Chapter 1: Interlude.
I don't own anything.
What happens when you die?
What happens when your world ends?
What happens when your time comes?
What happens when the final second of your life passes and the timer for your life stops?
Death has a timer. No matter what you do, death comes on time. There's no stopping it. The time of your death is set since the day of your birth. It doesn't matter how it will happen. You will die when that time comes no matter what.
Many think that, if you lived a healthy life, ate healthy food, and did some exercise, that they will get to live longer.
That is completely false.
You're not increasing your lifespan. You're just avoiding death in a certain way. Doing all this isn't going to protect you from the hands of death, it only changes the way it will happen.
Death comes only in two ways. Fast, or slow.
For me, death came the first way. That I'm sure of.
It wasn't painful, it was sudden. One second I was alive and well, then all went black. It's just like that. Like someone just turned the TV of your life off. I remember a bright light, then everything turned off.
This should have been the end, but as we all know. Someone always turns the TV back on again.
When I said there's no escaping death, I wasn't kidding—I did die. I just didn't expect to wake up again.
Gaining back my vision, I found myself in an empty hallway. There was no decoration, only a bright white glow radiating from its walls. I felt some form of comfort, though I guess I had an idea as to why. I guess it is normal—I am dead, and this is a place for the dead. I belong here.
Feeling a small urge to move forward—to further explore this place, I choose to follow this feeling and compile to its demands. I can feel that my entire body is telling me to move, and I can't refuse its request.
Taking my first step forward, the urge to move increases. I can feel the need to continue growing. Another step and the sensation grows again. I took a few more steps, then more, then I began walking forward. Now I know it. I want to reach my destination.
I began walking a bit faster, then faster, then even faster, then I ran. I ran in the direction I was facing when I first came here. I kept running faster and faster, to the degree that I felt that I don't have control over my body. As if it was acting on its own. But I won't stop it, nor do I want it to stop. I want it to continue moving forward.
I kept running and running, then my entire body suddenly began slowing down once I spotted my destination. It was still too far for me to see it clearly, but I was getting closer. Now, I was walking again with small steps, but I could finally see it.
It was a man. A middle-aged man wearing a white shirt and black pants, sitting on a desk while reading a newspaper. He had short black hair and blue eyes. Despite his normal appearance, I could feel that he was not normal.
When I stood in front of his desk, he put away his newspaper and looked at me.
I wanted to ask him about this place, about who he is, and why am I here, but I didn't get the chance. He only snapped his fingers, and I disappeared.
Grabbing his newspaper, he only said one thing.
"Next"
I was falling.
When that mysterious person snapped his fingers, I disappeared, then I found myself falling—falling into the abyss.
Darkness was everywhere around me. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't feel anything. I just kept falling.
What is this place? Why am I falling like that? Did that person judge me as a sinner and send me here to spend the rest of my afterlife in loneliness and despair?
Was I a sinner?
What did I do to deserve this?
….
It stopped. My body stopped. I don't know what happened. I just stopped falling. Why did I stop? Wasn't this supposed to be my destiny? My punishment?
[Sorry to spoil your dreams, but there is no punishment for you.]
What? Who said that? I'm sure I'm alone in this place!
Am I hearing things? Have finally gone crazy?
[You're not going crazy.]
Who are you? What do you want with me?
[I think it would be more fitting if you ask what am I, instead of who am I.]
What? What are you then?
[Now this is the right question. I don't have a name, but you can call me 'The System'.]
The System? You mean you're like a computer inside my head?
[Inside your soul would be a more precise answer.]
But why are you in my soul? And how?
[I'm afraid I don't have the answer to these questions. I have only one objective—to guide you on how to use me. Consider your self lucky. You can have a second chance at living.]
What? A second chance? But I died, right? Shouldn't I be sent to Heaven or Hell or whatever? Do people get sent to another world when they die?
[Normally, no. But, this is a special case.]
Then where will I be going?
[Can't tell you that yet. We still have somethings to get over with. Now, first thing first, it's safe to assume that you're familiar with RPG video games, right?]
I...am?
[Great. What was the first step in these kinds of games?]
Well, I didn't play them that much, but I guess the first step was...Character Customization, right?
[Correct. Let us begin then.]
Wait wait wait, what do you mean let us begin? Why would I need to do that? My body seems fine as it is. I don't think I need to change it.
[That is far from the truth. You remember how you died, don't you?]
Huh? N-no, I don't think I do. But...what could've happened for my body to become unusable?
[You really don't remember. Well, let me enlighten you.]
What? What are you going to do?
W-what's happening!?
My mind! I can see many pictures in my mind! Are these...memories?
Yes! I remember now! I was in my home, then I saw a shooting star in the sky from the window. It was heading towards...me?
But...how?
Oh no. No no no! this...this can't be it! Please tell me this isn't true! Tell me this isn't what happened!
