1 The Sudden Death

the man in the bookstore woke up startled as the clock struck 9:05 pm. He had dozed off behind the counter, exhausted by the long wait for a customer. He turned his head to the clock checking the time and sighed, muttering, "Ugh, I guess it's time to restock the books in the Fantasy Section."

He got up from his seat, went to the inventory, and grabbed a box filled with books. Some volumes were from a renowned bestselling author. He went to the shelves ready to fill them up with enchanting tales.

Close to a shelf, he dropped the box on the ground and muttered, "Ugh, all this work makes my back ache. that man really don't know when to give people days off? Ah, whatever."

Then he squatted on the floor, stretched out his hand, and started picking the books one by one until his arm couldn't hold any more.

Then he raised his knees back up form the floor then started arranging the books on the shelf.

As he was carefully placing the books, one of them fell and hit his head, he utters "ouch," then he turned and looked at the floor looking at the book, stopped, picked it up, and wiped off the dust.

He looked at the title and said, "Scarab: An Insect's Anatomy. Hmm, sounds interesting." He put the book back on the shelf and continued his work. Five minutes later, he finished and said, "Ah, all done! Damn, my back hurts." He returned to the counter, sat down, and fell asleep again.

Ten minutes later, his boss came to the counter and shouted, "Asumi! Asumi!" He quickly lifted his head and stood up. His boss said, "How many times have I told you, no sleeping during work hours? Two more times, and you're out." He rubbed his neck and apologized, saying, "Sorry, boss. I don't usually get enough sleep."

His boss said, "I don't care, get back to work, and stop acting like a zombie." Then he turned his back and walked away.

Asumi resumed his job, sighing as he tried to keep his eyes open. He muttered, "Ah, this is frying my brain. I'll pass out on my feet at this rate." Twenty minutes later slightly dozing off on his feet when suddenly his phone alarm chimed. He pulled it from his pocket to check the time.

He says with a smile on his face, "Ah, finally, it's time to go home." He walked to the changing room and changed his blue trouser, White shirt, white shoes with a black trench coat.

Once he was done, he informed his boss, saying, "Boss, it's closing time now, so I'm heading home." The boss replied, "Okay then, goodbye. Make sure you get here on time tomorrow, or there will be a 10% reduction in your salary."

Too tired to complain, he simply sighed and said, "Okay, boss. Well noted." Then he left. While walking along the road, his thoughts raced, "Damn, I hate that man. Stop sleeping on the counter. Stop acting like a zombie. Does he think I'm a robot?"

The only reason you even get to see me is when I'm low on cash. And I haven't paid this month rent." He sighed and added, "At least when I get home, I can tell Catherine I got her an engagement ring. Oh, the look on her face will be so priceless. I can't wait."

The man blushed, holding the small box containing the ring tightly in his pocket.

As he was passing by an alleyway, unbeknownst to him, a burglar was fleeing with a woman's purse. The woman screamed, "Help! He took my purse! Please, someone help me!" Asumi turned his head towards them, not fully grasping the situation.

The burglar, thinking "this guy thinks is heroic, stupid guy's like him make me sick."

He brought out a knife and rushed towards him and thrust the knife into his gut. Asumi's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the dagger and then at the burglar. His thoughts raced, "What the... Why did he stab me?"

The man, weakened and dizzy, mutters "Bastard," pushed the burglar away as he pulled out a knife. Then, he collapsed on the ground, blood gushing from his wound.

The burglar fled, leaving him in a pool of blood. The woman, whose purse was stolen, ran towards him. Seeing the blood, she put her hand on her mouth, shocked at what happened, then ran to call an ambulance. She said, "Please, try to hang on."

Asumi, on the ground and too weak to speak, felt his thoughts racing. "Ugh, my body... everything feels so hazy.

Then suddenly, his phone in his pocket started ringing. He mused, "No one usually calls me at this hour."

He managed to slip his hand into his pocket and took out his phone. He brought it close to his face and saw the name on the screen displaying "Catherine."

As he saw the name, immediately he felt a feeling of dread. He picked the call and put his phone next to his head, then he heard her voice coming from the other side of the phone.

"Um, Asumi, don't mean to bother you, but you said you'd be back soon, and it's getting really late, I'm worried."

Asumi bent his head down, looking at his hand next to his shirt, trying to stop the bleeding. Understanding how critical his condition is.

He replied, "I'm sorry I took so long. I'll be back soon, okay? I love you, bye."

She replied, "Love you too, Asumi. Come home soon."

Then she cut the call, he felt a sharp pain in his chest he grit his teeth and toss away his phone

After some minutes his skin turned pale from the blood loss. He gazed at the sky and mused, "What's wrong with people? Stealing a woman's purse and stabbing a guy who just happened to be passing by". Then He coughed up blood as his lungs started to fill with blood.

He added "Shit at this rate I might actually die."

His eyes filled with anger as he mused, "I hate this not now I can't die yet I have to."

Then he stretched out his hand to the going after his phone, muttering, "I have to..." Then his consciousness started fading, and his hand dropped on the floor. He mused, tell her I'm sorry.

He closed his eyes and succumbed to the darkness, and died.

Then his mind slowly drifted away in the void. He mused, "So, this is what it's like... to die. I didn't think everything would go pitch black, but still... I was only 21. Why did luck have to be so cruel?"

Then suddenly he heard a voice echoing in the endless darkness, "The host has met the requirements for the Beetle Evolution System. The host's soul will now be transferred to a new body." Surprised, he mused, "What do you mean, a new body? Wait, who are you?"