Arthur unconsciously crossed his fingers, holding them tightly as if that small, childish gesture could somehow influence the vast and indifferent machinery of fate before him. His eyes were locked on the enormous roulette wheel that floated in the endless void, its surface glowing with countless names—each one representing a different universe, a different life, a different destiny waiting to consume him. The moment it began spinning, everything blurred together into streaks of light, making it impossible to distinguish one world from another. At first, Arthur simply watched, his mind blank, unable to fully grasp the gravity of what was happening. But as seconds passed, that blankness was replaced by something far more human—fear.
The speed of the roulette was overwhelming, yet Arthur's imagination worked faster. Every name he had seen before, every story he had ever read or watched, began flashing through his mind. Worlds filled with war, chaos, monsters, and endless suffering surfaced one after another. His breathing grew shallow, and his chest tightened as a realization slowly settled in—he had no control over where he would go. This wasn't a game. This wasn't fiction anymore. Wherever the pointer stopped would become his reality.
"I can't…" Arthur whispered under his breath, his voice trembling despite his effort to remain calm. His hands clenched tighter, nails digging into his skin as if pain could ground him. "I can't go somewhere like that… pirates, marines, endless wars… killing people just to survive…"
His thoughts became increasingly frantic as darker possibilities forced their way into his mind. Worlds where morality had no meaning, where strength alone dictated survival, where bloodshed was not an exception but the rule. He had read about such places before, admired them as stories—but living in one? That was something entirely different.
"I don't have the stomach for brutality," he muttered, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm not someone who can just kill others and move on. I'm not… built for that."
Looking upward into the vast emptiness, Arthur swallowed hard before speaking again, this time with desperate sincerity.
"If there really is a god watching me… please… don't send me to a world where bloodshed is everything. I don't have the courage for that kind of life. I don't want to become someone I'm not just to survive."
The roulette continued spinning, indifferent to his plea.
But gradually… almost mercifully… it began to slow.
Arthur's heart, which had been racing uncontrollably, seemed to skip a beat as the names on the wheel became clearer. One by one, they passed under the pointer—each one carrying its own weight, its own danger, its own unknown future. His eyes followed the pointer obsessively, as if staring hard enough could change its course.
And then—
His worst fear appeared.
The pointer began drifting toward a name that sent a chill down his spine.
Attack on Titan.
Arthur's pupils shrank, and his entire body stiffened as if frozen in place.
"No… no, no, no…" he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not that… anything but that…"
Images surged violently through his mind—towering titans tearing through cities, people screaming as they were devoured alive, soldiers fighting desperately against an unstoppable nightmare. It was a world built on despair, where hope was fragile and death was inevitable.
"That world is hell…" Arthur said, his voice barely audible.
The pointer moved closer.
Slowly.
Relentlessly.
His breathing became uneven, his chest rising and falling rapidly as panic took hold of him completely. Every second felt stretched, unbearable, as if time itself was mocking him.
"Please… don't stop there…" he begged, closing his eyes tightly. "I don't care where else you send me… even an unknown universe is better than that… just not this… please…"
His entire being was focused on that one prayer.
The pointer slowed further.
Closer.
Closer.
For a moment—just a single, horrifying moment—it seemed like it would stop exactly on Attack on Titan.
And then…
It moved past it.
Arthur's eyes snapped open instantly.
The pointer continued drifting, just slightly, as if guided by an unseen force. His heart pounded violently in his chest as he watched, unable to blink, unable to breathe.
Finally—
It stopped.
On a name that felt almost unreal in comparison.
Ace of Diamond.
For a long moment, Arthur simply stared at it, unable to process what had just happened. The terror that had consumed him seconds ago vanished, replaced by an overwhelming wave of relief that left him feeling lightheaded.
"…Ace of Diamond?" he repeated slowly.
His legs weakened, and he exhaled deeply, a long breath filled with everything he had been holding back.
"I… I survived…"
Compared to the horrors he had just escaped, this world felt almost peaceful.
