Have you ever wondered what would happen after you died?
Well, I didn't but we're here now, aren't we?
I would have imagined dying peacefully, I wanted to live my life around my eighties and do something with my life. I wanted to raise a family and have children that would look up to me. I wanted my last moments to be around my family as they wish me away from the life that I lived. That's how I wanted to die.
I didn't want to choke on a piece of my sandwich.
Yeah … I'm pretty pathetic.
Unlike the nice peaceful death that I imagined, I died in uncomfortable agony.
As my sight slowly shut itself off, I watched my life flash before my eyes. I never would have thought this was true, I mean it was hard to believe to me that I would relive my life in my last moments when no one can prove to me since those who experienced this would have died. But I digress, I watched how I lived my life.
I was utterly bored.
Just the same as those who were around me.
Wake up, work, play, sleep and repeat.
All I had was that normal routine that I lived through. What I wanted was to do something that would get me somewhere, that would shine a light on my life. Something that would take me out of that sense of normalcy.
But in the end, none of that mattered as I float here waiting for me to be passed on to wherever I'm going next.
"TELL ME, BOY, DO YOU WISH TO LIVE-"
"No" I interrupt the large booming voice. Granted whatever it was going to say, I'm still grateful that it's here. I would have gone insane on my own. I don't even know how long I've been here.
"I COME HERE TO GIVE AN OFFER BUT YOU TURN ME DOWN BEFORE I CAN EVEN FINISH." The voice states, it's tone implies that whatever it is is calm but I can hear the anger behind it. I don't think it liked me interrupting it.
"I don't want to live, especially now. Everywhere has gone to shit and all I do is live my life trying to be a member of a society that gives nothing back except for the boring life that I despise." I could hear the passion that I would have never of shown while I was alive to the disembodied voice.
"TO THINK THAT A MORTAL, SUCH AS YOURSELF, WOULD HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE AGAIN IN HIS WORLD. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG, ACCORDING TO HUMAN YEARS." I hear the sound of paper rustling in the background "AH… HERE IT IS, YOU DIED AT THE AGE OF SEVENTEEN. MOST OF YOU CHILDREN WOULD HAVE OF BEGGED TO COME BACK. HOW AMUSING"
"I like how you think that my views of life are amusing" Sarcasm was clearly laced in my voice "But why are you talking to me? I don't get it."
"HAD YOU LISTENED TO WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID EARLIER THAN WOULD HAVE TO KNOW" The voice lets out of its anger. The area around me heats up as it bellowed. "WHATEVER, YOU WANT TO LIVE A FULFILLING LIFE. GOOD SINCE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE WAITED FOR A WHILE."
That has gotten my interest, what could this voice want that involves me? Like I realised earlier there is nothing different about when compared to everyone else.
"YOU SEE I WANT TO TRY AN EXPERIMENT, SO TO SAY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME." The area around ripples emanating from the area in front of me. Electricity strikes down from above striking the epicentre of the ripples. The ripples started to break down revealing a circular portal-like doorway. A large translucent purple arm exploded out of the doorway, said arm had claw-like nails that look unnatural as if they belong to an animal. Following the arm was a long white robe called a kimono with prayer beads wrapping around its body. Much like the purple arm, the body was coloured the same. On the face of this creature were two red horns that protrude from its head with long white hair that reaches to the middle of it's back. In the mouth of said creature, a large tanto sword rested.
Why does he look familiar?
"YOUR EXPRESSION IS ONE OF SHOCK, YOU SEEM TO RECOGNISE ME" As it talked, the large monster pulls the tanto out of its mouth to show the jagged teeth and unnaturally long mouth.
"Yeah but I'm wondering where I've remembered you from." I ask as I scratch my chin "It's at the tip of my tongue"
"PERHAPS MY EXPECTATION OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS TOO HIGH FOR YOU TO COMPREHEND" It's mouth turned into what looked like a horrid mix of a grin and a smirk "I AM THE SHINIGAMI THAT GOVERNS OVER THE ELEMENTAL NATIONS"
Oh, that's cool.
.
.
.
.
.
.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?
"Bullshit, I ain't going to the Naruto. Fuck that shit. NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. NO-"
"SILENCE, WHILE IT WAS AMUSING AT FIRST, THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS" It shocks its large head, calming itself down "NO YOU WILL NOT BE GOING TO THE ELEMENTAL NATIONS. YOU WILL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH"
Yeah 'cause that doesn't ring any bells in my head.
"YES.." The shinigami slowly walks back into the portal that it came out of. "...SOON ENOUGH KUKUKUKUKUKUKUKKU"
"Wait a second" I cry out as I run towards where it left only to watch as my body slowly started to slide back in the opposite direction. I look down and notice that a large chain is wrapped around my waist, following the chain, I see that it is connected to a similar portal that the shinigami took off into. The portal was slowly getting closer -No I'm getting closer to it as a chain pulls me in faster and faster.
"Fucking hell" I curse as I fall in.
*Toot Taru*
{Character Creation}
A blearing chime rocked the white room I was in. The chair I was sitting on levitated for a second, because of the vibration, before falling again. I knew I had no body but I was still sitting somehow.
