The moment before death was supposed to be dramatic.

At least, that's what Yan Chen assumed. He didn't remember much of his past life, but wasn't there supposed to be a slow-motion montage? A heartfelt goodbye? A tear-streaked sky?

Instead, he stared at the ridiculous cause of his demise: a runaway vending machine. How it managed to roll down three flights of stairs with such murderous determination was beyond him.

"Seriously?" he muttered as his vision faded. "This is how I go? Not even a cool car chase?"

Darkness took him.

Then came the voice.

"Congratulations! You've been selected for the Multiverse Mission Program!"

A cheerful, robotic tone echoed in his mind, yanking him back to consciousness. He opened his eyes to find himself floating in a white void, face-to-face with a tiny floating cube that sparkled like it belonged in a cheap arcade game.

"What... is this?" he said, rubbing his temples. "I'm dead, right? Is this some post-death advertisement scam?"

"Incorrect! You are now bound to the Multiverse Mission System™! Complete missions across various worlds to earn points and—"

"Pass," he interrupted, reclining mid-air like he was lounging on a sofa. "No interest."

The cube blinked, its sparkle dimming slightly. "Refusal is not an option. Completing missions will allow you to regain your memories and be reborn into your original world!"

He yawned. "Sounds like a lot of work. I don't even remember that world, so I'm good. Thanks for the offer, though."

There was a long pause. The system seemed to recalibrate. "...You can earn fun perks during missions. Weapons, powers, rare treasures..."

"Perks, huh?" He perked up slightly, his laziness warring with curiosity. "What kind of perks?"

And that's how it started. Not with destiny or duty, but with a simple, lazy man chasing after entertainment.