A Gamer's Guide to Zombie-ing!
Chapter 1 - I'm a zombie?
[Assimilating System!]
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[Assimilating - 23%...]
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[Assimilating - 57%...]
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[Assimilating - 97%]
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...
[Assimilation - Complete!]
Pain.
An all-encompassing tsunami raged throughout James' body. Futilely, he screamed in a raspy, inhuman call for it all to end, curling and twisting into himself to find reprieve. In James' blind world of turmoil, time lost all meaning. He could see no sun to gauge time - in fact, he could see naught - and the only way to possibly attempt to track the passing of the minutes was by counting each crashing wave that assaulted the entirety of his being. However, this task would prove impossible. The sheer agony James experienced went beyond sanity. In the lulls between the pain, he could only wish within his heart of hearts for it all to just stop. Whether that be through his own death or some other manner, he cared not.
Without regard to his pleas, time marched on. The tall waves of unfathomable levels of torment crashed upon the shores of James' very soul. Eventually, though, in gradual intervals, the peace between each assault lengthened. He could not take note of this development as even the vestiges of each crashing wave kept his soul in a perpetual state of delirium. This did not last, however, as a new pain pierced his brain. A small speck of light surfaced in his vision, yet this light carried with it a shock that forcefully dragged his mind towards a hazy clarity. Slowly, akin to a scorned dog afraid of a kick, James approached the light. Through his will, he grasped it. A blinding light invaded his eyes, forcing them shut. With it, a warm heat suffused his body, soothing his aching soul. James could now feel the scrape of a rough surface against his skin. He could feel the faint breeze that crept the crevices of his body and ruffled the fabric of his shirt. He could hear the faint rustle of leaves and the shifting of grass. He could smell-
James sputtered out of his daze. A pungent smell of rotten meat perforated his vicinity. It was a vile thing, cause him to wince. Unfortunately, the scent was matched and perhaps even bested in terms of unsavoriness by the taste in his mouth. It tasted exactly as the air smelled, thus leading to his conclusion that the source was one and the same.
James opened his eyes in small increments, allowing his eyes to adjust and assess the situation. A blurry image of his surroundings was taken in with increasing incredulity. When James' eyes fully adjusted, he could only swivel his head in shock.
He lay on a sidewalk that accompanied a cracked road that held rusted, dented cars that hadn't seen use in the last few decades in the very least. A healthy tree stood proudly in the middle of the road, its winding roots digging into the asphalt and skewing the lines that demarcated the lanes. He was surrounded by decrepit skyscrapers that pierced the grey sky with fat, rain-laden clouds. A frightening amount of vines wrapped around the superstructures, entering into shattered glass windows in a way that seemed like many hands were grasping at the skyscrapers. Small business buildings lay in shambles on the roadside. Some roofs were caved in while others were supported by plant growth. The state of this city could only be described in one word: apocalyptic.
Is this New York? What the hell happened here? How am I even here?
James grasped at his head to massage his temples. He was trying to recall how he got here, but he could only draw a blank. Mid-rotation, James stopped his fingers. He felt an abnormal solidness to his finger. He pulled his hand away to look at his hand, and when he saw what was causing the unfamiliar sensation, his heart halted. In place of his middle finger was a rotten stump of flesh that barely hung onto a yellowed phalange. To add to the disgusting picture, a few flies flew around the remnants of his finger, and one even landed on it, presumably to feast off of the meat.
James shook, and the fly flew off from the disturbance.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Greetings, Gamer!
James panted with wide eyes, fixated on what remained of his middle finger. His eyes darted around at the woman's voice, but they returned to his finger after he didn't find the owner.
"That's right... this must be a dream! I'm hearing voices and my finger's rotting! There is no way this is real! Haha!"
With his other hand, James pinched his cheek and waited expectantly. When nothing changed, he pinched his cheek again. And again. Again. Again.
With a shuddering voice, James whispered, "What the hell is going on..."
You are the new Gamer! You consumed the brain of the previous Gamer, thus assuming the System!
