"Where..."

"Where am I?"

I attempted to look around, but I found that I couldn't move my body. Hell I couldn't even feel it...

Despite sensations being lost to me at the moment, a phantom of a shiver went through me as I went through the options of what could be happening to me.

One I was in a coma, hopefully not, because I'm not perceiving things the way people who've awoken them had described, so it's likely that I would be one of those that would never wake up. Two I had somehow ended up in a vegetative state and had lost my vision somehow, so basically in the same boat as coma. Three I was dead. Four aliens kidnapped me and now I'm a brain in a jar waiting for stimuli. Five maybe i-

[Ding!]

'Fuck' I thought as the blue box with white text in front of me really narrowed down those options down to one.

I was dead.

I felt numb. I struggled through so much, I overcame my demons oh so many demons, I managed to pull myself out of the darkness, and finally just as I was beginning to see a reason to live properly I found myself fucking dead. Dead.

'Fuck'

'Fuck!'

'FUCK!'

'FUUUUUUUUUUCK'

It felt like an eternity that I yelled into the void, the numbness was gone replaced by my grief and my incandescent rage. If I still had a throat it would be bloody and raw. If I still had lungs they would find themselves working overtime. If I still had eyes my tears would fall endlessly.

It wasn't fair.

...

...

...

...

...

I zoned back in after who knows how long after I finished raging. It's very hard to tell time in an inky black void, but if I had to make an estimate using whatever remained of my internal clock it had been, probably, over half an hour.

I looked at the box floating. Its blue glow contrasting harshly with the infinite void surrounding it. It had just laid there, as patient as a tree. With a mental sigh and the shadows of resolve beginning to seep within me, I willed the box to continue onwards with its message.

[Welcome Gamer!]

[As you have already guessed you've met with an unfortunate fate :( ]

That felt mocking, and if I had a face I'd be frowning.

[But worry not! You have been picked to wield the system. You were chosen due to your perseverance. You had beaten the odds even with the deck stacked against you! :) ]

Damn straight. Although it took me years and multiple failures, I ended up achieving most of the goals I had set for myself.

[Now let's give you a short tutorial since we know you're already familiar with us. To pull up your status sheet, you must say or think "Status". Please try this feature.]

'Status' I stated mentally. Shortly after another window popped up.

Status

Strength:Null

Wisdom:Null

Agility:Null

Intelligence:Null

Vitality:Null

[Would you like an explanation on these statuses?]

'No.' I quickly thought out. I had played enough videogames and read enough fiction to understand what I was looking at. In fact just glancing over it tells me that this won't be a system with a health bar to be abused. There was no health, no stamina, and no mana bar, it meant I couldn't tank lethal things that wouldn't instead translate to damage point. Already I would have to play things smart.

[Very well! Now please select your class from the listed classes]

[Archer]

[Warrior]

[Wizard]

[Rogue]

[Paladin]

[Knight]

'Wait' I cut in before it could list out however many other classes.

[Yes?]

'May I choose this later? I would prefer to make my build based around where I will end up.' I stated hoping for that to be an option. It would be shit to end up a knight in Attack on Titan, or an archer in demon slayer. I mean sure I could probably level up enough to massacre them, but would I even be able to survive until that level. That would be the real concern.

[This is an unusual request. Not many gamers ask for this.]

'Yeah, well I don't want to be one of the many precursor thousands of gamers that died nameless and idiotically that now only serve as a warning for a person after me.' I stated blandly.

[Very well. I see no issue with this. Let's move on to character customization and world roll and race roll.]

'Lets skip the customization, randomize it if you will. Just make sure to give me ethereal hair that has universes and cosmos floating through it. Make sure it stays even with no wind too. That is it.' I stated sure of my decision. I had no care for my looks, but I was always attracted to the idea of having something similar to that of Eternity from Marvel comics. Back when I was alive I even had a lot of space related things, unfortunately so many of them reminded me of one of my greatest failures, still I was fond of space.

[I see. Well then with that out of the way let's roll your world! :D ]

As I finished reading the text, a massive wheel popped up from behind the blue box. It was confusing. At first I thought there's no way this thing has enough world options, but the longer I stared the more it seemed to zoom in as if responding to my will. It would have been great if it wasn't for the fact that it seemed to zoom in forever, it went on in a fractal like pattern and the longer I stared the more my head began to hurt. I decided to just look away and ignore however it worked, lest I lose something critical, I don't even have a body to feel pain yet the wheel was doing something odd.

As I focused again I couldn't help but also smile, well at least mentally since I had no mouth, because I was eager to find out where I would be going. What world would I explore, what future would I derail off its course, what people would I meet.

[Are you ready?]

'Yes'

[Then let's spin!]

