-Xuanhuan Universe ???. 3RD POV-

The three practioners desperately searched for the pieces of the shabby furniture within the region riddled with dangerous spatial cracks that could swallow anything and were barely distinguishable with the light of the Stars. However, the Table set floated intact behind the Golden Ark as the two ethereal humanoids hide inside a barrier making them invisible and undetectable to probes while peeking into the distance.

The mortal slanted his eyes and turned to the Guardian in front. "...You're such a troll."

"Apologies. I was holding space from rupturing at our previous location while preparing a safe jump..."

"Ah, okay... Hm? Those moving Dark cracks?"

"Yes. They are Spatial fissures exposing the Cosmic Plane outside this Universe..."

"Seriously?! Woah..." James muttered observing the phenomenon and looked at a yellow Sun approaching from the left. "But Stars don't cause them?"

"No, but their gravity does affect the Rifts once open. The energy we used simply has a higher density than Stars... This Table set is also High-density and can rip apart space here if swung hard enough."

"Woah... No wonder he won't give up... Though they wouldn't fight with a chair, right? Haha..."

"That would be ridiculous. They just repurpose the stable energy inside the wood."

"Ohh... Right, it's from a higher Plane. Can I have some of the highest energy?"

"And get mugged like us just now?"

"Geh!"

"Besides, a drop of pure existence from the edge of Hyper-Reality would dissolve this Cosmorial or create countless like it..."

"Eehhh!!? A higher existence blows our reality away like a candle instead of filling it? Ah, wait, it's like the Soul thing..."

"No, it does that indeed, and also destroys the configuration of energy structures."

"Oh..."

.

"It's about time to finish the job." The Guardian declared gathering energy around his hand.

"What are you--?"

The guardian waved his hand and sent a fist-size distorted space towards the brown-haired youth.

"Young master--!" Higan noticed the danger and rushes to push him out of harm's way ignoring a thin spatial crack on the way. "AAARGHH!" He yowled as his body split in half by the torso and the two parts drift away from each other.

"Wha--! Guardian, stop!"

"Higan!" Tsuen turned and rushed to his attendant dodging the gravity attack.

However, the gravity anomaly reached the ripped spacetime and made it more unstable with cracks opening and stretching away from the Stellar Dragon reaching hundreds of meters long.

""Uwuaaa--!"" The two youngster screamed as their bodies bent in strange shapes before being swallowed by the widening rift.

"N-nooo..." The black-haired man mumbled extending his hand at the receeding void.

"And you..." The Guardian said waving his hand again.

"Don't!!"

"Graaa--!" Kenzu screamed as his body torn folded into a fleshy mess before falling in the spatial anomaly that drifted away as it closed.

...

After witnessing such gruesome scenery with enhanced vision, James could only keep silence in respect for the three martial art visitors that met an unfortunate fate. He turned to the protector with a scrunched expression. "You... Y-you killed them... Whyyy?? They were defeated already! They didn't deserve to die for some common wood... That was too cruel! Too cruel!"

"Don't feel too bad, James... They would've rejoiced after killing us... Besides, their bodies are destroyed but their Souls survived. They'll lose all memories and reborn as mortals soon."

"Uuggghhh... B-but it feels wrong to kill people like insects..." James reproved with a saddened expression and lowered his head.

"A narrow perspective, James. Finding the Saints you read about is harder than winning the lottery. Although not all immortals are barbaric, the worse ones tend to go looking for trouble..."

"Wha--! Are you implying that I won't be a saint either?"

"Survival will demand much of you. Just...don't be so reckless and don't lose yourself..."

"Haaahhh..." The mortal sighed deeply and recalled the times in his hometown. "I understand... It's not my first time seeing people get murdered..." He announced trying to convince himself and pointed at the golden ark beneath the table. "What are you going to do about this...boat thingy? Their families should know they died..."

"Ah, yes... There's no harm in returning this toy with a message. It should have some guiding mechanism to return to their clan--ah, there we go."

*Zooom~!* The ship accelerated into the distance from whence it came.

"Well, the interruptions are gone. You may proceed with your pondering."

