I was only 46 years old, but as I finished my last beer and looked around my small, garbage filled apartment, I felt much older. My once muscular frame had given way to layers of fat, and my hair had turned completely white. Tears welled up in my eyes as I gazed into the cracked mirror, barely recognizing the man staring back at me.

The table beside me was buried under a mountain of unpaid bills, each one a reminder of how far I'd fallen.

Life had not always been this way for me. Once, I had a loving wife and a best friend I trusted more than anyone. We had shared countless memories, laughter, and dreams for the future. But all of that had crumbled to ashes, when I discovered the ultimate betrayal. My wife had cheated on me behind my back for years, and she left me for him... my best friend of all people, she shattered my heart, leaving me in a spiral of depression and self-destruction for years. I lost my job, my home, and eventually, my will to live.

The nights were the hardest. The silence of the apartment was deafening to my soul, it was filled with the echoes of my regrets and the whispers of what could have been. I tried to drown my sorrows in alcohol, but it only deepened my despair. Each day felt like an insurmountable mountain, and I was exhausted from the climb.

One night, as I sat alone in the darkness, the weight of my failures became unbearable to live on any longer. I couldn't see a way out. I made my decision. I reached for the bottle of pills on the counter, my hands begun to tremble as I unscrewed the cap. Tears streamed down my face as I swallowed the pills, one by one, each gulp a step closer to ending my pain.

Collapsing onto my filthy mattress, regret washed over me like a tidal wave. My vision blurred, and a chill spread through my limbs. The world faded to black.

In that void, there was an eerie calm. The silence felt warm, almost comforting. As I drifted further into the darkness, a soft voice pierced through the void. "I will give you one more chance, my child. Live your life to the fullest."

Suddenly, a bright flash enveloped me. I blinked, struggling against the intense light, and found myself in a place that was both familiar and strange. As my eyes adjusted, I saw a small figure standing before me.

It was Jaken, my childhood friend from when I was nine years old. We were sitting outside on a crisp morning, a cold breeze rustling the leaves around us, while we enjoyed the warmth of a campfire.

My heart pounded as I absorbed the scene. This day was etched in my memory—it was the day I told Jaken I would be leaving our village to live in another country. I could still see the disbelief in Jaken's eyes as he processed my words.

"Dio, what's up? You look like you've seen a ghost," Jaken said, his young face filled with concern.

I was speechless. I had been given another chance. The pain and regret of my former life were still fresh, but now I had the opportunity to rewrite my story. I looked into Jaken's eyes, feeling the weight of my words.

"Jaken, I... I need to tell you something important," I began, my voice trembling with emotion.

Jaken's eyes widened. "What is it, Dio?"

Taking a deep breath, I felt the cold breeze and the warmth of the campfire, grounding myself in the moment. "I'm going to leave the village soon. But this time, I'm going to make sure I live my life to the fullest. I promise you that."

Jaken looked at me, confused. "Okay? You do that, buddy," he said with a grin.

I smiled back, feeling a renewed sense of life. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew I had been given a precious gift. This time, I wouldn't waste it.

We sat in silence for a while, enjoying the crackling of the fire. Jaken suddenly perked up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Hehe, you know, Dio, you won't believe the size of the fish I caught yesterday! It was this big!" He spread his arms wide, exaggerating the size of the fish.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Sure it was, Jaken. You've been saying that since we were kids."

"No, really! This one was the biggest yet. I think it might have been a record-breaker," he insisted, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Alright, alright," I said, smiling faintly. "Next time, you'll have to bring it to show me."

Jaken looked at me more closely, noticing my lack of enthusiasm. His grin faded, replaced by a look of concern. "Hey, Dio, you okay? You seem... different. What's going on?"

I didn't want to ruin this moment. I knew I would have to leave tomorrow, so I chose to enjoy this day without worrying instead. Putting on a more convincing smile, I leaned in. "Wow, Jaken, that sounds amazing! You know what? Let's go fishing today. I want to see if I can catch one even bigger than yours."

Jaken's face lit up with joy. "Really? You mean it? That sounds like a great idea, Dio! Let's do it!"

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We grabbed our fishing gear and headed towards the river, the excitement of the day pushing away my worries. As we walked by the river, Jaken kept talking about his fishing adventures, his smile and laughter infectious as always. We reached our favorite spot by the river, the water glistening under the morning sun.

Jaken cast his line into the water, his eyes focused. "You know, Dio, it's been a while since we did this. Remember the time we both caught fish at the same time and mine was bigger?"

I laughed, casting my own line. "Yeah, and I remember you bragging about it for weeks. Let's see if you can keep up today."

As the day went on, we shared stories and laughter, the bond of our friendship growing stronger. Jaken's enthusiasm and joy were contagious, lifting my spirits. I realized that this moment, this simple joy of being with a friend, was something I had taken for granted in my past life.

"Hey, Jaken," I said as I reeled in a fish, "thanks for being here. This means a lot to me."

