Game Over : Marvel Reboot

I woke up on a pristine white floor, surrounded by an endless expanse of darkness. The contrast between the softly glowing white floor beneath me and the infinite blackness around me was surreal, yet I felt an inexplicable calmness. My last memories were vivid—the searing pain of gunshots tearing through my body, the cold floor of the factory, and the metallic smell of my own blood pooling around me. I had died, slowly and painfully, but now, in this strange place, I felt… at peace. It was a weird feeling, but not an unwelcome one.

Since there was nothing else to do, I decided to stand up. Slowly, I walked toward the edge of the white floor. I knew for sure that I had died—I'd been shot at least five times—so, for the heck of it, I thought, why not? The whole situation was already bizarre enough, so I figured I might as well see what was going on. It was mesmerizing to be in space and somehow still "alive." As I reached the edge of the white floor, I peered over it. And there it was—Earth, hanging in the void of space, a breathtaking, swirling blue orb.

"Woah…"

The sight was awe-inspiring. For the first time in my life, I felt a profound sense of serenity. I admired the planet's beauty, its vibrant colors and delicate balance. For a moment, all the pain and chaos of my life seemed to fade away.

"So, this is what it's like to see the world from the outside," I murmured. "It's… beautiful."

That was the only thing I could say. The scene before me was hypnotizing. Everyone has seen Earth from space in pictures or videos, but not many have witnessed its splendor like this. It was both beautiful and humbling, and it filled me with a strange mix of awe and fear.

Then, from behind me, a calm, older male voice broke the silence.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

The voice was warm, reassuring, and carried a certain majesty—like that of a wise grandfather with an immense aura. I turned around to see a figure cloaked in soft, golden light. His features were indistinct, but his presence radiated kindness, calmness, and an overall friendly vibe.

"Even after everything, the world remains serene," the man continued, gesturing toward Earth. "A testament to its resilience… and its potential."

I nodded, feeling an inexplicable connection to him. It was odd, but at this point, I was in such an overly chill state of mind that I just went with the flow. The entire situation was surreal enough already, so there was no need to be unnecessarily nervous or freak out. If he was chill, I'd be chill too.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The man smiled. "You may call me… The One. I've been watching over this world for a long, long time."

He stepped closer until we were standing side by side, casually gazing at the scenery before us. His presence was comforting yet awe-inspiring.

"Watching the world for a long time, huh? Cool," I said, trying to process everything.

Then it dawned on me—this Zen grandpa might just be the God. By now, I was so immersed in the calm and serene vibe that I hadn't even considered the possibility that I might be in massive trouble. I wasn't a deeply religious person, but the thought of being rude to the God made me panic a little. After all, nobody wants to go to hell. But then, The One—or Zen Grandpa, as I'd started calling him in my head—noticed my odd expression and smiled warmly at me. Instantly, I felt calm again, as if he was saying he knew and didn't mind about it, and just relax, it would all gonna be just fine.

"And I've been watching you, Sai," he said.

"Watching me? Why?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

To be honest, there wasn't much going on in my life that was interesting enough to warrant divine attention. So, his statement caught me off guard. The One chuckled softly.

"Because you're one of the few who truly understand the weight of life and death. You've seen the worst of humanity, yet you still chose to stand up for what's right. That's rare."

"I didn't do anything special," I replied. Well, the last few hours of my life do seem a little bit 'adventurous', so adventurous in fact, I died because of it.

"I just… did what I thought was right."

The One's smile widened. "And that's exactly why you're here."

He gestured for me to sit with him on the white floor, as if we were old friends catching up. Oddly, I felt at ease, as though I'd known him for years. The One gently urged me to share my story, and I obliged, recounting my life in a quiet, reflective tone. It was strange how comfortable I felt opening up to him, but at this point, I figured, why not? It was just a simple story, after all.

"I was just a security guard," I began. "A nobody, really. I worked at a medical factory, guarding the gates, keeping my head down. I never thought my life would amount to much."

I told The One about my old high school friend, a journalist who had uncovered a dark secret about the factory where I worked. At first, I thought his claims were absurd. He'd begged me to help him investigate the factory, citing some massive conspiracy. We'd been close back in high school, but his relentless rambling about justice and corruption had annoyed me at first.

"The guy just wouldn't let it go," I said. "He kept going on about how the company, which was well-known and respected worldwide, was actually manufacturing illegal drugs and all sorts of shady stuff."

The One listened closely, nodding with a neutral expression as I spoke.

"The company was a global giant with a stellar reputation. Heck, even my family and I used their paracetamol when we were sick. I refused him a few times, but he kept coming back, begging me to help. That is, until today, I guess…"

Despite my initial reluctance, something about his persistence got to me. Maybe it was a hunch or a sixth sense, but I figured there had to be some truth to his claims. After all, there's no smoke without fire, right? He insisted that the pharmaceutical company had an insidious side they wanted to hide, and if it was true, I couldn't just ignore it. My family and millions of others were consumers of their products. So, I agreed to help him investigate the whole thing, hoping that it was just a conspiracy remained just a conspiracy theory, and we all can move on with our lives.