James flinched, and without tearing his eyes from his hand, he echoed, "I consumed the brain of the previous... Gamer...?"
Indeed! You were a zombie of the Undead Dungeon. Now you are the Gamer!
James gulped, the terrible taste of his saliva escaping his notice. He lamented, "I am a zombie, and I ate someone?"
Yes.
He covered his face with his hands, shuddering. "I actually ate someone... Oh God, I actually ate someone!"
If someone could see James, that person would likely turn away in terror. His self-deprecating smile made him look fiendish due to the lack of skin on his face.
I don't think so! You weren't conscious, you were following the programs set by the system.
James sighed. While the mystery voice's words assuaged his depression to an extent, he still felt terrible.
Would you like to learn more about the Gamer?
Pained, James asked, "Can I go home instead?"
It is technically possible to return your soul to your original body; however, that body is dead. Thus, you would die.
James froze, desperately searching his memory to confirm the mystery voice's statement. "I'm dead? But, I can't remember..."
That's because you died suddenly. A car t-boned you on your daily commute, killing you instantly.
"So I can't go home then?" James sounded numbly, his question more a statement.
He silently grieved. The mystery voice respectfully didn't speak up as James relived his memories of his parents.
As an only child, he was the sole object of their affection. His father, while putting on a stern front, was actually a loving man who would lay his life down for his son. He always pushed for James to exceed and give his all in whatever he did, whether that be in academics, jobs, sports, or whatever. He instilled within James the value of respect and perseverance, always saying that those are two tenants that every man should follow.
His mother always doted on him. She pushed often for James to visit more often, or to take time off work to rest at home. James would unhesitatingly take a bullet for his mom. He lived and strived everyday to be a son that his parents would be proud of. Now, faced with the harsh reality of never seeing them again, he couldn't help but regret not spending more time with them. If only he took work off that day, as his mom had asked, he would not have been killed, separated from the two people he cared most about in life - and death.
James remained silent for a long while, watching as the tree in the center of the road gently swayed as the breeze blew over it. Eventually, he stirred.
"What is the Gamer?"
The Gamer is a being with god-like abilities and a high growth potential - one could even say it is limitless. The Gamer grows stronger through leveling up himself, his classes, and his abilities. The means of leveling up are numerous, but the most efficient way is to defeat or kill enemies. Therefore, the Gamer's ability to enter a scaled dungeon with enemies to slay is useful, needless to say. It is the biggest asset for every Gamer.
James nodded along, listening intently with a small frown pulling at the remains of his lips. He looked around at this 'dungeon' and noted the lack of zombies - well, him excluded.
"This is the undead dungeon, right? Where are the enemies?"
Oh, I took the liberty of clearing the dungeon so your assimilation of the System went smoothly!
James' frown deepened, "Who are you?"
I am the Guide. Every Gamer has one that is adjusted to their preferences. Would you like to pick my name?
James shook his head, stating with resolve, "I can't choose your name. You choose it."
Very well! My name is... Athena! Would you like to access the skills and abilities of the Gamer?
James sat in thought. If he was being completely honest with himself, he wanted nothing to do with being a "Gamer." He wanted to go home, but seeing as that is impossible, he must move on. That is what his parents would want. Besides, his father taught him to never give up and to persevere when faced with a great challenge.
Resolved, James said, "If you would, Athena."
Immediately, he was bombarded with messages in the corner of his vision. He winced slightly as he felt a small headache overcome him. He rubbed his temples again while focusing on the blue boxes. The boxes enlarged, allowing him to read them.
[Skills, Perks and Trait Received!]
[Gamer's Mind: Perk]
Provides the Gamer with immunity to most mental attacks/debuffs.
[Gamer's Body: Perk]
As long as the Gamer has at least 1 HP and all vital organs, he will remain living. Allowing HP to regenerate will promote the regrowth of severed limbs unless inhibited by a debuff. Pain is massively negated past a certain threshold.
[Status: Skill]
Allows the Gamer to view his status window. This displays stats, level, name, class, title, perks, traits, skills, etc.
