Born Anew
I blinked. Something I should not have been able to do, as I had just been shot in the back of the head by Contessa with a goddamn Glock. One minute I'm waiting for the bliss of the end, the next minute, I'm here…wherever that is.
Somehow, and I have no idea how, I was able to look around three-hundred and sixty degrees without turning my head….or rather, if I had had a head to turn. I was now, somehow, a ball of light about the size of a soccer ball the colour of my old Skitter costume.
I wanted to panic, I felt it was the right reaction…but I couldn't. Literally, I could not panic. It was as if someone had flipped a switch and turned my ability to do anything more than think logically and stare around placidly off.
"My, my…you really are the curious one, Miss Hebert."
The voice that spoke up just now sounded more than slightly amused. It was also female, but not Contessa, or anyone else that I had met in my life.
"I should certainly hope not." the woman said with a chuckle. "Considering I haven't been to Earth Bet in my existence, that would be impossible. Ah, but where are my manners? I am…well, I suppose you could call me a 'Dimensional Supervisor' of sorts. I regulate the boundaries between the various Earths in order to ensure that nothing untoward happens; you know, worlds colliding, dimensional quakes and the like."
Sounds like a big job…and did you just read my mind?
"Yes dear. I am a being on a higher level than Zion, so such paltry tricks such as mind reading are child's play for me to accomplish." The woman answered. "And I really should give you a name…oh dear, I haven't thought of one…let's see…yes, that will do fine. Call me…Yliaster. It isn't anything close to being my name, but it's the closest your language can get to it."
Okaaaayyy…so why have you brought me here? I was in the middle of dying, you know?
"Fortuna never intended to kill you. The bullets she fired would have, and in fact did, lobotomize you. She removed your Agent using her [Path to Victory] as a guide." Yliaster corrected me gently. "I copied you the very instant after the lobotomy was completed and brought you up here to my higher dimension. Your original is living happily with your father right now."
I…am a copy. A mental clone?
"I copied your body as well, but on this dimensional plane, there is no difference between the body and the spirit." The Dimensional Supervisor informed me. "I am also in the process of restoring your missing arm and healing the other wounds that you suffered in your battle with Zion. By the time we are finished, you should have a completely healthy body and spirit."
That's…nice, but why have you gone to all of this bother? I don't understand…
"Your need for control is showing." Yliaster chuckled again. "Very well then, to the point. I was unable to interfere with Zion and Eden rampaged into Earth Bet, because technically, they weren't breaking any laws that I had to enforce. I had to sit back and watch while the area under my jurisdiction was being infected and destroyed and could do nothing. Those inept idiots in Cauldron pawing about with Eden's corpse came back to bite them on the rear-end, as I foresaw that it would. I would have warned them, but except in the most drastic of situations, I am not permitted to intervene directly in the matters of a world.
"Yet you were able to defeat Zion. You suffered, you persevered and you did everything you could to achieve victory. Even although you knew that you would not be able to go back, even although the world would see you as a monster, as worse than Zion, you still did what had to be done. Even then, when any other would have given in to the encroachment of their Agent, you refused to let that happen and fled to an Earth barren of life, so none would be affected when your last shred of sanity faded."
I couldn't see her, but I somehow knew she was smiling at me.
"Such selfless dedication and such heartfelt sacrifice deserve the appropriate rewards. Yet, I could not do anything for your original." Yliaster continued. "It was Contessa's intended actions that gave me the idea to copy you and bring you to me. My reward for you is this: I am worshipped as a goddess on another world. I can transmigrate you there was one of my followers. You shall be born anew. I cannot tell you what you will be reborn as, but whatever species it may be will be sentient and not discriminated against, I can promise you that."
But…I was a villain. I hurt and killed people. I was…a monster, at the end.
"A villain…is a very negative way to look at it." The Dimensional Supervisor said gently. "Did you rob people? Yes. Did you hurt people? Yes. The people you robbed were insured and those you hurt were mostly criminals. Did you kill people? Yes, but the two most prominent ones, Coil and Alexandria, were guilty of far worse crimes than you. Did people die while you commanded them? Yes, but there was no other way, not with the egos involved. The world would have fallen had you not moved. For the greater good of all, you bore the burden of the [Queen Administrator] and its full, unrestricted strength. You did what no one else could do. You also saved me from being recalled for allowing my bailiwick to be destroyed. So please, accept my reward."
I really didn't know what to make of this situation. I had been a monster at the end, only barely able to flee to that dead version of Earth via Doormaker with an effort of supreme will. I wanted to believe that she had some kind of plan up her sleeve for me…but if Yliaster was as powerful as she made herself sound, she could have just reincarnated me without asking me.
Instead, she had brought me here and asked me what I wanted. It had been so, so long since I had any option except to follow orders or to take the path of what would allow me to survive that I didn't know what to do. What was the other choice if I said no?