What we found was horrifying. The factory was a front for producing illegal drugs on a massive scale. They were manufacturing all sorts of drugs like it was nobody's business, operating on a professional level with top-class mercenaries guarding the inside of the facility.

"We were caught," I said, my voice tinged with bitterness. "I was shot in the back as we tried to run. I told my friend to leave me behind… and then… as I watched him run, I got shot another 5 times all over my body, and then I died…just like that."

Recounting my last moment, affected me a little, I felt the pain searing my flesh, the strength wanning away as my body were leaking blood. the fear and longing of my uncaring family that I left behind, made me worried and wonder how they would react to my death. The One listened intently, his expression one of quiet understanding. When I finished, he nodded and said, "Your death was not in vain, Sai. Your friend escaped. He exposed the truth to the world."

The One gestured toward Earth, and the scene shifted to show the aftermath of my death. News headlines flashed across the void, detailing the global outrage sparked by the exposé. Protests erupted worldwide, and the corrupt pharmaceutical company crumbled under the weight of public scrutiny.

"Your friend dedicated his work to you," The One said, his voice filled with pride. "He called you a martyr. Your death inspired a movement that brought down not just one company, but many others like it. The world became a better place because of you."

The scene shifted again, showing people marching in the streets, holding signs that read "Justice for Sai" and "End Corporate Greed." Governments were forced to take action, passing stricter regulations and holding corrupt executives accountable. The movement spread like wildfire, igniting a global wave of change.

"Your death was the spark that lit the flame," The One continued. "Because of you, countless lives were saved, and the world became a little brighter."

I watched in stunned silence, my heart swelling with a mix of pride and disbelief. The whole thing had snowballed so quickly. The entire world had gone ballistic. People were tired of being used and lied to, and when my friend's report hit the news and went viral on the internet, it added fuel to the fire. My friend had mentioned my death, dramatizing it a little and turning me into a martyr for the cause. The entire planet had erupted in outrage.

"I… I never thought I'd make a difference," I admitted.

The One placed a hand on my shoulder. "Sometimes, it's the ordinary ones who change the world."

His words made me reflect on my life. My voice tinged with both regret and acceptance, I found myself venting a little more. I told him about my rough upbringing, my militaristic father who had instilled unwarranted and unnecessary harsh discipline in me from a young age, and the bullying I endured in school.

"We were poor," I said. "The other kids made fun of me for it. One day, I snapped. I fought back, and I didn't hold back. I hurt them… badly. I guess all that bottled-up rage and madness just came pouring out."

The One listened without judgment, his calm demeanor encouraging me to continue.

"But because they were rich kids, I was the one who got punished. I was expelled, and then I was sent to prison, after all, those little shits bullied a lot of people for so many years, and left scoff free, it wasn't fair…but that's how the world works, right?"

I then shared that after I got out of prison, I dive straight to the working world, having a record doesn't really help with the job hunting, but I was poor and so does my family, I steeled myself and soldier on, kept my head down and just work whatever job I can get. It was tough for me, to be really honest, but you can't really complain and be depressed about it at all time, better be depressed with a full stomach than, be down an under with nothing.

The One nodded sympathetically. "The world can be cruel, but it can also be kind. You found solace in being an otaku, didn't you?"

I smiled faintly. "Yeah. Anime, manga, games… they were my escape. They made me feel like I could be someone else, even if just for a little while."

The One's eyes softened. "And yet, despite everything, you still chose to do the right thing. That's what makes you special, Sai."

As we continued to talk, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. I asked him random questions, like why he hadn't created unicorns or whether the Oak Island treasure was real. The One answered some of my questions with a playful tone, while others he just laughed off. Eventually, I brought up the topic I was most curious about: isekai.

"So, is all that isekai stuff real?" I asked.

The One's expression shifted slightly, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. "These days, it seems like every otherworldly being is scooping up souls and sending them off to new worlds. They do it as they please, without regard for the balance of the multiverse."

I raised an eyebrow, secretly excited. "Wait… are you saying all those isekai stories are real?"

The One sighed, his tone exasperated. "Unfortunately, yes. It's become something of a trend. Gods, demons, even cosmic entities—they're all plucking souls from Earth and tossing them into other worlds. It's… tiresome."

I chuckled. "Sounds like you're not a fan."

The One shook his head. "I'm not. It disrupts the natural order. But… I suppose I can't stop them entirely. Still, it's frustrating."

"So, what? You're joining the trend?" I smirked.

The One smiled, his annoyance fading. "In a way. But I prefer to think of it as… giving deserving souls a second chance. Like you, Sai."