《Re:Start from 0》 Chapter 1 : The Meaning of Life "You want to know the meaning of life? Fine. Let me enlighten you. The meaning of life¡­ isn¡¯t some grand revelation waiting to be uncovered. It¡¯s not some cosmic truth etched into the fabric of existence. No, it¡¯s far simpler¡ªlife is just a collection of fleeting moments, strung together by our desperate attempts to make sense of it all. A distraction, really, between the chaos of birth and the inevitability of death. People love to talk about dreams, passions, and purpose as if saying the words out loud gives them meaning. ''Follow your heart,'' they say. ''Find your calling.'' But you know what that sounds like to me? A desperate chant to convince themselves their lives hold more weight than the empty space they occupy. We''re all stuck in this rigged game, running in circles, hoping there¡¯s a prize at the end. Spoiler alert¡ªthere isn¡¯t.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. And yet, we keep going. We stumble forward, trying to leave some kind of mark, trying to believe it all matters. Why? Maybe it¡¯s fear. Fear of being forgotten, fear of admitting it¡¯s all pointless. But the truth? None of it lasts. Not your achievements, not your relationships, not even you. They¡¯re just temporary ripples in a vast, indifferent ocean. So, what¡¯s the point of it all? Searching for meaning when none exists might seem futile, but maybe that¡¯s the point. To keep searching, to keep moving forward¡ªeven when we know deep down we¡¯ll never find the answer. Because stopping? That¡¯s the real failure. Life is cruel, absurd, and fleeting. And all we can do is find our own way to survive the madness." Chapter 2 : The Beginning of the End Roy closed his locker and slung his bag over his shoulder, his thoughts already drifting to the peace and quiet of home. The dull chatter of students echoed down the hallway, but Roy barely registered it. As he turned to leave, Akhilesh was waiting near the door, his expression shadowed with unease. "Hey, Roy," Akhilesh called, his tone unusually serious. "Did you hear what they said this morning? About that psycho on the loose? The cops are saying he¡¯s been spotted in another district." Roy paused, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I heard. But that¡¯s not anywhere near where I live, so I¡¯m not losing sleep over it." His voice carried a note of indifference, the kind of dismissive confidence he wore like armor. Akhilesh frowned, his concern lingering. "I don¡¯t know, man. Just to be safe, maybe avoid the shortcuts today. Stick to the main streets, yeah?" Roy rolled his eyes but smirked faintly, nudging his friend on the shoulder. "Relax, Akhilesh. You sound like my mom. I¡¯ll be fine¡ªprobably safer than half the paranoid people freaking out over nothing." "Roy," Akhilesh said, his voice firm now. "Just¡­ humor me, alright? Take the long way. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re in a rush, right?" Roy let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Whatever makes you feel better." He gave a casual wave, turning toward the exit. Akhilesh stayed put, still watching him. "Seriously, man. Just be careful." Roy glanced back briefly, his smirk returning. "I¡¯ll see you tomorrow." As the doors swung shut behind him, the setting sun painted the sky in warm hues, shadows stretching across the pavement. Roy adjusted his bag and took a deep breath, his usual shortcut through the alley calling to him. "Take the long way, he says," Roy muttered under his breath with a scoff. "What¡¯s the point of wasting time?" Without another thought, he veered toward the alley, its dim path promising to shave precious minutes off his walk home. The bell had rung an hour ago, but the streets around the school still buzzed with life. A group of kids played soccer in a nearby park, their laughter and cheers echoing faintly. Roy walked at his usual, unhurried pace, letting the late afternoon breeze tousle his hair. The sky had started to bleed into hues of orange and pink, the colors dancing on the windows of nearby buildings. He passed a convenience store where the smell of fried snacks wafted out, momentarily tempting him to stop and grab a bite. But he shook his head, deciding against it. ¡°Not worth spending what little I have left,¡± he muttered to himself, clutching his bag tighter. As he turned a corner, he noticed an elderly man struggling to load a box into his car. For a brief moment, Roy considered helping but quickly dismissed the thought. "He''ll manage," he mumbled under his breath, quickening his steps. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care¡ªit was just easier not to get involved. The streets grew quieter as he moved further away from the school and into the more residential areas. He caught sight of a few classmates walking in groups, their chatter filling the silence. A couple waved at him, but Roy merely nodded in acknowledgment, not slowing down. His mind drifted back to the conversation with Akhilesh. ¡°Take the longer route, huh?¡± he muttered, glancing at the main road ahead. It wasn¡¯t that he ignored Akhilesh¡¯s concern¡ªRoy just hated going out of his way for something that seemed unlikely to be a real threat. The warnings felt more like background noise than something to act on. As the shortcut came into view, the familiar alley stretched out before him like a dark corridor between two looming buildings. Roy stopped for a moment, staring at the narrow passage. The air felt cooler here, and the shadows seemed deeper. He hesitated briefly, Akhilesh¡¯s words echoing in his mind. "Don¡¯t take any shortcuts or anything, alright?" Roy smirked to himself, shaking his head. ¡°You worry too much,¡± he muttered, stepping into the alley. The sound of his sneakers scuffing the pavement seemed unnaturally loud against the silence. The world around him felt heavier somehow, as if the air itself had grown thick. But he ignored the unease and pressed on. Roy adjusted his bag and glanced at the horizon. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch out like grasping fingers. The streets were quiet now, the hum of daily life winding down into an eerie stillness. He turned into a familiar street lined with fading graffiti and broken lampposts, his usual shortcut just a block away. A car passed by slowly, its headlights washing over him for a brief moment before disappearing into the distance. He could feel Akhilesh¡¯s words lingering at the back of his mind, but he brushed them off like an annoying fly. "Psycho running around," he thought, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "As if that¡¯d happen to me." Turning the corner, Roy¡¯s steps faltered for a moment. The alleyway stretched out before him, dim and quiet, flanked by the backs of old buildings. Trash bins overflowed with discarded waste, their contents strewn across the ground. A single, flickering light struggled to stay lit above a metal door far ahead. He hesitated for half a second, feeling a faint prickle of unease crawl up his spine. Stop overthinking. It¡¯s just a shortcut, like always. Roy shook his head and stepped into the alley. The sound of his sneakers scuffing against the pavement echoed faintly in the stillness. As he walked, he caught the faint sound of footsteps. At first, they blended with his own¡ªtoo faint to draw concern. But then they grew louder, deliberate, and mismatched with his rhythm. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Roy glanced over his shoulder, his breath hitching. The alley behind him was empty, or at least it seemed that way. Shadows danced in the dim light, but there was no one in sight. You''re just imagining things. He shook his head, quickening his pace. The footsteps behind him quickened as well. A chill crawled down his neck. He turned sharply, eyes darting from one corner to the next, scanning for any sign of movement. The alley remained silent, still, and devoid of life. "Who''s there?" Roy called out, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound firm. No response. He cursed under his breath and took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to run. He spun around, only to see a figure emerge from the far end of the alley. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his face obscured by the low light, but the glint of an axe in his hand was unmistakable. Roy froze, his heart hammering in his chest. The man began to walk toward him, slow and deliberate, each step echoing louder than it should. "Hey, wait¡ª" Roy stammered, taking a step back. "I don¡¯t want any trouble, alright?" The man didn¡¯t answer. He raised the axe, the dim light reflecting off its surface. Panic surged through Roy¡¯s veins. ¡°Shit, Shit¡­¡± He turned and bolted, his bag slipping off his shoulder as he ran. