Hmmm….

This place sure is dark….

Is this… limbo?

…

Egon Martel.

That was his name.

And he is dead.

He vividly remembered how it all happened, almost like each moment etched into his very consciousness.

At that time, just like any other day in his simple, monotonous, yet happy life, he woke up, took a shower, prepared all of his notebooks and other things for his community college class, trudged to the bus station and got inside the bus when it arrived. The same dance he performed every single day for years.

It should have been like any other day, the same routine that is being repeated over and over again, like a broken record stuck on the same track. But something different happened that day.

Something that shattered his mundane existence.

For some unknown reason, someone has decided that hijacking a public transport bus was a good idea. 

Come to think of it, maybe that guy is a robber who is being chased by the police and is trying to use the bus as a place to hide?

Anyway, he was on his phone at the time—absorbed in some article about sleep-inducing techniques—when chaos erupted.

The bus had been eerily quiet that morning, which made the sudden scream even more jarring. When he looked up from his screen, reality twisted into a nightmare - a man wearing a mountain mask, wild eyes visible through the holes, clutching a gun with white-knuckled hands.

It took his brain precious seconds to catch up, to process what was actually occurring.

A hostage situation.

Maybe that man was enraged that his escape plan failed, or maybe he was on his wit's end and was planning to take everyone down with him, or perhaps it's even something else entirely—but when the cops started to surround the bus the man just… snapped.

The gunman exploded, bullets spraying indiscriminately, tearing through flesh and metal alike. Screams filled the air as passengers fell.

That's one of the most memorable moments of his life—no, his death. Adrenaline flooded his system, making everything move in surreal slow-motion. Through the sea of panicking bodies, he saw it—the masked man turning his gun toward a child. 

A little girl, tears streaming down her face as she shook her mother's lifeless body.

He didn't know why he did it. There was no time to think, no time to weigh options. His body moved on its own, shoving through the crowd of panicked passengers like they were made of paper, throwing himself between them.

Then his chest exploded in searing pain..

And then, he's here. 

Surrounded with nothing but darkness. 

If this is how the afterlife is, then it's not all that bad. 

Pretty peaceful, actually.

Just needed to lay down and sleep.

Hm? 

The darkness... is fading?

"I see you are finally awake."

A... powerful... sound reached his ear, like thunder given voice, catching his full attention in an instant.

It sounded like a man's voice, but something felt... off. No, not just off - it was different. Yet he couldn't quite grasp what made it so unique, like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. 

While lost in his thoughts, more shapes began materializing at the edges of his vision.

He looked up and realized he wasn't alone anymore. Others were there with him, all wearing identical expressions of confusion as they took in their surroundings. Then it hit him - these were the same faces he'd seen on the bus, now gathered in this strange place between existence and void.

Though, there is no trace of that crying girl.

That’s a relief.

A middle-aged businessman in a wrinkled suit was the first to speak. "Where... where are we?"

"The last thing I remember was..." A young woman in nurse scrubs touched her chest, where blood had stained her uniform. "Oh god. Oh god, no."

"Do not be afraid."

The voice rang out again, clear and commanding. Everyone turned, searching for its source, but Egon saw nothing but light - pure, formless radiance. Strangely, looking at it didn't hurt. It felt natural, like gazing at an old friend.

"This can't be real," muttered an elderly man, clutching his cane. "I have grandchildren waiting for me at home. I promised to take them to the park today."

What was this being? Some supernatural entity beyond human comprehension? A god? 

After dying and ending up in what seemed like limbo, the existence of divine beings didn't seem so far-fetched anymore.

"Death is natural, it's a cycle every living being goes through."

The response was immediate and chaotic. "What?!" "NO!" "W-wait..." "LIAR!" "Why did it have to be me?!"

A teenage girl collapsed to her knees. "Mom... Dad... I didn't even say goodbye this morning..."

"This is that bastard's fault!" A man shouted, his face red with anger. "That piece of shit with the gun! I had a life! A family!"

"Please," a pregnant woman sobbed, hands protectively over her belly. "Please, my baby... they haven't even had a chance to live..."

Some collapsed in tears. Others raged against their fate. A few stood silent, processing. 

Egon had already accepted his death, but hearing it confirmed by this higher being made it feel more... permanent.

"Is there... is there no going back?" A teenage girl asked, She stood alone, tears streaming down her face.

"Nothing is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable to occur in all sorts of things, even in the system, such as this event involving all of you, a mistake that ends your cycle abruptly."