"Hmm... But using those wishes to keep my memories is not possible..." James analyzed crossing his arms. "Oh! What about directly making me a God?"

"You don't want that. It's difficult and will slow down Spiritual progress tremendously...."

"Is that so..."

.

"Can't you tell me a way out of this loop?"

"James... I just did everything possible within the rules to give you the right clues..."

"Yeeahhh, but there has to be discontent right? I mean, my fragment position is at the bottom, but you are like an Engineer working as a janitor in a kindergarten. Haha."

"We get punished for failures and breaking the rules accordingly. This job is not one where you'd just get fired. But I became an overqualified janitor because of this job."

"Bummer... I was looking forward to an interdimensional revolution."

"Not possible, unless it's allowed. It was the Single-Digit Fragments who determined it was necessary to form a hierarchy system to carry out the Will of the Main Body. It is not something we can question or change."

"Dang... Can't we complain to the main body?"

"Yes, evolve enough to go there..."

.

"Hmm... Is it possible to control the Fragment if I evolve in a game-world with an overpowering magic cheat?"

"Yes. There are worlds that support Apotheosis. But dependancy on isolated systems are no good. You'd get stuck there for a long time."

"I see...

.

"We Guardians have our limits... But I can contact High Beings from our system for things beyond my capabilities."

"Nice!"

"But a reply could take a long time and such entities may require tricky payments from either of us..."

"Less nice... But those shady Devils represent more possibilities to preserve my existence, so I'll take my chances."

"Very well." Guardian acknowledged and stayed quiet for a moment. "Done. The most favorable replies will depend on your choices, and both have an unknown price for you."

"FAST!"

"No, no... It is you who is in slow motion."

"Ah! It must be frustrating..."

"No worries. I'm patient. I've been doing this for thousands of years."

"Woah... You're old, dude. But why hide the price?"

"They have their reasons. Probably you wouldn't understand right now. But don't worry, there's always a way out of these deals..."

"G-got it."

"Although better options might appear if you wait inside a space with slower time flow--"

"Oh-hell no! No more boring places..."

.

James couldn't come up with more ideas and sighed losing hope. "Haahhh... I give up, I give up. I don't see a way out..." He declared with resignation and raised both hands while shaking the head.

"Too soon! You will have to give it a bit more thought than that..."

"Dude, I'm playing on impossible mode here! Losing my memories, and starting from zero every time sucks..."

"But James... The Fragment is your Save Point! You just need to unlock it. The two options you have now should help with that, no?"

"Fine! I'll keep trying. Shesh!" The mortal snapped with frustration and leaned back on the chair. "What to do..."

...

James deliberated while changing positions on the wooden chair for almost an hour before realizing a simple solution which didn't go against the absolute rule of removing the original memories from the Soul.

"Nnnnghhhh... A cybernetic body with consciousness uploaded is possible. A recording with my knowledge will help... A grown vessel with memories imprinted is also possi--" James groaned analyzing and opened his eyes wide before shouting excitedly. "I GOT IT!"

"Hohh? Let's hear it."

"I'm totally gonna pirate my Soul like a movie!" The mortal declared with a wide smile and elaborated. "Copy all my memories, rip the originals away as usual, and imprint my Lifetime into this Soul permanently like the residual memories."

"Hohoh! Very good. Very good. See? I told you there was a way out! Only a Nerd would come up with that peculiar method. Hohoho..." The Guardian approved smiling broadly.

"Yeah, thanks... So, is it allowed to exploit the residual memories like that?"

"Yes. You won't forget the current Lifetime, and there will be no more personalities with that option. Just leftover memories when you die."

"Nice!"

"However, I can't make a perfect Copy."

"Hmm... Errors are bad... I don't care who you have to ask, but get an identical duplicate."

"Understood. The procedure will commence one hour after waking up in your body, and you'll keep all the memories until then."

"NICE!" James fist-pumped rejoicing.

"However, you will have to choose from pre-selected Worlds, and there won't be any more bonus after death...that's all I can say."

"A hidden motive eh? Tis fine. I just created a 'Save Point.'"

