The screech of tires.
The scream of a mother.
The blur of a child frozen in panic as a city bus barreled forward, its brakes useless on wet asphalt.
M. didn't think. His body moved faster than his mind. He lunged, grabbed the kid by the back of the shirt, and hurled him toward safety.
The bumper hit him before he even realized it. A sickening thud, then blackness.
When he opened his eyes again, he wasn't in pain. He wasn't even in a body.
He floated. Disconnected, yet aware. Surrounded by an infinite void—not cold, not hot, not even silent. It was simply… there.
And then, something stood before him. Or perhaps it had always been there.
A figure, neither man nor woman, glowing with impossible light and a presence that bent time around it. It spoke, and though no mouth moved, the words echoed directly inside M's soul.
"You died."
He blinked. YeahNo shit.
"You saved a child. That child will grow to become the scientist who stops humanity's extinction. You didn't just save a boy. You saved the future."
M frowned, folding ghostly arms. "Not bad for a Tuesday."
There was a long pause—then, surprisingly, a chuckle. A warm, rolling laugh.
"You've earned your place beyond suffering. But… I like your attitude. So I'm offering you something more."
"More?"
"A second life. In a world not your own. A chance to forge something new, with power to match."
M raised an eyebrow. "You're saying I get isekai'd?"
"If that's the term you prefer, yes. A reincarnation. But with a twist."
A roulette wheel appeared beside him, massive, covered in glowing names. Planets. Universes. Games. Books. Films. Legends.
"Spin," the voice said.
M didn't hesitate. He grabbed the lever and pulled.
The wheel roared to life, spinning like a storm. His eyes flicked across the entries:
Attack on Titan… Mass Effect… Star Wars… Diablo…
Then it slowed.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The arrow landed.
"CYBERPUNK 2077"
M blinked. "Huh. Night City?"
"Indeed. And your system will be mission-based. You complete tasks, you gain rewards. Kill, and you gain power. Each confirmed kill earns you 0.01 attribute point and 0.01 skill point. These points can be freely distributed."
"Can I refuse a mission" M asked worried about being a slave to a system.
"Of course you can, the system is a reward after all"
Stats appeared in the air:
Attributes
Strength: 2.9
- A measure of attack power and physical strength.
Agility: 2.5
- A measure of speed ,dexterity and reflexes.
Vitality: 2.0
- A measure of cellular activity , regenerative ability and healing capabilities.(lifespan is calculated based on vitality)
Fortitude: 1.5
- A measure of the natural armor and resistance to any form of damage be it physical or mental ( diseases and psychological conditions are defined as physical and mental harm respectively ).
Intelligence: 1.3
- A measure of the basic ability to learn and remember ( a high intelligence doesn't directly make the host know everything it just makes the host learn everything faster than normal humans and give better memory too ).
"Humans average is 1.0 in each attribute," the voice said. "So you'll be above normal already—but nothing supernatural. Not yet."
"And what happens if one reaches 10 or a 100?" M asked, arms crossed.
"Then you unlock a supernatural skill. Something… beyond human."
Muntadher smirked. "Now we're talking."
"Now, for a bonus," the voice added. "Since I like your style, I'll allow you to customize your background, appearance, and time of reincarnation."
He thought.
"I want to be an ex-special forces soldier. Someone who fought in the Unification War against the UNSA. I want knowledge about—combat, stealth, vehicles, infiltration. And I want to have robbed the bastards blind before I left. Give me a 100 million eurodollars. Hidden. Untraceable."
The light shimmered.
"Also," he added, "I want to look like Henry Cavill. Just make the muscles more defined and a little bit bigger. If I am to choose .. why not a be a unit ,you know"
The void laughed again.
"Accepted. And the time?"
"2076. One month before Edgerunners starts. I want to have options."
"Interesting choice. And one last thing: full cyberware, partial, or…"
"100% organic," Muntadher said. "If I go under, it'll be with my soul in one piece."
"Then your request is complete."
A screen flared to life in front of him:
Skills :
Weapon Mastery: 3.8
- Mastery over every known weapon, can disassemble and reassemble guns in record timing , a true sharp shooter.
Swordsmanship: 4.0
- Mastery over every known cold weapon, a true expert.
Evasion: 3.0
- Fast and accurate evasion of attacks.
Driving: 3.5
- Mastery over anything drivable from horses to aircrafts.
Reconnaissance: 4.3
- The ability to gather information and analyze them while staying undetected or undercover
Assassination: 3.9
- The ability to perform silent killings without giving away identity, position and / or purpose.
Repairing: 3.7
- The ability to repair things be it weapons, vehicles, equipment or even structures.
(doesn't mean magical repair he still needs to operate machines or use his hand to repair things like a normal repairman)
Blocking: 3.0
- The ability to block and nullify attacks successfully
Hand-to-Hand Mastery: 4.0
Cold Blooded: 5.0
- The host ability to keep his cool under unexpected situations and pressure.
Supernatural Skills: None.
"Ready?" the voice asked.
M took a long breath. His old life was gone. Whatever this next one held… he'd survive it. He'd thrive in it.
He grinned.
"Drop me in."
The void collapsed.
And he fell—through code, through fire, through light.
Into the neon hell of Night City.