Well… I'm dead. I don't really have many regrets, I had a good life, a simple life. But…
I DID NOTHING! I didn't even get to have that much fun! Just study, eat, and die. I took literally no risks, I lived a safe, absolutely boring life. I'm being given one more chance by some random entity.
/LOW TIER WRITER FLASHBACK OOoOOooooOO\
H… he… hey… "HEY!"
I snapped awake so hard I felt like I got whiplash, "WHAT!?" I screamed.
"Don't give me attitude, I'm just doing my job!" The random mysterious voice yelled back.
"Okay, Okay, what do you need?"
"Just stand up, and finally pay attention." This random voice tells me.
So I jumped up onto my feet real quick, and took a peek around me. And, there was nothing. Literally nothing, just a pale white and an inky black, split right down the middle. Still though, I was alone in this weird plane of existence.
"Okay, I looked, now tell me what's happening."
The odd voice gave off a distorted cough, and deepens their voice.
"You are one of the one thousand selected from the recently dead who has been selected for our little experiment of human behavior."
"Okay… really helpful, I'm happy to win anything, but what is happening?" I asked.
"Slow down, I'm getting to that," it said, "You know that gamer thing? I want to give you the chance to do that, it's absolutely up to you if you want to move onto the afterlife, then we just move to the next person in line."
"Okay, sure, I have nothing going for me one way or another. Any catch, though?" I asked.
"You just can't come back, you get a few options when you start." It responded.
"Got it! Let's get started!" and suddenly, an annoying, somewhat ad-like pop up appeared.
It said that I would start with one hundred dollars and ten stat points in every category
Modest, you were born into an average family you get no advantages or disadvantages
Rich, your parents are rich you get -2 INT, -1 STR, +$100
Poor, you were born into a poor family, you get -$90, +1 AGI, +1 STR
Homeless, you have no home, you get -$100, -3 CHR, -1 CON
Lonely, you have no one, your parents work overseas, you get -1 CHR, +$10
Okay, then. I don't want to choose what I had in my last life, so number one is out of the question…
Let's take a risk! I pushed my finger down on the poor option, nowhere to go but up!
ARE YOU SURE? Y/N
I pressed yes and moved on, another screen popped up, all it had on it was a tab for my Name, already filled in, of course. Then, it had a few other tabs, one said stats, one said hair color, and the final said eye color.
If I'm seeing this right, this is character creation. I just chose the simple blue eyes and brown hair, I don't want to stand out too much, now do I? I clicked on the stats option.
Name: James Bell
Age: N/A
HP: N/A
SP: N/A
STR: 11
CON: 10
AGI: 11
DEX: 10
INT: 10
CHR: 10
PER: 10
Money: $10
Perk Points: 4
Perk points seems new, while I was thinking and staring at it trying to figure it out, a tab popped up into my vision.
You earn perk points by merits of what you have done before you died. The average score is 5-7, and the highest recorded score is 11. These can be used to buy perks which help you advance along in your new life, you may also take disadvantages for more perk points.
(I'm not going to buff up my word count with listing all the perks. I'll just show the ones picked)
You chose:
Impatient +1 perk point
You don't handle sitting around for too long well, you always have to be doing something.
Quick Learner: -3 perk points
You learn things very quickly, and your mind always seems to be a step ahead of the rest
+100% experience to INT
Cheetah: -2 perk points
Grants the skill accelerate at birth
That seems like a ton! And I'm on the lower end of the perk points spectrum, whoever has eleven of those most be overpowered! Let's see what accelerate is.
'Ability!'
'Accelerate.'
ERROR YOU DO NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL BODY, ABILITY CANNOT BE USED.
'Skills?'
Another menu opened up, at this rate I'll get used to that in no time.
Skills:
Accelerate LVL1/10 (0% EXP) 0 stamina
Your AGI is limited to 50% for a minute
After the minute get +50% AGI for two minutes.
Everything is set, the skill isn't amazing, but it's a huge boost.
ARE YOU FINISHED? Y/N
"Yes!" Everything goes dark.
\FLASHBACK DONE OOOoOoOooO/
It's been about one to two-ish months, I think. I haven't really gained consciousness, but I can still kind of understand what's happening, which is jarring to say the least. I've been trying to open my menu, but it seems like it's locked almost? There is a rather consistent soothing voice that appears from time to time, but it's muffled, almost like I'm underwater.