A mistake? 

Everyone makes mistakes, huh?'

The thought was oddly comforting - that even an almighty being could err. 

Sure, he was dead, but what could he do about it? 

Only the entity before them might have the power to change that, and throwing a tantrum would probably just make things worse. Better to stay calm and see what happens next.

The businessman had stopped shouting and now sat with his head in his hands. "My daughter's wedding... It's next month. I was supposed to walk her down the aisle."

"I just got accepted to medical school," the young woman whispered to no one in particular. 

As his thoughts settled, curiosity began to bloom. 

What was going to happen next?

 It would be nice if there was a place where he could watch over everyone, like heaven and the sort….

 Wait.

If heaven existed, then his parents must be there! 

After all these years, could he finally see them again?

Looks like dying early is not all that bad after all.

The others around him continued to process their fates in their own ways - some finding acceptance, others still raging against the unfairness of it all. Their voices mixed together in a symphony of grief, anger, and disbelief, while that strange, comforting light continued to watch over them all.

He would do anything to go hug them one more time and tell them everything that happened so far, although his mom would definitely reprimand him for not getting a girlfriend. 

He had tried of course, but he always fumbled it. Too shy, too awkward, too... himself.

"But when one door closes, another opens, the system must continue and mistakes are rectified."

Suddenly a warm wave of light engulfed everyone but rather than panic, it felt warm. Like being wrapped in his mother's favorite blanket. 

Looking around, he noticed that the others had calmed too, their faces softening as the light touched them.

"Thus, a choice is presented to you." 

The-thing-that-he-dubbed-for-the moment as god spoke again. 

"To vanish into the void, to fade as all things must—Or to walk a new path, one free of the burdens you once carried and what you might even consider a gift."

"But know this—the cycle demands balance. What is given, something must be taken. Should you choose to return to life, it shall be as a clean slate. Your past—your memories, your lives—will be swept away, as if they never were. But your knowledge shall remain."

Some in the crowd gasped, the sound echoing in the vast emptiness.

"You will awaken once more, but not as who you once were. Change will happen. This is not a blessing, nor a curse. It is simply the way of things."

That... that seemed too heavy to think about. Like trying to grasp the weight of the universe itself.

"Yes! I get to be an Isekai protagonist!" 

"Really!? Then I can build my own harem!"

But that line of thought died when some guys yelled out in glee, soon, a cascade followed of others sharing that sentiment and started demanding more. 

Their voices grew louder, more insistent, like children at a candy store.

"I want super strength! And laser eyes!" A young man in torn jeans shouted, practically bouncing with excitement.

The businessman who had been grieving about his daughter's wedding suddenly straightened up. "Unlimited wealth! That's what I need. I'll make sure my family never wants for anything!"

"Immortality! Give me immortality!" 

"Mind reading powers!" 

"I want to fly!"

"Make me invincible!" 

"Give me magic powers like in those shows!"

Immense magical and physical power, mind control, invisibility, vast riches, absolute luck, immortality, omniscient knowledge, and the list went on and on. Even some were approaching the light with their hands extended in wait, as if they could simply grab what they wanted.

Egon just stayed in his spot, watching the people around him in less of a confusion, more of a concern.

That… god thing, how could they even speak to it like that and have the bravery to make demands? But at the same time, he couldn't help but think about what he could ask for himself.

Although, he wouldn't be so brazen to ask or demand something from a being that while maybe not god, is still godly.

He would probably send a plea, or a request. 

"C̷a̴l̶m̷."

That's when a weight fills the air, pressing down upon him, everyone, an unseen force demanding calmness.

"You mistake this for bargaining. You mistake my words for promises of glory.”

“They are not.”

"This is not a gift to be haggled over. Not a blessing to be shaped by your greed. It is balance. It is the way of things."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

A pause, deep and absolute, stretching beyond time itself, like the space between heartbeats.

"You were offered continuance, not power. A chance, not privilege."

"To be reborn is to be stripped of what you once were. No name. No memories. Only the present remains." 

"If you cannot accept this, then vanish. Return to the void, and trouble the cycle no more."

The air hummed with a finality, like a great cosmic mechanism settling into place.

"But if you submit to the rules that govern all things, then go forth into your new existence."

As soon as that entity spoke those words a great light swallowed everyone... except for him. 

He was alone again, standing in the vast emptiness, watching the others fade away like morning mist.

"How unorthodox." 

The voice was no longer commanding, but filled with something else... curiosity? 