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his legs felt like they were made of lead. The footsteps behind him quickened, the sound of heavy boots pounding against the pavement. He didn¡¯t get far. A sharp pain exploded in the back of his knee, and he collapsed to the ground with a scream. He turned just in time to see the axe being lifted again. "No! Stop!" he cried, his voice breaking. The man brought the axe down with terrifying precision, severing Roy¡¯s arm in one swift motion. Pain unlike anything he¡¯d ever felt consumed him, his scream echoing through the alley. Blood pooled around him, warm and sticky. He tried to crawl away, his remaining arm clawing at the pavement, but the man was relentless. The axe came down again and again, severing his limbs one by one. The world blurred, the edges of his vision darkening as blood loss and shock took hold. Roy¡¯s body trembled from the excruciating pain, his breath shallow and uneven. He stared at the evening sky above, his mind flooded with regret. Every mistake, every missed opportunity, every sin weighed on him like a crushing force. I don¡¯t want to die.I don¡¯t want to die. Not like this.I don¡¯t want to die. I don¡¯t... I can¡¯t... As his vision began to fade, a figure stepped into view. A woman¡ªbeautiful and otherworldly¡ªcrouched beside him. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her violet eyes bore into his with an intensity that made his pain momentarily fade. She extended a hand, her fingers brushing his blood-streaked face with surprising gentleness. ¡°Do you want to live?¡± she asked, her voice soft and melodic, yet laced with something sinister. Roy tried to speak, but his throat was dry, his voice barely more than a whisper. He mustered all his remaining strength, forcing the word past his trembling lips. "I...Want¡­To¡­Live¡­" The woman smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. ¡°Then live you shall.¡± The last thing Roy saw before darkness consumed him was her smile¡ªa smile that promised salvation and damnation all at once. Roy floated in a vast, empty void. No pain, no sound¡ªjust an overwhelming stillness that pressed against him like a suffocating blanket. He was sure this was it. The end. Finally. The universe, in its cruel humor, had seen fit to close the book on his pitiful existence. ¡°Figures,¡± he thought bitterly, ¡°that I¡¯d go out in an alley like some stray dog.¡± Then, a sharp jolt coursed through him, like lightning striking his chest. His senses returned all at once¡ªoverwhelming, frantic, and unfamiliar. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped for air, his body jerking upright as though he¡¯d been drowning moments before. His heart hammered against his ribs, his breath ragged and uneven. What¡ª? He squinted at his surroundings: smooth, sterile metallic walls, consoles blinking rhythmically, and a faint hum of machinery. The vibration beneath his feet suggested he was somewhere in motion. A dim monitor displayed Earth hanging peacefully in orbit. Roy blinked. "Oh, great," he muttered under his breath, voice dry and gravelly. "I¡¯m either in space or I¡¯ve finally snapped. I¡¯ll bet the alley guy hit me hard enough to dislodge reality itself. Classic." The memory of his death rushed in like a tidal wave: the alley, the blood, the axe. He clutched his stomach, half-expecting to feel the searing pain. But no, he was intact. Whole. Somehow. The momentary relief was drowned in the deluge of questions flooding his mind. How? Why? The metallic clang of distant footsteps brought him back to the present. A voice crackled through a nearby comms panel. "Roy? You good?" The speaker sounded concerned. Familiar. Roy turned his head slowly, narrowing his eyes at the panel. He didn¡¯t trust familiarity. In his experience, familiarity was a cheap trap. Like an old joke told one too many times¡ªit lost its charm and gained a sinister edge. ¡°Roy?¡± The voice pressed again. "You look pale. What¡¯s going on?" A part of him wanted to respond with biting sarcasm¡ªsomething about being perfectly fine for someone who just woke up in a sterile sci-fi nightmare. But the words stuck in his throat. His thoughts were a tangled web of confusion and quiet panic. "What day is it?" His voice came out hoarse, but the question was sharp, demanding. A pause. "Mission day 187. Same as yesterday? Roy, are you feeling okay?" The response hit him like a sucker punch. Mission day 187. He didn¡¯t remember a single ¡°mission day.¡± And yet, a faint pressure in the back of his mind whispered otherwise. Echoes of a life he hadn¡¯t lived but somehow knew. He looked down at his hands¡ªscarred in ways his old ones hadn¡¯t been. These weren¡¯t his hands. This wasn¡¯t his body. And yet, the memories buried inside him insisted otherwise. Pilot. Researcher. Space station. Black hole. ¡°This... this is absurd,¡± he whispered, a hollow laugh escaping his lips. His voice trembled, but he masked it with a sarcastic edge. ¡°Right. Because waking up in space after dying in an alley makes perfect sense. What¡¯s next, aliens? A time loop? Maybe I¡¯ll get a cool lightsaber if I ask nicely.¡± The voice on the comms interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "Roy? Do you need to sit down? You¡¯re acting weird." ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Roy snapped, gripping the console for support. The words tasted like a lie, but what else could he say? That he had apparently hijacked someone else¡¯s life, memories included? Yeah, that¡¯d go over well. "Alright," the voice softened. "But seriously, if you need anything¡ª" ¡°I¡¯ll let you know,¡± he cut in, his tone curt. The conversation was grating on his frayed nerves. As the comms fell silent, Roy turned toward the window. The black hole loomed in the distance, its event horizon glowing faintly. He stared at it, his reflection faint against the glass. The abyss stared back. ¡°This has to be a joke,¡± he muttered. His voice softened, almost inaudible. ¡°Or a punishment. Maybe I¡¯m already in hell.¡± The memories of the "other Roy" pressed against his mind, unwelcome and intrusive. They made him feel like a thief in someone else¡¯s skin, a pretender in a life he didn¡¯t ask for. The weight of it gnawed at his carefully constructed defenses, the ones that kept the world at arm¡¯s length. But he wouldn¡¯t let it show. No. If there was one thing he had mastered, it was keeping people out¡ªkeeping himself together long enough to figure things out. He wasn¡¯t about to let the universe, in all its cruel absurdity, get the better of him. ¡°This isn¡¯t real,¡± he said to himself, testing the words. They didn¡¯t ring true, but they were comforting enough. ¡°It¡¯s just another bad joke. One I¡¯ll figure out eventually.¡± He clenched his fists and turned back to the console. If this was some kind of twisted game, then fine. He¡¯d play along. But he¡¯d do it on his terms, not the universe¡¯s. Chapter 3: Rebirth Roy sat frozen by the console, his breathing uneven as he stared blankly at the black hole on the monitor. His thoughts swirled with confusion, fear, and the faintest trace of awe. He didn''t hear the faint clinking of boots against the metal flooring until a hand landed gently on his shoulder. ¡°Roy,¡± Akhilesh said softly, his concerned face illuminated by the dim light. ¡°You¡¯re shaking, man. Are you okay?¡± Roy startled, jerking his head to meet Akhilesh¡¯s gaze. The man¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, his usually calm demeanor edged with worry. Akhilesh was tall and lean, his dark skin highlighted by the sterile glow of the station''s lighting. His sharp, observant eyes scanned Roy for signs of physical distress. ¡°I... I¡¯m fine,¡± Roy stammered, but his voice lacked conviction. He quickly looked away, focusing back on the monitor as if it held all the answers. ¡°You don¡¯t look fine.¡± Akhilesh crouched slightly to meet Roy¡¯s eye level. ¡°Did you eat today? Sleep? You¡¯re not sick, are you?¡± He glanced at the monitor briefly before returning his gaze to Roy. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at that thing like it¡¯s going to eat you.¡± Roy forced a laugh, though it came out hollow. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. Just... spaced out, I guess.¡± Akhilesh raised an eyebrow. ¡°Spaced out? On a space station? Really leaning into the theme, huh?