Ethan lived a life that, by most standards, was enviable. A talented violinist in a modest orchestra, he had a cozy apartment in the countryside, a loving sister named Lila who was in her second year of veterinary school, and a golden retriever named Duke who followed him everywhere. He wasn't rich, but he had everything he needed—laughter, music, and the quiet certainty that his family would always be safe.
Then, one night, the fire started. A gas leak in the kitchen. By the time Ethan smelled smoke, the flames were already licking the walls. He woke Lila, shoved her out the window, and turned back to save Duke. The dog didn't make it out. The heat was unbearable, the ceiling caving in, but Ethan kept running—toward the smoke, toward the inferno. His last thought was of Lila's future, of Duke's wagging tail, of the life he'd built only to lose it in seconds.
His eyes snapped open in a void of white noise. His body felt… wrong. Not dead, exactly, but not alive either. His hands were translucent, his breath a faint shimmer in the air. The sound of a distorted chime filled his mind.
["Congratulations."]
["Your life ended in a selfless act of bravery, attempting to save your sister and your family dog. While it may not fit the traditional mold of a 'heroic death,' your actions were undeniably courageous and driven by love."]
["Because of your selfless sacrifice, you will be granted a special reward. Do you wish to accept the reward? A simple 'Yes' or 'No' will suffice."]
"What the hell? A selfless act of bravery? Wait... Why does this remind me of those cliché isekai anime I used to watch? The system, the death, everything... Don't tell me..."
["Waiting for your answer... 'Yes' or 'No.' A response is required to proceed."]
"If this is a dream... Good. Maybe I've just watched too many isekai anime, and now I'm dreaming something like this. Or... what if this is real? Either way, answering the question won't hurt." He took a deep breath and replied, "Yes!"
["Answer received."]
["Reward is being processed."]
["Please wait..."]
["Reward processing complete."]
["Reward granted. As a result of your selfless sacrifice, you will be sent to a random world as a special reward."]
"Yeah... It's obviously looking like an isekai anime plotline now... But I probably wouldn't call that a heroic act, to be honest. I mean, it was just instinct, not something I did willingly. I don't know if that can be called anything but stupidity."
[To proceed, we will need to choose a universe for you to enter. For this procedure, we will provide you with three random universe options, one by one, and you will have to select one of them.]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
"Yes, let's get this over with," Ethan muttered, still unsure if this was real or some bizarre dream.
[Proceeding with universe selection.]
[First option: Attack on Titan.]
"Attack on Titan? Wait, I've only watched about 22 episodes of that. I couldn't continue because it was way too dark and intense. No thanks, I'm not ready for that kind of world. Next option, please."
[Second option: Rent a Girlfriend.]
"Rent a Girlfriend? Ugh, I haven't watched it, but from the glimpses I've seen in reels, it seems cringe. Definitely not my thing. Next."
[Third option: Solo Leveling.]
"Solo Leveling? Hmm... I've only watched up to the 7th episode of the second season. I was planning to finish the season and then read the light novel, but I never got around to it. Still, out of the three, this seems like the best option. It's a modern universe, and from what I know, it's probably the most normal among the three. Alright, I'll take it."
[Universe selected: Solo Leveling.]
[System Note: "The Universe Is A World With Supernatural Elements. To Ensure Your Survival, You Will Be Granted A Unique Power Set Based On Your Soul's Resonance."]
["Power Synthesis Initiated..."]
["Scanning Your Potential..."]
["Error. Multiple High-Compatibility Abilities Detected."]
["Selecting Optimal Combination For Maximum Growth..."]
Ethan's body suddenly glowed as energy surged through him. "What the—?!" He felt his mind expanding, his senses sharpening beyond human limits. The System's voice echoed:
["Power Fusion Complete."]
["You have inherited the abilities of: Zinith Gojo, A Character you created yourself and wrote down in your notes, taking many abilities from different Universes."]
[Note: The fusion of powers and the selection of the characters were determined based on your subconscious preferences, as well as an analysis of your soul's potential by the System.]
[Now that all preparations are complete...]
[Have a safe journey to your chosen universe.]
Ethan took a deep breath, his translucent hands shimmering faintly. "So, this is it… a new world, new powers, and a second chance. Let's see if I can make it count."