"I'd fuse you back with your original, which would regrow your arm." She answered. "You would have no memory of this conversation, and be suitably freaked out by suddenly having your arm regenerate out of nowhere."
I'll bet.
OK…what kind of world are we talking here?
"The world is called 'Yggdrasil' and it is largely based on a more…fantasy version of the Norse World Tree." Yliaster explained. "Unlike your world, which is one of technology and science, Yggdrasil is a world of magic. No parahumans or Entities, but also very few modern conveniences. You would have to work to get them. Also, Yggdrasil was created based on the idea of someone from man alternate version of Earth, so it's got a game interface, like an MMORPG."
…eh?
"Yes, it sounds silly, but it works." The D.S. said firmly. "With it, you can be anything you want, so long as you work for it…not something you are unfamiliar with or unable to do."
True…
Well, what kind of races are there?
"Almost every kind of race you can think of; humans, dwarves, elves, lizardmen…the works." Yliaster giggled. "A lot of them can be divvied up between 'Good' aligned raced, 'Evil' aligned races and 'Neutral' aligned races. Humans, as an example, are 'Lawful Neutral' aligned for the most part. Oh, races and people can also be 'Lawful' or 'Chaotic' in addition to the basic good/evil/neutral range. For example, in your original's case, I would say that she wavered between 'Lawful Evil' and 'Chaotic Good' with most of her actions. At the end, she was most certainly Neutral Good. At this moment, technically being a newborn and not of a race, you are 'Neutral' just so you know."
Sounds a lot like Dungeons and Dragons.
"The original Yggdrasil was based on it, so that's of little to no surprise." The Dimensional Supervisor answered. "Now, I must get back to fixing those dratted dimensional holes that Zion ripped open in his madness, so I'm afraid I have to have your answer now."
Way to put me on the spot. Argh, OK! I'll reincarnate on Yggdrasil! It isn't as if I have anything else to do!
"Lovely. Now, while I can't influence what race you can get, I can show you an example of what the screen looks like in Yggdrasil. Console!"
A page appeared in front of me.
- Status
- Equipment
- Skills
- Spells
- Commands
"It operates using either verbal commands or by hand gestures. You'll know them once you get there." Yliaster said "Also, you have both Racial Levels and Job Class Levels that make up your Total Level. As you're being transmigrated rather than reincarnated, you will have to do a basic tutorial. This will let you learn about your new race, as well as choose your first Job Class, so you'll be Level Two in total. Oh yes, here…there. I've given you my blessing, so that will show up when you gain a separate material body and soul again. Good luck, Taylor Hebert. May your new life be one without trouble."
With that, the scenery faded and I blacked out.
When I came to, I was standing in a black room. Before I could do more than blink, a screen popped up in front of me.
[Welcome to Yggdrasil!]
You have been selected to be transmigrated here by Lady Yliaster as a reward for services rendered!
Race selection is complete! You are now a Level 1 Shadow Elf (Female)!
Shadow Elf: A race of elves that, like the Drow and Dark Elves, makes their homes underground. Unlike the former, they do not worship the evil Spider Goddess Lolth, but unlike the latter, do not seek to mingle with their fellow elves. Isolationistic and shy in equal measures, they are also known as Deep Elves and Rockseer Elves. The latter title is due to their learned ability to communicate with the rocks around them and sometimes bend them to their will.
In the main, however, Shadow Elves are masters of stealth in caves and at night. Their three natural affinities in magic are Shadow, Earth and Illusion, but there have been outliers. As far as weapons go, they share the same affinity for bows as their cousin elven races, but a fair portion of their population ends up as either mages or rogues, so staves, short swords and thrown knives are also in wide usage.
Out of all of the elven races, Shadow Elves are the rarest in existence on Yggdrasil. Just about the only ones of the same rarity would be the Avariel, or Winged Elves.
That…was a lot to process.
As I contemplated this, a mirror appeared in front of me and I saw my new appearance. Height-wise, I was a small amount taller than I had been before, which was nice. At least I wasn't shorter.
Everything else though…that was hard to accept as being 'me' in any shape or form. My skin was very pale, almost translucent. As I was completely naked, I could confirm that I had no body-hair whatsoever, aside from the hair on my head. That hair was long, thick and silky and shone silver in the dim light shining from above. My eyes were ice-blue and were very intimidating to look at. As an elf, I had expected the ears to be…y'know, small and pointy like a Vulcan's from Star Trek, but they were actually a few inches long.
I twitched one of them and it looked weird. I then returned my attention to the screen.
As a Shadow Elf, you have gained a number of Racial Skills.
[Shadow Walker I]: You gain a bonus to all [Stealth] skills when in shadows, caves or when outside at night or in the twilight. You also move silently in the same conditions.
[Darkvision I]: You can see at night or in caves with no light as clearly as another elf can during the day.