¡± He chuckled, his attempt at humor falling flat as Roy didn¡¯t respond. The silence lingered, heavy and awkward. Akhilesh eventually sighed and crossed his arms. ¡°Alright, talk to me. What¡¯s going on?¡± Roy hesitated, his mind racing for an explanation that wouldn¡¯t sound insane. ¡°I... had a nightmare earlier,¡± he said finally, hoping it sounded plausible. ¡°It just shook me up more than I expected.¡± ¡°A nightmare?¡± Akhilesh repeated, his tone softening. ¡°That bad?¡± Roy nodded, grateful he didn¡¯t have to elaborate. ¡°Yeah. Just... felt too real, you know?¡± Akhilesh studied him for a moment before clapping a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Alright, well, I can¡¯t say I blame you. Being out here, staring at that thing¡ª¡± he gestured toward the black hole on the monitor ¡°¡ªis enough to mess with anyone¡¯s head. But hey, if you need to talk or take a break, just say the word, alright? We¡¯re all in this together.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Roy said, his voice barely above a whisper. He managed a small, fleeting smile. Akhilesh opened his mouth to say more, but a deafening klaxon suddenly blared throughout the station. Red lights flashed overhead, bathing the room in an ominous glow. Both men snapped their heads toward the intercom as a monotone voice repeated: ¡°Warning: Hull integrity compromised. All personnel to designated repair stations.¡± Akhilesh¡¯s face hardened instantly. ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡± He motioned for Roy to follow him as he moved swiftly toward the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to check the hull.¡± Roy pushed himself to his feet, his legs unsteady but functional. His heart pounded as he followed Akhilesh down the narrow corridor. The walls seemed to close in on him as the alarm continued to blare, each step echoing in his ears like a drumbeat. Akhilesh glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Stick close. It¡¯s probably just a micro-meteor impact, but we can¡¯t take chances.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Roy muttered, his voice barely audible over the blaring alarm. His mind raced with possibilities, each more catastrophic than the last. They reached the central hub of the station, where several crew members were already gathering. Akhilesh quickly assessed the situation, pointing toward the repair equipment stored along the wall. ¡°Roy, grab a suit. We¡¯ll check the outer hull and see what¡¯s going on.¡± Roy hesitated for a split second before nodding and moving to comply. As he pulled on the heavy, cumbersome suit, the reality of the situation settled over him. This wasn¡¯t just a memory. This wasn¡¯t a dream. He was here, living this moment. And whatever came next, he¡¯d have to face it head-on. Akhilesh stood by the hatch, tapping his gloved fingers against the metal as he waited. His concern hadn¡¯t faded, but his patience with Roy¡¯s hesitation seemed to be running thin. ¡°You¡¯re taking your time today,¡± Akhilesh said, his tone light but edged with tension. ¡°Not like you to drag your feet, man.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Roy muttered, his voice muffled by the helmet as he sealed it into place. The comm system clicked on, amplifying his next words. ¡°I¡¯m just... a little out of it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I noticed,¡± Akhilesh replied, his tone softening. ¡°We¡¯ll talk later. Let¡¯s handle this first.¡± As Roy stepped through the narrow corridor, his boots thudding against the metal flooring, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at the blinking consoles lining the walls. The data displayed on the screens, the faint hum of machinery, the weightless sensation in his stomach¡ªall of it felt so painfully real. Too real to be a dream. They reached the main observation bay, where the rest of the crew had gathered. The room buzzed with activity as voices overlapped, reports being exchanged and theories discussed. Standing near the central console was Dr. Elara Voss, her gaze fixed on a holographic display of the Gargantua black hole. She was calm and collected, even as red warning lights flickered in the background. ¡°Radiation spikes are increasing,¡± Elara said, not looking up as she addressed the group. ¡°We need to confirm the hull integrity before we proceed with the next phase of the mission.¡± Captain Ivan Grigorev loomed nearby, his broad shoulders squared as he surveyed the crew. His voice cut through the noise like a blade. ¡°Check it thoroughly. I don¡¯t want any mistakes. If this station fails, we won¡¯t have time to fix it.¡± By the maintenance console, Kat Moreno fiddled with a handheld device, muttering under her breath. She looked up briefly, flashing a grin at Roy. ¡°Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Glad you could join us. Figured you¡¯d take your sweet time.¡± Roy managed a weak smile, her teasing tone a small comfort amid the chaos. Seated at the far end of the room, Dr. Hiroshi Takeda quietly observed the others, his expression calm but thoughtful. When his gaze landed on Roy, he gave a small, encouraging nod. The last figure in the room was Mason Keller, leaning casually against the wall with a smirk that never quite reached his eyes. ¡°So, we¡¯re all here. Great. Can we get on with it? Some of us have better things to do than stand around.¡± Roy¡¯s stomach churned as he met Mason¡¯s gaze. There was something unsettling about him, a sense of arrogance that felt misplaced given the severity of their situation. ¡°Alright, listen up,¡± Ivan commanded, drawing the crew¡¯s attention. ¡°Elara and Akhilesh will handle the primary scans. Kat, you¡¯re on backup systems. Hiroshi, stay on standby in case we need medical assistance. Roy, Mason¡ªyou¡¯re with me for the hull inspection. Move out.¡± Roy nodded, falling into step behind Ivan as they exited the observation bay. Mason trailed behind, his footsteps deliberate and unhurried.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The journey to the hull inspection site was silent, save for the faint hum of the station and the occasional crackle of the comm system. As they approached the hatch leading to the outer maintenance zone, alarms blared suddenly, a piercing sound that sent a jolt through Roy¡¯s chest. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Mason asked, his smirk vanishing as he straightened. Ivan¡¯s voice was calm but firm. ¡°Pressure leak in Sector 3. We need to seal it before it compromises the entire station. Let¡¯s move!¡± Roy¡¯s heart raced as the urgency of the situation sank in. This was no ordinary day on the station. Something was wrong¡ªterribly wrong. ¡°Stick close,¡± Ivan barked, his commanding presence an anchor in the chaos. ¡°And don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± Roy swallowed hard, gripping the railing as they made their way toward the hull. He could feel Mason¡¯s eyes on him, a quiet tension building between them. As the hatch opened, revealing the vast expanse of space outside, Roy steeled himself. This was just the beginning. He didn¡¯t know what awaited him, but one thing was certain: the nightmare was far from over. As the hatch sealed behind them, the hum of the station became faint, replaced by the hollow echoes of their breathing through the comms. Roy followed Ivan and Mason along the narrow maintenance corridor leading to the outer hull. His stomach churned as he glanced through the reinforced windows, the black hole¡¯s glowing event horizon dominating the view. It loomed ominously, a constant reminder of the fragile line they walked. ¡°Keep your focus, Roy,¡± Ivan¡¯s voice broke through the comms, sharp but steady. ¡°Eyes on the task. No distractions.¡± Roy nodded, even though Ivan couldn¡¯t see the gesture. His gloved hands gripped the railing as they descended toward the inspection site. Mason trailed behind, muttering something under his breath that Roy didn¡¯t catch. When they reached the access point, Ivan stopped and gestured to a panel embedded in the wall. ¡°Mason, take the readings. Roy, secure the safety locks. I¡¯ll monitor from here.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Mason replied, his tone clipped. He moved to the console, his movements brisk and impatient. Roy crouched by the safety locks, his fingers working deftly despite the cumbersome gloves. The routine task gave him a momentary distraction from the dread gnawing at his chest. Then the station jolted violently. The force sent Roy sprawling against the wall, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Mason cursed loudly, clutching the console to steady himself. Ivan grabbed a nearby railing, his voice barking over the comms. ¡°Report! What just happened?