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I felt my heart pounding as I stepped onto the path that followed the river’s course. I'd heard stories of the dangers that lurked in these depths, and I was taking a huge risk even setting foot on the path. I cursed my lack of swimming prowess – if only I'd taken my lessons more seriously, I'd have more confidence in the river's depths. As I trudged along, I hoped that the men who had promised to come to my aid were well equipped – I knew I'd be in big trouble if they were not.
"Ring........!"
My heart raced as the communication comma suddenly rang. I thought, not now, please not now. I could feel the trepidation rising in my chest as I cautiously answered the call.
"Yes, J10 here," I spoke softly, a sense of dread washing over me.
"Huff..huff.. its bad, enemy...huff...got our position and they have snipers with them, run... get to meeting point ..huff..huff."
My stomach dropped, a pit of fear welling up inside me. I knew it was true - I had felt it before - but now it was confirmed. Something bad was going to happen and I was the one responsible. Suddenly, a loud bang and the sound of gunfire echoed in my ear.
"C3 ...C3 ....C3" ... followed by a click.
The line had gone dead. Dread filled my body as I realized I had screwed up. Big time.
I can feel the sweat dripping down my face as I crouch on the ground, bullets whizzing past me in a flurry of sound and fury. Adrenaline surges through me as I hear the heavy thud of rifles and the distant screams of men in battle. Taking a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut and reach for the detonator in my pocket, my fingers trembling with fear.
"Go to hell, you fuckers," I whisper as I press down on the trigger. There's a loud bang, followed by an earth-shattering explosion that sends me flying through the air. I'm surrounded by a wall of heat and dust, and for a few seconds my world is engulfed in chaos.
When the smoke clears, I open my eyes to find myself lying in a pile of rubble, surrounded by the remains of what used to be my enemies. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the cool breeze blowing against my skin, and I'm overcome with relief.
I've escaped death this time, but I know that I'll soon be back in the same situation, surrounded by the same dangers. This moment of relief is only temporary, and I must remain vigilant if I want to survive.
My heart was pounding as I raced across the riverbank, desperately searching for a way to escape. I could hear the enemy hot on my heels and I knew I didn't have much time. Taking a deep breath, I leapt into the river, feeling the force of the water crashing around me as I sunk down to the bottom.
The water was cold and dark, and I could feel the life draining out of me as I fought to keep my head above the surface. I knew I had to find something to hold onto or I'd be carried away and never be found. So I frantically searched the riverbed, my hands grasping at anything they could find. Suddenly, I felt something solid, and I latched on to it with all my strength.
I had tied myself to a large rock that was heavy enough to keep me from floating downstream but light enough to be carried with the flow. I knew it was a longshot, but I had sent out a distress signal before I jumped in, so I clung to the hope that my location would be discovered before the enemy found me. As I drifted off into unconsciousness, my final thoughts were of regret, but also of peace, knowing that soon I would find solace in death.
.......
Unknown amount of time later,
I felt disoriented, and almost dreamlike, as I drifted in the inky blackness. I had been certain I had died, yet here I was, still breathing. My head throbbed painfully, reminding me how real this was.
I felt completely powerless; unable to move, see, or even feel my own body. In the depths of my confusion, I wondered how I could even be feeling a headache. I had, after all, just drowned myself to death, an embarrassing demise that I'd soon have to confront.
I don't know where I am, but I'm pretty sure I'm not in Kansas anymore! This place is making me go a bit bonkers, talking to myself like I'm some sort of crazy person. But I think I'm just tired, so I'm going to do what any sane person would do in a situation like this - sleep! As I drift off, my last thought is 'Where am I, and what kind of exciting adventures await me when I wake up? Zzzz...zzzz...zzz...'
////// JAK POV END \\\\\
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/////// Unknown Entity POV \\\\\\
She was an ancient being, born in an age long forgotten by most. In the silence of the void, she had witnessed the birth of countless universes and the emergence of life within them. For millions of years, she had watched in awe, learning all she could from these curious forms of existence. The entity had attained a great deal of knowledge and wisdom, but with it came a certain boredom. She had seen it all before, and the same cycle of birth and death, of moments of joy and pain, had become ingrained in her mind. It was then that she decided to break away from the path of the dignified sage and become something less dignified: an otaku.