One of my eyes opened, and I slowly forced the other one to as well. Everything was blurry, I felt like there was a fog and I was only able to see about a foot in front of me. I was sitting on a wooden floor, it was a bit chilly, but nothing I haven't experienced before. I decided to try calling up my stats one more time.
'Status!'
Only my name, health, and stamina showed up.
Name: James Bell
HP: 2/2
SP: 1/1
Due to accessing the system and straining your eyes, you have lost .5 stamina!
I was feeling immediately tired, but I managed to keep my eyes open, I need to be able to see before I can really begin to have any fun, so I tried focusing on just one plank, I stared intently at it and tried counting and measuring all the swirls of the wood.
Skill Gained!
Focus LVL1/10 (EXP 0%) 1 stamina
You can put your all into something for a short period of time
Current Time: 5 minutes
You have lost 1 stamina point, you will now sleep.
After reading that, I promptly passed out for what I assume was the rest of the day.
Whenever I have been waking up, I've been trying to Focus on anything I could, it helped me to realize that there were also a few chairs and a really tall table in the room. I used the skill several times, and it hasn't really gotten that far
Focus LVL1/10 (EXP 20%) 1 stamina
It would be good progress if that wasn't the progress that I made over the course of two weeks. It was absolutely grueling trying to level it up, and I wasn't able to move for some reason, kind of like the weird suspended animation I was in when I was reincarnated. But, today, something new happened! I decided to use Focus on my Status and it actually gave me a bit more information.
Name: James Bell
HP: 3/3
SP: 1/1
Age: 3 months
I fell asleep after, but it was so worth it to make some progress, I really have been trying, but nothing seems to be working, this felt like my first step forward in months. When I saw my age, I was quite honestly surprised, I expected to be like twenty or something, I thought I was just captured or like in some alien test tube, it was insane! It was a clue, though, to why my stamina was so low, and as to why my health it basically nothing.
\TIMESKIP OF 3 MONTHS BB/
I have been only training Focus for these past months, and it leveled up twice! I can now focus on something for 10 minutes! But, at the moment, the next step is a crawl for me. I've been able to squirm around a bit for the past month or so, but my head always just feels so heavy. It's like trying to carry a ten pound rock on with one finger, possible, but extremely difficult, so when I woke up today feeling better than usual, I gave it a try.
I slowly lifted my arms and legs and began crawling, I stumbled way too much for a previously fully grown man, but eventually I was able to do a steady crawl, and the system finally gave me a skill to grind. I remember very vaguely when I was crawling around, I heard laughing and cheering, I recognized the voice, but it seemed more like a warmth, rather than the crowd I was expecting.
Skill Gained!
Crawl LVL1/10 (0% EXP) 1 stamina per minute
You can move at 1mph
I tried cheering out loud, but all I really got was excited gurgling. If crawling was the second step of my journey, then talking would be next, I would grind Crawl up as high as possible in about a month, then I'll work on talking, especially since I'll be walking instead of crawling soon enough. Forcing out words wouldn't help, so I'll get started on it when I can finally familiarize myself with my environment.
\TOO COMMON LINE BREAK/
I was frustrated, I've been trying to talk for a month! Nothing, I got nothing! My Crawl skill went up by one, and my pathetic gurgles are still the only static skill in my life. At least I can finally understand what people are saying to me, It's mostly words like 'Mama' or 'Dinner!' but, I'm a firm believer in learning from example, so that might help me in the long run. Those two words are the only ones I've been trying.
I know one time, my father came home and said Hello to me. For some reason, I had an insane urge to cry and crawl away, I resisted it barely, but I still remember the angry frown on his face. Well, whatever, he's not my problem, I tried sticking with my mother, she would pick me up from time to time, but mostly she would hand me off to my older brother, I think he's somewhere around five or six? I can't really tell if he's really that old, or if he just has major baby face. I can't really discern height, because I don't know how tall I really am.
Either way, he was surprisingly caring for such a young kid, tried including me in his games, even tried helping me make a basket at a basketball court he brought me to, all in all, he was an extremely sweet kid. I learnt the word, 'Nice!' from him, well, this new version of me did.
I really did enjoy hanging out with my brother, I even remember him crying when I gave him the only toy I had owned. I tried my best to pat him on the back to make him feel better, but it didn't do much.
I really do think my father tried, but his giant figure made him way too imposing for my small brain to comprehend. If I was to guess based on him next to my mother, he's about a foot or two taller than her, which is quite frankly, insane.
\Line/
Skill Gained!
