In the midst of the dark rain clouds and choking pollution that enveloped the city, Steve's life felt as miserable as the gloomy weather. He had always seemed to attract bad luck. It was as if misfortune followed him relentlessly, leaving him with slim chances for success. As he stood there, his mind plagued with negative thoughts, a slow drizzle of rain began to fall.
But suddenly, something strange happened. Without warning, a puddle of blood formed beneath him, causing panic to surge through his veins. Darkness quickly consumed his consciousness, and he felt his body succumb to its grip. It was as if his entire existence was fading away.
Slowly, Steve regained consciousness. The darkness that surrounded him was overwhelming, as if light had never existed. Confusion and fear washed over him as he realized he could no longer feel his body. Had he ceased to exist? What was happening to him?
Time seemed to stretch endlessly, void of any reference point. Suddenly, a noise disrupted the stifling silence. It seemed to be simultaneously near and far, above and below. It was everywhere and nowhere, impossible to locate. Then, a voice broke through the void, saying, "System reboot beginning."
Before Steve could grasp the meaning behind these words, the darkness dissipated, revealing an unsettling sight. He found himself looking down at his lifeless body, lying motionless on the floor. Was this the afterlife? Confusion and shock swirled together in his mind.
In the next moment, the world shifted once again. Steve found himself in the midst of a dense forest, as if he had been transported to a completely different realm. Memories flooded his mind. He remembered this place—it was the very spot where he had stumbled upon a hidden hole and fallen into it. The bitterness of that moment resurfaced, accompanied by the frustration of having wasted his time on a mundane quest.
As he stood there, fixated on the hole, a figure emerged. It was someone he didn't recognize, but they too peered into the depths of the hole. Unexpectedly, the person began climbing down the vines into the abyss below. Steve couldn't comprehend what he was witnessing or why he was observing it.
Driven by an inexplicable force, he moved closer to the hole, his visual perspective shifting. Despite lacking a physical form, he could navigate his viewpoint. Descending further into the cavern, he continued watching the figure's every move. To his surprise, the person's descent led them to a hidden cave, apparently overlooked during his own climb out of the hole.
Ecstatic, the figure exclaimed, "Oh, there's a cave! How lucky that I decided to check this strange hole!" Steve's bewilderment intensified. How could this person be so fortunate? In that moment, a faint recognition sparked within him. He knew this face, this player. It was one of the most renowned and successful individuals in the entire gaming world.
Before he could process this revelation, the scene before him dissolved into an encompassing darkness once more. His mind churned with questions and realizations. The scenes replaying before him unveiled a pattern: missed opportunities that others had seized, turning them into moments of great fortune. Steve's heart swelled with remorse for the life he had wasted, blinded by self-loathing and a negative mindset.
Then it hit him. The voice he had heard earlier, speaking of a system reboot, the concept of regressions he had read about in light novels and anime. This was his chance for a do-over, to utilize his future sight and harness this newfound holistic luck to transform himself into the protagonist of his own story. He laughed, feeling a surge of excitement as plans for a path to riches formed in his mind.
But suddenly, the voice returned, repeating the words, "SYSTEM ERROR." Panic flooded his thoughts, overshadowing his previous optimism. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. This wasn't the idealistic scenario he had envisioned from his stories and fantasies. As the reality of his situation crumbled around him, Steve's consciousness fragmented, dispersing into the darkness. In its place, a small green jade gem floated.
Bright, soft streams of morning sunlight shone through the curtains as John slowly woke up to greet his 20th birthday. The sound of bustling London traffic and the beeping alarm reminded him that it was a special day. Today, he had a day off work and planned to celebrate with his closest friend, Tommy, over a beer later in the evening.
As John rolled out of bed and made his way to the shower, he couldn't shake off the remnants of a strange dream that had lingered in his mind. It had been of a jade crystal floating in darkness, accompanied by the words, "transfer complete." Although he couldn't make sense of it, he decided to dismiss it as a product of his subconscious and focused on getting ready for the day.
Just as John was finishing up his shower, his mobile phone rang, and he saw Tommy's name flashing on the screen. He answered with a cheery greeting, only to be met with Tommy's enthusiastic voice. "John, happy birthday, mate! Are you ready for tonight? It's your lucky day, son. I can feel it!"
Amidst the exchange of birthday wishes and playful banter, Tommy suddenly turned serious. "Remember when we met, John?" he asked, his voice filled with nostalgia.
John's mind immediately took him back eight years ago, when he was living in a care home in Surrey. He had just gotten into a fight at his new school, feeling angry and expecting some sort of punishment upon his return to the home. But instead, he found everyone distracted and a new kid in the house. It was Tommy, a malnourished and lost-looking child who resonated with John, sparking an inexplicable connection.
John had taken Tommy under his wing, and from that day on, they became inseparable, sharing a room and facing the world together. John was fiercely protective of Tommy, treating him as if he were his own little brother, while Tommy admired and looked up to John.
"You saved me, John," Tommy continued, his voice filled with gratitude. "If I hadn't met you that day, my life could've been so different. You taught me what family means, even if we're not bound by blood."
Feeling touched by Tommy's words, John couldn't help but smile. The deep bond they shared was evident, and it reminded him of the strength that friendship could bring.
Tommy's voice perked up again as he turned to the plans for the evening. "Tonight, big bro, I've done some of this and some of that, and managed to wrangle some VIP passes at the oceanside casino for the screening of Ragnarok's fight against that new girl, Eve. You remember how Ragnarok has been taunted by her, calling him weak and all? Tonight, she's going to get a taste of his skill!"
Tommy's excitement spilled over as he discussed the details of Ragnarok's upcoming showdown. Tommy was an avid fan of virtual sports, and Ragnarok, the undefeated virtual combatant, held a special place in his heart. Eve, a new challenger who had dared to challenge Ragnarok's renown, had been making outrageous claims and insults, which drew the ire of loyal fans.
With fervor, Tommy expressed his anticipation for Eve to get beat down and the satisfaction he and other fans would feel. He assured John that tonight was his treat as a birthday present, promising a night full of excitement and celebration.
Feeling grateful for his friendship with Tommy and the plans for the evening, John thanked Tommy and hung up the phone. With a growing sense of anticipation, John decided to spend his day off in his virtual reality game, hoping to make a little extra money.
However, just as he was about to log in, an advertisement began playing on his screen. Letting out a sigh, John settled down to watch, well aware that nothing seemed to be free of advertisements anymore. As he tried to ignore the distraction, his mind couldn't help but wonder if there was any significance to the dream he had earlier or if it was just a passing oddity.
Brushing off his thoughts, John put on his virtual reality headset and prepared to embark on his gaming adventure.