Chapter 3 - A Whole New World
When the world—or a world at any rate—came back into view, Benton was lying face down in stinky mud. He groaned. What was that putrid smell? It almost made him gag.
While holding his breath, he climbed to his feet and, once up, looked around. Beside him was a small pond surrounded by a thick forest. The sky was blue, and there were trees and bushes with brown trunks and green leaves. He hadn’t exactly been a nature person in his previous life, so the plants may or may not have been the same as he’d find on Earth. They didn’t look alien or anything, though.
Looking down, he noticed that none of the other dirt near him was terribly wet, and where he’d been lying was tinged distinctly red. And his shirt—robe?—was stained with a rusty brown color.
The color of dried blood.
He felt fine, though. Better than fine, actually. Strong. Healthy. Energetic. He stretched his arms and bent his knees and did a few jumping jacks. None of the aches and pains that had been his constant companions for years made their presence known.
It occurred to him that he might not be in his original body. He walked a few steps forward until he could see his reflection in the pond. A young man, maybe early twenties, with Asian features stared back at him. His hair was dark and close cropped, and he appeared much more fit than Benton had ever been. And he was most definitely wearing some form of robe.
“Nice.”
He really was on a new world in a new body.
“Evelyn, honey, you wouldn’t believe it if you could see me now. I’m young again. This is going to be so much fun!”
A further thought struck him. Asian features. A robe. Had he been sent to a cultivation world after all?
A blue panel popped up in front of him.
Welcome Transmigrator. Memory integration commencing in ten seconds. Prepare yourself.