[Light Sensitive I]: Broad Daylight hurts your eyes. Try to avoid getting into fights when in the sun. Reduced chances to hit for all physical attacks while under the light of the midday sun. Twilight's OK though.
[Caveborn I]: As a result of being born and growing up in underground caves, you have an unerring sense of direction and tunnel mapping ability. You can automatically tell which direction True North is and you can remember where you have been in relation to where you are. Only in caves though.
[Elven Legacy]: As an elf, you have an automatic affinity with the bow. You gain skill in using the bow and any bow-related skills faster.
[Shadowborn I]: You have the natural affinity for Shadow magic, enabling you to cast it even if you do not chose a magic using Job Class. As shadows and illusions have much in common, Illusion Magic is almost as easy for you to learn should you choose a magic using Job Class.
A lot to take in, I know, but you can access it via your Console whenever you like.
Now, it is assumed that you are tired of being naked, so some clothes will appear in front of you now, including underwear.
Finally! I was wondering when I'd get something to wear! Although looking at my new body which, although svelte and lithe, also gave me boobs and a butt that made my original look like a child by comparison, was fun, I was getting a bit cold.
The clothes, when they appeared, were very basic. Bra, panties (surprised this world has them), loose leather trousers, a shirt and jacket and a hooded cape. No socks or shoes, which was odd.
Socks and shoes will be provided when you leave this tutorial space.
Now for your Job Class selection.
As a Shadow Elf, you have less physical strength than others, but make up for it with dexterity and agility. Listed below is your possible Job Classes. The level next to them is the highest that level can rise to. Choose carefully.
- Ranger (LV15)
- Rogue (LV15)
- Shadow Warrior (Shadow Elf Only) (LV10)
- Shadow Mage (LV15)
- Shadowcaster (LV10
- Archer (LV15)
- Shadow Stalker (LV10)
- Priestess of Shadows (LV10)
Well, out of all of those, the one I am assuredly NOT going to go for is that dratted [Shadow Stalker] Class! Like I need a bit of Sophia Hess hanging around me in my new life!
I recognised the most common ones; Rangers were bowmen who could also dual-wield, Rogues were sneaky thieves who could use sneak attacks and Archers were exclusive bow users. It was the others I needed explanations for.
[Shadow Warrior]: A member of the Shadow Elf standing army. Trained in swords, spears and bows in equal measure, they are the open defenders of the Shadow Elves' underground cities.
[Shadow Mage]: A Magic Caster that specializes in the use of Shadow Magic. Trained in the use of daggers and the staff as both a casting tool and as a weapon.
[Shadowcaster]: A Magic Caster that draws its power from the Elemental Plane of Shadows. As opposed to spells, they learn 'mysteries' which basically have the same effect. Eventually, Shadowcasters no longer require to eat, breath or sleep and are immune to poison and disease. (Race Change to Demi-Shadow Being)
[Shadow Stalker]: An assassin who uses shadow magic to conceal themselves and attack. Often freelance agents; some are retained by the Shadow Elven leaders as counter-assassins on a permanent basis. Trained in throwing knives, short swords, hand crossbows and poisons.
[Priestess of Shadows]: A priestess of an unknown Goddess of Shadows. Able to use her connection to her goddess to use divine magic. Trained in knives and short swords.
Out of all of them, [Shadow Stalker] and [Priestess of Shadows] appealed the least to me. I did not like the name or style of the former, and I didn't like relying on a deity (even one as nice as Yliaster) for my powers, which ruled out the second.
The [Shadowcaster] class was interesting, but it freaked me out that it would change me if I maxed out the class. Thank you but no; one change in races was enough for one lifetime.
While the three 'basic classes' sounded alright, I wanted to go with something else for my first class. As a kid, I had always wanted to be like one of the Triumvirate. Even although I had killed one of them and disgraced the other two, some of that childish admiration remained. The closest approximation to any of them on this list was…
"I choose [Shadow Mage]." I stated confidently.
[Shadow Mage] Job Class Selected!
You gain the following Skills and Spells:
Skill: [Shadow Heal I]
Skill: [Shadow Affinity II]
Skill: [Shadow Aura I]
Skill: [Staff Mastery (Close Combat) I]
Skill: [Staff Mastery (Magic Channeling) I]
Skill: [Dagger Mastery I]
Spell: [Shadow Daggers] (Tier 1)
Spell: [Shadow Cloak] (Tier 1)
Spell: [Shadow Bolt] (Tier 1)
Spell: [Summon: Steed of Shadows] (Tier 1)
Spell: [Shadow Strangle] (Tier 1)
Skill: [Blessing of Yliaster II]
The last one was what caught my eye. She had said that she had blessed me, but I hadn't seen any sign of it until now. I reached out and touched it to see what it did.
