CHAPTER 1:

Headshot

The deafening sound of a sniper rifle can be heard every 10 seconds, and with every shot, a soldier falls to the ground.

BANG!

A soldier running toward cover suddenly falls violently to the ground, his eyes wide and filled with shock.

Hiding behind the cover of a ruined building, two young soldiers with grim faces look around. They are the only ones remaining from their squad; their squad leader has already been killed. They had run back when the leader ordered the retreat, but it resulted in their entire squad being decimated. They only need to run back one more time to get out of range of the enemy sniper, but they know that as soon as they move, they will be shot down.

"I will cover your retreat! Report immediately to the commanding officer!"

GO!, GO!GO!"

The two soldiers ran, one firing at the sniper's location. The first one crossed the area outside the sniper's range and looked back.

Just in time to see a speeding bullet swoosh through his friend's helmet.

"JOHN!!!

--

A boat bobs gently on the sea under the morning sun. A man wearing a bucket hat and a vest with pockets lifts up a fishing net and looks at his catch.

That should be good; these should give me 2000 berries, enough to last me for a week.

As he rows toward the village, John recalls the events that led to his current situation.

--

He woke up with a head-splitting headache, laying on a bed. It took a moment to clear his vision.

"You're awake. How about that."

Beside his bed was an old man with a balding head. The old man looked a bit taller than average and had a slightly bulky build. He also had a full beard with white streaks in it. He wore a fisherman's outfit.

John tried to sit up but the man set him back down.

"Easy now, you've been out cold for a couple of days now. Just lay down and get your bearings."

"Who are you? Where am I?", John groggily asks.

"Name's Mitsuo, this place's called Goat island. Do you remember anything? I Had to dig inside your noggin to take all the bits of lead out. You're lucky to survive a shot to the head like that".

What? How did I get here, how am I- how am I alive?, John though, remembering his last moments. He knew that he would die when he decided to cover his friend's retreat.

"Do you remeber your name, young man?" The old man asks him.

"My name?, It's -"

Just then he noticed at the bottom of his vision was a text saying Mitsuo lvl.17.

"John, my name's John"

"Oh John," the old man said with a smile on his face, not seeming to notice the floating text. "Okay John, just rest for now. I'll bring you some food later. You must be starving, ya? You've been sleeping for three days after all."

"I'm feeling fine now," John said as he sat up and thought. What is happening to me?

" You sure?...Then let's test if your motor functions still, ah, functions. Stand up for me will you?" Mitsuo gets up to assist John who had bandages around his head and was only wearing pants. "I found you washed up on the shore wearing nothing but your underwear, and with a bleeding wound on your head." Mitsuo steadies John as he stands up, his knees wobbling a bit. "Brought you here, only guy who knows how to deal with wounds around here. Ah... But I'm not a doctor mind you, just learned a few things during my time as a-a, never mind that young man. Can you walk to the other side of the room there?"

John slowly walked forward while thinking.

There's no way I washed up on some shore. We were fighting inside a destroyed city, far away from the sea. And... there's now way I survived that, that headshot.

He looked up and saw a mirror in front of him.

Am I still myself or did I get reborn in some other person's body?

In front of him was...him, exactly the same from when he was, alive. He stood at about 181cm and has a slightly muscular build. His hair is black with a crew cut hairstyle and shaved facial hair. His skin is tanned and he was sure he now had a scar at the upper right side of his head from the bullet wound.

"What were you doing that got you in a situation like that John? Are you a pirate? A bounty hunter? ...Or are you a marine?" Mitsuo asked as he looked at him from behind.

John thought for a second and said "I don't remember...I don't remember anything besides my name". It wasn't true but he thought it would save him the trouble of answering questions that he doesn't have the answers to.

"Oh, that's quite tragic young man. Don't worry, you're memories will come back after a while. You can stay here while you recuperate your body and mind".

John looks back and says, "Thanks man, I'll pay you back for helping me, I promise". He looks to the mirror again in time to see another textbox appear, this time saying

S.P.E.C.I.A.L.

I guess this really is happening. I died and have been reborn or transferred to this world, with this thing that only I can see. I've been given a new life so I won't squander it, live to the fullest as they say. Let's do it.

He then looked at the what's written in the textbox.

What makes you S.P.E.C.I.A.L?

STRENGTH - 1

PERCEPTION - 1

ENDURANCE - 1

CHARISMA - 1

INTELLIGENCE - 1

AGILITY - 1

LUCK - 1

Available points - 5

So I start with 1 in all stats, and I can distribute 5 points in anything. The game must be asking what makes me special because it wants me to specialize in one or two things.

The stats seems pretty self-explanatory, but I don't know what luck does.

He touched the text saying LUCK and a different textbox appeared.

LUCK - Affects all things

What the fuck does that mean? I think perception just let's me detect enemies so I won't put points into that yet. Can I train these stats? Hello?.

Nothing answered.

So it doesn't talk huh, it's going to be hard to gain information. Well, let's just do it. I'll think about it later.

STRENGTH - 2 (1)

PERCEPTION - 1

ENDURANCE - 2 (1)

CHARISMA - 2 (1)

INTELLIGENCE - 2 (1)

AGILITY - 2 (1)

LUCK - 1

Available points - 0

After finalizing, a new window appeared that says TRAITS. Below it was a list, each havinf a positive and negative effect.

Quickshot - Increases fire rate by 20%, decreases accuracy by 20%.

Sharpshooter - Increases accuracy by 20%, decreases fire rate by 20%.

Utilitarian - Increases utility skills by 5, decreases combat skills by 5.

Combatant - Increases combat skills by 5, decreases utility skills by 5.

Bruiser - Increases melee skills by 5, decreases ranged skills by 5.

Ranger - Increases ranged skills by 5, decreases melee skills by 5.

Wild World - Not for the faint of heart.

After looking thoroughly, John made his decision.