sleep, gift and merging

After watching the last episode of Edgerunners an anime that came out recently at the request of an online friend I felt a sense of emptiness but also one of satisfaction with this ani- no this work of art that made me feel these feelings is probably one of the if not the best thing that has come out this year

From the unique world to the execution of the characters everything felt... well, right? I don't know how to put it myself even. now you may ask why I feel empty if this work is so great. well, the short answer is that I am really salty with the ending even though I should have expected the story to go in the direction it did it still makes me not want to admit it call it a sort of denial if you will.

the world this work is based on, the world of cyberpunk is an unforgiving place, especially the location it all takes place Night City 'the place no one can have a happy ending' I muse to myself while reading some of the comments in the theme song of the work.

'Well, whatever not like I can change anything it's a work of fiction, after all, I think to myself after letting my phone down on my bedrest and getting ready to sleep after all I already stayed too late because I couldn't stop watching after starting it.

after some time tossing and turning on the bed, I finally find the best spot and start dozing off into sleep the last thing I think of is if I would have been able to change anything if I was in David's place with the knowledge, I have of the events that take place.

3rd person POV

in a seemingly infinite world that has nothing but the water, there is someone floating in the middle of nowhere in serenity but suddenly he opens his eyes and, in a panic, starts to swing his arms and legs while letting out a short scream until he realizes that the water is no more than 30 cm deep and stops.

"*huff* *huff* what the hell is this? when did I fall asleep on the interstellar planet? what even is going on here? who am I? what am I doing here?" says the person while standing up drenched in a pair of shorts and a simple white t-shirt.

"Did you finally calm down kid?" asks a deep voice behind the now-identified young man making him jump a little while quickly turning around in fright.

"Morgan Freeman?" asks the young man with a look of utter confusion at the person sitting on a small paddle boat that appeared out of nowhere.

"I suppose we can go with that, it's always fun watching you guys freak out in confusion while looking at me." says the old man with slight amusement in his eyes and voice.

the young man just stares at him for a good 5 minutes like a deer stuck in front of headlights while still keeping his shocked face.

"Hmm well although I like silence this would be awkward if it continues *snap* here as long as you stay in this place you won't be shocked out of your mind and will be able to think logically something like that gamers mind you know about." says the old man after snapping his fingers.

"Huh that's convenient, wow this feels weird." says the young man while looking at his hands that stopped shaking for the first time he came here.

"Indeed, it does the first time now come on hop on," says the old man while patting the wooden seat in front of him.

"Uh thanks, and alright," says the young man and climbs and sits into the wooden paddle boat still confused but much calmer.

"So did you come around here often?" asks the old man while paddling the boat going to seemingly nowhere and making the young man almost choke on air while he was looking around.

"Uh no not really first time around here actually what about you Mr. Freeman?" asks the young man making the old man smile lightly in amusement.

"haha, you are the first to actually respond kid most people would start screaming by now. But then again, these situations are popular with today's kids I guess." says the old man while keeping that last part under his breath.

"Well, if what I'm guessing is right then it would not be a good idea to throw a temper tantrum right now," says the young man.

"Hmm well indeed what you are guessing is right kid, I won't beat around the bush you are dead." says the old man with a slightly serious gaze.

the young man takes a couple of minutes to digest the old man's words and finally speaks. "Well, nothing I can do now, but would it be possible for you to tell me how I died and what will happen to me now?"

"Hmm you are taking it in better than I thought you would kid, and sure why not it's part of my job, I guess. Well first off you were killed in your sleep by a serial killer that targets young adults for some reason and since you lived alone you were an easier target for him. And secondly what happens to you depends on how you lived your life you know that karma stuff if you were good you go to heaven and if you were bad to hell and a person like you who did not sin nor did something remarkably good will reincarnate again with your memories erased and start a new life again in either a random world or in your old one." explains the old man patiently and slowly so the person in front of him can take everything in.

"Wow, so all that actually exists... well Mr. Freeman I suppose the fact that I am talking to you means something right? after all if that wasn't the case I wouldn't even be here." says the young man in a calm manner.

"Indeed, it does the reason we are in this little boat talking is that I have an offer for you, and before you say anything yes, it is like those novels you read about but not exactly the same." says the old man with appreciation at the young man's understanding.

"And what would that offer be Mr. Freeman? after all if it is as you say you are probably what people in my world call ROB's there is not much you can't do with all that power." says the young man

"Well, you are right kid there is not much I can't do but as any sentient being, I can still get bored even if I have all this power. So, my offer is you help me alleviate my boredom and I give you a few gifts so how about it?" offers the old man.

"Well, it's no use dragging it on to think about it as it's probably the best option after all I don't want to lose my sense of self if my memories are erased." says the young man soon after.

"Excellent! how about we start right away then? the gift I will give you will be something akin to a streaming system that will help you get stronger as well as stream whatever you do if you wish to. The main feature is as the name implies you will be able to start streams and have me and some of my friends watch you and depending on your performance you will be rewarded accordingly." says the old man with a bit of excitement at the prospect of finding some new entertainment.

"Wow, so it will be something like that novel I read a while back omniscient reader's viewpoint or something right?" asks the young man with a bit of amazement.

"Hmm yes it indeed is something close to that you can think of us as the constellations and you as the character we view." says the old man with some nostalgia.

"Alright then but you said gifts, right? so is there anything else I will be able to get?"

"Yes, actually while the world you will go to has been decided you can ask for one small favor from me while you won't be able to get any overpowered stuff you can still ask me to alter something remove it or add it to the world you will go to," says the old man

"that's better than nothing I guess but what world will I go to? I can't waste the small favor after all"

"That I can't tell you after all it would not be fun if you use the favor for something that is small in the grand scheme of things but very useful in the world you will go to."