"Alright. Just don't visit after a few minutes like other fragments..."

"Ouch! Rub my bad luck..."

"Then, the second wish?"

"...Will have to be continuous reincarnations as a Dragon."

"Not a snake?"

"Agh!"

"Well, a wish is not needed for a species you desire unless it's something specific. The fragment will merely choose the lifeform and sprout the soul, but I could try giving a little starting help."

"Oh... Thanks. Though that makes me feel like a parasite somehow." James debated the moral aspect of his life cycles.

"Not to worry. It's just taking the spot before another consciousness manifests. Only after living can you be sure if you deserve it or not."

"Phew... Hey, won't a little lizard's brain fry with my memories?"

"It's alright. The fragment won't write all memories at once. You'll slowly remember while growing up until the brain fully develops."

"Hmm... That might be a problem since Dragons take long to mature...I'll be like a child!!"

"Well, the growth of Dragons in that world depends on factors like Bloodlines, food supply, and other restrictions..."

"Oh, is that so... Wait, will I even be human or dragon? How much a beast would influence my Soul?"

"Hard to say... Bloodlines, circumstances, and your choices?"

"So... Neither Human nor Dragon at some point..."

"Mmn. Just find balance. Beasts aren't mindless there..."

"Oooh! Sold!"

"Then, do you desire to become a Dragon again?"

James looked at the cosmic entity for a moment and answered.

"I do!"

"Then a game world? Dragons are basically cheats on those."

"Uh... Calling out skill names, and being OP since birth sounds fun, but I need an unrestricted system without level caps, meddling Gods, or limited evolution. Something with free energy manipulation that can work everywhere, and helps understand reality."

"But without support, it could take you ages to learn energy conversion and eons growing spiritually to leave a Plane."

"Hmm... You're right...need a world to ascend fast and no threat of God-like entities. What can you suggest?"

"Yes... A medium to produce phenomena, refine Spirit and can help you reach the last plane--Elementals. Your knowledge from Earth will be very useful..." Guardian proudly announced.

"Sounds perfect!"

"Terrific! The stage that meets your requirements will be to your liking. Congratulations and good luck!"

"Thanks. Um... Where am I going?"

"Another Alternate Universe."

"I see... I...I have a lot of leveling to do, don't I?"

"That's an understatement. You have 2 more Planes to leave the Cosmos, then chose another to climb the energy ladder and leave the Cosmorial. Then repeat through infinity."

"Yikes! The level cap is too high! I could use a Map though. Do you have one?"

"Who're you, Dora? You are asking for a Map of reality that you can't use, and would put you in danger. It's even a higher Fragment function..."

"S-seriously?"

"Seriously. There are countless Beings stuck in their realities thinking they've reached the pinnacle of existence while others simply lack imagination..."

"Haha.... Godly beings acting high and mighty in lower planes? Sounds like fun~ Kukuku..." James ridiculed with a dark laugh. "But there are wacky places that would end me just by going there, right?"

"Quite. Especially in Intrinsic realities which are spontaneously created with diverse space-time laws... Some dimensions don't allow atoms to bond or exist while in others Time flows at near infinite speeds or completely stopped with all living things frozen for all eternity or runs backward. Oh, but it's even worse in Seeded realities where Time is broken with messy physical constants as leftover experiments of Beings studying space-time laws. Highly chaotic places. I don't recommend going there for vacation."

"T-that's... Terrifyingly facinating!" James acknowledged with a hardened expression. "What about created realities?"

"The 'Contrived' realities are usually developed by entities and mostly good places for vacation."

"Hey... Did we have a creator on earth?"

"Yes, but He perished. You won't burn an eternity in Hell for being Agnostic."

"Seriously...!!? We... worshipped a dead creator...?! What happened?"

"Quite. He was too ambitious drawing forth a Multiverse on the second Cosmic Plane, and couldn't properly replicate intrinsic Space-time laws. His existence ended up scattered everywhere leaving many incomplete and unstable spaces that won't last as long as they should've..."

"That's harsh..."

.

"So, being a Guardian has benefits huh?"

"I do a good job."

"You sure like your Job..."

