Ethan Cross barely slept that night, his mind buzzing with excitement and possibilities. By dawn, he had already outlined a detailed plan for experimenting with his newfound abilities. He called it The World List: a ranking of which fictional worlds he would explore first, which items to grab, which characters to interact with, and, most importantly, which stories he should manipulate first.
His first test wasn't going to be a high-stakes adventure—he wanted something small, controllable. Something he could safely interact with to understand the mechanics.
He returned to his computer and scrolled through the list of games. This time, he paused at one that should be perfectly safe even if a little boring Power Wash Simulator. He wanted to first test how entering and exiting a game worked. The moment he reached out, the familiar rippling sensation returned. As he was adjusting A new message appeared "Do you want to freeze time in reality while visiting world? Yes/No". "Well that's convenient thought Ethan as he mentally selected No as he wanted test for time variation and had no obligations for the day."
Ethan then realized He was currently in a ghostly form floating in the air with the world unnaturally still around him with a mental message "User has five minutes to select a spot to materialize. Time in this world will resume after materialization"
Ethan figured this was so that he could avoid randomly appearing in front of the characters as he would have no way to explain himself. With one worry alleviated Ethan floated down to the ground and chose to materialize where he was currently standing as he was the only person present.
Ethan then proceeded to test the equipment which worked as expected before storing it in his inventory. "May as well give it to Dad as a gift." As he accessed his mental menu which only included three tabs now an option to leave the current world, the inventory and lastly the tab for save files which now included a slot for Power Wash Simulator. As he mentally selected leave world a new message appeared "Would user like to freeze time in this world before transference? Yes/No."
Ethan mentally toggled no as he had no intentions to return and felt the familiar feeling of the transfer take him again as he entered reality. Once again in ghostly form with the familiar 5 minute timer displayed for rematerialization with time frozen around him temporarily.
"At least I don't have to worry about someone seeing me return if I choose not to freeze time before leaving."
With Ethan's main worries alleviated and now knowing how to enter a new world and being able to return the time for his real plans could begin. Ethan being a good son wanted to financially secure his family members. His parents had worked hard for him all their life and his younger twin sisters were about to soon graduate high school and they both wanted to go to college.
Ethan could sell his gold that he received from earlier but that would cause questions to be asked. How did you get this gold? Was it stolen? Ethan was a man who hated hassles like these so he opened up Netflix and goes to Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 8, he fast forwarded to the part where Walt and Skyler were standing in front of a massive pile of money, millions of dollars right there for the taking.
Ethan paused the show and thrust his had into the screen pulling out band after band of money until he had pulled out the whole pile. He opened the inventory with a square in the inventory with a dollar bill icon was displayed, when he mentally clicked on it the knowledge $80 million dollars was added. He could withdraw any amount just by thinking it.
"Step one financial independence check. Now I jut have to find a way to spend this without alerting the IRS." Ethan muttered." However he wasn't worried with his new abilities it was only a matter of deciding how he wanted to get around this obstacle not whether or not he could.
"Now that that's settled time do do something for myself." Ethan then proceeded to reopen Crunchyroll and found the show and episode he was looking for. As he selected play he once again paused the show at the moment he was waiting for.
"Well here goes, from now on I live life how I want to time to embrace a whole new world." As Ethan reached out to the screen the familiar message popped up freeze time in reality while entering new world Yes/No. Ethan selected Yes as the once familiar feeling enveloped him and he found himself in a dark room that had no discernable end, with a blue haired beauty sitting across from a brown haired teenager wearing a green tracksuit. Ethan chose to materialize right before they started talking.
"Eh!? Two people aren't supposed to appear at once! Well you standing over there since your better looking ill let you choose first."
"Man Aqua is shallow even though she's really hot." Ethan thought to himself. "Well I needed to pick first anyway otherwise when Kazuma selects Aqua they would disappear before I got a chance to choose."
"What the hell are you even talking about choose!? Where even are we one second I was in front of a tractor then next I'm here!" yelled Kazuma
"Ugh such a bother... well I guess ill give you guys a quick explanation. You Kazuma have died in the most embarrassing way imaginable. You pushed a girl in front of a slow moving tractor before dying of shock and pissing yourself and I'm not sure about you um what's your name?" asked Aqua
"Ethan Cross from Los Angeles." I said looking at aqua. "Sorry I said looking at Kazuma while also speaking with my hands I don't speak Japanese (even though I generally knew what he said from having watched the show)."
It seemed even though me and Kazuma couldn't understand each other we could both understand Aqua speaking to us.
"Well simply put I am the Goddess Aqua and I help mortals to move on when they reach the afterlife. You must have somehow died and also ended up here Ethan. But fret not because each of you can choose to go to heaven or to be sent to a new world with a powerful item or ability. If you manage to defeat the demon lord and his generals you will be granted a wish. Now Ethan what do you choose Heaven or a new world?"
"I choose to go to the new world."
"Well in that case choose which boon will accompany you on your journey!" Aqua spoke while a magical glow lit up around her with various papers landing on the ground with various abilities listed on them.
List:
Titans Strength- Massive increase in strength even Hercules would be jealous!
Mjolnir's Hammer- Gain the ability to crush your foes with overpowering electricity.
Muramasa- Cursed blade that greatly enhances users abilities and grants increased sword talent.
Ghost Form- Gain the ability to turn intangible at will. Access to curse magic.
The list went on and on but I eventually settled on the ability I would use. "I choose this one.' I said as I laid the card in front of Aqua.
"Good choice then ill send you on your way! Go forth hero and destroy the evil demon king and any wish you desire will be granted by the Gods!" Aqua said as she raised her hands and a glow wrapped around my body.
The next moment Ethan appeared in a quiet village that appeared to be a medieval town with fantasy elements. Carriages rode by dragged by horses, an elf walking in a robe with a pointed hat, a succubus cafe was even visible in the distance. A surge of excitement and anticipation went through Ethan and he could feel a rush of energy course through him.
"Ill wait a little bit longer for Aqua and Kazuma to appear then Ill go and choose my class at the adventurers guild." As Ethan stood there knowing Kazuma and Aqua would likely show up soon He anticipated his future with glee.
"Now what class do I want to choose...?"