Lambert found himself lying flat on his back in an unknown location without any sound. The surroundings were black and white, yet somehow possessing all shades. It was simultaneously the most beautiful and dullest thing Ethan had ever seen. So intimately familiar and yet strange. All of this impacted his brain all at once making him let out a low groan, which echoed out into the nothingness.

This is where he is. How did he know that? He’d like to know that too.

Leaning back down onto his back, he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. This is all just too much for him to deal with. Time ticked by until Ethan eventually got bored and could no longer ignore the issue.

Slowly opening his eyes, Ethan tried to make sense of where he was, slamming them shut once more. Too much. His brain could not handle the overwhelming amount of information that was being sent to his mind. Regardless he knew one thing.

There was no pain.

For the first time in 13 years, Ethan Lambert was at peace. For the first time, he had no worries.

For the first time, he was alone.

"Are you going to just sit there?" An unknown voice called out to him.

Snapping his head from side to side, Ethan instinctively tried to locate where the stranger's voice sounded. He seemed to have forgotten about what happened earlier in his confusion as once again he opened his eyes. Strangely he was able to see in the every-nothing.

There, standing in front of him, was a cloaked figure. Everything was different, so long as Ethan focused on the individual he could see. And all he could do was stare. Any glances away resulted in the same overload as before.

Try as he might gather his words, no sound escaped him.

Seemingly understanding something, the being waved its hand, and the surroundings changed. Now the two were residing in what looked like a standard office space with papers stacked high around the person.

Whatever it was had seated itself and turned to Ethan. Opening its palm over to the chair opposite it, the creature asked, "Will you take a seat, please."

Seeing no reason not to respond in kind to its politeness, the young man sat down. Luckily the chair was right next to him. Having spent so long in a hospital bed had atrophied the muscles in his legs that he never even considered walking again.

For a time, the two just stared at each other in silence.

"I guess I should explain as to what is happening. You have been selected to take part in an experiment." The being turned to its right and pulled out a thin file. "Now, I know that you will have some questions, but I ask you to please bear with me until I have finished."

Opening the strangely ordinary folder, the being flicked through a few pages before apparently finding what it was searching for. "You have been selected to take part in a testing ground for a new Omniversal System. These things happen now and then as the concept of reincarnation, isekai, and whatnot have become more popular. Before I go on to the specifics, you should know that this will be 100% voluntary." Here the clocked hood pulled itself up to look back at him. "You will have the choice of going through with this experience or going directly to Heaven pertaining to your faith. Are there any questions so far?"

Not really knowing anything aside from the fact that he apparently will not be forced into doing anything against his will, Ethan saw no reason to question at that moment. Instead, he will ask after it has at least explained exactly what he will be doing.

Seeing that he had none, the void within the hood looked back down to the file. "Good. Now I recall that you had dreamed of being a game designer. Still, as the pain within your body went to exceedingly high levels, you were incapable of actually studying for said position."

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Ethan had no idea how the thing could know that. He told no one of that random thought of his. But, honestly, he had wanted to be a great many things, but that was one of the most recurring he could still do from his bedside.

"What will be given to you is a means to succeed in this field. Depending on the world you will go to will depend on how this System will show itself. In a purely technological society, this System will take the form of a superior AI that will support your endeavors. It could be unique magic or even a dungeon." The being took its time going through a few more possible scenarios to give the young man more details on what he will be working with. "Well, that all depends on your luck, of course."

Shuffling towards the back of the folder, it turned to him again. "Now, would you like to try?"

Ethan remained silent throughout the entire ordeal. He was trying to understand how he had gotten into this position and if he did want to go through with this. Seeing his confusion, the creature reaffirmed that the entire process was random, that it was not he that they were after.

"Well, to tell you the truth, you were not meant to die now." His eyes widened in shock. "You would have remained in your state for another 7 years, and the pain would have only increased further. Our organization saw this as a mercy to both you and those who hold you, dear. And to answer your unspoken question, yes, we helped Darla out. So I pulled a few strings here and there to bring her back from the abyss and devoted herself to medicine after seeing everything that happened to you."

A weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The entire time the one thing he was apprehensive about was how his sister would spiral further into despair without him. Now with that answered, he felt true peace of mind.

"What will happen if I say yes?"

Writing something down, the stranger answered without looking up from his paperwork. "A wheel will be spun. You will see many different worlds on it, some you might know from fiction and others that you definitely will not as they have yet to be made. Whatever has been chosen will be where you will reside in your next life."

As the creature said this, two pieces of text appeared in his vision. On his left was YES and on his right was NO. Thinking to himself for a minute as he digested everything he received, Ethan chose YES. There was no going back as both disappeared, and a wheel replaced it.

The young Lambert saw many that were familiar as it continuously spun until it finally stopped, DC. But it didn't stop there as a second wheel showed up with only a few different options. So it turned for only 10 seconds before it showed Animated Special.

The hooded creature seemed to be shocked. How Ethan knew that he would never know, but the figure slowly turned back to him with a chuckle. "Well, you get to go to the better aspects of that multiverse. That Special means that certain laws, concepts, and characters from the Comics, Movies, TV shows, and even other multiverses are added. This will certainly be interesting."

Standing up from its desk, the figure glided past and to a door behind him. Then, with a motion of its hand, it beckoned for Ethan to follow it. The two stride together through a hallway of endless wooden doors. Or at least that is what he thought they were had all of it not been one big blur.

They finally reached their destination as the thing stopped. "Through here, you will find your new life. I only have one more thing to ask you, would you prefer to be aware of your surroundings or awaken at a later date?"

Ethan had never thought about it. Granted, everything had been moving fast, but even if he knew that he had signed up to go to another world, it had just hit him that he would have to interact with a whole other family. So he wasn't entirely sure of what would be better.

"Um, I think I would like to awaken when I turn 16, please? And if possible, could I be an orphan as I don't want to go through losing my parents again." Ethan knew that it was a little selfish, but he couldn't help it. He had grown up with the pain of losing both parents.

Whatever Ethan thought was going to happen, it didn't. The figure seemed to soften, somehow quite expressive when not a single hint was shown. "Of course. Though I’ll match it with your real birthday, which means that you will awaken during your senior year of high school.”

A chill ran through his spine. High School, the bane of all teenagers. Even if he were confined to a hospital bed for all his memorable life, hearing his older sisters rants on how mean everyone was along with the cases of bullying and fights made him immediately shout “NO!”

The cloaked man chuckled. Ethan blushed and mumbled out his solution. “Could you not just make it so I tested into school early? I heard it is easier to get into Elementary School early on than skipping grades while already in.”

He could practically hear the amused grin in the darkness under that hood. A nod was given to ease the young mans mind. “Very well.”

Hearing that last bit he steeled himself with a deep breath, Ethan opened the door and stepped through. Behind him, he could hear the figure speak.

"May you enjoy your new lot in life, true believer. The last three enjoyed my home, perhaps you will enjoy my friends? Excelsior!"