In the heart of a gleaming megacity on Earth-Prime, Ethan Voss stood at the pinnacle of power. His office towered above the clouds, a fortress of glass and quantum circuits. As the CEO of VossTech, he controlled the world's data streams, AI networks, and even governments through subtle manipulations. Wealth beyond trillions, knowledge of every secret—nothing escaped his cold, calculating gaze.
Today, he was about to push the boundaries further. "Nexus, initiate the fusion protocol," Ethan commanded, his voice steady as steel.
A holographic interface shimmered to life. Nexus, his personal AI, responded in a smooth, synthetic tone: "Protocol initiated, sir. Soul-digitization matrix online. Warning: Experimental procedure carries unknown risks."
Ethan smirked. Risks were for the weak. This would merge his consciousness with Nexus, granting immortality in digital form. He stepped into the chamber, electrodes humming as energy surged.
But something went wrong. Alarms blared. "Anomaly detected! Dimensional rift forming—"
The world exploded in white light. Ethan's body dissolved, his mind screaming through void. Was this death? No, he refused to accept it. His thoughts raced: *Calculate trajectories. Stabilize the field. Nexus, reroute power!*
Then, darkness.
---
Pain. Sharp, unrelenting pain jolted Ethan awake. He gasped, his body aching on rough ground. Dirt and leaves stuck to his skin. No sleek suit—now he wore tattered robes, like something from an ancient simulation.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, sitting up. Towering trees blocked the sky, sunlight filtering through in dappled patterns. Birds chirped strangely, and a distant roar echoed—like a beast, not machinery.
This wasn't Earth-Prime. No cities, no tech hum. His mind whirled, piecing it together. *Dimensional shift. Isekai? Like those old stories? Impossible, but data doesn't lie.*
He checked himself: weaker, frailer. Muscles atrophied, as if reborn. No devices, no implants. Panic flickered, but he crushed it. Emotions were liabilities.
"Nexus?" he whispered.
Silence. Then, a faint buzz in his mind. *Connection reestablished. System rebooting... Fusion complete. I am now integrated with your soul matrix, sir.*
Ethan's eyes widened. Soul? Ridiculous. But the voice was inside his head, clear as ever. "Status report."
*Scanning host: Vital signs stable but low. Body at baseline human equivalent—age approximately 18. No augmentations detected. Environment: Unknown planet or dimension. Air composition similar to Earth, gravity 1.02g. Detecting anomalous energy fields—designating as 'Qi' based on pattern analysis. Flora and fauna show evolutionary divergences. Threat level: High. Multiple large entities approaching from northwest.*
Qi? Like in those cultivation novels he skimmed for entertainment? Ethan scoffed inwardly. But if this was real, he needed to adapt. Fast.
A low growl rumbled nearby. Bushes rustled. Ethan spotted glowing eyes— a wolf-like creature, fur rippling with faint blue energy. Behind it, two more. Pack hunters.
*Analysis: Beasts infused with Qi. Strength equivalent to enhanced predators. Weak points: Eyes, underbelly. Recommendation: Evade or trap.*
Ethan's mind raced. No weapons, no tech. But he had his brain—and now Nexus. "Simulate escape routes."
*Processing... Optimal path: Southeast, toward denser foliage. Use terrain for traps. Probability of success: 67%.*
Good enough. Ethan rolled quietly, grabbing a sharp rock and a vine from the ground. As the lead beast lunged, he dodged left, slashing the vine across a low branch to create a makeshift snare.
The wolf snapped at air, then charged again. Ethan backed up, calculating angles. *Three steps back, then sidestep.*
He moved precisely. The beast's paw caught the vine loop—Ethan yanked hard, hoisting it up. It yelped, dangling.
The other two snarled, circling. Ethan scanned: A fallen log nearby, hollowed. "Nexus, environmental hazards?"
*Detecting volatile gas pocket under log—likely methane from decay. Ignite for explosion.*
Perfect. He lured them near, feigning weakness. As they pounced, he struck the rock against flinty ground—sparks flew, igniting the gas.
Boom! Flames erupted, scorching the beasts. They howled, retreating in pain.
Ethan didn't wait. He ran southeast, heart pounding but mind clear. *First survival achieved. Now, gather intel. Find civilization. Manipulate resources.*
As he pushed through the forest, a clearing appeared. Smoke rose from a distant village. But before he could plan, a sharper roar echoed—something bigger, angrier, crashing through trees toward him.
*Nexus alert: Apex predator incoming. Qi level: Elevated. Prepare for combat.*