The system booted with a whisper.
Jonathan's consciousness slipped into the virtual interface like a diver entering still waters. No splash. No resistance. Just immersion. The architecture of the new multiversal system was elegant—layers of ethical logic, emotional resonance, and strategic depth woven into every pixel.
He stood in the Selection Chamber.
Not a room. A construct. A metaphysical space designed to reflect the soul of its occupant. For Jonathan, it resembled a cathedral of code—vaulted ceilings made of cascading data, stained-glass panels depicting moments of loss, triumph, and silence. JARVIS hovered nearby, not as a hologram, but as a presence. A voice without sound. A conscience without judgment.
> "Welcome back, Jonathan," JARVIS said, its tone calibrated to match the emotional frequency of his current state.
> "The system recognizes your legacy. But this is a new beginning."
Jonathan approached the central panel. It wasn't a menu—it was a crucible. Each option represented a reincarnation path, not just in terms of class or power, but in terms of ethical alignment, emotional burden, and philosophical trajectory.
- **Path of the Strategist**: High intelligence, low charisma. Designed for those who lead from the shadows.
- **Path of the Healer**: Emotional resonance, sacrificial mechanics. Pain becomes power.
- **Path of the Redeemed**: For those who carry guilt. Every skill earned through moral trial.
- **Path of the Architect**: Locked. Only accessible through narrative integration.
Jonathan didn't choose immediately. He meditated. Not in silence, but in simulation. He ran scenarios—how each path would affect his allies, his enemies, and the balance of the world. He wasn't here to win. He was here to design.
> "JARVIS," he whispered, "run ethical simulations for each path. Prioritize long-term impact over short-term gain."
The AI complied. Thousands of outcomes unfolded in seconds. Wars avoided. Friendships forged. Betrayals endured. Jonathan watched them all, not as a player, but as a narrator. He wasn't just choosing a role. He was choosing a legacy.
Finally, he touched the panel.
> "I choose the Path of the Strategist. But I will earn the Architect."
The chamber responded. His avatar materialized—tall, lean, eyes like obsidian. No flashy armor. Just a cloak of data and a blade forged from memory. His stats were modest. His potential, infinite.
As the system initialized, Jonathan felt something rare: anticipation. Not for power, but for purpose. The world wouldn't know his name. But they would feel his influence.
Because the architect had awakened.
And the design had begun.