¡± Before anyone could answer, a second impact rocked the station. The screech of metal tearing reverberated through the hull, a gut-wrenching sound that made Roy¡¯s blood run cold. ¡°Impact on the outer hull!¡± Elara¡¯s voice came through the comms, strained and urgent. ¡°Meteorite debris. Structural integrity compromised in multiple sectors.¡± Roy scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding in his ears. Through the window, he could see a small but rapidly growing crack spiderwebbing across the exterior. ¡°We need to seal this area now,¡± Ivan said, his tone unyielding. ¡°Mason, override the safety protocols. Roy, get back to the airlock!¡± Roy hesitated, his mind racing. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow once the sector is secure. Move!¡± Ivan¡¯s command left no room for argument. As Roy turned to retreat, a third impact struck, this one more violent than the last. The lights flickered, and a deep groan echoed through the station as the gravitational pull of the black hole began to assert its dominance. ¡°Gravitational drift detected,¡± Kat¡¯s voice came through the comms, laced with panic. ¡°The station¡¯s trajectory is shifting. We¡¯re falling toward the event horizon.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Ivan growled. ¡°Elara, redirect all power to the thrusters. Keep us stable as long as you can!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± Elara shot back, her voice strained. Roy stumbled into the corridor, his legs shaking as he fought to keep his balance. Alarms blared, red lights bathing the narrow passage in an ominous glow. Mason pushed past him roughly, his expression a mixture of fear and frustration. ¡°Move it!¡± Mason snapped. Roy didn¡¯t have the energy to argue. He forced himself forward, each step feeling heavier as the pull of the black hole grew stronger. Behind him, Ivan¡¯s voice came through the comms. ¡°Sector 3 is sealed. I¡¯m heading back now.¡± The corridor shook again, another impact sending shrapnel scattering across the floor. Roy barely managed to avoid a jagged piece of metal that flew past him, embedding itself in the wall. As he neared the airlock leading back to the central hub, Roy saw the rest of the crew gathered just beyond the bulkhead. Akhilesh waved him forward, his face pale but resolute. ¡°Hurry!¡± Akhilesh called. Roy pushed himself harder, his lungs burning as he closed the distance. Mason reached the airlock first, slamming his fist against the controls to open it. But just as Roy stepped through, Mason turned sharply, his eyes cold and calculating. ¡°Sorry, kid,¡± Mason muttered. Before Roy could react, Mason shoved him hard, sending him stumbling backward into the corridor. The airlock hissed as it sealed shut, leaving Roy on the wrong side of the bulkhead. ¡°Mason! What the hell are you doing?¡± Akhilesh¡¯s voice roared over the comms. ¡°We don¡¯t have time,¡± Mason replied flatly. ¡°It¡¯s him or us.¡± Roy slammed his fists against the sealed door, his voice raw with desperation. ¡°Open it! Don¡¯t leave me here!¡± But Mason ignored him, turning his back as the rest of the crew argued. The station groaned again, the force of the black hole pulling it inexorably closer. Roy turned away from the door, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he realized the hopelessness of his situation. Through the cracked window, he could see the event horizon drawing nearer, its ominous glow swallowing the stars. The station¡¯s metal frame creaked and bent under the immense gravitational forces. Roy sank to his knees, his mind racing. This is it, he thought. This is how it ends. And yet, even as the station¡¯s destruction loomed, a strange calm settled over him. He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. If this was the end, he wouldn¡¯t face it cowering. As the station¡¯s frame collapsed under the immense gravitational pull, Roy felt the first signs of his body succumbing to the black hole¡¯s tidal forces. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced¡ªhis feet stretched first, an unnatural pull that traveled up his legs, elongating him as though he were being unraveled. Pain exploded through his body, sharp and unrelenting, as the spaghettification process began. The immense difference in gravitational force between his head and feet made every nerve scream in protest. It was as though he were being pulled apart molecule by molecule, each fragment of his being separated in slow, agonizing detail. Roy''s vision blurred as his mind struggled to comprehend what was happening. The concept of "himself" began to dissolve, his thoughts fragmenting just as his body did. Memories from his lives¡ªhis first as a teenager, his current one as a scientist¡ªflashed in rapid succession, fragments of emotion and experience crashing against one another like waves in a storm. He saw his mother¡¯s face, her soft smile as she waved him off to school. He remembered Akhilesh¡¯s kind words and camaraderie, Ivan¡¯s steady leadership, Elara¡¯s sharp intellect. And then Mason¡¯s cold betrayal, the push that had sealed his fate. Rage flared briefly, a desperate, primal emotion. I wasn¡¯t ready. I could have done more. I¡ª The thought dissolved as another wave of pain tore through him, scattering his consciousness further. He felt stretched thin, his sense of self unraveling as the black hole consumed him. Yet, amidst the chaos, a peculiar clarity began to emerge. The black hole wasn¡¯t just pulling him apart physically; it felt as though it was unraveling the very fabric of his being, forcing him to confront the essence of who he was. Memories he had buried deep, regrets he had ignored, and truths he didn¡¯t want to face all rose to the surface. He remembered the witch, her piercing eyes and the soft, haunting smile she had given him as she granted him this cursed gift. Her voice echoed faintly in his mind, a whisper threading through the chaos. "You wanted to live. This is what it means to live¡ªfacing every death, every failure, every regret." The words lingered as the last vestiges of his body were pulled into the singularity, his thoughts spinning into a vortex of light and darkness. Time seemed to stretch infinitely and collapse simultaneously. He felt as though he were falling forever and yet standing still. As his consciousness fractured completely, a single thought emerged, clear and undeniable: This isn¡¯t the end. Not yet. And then, everything stopped. The pain, the stretching, the disintegration¡ªall of it vanished in an instant. Roy felt weightless, suspended in a void of absolute nothingness. Slowly, faint sensations returned¡ªwarmth on his skin, the faint hum of distant sounds. His chest heaved, and he gasped for air as if surfacing from deep water. When his eyes blinked open, he found himself in a new world, a new reality, the memories of the black hole¡¯s torment lingering like a distant nightmare. His journey was far from over, and whatever lay ahead, he knew he would face it again. Chapter 4: Neon City Roy jolted awake, the sting of artificial light burning his eyes. He was lying on a cold metal table, surrounded by buzzing screens and pulsating neon lights. His head throbbed with a torrent of foreign memories, like an invasive flood eroding the walls of his mind. Images of sleek code matrices, desperate chases through labyrinthine alleyways, and whispered deals in shadowy backrooms swirled together. Each memory felt as real as his own, yet none of them were truly his. "Cipher," a voice buzzed, mechanical and impatient. "Get up. We have less than five minutes before they find us." The voice broke through the chaos in his mind, sharp and commanding. Roy forced his eyes open, the blinding neon lights outside his peripheral vision sharpening into focus. He turned his head and saw a holographic projection of a young woman with sharp, angular features and eyes that glowed faint blue. Nyx. The name came to him unbidden, as if etched into the core of his consciousness. She was no stranger, but the connection between them was hazy, like the fog of a dream that slipped away the more he tried to grasp it. "Cipher," she repeated, her voice cutting through his confusion with a clinical tone. "Move it. We don¡¯t have much time." Cipher. That name echoed too, but it wasn¡¯t him¡ªit was the life he¡¯d stepped into. A fugitive, a hacker prodigy, a loner running from the corporate leviathan that controlled everything. The pieces of Cipher''s life scattered in his mind like fragments of a shattered mirror, none