the scenery looked a tad less dingy. It was only at that point that Ray looked up. 'What the hell? No, no nonononono. It can't be... I can't be here, can I? It's not possible.'

Towering up and in the not too far off distance was a crystalline dome, with buildings poking out at various points. 'No... but that's... could it really be?' Ray's thoughts were a jumble of nonsense as a feeling of dread washed over her. It couldn't possibly be... She looked at the newspaper in her hand, and sure enough there was the paper name she expected to find. In large, stylized lettering the words "Paradigm Press" could clearly be read. The date read Feb. 10th, 40.

"Oh no. I really am in the world of Big O!" Shock took strength from her legs, knees buckled, she hit the ground and blacked out, knowing nothing else.