"Yes. In aaaany case, you can ask directions and advice in our Fragment network."

"Woah?! A Cosmic internet for high beings? Me like!"

"Well, then, our visit is over."

The table set disappeared and dragged me the way we came, leaving the star cluster hiding the Stellar Dragon that quickly becomes distant as we advance through the vast Nebula.

"Time to go." Guardian said stopping.

"Agh... Time to say goodbye huh? I- I forgot to mentally prepare for this..." I nervously informed.

"Worry not. You'll regret not saying anything to them far more than any sort of nonsense." The Guardian encourages.

"How sensitive of a beast..."

And with a wave of his hand, I returned to the darkness of my mind.

-Local hospital. 3:02 AM. Jame's PVO-

Consciousness returns to my body, and I open my eyes before sitting on the bed with some difficulty breathing while hearing muffled noises from outside my empty room. The cardio machine making steady beeping sounds indicates it's the hospital, and a whole day went by since I fainted.

"Nnnghh... That was a long dream..." I muttered stretching.

"Not a dream..." Guardian words resounded inside my head.

"WOAH!?" I shouted looking at the door. "Am I really...going to another world?"

"No... I will send you there."

Geh! So... this is telepathy huh? Like my thoughts, but foreign. I reviewed and reality hit me. So, I'm going to die for real in 56 minutes...? I affirmed opening and closing my hand.

"No... I will kill you." He said in a grave tone.

...Too straight, dude, I'm scared here. I admonished wanting to face-palm.

"Why? You have died five times already."

You ass... Wrong way to encourage. I cursed. Hah... Maybe it was better if they unplugged the machine.

"Nah, they wouldn't...even if you asked."

6 months...that's it! Life is pointless waking up many years later with massive hospital bills. I asserted my lifelong decision.

"Games will be better though."

You... you have a point. But where the heck is everybody? James wondered looking around.

"Cafeteria."

Ugh! There wasn't even anyone waiting for me to wake up! The movies lied!

"Because those scenes look dramatic."

Gah! Why is nobody coming?

"A woman is coming now..."

Oh?

*Giii!* The door opens and an elderly nurse comes in. *Ka-Tunk!* She closed the door and approaches.

"Oh! You are awake. How are you feeling?" The nurse asked before staring at the EKG machine.

"Like dying in an hour,"

The nurse was surprised for a moment before her mouth twisted in annoyance.

"I-I'm just bored without my phone..."

Ah, geez, why couldn't I get a room with tv? This is boring...

"You are poor."

"Shut it!"

"..." The nurse stares in silence.

"Ah...! S-sorry... I yelled at the voice in my head."

The elderly nurse looked at me as if I needed to be in a mental hospital and stepped away slowly.

"...W-what is the voice saying?"

"Nevermind..." James said and waved a hand dismissing.

"She is tired of working here... You could use her to pay your debts, and help your family with funeral among other things..."

I'm listening...

"I can search for a parallel universe two days ahead of this one and find out the lottery numbers."

S-seriously...?!!

"Like flipping the pages of a book..."

The high being explained the woman's situation, and the way to help her while searching.

"Did you know that Jenny's husband is cheating, but she won't do anything because of your financial situation?"

"What?! Who-who told you that?" She frowned asking.

"The voice told me many things, but I don't want to sound more creepy,"

"I'll-... I'll call the doctor." The nurse said grabbing the door's handle.

"There are 3 million in the lotto, and I know the numbers~"

The old woman stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"You got nothing to lose."

"...I'd lose a dollar."

"You are tired of working here right? If I die at exactly 4 am, it'll mean I'm telling the truth."

"Wh-what are you saying! Your head is not fine...or maybe I should believe more..." The nurse rebuked and started pondering. "Alright. I'll humor you. Just don't say things like that, and don't listen to the voice!" She declared taking out a pen and paper.

"Sure." I nodded with a smile. "Anyway, play 3,5,11,15,22, 43 for me, and help my family anonymously. They would waste the money, you see..."

"Hua... I got it. Happy?" She acknowledged.

"Oh, and...keep quiet..."

The elderly woman nodded and left the room.

