Multiverse Gacha: The Infinite Journey

Chapter 3: The Void and the Wheels of Fate

Barrett Walker awoke in darkness. Or was it nothingness? He couldn't tell. The world as he knew it had disappeared, leaving him suspended in a vast, silent void. There was no up or down, no sense of time or space—only an infinite expanse of black. Barrett's first sensation was confusion, followed swiftly by a surreal calmness. He remembered the ruins, the bite of the venom, and the final lines he had scrawled in his journal. This place… wherever it was, was not the Amazon. He was somewhere else entirely.

"Am I dead?" Barrett whispered, his voice echoing into the emptiness. The sound startled him, as if the void itself was acknowledging his presence.

"Not quite," a deep, resonant voice replied, startling him further. It came from everywhere and nowhere at once, its tone carrying a mix of amusement and authority.

Barrett turned instinctively, though there was no discernible direction to face. Slowly, a figure materialized before him. It was humanoid but radiant, its form shifting and shimmering like a constellation wrapped in human shape. The being's presence was overwhelming, yet oddly comforting, as though Barrett were standing in the presence of a god—or something close to it.

"Who... or what are you?" Barrett asked, his voice steady despite the bizarre circumstances.

The being chuckled, the sound reverberating through the void. "You may call me ROB. Short for Random Omnipotent Being. A bit of a misnomer, really, but it's what mortals like yourself tend to call me."

Barrett raised an eyebrow. "A god, then?"

"Of sorts," ROB replied, waving a glowing hand dismissively. "Not your god, mind you. Just... bored. Eternally bored, to be exact."

Barrett frowned. "And what does that have to do with me?"

ROB's form flickered, as if shrugging. "You stumbled upon something interesting, Barrett Walker. Those ruins you found weren't just remnants of some ancient civilization. They were mine. A relic of my last little project. I left them there on your plane of existence as a kind of... cosmic Easter egg. You, my curious mortal, are the first to have found them in centuries. That caught my attention."

Barrett crossed his arms. "So, what happens now?"

"Ah, straight to the point! I like that," ROB said with a grin. "Well, here's the thing: you're dead. Or at least, you were supposed to be. But I've decided to give you another chance. Call it a whim. I'm going to reincarnate you."

Barrett's eyes widened. "Reincarnate me? Into what?"

"Ah, that's the fun part!" ROB exclaimed, clapping his hands. The void around them shifted, and three enormous, glowing wheels materialized out of the darkness. Each wheel was adorned with symbols, colors, and words that shimmered with an otherworldly light.

"These," ROB said, gesturing to the wheels, "are your fate. Spin them, and they will determine the details of your new existence."

Barrett stepped closer, examining the wheels. The first was labeled "Power," the second "Boom or Bane," and the third "Race."

"Let me explain," ROB continued. "The first wheel determines your primary power in your new life. The second decides whether you'll start off with a boon or a bane—something to help or hinder you. And the third... well, it determines your race. No guarantees you'll be human again, by the way."

Barrett hesitated. "And I don't get a say in any of this?"

ROB smirked. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, you're an adventurer, aren't you? Consider this your greatest gamble."

Barrett sighed, a mix of apprehension and excitement bubbling within him. "Fine. Let's do this."

"That's the spirit!" ROB said, snapping his fingers. The first wheel began to spin, its glowing symbols a blur of light. Barrett watched as it slowed, each segment coming into focus. There were options like "Pyrokinesis," "Super Strength," "Telepathy," "Reality Manipulation," and "System."

The wheel spun faster than Barrett anticipated, its glowing letters and symbols almost hypnotic. His heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Slowly, the wheel began to slow, the symbols and words becoming clearer as it decelerated. Barrett watched intently as the pointer hovered, wavering between two segments. Finally, it clicked into place with a resounding chime.

"Congratulations," ROB declared with a flourish. "You've landed on the Gacha System!"

Barrett blinked, confused. "Gacha System? What does that even mean?"

ROB grinned, his celestial form shimmering with amusement. "Oh, you're in for a treat. A Gacha System is essentially a randomized reward mechanism. Think of it as a cosmic lottery machine. You'll gain the ability to pull from this system—items, abilities, companions, or even knowledge—but it's all subject to chance. Could be something phenomenal, could be something utterly useless. It's entirely up to fate."

Barrett frowned, his mind racing to process this revelation. "So, you're telling me my primary power is... gambling?"

"Not just gambling!" ROB said, clearly enjoying Barrett's reaction. "It's the ultimate test of luck and resourcefulness. Sure, it's unpredictable, but that's what makes it so exciting! Imagine pulling a legendary artifact when you're on the brink of death, or unlocking a rare ability at the perfect moment. Of course, you might also get a shiny pebble when you're expecting a weapon. But hey, life's a gamble, isn't it?"

Barrett pinched the bridge of his nose, a mixture of exasperation and intrigue flooding his thoughts. "And I have no choice in this?"

ROB's grin widened. "None whatsoever. But trust me, you'll grow to love it. Or hate it. Either way, it'll be entertaining for me."

Barrett sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Let's move on to the next wheel."

"Oh no, not so fast," ROB said, raising a glowing hand. "We're taking this one step at a time. You'll spin the second wheel in due course. For now, let's focus on your newfound power."

Before Barrett could protest, ROB snapped his fingers again. The first wheel vanished into the void, leaving only the other two spinning faintly in the background. Barrett felt a strange warmth envelop him, as though the essence of the Gacha System was being imprinted onto his very soul.

"There we go," ROB said, dusting off his hands. "Your connection to the Gacha System is now established. You'll figure out how it works soon enough. 

Barrett stared at the remaining wheels, their soft glow a reminder of the choices yet to come. "So, what happens now?"

"Now," ROB said, his tone turning almost playful, "you get some time to adjust. Enjoy the void, Barrett. Reflect on your choices, prepare for what's ahead, and maybe work on that gambling instinct of yours. The next wheel will come into play soon enough."

With that, ROB's form began to fade, his laughter echoing through the void. Barrett was left alone once more, the vast emptiness stretching out around him. Yet, he no longer felt entirely adrift. The Gacha System pulsed faintly within him, a strange and unpredictable force that promised both chaos and opportunity.

Barrett took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "Alright," he muttered to himself. "Let's see where this goes."