[Observe: Skill] Lvl. MAX
Grants minimal information on the target. Amount of information provided increases as character level increases.
[Dungeon Traversal: Skill] Lvl. MAX
Gives the Gamer the ability to create, reset, and exit dungeons. Dungeons Unlocked: Undead
[Inventory: Skill] Lvl. MAX
A personal pocket space for the Gamer. Size increases with character level.
[Lesser Undead: Trait]
As a being of the undead, you are vulnerable to holy, light, and fire attacks. You are immune to aging, disease, and most poisons. You are resistant to ice attacks. Breathing is no longer necessary. The living are uncomfortable around you. (500% more damage from holy and light attacks, 200% more damage from fire attacks, and 25% less damage from ice attacks.)
The level of information that he had gained access to overwhelmed him for a moment. The feeling faded as he read over his new abilities. The similarities to video games he had played in his last life made him frown as he thought, Am I really stuck in a video game?
No! You are the only one to possess these abilities. Whichever world you decide on inhabiting, you are entirely unique. While it may seem you are part of a video game, that can't be further from the truth. Every person you will encounter is not an "NPC," but a living, breathing person.
The oncoming feeling of loneliness faded with Athena's assurance. James smiled in relief. However, one of Athena's statements confused him. "What do you mean by 'world that I decide to inhabit?'"
The Gamer has full access to the multiverse. Different worlds that contain the stories of fiction in your previous world are real. This leads to my next offer: Would you like to customize your "character?" This entails changing your appearance, class, and rolling for perks/traits.
James gave the affirmation, "I would."
The world around him instantaneously collapsed into nothingness. James found himself floating atop a calm lake of black. Before him emerged a pure-white mannequin in a t-pose. Beside that mannequin were different headers with the designations "Hair", "Face", "Upper Body", "Arms", and "Legs". Each of these headers had different sub headers, with "Face" having sub headers with designations like "Nose", "Mouth", "Eyes", and etc.
James took a deep breath and selected skin, thus beginning the painful process of customizing his character.
Over the course of several hours, James came to the realization that he didn't have full customizability. No matter how far he slid the sliders, his avatar remained with a sickly pallor and its muscle mass was diminutive. Its eye color could not change, with the irises stuck at a milky white. Thus, the end result was a sickly man at the height of 6'2. He had wavy, charcoal-black hair that came down to his lower neck with bangs that parted at the middle. He could be considered fairly handsome despite his sickly complexion, severely lacking muscle mass, and eyes that looked like those of a dead fish*. James pressed the [Finish] button at the left side of his avatar. He then pressed the following [Confirm].
He looked down as his rotten flesh mended itself. He underwent a full-body transformation as he grew taller and his hair lengthened and changed color. The process only took half a minute to complete, but the fervent itchiness that spread across his skin made the process seem longer.
Now that you are finished customizing, you are provided with the opportunity to spin a wheel for a perk and a detrimental trait! The effects vary widely. You can gain the power to fly at supersonic speeds or to be slightly faster at typing. Likewise, the traits could make you impotent or simply unable to tie your shoes. However, these traits can be removed or remedied through many means. Would you like to spin?
James blanched at the potential dangers of spinning the wheel, but he had to try.
"I would like to spin."
From the lake emerged a game wheel. The lights on its perimeter shone and flashed sporadically. It looked no different from the wheels one would spin at a casino, except the colors black and red which replaced with gold and white. James walked towards the spin wheel, ripples of water disturbing the lake when his feet landed on its surface. He moved his right leg back and grasped one edge of the wheel with his right hand. With a mighty pull, he spun the wheel as hard as he could. The lights surrounding the wheel flashed rapidly and the wheel emitted a tune of rising suspense. James watched with a bated breath as the wheel slowed and came to a stop.
[Perk Received! Trait Received!]
[Jack of All Trades: Perk]
Sticking your fingers in every jar, eh?
All EXP gain increased 50%.
[Hypercompetitive: Trait]
You must be the best, no matter the cost.
You have a strong sense of competition. You strive to be the pinnacle - the best.