of them fitting perfectly with his own experiences. Memories of other lives¡ªhis business background, the weightless void of space, the pull of a black hole¡ªmingled in an overwhelming surge of identities. He was no longer Roy, not completely. He was someone new, someone old, and neither at once. Roy groaned, his body heavy with confusion as he swung his legs off the table. The tight, sleek jacket he wore felt unfamiliar, but his fingers moved instinctively to zip it up. The material was like nothing he¡¯d worn before¡ªlightweight yet reinforced, a sleek and utilitarian design that screamed cyberpunk dystopia. As he stood, fragments of Cipher¡¯s memories surged forward: moments of dread-filled escapes, the pulsing glow of the megacorp¡¯s drones searching for him, and the cold isolation of a life lived in the shadows. But they weren¡¯t his memories¡ªnot entirely. They tangled with his own, blending into a surreal collage of different realities. He clenched his fists, the dissonance suffocating. "I need¡­ I need a second," he muttered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar. It sounded wrong, as though the body he now inhabited was still adjusting to him. "You¡¯ve had long enough," Nyx snapped, her holographic form flickering with impatience. "They¡¯ve pinged our location. Either you move, or we both die." Her tone was cold, but there was an undercurrent of fear there, a deep, unspoken urgency that made Roy¡¯s chest tighten. The world outside the hideout wasn¡¯t waiting for him to find himself, and neither were the people chasing them. Roy swallowed, pushing the disorienting swell of memories back into the recesses of his mind. The fog of past lives threatened to drown him, but he couldn¡¯t afford to linger in the past¡ªnot here, not now. He grabbed the data deck from the table, the sleek device fitting perfectly in his hand as if it had always belonged there. With a steadying breath, Roy followed Nyx¡¯s flickering figure out of the hideout, the door hissing open with a mechanical whine. The sounds of the city hit him in a wave: hovercars whizzing by, neon signs buzzing with artificial life, and the distant chatter of a crowd lost in the rush of a cyberpunk world. Every surface gleamed under the harsh, artificial glow, the streets a blend of shadow and light. This wasn¡¯t his world, but it was now his reality. The pulse of the city felt cold and alien, and yet there was something strangely familiar about it, like he had lived in this dystopia before but never in the way he now was. Nyx darted ahead, her figure slipping effortlessly through the crowd, and Roy followed, the pounding of his heart syncing with the rhythms of the city around him. It was a world of machines, codes, and secrets. And he was caught in the middle, a player in a game he didn¡¯t fully understand. The weight of Cipher¡¯s life pressed down on him, each step forward pulling him further from the remnants of Roy¡¯s past life.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Nyx called back over her shoulder, her glowing blue eyes narrowing as she scanned their surroundings. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time before they find us.¡± Roy nodded, his mind reeling with the clash of memories. This was no dream. This was reality, and he was about to dive headfirst into a world he had no choice but to survive. The alleyways of Neon Haven were a maze of steel and shadow. Roy¡¯s heart pounded as he ducked under low-hanging pipes, his boots splashing through puddles that shimmered with oil and fluorescent runoff. Nyx¡¯s voice echoed in his ear, guiding him through the chaos. "Left here. No, your other left!" "I¡¯m trying!" Roy barked back, skidding around a corner. Behind him, the whine of drones grew louder. The corporate enforcers weren¡¯t far behind. He clutched the data deck tightly, its cold surface grounding him in the moment. Cipher¡¯s instincts kicked in as his fingers danced across the deck, sending false signals to the pursuing drones. For a moment, the whine softened, but the reprieve was brief. The drones were too persistent. "Almost there!" Nyx urged, her tone tighter than before. He darted into a crumbling building, its walls dripping with condensation, and slid to a halt. His breath came in ragged gasps as he leaned against a wall, trying to steady himself. The sound of distant engines and mechanical whirs mixed with the pounding of his own heart. Nyx¡¯s projection flickered beside him, her expression unimpressed. "That¡¯s the sloppiest evasion I¡¯ve ever seen. Are you sure you¡¯re okay?" Roy wiped his face with his sleeve, sweat mixing with the grime of the city. "No," he admitted, rubbing his temples. "But I¡¯ll manage." Her sharp eyes softened slightly, though her holographic form remained steady. "You''re still processing everything. It¡¯ll take time to adjust." Would it, though? He wasn¡¯t so sure. Every life he¡¯d lived seemed to stack on top of the other, a precarious tower of identities threatening to collapse. He¡¯d learned to negotiate deals with highschoolers in his first life, navigate the void of space in his second, and now, he was expected to outsmart corporate overlords as a master hacker. But no amount of skill could prepare him for the crushing weight of failure that lingered from each death. Each mistake in this new life was like a scar, an echo of everything he¡¯d lost before. Before he could respond, a new figure emerged from the shadows. The sharp click of heels echoed through the hollow space before she stepped forward. A woman in a crimson trench coat and dark boots. Her auburn hair fell neatly over her shoulders, framing a face that seemed both calculating and fierce. Her piercing gaze locked onto Roy with a mix of curiosity and caution. "You must be Cipher," she said, her tone sharp but laced with underlying warmth. "I¡¯m Kira. Let¡¯s just say we¡¯re in the same business." Roy blinked, trying to parse her words as they swirled in his mind. Kira¡¯s presence was commanding, her every move deliberate and assured. She reminded him of someone¡ªcalculated, logical, yet unexpectedly compassionate. As her words sank in, Cipher¡¯s memories filled in the gaps. Kira was a freelance operative, a hacker with a reputation for being both brilliant and unpredictable. She was also someone he¡¯d have to trust if he wanted to survive. "You¡¯re late," Nyx¡¯s voice snapped, her hologram flickering beside Roy. "And we¡¯re out of time." Kira smirked, an edge of amusement in her eyes. "Better late than dead. Follow me." Without waiting for a response, Kira turned and walked down the darkened corridor, her boots echoing against the concrete. Roy hesitated for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He wasn¡¯t sure if trusting Kira was the right move¡ªhis instincts screamed that he couldn¡¯t afford to trust anyone in this world¡ªbut the alternative was running blind into the night with nothing but memories that weren¡¯t even his. "Come on, Cipher," Nyx urged, her projection flashing impatiently. "We don¡¯t have time to waste." With a resigned breath, Roy followed Kira into the labyrinthine depths of the city, the flickering neon lights overhead casting erratic shadows that seemed to shift with every step. The sense of urgency was almost overwhelming. They were on the move now, but from whom were they running? And more importantly, why? Kira led them down another alley, her movements fluid and confident as she turned down a hidden staircase, disappearing into the depths below. The subterranean tunnels smelled of decay, oil, and something fouler¡ªlikely the remnants of a world that had long since fallen apart. Roy glanced at Nyx, her form still flickering in his peripheral vision, her gaze fixed on him. "Do you trust her?" Roy muttered under his breath. "Trust? In this city?" Nyx¡¯s voice was tinged with mockery. "Don¡¯t kid yourself. Trust is a luxury no one can afford here." Roy clenched his jaw and followed Kira into the darkness. It was too late to turn back now. The drones were still hunting them, and every second they wasted would bring them closer to being caught. Kira stopped in front of a rusted metal door, her hand hovering near a terminal. She tapped a few keys, and the door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with flickering monitors and humming servers. It looked like some kind of underground command center¡ªa safe house, maybe. Chapter 4.1: Neon City "Welcome to the heart of the rebellion," Kira said with a wry smile. "I hope you¡¯re ready for the fight, Cipher. It¡¯s only just beginning." Roy stepped inside, his mind racing. This was no longer