2025-04-17 19:48:28Chapter 1 – The Second Dawn
“Is this it?” The dimly lit chamber showed only the soft light from his terminal screen as his sole source of illumination. Elias held his chest with all his strength as if Death itself had wrapped its icy hands around his heart. Elias did not share the common fear of dying alone with others. This particular way of dying seemed fitting to him. Peaceful. Predictable. He welcomed it. His existence had reached its complete state. Through his addiction to games and anime streaming and his excessive takeout orders he had built a world where internet access satisfied all his needs. The internet connection provided him with eternal happiness as long as he managed to stay connected. His body issued a formal complaint after dedicating thirty-five years to complete inactivity and eating only processed foods. The combination of deep-fried food consumption and complete exercise avoidance proved to be fatal for achieving eternal life. “Kuukk—!” His sight crumpled inward toward the center like a piece of paper that was folding. The light disappeared completely as thick black emptiness covered everything. --- But then... Something was wrong. He was still there. Still conscious. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t feel anything. He had no idea which direction pointed upward. An endless abyss surrounded him because he floated between the ground and sky with no solid foundation beneath him or ceiling above him. His mind continued to function within the endless darkness of that void. Is this the afterlife? He wasn’t religious. Never had been. He considered religious beliefs to be complete nonsense. Someone above seemed to have different plans according to the situation. “Hello, Elias.” The voice rippled through space without weight or direction while remaining everywhere at once. “Who the hell are you? Where am I?” “First—my deepest apologies. Due to a miscalculation on my part, you departed from your world far too early. You weren’t meant to die when you did.” Elias immediately pegged the voice for what it was. “You’re some kind of god, aren’t you?” “Yes. I am a god. And… aren’t you angry?” But Elias didn’t flare up. He didn’t rage or bargain. His calm detachment seemed to disturb the divine presence more than fury would have. “You’re not even going to ask me to bring you back?” the god said. “I assume if you could bring me back, you’d have already done it. You wouldn’t be wasting time chatting with my disembodied soul. You fucked up, and now you’re trying to patch things up. I get it.” The god went silent. Elias didn’t believe in clinging to what couldn't be changed. What was the point of throwing a tantrum over the rules of existence? He wasn’t a whiny cunt begging for miracles. “You’re not even curious why I can’t just undo your death? That’s it? You’re seriously okay with this?” “If I still had a body, I’d probably shrug.” “I was expecting you to scream, to cry, to curse me. Instead, I get a philosophical couch potato.” Elias grinned mentally. “I’m just a chill guy.” He thought he heard the god exhale in exasperation—but that might’ve been his imagination. “I was so ready to be the distant, mysterious god who remains stoic while you screamed at me like a little cunt. But fine. Whatever. I’m bound by rules to give you something in return.” “Cool. Just erase me. Vaporize my soul. I don’t care if I miss the next season of anime.” “Ahem. Since I can’t reinstate your life in your original world, I’m going to do what most mortal cunts fantasize about—I’m giving you a second life. In another world.” If the god had eyes, he’d probably be watching Elias’s expression with bated breath. Expecting awe. Gratitude. Instead— “Eh.” “What do you mean eh?! Aren’t you one of those fantasy-watching, isekai-loving, shut-in cunts who dream about this stuff?!” Elias was familiar with the trope. He’d consumed enough fantasy shows and novels to fill a library. But being a passive spectator was vastly different from being thrown into the spotlight. Sure, he liked watching chosen heroes cut through dragons and demon lords—but the idea of being that hero? Fuck that. He wasn’t built for that shit. He was satisfied with his old world. No sword fights. No leveling up. No monster cunts trying to bite his face off. If he was hungry, he could order something greasy. If he was bored, he could launch a game. If he was tired, he’d sleep until noon. Why the fuck would he give that up for some medieval hellscape? “I don’t want to start over,” Elias said. “Just erase me.” But the god wasn't having it. “Sorry. Not possible. Your soul has to continue. New body, new world. That’s the deal. No exceptions. No reboots.” “Well then,” Elias replied, “fuck it. Send me in.” The god sounded almost offended. “That’s it?! You’re not going to resist even a little?!” “Nope. Get it over with.” The divine presence had had enough. With an ethereal push, the spell was cast, and Elias’s soul spiraled toward rebirth. A sudden warmth wrapped around him like thick syrup. He was sinking. Or maybe rising. It was impossible to tell. Before fading out completely, Elias heard the voice one last time: “P.S. I gave you gifts that match your lifestyle. You’ll figure them out soon. And since you’re so attached to comfort, I’ve made you the youngest heir of the wealthiest family on the continent. Enjoy your life of luxury, you indifferent little cunt.” --- “#)@$!(#” “%$@&*!@!” There were voices. Strange ones. Muffled, full of emotion. Then—movement. Wetness. Pressure. Elias was being dragged out of something warm and slimy. Then—light. Bright. Blinding. Fucking intense. What the fuck is this? Where am I? What are they even saying?! > [They’re congratulating you on your birth.] WHAT?! Who the fuck are you?! > [I am Nexus-1. Your personal AI assistant.] Oh, fuck me. I’ve got a snarky AI cunt stuck in my head.
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