Nicodemus' Mantle:

His Sin of Wrath

AN: This is my second real fic that I plan to put time and effort into. The first one is deleted now, because I did not appreciate the direction it was going. This fic will get very erratic and insensible updates, so keep that in mind.

Chapter One: Rebirth

The crisp morning air filled my lungs as I led my friends up the winding path of Mount Green. It was a triumphant day, one where I convinced them to leave their comfort zones and join me on a hike, a rare departure from our usual indoor routines. As we ascended, I couldn't help but notice their reluctant steps and halfhearted conversations. Despite their feigned interest, something felt off.

I brushed aside my concerns, attributing their behaviour to the unfamiliar terrain. Determined to maintain the jovial atmosphere, I chattered about everything under the sun. Yet, with each passing minute, their responses grew more distant, their smiles increasingly forced. It wasn't until a buzzing phone interrupted the uneasy silence that I sensed the gravity of the situation.

An unknown number flashed on my screen, a message that shattered my naivety with its stark words. My friends' betrayal lay exposed before me, their hidden agenda now painfully clear. This hike wasn't about camaraderie; it was a meticulously planned setup.

The realization hit me like a blow to the chest, but before I could react, a force from behind sent me tumbling down the mountainside.

I collided with rocks and branches, pain searing through every limb as gravity relentlessly pulled me downward. Each impact stole the breath from my lungs until I reached the base with a resounding thud. Alone and broken, I called out for help, but the mountain offered only silence.

Anger burned within me, overshadowing any sense of fear or sadness. Why had they turned against me? What had I done to deserve such betrayal? Confusion swirled as I lay there, the sky above spinning in a dizzying blur.

As consciousness slipped away, a faint voice whispered in the recesses of my mind, offering a cryptic choice that blurred the line between dream and reality.

"Do you want to live?" the voice intoned, its tone both haunting and surreal.

"Of course I do," I responded instinctively, the fear of death chilling my thoughts.

"So it is said, and so it shall be." The voice murmured, it's words echoing in my ears.

When awareness returned, I found myself in a surreal realm bathed in muted hues. Panic gripped me as I scanned my surroundings—a serene, dimly lit room devoid of the injuries I expected. With cautious steps, I rose from the chair where I had awoken, my heart racing as I tried to make sense of this unfamiliar place.

A disembodied voice echoed softly, its familiarity sending a chill down my spine. "Welcome to the afterlife," it murmured, the words hanging in the air. "A place for you to choose your new world. You wanted to live, didn't you?"

Where was that voice coming from?

I searched the room, finding only a small tablet illuminated by a gentle glow. On its screen, words and images flickered, inviting me to make a choice that would determine my fate. As I reached out to touch the screen, the grey world went white, and I was enveloped by the flash.

The brightness subsided, and I found myself standing in a vast, ethereal landscape. Wispy clouds drifted lazily overhead, casting gentle shadows on rolling hills of emerald grass. A warm breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, soothing the lingering ache in my body. It was a surreal contrast to the mountain fall. The air was the cleanest I feel I've ever breathed.

As I took hesitant steps forward, the ground beneath my feet felt firm and reassuring, devoid of the pain I had expected. The uncertainty of my surroundings gnawed at me, yet curiosity propelled me onward. Was this truly the afterlife, or was it a vivid hallucination spawned by my fall?

The voice, now absent yet ever-present in memory, had offered a choice. My decision to live had led me here, but to what end?

Lost in contemplation, I stumbled upon a crystalline stream winding through the meadow. Its waters shimmered with a serene clarity, reflecting the azure sky above. Cautiously, I knelt beside it, cupping my hands to drink. The cool liquid refreshed me, easing the ache of my phantom injuries.

I gazed into the stream, and a faint image that I did not recognize rippled across its surface. A face, one that wasn't my own. It was handsome, but still feminine, the figure had long black hair, unkept and frazzled. They had blue eyes that matched the hue of the water. They didn't look like me at all. I definitely didn't have long elf ears.

And then in the reflection, I saw something behind me. Whipping around to look I came face to screen with a blue holographic slab of text.

WELCOME GAMER, TO THE WORLD OF DARK EARTH.

NAME: TBD
RACE: TBD
CLASS: TBD

HP: 10/10

(These are your hit points.)

MP: 10/10

(These are your mana points.)

SP: 10/10

(These are your stamina points.)

SKILLS

TBD

Well that didn't fill me with a lot of hope.

Hope you enjoyed chapter one! I enjoy praise and constructive criticism so if you've got either to spare let me know what you thought. If you want to help me decide the MC's race, class, skills, etc. just leave a comment!