"Mortal existence never ceases to surprise me."

The-thing-that-he-dubbed-for-the moment as god is actually paying attention to him.

Why? 

Is it because he didn’t disappear like the rest?

But he didn’t know why that happened! 

"You remain, not because you resisted, but because you had no need to grasp."

— Did it just answer his question?

Wait, no need to grasp? 

Hold on a second…. was it about him not asking about powers and the like as the others?

"Virtue... a concept I have witnessed, yet seldom with such clarity."

It seemed doing good deeds while alive had its benefits. 

Though he hadn't saved that child expecting any reward - it had just felt right.

"Know this—reincarnation is neither a blessing nor a curse. It is an opportunity. The path one walks matters little, for in the end, the cycle continues, regardless of light or darkness."

Was that praise? 

Was it possible a god was actually praising him?

"Yet even in infinity, there are moments worth recognizing. You are one such moment."

No, this godly entity was actually praising him! 

He didn't know how to react, or what to think about that. He was happy, even overjoyed but he didn't know what else to do or say. Or if he should even say anything at all. 

How does one respond to praise from what might be a god?

"Balance must be maintained. To give, I must also take. But perhaps..."

A pulse of unseen energy rippled outward, like ripples in a pond but through reality itself.

"Perhaps, there is a way for you to walk a different path."

What did that entity mean by that?

"Now, let us see where this opportunity leads."

There was another pulse of energy that phased through him, but he remained silent, just watching what was unfolding before him, afraid that speaking might break whatever moment this was.

"Interesting. You do not seek perfection, only to stumble less and have the same chance as others. Perhaps that is why I find your case worthy of such a difference."

Well, this entity was somewhat correct. 

Because of his naivety, and perhaps stupidity, he made a lot of mistakes. Perhaps if he read more books or experienced more things, many of those mistakes would never have happened in the first place.

He also had osteogenesis imperfecta and osteoporosis, which means his body is fragile, his bones specifically, they are brittle and break easily, just slipping on a banana is enough to send him to the hospital, for example.

He had always dreamed that if he ever got a chance to make a wish upon a star, it would have the body of a normal person.

He never wanted a robust body, one that is better than the others, just a body that allowed him to gain the same experience as his peers, to not be restricted to many things that others could do. 

It was another of his regrets, to not being able to enjoy things like sports.

Come to think of it, his weak body is probably a factor in some of the mistakes that he made.

When one body is too weak, many options simply vanish.

"Very well. I shall grant your innate requests. A body to endure, and a mind that strays from failure."

He didn't know what to say.

He never spoke a single thing, yet it granted him the very thing he wanted. 

Could it read his very soul?

It... It was really hard to understand what was happening or even comprehend it, but at least he was content with the events unfolding before him. 

Whatever came next, he felt at peace with it.

"The world awaits you—harsh, unforgiving, ever-moving so as the rest, everything to not disrupt the balance. I have set you upon a path, but how you walk it remains your own."

"Go forth. Endure. Strive. And let your cycle continue."

A new life…

"Thank you."

And the same light as before finally engulfed him whole, carrying him toward whatever destiny awaited.

<+>

A sliver of sunlight pierced through his eyelids, rousing a red-haired man from sleep. 

The man raised a hand instinctively to shield his eyes, but the damage was done - he was already awake. 

A yawn escaped him, his free hand moving automatically to cover his mouth.

Strange... Why did his head feel hurt? 

When he blinked to clear his vision, he found himself staring up at a canopy of green leaves.

The hard surface, he realized, was the rough bark of a tree pressing against his back.

He had been sleeping on a tree. 

Huh, no wonder his back felt hurt.

Wait, why was he sleeping on a tree? Better question, why was he sleeping in the middle of a forest to begin with?

Think.

Both hands clutched at his head as he tried to find an explanation. But that concern quickly became secondary as another, more terrifying realization hit him.

He couldn't remember anything. 

Well, anything about how he'd arrived here or fallen asleep in this forest. But at the same time he couldn’t remember his name.

Panic seized him, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps as the magnitude of his situation sank in. 

His entire life was just... gone. 

Everything started right now, in this moment - waking up against this tree was like his first memory.

Eventually, he wrapped his arms around himself and forced himself to take deep breaths, leaning back against the same tree until his heart stopped racing. 

The panic wasn't helping. There had to be some explanation for all this.

Once calmer, he began studying his surroundings more carefully, searching for clues about his location. 

