Chapter 2 Now I’m Really Dead

Chapter 2: Now I'm Really Dead

Kame Mountain

As John made his way down the trail toward his home, his mind drifted between thoughts of his thesis and the relentless stress that school caused him. The overwhelming workload and responsibilities weighed heavily on him, but remembering the unwavering support of his friends kept him going. Ever since he lost his parents as a child, he had learned to treasure the loyalty of those around him—his Aunt Jessie and the grandparents of his best friend, Christian, had helped him both financially and emotionally after the tragedy.

The forest around him was wrapped in a warm breeze, with the sound of crickets and the crunching of branches accompanying his journey. John cherished these moments of solitude, though deep down, a subtle unease always lingered in his mind. Since he was young, he had heard stories about disappearances on Kame Mountain, but he had never given them much thought. "They're probably just tales to scare kids," he figured.

—"Ahhh, maybe I've been masturbating too much... all my yang energy is being wasted,"—he muttered, letting out a sigh as he continued walking.

Little by little, the dense forest foliage cleared, revealing the silhouette of his home. His house was far—very far—from the city center. Located near the Devil's Falls National Park, a dangerous yet thrilling place at the foot of the Rinno Volcano, it stood in an area where land was cheap due to the geographical risks. However, for John, it was perfect. Since he could remember, his life had been tied to nature and danger.

The paths he took to get home weren't the safest, but he enjoyed the adrenaline rush of challenging his environment. Instead of following conventional routes, he sought out treacherous shortcuts and steep trails just for the thrill of it. For him, it wasn't just a physical test but a mental one as well. Each day, overcoming these obstacles made him feel like he was improving. Moreover, the tranquility of the forest allowed him moments of meditation that helped him focus on his studies.

Upon reaching his garage, he parked his motorcycle, now covered in mud and dust. Smiling, he ran a hand over the gas tank.

—"Mmm, baby, don't worry. We'll get you checked out. Hope it won't be too expensive if something broke."

He took out his phone, opened an app, and pointed the camera at the bike. A holographic scanner ran over the machine, displaying a three-dimensional representation on the screen. The motorcycle was in good condition, aside from a few scratches and a minor issue with the left handlebar. John adjusted a couple of settings on the interface, and suddenly, mechanical tentacles emerged from the garage ceiling, beginning to repair the vehicle.

—"Estimated repair time: six hours."

—"Just in time for tomorrow. I don't know what I'd do without you."

John's House

After a refreshing shower, John changed into comfortable clothes and headed to the kitchen. He wasn't in the mood to prepare anything complicated, so he settled for a simple meal: steak with meatballs and spaghetti. Thanks to modern technology, his house's AI handled most of the process, and dinner was ready in half an hour. He sat in front of the screen and put on a show, though, as always, he knew he'd soon lose interest and end up scrolling through his phone.

The show he picked was about a boy who found an alien watch that allowed him to transform into ten different creatures. Humming along, he sang the opening in its Latin version. "Del espacio les llegó algo muy especial y lo atrapó…" (By the way, I'm Mexican, so certain references or songs in Spanish sound better than their English versions. I highly recommend listening to them in Latin Spanish—let me know what you think afterward.)

After the first episode, he idly scrolled through his phone until a video caught his attention: Goku in his SSJ4 form fighting against a giant. But wait... Kid Goku? That was from Dragon Ball GT, wasn't it?

—"Whoa, what the hell? SSJ4 is canon now? I thought that without the original author, there wouldn't be any more surprises... wait, it's called Daima now? What is this?"

Just as he was about to investigate further, something happened that changed the course of his night.

Kame Mountain, 7 PM

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, an elderly mountaineer trudged forward with difficulty. Night had fallen, the temperature had dropped rapidly, and the fog thickened, smothering the darkness around him. He was lost. Without supplies or shelter, his situation was becoming dire.

—"Ahhh, damn my luck… now I won't die crushed, but frozen instead... brbrbrbr…"

He tried to find a place to take cover, but everything was damp and cold. Just when he thought all hope was lost, a golden glow with purple undertones emerged from the bushes.

—"Hey! Could it be the rescuers?"

In this part of the forest, tourists were required to register their routes and expected return times. If someone got lost, park rangers would organize quick search missions. However, the old man had wandered too far, and the weather conditions made any rescue attempt difficult.

Following the light, the mountaineer soon stumbled upon something unexpected: a temple. The structure stood imposingly before him, with a pyramidal base and a dome at the top, radiating a mystical glow. According to legend, this was the fabled Temple of Venus, visible only to the lucky few.

—"I can't believe it! It's real!"

Hopeful, he cautiously climbed the stone steps, calling out loudly.

—"Hello! I'm a lost mountaineer! Is anyone here?"

His voice echoed through the temple. Suddenly, an immense golden sphere emerged before him. From its interior, purple tentacles sprouted, writhing as if something was trying to break free. Before the old man could react, one of the tentacles touched him.

In an instant, his body disintegrated into dust.

His last thought was:

—"Damn my luck…"