The Game: Aether and Mind by Zwillingen700

'I didn't ask for this. I didn't want any of this. I never thought about this, and I most certainly never dreamed of this' These thoughts went through John Weaver's mind when he was offered a deal where both options were practically a death sentence."

I had nearly everything I could've ever wished for, and despite the little greed I had, I was very much so happy with my life. I don't know how or why exactly I was chosen by the anomaly and not anyone else, and honestly, I'm unsure if I should feel like I was rewarded or forsaken.

The next thing I know is that I am no longer on earth, but a very hostile place alike that of hell itself, I named it 'The Nightmare Realm.' Shortly later, I came in contact with an ancient artifact and was granted two options. Take the deal and become host to the "Grand Aether Manipulator and Extractor" short "GAME" and risk being killed by monsters wanting it, or die.

Despite the definite upside of one of the two choices, I didn't take the gamble for myself, and most importantly, not in favor of these ponies and griffons or whatever is in that weird world of magic and rainbows but for the little chance to get back what was taken from me.