James felt a sharp sting in his mind. The pain went away swiftly, but in its wake was a changed man. James frowned as he felt his personality shift, with the desire to be the best rising within him. He couldn't bring himself to have any misgivings, though. It felt like this sense of competitiveness was always a part of him. It was natural.
Resolved, he spun the wheel again.
[Perk Received! Trait Received!]
[Martially Gifted: Perk]
You are a prodigy in the arts of melee.
Warrior subclasses level 20% faster. STR is increased by 20%. Melee attacks deal 20% more damage.
[Wrist Surgery: Trait]
You had surgery in your left wrist.
DEX is reduced by 20% in you left hand. STR is reduced by 20% in your left hand.
James let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. While inconvenient, the trait was manageable.
He spun the wheel a few more times until he froze.
[Perk Received! Trait Received!]
[Dragon Eyes: Perk]
The dragon is a mighty existence in almost every universe. Their eyes, one of their greatest sources of power, gives them an unparalleled sense of sight and is tied fundamentally to magic.
You have the eyesight of a dragon. You can see the weakness in enemies and constructs.
[Unlucky: Trait]
The Goddess of Luck frowns upon you.
LCK reduced by 50%.
When James obtained this perk, his vision went foggy and he went light-headed. He stumbled to his hands and knees. Soon after, his vision regained clarity - and more. It was as if a veil that blanketed reality was lifted from his eyes. He could see the fine detail in his hands, the very spiral of his fingerprint. If he have could seen his eyes at this moment, he would have been stunned to find that his murky-white eyes became a shocking white with vertical slits for pupils.
[Fleet-Footed: Perk]
Usain Bolt has nothing on you.
AGI doubled.
[Irregular Heartbeat: Trait]
Your heart is feeble.
HP, SP, Mana Regeneration halved.
"That's really bad... damn it," James' brow furrowed. He could physically feel his heart falter.
"Though, now that I think about it, how come I don't have to breathe, but I need my heart? Whatever, it doesn't really matter."
James was now in a dilemma. His last trait was really bad, and he didn't want to risk another trait that could compromise his safety further. However, the perks were really tempting. And, after all, the traits can be removed in due time. Steeling his heart, James spun the wheel again.
[Perk Received! Trait Received!]
[Secrets of Arcana: Perk]
Mages spend their lives studying the force that is mana. In their endless studies, only a few uncover the mysteries of magic. You have a novice understanding of a complex concept of magic.
Mana consumption reduced 50%. Spell potency increased 50%.
[Mark of True Death: Trait]
The abyss gazes back.
You will die in one year's time. (364:23:59:58)
James was flooded with knowledge. He could grasp basic techniques to use mana and its applications. Despite this, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the second text box. He was filled with horror. He felt like a piece of his heart shattered at every second that the timer went down.
... The likelihood of rolling that is one in several quadrillion. You're luck is astoundingly bad.
Athena's voice broke James from his stupor. He swallowed the lump in his throat before asking in a raspy voice, "I can get rid of that, right?"
Yes, but the requirements are steep. You must have both five-hundred Constitution and five-hundred Endurance.
Athena paused, then continued with hesitation.
Would you like to choose your class?
James simply nodded, lacking the strength to speak. Promptly, four large boxes filled his vision. The first had an image of a valiant knight in shining Templar armor. He held his bastard sword high, and under him was the word [Warrior]. In the left-middle box was an image of a wizard wearing resplendent robes. He wielded an exquisite staff with a shining gem at the top. It was labeled [Mage]. The right-middle box held a man covered with dark apparel that practically melded with the shadows. He held two knives in a reverse grip. This box was of the [Rogue] class. The final box was the [Ranger] class. In it, a man in leather armor wielded a longbow. A quiver of arrows hung at his waist.
James pondered his options. He organized his thoughts, and partnered the classes with beneficial perks.
First, the perks [Martially Gifted] and [Fleet-Footed] synergized with the [Warrior] class. The only misgiving he had was that his left hand was partially crippled. However, that could easily be ignored by using a one-handed weapon in his right hand. Also, this path did not necessarily have to be physical attacks only. He could potentially integrate magic into his arsenal, thus playing into his greatest strengths.