[Blessing of Yliaster II]
You have been blessed by the mysterious Goddess of Shadows, Dimensions and Illusions, Yliaster. Every level of this skill improves your proficiency with any spell or skill that is from any one of those fields by 10% for every level of this skill. Unlike other skills, this one is not raise by increasing a Job Class Level or Racial Levels. It is raised by how many separate Racial Classes and Job Classes that you have that are from areas under her jurisdiction. Current Number of Relevant Classes: 2. Current Bonus to Shadow, Illusion and Dimension Magic and Skills: 20%.
That is an incredible boost to the strength of my spells, the Shadow ones anyway. Wonder how many spells I can have anyway?
At the normal maximum Total Level of 100, the normal amount of spells one can normally have is 300. Rare skills and rituals can increase that, but normally they are all necromantic, dark or evil in nature. It is rumoured that in the Nine Worlds of Yggdrasil that there exists a trial that can allow the challenger to go beyond that limit, known as the Limit Breaker Ritual. It has been literal ages since anyone has undergone the ritual, but rumours persist of at least doubling the number of spells that you have at your command.
Wow. Three-hundred spells? And I already had five. All of them looked pretty good too.
[Shadow Daggers] (Tier 1)
The caster fires a hail of small bolts of shadows at the enemy. Individually weak, but it can be spammed for maximum effect and minimum MP expenditure.
Effect: Fires 4-8 Shadow Dagger Bolts at a single enemy (5-10 Shadow Damage per bolt).
Range: Close-Mid Range
Cost: 15 (25) MP
[Shadow Cloak] (Tier 1)
The caster wraps the target in shadows, hiding them from sight. A good way to make something stand out in a bright area, or to conceal someone or something in twilight, darkness or shadows.
Effect: Shrouds a human-sized target in shadows.
Range: All
Cost 20 (30) MP
[Shadow Bolt] (Tier 1)
The caster unleashes a large bolt of pure shadow at the target. Carrying with it the chill of the Plane of Shadows, this spell has the bonus effect of slowing down the target temporarily due to the unearthly chill sapping their strength.
Effect (s): 1) Fires a single large bolt of shadows at a single target (50 Shadow Damage on impact plus 10 Cold Damage).
2) Upon being struck, the target is affected by [Slow] for thirty seconds. Ineffective on Undead, golems or anything that is either not alive or has any form of [Cold Resistance].
Range: Mid-Long
Cost: 35 (45) MP
[Summon: Steed of Shadows] (Tier 1)
The caster summons forth one of the Shadow Plane's Ebon Steeds to serve as their mount. It manifests from the caster's own shadow and is used to transport them up to a certain distance away before dispelling. Cannot attack.
Effect: Summons an Ebon Steed from the Shadow Plane. Carries the caster up to fifty yards away before dispelling.
Range: Self. If targeted on another person, Close Range.
Cost: 40 (50) MP
[Shadow Strangle] (Tier 1)
The caster causes the target's shadow to wind around their throat and throttle them. It may not be a powerful attack, but almost no living being can fail to react when they are getting throttled, so it is a good way to distract an enemy at a critical moment.
Effect: Target's a single enemy and makes their own shadow strangle them for thirty seconds (10/sec DOT). Has the secondary effect of [Skill Interrupt]. Ineffective on Undead and anything that does not require to breathe.
Range: Close Range
Cost: 20 (30) MP
They may not be the strongest spells, but they were versatile. I could think of more than a few ways to use them. Just about the biggest weakness was that there was almost certainly to be undead in Yggdrasil, judging by some of the spell descriptions, and my magic didn't seem to be all that effective against them, with [Shadow Strangle] being completely useless against them.
Making a note to learn some spells to offset that weakness in the future, I returned my attention to the screen before me.
This ends the basic tutorial. As you have been transmigrated here by Lady Yliaster, you may, if you so choose, take the advanced Tutorial. This will introduce combat mechanics and earn you come basic gear, as well as possibly levelling you up.
Do you wish to take the Advanced Tutorial?
"Yes."
There wasn't any hesitation as I spoke. Unlike with my Parahuman powers, I was being offered a chance to learn about how to use my new powers as a Shadow Mage. Like hell I was going to pass over this chance.
Socks and shoes have been provided. Once you have equipped them, you will be warped to the Advanced Tutorial Chambers ten seconds later.
The socks were easy to put on and comfortable, and the shoes, boots rather, were comfortable as well. How did they know my sizes?
I put the thought out of my mind. I had more important things to think about.
In a flash, I vanished from the dark room, which stood silent and empty once again.
So this is something I've been thinking on for a while; a Worm/Overlord crossover. Now you all might remember the 'Dungeon Core' Taylor series of ficlets I did a while back? This starts from the same Taylor. Even as Titania grabs the Agent-memory copy of Taylor, Yliaster creates a mental and physical clone of Taylor in her higher dimension.