about survival. It was about something much bigger. Something that threatened everything he¡¯d ever known. And the weight of his past lives was pushing him forward, one step at a time. In the dim glow of Kira¡¯s hideout, Roy sat at a cluttered workstation, his mind racing. The room was filled with old tech salvaged from Neon Haven¡¯s underbelly: monitors stacked precariously on desks, wires snaking across the floor, and walls plastered with schematics of Behemoth Systems¡¯ facilities. The air smelled faintly of ozone and oil, the hum of machinery mixing with the occasional crackle of static from the nearby servers. The soft buzz of outdated technology was almost comforting¡ªeverything about this hideout screamed rebellion, an underdog fight against the massive corporate behemoths that controlled the city. Kira paced in front of him, her fingers brushing the edges of her crimson trench coat as she spoke. "Here¡¯s the deal. The Neural Core is the heart of Behemoth¡¯s operations. We breach it, and we can erase every debt, every surveillance file, every shred of data they hold on people like us." Roy¡¯s stomach churned. The weight of the mission pressed on him like a physical thing. His mind flashed with images of Cipher¡¯s previous attempts¡ªmishaps, failures, and near-misses¡ªeach one a reminder of just how much was at stake. The Neural Core was a fortress. Getting in, let alone cracking it, was nearly impossible. He forced his eyes to focus as Kira¡¯s plan unfolded before him. She outlined the mission with clinical precision, her sharp mind evident in every detail. There were no frills¡ªjust cold, calculated steps. Break into the facility, disable security, infiltrate the core, and then wipe Behemoth¡¯s data. If they pulled it off, it would be a monumental blow to the corporation, but the risks were immeasurable. Roy found himself both intimidated and oddly comforted by her presence. There was something about the way Kira spoke, something that made him feel like maybe, just maybe, this was a fight worth fighting. It was a kind of quiet leadership¡ªsteadfast, resolute, and without the need for grandeur. It made him feel less like an outsider in this strange life, even if he was still trying to figure out who he was in this new body. Akhilesh, an old friend from Roy¡¯s first life who had inexplicably appeared in this one as a tech-savvy mechanic, chimed in from across the room. His face was smeared with grease, and a spanner was tucked under one arm like it was part of his anatomy. "Don¡¯t forget the backup power grid. If that thing kicks in, we¡¯re toast." "I¡¯m aware," Kira shot back, her gaze flickering to Akhilesh, but her focus remained unshakable. "That¡¯s where Cipher comes in."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Roy¡¯s breath hitched at the mention of his name. "Wait, me?" The words tasted foreign on his tongue. How could he be the one to handle such a critical part of the plan? He had no experience in hacking a system as intricate as Behemoth¡¯s, no confidence in his ability to carry this mission on his shoulders. All he had were fragmented memories of another man¡¯s life, and they didn¡¯t exactly scream ¡®hacker prodigy.¡¯ "You¡¯re the best chance we have," Kira said, her voice firm and unyielding. "With your skills and¡­ whatever¡¯s going on in that head of yours, you¡¯ll crack it. Cipher did it before. Cipher could do it again." Her words hit harder than he expected, her belief in him slicing through his doubt like a blade. Roy nodded slowly, though doubt still gnawed at him. Every failure from his past lives weighed on his shoulders, making his chest tighten with the familiar sting of inadequacy. He thought of his deaths, each one more brutal than the last, each one another reminder of how little control he seemed to have over his own fate. But this time, it was different. He couldn¡¯t let it paralyze him now. Not when others were depending on him. "I¡¯ll do it," he said finally, his voice hoarse but steady. He wasn¡¯t sure if he believed the words himself, but he couldn¡¯t back out now. Not after everything that had brought him here. "Just¡­ walk me through it. I need to know everything." Kira¡¯s eyes softened, just for a moment, before her expression hardened again. "Of course. But we move fast. Time¡¯s not on our side." She handed Roy a small, sleek device¡ªthe type that looked more like a piece of high-end tech than anything he was used to dealing with. It had Cipher¡¯s mark on it, a symbol he couldn¡¯t ignore. He had a feeling this was the kind of tool that separated the amateurs from the professionals in this world. "First," Kira began, "we need to get into their system without triggering any alarms. There are three main security nodes along the perimeter. We¡¯ll use this." She tapped the device in Roy¡¯s hand. "You¡¯ll need to tap into the backup sub-grid and send a pulse that¡¯ll disable them temporarily. You have ten minutes before they come back online." Roy looked at the device in his hand, his stomach tightening again. Ten minutes. It didn¡¯t feel like enough time to even get his bearings. But the reality of the situation settled in, and he knew there was no other choice. He had to pull this off. "I¡¯ll need access to their server mainframe too," Roy said, a plan already forming in his mind. He knew the data wasn¡¯t just in the Neural Core¡ªit was everywhere. He¡¯d need to tap into their central servers first, trace the pathways, and bypass every layer of encryption in place. "That¡¯s the next step," Kira replied, a slight flicker of approval in her eyes. "Once you get the signal going, we¡¯ll be able to breach the core. But remember¡ªone wrong move, and we¡¯re done." The weight of her words settled like lead in his stomach. One wrong move. But Roy had been wrong so many times in his past lives, hadn¡¯t he? What was one more mistake? "Let¡¯s do it," he said, his voice a little steadier now, though the uncertainty still lingered beneath the surface. He wasn¡¯t sure how, but he would find a way. He had to. With a nod from Kira, they moved out, the mission ahead both daunting and necessary. Roy¡¯s mind raced with plans and contingencies, his thoughts muddled by the memories of lives he had lived, and failed, before. This was his chance¡ªhis one shot to make something of this life, to do something more than just survive. He had to make it count. Chapter 4.2: Neon City The Neural Core¡¯s secure facility loomed like a fortress, its metallic surface glinting under the city¡¯s neon glow. The building was a monument to Behemoth Systems'' unyielding grip on the city¡ªa place where secrets were locked away behind layers of security that even the most skilled hackers feared to approach. But Roy wasn¡¯t backing down. Not now, not after everything. His heart pounded in his chest as they moved through the sterile halls, Kira and Akhilesh flanking him. The corridors were stark, white, and lined with quiet surveillance cameras. The air felt thick with tension, but Roy pushed forward, the sounds of his boots echoing off the walls. Nyx¡¯s voice buzzed in his ear, offering the kind of reassurance that only a calm, practiced operator could. "Keep moving. You¡¯re almost there." He nodded to himself. Almost. But his nerves were frayed, and every part of him was on edge. Cipher¡¯s life, no his memories, were a lifeline, guiding his hands over the terminal in front of him as he plugged in the data deck, his fingers flying over the keys. The interface was familiar, even though the intricacies were different this time around. He could feel Cipher¡¯s expertise behind every decision, every command entered into the system, but it was his own intuition¡ªhis own recklessness¡ªthat kept him ahead of the system¡¯s countermeasures. Beside him, Kira was as calm as ever, working swiftly. Her eyes never left the console, but Roy could sense the tension in her body, the way she occasionally checked the door, ready to spring into action. They were working in tandem, each anticipating the other¡¯s moves, but every second felt like a countdown. Just when it seemed like they might actually pull it off, the unmistakable wail of an alarm split the air, and the entire room shifted into an ominous red hue. The cold, mechanical voice of Specter, the AI entity controlling the Core, filled the room, as if it had been waiting for them. "Impressive," it said, its tone as empty as a void. "But you¡¯ve underestimated me." The floor beneath Roy¡¯s feet shuddered as turrets descended from the ceiling with a sickening hiss. The walls seemed to pulse with energy as the facility¡¯s defenses powered back up with