Sitting atop the peak of a famous mountain in the Green Birch region, Blue stared out at the world, his mind clouded with boredom.
For as long as he could remember, life had always been dull—nothing ever piqued his interest. Whether plunging into the depths of the ocean or scaling the highest peaks, he never felt the rush of accomplishment that others seemed to chase so eagerly.
In fact, he had deliberately put himself in harm's way countless times, seeking the so-called "thrill" people claimed to experience in the face of death. But, as always, he felt nothing.
"I guess everyone is right—I'm an anomaly in this world," Blue muttered, exhaling a deep sigh.
He picked up his climbing kit and began his descent. Halfway down, a powerful gust of wind slammed against him, threatening to loosen his grip. Any normal person in his position would feel their heart racing, their emotions spiraling into chaos. But Blue remained as calm as ever.
"The forecasters are as 'accurate' as always. The sky is really 'clear' today," he remarked with a chuckle, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
After steadying his footing, he continued his descent, seemingly unbothered by the increasingly violent winds. As if enraged by his indifference, the wind howled louder, twisting into a mini tornado that surged toward him with alarming speed.
Blue analyzed the situation. Judging by the tornado's rapid approach and his precarious position on the mountainside, he knew his chances of survival were slim—unless, by some miracle, the storm dissipated before reaching him.
"Pathetic. Whoever designed this world should seriously consider a career change," he scoffed, unfazed by the looming threat of his own demise.
In the blink of an eye, the tornado reached him, lifting him effortlessly into the sky. He felt his body spin, the world tilting in chaotic motion. Yet, even now, as he hovered between life and death, he remained detached.
"Maybe this is better..." he mused. "If reincarnation is real, I might get lucky enough to end up in a world far more interesting than this one."
For the first time in a long while, a flicker of light sparked in his eyes.
And in the next moment... his world went blank.
"It's finally over," Blue sighed softly. "But... why am I still able to think?"
Confusion settled in as he processed his awareness.
As if on cue, the suffocating darkness dissolved, revealing an endless, empty white expanse. Glancing down, he realized his body had taken on a translucent form.
'Could this be the reincarnation plane?' he wondered. 'But if it is, shouldn't there be others here?'
His thoughts spiraled. "Maybe this is heaven, and I'm the only human qualified to enter while the rest are lining up on the road to hell... But I know I'm not exactly a saint. My chances of making it to heaven are slim. Well, whatever this place is, it's getting on my nerves."
A troubling realization hit him. "Could this be my own version of hell?"
For someone who had spent his entire life chasing thrills, being trapped in a dull, white void felt like the worst kind of torture.
Just as he was sinking deeper into his thoughts, a bright light flickered in the distance. Blue instinctively tried to walk toward it, but his movements felt... unnatural. His control over his limbs was erratic, uncoordinated.
"So this is what it means to be a soul," he mused.
Recalling ghosts from novels and movies, he attempted to float—and, to his surprise, it worked.
"Interesting," he murmured, a faint smile forming on his lips.
After drifting for a while, he finally reached the source of the light. It wasn't just a glow—it was another 'soul'. Unlike him, however, the other presence seemed to be deeply asleep.
"Hey," Blue called out, trying to wake him.
He floated around the entity, attempting to get its attention, but there was no response. Frustrated, he reached out and lightly touched the glowing figure.
Instantly, the light flared, intensifying so much that, instead of brightening the void, it swallowed everything in darkness—including the soul.
Then, a voice echoed through the abyss.
"Race... Human. Soul Power... High. Compatibility... 100% compatible."
Blue barely made sense of the words.
"Hey! What are you talking about? What is this place?" he demanded.
The voice ignored his question.
"Do you wish to be the overlord of this world?"
Blue scoffed. "No. I'd rather be in a more interesting world." What fun was ruling a land as dull as this?
Silence.
Then—
"Secret condition met. The Human Pioneer Program is commencing..."
A sharp, unnatural sensation gripped Blue. His very 'essence' felt like it was being extracted, pulled apart piece by piece.
"Hey! Can you explain what's happening?" he asked, his voice carrying the first flicker of panic.
He couldn't 'see' his own form anymore, but he could 'feel' it fading.
"Welcome to the new world, hum—"
A powerful wave of weakness struck him, and everything vanished.
For a while, all was silent.
Then—
"Oops... It seems I overdid it," a slightly panicked voice muttered. "It'll only delay his awakening for a few years. They shouldn't blame me too much, right?"
The voice seemed to be reassuring itself.