Second, was the [Mage] class. The [Secrets of Arcana] perk instantly made this a favorable class. It has the potential to be high-damage at long distance and formidable close distance. Mages tended to be frail, though.
[Rogue] class was out by virtue of the lack of complementary perks.
Last was [Ranger]. James should be able to use long-distance attacks because of his excellent eyesight provided by the [Dragon Eyes] perk. This was a fairly safe option with great potential. His greatest concern was the weakness in short-range combat. Teleportation, rogues, and any close-combat enemy in general was a threat that could not be ignored.
Thus, the decision was between [Warrior] and [Mage]. Ultimately, all of his perks would be in play with [Warrior], so the choice was fairly simple. James mentally selected [Warrior].
A new series of boxes filled his vision.
[Martial Artist] [Knight] [Mercenary]
[Martial Artist] is immediately eliminated due to the [Wrist Surgery] perk because that class required the use of both hands. From its image, James could ascertain that a [Mercenary] is a jack of all trades. The picture shows a man wearing leather armor with a sword on his left hip, a bow sling over his right shoulder, knives attached to a leather strap strung across his left shoulder down to his right hip, and a revolver on his right hip. The adaptability of this class is assuredly second-to-none; however, as it is a jack of all trades, it is a master of none. Besides, with his [Wrist Surgery] trait, James would not be able to exert the full potential of this class.
"That trait is worse than I initially thought it was..." James sighed, but knew within his heart that even without the trait, the choice was obvious.
[Class Chosen!]
[Knight: The protector of the kingdom's people. Knights are proficient at the blade and stalwart at heart. The values of chivalry, honor, and courage are ingrained into their very bones. 4 STR, 2 AGI, 2 END, and 2 Unallocated Stat Points per level.
The chime of the system rung with a victorious tune.
[Class/Hidden Trait Synergy!]
[Hidden Traits [Perseverance] and [Respect] synergize with the class [Knight]! Perk [Knight's Honor] obtained!]
[Knight's Honor: Perk]
Like the knights of old, you are true of heart and embody the true essence of honor.
When engaged in a fight with an opponent at or within 10 levels above or under you, you gain a 20% buff in STR, END, and DEX. When engaged in a fight with an opponent that is more than 10 levels above you, you gain a 30% buff to STR, END, and DEX. When engaged in a fight with an opponent more than 10 levels below you, you obtain a 20% debuff to STR, END, and DEX. When engaged in a fight with more than one enemy, gain a 10% buff to STR, END, and DEX. When engaged in a fight with more numbers on your side than your opponents', you obtain a 5% debuff to STR, END, and DEX. (Note: Every 10 levels, the disparity margin is increased by 5 levels.)
[Mastery Skills Received!]
[Sword Proficiency] (Novice) Lvl. 01/100
The path of the sword is pursued by many, but mastered by few.
1% increase in sword damage. 0.5% decrease in SP requirement for sword skills and attacks.
[Shield Proficiency] (Novice) Lvl. 01/100
The shield is the lifeline of any swordsman.
0.5% increase in shield damage reduction. 0.5% decrease in SP requirement for shield skills and blocks.
[Skills Received!]
[Slash: Skill] Lvl. 01/100
A simple, empowered swing of the sword.
STR*1.5 damage, 10 SP
[Thrust: Skill] Lvl. 01/100
A simple, empowered thrust of the sword.
STR*2 piercing damage, 15 SP
[Block: Skill]
A simple, empowered block of an attack.
10% damage reduction, 5 SP
[Shield Bash: Skill]
A simple, empowered shield bash.
STR*1 blunt damage, 10SP
James was used to sudden influxes of information by now. He quickly read over the new perk and skills. As he was reading [Knight's Honor], he sucked in a quick breath.
"That could be potentially really good. I made a good choice," James felt relieved he didn't make a blunder.
You should look at your Status!
James nodded in agreement, "How would I do that?"
Athena gave a short chortle.
