Alfred Curtis quickly ran away as a mob of faceless androids chased after him.

He hid around the corner of an alleyway, shivering. He wished he had a weapon, so a laser sword materialized in his hand. He turned back around to ambush them, chopping their limbs off one by one, ultimately disabling all of them.

He next found himself standing on top of a tall skyscraper, but the building was billowing smoke while on fire. He glanced at another facility nearby with a narrow wooden plank connecting them. His knees shook, and he felt the sensation of falling in the pit of his stomach while attempting to step on the plank, wishing he could fly. Then came a sweeping gust of wind that lifted him into the air. He flew across to the other building safely.

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Alfred experienced many similar scenarios, each subsequently more intense than the other.

A Purification Counselor removed a virtual headset that communicated with Alfred's neural implants. "You're all set, Mr. Curtis."

"Is that it? You can upload my consciousness now?"

"That's right, sir. Because of your terminal illness, you immediately qualify for the transfer. But we had to debug your mind first to eliminate all of your phobias and to help you overcome any past traumas. So now you're ready to begin a new life in a metaverse with unlimited possibilities."