The sun hung high in the sky, casting a brilliant glow over the city. Alex, adjusted his tie and smoothed out his suit, heading toward the game development studio where he worked as a programmer. The morning air was crisp, but the weight of the corporate world already felt heavy on his shoulders.
As soon as he stepped through the office doors, his boss was already there, waiting like a predator in the tall grass.
"You haven't forgotten about our little agreement, have you, Alex?" the man asked, his voice laced with a forced friendliness that set Alex on edge.
Alex looked at him, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face before he masked it with a dry, sarcastic smile. "Of course not," he replied.
In reality, he had completely blanked on the fact that he was scheduled for a double shift today.
Hours bled into one another. Lines of code blurred before his eyes as the office grew quiet, the hum of the air conditioning the only company left. By the time Alex finally logged off, it was nearly midnight. His body felt like lead.
Stepping outside, he realized the universe had one last joke for him. The clear morning had vanished, replaced by a torrential downpour. He stood under the awning, staring at the rain-slicked pavement. He didn't have an umbrella.
"Great," he muttered, glancing up at the dark, weeping sky. "I just hope I don't catch a cold running through this mess."
He lived only a block away, so he took a deep breath and bolted. The cold rain soaked through his suit instantly, his shoes splashing through puddles as he sprinted toward the sanctuary of his apartment.
When he finally burst through his front door, he was shivering. Eager to wash away the grime of the day, he went straight to the bathroom, stripped off his soaked clothes, and sank into a steaming hot bathtub.
As the warmth seeped into his muscles, Alex let his mind wander. He thought about what it would be like to actually be financially stable—to never have to worry about double shifts again. His thoughts drifted back to the orphanage that had raised him. If he ever made it big, he wanted to give back to the people who had given him a chance at life.
He was so lost in his daydream that he didn't notice the water level until it was too late. The tub was overflowing, spilling onto the tiled floor.
"Damn it!" he hissed, snapping back to reality. He scrambled out and spent the next ten minutes frantically mopping up the mess.
Once the floor was dry, he changed into his favorite blue bear pajamas—a small comfort after a long day. He checked the kitchen for a snack, found nothing worth the effort, and finally collapsed into bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, the world faded to black.
But sleep brought no peace.
Alex found himself in the grip of a vivid, terrifying dream. He was falling—plummeting into a bottomless, starlit abyss. The sensation of weightlessness was so real it made his stomach churn.
He jolted awake, gasping for air. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird, and his skin was slick with cold sweat. He stared at his trembling hands, then turned to look out the window. The rain had stopped, leaving the world in a heavy, eerie silence.
In the distance, dogs began to bark incessantly. Alex frowned, trying to ignore the noise, and squeezed his eyes shut, desperate to return to a dreamless sleep.
He didn't hear the two figures approaching his front door.
Dressed in tactical black and hidden behind balaclavas, the intruders moved with practiced precision. Thief Number 1 gave a sharp nod to his partner. With a muffled click and a forceful shove, they bypassed the lock and slipped into the house.
The sound of the door hitting the frame snapped Alex wide awake.
Thief Number 1 rushed toward the living room, eyes scanning for electronics or jewelry. Panic surged through Alex. Heart racing, he slid out of bed and ducked into his bedroom closet, pulling the door shut just enough to peer through the crack.
While Thief Number 2 stood guard at the entrance, scanning for any signs of security or neighbors, Thief Number 1 began ransacking the place.
Alex swallowed hard, his throat bone-dry. He had to do something. Moving with agonizing slowness, he reached down and gripped the handle of a golf club he kept under his bed for protection. He crept out of the closet, his breath shallow and ragged.
He reached the living room and saw the intruder's back turned, hunched over a bag filled with Alex's belongings. Adrenaline took over. Alex lunged forward, swinging the club with every ounce of strength he had left.
CRACK.
The club connected with the thief's head. The man crumpled to the floor, unconscious before he even hit the rug.
Alex stood over him, chest heaving. He scrambled toward his wooden desk and grabbed his phone, his fingers shaking as he began to dial the police. He thought he was safe.
He was wrong.
Thief Number 2 stepped into the room, a pistol raised and steady. Before Alex could press 'call,' the thief lunged, snatching the phone from his hand. Then, with a brutal, efficient motion, he swung the butt of the gun into the side of Alex's head.
The world spun, and then went dark.
When Alex regained consciousness, he was back in his bedroom, but the situation had turned dire. He was tied to a chair, his hands bound tightly behind his back and a gag stuffed into his mouth. He looked up to see the two thieves arguing near the window.
"The intel said the house was supposed to be empty!" Thief Number 1 hissed, rubbing the spot where Alex had hit him.
"And now? What are we supposed to do with him?" Thief Number 2 asked, his voice cold.
Thief Number 1 glanced back at Alex, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. "I'm going to execute him. He might not have seen our faces, but he could identify our voices. I'm not taking that chance. Better safe than sorry."
Alex's eyes widened. He began to struggle against his bonds, muffled cries dying in his throat as tears blurred his vision. The reality of his impending death crashed down on him.
Thief Number 2 stepped forward and delivered a brutal kick to Alex's stomach. The force sent the chair toppling over, slamming Alex onto the hard floor.
"Shut up!" the thief barked.
Pinned to the ground and gasping for air, Alex could only watch as the two men began to systematically kick and stomp him. Each blow was a dull explosion of pain. Finally, Thief Number 2 delivered a crushing kick to his face.
Alex's vision began to fade into a red haze.
Thief Number 1 stepped over him, the metallic click of the pistol's safety being disengaged echoing in the quiet room. He aimed the barrel at Alex's head and pulled the trigger.
BANG.
Alex was dead. At least, that was the logical conclusion.
But when he opened his eyes, he wasn't in his bedroom. He was floating in a vast, dark expanse that resembled the night sky, but deeper—an endless void punctuated by shimmering stars. He looked up at the constellations, then down at his feet, seeing nothing but the infinite dark.
Then, a massive gate materialized in front of him, swinging open with a silent, majestic grace.
Alex froze, watching as a figure emerged from the light. It was a being of pure radiance, human-sized and blindingly white, devoid of clothing or features except for a pair of piercing, knowing eyes.
"What... what is your name?" Alex managed to stammer.
"I am God," the being replied, its voice echoing within Alex's mind. "And you are Alex, correct? Well, Alex, you are about to be reincarnated into a new world. A world of many races—humans, monsters, demons, and everything in between."
Alex stared into those luminous eyes. "Am I... am I going to be a hero? Do I have to save the world or something?"
God gestured, and a cup of tea appeared out of thin air. He took a calm sip before answering. "No. You will have no such obligations in this world."
Alex felt a surge of excitement. "And what about my powers? I'm going to be incredibly strong, right?"
God scratched his head, looking almost thoughtful. "Well, in the world you're going to, people aren't born with skills. You develop them over time. However, since you are a reincarnator, I'll give you a little something extra as a bonus."
Alex's eyes lit up. "Really? What kind of bonus?"
"Hold on there, champ," God said with a small, enigmatic smile. "This skill will also take time to awaken, but it will be an Ultimate Skill. My work here is done. Good luck in your new life, Alex. Try not to die so easily this time."
God extended a hand toward him.
Alex reached out, a new sense of purpose filling him. "You can count on me. I'm ready."