Just think the word "Status."
James did as directed, and a character sheet appeared before him. He tried to run a hand through the transparent window, but his hand met an immovable wall.
[Status]
Name - ?, N/A
Race - Lesser Undead (Zombie)
Level - 1 (0/40 EXP)
Class - Knight, Lvl. 1 (0/40 Exp)
HP - 50/50 (5 per minute)
MP - 20/20 (2 per minute)
SP - 80/80 (8 per minute)
STR - 12 (14.4)
END- 8
INT- 2
WIS- 2
AGI- 7 (14)
DEX- 6
CON- 5
LCK- 5 (2.5)
CHA- -3
SP = END*10
HP = CON*10
MP = INT*10
MP Regen = WIS*2(1)
SP Regen = END*2(1)
HP Regen = CON*2(1)
Stats - 2
Credits - 0
His status left him stunned. Why the hell was his INT and WIS so low? How was it even possible to have negative charisma!? And, at the very top, why was there a question mark instead of his name?
Athena giggled at his thoughts, but spoke in a serious tone.
That's because you're a zombie, and it's a requirement for every Gamer to choose a new name. Across the multiverse, there have been hundreds of millions of cases of suicide. It was found that when a Gamer assumes a new name from that of his previous life, the suicide rates plummeted. Thus, a system-wide rule was put into place.
James grit his teeth. He didn't want to get rid of his name. It was the name his parents gave him, the name they cheered when he played sports, the name that was announced when he graduated college, the name that he had used for 24 years of his life.
Athena spoke in a soft tone,
I'm sorry, James. There is nothing I can possibly do about it.
James clenched his fists. No matter how much pressure he exerted, his nails were unable to pierce his skin. He looked down at his sickly palms, his face twisted in bitterness.
"I don't blame you," he looked up into what was supposed to be the sky, but all that he saw was an abyss that stretched infinitely. As he looked on, he realized the true scale between him and the universe. He never felt so small. "What are the stats of an average human?"
The average adult male has a ten in every stat. An athletic human would have twenties in every physical stat. A bodybuilder could have upwards to fifty in STR.
James could only shake his head in disappointment. It seemed he really was handicapped by his race. His brow suddenly furrowed as he developed a certain train of thought.
"Athena, is it possible to change my race? Or upgrade it, in the very least?"
Of course it's possible!
Satisfied with the answer provided, James made a mental note to change his race as soon as he possibly could.
"What's next?"
It's now time for world selection; here are your options.
The largest structure James had ever seen appeared before him. With a striking realization, he discovered that rather than being a wall that towered endlessly, it was actually an unfathomably gargantuan text box.
"Athena, I don't have all of eternity to read this."
I'll shorten it to the first ten options for you, then.
[Marvel] [Harry Potter] [Skyrim] [Minecraft] [High School DxD] [High School of the Dead] [Sword Art Online] [Akame ga Kill!] [DC]
"Thank you."
Even when in the midst of his world being crumbled before him, James never forgot to be respectful and grateful.
Of course. :)
"Did I just hear a... smile?" James reeled back. The oddest sound he had heard to date was just communicated to him, yet it was oddly comprehensible.
Athena simply chuckled in response.
James shook his head to clear it for the decision before him.
"Marvel, Harry Potter, Minecraft, High School of the Dead, Sword Art Online, and DC are all instantly out. I don't want to be instantly annihilated by some all-powerful god, I know nothing of Harry Potter, I don't want to be turned into a cube, be part of a zombie invasion - I am a zombie, the humans would just kill me, and Sword Art Online is a death video game... not interested," he reasoned rapid fire.
"That leaves Skyrim, High School DxD, and Akame ga Kill. Skyrim is what I'm leaning towards. It fits very well with the system, and I do recall many important locations from when I last played it. Akame ga Kill is- wait, would I follow the tutorial just like in the game? What'll stop Alduin from razing Helgen to the ground now that he isn't bound by game logic? Yeah, Skyrim's out. Akame ga Kill I know very little of. I vaguely remember watching it, and I do know that almost every likable person was butchered. I think I have to pass on it..." James stared at the words [High School DxD].
