The last thing I remember is the sound of sirens and screams.
Death gripped me in its cold embrace. I tried to breathe, but the air felt suffocating, filled with sharp thorns and jagged blades.
I choked, coughed, but no sound came out.
No sound, no sensation, no light.
I sank into nothingness.
Then… chaos erupted.
Light burst forth, and I was suddenly surrounded by people. An enormous crowd. A massive one. Everyone formed lines that stretched endlessly.
Somehow, I was in the middle of it. Trapped in a suffocating, nauseating sea of humanity.
'What is this?'
Wasn't I supposed to be dead?
Everyone else seemed to be asking the same question. Their expressions mirrored my own, filled with uncertainty and unease.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind.
It was a tall blonde girl, towering at nearly two meters. Her athletic body was clad in tight clothing that highlighted her exotic golden-brown skin.
"Do you… understand English?" she asked.
I scratched the back of my neck. "Uh… yeah, of course."
The girl exhaled deeply. "Oh, thank goodness. Wow. I thought I was going crazy. I tried talking to everyone else, but they just ignored me. I guess they didn't understand what I was saying." Noticing my puzzled look, she blinked rapidly and extended her hand. "Ah, I'm Alice, by the way. Alice Tall."
"Alice Tall, huh." Truly fitting.
Alice didn't seem to notice my odd stare. "Ah, so, what's your name?"
"I'm Ja—" I coughed. "Michael. Just call me Mike."
Alice blinked again and smiled. "Nice to meet you, Mike."
"So…" I looked at the crowd of people. I guessed there were tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands. "What… happened?"
"You don't remember either?"
"Either?"
Alice nodded. "Listen, I was on a bungee jumping trip with my group, and suddenly, I ended up here. What about you?"
"I…" I recalled the horrific incident. "I was in an accident."
"What? That's awful. Are you okay?"
Okay? "I'm dead."
Alice's eyes widened. But something seemed to dawn on her, a realization far worse, intensifying her shock. "Wait, you're… dead?"
I could tell what she was thinking. "I'm sure of it."
"No, that's impossible. That means… that means I'm…"
Alice's shock was interrupted by a thunderous voice. "Attention. Attention. Attention."
The sheer magnitude of the voice silenced the commotion around us. Everyone immediately looked around, searching for the source with heightened vigilance.
The answer soon appeared in the sky. In the vast, eerily empty expanse, countless massive screens materialized, hovering all around, forming a strange virtual enclosure.
"Attention, all brave souls." A man appeared on the screens. His appearance… was beyond description.
His face was too perfect for a human. His skin gleamed as if coated in the purest gold. His eyes were like two clear emeralds radiating brilliance, purity, and infinite knowledge. His voice exuded calm, power, and peace.
I could see that everyone else was as mesmerized as I was.
If gods or deities truly existed, this man might be their closest representation.
"You all have many questions, and I can only give you one answer: you have all died, and this is the place of judgment."
Hearing that, my legs gave way. I already knew this truth, but having it confirmed again was still horrifying.
"You will be judged based on your deeds in life. The virtuous will enter heaven, and the wicked will descend to hell." A curious pause followed. The man kept his eyes open and sighed. "Or at least, that's what I'm supposed to say."
His words stirred unease among the crowd
What was he trying to imply?
"Heaven and hell once existed, but they no longer do. The celestial beings who oversaw them have abandoned us. What awaits you now is nothingness and emptiness."
What?
"That's absurd," someone shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.
The screen focused on her—a woman in her late twenties with short black hair. Her sharp, commanding presence was undeniable. "I lived my life doing everything right! I forgave people who hurt me, helped those in need, and followed every rule! And for what? For this? If this is what you offer, I would have preferred never to have existed!"
Everyone seemed to agree with her, growing increasingly agitated. They demanded the justice and judgment promised by various beliefs about the afterlife.
The man on the screen sighed deeply before unleashing a thunderous roar:
"SILENCE!"
The force of his voice was overwhelming, bringing the crowd to an immediate halt. Some collapsed, others sat down, stunned.
I felt my legs give out, leaving me trembling on the ground.
An oppressive aura of revulsion kept me trembling and shivering.
The man's eyes narrowed as he continued. "Did you not hear me? The celestial beings have abandoned us. All of us—including me—are victims of their neglect."
He paused, his tone softening. "But this does not mean it's the end. Brave souls like you have the chance to fight for what you've lost. Rather than fade into nothingness, forgotten and erased, you can stand and fight for your rights and seek the justice you deserve."
Suddenly, a screen appeared before me, displaying a peculiar message:
—-----------------------------------
[Invitation to Participate]
Will you choose to dissolve into nothingness?
Or
Will you fight as a Warrior?
—-----------------------------------
The man then smiled, baring wide, black fangs. "Now, choose, brave souls."