Lear felt as though he was dying-he desperately wanted to sleep.
It was one of the symptoms of radiation sickness. His brain could no longer think, his eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and he could not open them. His mind felt as though it had been churned into paste, incapable of forming a single thought.
But perhaps it was the least lethal, most comfortable symptom of all.
He had spent decades working on the front lines of the nuclear industry, because he firmly believed atomic energy was the future.
Unfortunately, atomic energy was now about to take his future away-after taking his mother's, it was his turn.
But did he regret it?
He did not regret going into this field. On the contrary, he was glad he had taken one step after another ahead of the rest of the world. It was just that the feeling of almost grasping the sun's radiance meant he was destined to leave with regrets.
But he did regret being unable to resist going home every so often to eat with his mother. If he had not, perhaps she could have lived a little longer-even long enough for one more meal.
Yet even then... he might not have treasured that extra time.
If people knew how to treasure what they already had, how could there be any regrets?
He also regretted not having the courage to shoulder responsibility at work when it mattered. Perhaps some decisions should have been his to make. But perhaps he would not have made the best choices, and would still have regretted making the wrong ones.
He also regretted... never marrying-but if he had, perhaps he would have dragged his wife and children down with him.
He also regretted...
The memories flashing before his eyes suddenly stopped, and Lear smiled bitterly-
Perhaps he did have a few regrets.
Then he closed his eyes.
Screech-
The piercing squeal of brakes stabbed through Lear's eardrums, followed by a deafening crash, as though a vehicle had overturned.
Bang-bang-bang-bang-
Then came the sound of metal barrels hitting the ground, followed by screams, shouts, and a familiar voice-
It sounded like his mother.
"Lear, the weather's nice today. The sunlight can get in, so I brought your quilt out to air. When you wake up, you can go home and sleep under it. Do you still remember how sunshine smells?"
Beside the hospital bed, a middle-aged woman with white hair gently massaged Lear's body, speaking softly.
"At least there's plenty of sunshine here. You can get a little sun instead of going moldy and turning into a little lump of coal-just like Luna. When you wake up, you'll see how lovely Luna has grown...
"And your good friends are nearly old enough for college now. They skateboard in the streets every day and look so happy. I'm sure you'll get along with them..."
As she spoke, the woman's smile began to tremble, and tears squeezed out of the corners of her eyes.
Knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door. It was a nurse. "Mrs. Li, you'll have to move your son. Someone needs this room."
"Oh, I know, I know-could you give me another two minutes? Just two minutes..."
The nurse looked at the woman and hesitated, then checked her watch. "Two minutes, then. This is against the rules, ma'am-and you've forgotten again. You can't have close contact with him. It's bad for your health."
"I know..." The woman turned back, no longer able to hold her smile. Covering her face, she continued, "You can go out and play with your friends. I promise I won't spoil your fun anymore. It's just..."
Lear's heart trembled. This woman's voice sounded exactly like his mother's-
He forced his eyes open with all his strength, those eyes that had not opened in years. Then air passed through his parched throat, producing a hoarse, strange sound as he answered the words his mother had left unfinished.
"Was I really... that obsessed with playing, Mom?"
How strange. Looking at the woman before him, Lear realized she was a little different from the mother he remembered, but she was indeed his mother.
He had been reborn-that had to be it.
His mother's sobbing cut off abruptly. Seeing those open eyes moved her as deeply as the first time she had ever seen them-
"Lear-you're awake!"
Lear had been reborn. This was his mother, Ms. Maya Morgan, a Latina immigrant who had taken her husband's surname, Li, according to custom after they married.
Three years earlier, he had been playing in the street when a vehicle loaded with waste sped past, then overturned, spilling its cargo.
After that, Lear had never woken up.
His vital signs had steadily declined over those three years, until yesterday-Lear believed the original Lear had died.
Lear looked down at his frail body. The doctor had just finished examining him, and his mother was speaking with the doctor-
But Lear could feel that his body was still terribly weak, and growing weaker, just like he had been on the verge of death in his previous life.
Still, guessing would get him nowhere. Lear quietly climbed out of bed, only for his body, unused for years, to collapse straight onto the floor. Fortunately, he did not make much noise.
He crawled to the door and faintly heard the conversation between the doctor and his mother on the other side-
"Lear's body is too weak-Mrs. Li, I'm sorry. We don't know why he suddenly woke up, but I really don't recommend continuing treatment."
"What do you mean?! You're suggesting my child should die? Is that the kind of advice a doctor should give?!"
"Mrs. Li, please calm down..."
"Your child hasn't just suffered chemical damage. He's also showing symptoms of radiation sickness. It isn't just us-even Oscorp can't treat him. His body has absorbed some of the hazardous waste. Radioactive elements are already part of his body."
"You..."
Click.
Lear pushed the door open, interrupting the argument.
Seeing him, his mother hurried to the doorway and crouched down to support him.
"Mom, let's go home for now."
His mother froze, her eyes red, but in the end she simply wiped away her tears and forced a smile.
"All right. Let's go home."
Lear's home in this world was in Queens, in a typical slum-the good news was that it was a small detached house.
After they returned home, his mother told him many things, but Lear was somewhat distracted.
Being reborn had brought a great deal of information-first, he was dying, and any number of incurable conditions might be afflicting him.
Second-he had heard a name: "Oscorp."
It was a high-tech company that existed only in that classic superhero setting, the Marvel Universe.
That meant his illness was not necessarily incurable.
Finally, Maya Li, his mother, was his mother-he did not want to make her sad.
As he stroked the soft quilt that smelled of sunshine, the two mothers in Lear's memories merged into one.
"I've already been reborn. Nothing is impossible... If I could reach into the mysteries of the atom, I can overcome the challenges of biology.
"I'll absorb all the knowledge of this world like a sponge. I know everyone here. I know their stories and achievements, so naturally I can gain an advantage.
"With that advantage and hard work, I can do this-science changes lives, and I'll start by changing my own fate."
Lying in bed, Lear gave himself a pep talk and went over all the incredible things that had happened that day.
As an engineer who had once overcome countless challenges, he immediately adjusted his mindset-if there was a problem, he would overcome it.
Suddenly, a window popped up before his eyes.
[Yes, you can save yourself.] [Personal panel is now online. Your unwavering resolve will be rewarded.] [Trait: heart of evolution activated.] [Name: Lear Li] [Trait: heart of evolution] [Heart of evolution: you are ready to master everything. Your learning ability has been greatly enhanced, and technological creations cannot influence your mind.] [Note: great scientists are pioneers of creation, not weak-willed people beguiled by their creations-you won't even become addicted to your phone.]
Lear froze for a moment, then pumped his fist enthusiastically-
Then his mother pushed the door open.
"Lear?" his mother said softly. "I..."
"Mom." Lear made his voice sound as steady and strong as he could. "Things will get better tomorrow."
His mother paused. She had wanted to comfort Lear, only to find that her son... was comforting her instead.
Perhaps this was the greatest turning point of her life.
Lear's voice was actually still incredibly weak, but Maya felt warmth in it, as though Lear had been there with her all these years.
"Yes, tomorrow will be better. I... I have an early shift..."
"Just leave breakfast on the table. Trust me."
"All right... Lear..." Maya wanted to cry again, but she did not. "Good night."
"Good night, Mom."
The door closed, and another box popped up on the panel before his eyes.
[Unstable energy may erupt at any moment. Please prepare to enter a new world.]
Lying in bed, Lear closed his eyes-
It's just another new world. Let's see what might help.
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