"High School DxD is, oddly enough, the safest option out of the three. I am most likely to be accepted as a zombie there than in any other world. Idiots are able to get away with essentially whatever they want - hell, that one kid became some sort of dragon emperor even though he was a brain dead pervert, right?"
James proceeded to think over his decision for the next ten minutes. With his reasoning finalized, he no longer hesitated to press [High School DxD].
[World Selected: High School DxD!]
[Please use your World Points! Remaining points will be converted to Unallocated Stats in a 2:1 ratio!]
Another large window presented itself to James. He was beginning to feel exasperated by the never-ending hell of boxes.
[Sacred Gear Bearer: 20WP (random rarity), 40 WP (random rarity above rare)]
You have been given the Gift of God, humanities chance of survival against the supernatural world. This can grant you the True Longinus or a measly Twice Critical. Sacred Gear is locked until 25 CON, 25 END.
[Hero Lineage: 30WP]
You are part of a hero lineage. Hero descendants will look favorably upon you.
[True Holy Sword Affinity: 20WP (40WP)]
You are imbued with the affinity to wield even Divine-Grade Holy Swords! Light resistance drastically raised. (Note: Due to Gamer's race, price is doubled.)
[Legendary Artifact: 60WP]
You an orb containing a random legendary artifact. You decide the category of the artifact when opening the crystal. The categories are: Sword, Spear, Staff, Accessory, and Armor. The orb is sealed until level 50.
[Legendary Familiar: 40WP]
You obtain an egg of a random legendary pet. Hatch requirement: 100 STR, 50 CHA.
[Legendary Companion: 50WP]
Grants the Gamer a random legendary companion. Companion is summoned at level 40.
[Legendary Pack: 128WP]
Grants the Gamer [Legendary Artifact, [Legendary Pet, and [Legendary Companion] for a 15% discount. All requirements and restrictions apply.
[Rosetta Stone: 20WP]
You are able to speak and comprehend all mundane languages on the world of High School DxD.
[Gender Bender Cheat Code: 20WP]
Grants the Gamer a one-time-use Gender Bender Cheat Code.
[Fanciful Start: 30WP]
You are already established in the world. You have a mansion, passive income, and a slightly customizable background.
[Art of the Sun God: 1,000WP]
Grants the Art of the Sun God. With training, you can annihilate worlds on a whim.
(World Points: 80)
He could feel his eye twitch at the pitiful amount of World Points. What a tease, to dangle such great rewards yet only give a pitiful amount of buying power.
James then noticed a secondary tab at the top left of the text box. He curiously clicked it, and the window changed to new options.
[Enemy of Light: Gain 20WP]
Angels and Fallen despise you.
[Enemy of Darkness: Gain 20WP]
The Devils despise you.
[Enemy of Mankind: Gain 20WP]
Supernatural human governments despise you.
[Enemy of the Gods: Gain 500WP]
The Gods of DxD despise you.
[Slave: Gain 30WP]
You are a slave.
[Manhunt: Gain 40WP]
A group of ten adventurers are actively hunting you. Their life goal is your death, and they will stop at nothing to achieve it. They start in a separate continent from you. They can track your general direction. You have a one week grace period before they start their search for you. Manhunt adventurers' initial levels are 30, but every 10 levels you obtain, their level will raise by 5.
The amount of choices were overwhelming just as the other tab. The scroll bar at the side was so minuscule that James had to squint to find it even with his [Dragon Eyes].
"I suppose I have to sacrifice a bit to get all the good stuff, don't I?" James contemplated his options. While trying to find the most efficient use of his World Points, he couldn't help but look at his curse timer every so often.
(364:23:17:48)
The looming axe of the executioner hung over his head in an ever-present threat of death. It motivated James to speed up his choices so he could hurry up and raise his CON. After another twenty or so minutes, he finally made his selection.
[Poor Background: Gain 20WP]
Your background is poor. You have no money, no family, no allies, and no starting home.
