The last thing I remembered was the cold asphalt and the mocking glow of smartphone cameras. Then, there was nothing. No pearly gates, no fiery pits—just a heavy, suffocating darkness that felt like being wrapped in a lead blanket.

  ?“What the...?” I thought, my consciousness flickering back to life. “Am I not dead? Where is this? I don’t remember Earth having a ‘void’ setting.”

  ?I tried to walk. Or at least, I tried to move. Time lost all meaning in that place. I could have been wandering for five minutes or five centuries; there were no landmarks, no horizon, just an endless stretch of nothingness.

  ?“Hah... hah... are you kidding me?” I shouted into the void, though I couldn't hear my own voice. “I’m just walking in circles! If this is the afterlife, I want a refund!”

  ?Apparently, the universe heard my complaint. The darkness didn’t just vibrate; it shivered. A blinding light erupted from nowhere, and suddenly, gravity decided to make a violent comeback. I felt a massive force hook into my chest, pulling me upward—or downward—at a terrifying speed.

  ?Fwooosh!

  ?I snapped my eyes open, prepared to scream. Instead, the first thing I saw was a ceiling made of polished wood and stone, followed quickly by the face of a woman.

  ?She was exceptionally beautiful, dressed in fine, intricate robes that looked like something out of a high-budget historical drama. Beside her stood a man with a well-groomed beard and eyes that sparkled with a mix of exhaustion and pride.

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  ?"Honey, are you okay?" the man asked, his voice deep and warm.

  ?"Darling, I’m fine," the lady replied, her voice like silk. She looked down at me, her eyes softening. "But look at the boy. He looks just like you."

  ?The man actually blushed, looking away shyly. "Heh... what are you saying, honey? He clearly has your beautiful features."

  ?"No, no," the lady giggled, poking my cheek. "He definitely takes after you."

  ?I stared at them, completely speechless.

  ?“Can you two stop the lovey-dovey act for five seconds?” I screamed internally. “Think of the singles! Also, what is going on? I’ve never heard this language in my life, yet I understand every word. And why am I so small? Oh, god... I’ve been Truck-kun’ed. I’m a baby.”

  ?The realization hit me like... well, like a truck.

  ?The man leaned closer, peering at me with a frown. "The baby appears to be... very quiet. And smart? Look at those eyes."

  ?The lady’s smile faltered. "Hmm, that’s actually worrying me. I want our child to be energetic and noisy. Why is he just staring at us like he’s judging our life choices?"

  ?The man tried to soothe her. "Honey, it’s okay. He was just born. Let nature take its course; we shouldn't hurry to conclusions."

  ?I froze. “Crap. If I stay too quiet, they’re going to think I’m a broken model. I need to blend in. Tactical camouflage, go!”

  ?I took a deep breath, channeled every bit of my frustration from my past life, and let out a piercing, ear-shattering wail.

  ?"WAAAAAAAH!"

  ?The parents jumped, then immediately broke into relieved smiles. "Whew!" the man laughed. "Looks like we were overthinking it."

  ?As they held me, I felt a strange pang in my chest. I hadn't forgotten my family on Earth—the sister who never got her cake, the parents who were probably mourning a son. But I was always a survivor. My adaptability was my greatest strength.

  ?I looked at my new mother and father. They were kind, and they were mine. I didn't want them to worry. If I had to act like a screaming, drooling infant for a few years to keep them happy, then so be it.

  ?I had a new life, a new body, and apparently, a world that spoke a language I shouldn't know. The climb to the top had just restarted from Level 1.