3— The Search for a New Beginning.

Artyom found himself hurtling through a strange and unfamiliar dimension, one that he couldn't quite comprehend.

The colors around him were distorted and ever-changing, morphing and shifting in ways that defied logical explanation. He felt as though he was in a world of chaos, where nothing made sense and the laws of physics seemed to be suspended.

He was overwhelmed by the sheer strangeness of it all, unable to make sense of what he was seeing or feeling. He felt like he had been transported to an alternate reality, one that was completely alien to him.

Artyom was overcome with a sense of bewilderment and confusion as he journeyed through an unfamiliar, surreal realm. The powerful energy that surrounded him made him feel as if he weighed nothing at all; the slightest gust of wind could have sent him soaring off into the unknown.

He was completely befuddled, unable to comprehend what was happening let alone where he was going or even if he was going anywhere. He felt like a tiny inconsequential speck in an infinite universe, and it was both terrifying and faintly exhilarating at the same time.

The shifting endless null space seemed to stretch out for an eternity, and then yet further still. The only thing consistent about his surroundings was in their inconsistency.

He had no sense of direction, time or spatial position, and he struggled to find a reference point in the mystifying vast expanse.

He had never felt so confounded and out of place before.

As he traveled further, he noticed that the laws of physics seemed to break down entirely. Objects would appear and disappear seemingly at random, and he felt like he was floating in a sea of chaos.

Artyom felt an existential dread and couldn't help but think of what if he was as impermanent as his surroundings currently were. He couldn't help but think to himself.

"I too, could just as easily cease to exist at any time."

The seed of dread that had been planted in his thoughts began to grow, gradually becoming larger and larger until it was firmly rooted in his mind.

Its roots were deep and soon all he could feel was a pervasive sense of dread. This feeling of dread seemed to consume him, leaving no room for any other emotion to sprout.

The sensation was so intense that it was almost too much for him to bear.

He felt as if he were being pulled in a million different directions, and he had to fight to keep his footing. He desperately searched for something solid to cling to, something that would remain constant in the ever-shifting landscape.

His gaze eventually settled on a single point in the distance, and he focused all of his energy on it, hoping that it would provide him with some sense of stability. But even that seemed to move and change with every passing second, leaving him feeling more and more perplexed than ever before.

He felt as if he were stuck in an interminable nightmare, where nothing made sense and the laws of the universe had been suspended.

He was surrounded by a surreal landscape, where nothing was familiar and he had no idea what to expect. He felt lost and confused, unable to comprehend the bizarre events that were unfolding around him.

He was desperate for a way out, but it seemed like there was no escape from this nightmarish world. He was trapped in a place where time stood still and his only hope of salvation lay in finding a way to break free from this endless cycle of confusion and despair.

As if to his rescue, a voice chimed.

"Peace be unto thee, Artyom. Fear not, for thou art safe in this place. Behold, Artyom, for I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am all that is, was, and ever shall be. This place is but a mere reflection of that which I am."

Artyom, upon once again hearing the reassuring utterance of his greatest benefactor, was at once immediately brought back to his senses.

"He sure likes to embellish himself with how awesome he is." Artyom couldn't help but contemplate. "Though technically he is quite awe-inspiring so he could call himself awesome all day and I couldn't really fault that."

The voice of the Alpha and Omega pulled him back from his thoughts.

"Now, Artyom, you must focus your mind and concentrate. The world you choose to enter in your subconscious thoughts will determine where you shall awaken."

"You still have some time to prepare yourself for this. But be warned, for if you fail to focus and concentrate, the consequences could be dire should you misstep. Your future lies in the balance of your own mental strength and determination. Do not take this task lightly, for it is a test of your will power. Heed my words and take a firm heeding of the warning I give you now: focus your mind and concentrate on the world you wish to enter. Whether you arrive in a paradise or a purgatory is entirely in your hands."

He nodded and closed his eyes to concentrate on the important task at hand. The commanding yet calm voice of A&Ω wiped away all the distracting emotions hounding him as if they never there to begin with.

Artyom's mind raced around restlessly, his thoughts flitting from one place to the next as he desperately tried to will himself to the places he had always dreamed of visiting. He thought of the fantastical worlds he had explored in video games, and the outlandish places he had seen in movies.

He could imagine himself as a nameless tarnished drudging through the lands between whilst rolling around to avoid a demigod's mighty blow, or floating off the ground together with his light saber, in silent meditation in a galaxy far far away.

He longed to experience these places for himself, and his desire was so strong that it almost felt like he could make it happen.