He was in a forest of tall trees, and the sun was still visible through the canopy.

That observation sparked something in his mind - an idea that felt both foreign and natural at the same time. 

If he could climb to the top of the tree...

He sprang to his feet and looked up. 

Yes - getting a higher vantage point could help him understand where he was, maybe spot some landmarks or signs of civilization.

He jumped at the tree, trying to get a grip around the trunk… Only to fall flat on his ass the next second. 

"Oww..." He got back up, rubbing his sore butt.

But as he studied the tree again, something shifted in his perception. Subtle details caught his attention - the spacing of branches, slight irregularities in the bark that could serve as handholds. 

He tried again. 

Another fall.

And again. 

Each failed attempt taught him something new, adjustments he needed to make.

A slightly higher climb before falling. 

With each attempt, the path upward became clearer, as if his mind was mapping out the perfect sequence of moves needed.

What seemed impossible at first slowly became achievable through this strange, instinctive learning process. 

Each failure added another piece to the puzzle until, finally, he found himself at the top of the tree, though his butt had paid the price for that knowledge.

But that moment of triumph didn't last long as he could only see trees, a vast sea of green trees in every direction. 

If he didn't count the mountains in the distance but still, that was a complete bummer. 

A big killjoy of his small victory.

Okay, so there’s nothing around him but trees.

He needed to focus on other things before he decided to walk in any direction. Otherwise, he would just die trying, and he didn't want to test his luck anymore. 

Water and food were pretty important, so he will try to find both of those first. 

That was the current main objective.

And now that he thought about it, this particular tree was pretty sturdy and thick, he could maybe set up some quick shelter around it. 

Hitting the surface again he made his decision and quickly climbed down the tree before looking on the ground. 

And thankfully, he quickly found a rather sharp looking rock, something which he picked up and used to make a big mark on the tree bark. 

From there he started to mark all the subsequent trees to create a path to follow and return to the same spot, because he sure as hell didn't want to get anymore lost than he already was.

Hmmm… should he go to the right? 

For some reason, he prefers to go to the right…

Well, since he had nothing to lose from doing either way, he just went with his gut, not forgetting to leave a mark on each tree that he passed.

Eventually, he heard the sound of running water, and he didn't hesitate to run to that noise and be greeted by a river. 

A wide running flow of crystalline river. 

He pumped his fist in victory, this river basically solved both his water and food problem, since this kind of river is usually filled with fish, which is basically swimming food.

So, he kneeled close to the shore and with both hands cupped some water and drank some, feeling refreshed and surprised as the water didn't taste weird. 

Then, he focused on the next thing, which is catching fish and turning it into food. Doing it by hand is doable, but not really practical, so he would need to use some sort of tool, but since he didn't have anything in hand, he had to make it. 

For that, he needed some materials.

Hmmm... what should he make? 

Since it's a fish, it's either a net or a spear, but since this is a river that didn’t look too deep, a spear would be better. 

Now, he needed to look for a long stick and use some rock to make it sharp.

So he quickly started looking around and then moving to the trees, not forgetting to keep marking the path he was going through and then check if the branches were frail enough that he could pull them off. 

Soon enough, he got a large branch which he was able to easily rip off, and from there, he began to work, sharpening the tip until he got a sharp end.

To his surprise, his hands somehow moved with such precision that each stroke of the rock against the branch seemed to land exactly where it needed to. Though he couldn't remember ever making a spear before, his body seemed to know exactly what to do, guided by some instinct he didn't understand but was grateful for.

After a while, he completed the spear. 

After doing some checking of nearby trees and ground, he found that the tip was sharp enough that it could easily pierce through flesh and scales, and the wood was sturdy enough that it wouldn't break on impact. 

With his newly crafted weapon, he walked back to the shore and stood there with the spear at the ready, focusing all his attention to catch his next meal with it. 

The water was clear enough that he could see many fish swimming about, and one particularly came into view, so he waited till it got closer to him, remaining still like a statue.

And once it was close enough he lunged, only to miss as the fish darted away faster than he anticipated. 

Maybe the water's current had thrown off his aim?

Yeah, it was discouraging, but he could only try again.

This time, he adjusted his posture to account for the water's distortion, he also got closer to the water's edge for better accuracy. 

After a few tries, compensating a bit to the left each time, he's finally able to catch something. 

A fish is trashing at the tip of his spear, it’s not big, but it’s not small either, it’s enough for a meal or two.

Now, he needed to make a fire, eating it raw was out of the question. The risk of parasites wasn't worth it. 