With those words the massive wheel began to spin and shift colors in many different hues. It was extraordinary and almost mesmerizing in a way. Eventually after a while it did come to a stop and if I still had a beating heart that would have stopped with it. It zoomed in infinitely fast and on the large wheel smack dab in the center lay the words Dead Space.

[...]

'...'

[...]

'...'

[...]

'...system... what the fuck' There was no way my luck was this fucking abysmal even after death. No way.

[I'm going to be honest with you. If there was a luck stat, yours would be negative. Hell it would probably kill itself. Honestly I wasn't planning on handing out any freebies, but you'll need this one just to survive.]

Perk Gained!

[Gamer's Mind: Rejects foreign influences on the users mind.]

'... thank you.' I said. Now even though this was bad it could be worse. While Dead Space was a very technologically advanced world, it didn't have much in the means of magic. This meant I could have a massive leg up if I chose magic, especially now that I wouldn't be under the influence of the marker or the blood moons. Every threat is mostly organic, meat, bone, flesh, and flesh was weak, I knew it was weak because from the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the- the-.

[Gamer's Mind Activated]

{Skreeeeeeee!}

'The fuck was that!?' I questioned the systems as a mechanical screeched faded away into the darkness of the void.

[Whoops! Sorry about that, I forgot about the local Omnissiah hanging around. You see since the system is technically technology he's tried to claim dominion over it and tries to bless the users every once in a while.]

'That doesn't sound too bad. Why'd you stop the-'

[Their blessing sends unprepared players straight into a Warhammer 40k universe. No ands, ifs, or buts.]

'Nevermind and thank you' I said as I realized things could in fact be much worse than Dead Space.

[No problem. Now let's get that race roll going! You got the bad luck out of the way now it's time for the good luck :) ]

As I finished that last sentence the wheel began to spin again. I thought another wheel or something else would be used, but honestly I guess when you can pull anything out of the void why even bother to pull out something twice. It probably just wasted more time, or maybe this was all a fanfic and the writer was terrible and lazy. Who could know. I finished my musings as the wheel began to slow down until finally it stopped and my fate was sealed.

Race Gained!

[Earth Worm: Would you still love me if I was a worm?]

[Yikes... By the way, what deity did you offend in your last life. My bad I meant pantheon, because out of the trillions of options ya got fucked, so it must be an entire pantheon cursing you with bad luck]

'I wish I knew, system. I wish I fucking knew' So that I could rip their arms off and beat their family members to death with them went unsaid.

[Yeesh, prone to violence much?Well at least you can still pick a good class]

That was true enough at least. I also needed to be very smart about this. If I chose the wrong class I'd end up as necromorph chow, then be turned into a. necromorph myself.

'What were my options system?'

[Okay so you've got]

[Fighter: Should've been a pitcher with the way you make people Catch... hands.]

[Barbarian: No think. Only angry!]

[Rogue: Wallets will wish for mercy from something unseen]

[Wizard: I cast! TESTICULAR TORSIONNNN!!!]

[Cleric: See heresy. Destroy Heresy. Life good.]

[Druid: There are two wolves inside you. They're both alcoholics."

[Priest: Every party needs you, no party appreciates you.]

[Paladin: In brightest day in darkness night, no evil shall escape my sight beware green... wait a minute...]

'... not to be a nitpicky bitch, but what's up with the flavor text and are there a few classes missing? that shit is not helpful at all...'

[Well that's simple it's because I'm in your head and I know you already knew what you were going to be choosing above all else]

'Yeah, that's true. Give me wizard.'

[Great, now let's send you on your way!]

'Wait wait wait wait wait!'

[What's up?]

'Is that it? I mean aren't I supposed to get like a roll for powers or feats or unique items or broken skills or traits or feats??'

[Hmmm I don't knowww. I feel like that would make it a bit too easy, you know?]

'No I don't know, because I'm going into fucking deadspace!!'

[Hmmm... fine. What do you want?]

'I want-' I started before being rudely cut off.

[Actually no, that'd be too simple. Pick a category, a power, a perk, a weapon or something and and I'll randomly generate something for you, I'm also not allowing you to have instant win categories like, Goldy powers or similar things so don't try it]

'Damn, that just makes things so much harder.' he was at an impasse. If he chose a power he'd get something integral to his being, something that couldn't really be taken away from him, but if he gets unlucky he'll get a shit power like the translucent skin mutant or something. Seeing his luck recently he didn't know if he wanted to change that.

A perk sounded nice on paper, but with the insane amount of games that exist he might end up getting a common and shitty perk that has no use to him.

A weapon seemed much less useful, but depending on what he gets it could keep him alive in early game long enough to level up and get the ball rolling with his own strength. The depended on IF he got a good weapon.

This was going to be tough. All the categories had good things in them, but also tons of shitty things. He didn't want to test his luck again. If only the damned things he wanted weren't so iconic.

...iconic.