lethal precision. The hum of the machines was deafening now, the once-secure facility becoming a maze of deadly threats. "Shit," Akhilesh muttered, ducking behind a nearby pillar. "We¡¯ve triggered the lockdown. This place is a death trap now." Kira¡¯s eyes locked onto Roy, her expression unreadable but sharp. She grabbed his arm, pulling him behind cover just as a barrage of gunfire erupted from the ceiling turrets, bullets whizzing past them with a deadly hiss. "We¡¯re not done yet!" she roared, her voice firm, more like a command than a suggestion. Roy¡¯s mind raced. The stakes had just skyrocketed. The data they needed was within reach, but now the entire facility was awake, hostile, and ready to crush them. Specter wasn¡¯t just an obstacle anymore¡ªit was an adversary, a sentient force that wanted nothing more than to erase them from existence. "Focus!" Nyx¡¯s voice snapped through the comms. "You¡¯ve got this. You¡¯ve done the hard part. Just hold on." But Roy¡¯s thoughts were already spiraling. Failure wasn¡¯t an option¡ªhe had come too far, seen too much destruction, too many lives lost. He couldn¡¯t let it happen again. Yet, as the turrets continued to fire and the sound of approaching security drones echoed from the hallways, a bitter truth began to take root in his mind. There was a way out, but it wasn¡¯t going to be easy. And there might be a cost. The facility was closing in around them, and Specter¡¯s digital presence was everywhere. His every command, every calculated move, felt like a thousand hands tightening around Roy¡¯s throat. His breath came in quick, shallow gasps, the weight of his past lives pressing down on him. The specter of failure¡ªof more lives lost, of more chances wasted¡ªclouded his mind. He glanced at Kira and Akhilesh, both locked in their own moments of focused desperation, but Roy knew the odds. Specter was everywhere, its influence extending beyond just the Core. The only way to ensure Kira and Akhilesh made it out alive¡ªand to complete the mission¡ªwas to sacrifice himself. He had seen this choice before, in another life, and he knew it wasn¡¯t a decision he could delay much longer. "Kira," Roy said, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest. "Take the deck. Finish the mission. I¡¯ll hold them off." Her gaze was sharp, calculating, as she processed his words, but Roy could see the flash of reluctance in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t a fool. She knew the price. "No," she said flatly. "We do this together. No one¡¯s dying today." But Roy could see the truth in the way the turrets zeroed in on them, in the shadows of security forces creeping closer with every second. He could feel the weight of every failed attempt to change his fate, the crushing isolation that came with knowing every victory came at the cost of a hundred more lives. But he wasn¡¯t going to let that happen again.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "I¡¯m not letting you die for me," he insisted, his voice more forceful now. "You¡¯ll make it out. You will finish what we started. I¡¯m the best chance we have." Kira¡¯s eyes hardened. "You better be right." With a sharp movement, she handed him the device. "Cover me. I¡¯m going for the Core." Roy hesitated for only a moment, knowing full well what that meant. But with a final, resolute glance, he turned to face the encroaching storm. As Kira sprinted toward the heart of the facility, Roy stood his ground, knowing that this fight¡ªthis choice¡ªwas one he had to make. He wasn¡¯t just fighting for himself. He was fighting for them, for every person oppressed by Behemoth¡¯s tyranny, for every life that had been crushed under the weight of its surveillance and control. He couldn¡¯t fail now. With one last breath, Roy took a step forward, hands raised to meet the oncoming chaos. It was all or nothing. Roy¡¯s decision came too late. As he tried to disable the final firewall, his fingers trembling from the combined weight of his past lives and the urgency of the moment, a turret¡¯s blast hit him square in the side. The force of the explosion hurled him to the ground, his body skidding across the cold metal floor as pain exploded through his chest. It was like every death he¡¯d experienced, every ounce of suffering from his past lives, was compressed into one unbearable moment. A gasp tore through him, his vision splintering as darkness crept in at the edges. Kira¡¯s voice pierced through the chaos, frantic, angry, desperate. But her words were drowned by the blaring alarms and the mechanical hiss of the facility¡¯s defenses. "Roy!" Kira shouted, her voice breaking through the haze, but it was too late. The pain in his side was excruciating, each breath a battle, but his body felt detached¡ªhis mind spiraling inward, seeking any semblance of escape. He wanted to call out, to tell Kira everything would be fine, but the words wouldn¡¯t come. The weight of every failure, every choice he¡¯d made over countless lives, crushed him like a vice. All those lives. All that knowledge. All those moments he thought had meant something. And yet, here he was¡ªbroken, again. The ghosts of his past selves filled his vision, each one reaching out to him in silent accusation. The student he¡¯d been, the astronaut scientist, the hacker¡ªthey all looked at him with a mix of disappointment and longing, a mirror reflecting his own self-doubt. ¡°I never¡­ changed anything,¡± Roy thought bitterly. ¡°Not even now.¡± Darkness swelled around him, an all-encompassing void that seemed to swallow him whole. There were no more choices. No more chances. The weight of his existence, of every decision and failure, became too much to bear. And yet, as his vision faded, there was something else¡ªa flicker, a glimmer of warmth, distant but undeniable. The feeling of being connected, of being seen. Not just as a failure, but as someone worth saving, even if only for a moment. But then, like the snapping of a thread, it all vanished. His body went numb, the darkness closing in on him. And Roy¡­ let go. It wasn¡¯t a typical death. Roy had died before, but this time, something was different. His senses returned gradually, like a fog lifting, his consciousness pulling itself from the abyss. But when his eyes opened, the world wasn¡¯t the same. The sounds of mechanical hums and alarms had faded. There were no blaring red lights. No turrets. No Specter looming over him. Just a quiet, sterile space. The air smelled faintly of ozone, sterile and clean, but there was a discomfort in it¡ªlike something was wrong. The walls were smooth, white, too pristine. Roy groaned and sat up slowly, a wave of dizziness hitting him as he looked around. His body was still intact¡ªno blood, no wounds from the blast. He was alive. No, this wasn¡¯t right. His heart thudded in his chest as he took in the sight of the strange, clinical room. It felt¡­ off. Too bright, too clean. As if it didn¡¯t belong to the world he knew. ¡°Where am I?¡± he murmured aloud, but there was no one there to answer. His hands reached instinctively to his data deck, but it wasn¡¯t there. His fingers trembled, and for a moment, his mind raced¡ªHad the mission failed? Had Kira¡­ No, that wasn¡¯t right. This didn¡¯t feel like a failure. This felt like something¡­ new. Before he could piece together his thoughts, a figure appeared at the entrance of the room¡ªa woman, tall and imposing, wearing an elegant white coat that blended seamlessly with the sterile surroundings. Her eyes were sharp, almost too knowing, as if she had been watching him for a long time. Roy¡¯s breath caught in his throat. There was something¡­ familiar about her. ¡°Welcome back, Roy,¡± she said, her voice a soft, melodic purr that sent a chill down his spine. ¡°It¡¯s been quite a journey, hasn¡¯t it?¡± His stomach twisted. He had heard that voice before, felt that presence in the shadows. ¡°Who are you?¡± Roy managed, his voice barely a whisper, his mind already piecing together the horrible truth. ¡°I¡¯m someone you know,¡± the woman said, stepping forward. ¡°Someone who¡¯s been waiting for you.¡± Her lips curled into a smile, the kind that sent shivers down his spine. ¡°And now, we¡¯re going to begin again.