Mark found himself surrounded by a blinding light, his senses overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation. As the light gradually faded, he realized he was standing in a vast expanse of nothingness. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Mark's mind, clear and commanding. "Greetings, I am your Ascended Virtual Assistant. You may refer to me as A.V.A," it proclaimed, its tone authoritative yet strangely comforting. Mark listened intently as A.V.A continued, "Commencing stat assessment..."
Mark felt a strange tingling sensation as if his very essence was being scrutinized. He stood still, unable to move or speak, as the assessment took place.
"Your stats have been assessed," A.V.A announced after a moment. "Creating a character sheet now...".
Mark's mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, A.V.A spoke again. "Character sheet created. 312 skills have been added," it declared, its voice echoing in the empty void. "Class: Summoner has been added. Unique skill: Fortuna's Grace has been added."
Mark's heart skipped a beat as he processed the information. Summoner? Fortuna's Grace? What did it all mean?
Before he could ponder further, A.V.A announced, "All necessary instances are complete. Beginning reincarnation process..." Mark's surroundings began to shimmer and warp as he felt himself being pulled into the unknown. Fear and excitement mingled within him as he braced himself for what lay ahead. And then, in an instant, it was done. Mark found himself standing on solid ground once more, the sensation of new life coursing through his veins. "Reincarnation complete," A.V.A's voice rang out triumphantly. "Spawning new life."
As Mark's consciousness drifted through the void, flashes of his past life played out before his eyes like scenes from a movie. He witnessed the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows that had shaped him into the person he was.
From the heart-wrenching tragedy of his brother's suicide to the triumph of his academic achievements, from the depths of his mental breakdown to the journey of self-discovery as he questioned his sexuality, every moment was laid bare before him.
He felt the pain of losing his beloved dog and the bittersweet joy of buying his first gaming console after months of hard work. He experienced the turmoil of his mother leaving his father for a wealthier man and the loneliness of his father's neglect and alcoholism. But amidst the hardships, there were also moments of triumph—the scholarship to a prestigious high school that offered him a glimmer of hope for a better future. Through it all, Mark's life flashed before his eyes, a kaleidoscope of beautiful and heartbreaking memories.
"Should I appreciate the life I had, or curse it?" Mark pondered aloud, his voice echoing in the void. "Was I right to feel sad that I died, or should I be happy that I am free?"
He thought about his father, the man who had raised him but had also struggled with his demons. The guilt gnawed at him—was it selfish to leave his dad behind, or was it a relief for both of them to be free from their burdens?
"I don't have the answers," Mark admitted, a sense of resignation creeping into his voice. "But maybe it doesn't matter anymore. Life goes on, whether you live or you die."
"Whatever comes next," Mark declared, determination ringing in his voice, "I'll face it head-on. Because in the end, that's all we can do—keep moving forward."