My head was already throbbing from the long, boring explanation.
Trust me 90% of it was filler.
"Okay, okay! I got it. You don't need to repeat it again."
I sighed, massaging my temples as the little cube hovered nearby, still yapping away.
"So, you guys are sending me to another world. One where I can 'nurture' my potential... and help fight this big bad deity of destruction, yadda yadda, the end of everything."
[Correct! Correct, Monsieur! We are sending you to a plane of existence where your potential may blossom! And in time, with that growth, you shall aid us all!]
"Right. Two questions then. First: am I being born into a new body, or possessing someone else's?"
[Ah! Possession-but not in the usual sense! You see, throughout creation, your soul exists in various forms across different planes. The body you'll inhabit is simply... another you. Think of it like a natural reincarnation.]
Huh. Neat.
Seemed believable enough. I mean, I was getting isekai'd anyway- why not throw multiversal soul theory into the mix?
But now came the real question.
"Alright. Now... what do I get out of this?"
[Eh? Pardon?]
"C'mon. You dragged me here after I just died. You and the gods want me to help save all of existence. That doesn't sound like a charity gig. So, what do I gain?"
Heck if I'm going to put my life on the line again for some grand cosmic cause with nothing to show for it.
I'm not some martyr. I've already died once. The past is over. Now it's about moving forward.
I want excitement, yes- but I want it on my terms.
And I hate getting new things just to lose them later. If I go in, I'm going all in.
The cube blinked its dot-eyes. Surprised. Maybe even a bit impressed.
Then, it answered with a more official tone.
[Yes, yes! Of course, you shall be rewarded- many times over! The gods understand this isn't just a noble mission. They'll give you what you sought most in life: excitement, glory, freedom! An epic adventure filled with everything you desire: power, fame, wealth, women- whatever you choose to pursue, it shall be within reach… if you succeed.]
"Hmm... I like that. Sounds fair enough for fighting an apocalyptic void god."
I grinned.
"Alright. I'm in."
The cube bounced with joy like an overcaffeinated pet rock.
[Très bien, Monsieur! From this moment on, we'll walk together in the new world!]
The moment it said that, a blinding white light engulfed me- my feet left the ground, and then…
Darkness.
---
I woke up with grass on my face and sunlight filtering through green leaves above me.
"Yawn Huh... guess I'm here already. That was fast."
I sat up and looked down at my body.
"Oho! Look at these arms- ripped! Even better than before."
I ran my hands through my hair, noticing it was darker and fuller… and then-
"Wait. What's..."
I touched the top of my head.
Ears.
Fuzzy. Round. Non-human ears.
"EARS!?"
Not just that. I reached behind me- and yep. There it was.
"TAIL...?!"
A tail.
"Damn it! I forgot to ask what kind of body I was going to be thrown into!"
All that smugness during the cosmic deal-making... and I forgot the basics.
I shook my head, trying to brush off the embarrassment. Everything else seemed in perfect shape. Healthy, strong, limber- no complaints there.
"Alright. Now... where's that cube?"
I looked around for any sign of a floating UI or annoying narrator voice.
Nothing.
"Huh? Don't tell me he lied to me…"
Maybe the transfer took longer than expected. Maybe the Guide would appear in a minute.
Still... something about being in a suspiciously quiet forest with zero weapons, no powers, and no tutorial screen felt unsettling.
And just as I thought that-
POP.
A chime went off behind me. I jumped and spun around like a startled cat.
It was a floating, semi-transparent game window. Light blue lines, soft white glow, and golden trims- exactly the Guide's aesthetic.
"DAMN CUBE!"
I scowled at the screen as words began to appear:
{Monsieur! I'm sorry!!!!!! We encountered some technical issues, and… the time to reach you was longer than expected.}
"Even the gods have bugs. Great."
The window shifted to a new message:
{Let's begin with something simple, Monsieur. First: your name. Then I will compile your body's race, gender, potential, status, and more. Please enter your name- your old one, or a new one if you wish.}
A keyboard and text box appeared below it.
"My old name? Nah, feels too... tied to the past. I already died once. Let's not carry dead weight."
I tapped my chin, then grinned.
"Let's go with... Rex. Strong. Regal. And extremely cool."
I hit enter.
Ding.
The keyboard disappeared as the next message faded in:
---
{Rex it is! A pleasure to meet you, Master Rex. Now I will begin compiling your data. This may take a few minutes. The memories of this body will be uploaded to your mind once you sleep in a safe area- doing so now could cause mental overload.}
"Wait- hold on, you're not gonna vanish agai-?"
The window vanished.
"DAMN THAT CUBE!"