As Daniel soared through the cosmic tunnel, profound transformations unfolded within his body.
While his autonomy remained unchanged, the very composition of his cells underwent a profound metamorphosis, evolving into a more intricate and sophisticated structure.
This newfound complexity bestowed upon them enhanced efficiency in coordination and energy transfer. Notably, even his bone marrow embarked on a journey of enhancement, generating blood of increased strength and potency.
From his skin to his bones, muscles, and organs, mind, and nervous system, everything was being broken down at the cellular level and rebuilt.
The torment one would feel during this process if conscious could only be imagined.
As the energy seeped into every cell, the wormhole itself also influenced his developing body. What kind of blessing might this be, one could only wonder?
Some immeasurable amount of time later, his body was rebuilt in every aspect. His slim build was now fuller, resembling the ideal mesomorph body type.
His good looks became even more captivating, exuding a more heroic aura, although still retaining a youthful babyface due to his age.
His black-colored hair now appeared as if it absorbed light. His eyelashes grew a bit, destined to make many future women jealous at just a glance.
Moreover, his height experienced a noticeable increase. At the age of sixteen, this absolute force of nature stood at an impressive six feet tall.
*Rumble*
Time flew by as his body completed its transformation. The wormhole trembled intensely as he approached its exit.
...
In an undisclosed location, a resounding rumble reverberated across an expansive desert. It wasn't the air, nor any expression of gravity; rather, Space itself emitted a profound grumble, reminiscent of a substantial stone rolling along the ground. The atmosphere coalesced into a majestic vortex, culminating in an explosive eruption!
*BOOM*
Daniel emerged from the wormhole with astonishing speed, disrupting the air, which offered minimal resistance. It was as if he had been casually discarded, akin to unwanted refuse from the hands of a skilled master smith.
*Crash*
*Thump*
Daniel's body rebounded off the white sand several times, subsequently rolling across tens of meters. The sand efficiently absorbed the majority of his momentum, and, naturally, the ragdoll physics were in full swing, resulting in his body flopping around quite a bit.
The vortex of the wormhole vanished as swiftly as it materialized, allowing the air to regain its composure as silence promptly descended.
...
*Groan*
The faint sound of Daniel's slightly baritone voice resonated.
Daniel mustered just enough strength to crack open his eyes, greeted by the sight of a brilliant blue sky adorned with two suns, not a single cloud in sight.
'Hold on... When did the sky gain a second sun‽ Am I in a dream‽' Daniel tried to rise, but the moment his body responded, a surge of pain shot through his senses.
With a pained expression, Daniel exclaimed, "'Ouch! That freaking hurt!.. So I'm not dreaming!" He winced as he momentarily reclined. However, curiosity quickly overcame him, prompting Daniel to gingerly move his head for a glimpse of his struggling body.
"Ayo... I might be trippin' or something. But is my foot supposed to be in that direction?" Panic crept into his chest, causing his breathing to turn ragged, his face etched with incredulity.
A moment of silence ensued after Daniel muttered, "'Wait wait wait... I don't remember being black & blue either.'"
Then, a loud, confused scream erupted from Daniel, "Ahhhh‽‽" His panic was visible, accentuated by the numerous bruises covering his body and a broken ankle. To add to the discomfort, sand generously clung to his ass crack, leaving it dry and itchy. One might humorously suggest he was attempting to "steal the beach."
In agony, Daniel found himself with several fractured ribs, his entire body aching down to each cell. Lying there in silence, not even a hint of movement, he contemplated his dire state. "I should be dead," Daniel pondered, his head sinking back into the soft sand as he stared into the vast sky above.
"My body... I felt it get torn apart," Daniel recalled, shivering at the memory.
"Why am I still alive... Much less in a... desert?" It took him a moment to recognize his environment.
Daniel winced as he shifted his head from side to side, surveying his surroundings with evident discomfort, his neck sore from all the tumbling.
White sand stretched in every direction Daniel looked. To his right lay an oasis with pure blue water, surrounded by lush grass and several palm trees. Small animals and reptiles roamed freely, while insects danced above the water's surface. It was a perfectly balanced ecosystem.
"The northwest region of Oregon never had a desert... Did I time travel? No...? As far as geologists and archaeologists know, it was laden with pine forests and lakes... A huge contrast to this desert," Daniel pondered to himself.
"Maybe I crossed dimensions? But that would prove the multiverse theory!.. No... I have to be wrong... All I know for sure is that our solar system only had one Sun." Daniel couldn't imagine a reality where he was no longer on Earth.
A few hours of internal dialogue later, Daniel realized something. "My body... It's mostly healed???" Daniel felt incredulous.
Question marks were written all over his face as he could sit up with mild discomfort, a huge, huge contrast to the flaring pain from before.
Daniel's foot was still bent at an angle so he gathered some dead grass and some relatively straight twigs to make a makeshift splint.
'I could hop around, but then I'd trigger my PTSD caused by those fucking bunny hoppers in cod... Scum of the Earth... Those scum bags.' Daniel grumbled, recalling all the times he died to bunny-hopping bastards.
Daniel chuckled to himself as he crawled around gathering twigs and splintered wood. "God, if someone sees me like this, I'ma lose my shit."