Floating through outer space… Isn't that fascinating? Among the stars and everything beyond, it's a moment to realize just how little you truly know... and perhaps will never know.
You are you, and I am me. I am different from you, and you are different from me. Yet, you lack something, and I will make you feel the consequences of that absence.
You are a weak mortal being, a tool for my entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. Are you worthy of this life? Or are you wasting it? Again? And again? Just like before?
It's time to act, not to hesitate. Wake up now. It's time for you to %&!!#?&%!&. NOW. WAKE UP.
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"Ugh... my head…" he groans as he wakes from a nap on the couch. His mind feels fried, a painful throb pulsing through his skull, and his body feels weak.
He tries to rise but finds himself immobilized. Staring up at the ceiling, something odd catches his attention.. The ceiling is moving.. Like waves.
"Why is the... What?.." he mutters to himself, confusion swirling in his mind.
Suddenly, droplets begin to fall on him. Neither cold nor warm. Doesn't even feel wet. Is he even awake?
With a blink, it all vanishes. He's floating in a vast, dark void… utterly alone. No signs of life, just an all-consuming emptiness.
He drifts helplessly, unable to control his direction. No movement alters his course. He's like a rock lost in the vacuum of space.
Then, with a sudden swish, a massive eye appears, mere millimeters from his own. It's familiar, yet different. Something about it has changed.
"You do NOT belong here." the eye declares, its voice filled with menace. Its presence makes his body feel like it's about to explode, each word hitting him like cannon fire.
Though its gaze shows no visible emotion, he can feel its rage. It's furious.
Pressure begins to build, growing unbearable. His organs feel like they're being crushed from the inside out.
He starts to scream, but no sound escapes. He can't breathe. Blood pours from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. It's pure, unmerciful torture, worse than anything he's ever experienced.
He wants to speak but can't. The pressure is overwhelming, and his body refuses to respond. Is this it? Has he failed?
Suddenly, another eye emerges from behind, blurry and hard to make out. It shifts, transforming into something larger.. a humanoid figure, a giant.
The giant reaches out, grabs the eye, and crushes it, turning it to dust.
The pressure drops, but his body remains unresponsive, paralyzed by the aftermath of what just happened. Though he floats aimlessly, it feels as if he's plummeting into a bottomless abyss.
A sudden wave of exhaustion surges through him, pulling him deeper into a haze. His consciousness begins to slip away, and his eyelids slowly droop.
Through the fading haze, he sees the giant... the humanoid figure... reaching its colossal hand towards him. Its presence feels familiar... friendly.
It's getting closer.
But just as the figure is about to make contact, darkness envelops him completely. His mind fades, and he's out cold.
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He jolts awake, instantly sitting up on a couch. He's in a hospital, the familiar scent lingering in the air. He scans the room, everything seems normal. His body feels fine, but a dull ache in his head.
Slowly, he swings his legs off the couch and stands up, feeling a bit unsteady. He walks to the nearest sink, desperate for water.
With a push of the button, water flows from the tap. He leans in, watching the stream pour out.
He keeps watching. And watching.
Time seems to slow down, each second dragging longer than the last. His head throbs in sync with the slow drip of time.
The water remains a steady, lukewarm trickle. He's mesmerized by it, as if the world outside has started to blur.
Suddenly, the water turns icy cold, shocking him back to his senses. He blinks, momentarily disoriented, before leaning in to drink. The water is crisp and refreshing, flooding his dry mouth with relief.
He drinks deeply... longer than he should, but he can't stop. The water tastes divine, like nothing he's ever experienced before. It's almost addicting.
As he drinks, lost in the sensation, a light tap on his shoulder startles him. He jumps back, nearly knocking over the sink.
Spinning around, he sees Lily standing behind him, her smile warm and reassuring. She takes a few steps back, her eyes soft with understanding.
"I have good news for you," Lily says, smiling, her voice gentle. "We've received the data from our lab, and we have everything we need. We now know who you are, and we've contacted your nearest family member."
"Nearest family member? Who is that?" he asks, unsure of what to expect.
"Well… it's none other than your sister, Era Grield. She's the most powerful female warrior on the frontlines, surpassing even many of the strongest men. She's a force of her own.." Lily said, her tone full of admiration. "But you already know that... She was thrilled to hear her younger brother is safe, though she seemed a bit distressed when we mentioned you."
Memories flood in from before he appeared in this so-called new reality. He had a sister, but she died when he was young. She had always been bedridden from an illness that slowly took her life each day.
He is surprised to learn that not only was she completely fine, but she was also one of the strongest female warriors on the frontlines.. perhaps even the strongest in the world.
But if Lily had the data and all the information, that must mean she knows his name. Is it the same name like in his old reality, or was it something entirely different?
"Wait... so... does that mean... you know my name?" he asks Lily, a slight hope in his voice.
Lily looks at him with a conflicted expression. "Well... it's complicated. You didn't have a name... but something else.. Project: Monolith."
He looks at Lily, confused. What does that mean? Project? Monolith? Has his name been erased from this reality? What is going on?