Jaken looked at me, smiling. "Of course, Dio. We're best friends."

I nodded, feeling a sense of peace I hadn't felt in years. In my adult life, I had lost everyone and become a loner. The betrayal by my wife and best friend had isolated me, and the subsequent spiral into depression had driven away anyone who might have cared. The nights spent alone in my apartment, surrounded by silence and regret, had been a stark contrast to this moment of camaraderie and simple joy.

I was grateful for this second chance. This moment reminded me of the value of friendship and connection, things I had lost sight of as my life unraveled. I didn't know what the future held, but for now, I was determined to cherish every moment and rebuild the bonds that truly mattered.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting dappled patterns on the water, I felt a sudden tug on my fishing line. I glanced down and saw the line pulling taut, the tip of my rod bending under the weight.

"Hey, Jaken, I think I've got something big!" I called out, excitement surging through me.

Jaken looked up from his own rod, eyes wide with anticipation. "Fish it, Dio! It must be a big one!"

I stood up, gripping the rod tightly as I began to reel in the line. The fish on the other end fought hard, thrashing and pulling with surprising strength. The rod bent further, and my muscles strained as I struggled to keep control.

"Wow, this one's a fighter!" I exclaimed, my heart racing. The fish was putting up a tremendous fight, and I could feel the tension in the line as it darted back and forth, trying to escape.

Jaken rushed over, his face a mix of concern and excitement. "Hang in there, Dio! Don't let it get away! Keep reeling it in!"

I gritted my teeth and continued to reel, my arms burning with the effort. The fish seemed determined to evade capture, but I was equally determined to land it. The struggle went on for what felt like an eternity, each moment filled with the thrill of the battle.

Finally, after what seemed like an endless tug-of-war, I managed to bring the fish close enough to the surface. Jaken leaned over, ready to help. "Almost there, Dio! Just a little more!"

With one final heave, the fish broke the surface of the water, its shimmering scales reflecting the sunlight. It was huge, easily the biggest fish I had ever seen. Jaken and I stared in awe as I carefully lifted it out of the water.

"Holy cow, Dio! That's a monster!" Jaken shouted, his voice filled with amazement.

I couldn't help but laugh, the weight of the fish pulling me slightly off balance. "I can't believe it! This is incredible!"

We both looked at the fish, marveling at its size and beauty. It was a stunning creature, its scales a mix of silver and blue, glistening in the sunlight. Jaken and I exchanged a triumphant grin.

"High five, man! We did it!" Jaken said, raising his hand.

I slapped his hand with mine, the sound of our high five echoing across the river. "We sure did! This is unbelievable!"

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, we packed up our gear and headed back to the village. The day had been perfect—a rare, precious gift.

Jaken's laughter and our shared triumph over the huge fish had lifted my spirits in a way I hadn't felt in years.

As we walked, I suddenly heard a soft, soothing voice in my head.

"Congratulations, Dio. You have leveled up. Please choose which stats to upgrade."

I stopped in my tracks, eyes widening in shock. A glowing display appeared before me, filled with strange symbols and numbers. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.

"Dio? What's wrong?" Jaken asked, noticing my sudden halt and the confused look on my face.

"I... I don't know," I stammered, staring at the display. "There's this... thing in front of me. It's saying I've leveled up and need to choose stats to upgrade."

Jaken looked around, seeing nothing but the familiar surroundings of our village. "What are you talking about, Dio? There's nothing there."

I pointed to the glowing display, hoping Jaken could somehow see it too. "Right here! It says 'level up' and 'choose stats.' What does that even mean?"

Jaken scratched his head, clearly puzzled. "Dio, I don't see anything. Are you feeling okay? You've been acting strange today."

Panic began to set in. Was I going crazy? The display floated in front of me, waiting for my input, but I had no idea what to do. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "Okay, okay. Let's think about this. If this is real, I need to choose something. But what?"

The display listed various stats: 10 Strength, 8 Agility, 5 Intelligence, 2 Endurance, 5 Charm. Each had a plus sign next to it, indicating I could increase them.

"Maybe it's some kind of game," I muttered to myself. "If I have to choose, I should pick something that will help me."

I hesitated, my mind racing. Finally, I decided to increase my Strength and Endurance, figuring they would be the most useful for whatever lay ahead. As I selected the stats, the display flickered and disappeared, leaving me standing there, bewildered but determined.

Jaken watched me with concern. "Dio, are you sure you're alright? You looked really freaked out."

I nodded slowly, still processing what had just happened. "Yeah, I think so. It's just... a lot to take in. But I feel... different. Stronger."

Jaken smiled, patting me on the back. "Well, whatever it was, it seems to have worked. Come on, let's get home. We've got a big fish to show off!"

As we continued our walk back to the village, I couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary had just begun. I had been given a second chance at life, and now it seemed I had been granted some mysterious new abilities as well. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope and excitement.

Dio Stat's Info

Lvl: 1

Strength:15

Agility:8

Intelligence:5

Endurance:7

Charm:5