At first, there was darkness.
Jonathan's ears rang despite the silence while his hollow soul floated aimlessly through the void.
He couldn't feel anything, but somehow, his mind was racing with anxious thoughts alone.
His non-existent teeth would constantly clatter now and again while his soul shook from the frigid expanse.
'It's been too long... When can I go to the afterlife already?'
Johnathan regretted saving that dog from a speeding car.
If he knew that it would've slammed onto him and sent him flying onto Truck-kun's backside, he would've let the mutt die instead.
'A generic and cliché trope. I think the gods are taking notes,' he joked with a light giggle.
He then screamed, his soul essence flailing where his arms were supposed to be.
Then, at last, he saw a light, a glimmer of hope shining bright.
Johnathan floated towards the source, the white light growing brighter as he approached it.
'Finally... I can rest...'
Suddenly, the white light burned with a hellish flame, burning Johnathan before he could get closer.
His throat burned as he released another loud cry, his soul being bound by black chains that not only siphoned his strength but drew him closer to the red flames.
"I suppose you'll do," a low feminine voice said in the darkness, making Johnathan raise a single eyebrow.
'It burns! Wait, am I going to hell?! Is this what this means?! But, I've tried my best to be good!' he complained.
'I refuse!'
Johnathan tried resisting the chains and the heat, but in his eyes, the devil had a special place for him.
'The devil's a lady...?' he wondered, remembering the ominous voice he heard when the chains first appeared.
With his futile resistance, Johnathan was sucked into the light, his soul scorched into smithereens.
In that moment, his very essence—his very being—became a part of the void as darkness consumed him again.
"Lord Stein...?"
A muffled voice rang in his ears, making Johnathan furrow his brows and slowly pry his eyes open.
„Lord Stein, geht es Euch gut?" [Lord Stein, are you alright?]
After Johnathan opened his eyes, he saw a familiar young woman standing in front of him.
Her hair was medium length and silver, tied into a neat ponytail.
Eyes as crimson as blood and cold as ice stared back at him, and that military uniform with the single black glove was a signature touch.
Her face, although beautiful, was uninviting and oozed a dangerous aura.
„Lord Stein?" the man beside her spoke again. „Lord Stein, geht es Euch gut?"
His hair was unruly and black, while his eyes were a serene blue.
His eyesight seemed to be terrible, considering the fact that he was wearing square glasses, but his long lab coat hinted that he was also someone important.
„Er wirkt etwas erschöpft. Bringt ihm ein paar Mana-Tränke." [He seems a little drained. Bring him some mana potions]
This time, the girl with silver hair spoke, prompting the young man to bring her the requested item.
Johnathan took his surroundings in.
The room had a thick smell of cardboard and fire.
The platform he stood on had weird inscriptions on it, similar to runes but seemingly darker and more malicious.
The ceiling was high and had a red chandelier hanging in the middle of the room.
The walls were shelved with different bottles and vials of mysterious liquids, alongside fire, air and literal lightning!
'What the hell is this?! A Key and Peele Skit?!' Johnathan mused while internally panicking, but keeping his composure as he turned to the girl in front of him.
'It would be a crazy coincidence...'
"Velma?" Johnathan inquired.
The woman in front of him tilted her head curiously. "Not going to call me Little Atsushi?"
Johnathan blinked. 'How did I just understand fluent German?' he wondered.
"Here," the young man handed Velma a small bottle with blue bubbling liquid.
Instinctively, Johnathan stepped back.
Before he could get far, Velma pounced on him and grabbed his cheeks, squeezing them open as she emptied the potion inside him.
After unwillingly swallowing the liquid, Johnathan fell to his knees and coughed, burping afterwards.
"Do you really have to be that rough on him?" Emmett inquired, looking at Velma cautiously.
"Lord Stein has never been a fan of medication. Needles, potions, pills, he fears them. Since he does, I have to be the one who makes sure he stays healthy," Velma retorted nonchalantly, her voice cold and measured.
Emmett shrugged, realising that he didn't have the balls to do it himself.
Johnathan finally managed to gain his composure and gritted his teeth as he slowly got up.
"Explain yourselves... What am I doing here?" a deep and hoarse voice escaped Jonathan's mouth—a voice that didn't belong to him.
Emmett, spooked, stuttered as he constantly glanced at Velma, who also stood still.
Johnathan towered above her, his eyes piercing into her soul. "Answer me."
"... You died, my lord," Velma admitted with a shaky voice, her composure barely holding her together as she averted her gaze.
"We resurrected you, so you needn't worry any longer."
'Resurrected?' Johnathan glanced at a nearby wall mirror.
His heart banged against his chest like loud African drums, threatening to pop out of his ribs and kill him.
Long, white hair—silky smooth and well-maintained thanks to his personal servants.
Deep blue eyes that hinted at a cold tundra and an even colder personality.
Then, a body so perfect it seemed to be handcrafted by the gods themselves.
Toned muscles, cheese grater worthy 8-pack abs, a strong stature, bulging legs and a third elder brother twice the size of Johnathan's original wooden pecker–and it was ASLEEP!
'Hamlet Stein from Dungeons of the Xenoverse...'
He ran his hands on the perfect jawline and opened his mouth, revealing his sharp fangs.
Then, he chuckled and felt his vision blur while his head buzzed.
"Lord Stein?" Emmett called out as he noticed Johnathan—or rather, Hamlet—swaying while feeling the side of his head.
Hamlet then hit the ground and fell unconscious.
When he did, Velma sighed softly, her glove wrinkling as she clenched her right hand.
'You're extremely pathetic without us, Hamlet,' she said as she watched Emmett call for backup.
'But, I will make you a great man. You will be the strongest. Death will not claim you—not before I have taken everything from you.'
"Take him to his room," Emmett instructed the 2 men who received the call and the same men who managed to carry him.
"Have someone dress him up, too. Looking at his Johnson is making me uncomfortable."
"Then stop looking," Velma teased.
Emmett sighed. "Also, make sure he stays in his room. Restrain him if you have to. I still have some tests to run on him."
Hesitant on restraining Hamlet once he's awake, the guards decided to just drop him off at his room and watch the door instead.
When he woke up, Johnathan was in for a treat.