He wasn't deeply familiar with it, but he remembered enough. It was a story centered around baseball—a sport built on teamwork, discipline, and relentless effort. There were no monsters lurking in the shadows, no constant threat of death hanging over one's head. Instead, it was a world where people struggled, competed, and grew stronger through hard work.
Arthur's thoughts began to settle as he analyzed his situation more clearly.
"This… this is actually good," he murmured.
The more he thought about it, the more advantages he saw.
In this world, success wasn't determined by killing others or surviving impossible odds—it was built through dedication. Through practice. Through pushing one's limits over and over again.
He recalled fragments of the story—the passionate pitcher Eijun Sawamura, who entered Seidou High School with a loud voice, unpolished talent, and an unbreakable spirit. Despite lacking natural refinement, Sawamura fought tirelessly to improve, eventually becoming a crucial player for the team. Then there was Satoru Furuya, the genius pitcher with overwhelming speed but unstable control, whose raw talent made him both a weapon and a risk. And above them stood Kazuya Miyuki, the intelligent and composed catcher who guided pitchers with precision, acting as the backbone of the team.
Arthur's eyes slowly lit up as these memories resurfaced.
"That team… Seidou High…"
A powerhouse in high school baseball.
A place where talent gathered, where competition was fierce, and where only those willing to give everything could survive.
"This isn't an easy world either," Arthur realized, his expression growing serious. "If I want to stand out there… I'll have to fight for it."
But this fight was different.
It wasn't about life and death.
It was about growth.
About proving oneself.
About earning recognition through effort.
Arthur's lips gradually curled into a genuine smile, one filled with anticipation rather than fear.
"This is a world where I can actually live… and become something."
He imagined himself standing on the pitcher's mound, the crowd watching, the pressure building with every throw. He imagined the crack of the bat, the roar of the audience, the intensity of a match where every second mattered.
"This is a world where I can stand in the spotlight," he said softly. "Where I can become famous… where I can achieve something meaningful."
Not far away, Gabriel observed him quietly, his calm gaze reflecting a hint of satisfaction.
"It seems fate has made a suitable choice," the angel said.
Arthur looked up, surprised.
"For a soul like yours," Gabriel continued, "a world without constant bloodshed is more appropriate."
Arthur nodded unconsciously, still processing everything.
"As a blessing," Gabriel said, raising his hand slightly, "I will grant you a suitable constitution."
Arthur froze.
"A body fit for becoming a great baseball player."
For a moment, Arthur couldn't react. His mind went blank, stunned by the unexpected gift.
"A… body suited for sports?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
That had been his biggest concern.
Even in a world like this, talent mattered. Genetics mattered. Without the right physical foundation, no amount of effort could bridge the gap entirely.
And yet—
Gabriel had just removed that limitation.
Tears almost welled up in Arthur's eyes as relief and gratitude overwhelmed him.
"Thank you…" he said sincerely.
Gabriel gave a faint nod, acknowledging his gratitude.
"Then… go."
A soft light enveloped Arthur's body, warm and gentle, yet powerful enough to erase his presence from the void.
In the next instant—
He disappeared.
Silence returned once more.
Gabriel stood alone, his expression calm as ever.
After a brief pause, he spoke softly, his voice echoing faintly through the emptiness.
"You will only receive the system… if you truly dedicate yourself to becoming the best."
His words carried a quiet weight, as if setting an invisible rule into place.
"Otherwise… it will remain dormant until the end of your life."
A faint glimmer passed through his eyes.
"You already possess knowledge of the world you are entering. That alone is an advantage."
He turned slightly, his wings shifting with a soft, almost imperceptible motion.
"It would be unfair to make your path too easy."
There was no cruelty in his tone—only balance.
"I look forward to seeing what kind of player you become… Arthur."
A brief silence followed.
"And perhaps… when your journey ends…"
"We will meet again."
Far away, in a world governed not by fate alone but by effort and determination—
A new life had begun.
And on a quiet baseball field, where dreams were forged through sweat and perseverance—
Arthur's story was about to unfold