*Giii! Ka-Tunk!* The door closes and I'm left alone.

...That went well.

"Indeed."

*Swisshh! Plof!* I laid down to stare at the white roof.

Heeeey... Will those numbers really win?

"Well, the probability is high since those realities have the same history and just a different time flow."

That's awesome! I admired when footsteps approach again.

The door suddenly opens and a white-haired elderly doctor of low stature comes in, then checked the beeping machine before turning to ask me.

"How're you feeling?"

"Like a soon-to-be cadaver," I replied making eye contact.

"Nah! It's not that bad..." He denied waving a finger.

"We'll see..."

"Well, we hope that you can actually PAY this time. That's why health services cost so much, you know?" He reminded with a complaint.

"Can I pay in another life? I have to go in 47 minutes."

The doctor's face changed and dropped his hands.

"Ah, don't worry. All debts will be taken care of after I die."

"You-...are not one of those nutjobs...?"

"What if they are right? What if I can prove reincarnation always existed?"

"If... IF proven to be real, then many will suicide, people would care less about lives, and religious folk would go nuts! Hospitals would change. I would probably quit... Ugh... I can only imagine the chaos..."

"I agree. The idiots thinking their next life is better would make it hard for others who appreciate the world. If everyone could remember their past lives, they would realize that there's always suffering, and the current life may actually be one of the best even if it looks terrible."

"Riiiiiiight..." The doctor sounded fed up.

"Oh? You think it's nonsense eh?" I affirmed nodding. "Well, I know, I won't completely recover from this, and you were going to lie about it."

"...." He stays silent with a poker face.

"How do I know right? I won't give you a choice but to believe me."

"You guessed that!"

"Oh, I can do better. Like the medical negligence on Ms. Frederick!"

"She died of cancer..."

"She would have lived longer though."

"You-you googled that!" The elderly person stammered being cornered.

"I just woke up and my phone isn't around. Oh, you might wanna call Mr. Welston...he doesn't have cancer, and is about to do something really stupid,"

"...I-I-I don't believe you--j-joke...it's a JOKE!" The short doctor desperately said gripping the chart.

"Dude, that would be a very bad joke." I admonished. "Look. Tonight, no matter what, I will die at 4 o'clock. You should prepare for that, and maybe change the diagnostic by then..."

"Haaahhh..." The doctor did a long sigh looking down. "This is insane... So freaky... Damn it... Wait what does it have to do with second lives? Gah! Whatever..." He muttered covering his face with a hand. "Alright, I'll consider it possible, at least."

"Good."

It isn't difficult to convince people telling them what they need to hear huh?

"Indeed. But you've wasted enough time."

"Ah! Hey Doc, could you please get my family here?"

"Why didn't you ask the nurse?"

"Kinda spooked her away..."

"...You should stop that."

"Will do, sir." I acknowledged. "Any idea on how should I say goodbye to my family?"

"...Talk about old times. Drop their tension, and get emotional like someone who is actually dying. After you create the mood, say anything left unsaid, and make requests." The doctor instructed. "However, you won't know how the family acted, and that might be a little tormenting for someone who is reborn."

"Alright... Thanks..."

Good times, you say...? There aren't many with my family. I carry a lot of resentment from a childhood filled with unnecessary beatings and violence by both my parents and bullies everywhere. Well, as the last sibling born between abortions by the whim of a sister, and neglected by a chronic smoker/drunk father, I was always told they ran out of love for me.

*Gruuul~* A stomach grumble echoed within the room.

I'm VEEEERY hungry...

"Your sister will take care of that."

Damn it, Guardian, you didn't even offer food!

The doctor noticed the urgency of my condition and hurried out the room.

"I haven't eaten in almost a thousand years..."

You win... Do you eat frogs?

"...No."

Then what do you eat?

"Mice--"

Puahahaha!

"--That can devour your world."

...Geh! Outrageous... James blurted and stayed silent for a moment.

.

At 3:31 in the morning I hear familiar noises coming from outside.

Tun-tun-tuun~ And the big moment approaches! I drum-beat the inevitability.

"You are more nervous about meeting your family than dying..."

