A red flashing started in his vision, words he couldn't quite clearly comprehend. Erik floated in an endless abyss, only thankful that the agonizing pain had finally subsided from his chest, stomach and head all at once. The luminescent strobes in front of his eyes continued in a slow, rhythmic pattern like an old rotating sign at night. Lifting a hand Erik looked at what he thought would be his hand, only to find nothing there. This is where he began to freak out, the sensation of a phantom limb, flailing about and only coming to find himself spinning in place.

What is going on?

The only thought that rolled through his mind, which seemed to cause something to click into place with his previous lack of comprehension. The flashing words seemed to grow from the fog now, golden boarders surrounding the letters as they grew to the letters of the English language.

"You are dead"

There was no punctuation to it, and it just continuously flashed it's red and gold coloration at him. Had Erik had a head, it would have tilted the slightest bit to one side. Then he tried to speak, as if to object to this absurdity. His voice did not free itself, it remained within him, and then he had to think.

No way. . . I'm still in my seat, I still have my helmet on. . . I'm about to wake up and go get some food!

Denial was the route to take on this one! He was certain of it, he wasn't dead at all, nope, not one bit.

Minutes ticked by before he had to come to the finality of his situation. Erik truly was dead, he floated around in an empty abyss with only those three words to mock him. As if coming to the acceptance of this situation was the key, the words shined brighter for a second. Starting from the center and spreading out like a golden wave of pixels before dispersing at the edges. Then it began to change, becoming a soft blue hue, and spelling out something new.

"Welcome to the beginning of your life Erik. You will be reborn, do try not to mess it up this time?"

Now he knew something, or someone was fucking with him. Had he had his arms they'd have been crossed, and a scowl would have been on his face. This was not funny, but he gave the words what could have only been considered an eyeroll. To which the words responded with by completely disappearing. Only to reappear as something altogether different once more.

"You'll like this new life, Blue Mage."

This caught his interest, he remembered that being in one of his latest RPGs. It was a class that some found difficult, others found enticing, and everyone agreed, was completely borked. Then his mind went blank, as the empty abyss was pushed into a pinprick point, while a golden light surrounded his entirety.

"A boy Linda!"

The booming voice of a man cried out, while Erik flopped about, just like a newborn. Due to the shock of return from that dark abyss, his motor functions were all out of whack and his limbs began to flail about until his eyes fell upon his hands.

No, no, no, no. . .

Erik couldn't find his voice, as blue eyes landed on chubby, tiny hands, connected to the same type of arms. Then his hands and arms were spread apart as his eyes landed upon this woman named Linda. A middle-aged woman, lay wrapped within a blanket, the signs of tears and receeding pain stuck upon her face as a large hand came into his line of view. A finger came down to touch the tip of his nose, as her voice sprang free. A weak, almost whispered response to the early exclamation about what Erik assumed was his own gender.

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"Hello my little boy. . . Erik."

Erik mentally cringed, he was keeping his same name. Though now he could see the woman's face completely. She had the same piercing, sapphire-blue eyes as he did, with black curls falling just at he could only assume was shoulder length, with her laying down and all. Just as soon as he'd commited her vision to mind, he was helplessly brought about to see a man. Another booming voice that wasn't the same as before called out.

"Erik Gauldenson! Hello my boy!"

More piercing blue eyes, what was this? Though this man had orange locks rolling clearly down past his shoulders, but that was all Erik could tell before his head began to fall back. A sensation of vertigo overtook him, before his head was pushed back up. Erik's head was spinning from this little bit of a trip. As his head came to a stop, his blue eyes landed upon this man, before his stomach made a loud gurgle, and then whatever had been there came up, spewing upon this new man.

"Gods above and below. . Already attacking his old man."

It was a whispered, almost angry stretch of words. Then it hit the baby in his hands, this man holding him, was his father. As this revelation came to him, the woman, Linda, spoke up.

"That's because you didn't support his head Gaulden. Also, his last name isn't to be Gauldenson, Yorikson. His name is Erik Usoro."

"By the Gods, you'd name him after one of the Gods?"

The response was immediate, however, Erik was lost upon this conversation, which faded into the background for him. He was certain he understood these people, and soon his eyes were roaming the small room. A lot of wood. . . Like more than should be in a house that wasn't furniture, it truly stumped him. That was until he was pulled back into his mother's arms and cradled.

". . .the God of monsters no less. ."

Was where the conversation picked back up for Erik. Though, due to his own experiences, Erik already knew that this conversation was over between his new parents. He felt himself getting rocked in the arms of his mother, and the sense of comfort that came off of her was great. As he lay there, he was facing towards the ceiling. A peculiar lack of a fan caught his attention and was the last thing he thought about before his eyes closed.

He was unconscious, instantly within this woman's embrace in tandem with her rocking. What had he expected, honestly? He didn't know, he was gaming and now he was a baby. . So strange.

Unbidden, in this state of unconsciousness, a screen appeared before his mind's eye. He knew what this was instinctively, a character sheet. Not to mention it seemed to display information, based on his previous life to his current situation.

Name: Erik Carter John Erik Usoro Age (Relative): Adult (34) Newborn (1 day) Class: Nerd Baby Job: Computer Technician Baby Miscellaneous: Gamer Baby

Someone or something was absolutely messing with him. He knew it, he could feel it, this character sheet was different compared to many he'd seen in games and- Wait, why was his class Nerd!? He had a mental grumble over this one, but just as if it had never been the character sheet began to erase everything from his past life, leaving only the stuff relavent to his new reality.

Welp, thanks whatever thing or person for letting me keep my memories and mind intact. . . Didn't need to experience the baby's perspective of childbirth though.

Then as if in response to his thoughts a voice invaded his mind with a soothing and teasing chuckle.

You are welcome, Erik Usoro, house of Gundenson, my namesake. I do hope it will come in handy in this new life of yours.

This new voice in his head left him in a state of not knowing what to say, do or think. Though, this alien voice didn't come back, leaving him to his unconscious thoughts and the character sheet which seemed to be evolving as deeper sleep started to take him, leaving him to mull in the endless abyss once more.