Talking LVL1/10 (EXP 0%)
You can form words! This skill helps with pronunciation and forming words from any language
I DID IT! I said "Dinner!" right out loud!~ my mother was elated, my father wasn't there, and my brother just smiled super wide. I didn't really show much emotion, but I can guarantee you, I was the happiest in that room. Nine months! It took nine months to get a level one skill. Not only did I get talking but I leveled up Crawl three more times, it was grueling, but I think my stamina went up! Wait a minute… I haven't checked status in literally months!
'Status!'
Level: 1
Name: James Bell
HP: 5/5
SP: 3/3
Age: 9 months
In the time it took me to be born, it took me to be able to talk, if I ever get chosen for this reincarnation program again, I'm going to give a pretty firm no.
I don't really need to worry about Focus anymore, until I really need to do well on a test or something, but I can more than worry about Talking and Crawl. But, if I'm honest, my balance is getting better by the day, soon I don't think I will even need crawling, so I'm going to talk as much as possible!
'Dinner!'
'Dinner!'
'Dinner!'
/LINEBREAK\
It only took my three months to max out Talking, it wasn't hard once I started learning new words, apparently sentences are worth like quadruple the exp just one word is. Let's just say I'm not going to be one of those kids with a lisp.
/LINEBREAK 2: ELECTRIC BOGALOO\
I learnt to walk, I knew this was coming, but it came pretty late, but it was immediately better than my crawling skill.
Skill Gained!
Walk LVL1/10 (0% EXP) 1 stamina per minute
You can walk at 2mph
All I remember is yelling out, "Hell yeah!" and then getting the scolding of my life. My mother kept asking me where I learnt that word, but I just pretended I didn't know how to say how I found it out yet. Either way, I think this will finally let me use Acceleration.
I started walking and activated Acceleration, and immediately I felt the difference, it wasn't anything crazy, but I was much slower. There wasn't even a stamina use for this, so I was just able to only spend it on walking, I kept walking and suddenly I tripled the slow speed I was using just a few seconds ago, It was slow for a normal person, but for an infant? I was moving at super speed! I swear, in that small window Walk seemed like it gained a ton of exp!
Due to pushing your new Walk skill to the limit you have lost 3 Stamina!
Before I could even think to reply, I passed out on the ground. I don't think this abrupt sleep has happened to me since I got here.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have been given access to all of your status. Enjoy, and Happy Birthday!
+Status Screen
+1 Loot Box (Uncommon)
+Inventory
First, I get to walk, and now this! My luck is getting better and better, I can't wait to try all this out!
'Status!'
Level: 1 (0/100 EXP)
Name: James Bell
Age: One year
HP: 10.5/10.5
SP: 5/5
STR: 11
CON: 10
AGI: 11
DEX: 10
INT: 10
CHR: 10
PER: 10
Money: $10
Yes, yes, yes! Finally, I can see what's happening, and I got my ten dollars! I opened my new inventory and checked it.
It was a pastel orange tab, with boxes for items all over it, there was a small section above that said 1/22lbs and I had a glowing orange box in there. I could tell at first glance that the glowing box was my 'present' for my birthday. I looked it over, and decided to just open it, while I still had privacy. I clicked on it, and it asked me if I was sure. I pressed Yes, just like I always do.
A weird transparent prize wheel appeared in front of me, it spun and landed on this odd pair of shoes, I clicked on my prize
Congratulations! You got an Uncommon Clothing Item!
Shrimpy's Shoes +1lbs
They will fit to you, until you reach 5 foot 6 inches tall.
+1 foot to vertical jump, +1 AGI when wearing
The vertical jump bit may be good for sports, but I can't really find a use for it, I'm still not sure if I'm living in a magic world or not, considering I have no mana, but my family lives in a wooden house with no electricity, so I don't know what to think. I'll figure it out soon, I guess.
Honestly, my sentences are just getting better and better, despite maxing out Talking, that really only is pronunciation, I still need to relearn how to speak a sentence on my own, I still remember my first proper sentence.
"Out." I said to my mother.
"Honey, I'm making dinner, I can't leave the kitchen."
"No." I tried to force more out, but it just didn't work.
"You want me to call your brother? You can go play with him." she relented
"No! Outside!" I yelled.
Honestly, I surprised myself, I thought I was pretty much stuck to one syllable sentences, but hey, I guess the more you know.
"Don't yell." she scolded me.
"Yes." I replied.
"Let me call your brother, then you can go outside."