[You should consider yourself lucky. Many others died a more painful death at that moment.]
But...how did this happen? Why did it happen?
[I am afraid I don't have an answer to that question either. We can't use your former body because it doesn't exist anymore. The one you're using right now is only temporary. Now please, let us begin making you a new body.]
O-okay. I'll...I'll do it. What do I have to do?
[Choose your race.]
Human, of course. I don't want anything else I'm not used to.
[Select your gender.]
I choose male. I was a male, to begin with. I won't feel quite comfortable any other way.
Select hair color.]
I choose black. I used to have brown hair, but I honestly preferred black more.
[Select eye color.]
Eye color? Can I choose…I don't know, weird eye colors? Like red for example?
[Yes, this is completely possible.]
Then I choose purple.
[Fourth: select your age.]
My age? I was like...16? Almost 17. I guess I'll go for 16 then.
[Finally: insert a new name.]
I guess that a new body means a new name too. What should my name be…? I'm not good at naming things. I don't want to miss this one up. Hmm…
….
How about Ryder? Ryder... Phoenix? Yeah. I'll go with Ryder Phoenix. Wait, am I going to a place where a name like that is considered...weird?
[Congratulations! You have now finished your Character Customization! To view your status, just say 'Status'.].
You still didn't tell me! *Sigh* fine.
"[Status]"
Ryder Phoenix.
Lv. 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Exp: 0/100
Money: 0
STR: 10
VIT: 10
DEX: 10
INT: 10
WIS: 10
LUK: 10
Points to spend: 0
-Current number of [Skills]: 2
[-Gamer's Mind-]—(Passive)—Lv. (MAX)
One of two main [Skills] granted to the user.
Effects
Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through.
Allows a peaceful state of mind.
Immunity to mental disorder.
[-Gamer's Body-]—(Passive)—Lv. (MAX)
One of the two main [Skills] granted to the user. Allows the user to live his life like a game.
Effects
Grants a body that allows for the user to live the real world like a game. (He receives no physical damage from attacks, only pain for a few seconds and a loss of HP).
After sleeping in a bed, it restores HP, MP and cures all status effects.
-Current number of [Perks]: 0
…
What...is that?
This just looks like a game! Stats, Skills, Level, Everything!
Is that what you meant by you being a system linked to my soul?
[This is correct. Now, to open your [Menu], simply say 'Menu'.]
"[Menu]"
[-Stats-]
[-Inventory-]
[-Quests-]
[-Skills-]
[-Perks-]
[-Options-]
[You can access the [Menu] at any time to check your current number of [Skills], [Perks], [Quests], etc.]
This is helpful, I guess. Though, I have a question. How many items can I store in the [Inventory], and can it store items of any size?
[Good question. The [Inventory] can store up to an infinite amount of items. It can store anything no matter its size, as long as that thing is not a living being.]
Well, that's useful.
[To further help you during your quest, I will give you these three [Skills] to further help you survive.]
-[Skill] Granted!
-[Skill] Granted!
-[Skill] Granted!
[Unarmed Combat]—(Active)—Lv. (1/50)
Your instinctive knowledge in fighting while unarmed.
Effects
Allows mastery in hand-to-hand combat.
[Bladed Weapon
Mastery]—(Active)—Lv. (1/50)
Your instinctive knowledge in fighting with bladed weapons, be it swords, scythes, spears, or any weapon with a blade.
Effects
Allows mastery over bladed weapons.
[Marksmanship]—(Active)—Lv. (6/50)
Your instinctive knowledge in using ranged weapons.
Effects
Allows mastery over Ranged weapons.
Due to past experience in using ranged weapons, [Marksmanship] is already leveled up!
No surprises for that last notification here. I did some practice with guns a while back. But wow! Thanks a lot! This is truly going to help me out. But… I still don't know where I'll be going.
[We'll talk about that once we finish here. Now please, choose a weapon.]
[-Sword-]
[-Scythe-]
[-Gun-]
[-Bow-]
[-Spear-]
I'm not much of a swordsman, nor do I have any idea on how to use a bow, same with spears and scythes. I lived in a modern world. Using a sword in fights isn't exactly common, and I've never trained in archery. Spears and scythes are tough to use and this is not going to help me. I know that the Skills can help me, but I'm already familiar with using guns.
….
What? My dad was in the military.
I think I'll go with the Gun.
Also, because my dad was in the army, I know a lot about guns.
And I mean a lot.
...But what kind of gun will I be getting? A rifle? A pistol? A rocket launcher maybe?
[That depends on your luck, so wish for the best. Wait a few seconds, please.]
…
[Well, it looks like lady luck is on your side. Or maybe not. Depends on your perspective. Here, take this. I suppose you know what that is, right?]
The 'gun' materialized in front of me, and I held it to closely inspect it. It had a decent weight, and it had a nice silver-white color. Hmm… now let's see…
Oh. My. God!
This is…!
This. Is. Awesome!
If you're wondering why then let me tell you why.
This ladies and gentlemen is a Semi-automatic pistol. An M1911-style handgun chambered for the .45 ACP round. It packs great firepower, but the recoil is kind of a bitch.
This is basically Dante's Ivory. It has the same style and even the same size. But, it doesn't have the other modifications that Dante's Ivory had. Like the Pictures on the Grip.
[This is correct. You can say that it is in its 'basic form', and it's up to you to upgrade it if you want. Now, how about a shooting practice?]
After it said that, a strange thing materialized in front of me. It was a… is that a puppet? I look closely and… yup, it's a puppet.
Due to performing a certain action, you unlocked a [Skill]!
[Observe]—(Active)—Lv. (1/50)
Allows the user to view the target's information. The higher the level, the more information you can gather.
Effects
Allows gathering information about the target.
Woah! This is really useful! Let's try it on this puppet.
"[Observe]"
Puppet, Lv. 1
HP: 10/10
MP: 0/0
A regular puppet for training purposes.
[Now shoot.]
Fine. I point the gun towards the puppet, place my index on the trigger, both my hand wrapped around the handle, flick up the safety, then shoot.
*BANG*
Critical!
-121 HP
The puppet's head exploded like a pinata when you shoot it with a gun instead of smacking it with a stick.
Damn this thing's powerful!
Though the recoil pushed me back a bit. I'll need to work on that issue.
Hey, shouldn't I get some EXP from this puppet?
[No, you can only get EXP from killing living beings like monsters, and if you had to, humans. Targets that don't try to fight back will grant you less EXP]
Huh, okay, I get it.
[A quick heads-up. This gun, or whatever gun you'll be getting in the future, doesn't have limited ammo, nor does it need to reload.]
HUH! You mean that I can keep shooting without worrying about an empty magazine or reloading the Gun!?
[That is Correct.]
Maaan! Now I wish I had a full-auto gun.
The difference between a semi-auto and a full-auto is in the trigger. In a semi-auto, you have to pull the trigger for each shot. In a full-auto, you only have to keep holding the trigger and it can keep shooting. Now that I know I won't have to reload, I will be pressing that trigger a lot.
I can feel my fingers suffering just from thinking about it.
[you wanted the gun, so suck it and stop whining.]
*Sigh* I guess you're right. So can you tell me now where I'll be sent?
[you can get to choose between these worlds. Choose wisely.]
[-My Hero Academia-]
[-DanMachi-]
[-Vampire Hunter D-]
[-Cthulhu Mythos-]
[-Warhammer 40K-]
[-Highschool DxD-]
[-Marvel-]
[-Akame Ga Kill-]
[-Bleach-]
"..."
What…?
The hell is wrong with these options?! And why the hell would anyone want to get thrown into the Cthulhu Mythos? And seriously? Vampire Hunter D? That's basically softcore Cthulhu Mythos with vampires. And then we have Warhammer 40K, the world of constant fighting and non-stop war. Did I say world? I meant Universe!
Marvel is a big no no. I don't want to even get a glimpse inside it. Especially with the current main event, King In Black. Knull scares the shit outta me!
Akame Ga Kill is so screwed up to even consider. Why would I want to get sent to a world where everybody dies?
Highschool DxD? Maybe. It's not that screwed, but it's also not perfect. I'll think about it.
Now we have Bleach, My Hero Academia and DanMachi. For Bleach, I don't think I'll be going there. I liked the anime, but I don't think I'll last long there. This is also the same with Highschool DxD. My Hero Academia is cool. It's that screwed, and I really liked the anime. As for DanMachi, while it's one of the less screwed here, along with the fact that it's the weakest, the plot is sometimes kinda...dark.
So I have to choose between My Hero Academia, Danmachi, and maybe Bleach and Highschool DxD. Hmmm…
I guess there's only one way to choose.
Discarding the options that I won't choose and literally brushing them away, I close my eyes and shuffle the options. I then quickly press my fingers and hope for the best.
[You have chosen the world of 'DanMachi'.]
Oh, thank God!
[You will now be transported to your chosen destination. I must tell you that I will no longer be able to communicate like that with you again.]
Huh? But why?
[I was only allowed to communicate this way to teach you how to use me. I won't be allowed to do that again. I hope you a safe next life, Gamer. Be well.]
System? Are you there?
Say something.
….
I guess he really is gone.
A bright light begins to glow from my body. My entire body got covered in light, and the entire place began glowing.
I guess this is it. It's time for me to go.
This is the first chapter. It's just an interlude, that's why the system took a lot of the chapter. Follow, Favorite, and Review if you liked the story. See ya~.