However, to make fire he needed wood, and not any wood but dry wood, so he impaled the spear deep into the ground and headed into the forest for materials. 

He searched carefully, gathering small fallen branches that snapped easily - a sign they were properly dried - along with dried leaves that would make good tinder. 

He took all of them back to where he left the spear, following the marked trees and continuing to mark his path, the sharp rock leaving clear gouges in the bark.

He dropped everything and arranged the materials carefully - smaller twigs and dried leaves in the center for tinder, progressively larger sticks arranged around them for kindling, ready to catch once the tinder lit. 

He went back to the river and picked several flat stones which he put in a circle around the dried wood before trying to strike two of them together to create a spark.

Which doesn't work. 

The stones weren't the right type. So ditching them, he grabbed a straight stick and a rather thick piece of wood with a slight depression in it. He placed some of the finest, driest leaves beneath the depression and started creating friction as fast as he could, spinning the stick between his palms until they started to burn.

While tiresome, and despite his palms becoming sore, he eventually got it, as he got the burnt smell of wood and spotted the black coal-like color forming in the depression. He quickly–but carefully—dumped the embryonic ember onto his waiting tinder and started blowing steadily, controlling his breath to provide consistent oxygen without dispersing the delicate materials. 

His efforts were rewarded with the satisfying cracking sound of fire catching, small flames beginning to lick at the larger twigs.

So with another small victory achieved, he grabbed the spear with the fish and took the fish off. He used the sharp rock to gut it carefully, trying to avoid rupturing any organs that might taint the meat. 

After cleaning it thoroughly in the river, he fashioned a crude spit from a green branch and put it over the fire to let it cook.

Since he got mostly everything set up, he sat in silence, waiting until his food cooked perfectly, even if the smell caused his mouth to water slightly, he still sat still and waited patiently. 

He rotated the fish occasionally, ensuring it cooked evenly on all sides.

After some time, he finally took a good bite of his lunch. 

The meat was flaky and had cooked through properly, even if it was lacking any sort of seasoning. 

It wasn't the tastiest thing ever, it was really bland but he wasn't going to complain, it was the only food he had at the moment. At least it would give him the energy he needed.

But that peaceful moment of lunch was interrupted by a bustling and rustling sound of leaves, something that caused his head to snap at the source of the noises. 

The sounds were too deliberate to be just wind.

Alarmed, he went to hide behind a thick tree, his half-eaten fish still in hand, wondering if it's a wild beast attracted to the smell of the food. 

His heart started beating faster as the rustling grew closer.

His body froze as the image of a small black bear popped out of the bushes, its dark fur glossy in the patches of sunlight filtering through the canopy. It moved cautiously, sniffing the ground with clear interest before it lifted its snout and looked straight at him.

He instinctively tried to run away but stopped himself, it was a small bear, which means it’s young and can be scared off.

His hands gripped the branch he was holding tighter, ready to raise it above his head and shout if needed.

But before he could act on his thoughts, something strange happened. The small bear's ears suddenly perked up, its whole body tensing. 

Then without warning, it bolted away, back into the bushes as if something had terrified it.

Was it scared away? 

Did it see him with the spear? 

He didn't do anything though...

Unless... 

As if on cue with his thoughts, there was another rustling of leaves, but it’s louder.

It’s coming from his right. 

Snapping his head in that direction, he felt his stomach drop.

There, he saw a massive skull walk into view.

A bear skull to be exact, stark white with glowing red markings, attached to a massive pitch black body that is covered in bone spikes that jutted out like armor. 

The creature was like something straight out from a nightmare.

He immediately scrambled to his feet, which caused the giant bear monster to lock eyes with him. He glanced at the cooked fish now on the ground and started to back away from it.

There’s a chance that this bear is because of the fish scent, if he back away far enough, there’s a chance that it would focus on the fish instead of him.

His hope was dashed.

The monster was still star-focused on him, seemingly oblivious to the fish in the ground, those burning red eyes glued to him, never leaving him, which only made him even more nervous. 

A tight knot formed around his throat, suffocating him. 

The way it stared at him felt... wrong. 

It was obvious from the get go that this wasn't some kind of animal seeking food.

And the tipping point was when it growled, a sound unlike anything a natural bear would make, and started walking.

In HIS direction.

Seeing that, he pivoted on his heels and broke into a frantic run. The monster let out an ear-splitting roar that shook everything - trees, ground, his very bones - and started chasing him.