Earth...
Kyle was a typical 17-year-old boy, with raging hormones and an insatiable desire for sexual experiences. He was always on the prowl for a new girl to conquer, and his friends often joked that he had a one-track mind. But despite his reputation as a player, Kyle was still a good kid at heart, with dreams of going to college and making something of himself.
On a warm summer evening, Kyle was out with his friends, cruising around in his beat-up car, looking for a party or a girl to hook up with. But as they drove down the dark country road, Kyle's attention was drawn to a group of girls walking on the side of the road. Without thinking, he slammed his foot on the gas and sped towards them.
'Whoa, slow down man!' one of his friends yelled, but Kyle was too focused on the girls to listen.
As they got closer, Kyle could see that the girls were all scantily clad and giggling amongst themselves. He couldn't believe his luck - four hot girls, just waiting for him. Without hesitation, he pulled over and rolled down his window.
'Hey ladies, need a ride?' he called out with a cocky grin.
The girls giggled and huddled together, whispering to each other before one of them, a brunette with long legs, stepped forward.
'Sure, why not?' she said with a flirtatious smile.
Kyle's friends exchanged looks of disbelief as the girls piled into the car, but Kyle was too busy thinking about what he was going to do with his new conquest. He revved the engine and zoomed off into the night, leaving his friends behind.
The girls were all over him, touching his arms and legs, and giggling at his every word. Kyle felt like he was on top of the world, and he couldn't believe his luck. But as he was driving, he didn't notice the red light up ahead until it was too late. He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The truck that was crossing the intersection slammed into the side of his car, sending it spinning out of control.
As the car flipped and tumbled, Kyle's last thoughts were of the girls and how he was going to score with them. But those thoughts were cut short as his body was thrown around the car like a ragdoll. His friends, who had been following behind, pulled over and rushed to the mangled car, calling out his name.
'Kyle! Kyle!' they yelled, frantically trying to pry open the jammed doors.
Inside the car, Kyle's body was twisted and broken, blood and glass covering every inch of the interior. His lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead, and his once cocky smile was now frozen in a look of terror.
'Oh my God, he's dead,' one of his friends said, tears streaming down his face.
'No, no, no, this can't be happening,' another friend cried out.
The girls, who had been thrown from the car in the impact, were lying on the side of the road, dazed and injured. One of them, the brunette who had been sitting next to Kyle, was crying hysterically, clutching her arm.
'Help us, please!' she begged, her mascara running down her face.
Unknown Realm...
Kyle's POV:
I remember dying.
It wasn't anything grand or dramatic—no last words, no slow-motion montage of my life flashing before my eyes. Just an abrupt, stupid accident. One second, I was crossing the street. The next, I was airborne, courtesy of a truck that came out of nowhere. Then, darkness.
But instead of waking up in heaven, hell, or absolute nothingness, I open my eyes to… a grid-like void.
The space around me is infinite, stretching out in every direction like a black abyss. Thin blue lines pulse across the ground, creating a faint sense of structure—like the floor of a high-tech simulation. The air is still, silent, weightless.
And then she appears.
A glowing blue figure materializes in front of me, her form shifting from a mass of data into a humanoid shape. Her skin is smooth and metallic blue, her hair long and pulled back into a high ponytail. She wears a sleek black bodysuit with shoulder armor, and her eyes glow with the same faint light as the world around us.
"Welcome, Kyle," she says, her voice crisp and devoid of emotion. "I am BT-124, your assigned system interface."
I blink. "…What?"
"You have died," she states bluntly. "Your physical body has ceased functioning. However, you have been granted access to the Multiversal Simulation, where you may continue to exist under new parameters."
I stare at her. Then, at my hands—both intact. I pat my chest. No wounds, no pain. I'm… perfectly fine.
"So, I'm in a video game?" I ask, half-joking.
"Incorrect. This is a large-scale simulated multiverse, orchestrated by the Grand Optimizing Deity, or G.O.D AI. Your existence here is part of an ongoing experiment."
"Experiment?" I narrow my eyes. "What kind of experiment?"
