ULTRAMAN SHIN: THE ANTI-ENDBRINGER

Ch.1- It ends, then begins

It's weird... dying that is. I've heard of people going through the stages of grief, of course, who hasn't. I've heard people cry and beg not to go, rage at the seeming injustice of it all, and of people who simply go numb. A lot of people look upon those who wait to cross over that unknowable horizon and wonder, "how will I act when it's my turn?"

Me... I don't have to wonder anymore, my turn is just about here. A crap load of thoughts and emotions, wiz through my slowly fogging mind like a damn street racer on meth as sensation starts to fade. Sadness about the pain this will bring my family, fear of what awaits me, anger at the idiot who shouldn't have been ON HIS BLOODY FUCKING CELL WHILE DRIVING THAT GAS GUSELING PHALLIC SUBSTITUTE HE THINKS OF AS CAR! Bastard didn't even have the stones stop and try to help.

Well there goes the feeling in everything from the chest down, it's getting a bit hard to hear anything, and my vision is starting to go gray on me. As I see my family rushing toward me, all I can manage is a raspy "sorry" while looking at them, and with that the world fades.

Well... this, really isn't how I pictured how my time on Earth would end... this bites.

"Thems the breaks my friend"

HOLY SHIT!?

You can forgive me for freaking out a little. Here I am awaiting to move on the great beyond as it were, when some one decides to comment on my fate from right behind me. So I got spooked, sue me I'm human. Whirling around to look at my new found companion... and let me just say, whirling, while disembodied, very, very weird feeling, and was at once both amazed... and a little let down.

The amazing bit was how my surroundings had changed, in that they hadn't, for the most part. I was still in the same place, the intersection where I got nailed, but at the same time I wasn't. Everything looked faded out and insubstantial, like molded clouds of gas, against the back drop of an endless star scape. It was breath taking, and a bit chilli.

As for the guy who thought it was good idea to scare the crap out of my recently deceased ass, he was a let down. He looked like any guy you would pass on the street in any major city. Of seemingly Asian decent, he looked remarkably average in every way, height, weight, build, all average. The more I looked at him though, the more it started to bother me. He looked so average as to be unaverage... is that even a word? Never mind, he just looked weird to me.

It was after a moment of uncomfortable silence my only bit of company I had decided to speak

"You done checking me out yet, cause no offense, you're not really my type."

Hearing the snark in his voice, I decided to answer in kind.

"Well that's good, I'm not into anything of the male persuasion myself. So, who are you stranger, and where do we go from here. Hopefully not somewhere warm and fiery, I know I can be a bit of a sarcastic ass from time to time, but not to the point of warranting a suite in the basement, so to speak."

Given the circumstances, I'm amazed I came off as calm as I was... no I didn't stutter, and my eye is not twitching... shut up! I'd like to see you do better, bunch of judgmental ass hats.

The poster boy for average before me just smirked a little before speaking.

"You can call me Noa, as for where you go... well that's up in the air at the moment. It all depends on your choice at the moment".

I gave Noa a look of confusion, before I came up with a very uncomfortable theory.

"Ah shit! You're a ROB aren't you?"

I'm sure I looked like an idiot, pointing a shaky finger at said ROB, screaming at the top of my currently none existent lungs, after jumping back like a startled jack rabbit, putting a least 5 feet of space between us.

The ass had the nerve laugh at me!

"I'm merely very powerful, not omnipotent. As for being random, well... I will say I am known to a few humans, you included, but that's neither here nor there. I have proposal for you, as you might have already surmised by we being here, talking."

I took a moment to center myself and calm down, before I did or said something to warrant my being blasted into itty bitty ethereal particles.

"OK, I'm good, why m... you know what, no, I won't ask. I'm sure there are reasons, but with the way these things tend to work out, I'll most likely find out on my own in due time. I'll just ask what's the mission, and whats the carrot you'll dangle in front to get me to do it."

Huh. I didn't know I had it in me. Apparently my most knew me better than I did myself, because all he did smile at me, and was that a small nod of pride in my direction.

"I'll start with the, carrot as you call it. If you succeed, then you will be returned to your old life, 10 minutes before your accident, plenty of time to avoid the idiot who hit you. Fail, and you will go onto whatever place your actions, in both lives, dictate."

He paused, giving me time to make sure I understood. When I nodded my head in understanding, he continued.

"As for your mission, well I'm sure you'll recognize this."

From seemingly nowhere, he pulls out a file and hands it to me.

Opening the manilla folder, I immediately recognize the contents, and realize what the mission most likely is.

"Ah fuck nuggets. This is sooo gonna suck."

Worm CYOA. Then I notice two parts are already filled in.

Origin:

Endbringer

Difficulty:

Skitter Mode

"Oh you have GOT to be SHITTING ME! REALLY NOA!?"