She found solace in the culture of a certain world, and filled her days with entertainment and frivolity. But soon, even this was not enough and the entity grew bored. And so, in a moment of impulse, she spun a huge wheel of fortune, plucked from the cultures of the multiverses. At first, she was excited by the prospect of entertaining an unfortunate soul, and when the wheel stopped, she eagerly awaited to see who would be chosen. Little did she know that this simple act would be the start of a great journey, one that would forever shape her life.
The ancient being was delighted when the wheel stopped on her. She had never been so entertained in all of her long existence. She began to visit the person's universe regularly, watching as they struggled to make a life for themselves in a hostile world. The being found great joy in watching the person fall in love, get married, and have children. When the universe ended and the person died, she was saddened but not surprised. The being had learned that life is full of pain and sorrow, but also beauty and hope. And so she continued to visit other universes, finding new ways to give happiness and laughter to those who needed it most.
She had been wandering through the infinite void when she stumbled upon a soul that seemed on the brink of oblivion. She became intrigued by this mysterious creature, and, in a sudden whim, decided to save it and take it to the realm she had created in one of her other whims. As the soul descended into her realm, she watched entranced as a myriad of vibrant colors, sounds, and sensations enveloped it. Every detail of the realm seemed to be crafted with exquisite care, as if it had been sculpted with the finest brush strokes. She could feel the soul invigorated, its essence growing in strength and intensity until it seemed to be a part of the realm itself, an integral part of its beauty and allure.
Although she had saved the soul, she knew that it would never be the same again. It had been exposed to something greater than it could ever imagine, and now it was forever changed. She smiled as she watched the soul disappear into the realm, knowing that it would never be alone again.
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********* ..... ..... ////// JAK POV \\\\\ I stirred from my deep slumber, groggily trying to place myself in my surroundings. Strange noises had interrupted my peaceful sleep, and now I found myself in a dark and unfamiliar place. "Where am I?" I mumbled, my voice echoing through the empty space. "It doesn't look like hell or heaven. And why can't I see myself?" As I tried to clear my thoughts, a pounding headache reminded me of how I had died – drowning in the river. Panic threatened to engulf me, but I pushed it aside, determined to find a way out of this eerie silence. "Hello?" I called out tentatively, hoping for a response. "Can someone tell me how to get out of here?" Suddenly, a voice rang out from the darkness, causing me to jump in surprise. "Hey, you can still joke in this kind of situation." Relieved to hear someone else's voice, I replied, "Whoever you are, please show yourself. I can't see a thing, and it's freaking me out." "Of course, kiddo," the voice said, a
********* ..... ..... As I delved deeper into my training with the Goddess, my thirst for knowledge grew stronger. I had learned about the basics of cultivation and now, I was ready to dive into the tiers. These were the levels of power that beings in this world were divided into, based on their physical and soul strength. The first tier was for the normal mortals, whose lifespan was limited to a mere hundred years. Within this tier, there were three stages - Low, Mid, and High. The Low-stage was for those who lived an ordinary life, while the Mid-stage was for martial artists, athletes, and elites of society. As for the High-stage, it was for the elite of the elites, those martial artists who had mastered their techniques to the highest point. Their punches could stir up the air, create gusts of wind, or even shatter boulders into dust. Moving on to the second tier, these were for the mid-mortals who had a lifespan of up to 200 years. Similar to the first tier, it was divided int
********* ..... ..... " " Conversion or Speech, ' ' Thoughts, [ ] System Talking. ..... ..... The air in the hospital's I.C.U. ward was heavy with anticipation and worry as a well-built man in his thirties paced back and forth in the hallway, his eyes filled with anxiety. His wife was inside, undergoing a delicate procedure to bring their child into the world. As he waited, he couldn't help but imagine the worst-case scenario, his mind racing with every possible complication. But after what seemed like an eternity, the lights in the I.C.U. ward dimmed, signaling that the procedure was over. Heart racing, he sprinted to the door of the I.C.U. ward, eager to see his wife and child. As he entered the room, his eyes fell upon his wife, her face contorted with exhaustion, but the sound of a newborn's cries filled the room. The