"Well, that doesn't help at all but I can work with it I can't be able to ask for magic talent and go to a slice-of-life world that would be a waste if there was ever one... alright I think I got one if I'm guessing right I'll probably go to a fictional world so the best thing to ask would be to plot armor." says the young man after contemplating a bit.

"Well, that is a good favor to ask. Basic but incredibly useful alright consider it done young man. however, don't go doing stupid things after all there is only so much this favor can help you with." says the old man with a bit of admiration at the kid's safe choice.

"Well thanks for the advice, Mr. Freeman I just hope I don't end up in a world like Warhammer or something similar I don't even have knowledge of that world." says the young man while a little shiver goes down his spine.

"Haha don't worry while the world we will send you won't be a walk in the park it is not outrageous either if you put your mind to it, you can have that happy ending." says the old man cryptically. "Anyways kid its time now you should get going when you are ready just jump off the boat."

"Jump off the boat? well alright" says the young man while standing up and getting off thinking his foot will touch the ground under the water but after the water comes up to his thighs end, he does not feel the ground he panics a little and says before sinking: "you could have wa-!"

"Haha it's always fun pranking these kids." says the old man and starts to paddle again.

1st person POV

after what felt like a few minutes I gain my clarity and open my eyes to find a chubby man with what seems to be gold fingers and a pair of glasses with blue tint, and it immediately clicks on my head 'ah shit I'm fucked'

"of course, and I will pay for the damage"

I hear my mom's voice on my lef- wait, my mom? huh?

"As I understand it David modified his headset with a backdoor software to avoid paying for a licensed update with all due respect, could this be related to some financial difficulties?"

says the old man before I could even figure out what I was thinking about.

"it's not a problem, really. we can afford it."

my mom keeps talking 'I guess I'll just listen and figure something out while they talk'

"I believe this is a good opportunity to reconsider David's situation."

"What situation?"

"Well David doesn't fit in with his classmates. a change in environment could ben-"

"No! he has to stay here. he deserves this education as much as every other kid here..."

after a while they finish talking and me and mom get up while on the elevator she says:

"We will talk about this in the car" with a seemingly angry and bitter voice.

-time skip 5 minutes-

after a few minutes I get my bearings it seems that my memories are mixed with those of David Martinez the main protagonist of the last anime I watched it seems that I am neither David nor... well me I do not remember my name before getting into Davi- my body we are the same person and since I can't remember my own name I guess I'll just keep the name David the good thing about this is that I have the knowledge of the future from watching the show so I can use th-

*ding!*

[the streaming system is online]

[host name: David Martinez

options:

start stream

inventory

shop (cyberpunk 2077)

settings]

before I finished my thoughts, I saw a yellow see-through panel in front of me that seemed as if connected to my neural ware and I remembered the system that ROB talked about.

finishing my thoughts, I enter the car with my mom, and she starts driving still quiet and without mentioning what happened at the academy, after a few minutes she talks.

"didn't I tell you to get the upgrade?"

she asked me while I stayed silent and just remembered the first episode of the show taking in a cold breath.

*ding!*

[automatic live stream started]

[Mr.F has joined the stream]

[Created to save the world has joined the stream]

[Moon goddess has joined the stream]

before I could even read all the panels in front of me one panel opens and covers them

[stream request from Mr. F

hey, kid it's a bit sudden but I hope you are doing fine anyway here is the request]

[main objective: save your mother from being killed by the shootout

bonus objective: kill the gang member that was the cause of Gloria's death in the original world]

after reading everything I start being aware of the world around me and hear my mom still talking with some tears in her eyes.

"-if you start learning I know you can make it to the top of arasaka tower my son"

but while I look at her I see the limo on the other side of the window and have a very bad feeling quickly I turn my head to the other side and I see a big brawny guy with metal over his knuckles and elbows while holding a yellow machine gun half my own size, before I can make a noise he loads the ammo turns it in our direction and pulls the trigger

*KaKaKaKaKa*

as the shots tear through the front of our car I quickly extend my hand to the steering wheel making sure I don't get into the line of fire and yank it toward me hitting the car of the machine gun guy while my mom yells.

after hitting the other car our car starts to wobble on the highway and we lose some speed while the cyberpunks keep chasing the limo one of them pulls out a rocket launcher shooting at the back of the black limo.

*BOOM*

the limo does half a front flip and slows down due to the roof scraping on the asphalt and I scream to my mom

"MOM THE BRAKES!"

and while she turns the steering wheel to the left and brakes, we hit the now upside-down limo.

....

"-wake up David! wake up!'

I hear my mom's voice on my left and open my eyes realizing we are upside down in the car.

"I'm fine don't worry mom. what about you how are you doing?" I ask my mom looking at her having a bit of blood in her hands seemingly from broken glass.

"I'm fine honey let's get out of here come on."

while we are talking, I can see a hovercraft landing and dropping what I can only assume are the trauma team as they are checking for casualties and wounded. after that one of them comes to us and pulls out a tablet.

*beep* "these two are not clients move on"

after hearing that my mom asks for help while the person just ignores her and leaves to the seemingly 'VIP clients'.

[Created to save the world feels disgusted toward the humanity of this world]

after reading that prompt, I can't help but agree with what CSW is feeling.

"Mom come on we have to get out of here."

I said as I tried to remove the seatbelt that is stuck and won't let off

"Wait David here"

my mom says while handing me a pocketknife and I start cutting off the seat belt.

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Alright guys that is roughly 2.8k words and writing is actually pretty hard it took me like two hours to do this and I don't even know if it's good I just hope you guys give me feedback on it.

I also kept using Grammarly so if you see any mistakes, please point them out and ill fix them.