Year XX60
The laboratory was in complete silence. Only the hum of the monitors and the flickering of indicator lights broke the stillness. In the center of the room, a sealed capsule contained a fragment of dark matter floating within a magnetic field. Its faint glow seemed to devour light rather than reflect it.
[Stability analysis in progress…]
The synthetic voice of AION, the artificial intelligence integrated into his cerebral chip, resonated in Dr. Ethan Vance's mind.
[Containment collapse probability: 2.3%. Safety within acceptable parameters.]
Ethan frowned as he observed the graphs on the screen. Erebo-X… a substance that defied the laws of this universe an unconfirmed material never before seen in its pure state. His team had spent years tracking its presence in cosmic dust clouds and asteroids near black holes. Now, finally, they had a real sample.
"If we can stabilize the reaction, we might be on the verge of a new energy era…" he murmured to himself.
[Warning. Anomalous activity detected in the sample. I recommend proceeding with caution.]
Ethan typed a series of commands. The readings fluctuated erratically, but everything still seemed to be under control.
[Activating stabilization sequence in three… two… one…]
A blinding flash exploded in the room. Ethan felt an impossible pull in all directions, as if his body were being dismantled and reconstructed in the same instant. His vision distorted, the laboratory vanished, and an immense darkness swallowed him.
He could neither see, hear, nor feel his own body, as if he were trapped in a formless abyss without direction. He tried to move, but he had no limbs—only a floating consciousness in an ocean of darkness.
After what felt like an eternity, AION's voice echoed once more.
[Extreme interference detected. Unknown… unknown… initiating analysis.]
And then, suddenly, everything returned. But it was no longer his laboratory.
An ancient wooden ceiling had replaced the high-tech monitors. The scent of incense and old paper filled the air. His senses were still in chaos when an excited voice broke through the room.
"The young master has awakened!"
A servant stood guard in the room. He approached Ethan with concern.
"Young master! It's wonderful that you're awake. Don't move, I'll call the doctor right away."
Under Ethan's confused gaze, the servant hurried out of the room. The moment his figure disappeared through the door, a sharp pain exploded in Ethan's head, as if thousands of burning needles were piercing his brain.
[Alert: Neurological overload detected. Activating stabilization protocol…]
AION's voice echoed in his mind, distorted, as if struggling to remain active.
[Attempting synchronization with support network… Error. No connection detected. Switching to autonomous mode.]
A flood of data invaded his brain—unknown information, foreign memories, terms he had never heard before. His breathing became erratic.
[Reconfiguration in progress. I recommend remaining calm.]
"I… crossed over?"
Ethan regained his senses. He now had the memories of another person, another world… A fantasy world where the strong could shatter mountains with a single strike and soar through the skies. A world where the weak were mercilessly devoured.
The name of this body was Li Wei, son of a wealthy mortal businessman—the lowest tier in the hierarchy of power.
This world was ruled by various forces: powerful sects and dynasties in constant conflict. He was currently in the Yun Dynasty, an empire that ruled under an imperial system, competing for resources with four great sects. These sects controlled vast regions and maintained a balance of power with the dynasty, though behind the scenes, the struggle for supremacy never ceased.
The imperial authority governed the territories, constantly clashing with the sects over resources and talent. Meanwhile, the sects recruited disciples from within imperial lands, maintaining a fragile equilibrium between both sides.
The immortal cultivators were the elite of this world. Whether through noble lineage or sheer power, they ruled over grand cities, both imperial and sectarian. To them, mortals were expendable—mere tools or disposable livestock.
As the son of a wealthy merchant, Li Wei had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but also with a curse: he possessed no talent for cultivation, not even a low-grade spiritual root. His fate was sealed… To continue his family's business and accept his place as a mere mortal in a world where the weak could be slaughtered at any moment.
Ethan felt a strange dizziness. For a moment, even his own name escaped him. "I am… Li Wei? No… I'm Ethan Vance?" A torrent of unfamiliar thoughts intertwined with his own memories, as if his very identity was fracturing.
AION's cold voice pulled Ethan out of his thoughts.
[Alert: Emergency analysis in progress.][Ethan Vance/Li Wei… Error.][… Analysis complete.][Ethan, Status: Mental fatigue. Recommendation: Immediate rest and intake of glucose-rich liquids.]
"Damn… what's happening?" Ethan muttered, still disoriented.
In the blink of an eye, he had gone from his laboratory to this ancient room. The last thing he remembered was the Erebo-X sample destabilizing and then… darkness.
That experiment was the culmination of years of research. Erebo-X… A material that defied all known laws. If it had truly affected space-time, then maybe it wasn't just an energy source… but something far more dangerous.
"AION, log the events before the blackout."
[During the Erebo-X stabilization process, an unforeseen quantum anomaly was detected. The collapse of its molecular structure generated an unknown fluctuation with potential effects on the space-time continuum. Based on current data, the most probable hypothesis suggests a consciousness transfer. Insufficient information for a conclusive assessment.]
Ethan clenched his fists. Consciousness transfer? Had he died and now occupied another body?
Before he could process further, the door to the room opened. A servant in traditional clothing entered alongside an elderly man with a stern face, dressed in ancient robes.
"Young master, the doctor has arrived," the servant announced respectfully.
Ethan shifted his gaze toward them. According to the memories in his mind, the servant's name was Zhao Ren. He had been with him since childhood. His father, a former family guard, had died protecting them, so the young servant had remained by his side as an assistant and bodyguard.
The old man was Master Wang, a renowned physician in this small city. He was respected by both wealthy families and local government officials.
Master Wang approached and examined Ethan with a furrowed brow.
"After the fall, the young master seems to have recovered... The fainting was due to the impact, but there are no severe injuries. I'll leave this medicinal brew to replenish your energy. Please take it immediately. If there are any unusual symptoms, call me."
With the same speed with which he arrived, Lord Wang left. He was a busy man, and his status allowed him to leave without further explanation.
The servant looked at Ethan with concern and then handed him a bowl with the brew.
"Young master, please take it. We've informed the master, he should be here soon."
Ethan took the bowl, but his mind was still trapped on a single question:"Did I really die... and now I'm someone else? No, that's absurd. But then, how do I explain all of this?"