Arthur continued to traverse through the wormhole in the void, where the concepts of time, space, and reality were warped to an extreme degree.
Within his soul, the gems provided some protection against the chaotic power of the cosmos, but their light was gradually fading.
It was only a matter of time before they could no longer shield Arthur.
Suddenly, the consciousness of a supreme being sensed Arthur's presence.
"Hmmm, what do we have here?"
"A soul... Ah, this soul signature is not one of my creations. It appears to be an offspring of that being's creation?"
"Allow me to assist you."
A comforting power enveloped Arthur and whisked him away.
"However, your soul will need refinement to exist in my reality. Many of your original memories will be lost, and the remaining ones will be sealed," the being explained.
>"With that said, welcome to Earth."
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-- Twenty-Two Years Later----Planet Earth-- North America -- Canada-- Western Canada -- City of Vancouver ---+++
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*Shring!* *Shring!* *Shring!*<
The irritating sound of the alarm clock jolted me awake. Annoyed, I swiped my hand to knock the alarm away.
Pulling the blanket closer to my shoulders, I resisted leaving the warmth of my bed.
*Ring!**Ring!**Ring!*
As I attempted to doze off again, the persistent alarm forced me to open my eyes and reluctantly get out of bed.
"Ugh, another headache," I grumbled upon waking up. Lately, I had been experiencing frequent headaches that felt more like migraines.
"And that dream again!"
I recalled the recurring dream as I made my way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to fully awaken myself.
The dream was strange. It featured a person who bore a striking resemblance to me, engaging in relentless battles against immensely powerful beings capable of obliterating the Earth with a single glance.
"Maybe it's because I've been reading too many cultivation novels lately."<
"Yes, that must be it," I concluded to myself.<
After all, I had immersed myself in such novels, comics, and anime, filling my mind with fantasies of two-dimensional waifus, transmigration, and the Multiversal theory, which I oddly believed had some plausibility.
In truth, my life revolved around these fictional realms. Apart from my part-time job and studying computer engineering at the university, I had little else going on.
"But that's about to change today," I declared, gazing at my reflection in the mirror.
I had made the decision to reduce my consumption of web novels, comics, and anime, and utilize my time more productively.
My current part-time job was no longer sufficient, especially after my landlord increased the rent...again.
My plan now was to focus on self-improvement. I had conducted research and discovered several productive activities that piqued my interest.
First, I intended to get in shape through calisthenics. I also wanted to learn programming and become a software engineer. Additionally, martial arts had captured my attention, undoubtedly inspired by my love for cultivation novels.
Of course, all these endeavors required money.
"It always comes down to that, doesn't it?" I pondered.
However, I had a plan. I decided to participate in this year's Webnovel Spirity Awards, which would set me on the path to becoming an author. Hopefully, I would secure a spot among the gold prize winners and claim the $10,000 prize money.
A smile tugged at my lips at the thought."Ugh! So much to do and so little time. And I still have to attend university."
Lost in thought, I made my way to the bathroom and took a cold shower—a departure from my usual routine. I was testing out some self-development tips I had come across.
A little while later, feeling refreshed, I was ready to head out. I opened the door to my room, locked it, and walked toward the living room.
"Hey, Arthur. Up so early, huh?" Mark, a young man with curly brown hair and matching eyes, greeted me as he entered the living room from another direction.
"Good morning, Mark. How are you?" I replied."
"Something's off. You're unusually polite today. Anyway, I'm fine. But why are you up so early?" Mark asked curiously.
"Well, I have some things to take care of. I'll be out until evening," I explained, heading toward the door.
I shared a two-bedroom apartment with Mark and his brother, who lived there but never contributed to the rent. Speaking of whom...
"Yo, Artty! What's up?" said Mark's brother, lying lazily on the couch.
"I'm good..." I responded, somewhat reluctantly.
He bore a resemblance to Mark but had an unkempt appearance and a tattoo on his forearm. I didn't particularly like him; he gave off a shady vibe.
Mark told me he was broke, but I had my doubts. I suspected he might be involved with drugs, even though he denied it.
He claimed to dabble in real estate, but I found it hard to believe.
Without engaging in further conversation, I left the apartment, hailed a taxi, and headed to a nearby store to grab something to eat.
As I got out of the cab and walked toward the store's entrance, I suddenly froze.
"What's this?" I wondered, my curiosity piqued.
I suddenly had a strange premonition.
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------End of Chapter---------------_____________________________