William darted to the side as the massive, mutated creature slammed its grotesque arm into the ground where he'd been standing seconds ago. Its roar echoed through the ruined city, a guttural scream that rattled what few intact windows remained.
"Not exactly what I had in mind when I said I'd do *anything* to get out of that chair," William muttered, dodging another swipe. His current form, Glitchtrap, gave him enhanced reflexes and agility, but his opponent was relentless.
The system chimed in his head:
[Recommendation: Retreat. Low probability of survival in direct combat.]
"Yeah, no kidding," William growled. He scanned his surroundings, spotting something that might buy him time: a cracked but functional smartphone lying on the ground.
Ducking under another swing, he made a mad dash for the device, snatching it up and leaping behind the wreckage of a burned-out car.
"Let's see what this thing can do."
The system pulsed.
[Ability Unlocked: Digital Presence]
Activate?
"Sure, why not?"
As soon as he agreed, a sensation like pulling threads from his own body overtook him. His form dissolved into a cloud of shimmering code, and in an instant, he was gone.
---
William reappeared in a swirling, neon-lit void that he instinctively recognized as the internet. It was a vast network of glowing pathways, fragmented text, and flashing imagery. He could feel the endless data coursing around him, each thread a story, a secret, or a fragment of a world.
"Now this... I could get used to."
He reached out mentally, his consciousness diving into the streams of information. The first thing he stumbled upon was news—headlines flickered past him, each from a world he was vaguely familiar with.
---
BREAKING NEWS: STARK INDUSTRIES REVEALS THE IDENTITY OF IRON MAN
A video played, showing Tony Stark confidently announcing his superhero persona to a stunned press room.
---
BATMAN AND SUPERMAN CLASH IN METROPOLIS—IS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE FRACTURING?
William frowned. "Oh, great. Capes are already fighting each other. That'll be fun to navigate."
---
BEACH CITY CELEBRATES YET ANOTHER GEM VICTORY AGAINST UNKNOWN THREATS
Images of strange, colorful humanoids battling massive monsters filled his vision.
---
He paused as a particularly grim headline caught his attention.
RACCOON CITY DESTROYED: BIOWEAPON TERROR SUSPECTED
The accompanying footage was chaos—zombies swarming the streets, explosions ripping through buildings, and survivors being airlifted out.
"Lovely," William muttered. "A zombie apocalypse. Because I needed more things trying to eat me."
---
Further digging led him to Gravity Falls, where the headlines were more bizarre than catastrophic.
LOCAL MAN CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUGHT A 'GOBLIN SHARK' IN HIS YARD
MYSTERY SHACK DEBUTS NEW EXHIBIT: THE 'WORLD'S LARGEST GNOME'**
"Figures that place would be business as usual," William muttered, though something about the town tugged at his instincts. It wasn't just weird—it was important.
---
His exploration took a darker turn when he stumbled upon classified government files. The system hummed in his head as it cracked through layers of encryption with ease.
---
PROJECT PLUMBER: FILES RESTRICTED
William's interest piqued. "What's this?"
The files opened, revealing detailed reports on an intergalactic organization dedicated to protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Mentions of advanced alien technology, classified alien species, and a certain boy wielding a powerful device called the Omnitrix filled the screen.
"This just keeps getting better," William said, a smirk forming on his face.
---
As he pieced the information together, one thing became clear: the six worlds he'd glimpsed weren't separate—they were fused. Their plots, events, and characters were coexisting in this chaotic new reality, like puzzle pieces forced together in a way that didn't quite fit.
But William wasn't overwhelmed. For the first time in years, maybe decades, he realized he had something that had always eluded him:
Time.
In this fused reality, the stories were only just beginning. Iron Man had only just revealed himself. Superman and Batman were still making headlines. The Plumbers were in their early stages of operations. Raccoon City's destruction was recent, and Gravity Falls' mysteries were still unfolding.
William Afton—now a digital ghost with access to infinite information—was no longer bound by the constraints of his past life.
---
His grin widened as he began plotting. With knowledge of these worlds' events and players, he had the potential to manipulate their trajectories. He could disrupt alliances, gather resources, and position himself as a force no one would see coming.
But first, he needed to solidify his advantage. The system chimed again, interrupting his thoughts.
[New Objective: Analyze the Singularity's Nexus Point.]
"Nexus point?" William asked aloud.
[The origin of the Sixfold Singularity. Further analysis required. Proceed with caution.]
"Of course. Nothing's ever simple," he muttered. But the challenge excited him. He wasn't the same powerless man strapped to a chair anymore. He had abilities, knowledge, and time to spare.
"Let's see what this world has to offer," William said, his voice echoing in the digital void. "And let's see how far I can push it."
With a thought, he exited the internet, reassembling himself in the ruined city. The monster from earlier was nowhere to be seen, giving him a moment's respite.
For now, he would play the game. But soon, he intended to rewrite the rules.