relief he felt was palpable as he approached the doctor who had just finished checking on his wife and child. "Doctor, how are they? Is everything okay?" h
********* ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ..... ..... It's been two excruciatingly boring weeks of the same routine, day in and day out. Feeding, sleeping, and shitting like a mindless robot. I yearn for something more, something exciting to shake up the monotony of my existence. And then, my System grants my wish. As I delve deeper into the information it provides, I realize just how messed up this world truly is. It may look like a modern world at first glance, but there's a hidden layer to it that's just waiting to be uncovered. A layer of martial artists, magicians, cultivators, and all sorts of fantastical beings that have emerged over the past few decades. To cope with these sudden changes, the governments of different countries have banded together to form the World Council. It's been a few years since its inception, and they've been working tirelessly to gather information about the disturbances happening all around us. What they've un
********** ...... ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ..... ..... A month later, I am sitting on a chair beside the table, and in front of me, on the table, lies the thing I got from Tier 1 gift pack. It was a surprise for me when I saw what was inside the gift, and thank the goddess, I love it. Do you want to know what it is? It's a piece of tech that can transform into any form, like a computer, mobile, smartwatch, camera, and even smart glasses, etc. I named it 'Megatron'. It's high-level technology, and in the future, I can even make it soul-bound to me once I am strong enough, as it runs on my energy. "Hmmm... I need a lot of resources in the initial tier to cultivate, and I also need a legal way so my parents can live a carefree life until they get old," Nowadays, I was thinking of setting up a business where I can sell pills, potions, weapons, etc., but first, I need a large fund to buy a decent building, and it can be settled if I use
********** ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] System talking. ...... ...... The cultivation technique that I am practicing is very unique. It works on both the body and the soul, creating a Yin-Yang equilibrium. When cultivating, not only does the body's cultivation increase, but also the soul's, which contributes to the spirit and condenses it into the core in the navel area of the body. In the later stages, the body will develop a small world within the core for physical representation, and in the same way, the soul realm will develop in the consciousness space. Both realms are connected, with one working for the physical and the other for the soul state. This means that when the physical world develops, it can form a separate living world where you can bring anyone you want by giving them permission as energy or a unique symbol. However, you can only bring soul-related creatures or beings to the soul realm once it stabilizes. At a certain level of the tier,
******** ..... ..... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] Aashi talking. ..... ..... ////// ( Erick Pov ) \\\\\ "A few days ago, I won the lottery!" I exclaimed as my parents entered the room. I had asked Aashi to buy twenty lottery tickets, with only two having rewards and the rest being blanks. It was enough for us to buy a property in a mid-class society. "Son, where did you get these from, and where did you get the money to buy them?" my father asked, trying to look angry. However, I could tell he was a bad actor. I had already thought of an excuse. "Dad, there were twenty of these in a bundle, and I found them in a nearby park when I went to play yesterday. Today, I saw the news and matched the lottery numbers. Luckily, two of them matched, and we got two jackpots. These two should be enough for us to live on for ten years," I said, giving a very convincing story. Seeing their faces, I knew they had bought it. "Dear, what should we do? These lotteries a
********** ...... ...... " " Conversion or speech, ' ' thoughts, [ ] Aashi talking. ...... ...... ////// (Erick Pov) \\\\\\ "Ah, what a beautiful day it is," I thought as I finished my morning routine and training. I sat on my balcony enjoying the scenery around me, taking in the natural charm of the pristine state that nature had returned to. After a while, I got up and got ready for a jog around the community, hoping to familiarize myself with the people in the neighborhood. As I stepped out of the house, someone crashed into me, causing me to stumble and fall. I reached out to grab the person responsible, but I ended up slipping on something and falling beneath them. When I opened my eyes, all I saw was darkness. I tried to clear whatever was blocking my vision with my hands, and as I touched it, I felt a soft and springy sensation. I squeezed it a few times, feeling great in my hands, but then I heard a moan from above me, which made me freeze. I quickl