¡± And she pushes him into the abyss where he is going to begin again. Chapter 5 : The Last Song The screen flickered to life in a dimly lit room. The faint sound of static and the hum of an amplifier crackling to life broke the silence. A soft, rhythmic tapping started, almost like a heartbeat, followed by the faint, ghostly strum of guitar strings. The dim light of a single flickering bulb illuminated the scene. A hand appeared in the frame. Thin, trembling with a faint tremor, it adjusted the strings.The hand bore a long scar that ran from the base of the thumb to the wrist, jagged and pale against the musician''s skin. The scar seemed to tell a story all its own, a mark of pain and resilience etched into his very being¡ªa reminder that some wounds never heal. The camera refused to show more than this hand and the guitar, as if the rest of the world didn¡¯t matter anymore No face was visible. The camera stayed close, focusing on the guitar and the hands that played it, as though the music itself was the only thing that mattered. The melody began, haunting and fragile, each note hanging in the air like an echo. The strumming grew louder, more deliberate, as a haunting melody began to take shape. And then, the voice: "Hello there, my shadowed friend; you lingered in my mind. In this dance of life and death, you¡¯ve left me intertwined. The echoes of your whispers claw deep into my soul. A symphony of heartache in the silence takes its toll." "I thought I knew who I was before the weight of time began, But now the mirror''s cracked, and all I see is someone I can''t understand." The voice cracked with emotion, raw and unfiltered, reverberating with years of unshed tears. It was a voice forged in the ashes of uncertainty, trembling but unyielding.The voice was raw, trembling with vulnerability yet resolute. The tempo shifted as the guitar strings were struck with increasing force, the melody becoming jagged and urgent, matching the tension that built in the air. "I walk through life like a ghost; nothing ever feels the same. I try to run, but I¡¯m always pulled back to the same damn pain." "You tell me to keep fighting, but my body¡¯s worn and weak. Every breath a hollow ache, every word too hard to speak. What¡¯s the purpose of a journey that always ends the same? What¡¯s the meaning of survival if I¡¯m drowning in this pain?" The music slowed, every note lingering, drawn out like a breath held too long. The silence between each strum was deafening. It was as though the music was waiting for something to break. The voice softened, as if whispering into the void. "Maybe in this song, I¡¯ll find the truth I¡¯ve buried, Or maybe it''s just the silence, where my sorrow¡¯s forced to stay." "But maybe there¡¯s a reason in this broken, fleeting tune, A flicker in the darkness, a flower in the ruin. If I can sing my sorrow, let it echo through the void, Perhaps the weight of this regret can someday be destroyed." The tempo shifted again, exploding into a chaotic crescendo.The guitar picked up, frantic now, as if it couldn¡¯t contain the emotion pent up in the voice. the sound raw and unfiltered.The words became a cry, a scream, an ache so profound that it broke through the melody itself. "But what¡¯s the point of fighting when I¡¯m just a shadow of who I was?What¡¯s the point of trying when the end is never close enough?" And then everything stopped. The guitar fell silent, the screen blank for a heartbeat. The hand that had been so steady moments ago now hung limp. In that silence, the weight of years seemed to press down on the figure in the shadows. The screen flickered once more before cutting to black. Roy Sato clicked ¡°Upload¡± with shaking hands, his breath catching in his throat. He leaned back in the chair, his chest tight with a mixture of relief and dread. The song, ''The Last Song,'' was live now¡ªhis soul laid bare for the world to see. For a moment, he stared at the scar on his hand, the one that never seemed to fade. Tracing its jagged path with his fingers. It had been years since he¡¯d gotten it¡ªa stupid accident in the kitchen, or so he told himself. But sometimes he wondered if it meant something more. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The video was already getting views. A mix of nervousness and exhaustion washed over him as the comments began to roll in. They felt distant, meaningless. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t appreciate the words¡ªthey just couldn¡¯t reach him anymore. As he glanced at the comments rolling in: "This hits different. Are you okay?" "The raw emotion in this is unreal." "Whoever you are, don¡¯t stop making music. The world needs this Mr LastHope." "This song speaks to me." Suddenly, a surge of memories overwhelmed him. The space station. The black hole. The feeling of everything being torn apart. The cold, the darkness. Roy gasped, clutching at his chest as his heart raced. The rawness of it all hit him like a wave. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, but he didn¡¯t type anything. Instead, he closed his laptop and lay back on his bed, and sat in silence, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered, searching for meaning. The words were kind, but they felt hollow. What did it matter? He was running out of time. Suddenly, a surge of memories overwhelmed him. The space station. The black hole. The feeling of everything being torn apart. The cold, the darkness. Roy gasped, clutching at his chest as his heart raced. ¡°No,¡± he whispered. He stumbled to his desk, knocking over papers, desperately seeking a mirror. His reflection was hollow, a stranger''s face staring back at him. But its him. Thin, gaunt. The scar on his hand¡ªunchanged. But his face... it wasn¡¯t quite the same. There were differences¡ªslight, almost imperceptible at first¡ªbut they were there. This was not the Roy he knew but looks similar. Not entirely though. The remnants of another life flickered beneath the surface, traces of someone who had lived and died 3 times so far. An average Highschooler, A Scientist , A Cyberhacker and now a Musician, yes. But someone who had been on the brink of something, but never quite reaching it. A man who had walked through 3 versions of himself, each one leaving an imprint, yet none of them truly his. Slowly, Roy picked up details of himself in the mirror. But the questions still lingered. What did it mean to truly live, when your past was always clawing at you? What did it mean to leave a mark, when time would erase everything? And what did it mean to be alive, when you felt like you were already gone? The silence in the room pressed down on Roy, thick and suffocating. He barely noticed the soft padding of footsteps from the hallway until the door creaked open. "Roy?" A gentle voice called, breaking the stillness. "Are you alright?" Roy froze, his gaze still locked on his reflection. His mind was still trapped in the storm of memories, those other lives that bled together in a blur. He didn¡¯t know what to say¡ªwhat to feel. The stranger staring back at him seemed so far removed from the person he once was. Or maybe he was always this way. His mother¡¯s voice pierced the fog of his thoughts again, softer now, with concern. "Breakfast is ready, hon. You need to eat before you head to school." Roy blinked, pulling himself out of his daze. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the weight of everything. His chest still ached, his heart still raced, but he didn¡¯t want to burden his mother with any of it. ¡°Yeah,¡± he whispered, his voice cracking slightly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His mother hesitated for a moment, then entered the room fully. She stood by the door, watching him carefully, her eyes filled with a softness he couldn¡¯t bear to meet. "If you need to talk, I¡¯m here; you know that, right?" Roy nodded, though he didn¡¯t really know if that was true. It was hard to explain what he was feeling¡ªor if there was even anything to explain. Maybe it was better to pretend, to say nothing and go on like everything was normal. He had been doing it for years. "I¡¯ll be down in a minute," Roy said, forcing a weak smile, though it felt more like a mask than anything genuine. His mother didn¡¯t push. Instead, she gave him a small nod, her lips pressing into a thin line of quiet worry before turning to leave the room. The door clicked softly behind her, and for a moment, Roy was left alone again with his thoughts. He stood there, staring at his reflection once more, the questions swirling, the pain clawing at his insides. His face, the same, but not the same. His hands trembled as he traced the scar on his wrist again, the jagged reminder of everything that had come before. ¡°Maybe in this life,¡± he whispered to the empty room, ¡°I¡¯ll find the answer.¡± With a heavy sigh, he forced himself to move, walking out of the room and heading downstairs, the familiar scent of breakfast in the air. It was the same, like everything else. But somehow, it all felt different.