Last moments on Earth

"You are dead," a deep voice spoke to me.

I opened my eyes. I was in a place I had never seen before. It looked like some sort of living room – two dark gray sofas, a light brown table, and nothing else except for the man sitting across from me. Well, you could call him a man in a sense – he had a human-like form, but I could almost see through him. He was like a ghost, a figure in a robe that covered him up to his head and was semi-transparent. And on top of all that, he's telling me I'm dead? I think this might be the strangest dream I've ever had.

"Dead, huh?"

"You don't seem very surprised," the ghostly figure sounded somewhat puzzled.

"Well, it's odd for a dream, but that's still what it is – a dream."

"You think this is a dream?" the ghost chuckled. "I didn't expect anyone to react like this. If this is a dream, do you remember anything before going to sleep?"

What a silly question. Of course I remember... Huh? No matter how hard I try to remember, I can't recall the moment before going to sleep. The only thing I remember is walking towards the university...

"By the look on your face, I'd say you don't," the ghost chuckled again. "Let me show you your last experience among the living."

With a snap of his fingers, the floor of the room started to light up, revealing what looked like a huge television showing a person – a young guy around twenty-two with short black hair. That young man was me. He was wearing a black jacket, a white shirt, dark comfortable pants, and black sneakers – the same clothes I'm wearing now. But for some strange reason, I can't remember my own name... My head started to hurt, as if I were trying to remember something that doesn't exist. As my "TV self" ran down the street, I began to remember everything. I had woken up later than usual that day. I had stayed up late playing video games, so now I had to rush to make it to University on time. And as I reached an intersection, I saw two of my university classmates crossing the road against a red light, absorbed in their phones, with a truck speeding towards them. I didn't think they could react in time, so I guess anyone in my place would have done the same – pushed them out of harm's way. Unfortunately, it seems I didn't make it out alive. As I relived my painful death, the headache faded, and the ghost laughed again.

"You certainly did something crazy that led to your death. Those young girls were doomed because of the 'New technologies'. But you, a nobody with no ambitions, had to play the hero and die when it wasn't your time."

A nobody with no ambitions?

"Hey, ghost, I died without fulfilling my biggest dream. How can you say I had no ambitions? I would've created the greatest video game of all time."

The ghost laughed again.

"Don't make me laugh. Your skills in that field are lacking at best. The only thing you have is that imagination of yours. You've barely made any friends in this life, and you've abandoned your family."

Okay, that hit a nerve.

"And what do you know about me?"

"Everything. I am a god, you know? And not of just a few worlds, mind you."

Huh? 'Not of just a few worlds'?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what you're thinking. Those worlds you've dreamed of and written about in your novels? They actually exist, or at least, similar worlds do. And I am the god of all of them."

This is getting even more surreal than I thought.

"And what do you gain by telling me all of this?"

The ghost stood up and approached me.

"I offer you the power to start a new life in another world."

I was speechless at that moment. Is he serious?

"Of course. I'll give you the necessary abilities to live there, a new name, and you can keep all your memories. Sounds cool, doesn't it?"

"Wait, wait, wait. All of this sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?"

"Catch? No, no, there's no catch. I'm a generous god. I offer this opportunity to those who deserve it and die before their time. I'm not asking for anything in return – just that you enjoy your new life. Of course, if you don't want it, I can always let your soul rest in peace. It's up to you."

...I can't think clearly right now. His offer is too tempting. I could live the life I've always dreamed of, and I don't see a reason to turn that down. This is what they call "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"I think we both agree I'd be an idiot to reject it, so yeah, I accept."

"Wise decision. With that said, the next time you open your eyes, you'll be in an unfamiliar world. Good luck there."

"Heh, I'm pretty nervous right now."

"We'll meet again, although I hope it won't be soon. Just don't let yourself get killed. Goodbye for now~"

Wait, am I not going to be able to choose those abilities he promised?

"Hey!"

But before I could say anything, with a snap of his fingers, my consciousness faded away.