The pain of the truck's impact still lingered in Jack's body, but it was nothing compared to the strange, disorienting sensation that washed over him as he awoke. The first thing he noticed was the absence of noise. The familiar hum of city life, the honking of cars, the chatter of people—gone. He was somewhere different, somewhere completely unfamiliar. The air smelled different too, fresh and earthy, as if he had stepped into an untouched wilderness.
Jack blinked, sitting up slowly, his head spinning. He couldn't remember the moment after the truck hit him—everything had gone black, and now, here he was, in this strange place. The landscape before him was alien, with rolling hills, dark twisted trees, and an eerie tranquility that filled the atmosphere. He looked around, trying to piece together what had happened.
"What the hell…?" Jack muttered, rubbing his head and scanning his surroundings.
That's when he heard it—a voice, calm and steady, like a soft echo in the back of his mind.
"You've arrived in Eldraeth."
Jack froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Eldraeth? The name sounded foreign, almost mythical, and it only added to the surreal feeling that had taken over him. Was this some kind of dream? He could still feel the lingering warmth of the sun on his face, the gentle breeze tugging at his clothes. This didn't feel like a dream. It felt too real.
"Who—who said that?" Jack asked, his voice shaky. He turned around, half-expecting someone to be standing behind him. But the area was empty, devoid of any life except for the strange, whispering wind.
"You don't need to be afraid," the voice replied, smooth and dispassionate, like a voice coming from somewhere far beyond his own mind. "I am the Random Omnipotent Being. You may call me ROB."
Jack blinked rapidly. "What the hell? You're talking to me in my head?"
"Indeed," ROB responded, unfazed. "I chose you."
"Chose me? For what?" Jack's heart raced. "What do you mean you chose me? Who the hell are you? And why the hell am I here?"
ROB's voice was calm, almost amused, as if Jack's shock was something expected. "It's simple, really. I needed a subject. A player, if you will. And you were the perfect choice. I decided, quite simply, to bring you here. Why? Because I could."
Jack's mind was reeling. "You chose me… just because you could?"
"Yes," ROB answered with finality. "The choice was entirely random. It's as simple as that."
Jack's mouth went dry as the reality of the situation began to sink in. "You mean… I didn't do anything special to get picked? I just happened to be the one you felt like pulling from the crowd?"
"That is correct," ROB said, sounding almost too casual about the whole thing. "You were not the first, nor will you be the last. You simply happened to be the one I chose for this particular game."
Jack shook his head, trying to make sense of it. "This… this can't be happening. I was just some office guy in New York! I don't belong here."
"Belong?" ROB mused. "In this world, you will find your purpose. You may not understand it now, but soon enough, it will become clear."
"Purpose?" Jack asked, his voice cracking. "What purpose? What am I supposed to do here? I don't even know where I am, let alone what I'm supposed to do!"
"You are in Eldraeth," ROB replied, the words almost soothing in their monotony. "And your task is simple. You will play a game—a game of chance, one that will grant you abilities. You will gain powers, three in total, drawn from the multiverse itself."
"Powers? Like... superpowers?" Jack's voice was tinged with skepticism.
"Precisely. You will gain three powers by participating in a gacha system," ROB said, the amusement in his voice almost palpable. "Each power will be taken from a different universe, one from the vast and infinite multiverse. But don't get too excited. These powers will be adapted to fit the rules and laws of this world—My Hero Academia, to be specific."
Jack blinked. His mind was struggling to keep up with the strange, otherworldly nature of what ROB was saying. "My Hero Academia? You mean… like the anime? With quirks and heroes?"
"That's right," ROB confirmed, his tone taking on a more serious note. "But this world is more than just a show. It's a reality. And you will live in it. You'll have to adapt to the society here, where individuals with quirks—powers that are unique to each person—are common. You will be one of them."
"Wait…" Jack's head spun, trying to grasp all this. "You're saying I'm going to get three powers from different universes and then just… live in My Hero Academia?"
"You've got it," ROB said, his voice dripping with a sense of finality. "But there's more to it than just playing with powers. You'll need to learn how to use them in a world where other people also have powers. Some will see you as an ally, others as a threat. You will carve your path as you see fit."
Jack let out a sharp breath, his mind racing. Powers. From the multiverse. My Hero Academia. He couldn't even begin to process the weight of it. He had dreamed of this moment—dreamed of being isekai'd into a world with incredible abilities. And now, it was happening. He was actually going to get powers.
"Okay, so how do I… get these powers?" Jack asked, shaking his head to clear the fog in his thoughts.
"Simple," ROB replied. "You will draw from the gacha. Three spins, three powers. Each time you pull, you will receive a new ability, drawn from the infinite possibilities of the multiverse."
Jack's heart skipped a beat. A gacha? It sounded like a video game mechanic, but this was real. His body, his mind, his life—all of it would be altered by the spin of a virtual wheel. Three chances. Three powers. But there was a catch, as always.
"Wait," Jack said, hesitation creeping into his voice. "How do I know these powers will even be useful here? You said they'll adapt to the world, but what if I end up with something useless?"
"The powers will adjust themselves," ROB explained smoothly. "And even if they don't immediately seem useful, you will learn how to use them over time. After all, this is a game of growth. No one starts off strong. But by the end, you will be something more. Something greater."
Jack let the words sink in. The stakes were high. He wasn't just playing for powers—he was playing for his future in this new world. The game was starting, and he had no choice but to play.
"Alright," Jack said, a determined edge to his voice. "Let's do it. Let's spin this damn gacha."
A strange sensation washed over him again, and suddenly, a translucent screen materialized in front of him. The interface was simple: three circles, each one waiting to be spun. Beneath them, the words "Gacha Spin" hovered in bright, glowing letters.
Jack's pulse quickened. This was it. His chance to change everything. His hand hovered over the first circle, and without looking back, he pressed it. The screen flashed, and the first power appeared.
"You have drawn your first power," ROB's voice echoed in his mind. "Let's see what you've received."
Jack stared at the screen, waiting in anticipation as the gacha revealed his first ability. His heart pounded in his chest as he braced himself for what would come next.