How did that work?
I looked down to see a naked body.
I couldn't call it mine as the body was completely blank. It was like I was wearing a white bodysuit that had no features to assume my gender. It was as if it was a blank state.
You know blank state- Character creation?
That was too much of a cliche, let's move on.
Bringing my attention back to the screen before me, there a large start button underneath it, and seeing that this was much more exciting than before, I pressed it. This had caused multiple large screens to be will themselves to life around me, each one stating a different thing.
Hair, Body, Eyes, Mouth, Basically all the essentials I need to create a new character.
This seemed way too real for me, maybe I was stuck in some sort of Vr creation and I had no recollection of being in one. I mean it was way too outlandish to be real. I mean how would anyone wake up like this.
Whatever, If this is going to be shoved right into my face then I'm going to deal with it. Why not make a character?
That all depends on what kind of character I'm making. In games, I like to make a Mage character but if this is somehow using my body, I'd rather make someone who's more up close and personal. I find it fairly therapeutic when I punch someone. Let's get back to it when it comes up, if it does.
It had better do, I mean what's the whole point of this then.
...Almost there…
And done.
My character was finally done. It took me hours to create him. Well, I think at least, I don't have any way to perceive time, no clocks or anything here.
It did really matter?
Anyways, back to my character. There was a small thing that I had to work around, not really much when you think about it but was still kinda annoying. I had to work with the body of a child. Yes, you heard me correctly. A child. Something told me deep down this was a body right after it's 13th birthday. Other than that, I was fine. I tried to find some way to bump up the age but that clearly didn't work. After that little tangent, I had worked myself around it to get what I have now.
I worked with the idea of a grim reaper, It had come to me from the top of my head, so I thought 'Why not?'. I had then expanded on that idea and thought 'Imagine a grim reaper that looked charming and inviting, right before he ripped away from your soul'. It was contradictory and I liked it.
The charming grim reaper.
He had a dark black hair that had dropped down to the back of his neck, making sure that it was made to be always perfect, 'cause I could. Kinda pale skin that didn't seem natural but somehow worked for him. His eyes were extremely dark, to the point where it looked like someone had erased the eyes from his body. The body had some muscle but not too much as it was only a child. Black pants that ended at the knees with the same coloured shirt and shoes, the shirt had a large skull on it. A dark black scarf and beanie with a skull button had completed the ensemble.
You could see the theme I was going for.
The face itself was the part that took the most time. I had to get it perfect, I had nothing better to do. From the eyes to the mouth, it was made seem like he was an adorable little child that would grow up to be a lady killer, but behind the eyes where the glint of danger. Emphasised by the little upcurl of the mouth.
A charming grim reaper.
Imagine the most handsome or most beautiful person coming for you. You would let your guard down right before they send you to your next life.
I would love to see that kind of woman right now…
Wait, No I wouldn't.
That would mean I'm dead.
Nah, that can't be true since this would make it seem like I'm in a bad fanfiction, Right?
...Right?
I click the next button, making the screen shift away before returning as an entirely new one.
Oooohhh, I was waiting for this one.
{Magic}
I wonder what I should get. I get to choose 1 ability out of all of these. Some of these aren't even English. I mean what does 'Grendeshgarp' mean? Whatever, I'll just press this nifty little randomise button right here?
[Playing - Countdown Timer]
Really? Countdown.
When the timer had stopped, as did the music, I got my randomised ability. I felt my left eyebrow raise as I read the screen.
[Satan Soul
The ability to gain the form and magic of a demon. Can be used to transform into said demons as well.
Demons must be taken over for this skill to function.]
Satan Soul? That's from Fairy Tail, pretty overpowered as well. In the manga, using said skill, the sea started evaporation from transforming. Just Transforming. I like it and I want it. So I'm not going to change it.
Now next screen.
{Perks and Disadvantages.}
[Warning - Selecting Disadvantages will garner you points for your next and final screen. Perks can also be grabbed for points. You start out with five.]
I already see what kind of perks I want and some disadvantages I don't mind having. However, whoever made this wasn't too creative as some of them are blatantly ripped from the Worm CYOAs.
A few disadvantages I was already given. These were 'Puberty is a Bitch' and 'Demon Factor'. These had shown that I had the body of a prepubescent teen and that I had something called a 'Demon Factor' that lets me use Satan Soul respectively, this had all given me 3 points.
After some time picking, I had chosen 'Without a Map' gaining 2 points. I chose this as I don't even know where I'm going so there was no need to know where I'm landing. I might as well use those points in a much better place. Also, it seemed that I had been placed somewhere highly dangerous as I had gotten two points instead of one.
Once I had clicked 'Without a Map', 'Wanted' had been activated as well giving me another point. That does not seem good, doesn't help that it doesn't tell me who it is.
This is getting weirder and weirder, also slightly horrifying.
Right now, I had 11 points.
For my perks, I had only chosen three. The first two were, again, from Worm.
