Reborn with Anima Nexus

June 15th, 2023 - 9:30 p.m.

"It can get tragic! Hit a brother from the back with a brand new Patek!"

"I done had it! When I see a opp lacking, I—OH SHIT, JALEN, WATCH OUT!"

"TURN THE WHEEL!"

CRASH!

A jolt. A violent impact. Shattering glass. Then—darkness.

The Next Morning

'Ughhh... what a weird-ass dream.'

Jalen stirred awake, groggily blinking against the harsh sunlight. His body ached, and the ground beneath him felt hard and uneven. A far cry from the comfort of his bed.

'Wait a minute... why is my bed so hard?'

'Am I on the ground?'

Confusion set in like a fog as he slowly sat up, his eyes adjusting to his surroundings. The world around him was... unfamiliar. A long, winding dirt road stretched into the horizon, surrounded by rolling fields of green. There were no cars, no streetlights, no buildings—just nature in every direction.

"Where the hell am I?"

He reached into his pockets, feeling his wallet still there, but his phone—gone. A sigh escaped his lips as he pushed himself to his feet, dusting off his clothes. The only logical course of action? Follow the road.

'This feels like something straight out of an anime. Grassy terrain, a lone dirt road leading to civilization… yeah, classic isekai setup.'

The thought made him chuckle, but the reality of the situation was anything but funny. He had no memory of how he got here, and something told him this wasn't Louisiana anymore.

'Maybe the road leads to a town. Hopefully, I can find some answers there.'

As he took a step forward, a bright green energy swirled around him without warning. His clothes shimmered, transforming before his very eyes. Pajamas melted away, replaced by black athletic shorts, a fresh tee, and new running shoes. He froze, staring at himself in stunned silence.

"…Okay. That just happened."

His heartbeat quickened, but instead of panicking, he grinned.

"Not gonna question it. Fresh fit for free? Bet."

With that, he broke into a jog, determined to reach whatever lay ahead.

One Hour Later

A distant hum of activity met Jalen's ears as he approached a city. A large wooden sign came into view:

WELCOME TO STABILOUS

"Stabilous? Never heard of that before… definitely not Louisiana."

He stepped onto the cobblestone streets, immediately struck by the city's sheer opulence. Sleek, futuristic cars glided through well-kept roads. Massive casinos loomed overhead, their neon lights blinking hypnotically. High-end restaurants lined the streets, each more luxurious than the last. Everything here screamed money.

'Damn, this place is boujee as hell. Definitely not Earth… at least, not my Earth.'

Determined to get some answers, he approached a well-dressed woman walking past.

"Uhh, excuse me?" he asked politely. She didn't react.

Jalen frowned. 'Okay, maybe she didn't hear me.'

Before he could try again, the green energy surged around him once more. This time, he felt it gather in his throat.

"EXCUSE ME!"

His voice boomed like rolling thunder, shaking the very air around him. Conversations halted, pedestrians froze, and all eyes turned toward him.

Jalen slapped a hand over his mouth. 'That… was not normal.'

The woman, unfazed, slowly reached into her purse and pulled out a diamond-encrusted phone. The moment she raised it to her ear, Jalen's body tensed. He didn't know how, but he could feel the weight of unseen eyes locking onto him.

'Shit. I'm being watched.'

A deep, gut-wrenching instinct screamed at him to run.

Then—

"Take the shot."

The woman's words sent a jolt of electricity down Jalen's spine.

"WAIT!"

BANG!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Time stopped.

Bullets hung in the air, frozen mid-flight.

"…What the fuck?"

A new voice cut through the eerie silence. "Are you the one that called for a timeout?"

Jalen whipped around. Standing behind him was a man dressed in black and white stripes—a referee, of all things.

"You got some good timing, all things considered."

Jalen blinked. "T-Thanks? Who the hell are you?"

The man smirked. "Not important. You've got five minutes. Make 'em count."

Before Jalen could respond, the Ref vanished, leaving him alone in a world frozen in time.

He didn't hesitate. Bolting forward, he yanked the phone from the woman's grasp and decked her, sending her limp body crashing against a nearby wall. Then, without looking back, he disappeared into the alleyways.

Three… two… one…

Time resumed.

The gunshots rang out. The bullets, now unhindered, clattered uselessly to the ground. The woman was launched backward, smashing into a casino wall with a sickening thud.

Panic erupted. Screams filled the air as people scrambled for cover. Chaos consumed Stabilous.

Twenty Minutes Later

From the rooftops, Jalen watched the city descend into disorder.

'Damn. One punch, and the whole city's in shambles. Who was that lady?'

A sudden trumpet fanfare cut through the noise. Jalen turned his head just in time to see a massive hologram materialize in the sky—a regal man with a golden crown.

"ATTENTION, CITIZENS OF STABILOUS."

The entire city fell silent.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce… my wife, your beloved queen, has been pronounced dead. The cause? Instantaneous impact with the wall of my casino."

Jalen's stomach dropped. 'Oh… shit.'

The King's voice remained firm, but anger laced his words. "The one responsible remains at large, but make no mistake—he will be found. Effective immediately, I am activating Dome Protocol. Until the assassin is caught, NO ONE will enter or leave Stabilous."

The hologram faded, replaced by a new sign:

CURFEW IN EFFECT. ALL CITIZENS MUST REMAIN INDOORS AFTER 11 P.M. MILITARY WILL PATROL. ANYONE FOUND OUTSIDE WILL BE DETAINED OR TERMINATED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Jalen barely had time to process what was happening before a low rumble shook the city. A translucent, dome-like barrier began to rise around Stabilous, sealing it shut.

"…Shit. I really did it now. If I am going to get anywhere I need to blend in."

Before he could think of his next move, the green energy swirled around him again, this time shifting his clothes into a sleek black suit.

He froze. 'Wait… did I just do that?'

A voice behind him answered his question.

"I have eyes on the target. Preparing to engage."

A blade was drawn. A whisper of death followed.

"Ultimate Skill Activation: Silent Night."