MTL NOVEL Chapter 1: Chapter 1: A Death, A Void, and A Cosmic
Chapter 1: A Death, A Void, and A Cosmic Spin
It all began with an ending—his ending, to be precise. His name was Elias Kane, a 27-year-old with a sharp mind, a love for stories, and an unfortunate knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a rainy March evening in 2025, Elias met his demise in a way that was both mundane and absurdly unfair: a distracted driver, a slick road, and a truck that didn't stop in time. The last thing he remembered was the blinding headlights, the screech of tires, and a fleeting thought—*"Really? This is how it ends?"* Then, nothing. No pain, no fade to black, just an abrupt cut to silence.
When awareness crept back, Elias found himself floating in an endless black void. No ground beneath his feet, no sky above, just an infinite expanse of nothingness that pressed against his senses like a heavy blanket. He wasn't scared, though—more annoyed. *"Great,"* he muttered to himself, his voice echoing faintly. *"I'm dead, and I don't even get a cool afterlife. Just… this."* He waved his hand, half-expecting it to disappear into the dark, but it didn't. He was still himself, somehow—tall, wiry, with dark hair he could feel brushing his forehead even without a mirror.
Then, a light flickered in the distance, faint at first, like a candle struggling against a storm. It grew brighter, sharper, until it resolved into a massive, spinning wheel hovering before him, its surface etched with glowing symbols and words he couldn't quite make out. A voice boomed through the void, deep and resonant, vibrating in his chest. "Elias Kane," it said, "your life has ended, but your story has not. Spin the wheel, and choose your next chapter."
Elias blinked, then smirked. *"Reincarnation roulette? Alright, I'll bite."* He reached out, his fingers brushing the wheel's edge, and gave it a hard spin. It whirred to life, colors blurring as it spun faster and faster, until it slowed with a satisfying *click*. The pointer landed on "World: Twilight." Elias raised an eyebrow. *"Vampires and werewolves, huh? Could be worse. I've read worse."* He'd always had a soft spot for the series, even if the fanbase could be… opinionated.
The wheel vanished, only to reappear moments later with a new set of options. "Spin again," the voice commanded. Elias shrugged and spun it once more. This time, it clicked to a stop on "Role: Bella Swan's Older Brother." He paused, then grinned. *"Bella's big bro? I can work with that."* He'd always liked Bella, despite the flak she got in fanfics. The girl was awkward, sure, but he never got the hate. *"It's not her fault her mom raised her to be a mess,"* he thought. *"Renee's the real trainwreck there. Bella's just… trying."* Being her older brother felt right—like he could shield her from the chaos of Forks and the supernatural nonsense to come.
The wheel reset again, and the voice rumbled, "Now, your powers." Elias spun it eagerly, watching as it ticked past options like "Vampire Strength" and "Werewolf Speed" before landing on "Custom: Perfectly Aligned Powers." His grin widened into a full-on smirk. *"Jackpot."* The void shimmered, and a list materialized before him—abilities tailored to the Twilight universe, but far beyond its usual limits. Telekinesis to outmatch any vampire's speed, energy manipulation to rival the Volturi's gifts, and a near-invincible aura that could shrug off even the strongest attacks. *"Oh, I'm gonna break this world,"* he thought, already imagining himself flattening Edward's brooding ass if he got too clingy with Bella.
Next came the species spin. The wheel whirred, and Elias watched intently as it settled on "Hybrid: Half Angel, Half Phoenix." His jaw dropped, then he laughed—a loud, triumphant sound that echoed through the void. *"Half angel, half phoenix? That's… perfect."* The angelic side promised celestial beauty, divine grace, and a presence that could command awe; the phoenix half offered fiery rebirth, endless resilience, and a shimmering, molten charm that made him almost too stunning to look at. He could already picture it: golden eyes flecked with embers, wings of light and flame, and a face that'd make even Rosalie Hale jealous. *"Eat your heart out, Cullens."*
But then came the soulmate spin, and his good mood soured fast. The wheel clicked to a stop on "Alice Cullen and Rosalie Hale." Elias froze, then groaned, dragging a hand down his face. *"Are you kidding me? Those two? Every damn fanfic I've ever read—those two! I don't even like them!"* He'd never cared for Alice's bubbly optimism or Rosalie's icy attitude—they were fine as characters, but soulmates? *"No way,"* he muttered, pacing the void. *"This is some cosmic joke. I'm not falling for them. I refuse."* His frustration boiled over, but he forced himself to stay calm, clenching his fists and taking a deep breath. He wasn't about to lose it in front of whatever entity was running this show.
The voice—God, apparently—chuckled, a sound like rolling thunder. "I know, I know," it said, almost amused. "You don't like those two ugly-ass, bow-legged women. But that's the wheel's luck, kid. Ain't nothing I can do about it. You're stuck with 'em—unless you change the story yourself." Elias glared into the void, but before he could argue, God continued. "Hold up, though. You've got one more luck coin. Spin it again, and let's see what you get."
Elias perked up, fishing an imaginary coin from his pocket and flicking it toward the wheel. It spun one last time, landing on "System: Twilight-Aligned Guide." A sleek, holographic interface flickered to life beside him, its screen displaying stats, quests, and a breakdown of his powers and species. *"A system? Like in those litRPG fics?"* he thought, smirking again. *"Now we're talking."* It was perfect—a cheat code for the Twilight world, telling him how to level up, master his abilities, and maybe even dodge this soulmate nonsense if he played it right.
"Alright," Elias said, cracking his knuckles. "Bella's big brother, half angel, half phoenix, OP as hell, and a system to back me up. Let's do this." The void began to dissolve, light flooding in as God's voice faded with a final, "Good luck, kid. You're gonna need it with those two." Elias rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. He was pissed about Alice and Rosalie, sure—but he'd figure it out. He always did. And with that, the black void gave way to the misty woods of Forks, where his new life as Elias Swan, the most powerful hybrid in Twilight history, was about to begin.