Emotional moments are scary, dude. I reproved. I need to act tough and prepare them for my sudden death. Mom will definitely cry since she cares the most... I convince myself.

A black haired short woman dressed in the latest fashioned clothes enters the room.

"Jimmyyyy!" The cheerful sister approaches with her arms open and tightly hugs me.

"Oof!" I sounded being tightly hugged. "It hurts...your love hurts..." I complained getting my head ruffled.

Ugh... Even her daughter is like this, but I just can't figure out cheerful people when they are like that with everyone...

"Mwuah!" Hania kissed my cheek and separated. "You gave us quite the scare!" She said enthusiastically.

"Yeah..." I affirmed. "Hey, where is my phone?"

"Mom has it... Your boss called..."

"Hmph! I ain't fucking working as a zombie!"

"Aww. Don't be like that. He found you, performed CPR, and called 911."

"I want to die..."

*Pah!* She slapped my hand.

"Don't say that! You are just cranky because you are hungry..." Hania rebuked sitting on my left and took out a wrapped sandwich from her bag.

I wanted pizza for my last meal though. I reviewed while eating the snack.

Moments later, the brown-haired elder sister Celia arrived with her twelve-year-old son, Janley, and my dad, Darius in tow.

"Hey, dude!" The light-brown haired boy greeted with a hand up.

"Yo!"

I'm gonna miss this kid... He might be autistic, but likes computers like me, and is more mature and reasonable than adults on the internet, though he has...trouble understanding jokes. I affirmed.

"Do you feel uncomfortable?" Celia asked with a straight face. "The doctor said you will get better, but you have to lose more weight and take better care of your health--enough junk food!" She commanded.

So serious... I reproved the former nurse. I'm grateful to my sisters, but...if a baby has his fingers inside the wall outlet and is crying, it means he's getting electrocuted! I retorted at the bad babysitters.

"You just have an odd attraction to electricity," Guardian interjected.

Quiet, you! I censored.

"I'm good..." I replied and turned to the quiet person. "Hey, Dadio."

Hah... Why couldn't I get his good genes? I envy the slender figure. Though not the grumpiness...he's always grumpy and sometimes about being grumpy!

"Jim--Sniff!" The white-haired man said half my name and hugged me.

Ugh! Uggghh... Hugging a crying man is just--Ugh! I cringed. If you are capable of these feelings, then why beat me so much as a kid? I nearly killed you! But he did stop before I did anything... Actually, that teacher at school who harassed me also had a terrible accident...

"And all those who beat you stopped before going too far."

Oh... I realized the cause.

After receiving awkward hugs from everyone, they found a spot in the room and brought out their phones.

Er... I forgot how important the internet and cell phones are...

"Hey Janley, I need to ask you something," I call out beckoning closer.

"Sup?"

"Log in my computer--"

"And delete all porn. Got it."

This...seems standard procedure for dying Nerds...

"Okay... There's that... Anyway, get the Account file, and say goodbye to all contacts..."

"Uh... Alright."

"Your browser history is quite...diverse. Interesting...even snakes."

Damn it, Guardian! I was just curious what a Lamia was...

"That's what happens when you become different creatures..."

...

At 3:43 in the morning the door opens again and three people appear.

"Uncle~!" A cheerful black-haired little girl called out while rushing to the bed.

"Amy--OOf!" I called back receiving her tackle.

Jesh! Energetic little girls drain my HP... I evaluated patting the eleven-year-old.

My niece sits on the right, then I look at the Doctor by the door who nodded, and left before my mother slowly approach.

"Hey, Mom..." I greet Leticia waving my left hand.

"...J-Ja--mes...Sniff! Ukwuhhh... Chuu~" Mom uttered in a breaking voice and softly kissed my head while caressing my back.

We hugged until the sentimental white-haired woman is in her sixties calmed down.

Uwahh... I feel bad leaving Mom behind, and I should be the sadder since she doesn't have that long to live...but I just can't do it, I can't cry... I concluded being in denial.

"Hey, mom, I always wanted to thank you for giving birth to me... Mwuah!" I gave my gratitude with a kiss.