He couldn't believe that he had the opportunity to choose where he would be reincarnated.

"What world do I want to live in?" he wondered to himself. "I've always loved the idea of living in a world where magic exists, but then again, I've also dreamed of exploring a post-apocalyptic wasteland though only if I could survive it."

"Maybe I should choose a world where I can be whatever I damn well pleased, perhaps a fantasy RPG such as The Witcher 3 or a space adventure game like Mass effect?"

Artyom's mind was a whirlwind of possibilities as he contemplated the grandeur of his potential. He could be anything from the legendary Dragonborn to the infamous king of the pirates.

His imagination ran wild with these ideas, and he couldn't help but let out a silly grin as he thought about it. He felt a surge of excitement course through him, and he knew that no matter what he chose to do, it would be an adventure.

As he contemplated the various possibilities, he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Every world had its own unique charm, and he wanted to explore them all. But he knew that he could only pick one.

He felt a sense of excitement as he considered the different places he could go, but also a sense of trepidation as he realized that his decision would be final.

He weighed up the pros and cons of each world, trying to decide which one would be best for him. He thought about the different cultures, climates and landscapes that each world had to offer. He thought about the people he could meet in each place, the experiences he could have and the memories he could make.

He squinted his closed eyelids, trying to focus on his subconscious desires. "What do I really want?" he asked himself. "Do I want power? Adventure? Love? Or maybe just an uneventful peaceful life?"

No, Artyom had no desire for a mundane life. After all, he had experienced the mundanity of everyday life for far too long and he knew that with just a little effort, he could have all the power and pleasure that the world had to offer.

He was not content to simply settle for a 'slice of life' when he could have the whole pie. He wanted to experience everything that life had to offer and he was determined to make it happen.

As he delved deeper into his subconscious, he felt a sense of clarity. He realized that what he truly wanted was a world where he could be himself and live a life that he was happy with.

A world where he didn't have to be a hero, or save anyone, or even be someone important though he wouldn't complain about such an arrangement.

At that moment, the godlike being's voice filled his mind, comforting him.

"You're doing well, Artyom. Just focus on your desires, and the destination will reveal itself." The ever present voice of his benefactor calmly reassuring him.

"Desires, huh?". Artyom took a deep breath and continued to focus on his deep subconscious desires throughout the life he had lived.

He tried to gather up his thoughts, to channel his deepest desires into a clear vision of where he wanted to go. But his mind kept disobediently wandering, the image of a faceless yet alluring metallic girl - or two? - clouding his thoughts.

He could almost feel the tantalizing coldness of her perfectly shaped body against his skin, the smoothness of her curves as he ran his imaginary palms along her delicate looking form. Though she was honestly anything but delicate.

He imagined the way she would move, her every gesture and movement filled with an ethereal grace and beauty. He could almost hear her voice, a soft whisper in the back of his mind that seemed to beckon him ever so closer.

He felt like he was in a trance, and the various fictional game worlds that he had dreamed of visiting quietly faded away. His heart pulsed noticeably faster as he thought about what it would be like to b-.

Cutting him off in the middle of his mental adventure, A voice boomed.

"Well done, Artyom, your fate has been decided and no, it cannot be changed. I hope you enjoy your time in the world of Atomic Heart, farewell." The Alpha and the Omega swiftly said, the smug grin plastered on its 'face' was very blatant from the sound of its voice.

He blinked open his eyes and as he opened his eyes to see the being in floating some distance front of him.

He at once realized that he had made a terrible mistake.

In his distraction, he had not made a proper conscious decision about where he had wanted to go, and now it was too late.

"Wait!" Artyom shouted desperately, his voice speeding through the void to no effect.

But it was too late. The mysterious being had already acted, and Artyom felt himself being pulled away by a powerful force he couldn't resist.

He watched helplessly as the figure of the being quickly receded into the distance, while he hurtled towards a bright light in the distance. The colors around him seemed to swirl and mix together, creating a kaleidoscope of hues that filled his vision.

He felt himself spinning faster and faster, until he was surrounded by an intense brightness that threatened to overwhelm him. He could feel himself being drawn closer and closer to the light, until he was suddenly engulfed by it.

The next thing he knew, Artyom found himself flying at a gentle pace through a world of white. He looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He could still feel the presence of the mysterious being lingering in his mind, but it seemed so distant now - almost like a dream.

He, of course, knew it wasn't a dream. Deeply sighing into the void he came to terms with his situation and for what felt like the last time closed his eyes.

Finally, his thoughts slowed down, and letting himself drift off, he felt a sense of peace.