'I know the category, give me Iconic Power'

[Hmm... smart. You're cutting it close there to being too OP, but it just barely passes. Let's roll and see what you get.]

A massive wheel popped out of nowhere and began to spin, the list of things on it seemed endless so I didn't even bother trying to read it. I just hoped I would get something good.

The wheel stopped and my disappointment was immeasurable.

[Hahaha! Holy hell I can't make this shit up, the fucking main guy actually rolled something for you unscripted and you still got shit!]

Invisibility...

Of all the fucking iconic powers, with things in there like telekinesis, teleportation, super strength, even fucking flight and I got invisibility. Fuck me at least it'll hopefully keep me alive a bit longer, but then again the necromorphs have highly sensitive senses, while their eyes might not find me it's not unlikely that smell or noise would give me away.

But then again I was a worm, a small being already hard to find, now made even harder by having the ability to turn invisible. Just maybe I'll make it out of this bullshit.

[Alright, let's finally get this party started!]

'Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Send me in.'

[God speed soldier]

With those final words, my world went white.

I want to say that I opened my eyes and a beautiful new world greeted me, a world that was my oyster ready for the taking. I couldn't say that.

Not because the world wasn't there, but because I was a worm and had no fucking eyes!!!!!

My rage boiled but then quickly set back to a simmer, getting mad would do fuck all for me, it was time to get gaming.

I immediately became invisible and stood still. I could sense vibrations through the ground and that would tell me if there was anything nearby.

...

...

...

After a few tense seconds I could sense nothing nearby. There was kind of a general vibration that was always going on in the background, but I'm assuming that's just the rumbling of the ship. Can't tell you if it was or wasn't a ship, but I couldn't really think of anything else that would have a tumble like that.

Shit, I had no idea where the fuck I was. I had no idea if I was on the Ishimura, or if I was on the ship heading towards it with Isaac, or if I was even on a ship at all.

I was fucking cooked.

All I could do was keep sensing the vibrations around me.

[Ping!]

[Through repeated action you've created the passive skill: Tremor Sense]

[Tremor Sense:"I feel I was denied critical need-to-know information."- Allows the user to perceive their surroundings through vibrations]

'...'

'Praise be the fucking system!!!'

I had visuals now. Well not exactly, but close. In a small area around me I could see, I could see in almost the same way that daredevil could see. The vibrations were spreading throughout the room allowing me to make out its general shape.

I appeared to be in some type of garden thing, I was laying upon the soil in one of the glass enclosures, there seemed to be a few edible plants around me . I was really hoping these were the gardens aboard the Ishimura, because if they weren't then even with sight I would have no clue as to where I was.

I was interrupted by my musings when I sensed movement in front of me. Looking at what was approaching with my tremor sense I realized I was in for the first fight of my life.

A praying mantis was quickly heading my way.

Alright. No panic.

They only eat every creature they catch while still alive taking small bites at a time...

...

...

Maybe a little panic.

I was still invisible, but I didn't know how praying mantises eyes worked. Did they see heat, was their vision poor and they relied on smell, were they tactile hunters? Too many variables, best just chuck a fire bolt at it and call it a day.

As it got closer I aimed my attack instinctively and then released it.

'Firebolt!' I called out to no one. It did feel pretty fucking cool though.

I quickly realized I had made a terrible miscalculation.

I had expected the firbolt to be adjusted down to my size, you know work size.

That did not happen.

A regular sized firebolt launched out and to my size it was like an upscaled fireball.

Now the quote that follows that spell is, "I did not ask how big the room is, I said I cast fireball"

...

What I'm getting at is it eviscerated the poor mantis, it blew up with such force that it sent me flying, and I think I trigged the fire alarm.

This was not fucking good.

Not only were the sprinklers going off, I was about to find out whose attention would be grabbed thanks to the alarm. At least I hope it's a who and not a what, because if necromorphs flood this place I'm fucked.

Trying to shake off my dizziness, could I get dizzy as a worm or was I mortally wounded??, I tensed and stayed invisible as a figure entered the range of my tremor sense.

(I've been sitting in that one for a while, it seemed interesting hopefully someone can adopt it or draw inspiration from it cuz I ain't continuing it lmao)

(So basically the plan for the story would have been him trying to survive as the outbreak begins. People would be turning, he'd be trying to not only survive but regain his senses and abilities. Then he'd get more powerful, fight a few besties and start mowing down necromorphs or start evolving or something, maybe from like wormsnakesomethingsomethingwyrm/dragon. Not very creative but I thought it'd be fun to have the staff interact with a fucking worm, literally think of each other as fucking insane until the worm show them too that's it's special or just have him go silent and make a person get dragged off to the psych ward, basically sprinkle some funny in there)

(Unrepentantly unchecked for errors, hopefully the paragraphs don't breed 3 times again. If they do, its a fucking genjutsu and you just broke out. Congrats)