'Charles Atlas Superpowers' and 'Comic Book Pretty', They had both fit my theme of charming grim reaper, I mean a grim reaper has to be strong and 'Comic Book Pretty' had to be chosen, it was a given.
'Charles Atlas Superpowers' had pushed me into the height of human abilities when it concerns Physical and Mental attributes. This skill had let me learn skills much easier whilst my body will be much stronger than normal people. According to the screen, with enough training, I can do things like traversing using echolocation.
'Comic Book Pretty' does exactly what it sounds like. I look like a model even on the worst days. I heal perfectly, if I had enough time, with any scars made to look more aesthetically pleasing.
They had both cost one point.
The last one was something that I believed to be perfect for my build. It was called 'Empathy'. It had let me feel emotions. A Grim Reaper needs to know what their targets are feeling, right?
Eh, it was cool so I took it, plus it only cost me a point.
Overall, I had 8 points left.
I had closed my 'Perks and Disadvantages' screen in order for my next screen to pop up.
{Stuffs}
[This does not grant you complete mastery over a skill, just an easier time learning them.]
I wonder why this screen was after the last but it kinda made sense with the whole points thing that was introduced.
When I scrolled through the screen, My eyebrows rose as I looked through many of the different options.
My options were already chosen as I came upon them. I was going to choose 'Scythe Mastery' for 1 point but stopped when I saw a 'Blade Mastery'. Instead of learning to use a Scythe much easier, I would be able to learn all weapons that had a blade on it. Granted it didn't seem like they would get the same boost, however, it was insignificant enough that I had to get it. This had cost me 3 points.
I know I had Satan Soul but it had stated I would need a demon to take over before I was able to use it. This had to lead me into 3 points into gaining a 'Lightning Affinity'. This would give me some direction into learning magic until I can hold out and gain a demon to take over. I would just need to find some sort of instruction into learning lightning magic.
Wait…
I go back to the previous screen and stare wide-eyed at the exploit I found.
I think I can get a demon straight from the get-go.
I had clicked the Disadvantage called 'Enemy'. This Disadvantage was quite a bit different to the Worm CYOA version as I could design my own. Some people would use this to create some sort of tension but not me, I will exploit this to create my first Satan Soul.
I resisted the urge to laugh maniacally as I read this. It was like giving me a demon for me to take over.
It took me some time but I was able to create what I needed. I had modelled it after the demon Amdusias from the 'Ars Goetia'. It had a purple humanoid body with scales going up and down it, claws instead of hands and feet. Instead of a unicorn head, as it is depicted it having, I had given it a normal head but with two large horns on the edges of the forehead. I had given it the ability to wield lightning as that would most likely be something I will be familiar with. I had also give it the ability to sense magic, however, it would always be trying to find my magic.
It was after me after all.
After that was all said and one, I gained 9 points and an enemy that will give me a Satan Soul transformation that I won't even need to go and look for.
With those points, I had taken the 'Cooking Mastery', 'Mana Sensing', 'Enchanting Mastery' and two points giving me 'Speedster'. The first three skills are self-explanatory but 'Speedster' had let me work up my speed a little bit more easily this, with my 'Charles Atlas Superpowers', I will be too fast for people to even notice me.
That's the kind of build I want to go for. To hit fast and hard, before people even know I'm there.
I have two more points and I'm tempted to use a point for 'Wildcard'. This would give me a random ability, it may be good or it may be bad. Who knows?
Fuck it, I'm already strong, I might get even stronger.
[Playing - Countdown Timer]
Again?
What's this? Alchemy?
{Alchemy}
[The science of understanding and manipulating matter.]
Isn't this from Fullmetal Alchemist? There are multiple different ways I could use this and each way being very powerful in what they do.
[Note - This will be given in book form. This will remove the risk of gazing upon the Gate of Truth without payment.]
A shudder went through my spine, I do not want to visit by an angry Truth because I didn't pay the toll.
Now what to do with these last points.
I know, let's get an item. I think I saw some within the Stuffs. If I'm going for the Scythe route, I might as well get a recognisable Scythe.
{Crescent Rose Blueprint}
[A blueprint a gun-blade that has a transformation of a sniper rifle and a scythe. Created by Ruby Rose.]
My last point was put into 'Gun Mastery', I already had a blade mastery so why not a gun one. It was much cheaper than the blade one as this one would only work with guns, not any ranged weaponry.
And with that, I was done. This character would be the charming grim reaper that has its own demon trying to kill him.
Maybe I could make my own fic about this when I get out of here.
That would be cool.
I had inputted my name, calling myself Akira. I like the name so why not.
I press the finish button.
That's when I knew…
...I fucked up.
Hello people, It is I.
Brave.
Calm down, I ain't going anywhere anytime soon so calm yourselves.
So I scrapped the Gamer part of the fic. He would have gotten way too OP way too quickly without consequence. So many parts of the fic could be made better without the user of the 'Gamer'.
I know what you're going to say next 'Isn't the new Akira OP already?'.
And to that I say, What goes around comes around.
Other than that, I hope you enjoy the new fic. I usually aim for 5k words but this seemed to be a good stopping point so I cut it off here.
Until Next time,
Ja Ne.