She tilts her head slightly, as if analyzing my question. "My purpose is to observe and facilitate your progression. You have been granted access to the **Multiverse Power Selection Matrix**, which will allow you to choose and utilize abilities from various sources. Your decisions and interactions will contribute to data collection for the G.O.D AI's ongoing analysis."
I barely hear the last part because my brain is stuck on something far more important.
"Wait, wait, wait," I say, raising a hand. "Did you just say I get to pick my own powers?"
A menu screen suddenly appears in front of me, flickering into existence like a hologram.
**MULTIVERSE POWER SELECTION MATRIX**
[Choose Your Powers]
And then, the list pops up.
Holy. Shit.
Everything is here. Literally everything. Saiyan DNA? Check. Kryptonian bloodline? Check. The Speed Force? Check. Spider-Man's abilities? Oh hell yeah. Mjolnir? Infinity Stones? Devil Fruits? Pokémon? It just keeps scrolling.
I let out an excited laugh. "This is insane."
"Your selection is not unlimited," BT-124 informs me. "Excessive stacking of abilities without proper stat adjustments may result in bodily strain, incapacitation, or death."
I glance at her. "So, I can take as many powers as I want, but if my body can't handle it, I break?"
"Correct."
"Then I just need to pick things that make me strong enough to handle more, right?"
She blinks. "That is a logical conclusion."
I smirk. "Perfect."
Reaching toward the menu, I crack my knuckles. Time to have some fun.
"Alright, Bella, let's keep it simple for now," I say, scanning through the endless list of powers. "I've always wanted to fly."
Her eyes follow my finger as I hover over the "Flight" option. "That is a reasonable choice," she says. "Flight is a commonly selected ability. It allows for swift movement and aerial maneuverability."
"And it's cool," I add with a grin.
With a flick of my wrist, I select "Flight" and feel a strange sensation in my body, like I've just been plugged into a new operating system. The grid beneath my feet dissolves, and suddenly, I'm hovering.
"Looks like I've got it," I say, a little surprised at how easy it is.
Bella nods. "Your body has been modified to support the new ability. Remember, Kyle, moderation is key."
I laugh. "Moderation's for chumps. Watch this!"
I shoot a glance at the distant mountain range and, with a roar of excitement, blast off towards it. The wind rushes past me, and within seconds, the world is a blur. The sensation is incredible—like nothing I've ever felt before. The power is intoxicating, and I can't help but revel in the speed.
The mountain range looms closer, and I decide to test out my control. Diving down, I skim the tops of the jagged rocks before soaring back up into the open sky. The freedom is exhilarating, and I can't stop grinning.
But as the thrill of flying wears off, I start to feel a bit... off. Like I've had one too many cups of coffee. My heart races, and my muscles tense up.
"Bella, I think I might've picked the wrong power," I gasp, my voice tight. "Or maybe the duration was too long?"
Her voice comes through a small device in my ear. "Your vital signs indicate a spike in adrenaline and a minor strain on your cardiovascular system. The power you've chosen is pushing your physical limits."
"Can you dial it down a notch?" I ask, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.
"Affirmative," she responds. "But you must return to the ground first."
I nod and start to descend, feeling the strain in my legs and the burn in my chest. I guess this isn't going to be as easy as I thought.
As I land with a thud, I look up at the vast sky I've just been tearing through. "Okay, maybe not so simple after all," I murmur, rubbing my chest.
Bella appears beside me, her gaze analytical. "Your body is adjusting. With practice and careful power management, you will be able to handle more."
I nod, panting slightly. "Guess I've got some learning to do."
"Indeed," she says with a hint of amusement. "Your education in the art of power selection begins now."
Bella leads me out of the spawning zone into a vast, barren landscape. It's a mix of desert plains and jagged mountains, the horizon a hazy line where the earth meets the sky. The silence is deafening—until the system's notification beeps in my ear.
"Great," I mumble, looking around. "Where's the action?"
Bella raises an eyebrow. "Patience is a virtue, Kyle. However, if you wish to expedite the process, we can engage in combat training."