Chapter 2: Chapter 1
Ethan Lambert found himself lying flat on his back in an unknown location without any sound. The surroundings were black and white, yet somehow possessing all shades. It was simultaneously the most beautiful and dullest thing Ethan had ever seen. So intimately familiar and yet strangely otherworldly. These sensations slammed into his brain simultaneously, making him let out a low groan, echoing into the nothingness.
Leaning back onto his back, he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. This is all just too much for him to deal with. Time ticked by until Ethan eventually got bored and could no longer ignore the issue.
Slowly opening his eyes, Ethan tried to make sense of where he was before slamming them shut again.
Too much. The young Lamberts brain could not handle the overwhelming information carved straight into his brain. Regardless, he knew one thing.
There was no pain.
For the first time in 13 years, Ethan Lambert was at peace. For the first time, he had no worries.
For the first time, he was alone.
"Are you going to just sit there?" An unknown voice called out to him.
Snapping his head from side to side, Ethan instinctively tried to locate where the stranger's voice sounded. He seemed to have forgotten what happened earlier in his confusion as he opened his eyes again. Strangely, he was able to see in the every-nothing.
There, standing in front of him, was a cloaked figure. Everything was different, so long as Ethan focused on the individual he could see. And all he could do was stare. Any glances away resulted in the same overload as before.
Try as he might gather his voice, no sound escaped his lips.
Seemingly understanding his concerns, the being waved its hand, and the surroundings changed. Now, the two were residing in what looked like an office space with papers stacked high around the desk.
Whatever it was had seated itself and turned to Ethan. Opening its palm to the chair opposite it, the creature asked, "Will you take a seat, please?"
Seeing no reason not to, the young man slowly sat down. Luckily, the chair was right next to him. Having spent so long in a hospital bed, he had atrophied the muscles in his legs that he never even considered walking again.
For a time, the two just stared at each other in silence.
"I guess I should explain as to what is happening. You have been selected to take part in an experiment." The being turned to its right and pulled a thin file from a drawer. "Now, I know that you will have some questions, but I ask you to please bear with me until I have finished."
Opening the strangely ordinary folder, the being flicked through a few pages before apparently finding what it was searching for. "You have been selected to take part in a testing ground for a new Omniversal Entertainment System. These things happen now and then as the concepts of reincarnation, isekai, and whatnot have become more popular. Before I go on to the specifics, you should know this will be 100% voluntary. Should you not desire to continue on, you will not be forced against your will." Here, the clocked hood pulled itself up to look back at him. "Young man, you will have the choice of going through with this experience or going directly to Heaven pertaining to your faith. Are there any questions so far?"
Not really knowing anything aside from the fact that he apparently would not be forced into doing anything against his will, Ethan saw no reason to question at that moment. Instead, he decided to ask after it had at least explained exactly what he would be doing.
Seeing that he had no questions, the void within the hood nodded and looked back down to the file. "Good. Still, as the pain within your body went to exceedingly high levels, you were incapable of actually studying for many of your dreams."
Ethan had no idea how the thing could possibly know what his dreams were. He told no one about random thoughts of the various possibilities he imagined his life could have gone.
"What will be given to you is a means to succeed in your new life. Depending on the world you will go to will depend on how this System will show itself. In a purely technological society, these options may take the form of a superior AI that will support your endeavors. It could be unique magic or even a dungeon." The being took its time going through a few more possible scenarios to give the young man more details on what he would be working with. "Well, that all depends on your luck, of course."
Shuffling towards the back of the folder, it turned to him again. "Now, would you like to try?"
Ethan remained silent throughout the entire ordeal. He was trying to understand how he had gotten into this position and whether he wanted to go through with it. Seeing his confusion, the creature reaffirmed that the entire process was random, that it was not he that they were after.
"Well, to tell you the truth, you were not meant to die so soon." Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "Child, you would have remained in your state for another 7 years, and the pain would have only increased further. Our organization saw this as a mercy to you and those who hold you dear. And to answer your unspoken question, yes, we have assisted your sister, Darla, as compensation. So, I pulled a few strings here and there to bring her back from the abyss and devoted herself to medicine after seeing everything that happened to you."
A weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The entire time, he was only apprehensive about how his sister would spiral further into despair without him. Now, with that answered, he felt true peace of mind.
"What will happen if I say yes?"
Writing something down, the stranger answered without looking up from his paperwork. "A two-wheel will be spun. You will see many different worlds on it, some you might know from fiction and others that you definitely will not as they have yet to be made. Whatever has been chosen will be where you will reside in your next life. Another will determine what advantage will be yours."
As the creature said this, two pieces of text appeared in his vision. On his left was YES, and on his right was NO. Taking his gaze away from the options, he saw that a wheel appeared on either side of the desk.
Thinking to himself for a minute, he hesitates. "Would it be possible to have my advantage be from a familiar source? Not that I am ungrateful, but it would help to at least know how to use what I am given."
The figure drummed its fingers for a moment and then nodded. The wheel on Ethan's right shimmered at once, shrunk by a tenth, and then increased its size to match its brother.
Now more confident, Ethan chose YES. There was no going back as both wheels started spinning rapidly.
The young Lambert saw so many familiar places as the second continuously spun until it finally stopped, DC Universe Animated *Special*. However, it didn't stop there as the second continued to spin.
The hooded creature seemed stunned. Ethan knew he would never know, but the figure slowly turned back to him with a chuckle. "Well, you get to go to the better aspects of that multiverse. That 'Special' means that certain laws, concepts, and characters from the Comics, Movies, TV shows, and other multiverses are added. This will certainly be an interesting adventure."
Ethan didn't know why that last bit gave him a sudden cold chill.
The still-spinning wheel was brought closer to the two."You will experience all that life has in store for you, child. All the glory. All the horror. Everything that defines a person."
With that, the wheel slowed to a crawl until it stopped on Archive Magic. "To thrive in my friend's creation, you must use every tool available."
Standing up from its desk, the figure glided past and to a door behind him. Then, with a motion of its hand, it beckoned for Ethan to follow it. The two strode together through the hallway of endless wooden doors- or at least that is what he thought they were, had all of it not been one big blur.
They finally reached their destination as the thing stopped. "Through here, you will find your new life. You will be able to live as you never had."
The door directly next to the young man opened itself. From inside, he could see only a blinding white light.
Recognizing what he had to do, Ethan gave the being a determined nod. Turning, with a beep breath, he entered a brand new life.
From his back, he could hear the figure. "May you enjoy your new lot in life, true believer. Excelsior!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone