Author Notes (07-09-2020):
Ok, I'll be the first one to say that perhaps this isn't the best option at the moment. I mean, another rewrite for a single chapter? Seriously? Thankfully, my co-writers approve of my decision so here I am.
Now, onto business.
This will be the third time I make this, and hopefully the last one. However, before you can start flaming my house, I beg you to wait a minute and let me explain why I'm doing this.
A couple of weeks ago I was having a meeting with my fellow co-writers and other associates of mine. We discussed a lot of things regarding our stories, characters and plots.
Everything seemed fine so far… until we landed on the shithole called 'Overpowered Characters equals bullshitting power-levels'. It's a subject where we argue about how to make our characters' power rising the more natural and organic as possible, we discuss about the possible outcomes of having a characters with an overpowered ability with no restrictions… And then they point out how the Gamer System I was using could turn out to be the most annoying and skull-cracking issue in my story.
You see, while it's true that I put certain restrictions on the system KoKo has like the Stamina Bar and Angra Mainyu Curse, I soon realized that the more I develop this power, the more difficult it would be to build an actual story with struggles and challenges to overcome.
The 'Classic' [Gamer Power] is too overpowered for they liking and they argued that even with Kosuke's 'illness', it wasn't like this couldn't be overcame by spending as much points as possible in VIT stat. Sure, Stamina Bar could stagnate a ridiculous power rising in the MC cases but let's get real. The moment KoKo learns high-ranking spells and long-range attacks, he won't even need to actually move physically to fight anyone to begin with. And with the bullshitting capability of the System to increase the 'proficiency' of any skill simply by repeated actions without considering things like 'Talent', 'Compatibility' or even 'Personal Ability'. There are a lot more of issues more and they were very fervent with their arguments.
That's not to say I am gonna forsake the original version nor I will abandon it just for the sake of 'convenience'. Nonetheless, I cannot ignore actual facts so decided to make a use of a different system. I promise this will be the last time I do something like this.
Now, with that said, I still needed to find a way to implement the mechanics of the Gamer System in the Nasuverse without making the MCs too OP without factuality and consistency. Moreover, I want to create a good and entertaining story where characters fought against struggles and tragedy, showcasing their resolute, iron will and wits to came out like winner.
So I decided to look for a viable alternative… And lo and behold! I found a Holy Grail of literature!
Turns out, it's kind of amazing how a simple person can change your entire world view. And in my case it was a friend of mine that recommended me a LN series of the Isekai Genre which, like SAO, use a 'Gaming System'. However, as a dig further in its story I realized how impressive and well-structured its system was.
This Novel Series is known as Infinite Dendrogram! And man, the Gamer System in that world is amazing! I highly recommend you to read the LN or the Manga since the Anime was crappy and kinda dumb. Therefore, I decided to use this system mechanics for this story.
Then I searched for inspiration in fanficiton in order to have a better picture of how I could exploit both series' mechanics. And guess what? I find another Holy Grail! This one is known as SpatialPhoenix, an excellent author with great stories.
Anyway, I hope you like this experimental version. Remember to publish your reviews with suggestions, impressions and personal opinions.
Chapter 1: Rebirth
Had you ever wonder what Death is?
In my opinion death is quite possibly the most discussed concept in all of human history.
It's a concept well known to all living beings in this world since its mere 'existence' has always caused controversy within the 'World of the Living'. As you all know, every "living" being is subjected to this so it is no surprise that we feel curious and overwhelmed by death.
However, no one in the history have answered this philosophical question with an straight answer since no one really knows what the heck lies beyond this world and simply make speculations.
Perhaps you are familiar with this.
Christians, as well as many others of its religious factions, think that death is just the beginning of something new - something better or worse. They think that, once your life time is over, you are judged in Purgatory to decide whether you will go to paradise or hell depending on your actions and "morals". And interestingly enough, they said that anyone who doesn't share the same faith as them would be labeled as heretic and their souls wouldn't go to Heaven. What a bunch of nonsense!
Buddhists think that once your life ends, depending on your actions and unfinished business, your spirit is reborn on a higher, lower or even the same existential plane where you started... This confuses me because, if we apply this concept to ALL living beings, then what does a snail do to "level up"?
Atheists think that there is nothing beyond material existence and that there is only an infinite void. They say that we simply won't turn into cosmic dust and disappear into the universe – Yes, I know, it's a very gloomy and dark vision but that's what they think.
Many people have different definitions of what 'Death' is.
Ironically enough, I think the non-believers are right about this
Why did I say that, you ask? Let's just say anyone would have the very same conclusion after waking up in an infinite ocean of blackness after dying.
Spoiler Alert! You're talking with a Dead Man right now~!
This must be a shocking revelation because it shouldn't be possible for a Dead Man to remain conscious after crossing the thin veil that separates both 'Life' and 'Death'. Heck, I'm still amazed myself and I'm the one talking with you, my dear non-existent spectators~! All thing considered, it's a miracle I haven't lost my all traces of sanity at this point, and that's saying a lot.
I guess what Judeo-Abrahamic believers say it's true: "God works in mysterious ways".
Wait, isn't this a bit contradictory? Since there was basically no Heaven or Hell, then the whole prospect regarding God's existence must be fantasy too, at least that's how I see how things are.
Hm? Want to know how I hit the deadline? Well, it wasn't a pleasant experience, that's for sure. But if you really want to know, who I am to deny you that precious info?
There weren't any fireworks or bloodbaths during my last moments on Earth, rather it was just a common death as you may figured out.
I died in a simple car crash to be specific, the same event that kills thousands of people around the world each year. Kind of cliché as hell now that I think about it but I guess I couldn't be helped.
A moment of distraction, a glance away as I was shifting lanes, then the sound of a horn an instant before the world started screaming and my senses became less than useless.
People say your life flashes before your eyes when you come close to death. Well, I can say that's bullshit because I didn't saw any of that. All I could see was the world turned upside down, then a cloud of glass, asphalt and metal fragments.
It was almost beautiful, an exuberant yet short-lived beauty that is found in fireworks—but then a fucking metal pole pierced through my guts and I lost any chance of appreciating it any further! Yikes! Talk about a wakeup call, huh?!
By the time the car landed flat on the ground, I was almost entirely disconnected from my surrounding due the extreme agony overwhelming my senses. I was impaled alive, had some nasty sharps of glass incrusted in my face and throat, and my body was catching fire. It wasn't a quick nor was a peaceful death either, and the best part is that no soul was with me.
I was in pain, trapped and deprived of my senses in the cage of glass and metal… Stripped of all locomotion capabilities and the only thing I could do at that time was nothing but see my own reflect on the mirror. I saw a disfigured face whose skin was melting slowly by the high temperatures, a bloody mass of meat mixed with shards of glass. Life slowly escaped from my motionless body and I had the small trace of hope that things couldn't get any uglier as I let the cold embrace of death drain my life force… But then my car exploded and I was enveloped by the scorching flames of hell.
I finally died by the hands of an explosion! Katsu! I became a living firework! What a way to leave the World of Living, huh? Sometimes I wonder how bad or magnificent I looked like in that event. I'm fairly certain my death could thrill Deidara-sama.
And after such a horrifying, glorious, painful and frankly traumatizing experience, I suddenly woke up here without any clue of what happened or why was I here to begin with.
I did go mad by the extreme isolation after a few moments here without nothing else to do. No, seriously. Think of that me as a highly functional version of Marvel's Comics Molecule Man, except I wasn't a superpowered battery with the ability to warp reality. My entire being was driven by insanity and I actually considered the idea of killing an entire race for fun (i.e., mankind).
It's like being a starved beast looking for food in the desert, completely immersed to the object of my desires at first but without any successful attempt to retrieve it… And the worst thing was that, as I wasn't allowed to die, my madness grew into something worst and it started a new obsession.
The desire to life again. The burning wish to being able to walk on Earth. The feeling of the wind grasping my cheeks. The warmness of a woman laying besides me. The sensation and tastes of water and food.
But then I realized that I was being the subject of an even worst fate.
While I have all those basic desires heightened to insane levels, I was still but a mere soul. A mere program without a vessel. I could wander in this space for millennia but the fact that I didn't possess a body traumatized me.
Soon enough, my newfound 'immortality' become a torture I couldn't escape from. A nightmare where you would never awake.
If you think this couldn't get worse then I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the worst part comes now.
You see, after 'living' here for so long, I started to develop a some sort of 'Six Sense'. An ability to 'feel' my surroundings in ways I couldn't even with my body. It's like grasping a whole new world, a power trigger by my desire to 'feel' and 'see' the world once more.
One moment everything was black… and in the next second I saw what it seemed to be a giant vortex, a core program. I saw the 'Heart' of machinery. The power-plant for an entire World.
At first I got excited… but then a new revelation came into me the moment I try to 'connect' with the 'Heart' on a futile and highly stupid attempt to integrate me within itself. But I triggered something I shouldn't have.
[Glitch Detected! Implementing Defensive Protocols!]
If this 'Heart' was like a Computer, then it wasn't an understatement to say it considers my presence as a 'potential danger', a virus, to its entire integrity. And soon enough I found myself being chased down by a red creature.
That thing was certainly persistent and very efficient. It didn't take it more than a second to locate me, and before I could try to 'escape' (if that was even possible), it grabbed me with its crimson clawed hands.
[Glitch Retrieved! Scanning Properties… Determining Origins! ERROR! ERROR! No Data Found in the Akashic Records! Corrupted Program must be Erased! Initiating Deleting Process!]
HOLD ON, WHAT?!
Hell no, I don't want that!
No…! Wait!
I don't want to be 'deleted', I just wanted to live! Please reconsider your option!
[System's Integrity is First and Foremost! A Glitch of Unknown Origins could Compromise the World— Deleting Process: 10%... 25%... 40%!]
Gaahhh!
I feel how my consciousness fades rapidly…! At this rate, I would 'die' for sure. Tsk! The only thing I wanted was a new chance in the living world! My intentions are not to create problems for you!
Why can you conceive me this sole wish of mine! I WANT TO LIVE!
I WILL DO ANYTHING! SO GET THE FUCK OFF OF MEEEE!
[Deleting Process: 60%... 75%... 82%...!]
Haahh!
It's futile, huh?
It seems like this thing will not hear my sorrowing cries no matter how hard I try. Man, this sucks. Not only I was about to be discarded like trash program, my sense of self and my own consciousness is about to be obliterated!
And here I thought I had a chance.
[Deleting Process… ##|$¬€! ERROR! ERROR! New Archives Found! Deleting Process Had Been Delayed In Order To Analyze New Variable! Analyzing…! Analyzing…!]
…
What's happening now? Didn't you were gonna 'delete' me or something? Come on, dude. I'm basically a bunch of corrupt data, what's stopping you now? It's not like I have much value anyway.
[Glitch's Fate Is Currently Delayed! New Data Have Been Found…! Analyzing…!]
New data?
[*DING*!... Analyzing Complete! Glitch Have Been Rendered As A Possible Asset By [████████]! Request: "New Life Wish" Have Been Granted!]
… I'm sorry, what?!
[Glitch Will Be Given a Second Chance To Prove Its Value! An [████████]'s Orders Have Been Made!]
…
…
Ah, ok. That's explain—ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! CAN'T YOU GIVE ME MORE DETAILS, YOU STUPID SHADOW?!
[Request Denied! An [████████] Hasn't Give Authorization! Does Glitch Has Other Request?!]
…
Are you being sarcastic?
[Negative]
Suuuuure!
[*DING!*… Orders Acknowledged! Initiating Soul Recycling Process in 5…!]
THE WHAT NOW?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'SOUL RECYCLING PROCESS'?!
[… 4… 3…!]
ARE YOU IGNORING ME?!
[... 2… 1… 0! Recycling Process On]
Hold on! You can't expect I would just go along with this when you haven't explai—
[Message From []'s Representative: "Goooood Luuuuck, young maaaaaan! Hope you like youuuuur new lifeeeeee!]
What the fuck! Did that sound like Cheshire from Infinite Dendrogram Series?!
VRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
{No Job – Unknown}
…BEEP
... BEEP
… BEEP
… BEEP
BE—!
"GHAAK!"
My first reaction when I woke from that dream wasn't pleasant by any means. I was greeted by a familiar yet tortuous feeling of unparallel pain running through my body, specially the throat.
Waitwaitwaitwaitwait! If I feel pain then that means I'm still alive!
Instinctively, I tried to inhale some air but I immediately felt a severe pain in my throat. The glass damaged my throat because it pierced through my skin though, so this is reasonable enough.
My eyes burst open as I saw the familiar white walls and smell the sterilized aroma of a hospital room – And guess what? That was exactly where I was!
I was in a large hospital room with another group of children.
Huh… Weird.
I'm pretty sure I should in a private room since I'm an adult. Well, I can worry about that later because right now I'm grateful of being alive and… Why my body feels so weird? And why everything it's a bigger than they should be?
"Ngh…!"
I lowered my gaze to see what was wrong and the sight of a child body greeted me—wowowowowow! Stop right there! WHAT?! Did my body entered in contact with a rejuvenating pool or something like that?! My body is like that of an eight year-old kid!
What the hell is happening?! Oh God! Don't tell me I just got Isekai'd! Just my luck!
Damn! This is getting more and more weirder! One moment I was in the 'Heart' of the universe fighting (or should I say negotiating?) for my life, then the thing that initially wanted my head decided to not kill because 'someone' ordered it to stop!
Yeah, I can see a patron here. And I'm not amused at all with this shit. Nonetheless, I must not let my emotions to get the better of myself. Stay cool. Right now I need to prioritize things like my location and health condition, after that I can worry myself for more esoteric matters.
Hmm, first is the body I just took possession. It's currently resting in a somewhat big bed of a hospital. I had bandages around my torso, arms, face and throat. And of course, I was also sporting a very fashionable hospital outfit for the ill people. Well, whatever it happened to this body, I can confirm it wasn't pretty at all. Huh, all things considered it kind of remind of my former body… Ugh.
Moving on…!
There were other children and like me they had injuries and bandages covering their fragile bodies. Some of them have minor injuries but others… Well, their wounds were so severe that it was clear enough that most of them would become cripples for the rest of their life.
I can't help but feel pity for those kids and I wonder what the heck happened here before my arrival in this world.
"Ah, I see you are awake"
My head snapped instinctively as I was greet by one of the nurses of the hospital. She is kind of hot and has a sweet smile on her face… And she doesn't have western facial traits and is talking in Japanese—wait a minute! How am I able to understand what she is saying?
Did the [Administrator] give me the ability to fully understand foreign languages? I admit that sound handy as hell and it would help me in the long run. Furthermore, it could also benefit me during academic tests. I'm fairly certain I would be forced to return to school the moment I left this place when my relatives retrieve me—hold on, does this little fellow has parents before all this happened? Man, it would be an awkward meeting considering how I just stole their precious baby boy from them.
"Are you alright, dear? You seen to be spacing out…" The nurse asked with a concerned look.
Crap… I space out again.
"S-Sorry… I was blind… By you beauty" I replied instantly so she wouldn't think I've a disorder or trauma, the last thing I need is a bunch of psychologist asking me lots questions and treating me like a child—even though I technically am.
"My, you are a little charmer, aren't you?" The woman giggled.
"I… Try… Hehe" That was all I said before I felt the sudden urge to cough. Damn my throat feels horrible…! It's hard to even articulate a mere word and for some reason my voice is hoarser than it should be!
"Take it easy, dear. Your throat is heavily wounded" She chastised me in a motherly way as she handed me a water glass to drink.
Since my ability to make a single word became almost impossible without suffering the painful consequences, I opted for a quick nod as I took the water glass and drank all the liquid.
Ah~! Nothing is more refreshing than a good drink of crystalline water!
"Thanks…" I said with a faint smirk.
The nurse simply smiled brightly as she made her way to the other children and take care of them.
Well then, it seems like I was in Japan. That's not worrying in itself considering this country was one of the best places to live in, if you weren't a liability to the society that is. Now, which region of Japan I am currently residing? That's the question. I couldn't move around in an unknown area without knowledge of my surroundings.
Confirmation is needed if I'm expected to move around as naturally as possible without provoking suspicions on the people. However, that would be difficult and errors are unavoidable so my best bet should be act with secrecy and only ask about punctual yet mundane things like the
Asking questions to the hospital staff would be my best option but the only person here was the nurse and she was busy with the other kids in the room. Raising my voice was also out of question, it's painful enough when I try to talk and I wasn't exactly adapted to this body yet… Haaah…! I need to maximize my profits and minimize useless actions.
The problem is that I can't just ask anything out of blue. First I need to segment a good impression by using a common subject, and then I could meticulously drift their attention and gain more rep with them by repetitive actions, using subtle data gathering methods whenever I could.
Such a task wouldn't be so difficult and I could exploit both my child status and possible tragic background to gain more sympathy from the adults. Nonetheless, my plan cannot work at full capacity if my social skills are poor and isolation surely messed up with my ability to socialize.
The first step should be making a single acquaintance in amicable terms.
"Ngh…! It hurts"
Ah, it seems I have a little neighbor right next to me. How fortunate for me, I could test how lacking I am from social skill with him.
I turned my gaze slowly due the pain in my neck and I saw a little kid around my "age"—give or take a year. He has spiky red-auburn hair and hazel eyes along with a thin body built… And as amazing as it sounds, he seemed completely unscathed. I guess he was that lucky.
Hmmm… now that I have a good look on him. I can't help but think he is kinda familiar.
Anyway, let's get started.
I gritted my teeth as words came out of my mouth forcibly "Hey, kid…!" I said in a whisper filled with pain.
"Huh?" He met my gaze with a confused expression and blinked a few times. "… Are you talking to me?" The redhead asked me as if he thought my whisper was nothing but a mere illusion.
"Yes…" Nodding with a faint smirk, I tried once more to articulate words while making a great effort to ignore the pain in my throat. "I have… A question… For you"
"… Why is your voice so funny?" He asked innocently at me and I had to contain my lips to not frown at his rude question. Very smooth way to forge a companionship, kid.
"I'm… wounded… My throat hurts… too much" I replied with a deadpan look.
"Oh… Sorry"
I waved my hand dismissively at his poor attempt to apologize. "Don't sweat it… Tell me… What is… this place?"
"… A hospital?"
"…"
We both locked gazes at each other like a pair of hawks as I gave him a deadpan look, resisting the urge to facepalm myself due his naivety. Really now? That was your answer? You don't even see convinced yourself!
Maybe I should try a direct approach.
"I know… that this is a hospital… What I want… to know… is its name" I grunted in mild annoyance, largely due the pain in my throat.
"Ummm… I don't know"
…
Should have fucking guessed it, I mean he is just a kid who suffered from an accident like the rest of us so memorizing a hospital's name wouldn't be at the top of his priorities—he looks very healthy in my opinion though, not a single scratch or a grievous scar on his body. Makes you wonder why he is interned here in the first place, perhaps he was in a state of shock and got here to meet with the psychologists or maybe he was wounded but the doctors helped him over the course of his stay here. Moreover, I don't have a clue of how many days, weeks or months he has been here, I couldn't tell—not to mention I just woke up a few minutes ago.
Leaving my personal conflicts and theories aside, I should press further with my questions. My instinct told me he would be more than willing to help me. All things considered, at least he was still showing a rather friendly demeanor instead of simply being annoyed or scowling at me.
"Do you… know the name… of the city?" It was a straight question and I admit I could formulate it better but something tells me I shouldn't force my voice too much.
Ah, now he is looking at me with an unsure gaze. I bet he must be thinking I'm a weirdo for making such a stupid question. Damn, he looks so familiar and yet I'm still unable to recognize him.
Auburn red hair styled á la Shounen Protagonist style… Hazel eyes… Staying in a hospital after suffering an accident but showing no physical trauma… Hmm… He looks like someone I know, but damn…!
Ugh, I guess the Red Shadow messed a lot of things up in my head. Trying to remember specific things about my past life is more difficult now. Then again, that red bastard erased about the 85% of my existence. Well, at least it didn't erase my consciousness so that's good.
It wouldn't help to cry over spilled milk though. Besides, I have an adult's self-awareness and foreknowledge regarding several academic subjects, life lessons and Pop culture.
"Hey…"
Thinking about the pros of my new circumstances. The first and more important boon was the existence of Manga Stores, which means I could buy tons Manga. Not to mention the TV program in this country consisted almost solely of Anime, and there are also the new consoles and games that are released only in Japan. As a Geek, this was something great.
"Umm, hello…? Are you alright?"
Hmm, maybe I should start saving cash once I left this hospital and indulge my Otaku side before I start with my very own identity crisis. Well, it's not like I couldn't adapt to live here. If I could stay most sane in another dimension for who knows how long, this was a piece of a cake. After all, life is nothing but a bloody mess of new experie—
"Hey you, I'm talking to you!"
Shush! I have no time to talk ki—erm…! Damn. I spaced out again! What's happening with me? Did I suddenly get ADHD? Not that it could turn into a liability though but damn, why am I so distracted?
'Oh, beats me! Perhaps it's to do with the fact that you barely survived a first dreadful meeting with a Alien-like entity and then got Isekai'd into another World? It's okay though, most people tend to use a distraction to distress themselves from the cruel reality'
Shut up brain! You ain't helping me!
"Are you even listening to what I'm saying?!"
Crap…! The kid is getting annoyed.
'Then do something.'
"Hm?... Did you say something?" I replied with an innocent face. 'Smooth. Very smooth.'
"Hmmm… I was talking to you but you were ignoring me" The redhead mumbled with a frown.
"Ah, sorry… I humbly apologize… for making such a disservice… My lack of attention… and damaged throat… are severe liabilities… for my performance when socializing with others" I said with a faint and apologetic smile, bowing slightly at the child before me… Hold on, since when am I so eloquent?! What the heck?
"O-K… You are kind of weird. Using so many big words" Was all he said, looking at me as if I was sound weirdo. Honestly, I couldn't blame him.
"… Sorry"
"It's fine, you didn't mean it" Ah, what a kindred spirit you are!
"Well… tell me what you wanted… to say" I asked him with a more relaxed smirk, waiting for his respond. I don't know what but I got a good feeling with this kid.
Maybe he could become more than a mere acquaintance of mine. Ah, a friend should be nice. I miss hanging out with people, messing around and pulling pranks on each other.
Heh! Now I sound like a NEET—which technically am.
Anyway, I need to focus! This little fellow is going to give what I need, information.
With the name of a city, I could pinpoint whatever or not I was in a fictional world. Karakura Town, Kuoh Town, Z-City… Those names popped in my mind. Even if I was in a normal city, I could still find a way to live this second life at its fullest and—
"We are in Fuyuki City"
… What.
No serious, what the fuck.
WHAT THE FUCK DID HE JUST SAID?!
Ah, life is a total bitch that loves to mess with you on the most annoying and sadistic manners. And one more time she proved to be the more annoying bitch I've ever encounter in my existence!
Not only I got Isekai'd! I am in the motherfucking Nasuverse! FUUUUUCK!
… Well, it's official. I'm gonna die again!
← To Be Continued