**Unknown Realm**
In the endless void, there was only darkness. A darkness so absolute that even the bravest would feel their resolve falter. There was no horizon to follow, no edge to grasp. All that existed was the soul itself, its faint glow piercing the emptiness like a candle in a storm.
"Yeah, you're probably wondering what's going on," a voice suddenly boomed, cutting through the silence. "This? This glow? It's my soul. Just thought I should clarify." The voice paused. "Wait, I should probably introduce myself, huh?"
The soul laughed lightly, a strange mix of nervousness and pride. "Well, long story short: I'm dead. Yeah, I know, tragic. But here's the kicker—I've been transported to some weird, unknown space, and apparently, I'm about to be isekai'd into another world. You know, that whole deal. New life. Unlimited power. Hot women falling at my feet. I'm talking harem-level stuff. Sounds pretty sweet, right?"
The voice hummed thoughtfully, as though savoring the idea. "I know what you're thinking. 'What the heck's isekai?' Well, let me break it down for you. It's where some random soul like me gets thrown into another world and is given all sorts of awesome powers. Like, superhuman abilities. Maybe I'll get some crazy elemental control. Or time manipulation. Heck, I'll even settle for being a walking explosion of chaos."
The voice paused, then sighed. "Cough cough... Don't ask where I got all this information. Let's just say I've read the 'ancient texts.'"
It chuckled to itself, clearly amused by the thought.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to meet some powerful entity who will grant me wishes or something. Maybe even send me on my way to conquer a kingdom. Something awesome is coming. It's only a matter of time."
After a few hours...
The voice sounded a little less certain now. "Okay, it's been a couple of hours. Maybe they're just... watching me, testing my patience. Yeah, that makes sense. I've gotta be cool about this. A little waiting never hurt anyone, right?"
After several days...
"Alright, seriously though. Where are they? I've been stuck in this endless black void for days. Days! Maybe this is some kind of cosmic test. Yeah. They're just testing my resolve. How patient can I be? How strong is my willpower?" The voice paused. "I'm cool. Totally cool."
After several months...
"Okay, now I'm getting a little worried." The voice sounded agitated. "Did I mess up? Did I fail the test already? I can't be stuck here forever, right? This can't be real. There's gotta be some cosmic being about to pop up and make my life amazing. Right? Right?"
The voice gave a frustrated groan. "What's the deal here? Where is everyone?"
After what felt like years...
"Alright, that's it. I've had enough. I've been waiting so long, I'm starting to lose my mind here. No more playing nice. Show yourself! Give me my powers, my new life! Come on, you're making me look like an idiot over here!"
Then, in an instant, everything changed.
A blinding light surged through the entire realm, obliterating the darkness in an instant. It was as though the very world itself had come alive. The air crackled with an energy that felt both alien and familiar. Small, glowing creatures zipped through the air, chasing each other in endless circles. And in the center of it all, a silhouette emerged, dark and imposing.
Drip... drip... drip...
(Sniff... sniff...)
The soul's voice trembled slightly, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "No. No, I'm not gonna cry. Men don't cry. Especially not over some light show. It's a rule... a man's rule."
....(We are with you. cry all you want. Men only make women cry.)...
A brief, awkward pause followed as the soul's thoughts wandered. "Wait... I remember what that old guy told me. You know, the one I helped once? He said—"
....YOUTH....
The voice shifted to a theatrical imitation. "'You're a man! Don't cry! Show them the power of youth!'"
The soul smiled faintly at the memory. It could practically see the old man's beaming face, his thumb raised high in that classic pose.
"Alright. Enough moping. Let's get this over with."
The soul straightened itself, steeling its nerves as it faced the figure in the center of the light. "At long last. You're here."
A deep, booming voice responded, almost lazily, "Well, well. You're the first one to make it this far without completely losing your mind. And you didn't even start cursing at me the second I showed up. Interesting."
The soul blinked, a bit taken aback by the casual tone. "Wait, does that mean... I passed the test?"
The voice chuckled darkly. "Yes, you passed."
The soul let out a victorious laugh. "HA! I knew it! Take that, fate! I'm about to own this new world! I've won!"
But then, the atmosphere shifted. A cold chill filled the air, making the soul's imaginary hairs stand on end. It wasn't the warmth of victory anymore—it was something darker. Something more intense.
The voice, now colder, chuckled, "Hehehe... No need to worry. It's fine. Come, sit with me."
The soul hesitated, instinctively taking a step back. "Uh... sit with you? I think I'm good, thanks. I'll just... stand here."
The voice seemed to grow more insistent. "Come on, sit down. Don't be shy."
The soul's unease was palpable. "No way. Not gonna happen. I don't even know who you are. I'm not just gonna sit down with some random... whoever you are!"
The voice grew stern. "I said sit."
The soul sighed, finally giving in. "Fine, fine. You win. I'll sit."
There was a brief silence as the soul settled into the uncomfortable stillness. After a moment, it cleared its throat. "Sorry if I came off rude earlier. I didn't mean to disrespect you. It's just... a lot to process, you know?"
The voice softened, an almost amused note to it now. "No need to apologize. You didn't know. Now, let me introduce myself properly."
The soul braced itself, unsure of what to expect.
"I am ROB. You can call me Mr. ROB if you prefer. But I think we're on first-name terms now."
The soul blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Wait, ROB? As in, that guy from the movie I watched? You can't be serious."
A heavy silence followed. Then the voice deadpanned, "No, you're imagining things."
The soul raised an eyebrow. "But..."
"IMAGINING. THINGS."
"Alright, alright," the soul muttered, defeated. "You win, Mr. ROB. Let's get this over with."
"Good," the voice said. "Now, let's begin."
Author's Note:
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