Reborn

Braden's eyes slowly began to open, his head was dizzy and everything seemed foggy in his vision. He groaned as he started to pull himself back to his feet.

Then Braden noticed something alarming. As he slowly regained his consciousness, blinking continuously, something seemed off... Very off. He glanced around, he then felt an unusual weight and tightness. He quickly turned to the glass wall and what he sees shocks him. It's his reflection!

But it looks nothing like him. His body has transformed – muscles bulging, abs defined, face more ruggedly handsome. His shoulders were very broad too. His jaws were chiseled and he had become so handsome. What had happened to him?

"What's going on?" Braden asked, confused and surprised.

He then tried to move, but his clothes resisted. The fabric strained against his newfound muscles, and his clothes began to tear, making it clear that something extraordinary has happened during his unconscious state.

"Why am I so big now?" he said. "Is this my body? I'm handsome. I'm good-looking, I'm ripped! Oh God." Braden's gaze lingered on the unfamiliar, powerful physique he now possessed, leaving him bewildered and grappling with the unexpected change. Even his voice was all so husky, masculine and deep.

"I wonder how this happened. Did the serum do all of this? Change me from a scrawny man to some kind of Superman?" he asked looking at reflection in the glass.

< YES, IT DID. YOU HAVE NOW GOTTEN THE POWERS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE OMEGA SERUM >

"Wait, what?" Braden couldn't believe what he had just heard. That voice. It sounded familiar. "Dad? Dad is that you."

< NO, SON. IT IS ONLY MY VOICE, MY CONSCIENCE EMBEDDED INTO AN AI TO ASSIST YOU IN THIS QUEST >

"What? It sounds... it sounds just exactly like you." Braden said sadly. "I really miss you dad."

< I MISS YOU TOO SON, BUT PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THAT I'M ONLY AN AI INTERPRETATION AND VOICE OF YOUR FATHER, NOT YOUR REAL FATHER >

Braden sighed. "I guess so."

< THIS IS NOT A TIME TO BE SAD. YOU HAVE WORK TO DO. THE SYSTEM HAS GRANTED YOU A SUM OF 600 MILLION DOLLARS. TAP YOUR WRIST TO CHECK YOUR ACCOUNT >

"What? Six hundred million dollars!" Braden exclaimed. "Where did all that money come from?"

< YOUR FATHER HAD BEEN STORING HIS SHARES FROM THE DOLORDINE SALES FOR YOU. HE ALSO OWNED AN ESTATE IN NEW PREDENCE, THIS IS WHERE YOUR AUNT STACEY LIVES. >

"Aunt Stacey? I haven't seen her in quite a long time," Braden said. "Ever since she got me that poor house. She abandoned me."

< NO, SHE DIDN'T. SHE HAS MATTERS IN HER HANDS. THE ESTATE IN NEW PREDENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY EDGER WALLINGTON, THE NOTORIOUS MILLIONAIRE AND KNOWN ASSOCIATE OF ELIJAH DURHAM, THE MAN WHO MURDERED YOUR FATHER. >

"So they stole my father's company and his estate as well?" Braden asked.

< YES. YOU HAVE UNLOCKED YOUR FIRST MAJOR MISSION. GO TO NEW PREDENCE AND RECLAIM YOUR FATHER'S ESTATE CALLED MILLER'S MOON FOR YOURSELF AND SAVE YOUR AUNTY AND COUSINS FROM THE ONSLAUGHT OF EDGER WALLINGTON AND ELIJAH DURHAM. >

"But how will I be able to do this? I know I have money but — won't Edger recognize my name and tell Elijah that I'm alive."

< YOU WON'T USE THE NAME BRADEN MILLER, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GO BY BRADEN CROSS. WITH THAT NAME AND YOUR NEW LOOK, NO ONE WILL KNOW IT'S REALLY YOU. YOU WILL ARRIVE AS A RICH POWERFUL MULTIMILLIONAIRE. YOU WILL GO WITH SECURITY GUARDS AND LUXURIOUS CARS. EDGER WELLINGTON WILL RESPECT AND FEAR YOU, AND THEN YOU WILL DEMAND FOR THE OWNERSHIP OF MILLER'S MOON ESTATE. BY FORCE OR BY AUCTION. MAKE SURE YOU WIN THE AUCTION. >

"Wow, this is such an interesting mission. Will I have more of this?"

< YES, AS YOU PROGRESS YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY AND HAVE MORE MISSIONS UNTIL YOU BECOME A BILLIONAIRE AND THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE ENTIRE NATION OF DARGACY. >

"What? Me? Just yesterday I was a poor lonely man whose girlfriend cheated on him with his father's killer. Are you sure I'm the right person for this?"

< YOU ARE. IT WAS WHAT YOUR FATHER WANTED FOR YOU. EVERYONE WHO HAS WRONGED YOU WILL BEG. YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND, EMMIE, EDGER WELLINGTON , YOUR NEIGHBOURS IN THE PERIGAN NEIGHBORHOOD, THOSE FIVE BODYGUARDS, ELIJAH DURHAM AND ANYONE WHO DARES STAND IN YOUR WAY. YOU ARE NOW THE MASTER GAMBIT. AND YOU PLAY THE GAME OF REVENGE. SO DO YOU ACCEPT THIS GAME AS WELL AS THE MONEY, POWER AND LIFESTYLE THAT COMES WITH IT? >

Braden didn't waste anytime. "Yes, yes I do!"

< THEN FROM NOW ON, BRADEN CROSS WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL NAME TO PROTECT YOUR REAL IDENTITY. YOUR NAME WILL INSTILL FEAR IN YOUR OPPONENTS AND RIVALS. I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CREATED A REAL IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR YOU IN THE COUNTRY WITH THAT NAME AND PASSPORT. YOU WILL NO LONGER USE YOUR OLD PASSPORT, BUT THIS NEW ONE, WHICH SAYS YOU ARE A MULTI MILLIONAIRE AND OWNER OF PLENTY ESTATES, HOTELS AND CASINOS >

Braden couldn't believe his ears. His life has completely turned around thanks to his father and the omega serum. He began to wish he had opened it earlier. Just then, his stomach growled. He was still very hungry. And it was a new day.

< YOUR BODY HEALTH IS NOT AT IT'S MAX. YOU ARE HUNGRY. LET US GO TAKE CARE OF THAT AND GET YOU SOME NEW CLOTHES. WHEN ALL THAT IS DONE, YOU WILL SEE HOW MUCH YOUR LIFE HAS CHANGED ONCE YOUR FIRST MAJOR MISSION IS COMPLETED. BUT FOR NOW, MINOR MISSION IS FOR YOU TO GO SHOPPING FOR EXPENSIVE CLOTHES. DO YOU ACCEPT THIS MISSION? >

"Yes, I do." Braden took one last look at his reflection, still surprised at how different and handsome the serum had made him. He was sure he could kill someone with just one punch. His muscles were that big!

< MISSION ACCEPTED. LET'S GO GET YOU SOME NEW EXPENSIVE CLOTHES, MR. CROSS. NO ONE IS GOING TO STAND IN YOUR WAY NOW. >

Braden smiled. He was going to show them! Prove to everyone who doubted him. He was going to be a powerful relentless man.