Darkness. Cold, suffocating darkness.
Water filled his lungs. A crushing weight pressed against his chest as he thrashed in vain, his limbs heavy, his thoughts slipping into oblivion. He couldn't see, couldn't breathe—just an endless abyss swallowing him whole.
Am I… drowning?
Panic surged through his veins like fire. He struggled against the unseen force dragging him downward, his black mask clinging to his face, its smooth surface untouched by the chaos around him. His vision blurred, his mind teetered on the edge of unconsciousness—until suddenly…
A blinding white light.
With a gasp, he lurched forward.
Gone was the suffocating weight of water. Gone was the fear of death. He found himself seated in an empty white space, an infinite void stretching in all directions. The only sound was his own ragged breathing.
Then, a message appeared before him.
"Congratulations, you are now the ruler of planets."
His heart pounded.
"What?"
