Anomaly: Lord of mysteries

Chapter 1: Awakening in the Void

MC's POV:

I blinked. Where am I?

Darkness surrounded me, stretching endlessly in every direction. I floated weightlessly, my senses dulled as if I were submerged in a dense, silent ocean. My thoughts churned sluggishly, like a machine trying to restart after a power outage.

So I died? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, but I couldn't understand why or how I ended up here. It didn't make sense. One moment, I was... alive. The next, I was adrift in some endless void.

Suddenly, a voice broke through my spiraling thoughts.

??: "Ooh, it seems like I wasn't late. Good, good!"

I froze. Who was that?

The voice was disembodied, echoing as though it came from everywhere and nowhere at once. My heart—if I still had one—raced, a primal reaction to the unknown.

MC: "Who are you? Where am I?" My voice wavered, laced with equal parts confusion and fear.

The voice responded, unbothered by my panic.

??: "You're in the Void, the space between dimensions."

Void? Space between dimensions? Was this some kind of cosmic joke? I tried to make sense of it, but the sheer absurdity of the situation left me grasping at straws.

MC: "So… am I dead?"

??: "Yes, unfortunately. That's why you're here."

I blinked, though I wasn't even sure if I still had eyes. Dead. The word felt unreal, like it belonged to someone else's story, not mine. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The last moments of my life were hazy, but the weight of finality pressed down on me like a physical force.

There was a brief silence before the voice spoke again, its tone shifting to something almost… playful.

??: "But don't worry, you're not stuck here. I'll be sending you to a new world. Oh, and you'll get some wishes, too!"

Wait, what?

MC: "Wishes? Transmigration? Is this some kind of isekai scenario?" My voice rose in disbelief. "Do I just get to choose where I go?"

The voice chuckled, the sound echoing eerily.

??: "Yes, yes, that's how it works. But before we dive into the details, let's get the introductions out of the way. You can call me R.O.B.—Random Omnipotent Being."

MC: "R.O.B.? Seriously?" I couldn't help but snort, despite the surreal situation. "You're telling me that's your name?"

R.O.B.: "It's more of a title than a name, but it'll do for now. Now then, let's get down to business. Which world would you like to go to?"

The sheer absurdity of it all made my head spin. A part of me wanted to scream, to demand answers. Why me? Why now? But another part—the part that had read countless fantasy novels and watched every isekai anime imaginable—was intrigued.

MC: "Wait. Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?"

R.O.B. paused, and for the first time, there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

R.O.B.: "Ah, you're curious. I like that. Well, let's just say I find this sort of thing entertaining. It gets boring in the Void, you know. Watching you struggle and thrive in a new world? That's my kind of fun."

His casual tone sent a chill down my spine. This wasn't some benevolent god offering me a second chance. He was doing this for his own amusement.

MC: "And the wishes? What's the catch? There's always a catch."

R.O.B.: "Sharp, aren't you? Don't worry, there's no immediate catch. You'll get six wishes to prepare yourself. After that, you're on your own. Think of it as a test of your creativity and survival skills."

Six wishes. Six chances to shape my new life. The possibilities were endless, and the stakes couldn't be higher. I needed time to think, to plan. But first, I needed to decide where I was going.

MC: "Alright. I'll play your game. I want to go to the world of Lord of Mysteries."

There was a moment of silence, and then R.O.B. let out a low whistle.

R.O.B.: "Now that's an interesting choice. Not many would dare pick such a dangerous world. But if that's what you want, who am I to stop you?"

MC: "It is. I've read the stories. I know what I'm getting into."

R.O.B.: "Very well. You have 20 minutes to come up with your wishes. Use your time wisely."

As the weight of my decision settled in, I felt a strange mix of fear and excitement. The world of Lord of Mysteries was no ordinary fantasy. It was a place of eldritch horrors, intricate schemes, and gods that played games far beyond human comprehension. If I wasn't careful, I'd end up as nothing more than a footnote in its history.

But this was my chance. My chance to rewrite my story, to become something greater. I had 20 minutes to prepare for a lifetime.

Time to think.