[Bad Starting Location: Gain 10WP]
Your starting location is inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
[Manhunt: Gain 30WP]
A group of ten adventurers are actively hunting you. Their life goal is your death, and they will stop at nothing to achieve it. They start in a separate continent from you. They can track your general direction. You have a one week grace period before they start their search for you. Manhunt adventurers' initial levels are 30, but every 10 levels you obtain, their level will raise by 5.
[Sacred Gear Bearer: 40 WP]
You have a sealed Sacred Gear above rare rarity. Locked until level 20.
[True Holy Sword Affinity: 40WP]
You have the affinity to wield any Holy Sword no matter the grade. Holy Swords recognize you as the ideal master, thus they'll rather be in your control than in others. Light Resistance increased 300%.
[Rosetta Stone: 20WP]
You are able to speak and comprehend all mundane languages on the world of High School DxD.
[Legendary Familiar Egg: 40WP]
You have an egg containing a legendary familiar. Unless formally transferred over to another person, the familiar binds to you when it hatches. Hatch requirement: 100 STR, 50 CHA.
James was sure that this was the optimal use of his World Points. [Poor Background] was essentially free points. He was sure he'd be able to make money some way or another. Not having a house was slightly inconvenient but manageable. [Bad Starting Location] was a boon, in a sense. At the moment, being separated from society was a must because any mundane person would be able to tell that James wasn't exactly human. [Manhunt] also wasn't too bad. The one week grace period was generous, and being able to tell his general location didn't matter that much. What if he was in the territory of a powerful being or faction? The hunters couldn't possibly take action against him because they would find themselves in lots of trouble. Also, what if he somewhere they couldn't reach? Like, say, a dungeon?
The true trouble was with how to spend the World Points. [Sacred Gear Bearer] was a must. The chance of gaining a power capable of making a weak human rival Gods was attractive, to say the least. James could care less about being able to wield holy swords, but the light resistance provided by [True Holy Sword Wielder] was impossible to pass up on. [Rosetta Stone] was similarly a must-have. He was really close to choosing [Legendary Artifact] as his fourth boon, but Athena talked him out of it. She mentioned "off-handedly" that the devils had a monopoly over the Familiar Forest, making it almost impossible for an outsider to get one of their own. That made James pause. Sure, a sword of legendary proportions was a very attractive option, but a legendary familiar was not far behind. He reasoned that eventually he should be able to get his hands on a legendary sword, but getting a legendary familiar was impossible without being a devil.
Thus, his decision was made.
[Are you sure about your choices? You cannot return to the World Point Shop for this world in the future.]
[Y/N]
James pressed [Y] and a new prompt manifested. The words it held made James sorrowful. His trembling fingers inputting the finishing touches of the "character creation."
[Choose your name!]
[Sora - Sky] [Leonardo - Lion] [Alexander - Defender of Men] ...
...
[Are you sure about this name? It cannot be changed.]
[Y/N]
Memories of his past life flashed before his eyes. The moment when he first entered elementary school, holding his mother's hand. His 7th birthday party where his dad gave him his first remote control airplane. His dad's proud smile when he introduced his parents to his first girlfriend. His mom's tear-filled eyes when he tore his ACL in football. His parents' overwhelming pride at his college graduation. His happiness at buying his first house.
Steeling his heart even though his eyes were blurred with tears, he pressed [Y].
[Welcome, Arthur!]
A blinding white light consumed Arthur.
So began his journey to the top.
*Think Guren from Seraph of the End except for the height, weight, eyes, and skin complexion.
Aaaand done! Had this stuck in my head for almost a full year now, just never got around to putting it down on document.
I have no plot lined out or any chapters in reserve, and I'm not sure if I am willing to continue this story. Just felt the urge to write, and I am curious on what the reception would be for this.
Originally, I was going to make Arthur's class Necromancer, but I felt that'd be realllly lame and overused.
If you see any mistakes, please don't flame me. This is not a serious pursuit. I'd appreciate it if you would quote them and suggest a change or how to correct it, though. Thanks.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Published: 23 November 2022
Updated: 26 November 2022