All I did was smile at here and wait patiently for my brother to come downstairs. When he finally arrived, my mom asked him to play with me, and being the nice person I learned he is, he gave a pretty immediate "Sure."
I walked outside ahead of him and activated Acceleration, he walked slowly behind me, just making sure I didn't go out too far, and we even played a bit of chase. He let me win, I could tell, but that weird pride at winning anything still appeared in my heart. It was nice to win, and I really wanted to get this feeling again, so I played along. I ran around to my heart's content, gaining so much speed when Acceleration properly activated.
Due to running around you have lost 2 stamina! Stamina: ⅖
For running around for so long without tripping, you have gained +1 AGI and +1 DEX
I smiled and turned toward my brother and started walking. When I finally made it next to him I just told him, "Home." and he seemed to understand. He walked me back inside without a word, gave me a smile and went back to his room. I sat next to my mother, just watching her cook. I tried to follow her movements using Focus, but she's way too fast for me.
You have lost 1 stamina! Stamina: ⅕
I yawned and just waited for food, I still didn't get a chance to try out my new shoes, but I doubt I should wear them until I actually am given a pair of shoes. When food was ready, I was sat down near my brother, and was given my food. I stared intently at the food, making sure not to activate Focus, and on a hunch, I pushed the plate into my inventory to check it.
Added .2lbs to Inventory!
Baby Food
+2 Stamina
+1 Health
I knew for a fact that I didn't need to eat everyday, It won't kill me, I'll eat tomorrow. But, for today, I'll just sleep it off. I went to sleep after dinner, and my mother asking my older brother about how school was going for him. I finally figured out he turned six pretty recently, meaning he's in first grade, he didn't really have much to say other than recess was fun.
I went to sleep, very content, I decided I would keep training walking, because it can only help!
/TIMESKIP BB\
A lot has happened in these few months, I'm now one year and six months old, nothing crazy, but I leveled up Walking four times and I know Acceleration is extremely close to leveling up. Currently, I was sat on my butt, near a coffee table my mother led me to. It wasn't really anything complex, at least I don't think, I saw paper all over the desk, covered top to bottom in chicken scratch, my mom was really kind and I think she was teaching me to read, which was odd, considering I thought I knew how. We spent nearly three hours just sitting there, I used Focus around the end and was able to read my own name on a piece of paper.
Skill Gained!
Reading LVL1/10 (0% EXP)
You can read a few words, maybe a sentence if you're lucky.
Of course, I didn't just get my skills up in this year I also gained a point in INT, STR, and CON. I also managed to gain three points in AGI from my constant running around.
"We'll be trying to write tomorrow, okay, honey?" My mom asked, sounding pretty tired.
"Yeah! I'm ready!" I said.
I almost forgot to mention, I can hold a conversation now, my sentences have gotten more complex, extremely fastly. A few months after I turned one, I moved into my brothers room, I started laying in a bed really close to the ground, it was really comfortable compared to that stiff crib that forced me to stay still. My brother was still as friendly as ever, luckily with the system I didn't have to deal with the torture of needing a potty training skill, so I think I was pretty great for a toddler roomate. I slept soundly through the night, and brother was nice enough to share his very few toys with me.
It made me very happy to be loved. I still had a poor relationship with my father. Even with my new mental fortitude now that I'm out of infancy, he still terrifies me. I worked for months and got my Reading skill up to level three and gained and leveled my writing skill to level two.
Writing LVL2/10 (0% EXP)
You write at a kindergarten level.
"The cat went home."
I didn't get any physical stat level ups, they just refused to, I managed to get one in INT for all my studying and three in CHR for talking so much with my new 'roomate.'
I went along my days pretty casually, not many level ups, other than one more in walking. It was a day before I turned two and my mom started talking to me at dinner.
"Do you know what happens tomorrow?" She started.
"No?" I tried to convey the confusion in my voice.
"You're starting preschool! You can make so many friends!" She exclaimed.
Inwardly I sighed, but I tried to play along.
"Really!? That's awesome!" I exclaimed right back.
I have to finally socialize with someone so young that I can't understand them, I guess I can talk to the teacher a bit, I'm going to try to wait until first or second grade until I actually try to have a conversation with any of them, that would be a lot of work especially if they can't keep up.
Hey guys, thanks for reading the first chapter of my subpar story!
I wish I could make it longer, but I can't think of much else to add until James gets into a public environment, at the age he's at he can't even go out into public alone. Well, until next time!