"Uohwn... Wa-what's gotten into you? Don't get depressed...Don't talk like that..." Mom reproved in tears. "Y-you are going to be o-okay." She comforted swallowing.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't be sad." I said in a panic. "There's NO NEED to be sad. I'm actually happy right now because I got a chance to a new start, a new life, a new form..."

"What the FUCK did they gave you? You are delusional!" Darius barked.

"Chill. I'm not joking. Death isn't the end." I rebuked and firmly hugged mother before whispering to her ear. "Remember the reincarnation Dramas we watched on TV? It's real. I made a deal to be reborn. I will find happiness, and maybe visit someday." I declared.

Well, it's the doctors that give the bad news to the family and the patient, not the other way around, so that guy should help them cope with this...insanity.

"Sniff...Ja-a-a-ames..." Mom keeps sobbing in my arms.

"It's normal for patients to be depressed after a heart attack," Celia announced.

"Ayyy... You can't bring your computer to the afterlife. Ha-ha." Hania tried to lighten the mood.

"I'll put your computer to good use," Janley announced receiving glares.

"Good. And you guys know where to throw my ashes." I declared casting my gaze on all those present.

"Shush! You gonna be okay. Let's take selfies~!" The hyperactive niece shoves the phone in my face.

This girl...loves her phone way more than a boyfriend... I retorted rolling my eyes.

...

There were angry responses to my declaration, but being the one sick, they ignored me and started doing their own things.

"Are you sure having them believe in rebirth is wise?" Guardian inquired.

Yes, it will be just another weird shit... Mom isn't very bright, but we talked about this subject before. She will accept it, eventually. Though no parents should have funerals for their children right? I asserted feeling guilty.

"...Remember that you'll become a beast." The voice in my head reminded.

Oh... Touche... I conceded. I never had kids, and I wouldn't want them to have bad genes anyway, but, yes, the life of a beast--

"Is harsh..." Guardian finished solemnly.

Ahh-So many regrets~

"There are always regrets. But at least you got to say goodbye this time." Guardian consoled.

Yeah... But I'm not leaving any legacy. I was just an average guy with defects and virtues who loved the world, but ultimately did nothing impressive. Not being remembered sucks, and my family will quickly move on...

"It's not them who will forget you, it's you who will leave mortals behind...Earth and even...your humanity, forever."

So, I would need time travel to see them again? Ah, but I won't be human...

"Well, Time-travel is extremely hard and dangerous in this corner of the Cosmos with more restrictions in higher planes or the type of reality. Perhaps you have already watched your funeral, or altered the timeline, but Pursuing that ability could take countless years, so..."

Dem rules... By then, even my current self might be nothing more than a memory figment lodged inside a being that's fundamentally different from my current existence.

"Who knows?"

...Hey, Guardian...

"Hm?"

What's going to happen to me, this 'me?'

"That... I cannot say for sure."

I see...

"But... I think you might get another chance at Life soon."

Really!??

"Yes. You broke the cycle, James. Or rather, created a new one... Even I cannot know your future."

Hah hah... I guess that's true. But that's not soon!

"Well, even if you are stored somewhere for a Million Years, you won't feel the passage of time."

"Aaahhh! I get it..."

"But Life will be harsh without the Main Soul."

"Hmm... Makes sense. I'll try my best if it isn't Earth again."

"I am glad to hear that."

...I don't need to say anything to 'him' right?

"Your Copy? He will have your memories, so, he will know once he realizes that he is not the original." The Guardian assured.

Then I leave our Future to him...

...

The minutes passed as I gradually was forgotten in the room, and Amy fell asleep on my bed when Guardian solem voice snapped me back to reality.

"It's time..."

...How mysterious...dying at the same time I was born 28 years ago, and a Monday too. I mused and addressed everyone.

"By the way, guys... Our God is dead, Reality is big as fuck, and our Universe is defective! Byyyye~!" I said in a hurry.

**Beeeeep! Fwump!** The EKG machine emits a flatline before my body falls back on the bed.

""JAAAMES!!?"" I hear voices shouting before plunging into the darkness.