A Gamer's Life on Hard Core Difficulty

by Nez99

So this is how I go out huh? A car accident isn't the most unlikely thing to happen, but getting thrown into a fictional world kind of is. Hey, at least it's a world I'm pretty familiar with- wait who's family am I a part of? Hold on, Midoriya has a quirk? No Wait- why is Midoriya a girl!

1. Chapter 1

What exactly am I looking at right now?

Congratulations! You have been selected to play test an experimental system!

I guess getting hit by that car is causing me to hallucinate blue glowing text. Though this could also-

Let me stop you there, this is very much real. You fortunately did not survive the impact with the car.

Fortunately?

Of course, as you now get the chance to explore the vast multiverse! With a system to boot, albeit a more experimental one.

So that's it, I'm just… dead?

Well, if you didn't get the hint yet, you're being granted a second chance at life!

…Though I have mixed feelings about this, I can't say I'm not grateful for a second chance.

Now that's the attitude I expect when gifting someone a second chance at life.

Well, it's not like I had a lot going for me back there, and I doubt I have the option to go back, do I?

No.

Yeah, that's what I expected. Well guess I'm in for the ride.

Wonderful! Now your first world as well as the type of Gamer system have already been selected for you!

Wait? Type of Gamer system? So, I'm not just getting a basic system?

Nope, it has been getting boring seeing the same thing repeatedly. So, this will spice things up~

That doesn't sound foreboding at all

The system has been tailor-made to not be boringly broken nor unfairly underpowered. All of this is to ensure the most fun game can be played.

Fun for me or for the person who's the cause of all this?

Both :)

Now to integrate you with the system.

I suddenly see a loading screen instead of any blue text. And as I silently watch it reach 100% it is replaced with–

Once again, Congratulations on your second chance at life and getting The Gacha System.

Also, your difficulty has already been set on {Hard Core}-

What?

Users picking their difficulty was quickly changed after The First picked {Easy} and speedran his way to Godhood.

For Fuc-

Good luck Player 27 and I wish you all the best on surviving!

That's the last bit of text I see before my vision starts going black, and I feel myself getting pulled at an extremely high speed.

,,,,,,

As my vision starts clearing up, I find myself in a larger bedroom that looks like it belongs to two people since it has two beds. Judging from how the other half of the room has things like a makeup dresser and dresses in the open closet, it looks like it belongs to a girl.

As I make my way to the makeup dresser, I get to see my reflection and start taking in my new appearance. Dark brown skin, with a thin face. Straight dark brown hair, and goldish yellow eyes. Overall, I'd say I looked a bit like a young Ozymandias from Fate.

Continuing to look down, past my face, I take note of the clothes I'm wearing. Both my trousers and button-up long-sleeved shirt are black. It looks like a Japanese school uniform. Though looking closely, I can see a bunch of dust, dirt, and wrinkles on different parts of my clothes. It looks like I fell on the ground. Repeatedly.

As I touch some of the dirty parts of my clothes, I flinch a bit as I notice I'm bruised under my clothes. As I continue to examine other parts of my body, I revise my earlier thoughts. I either fell on the ground hard, or someone beat me up. And in a way where it wouldn't be obvious from looking at my face.

Putting those thoughts aside for now, I take a moment to assess my body's physique. I'm skinny, at least compared to my previous life's body, when I used to go to the gym regularly. This will probably make things harder for me, especially since I'm playing on [Hard Core] difficulty, though I don't exactly know what it entails, it can't be anything good.

User does not need to worry needlessly

"Oh, you're still here?" I ask aloud, surprised by my new voice. I forget for a moment that I'm in a new body, and I dwell on my voice for a moment. It's deeper than I expected for someone with my appearance.

I am a simple AI integrated into the system set to answer any valid concerns asked by the User.

"Okay?"

Hard Core difficulty guarantees that all permanent rewards you receive from the Gacha are locked to the rare tier and below.

And how exactly is this supposed to be fair or not unfairly underpowered?

This is because this only applies to permanent rewards, you may still roll Epic and above, but they will simply be consumables, or one time use items.

…That doesn't sound too bad, I guess.

Any more valid inquiries?

While it's a bit relieving to hear how that works, it still doesn't really help considering I don't have any skills right now, unless I'm going to get a starting skill?

Correct.

Finally, some good news. Well, how can I get it?

…..

…. Hello?...Really?

Clenching my jaw, I let out a frustrated sigh, deciding to figure out where I am first before trying to get a clue on how I'm getting my first skill.

I start looking around the room to find anything that'll clue me in on where I am. As I look around one side of the room, I notice a decent number of stuffed animals and figures that quickly clue me in to the world I'm in. As I grab a very muscular figurine of a blonde-haired man, wearing a costume whose colors consist of the American flag I quickly realize I'm staring at an All Might figurine.

So, I'm either in My Hero Academia or one of the people living in this room is a big fan of the show. As I ponder the implications of the first option, more blue text suddenly appears in front of me.

Quest Added!

[Get acquainted with your new life]

Objective: Use the memory orb

Reward: x1 Rare Gacha Roll (Skill)

My eyes are immediately glued onto the Rare Gacha role that I can get as a reward, and I realize I was ignored because I was about to get my first skill. Though that doesn't make being ignored any less annoying.

Seeing as there's no reason for me to not go along with this quest, I start searching for anything that would look like a "memory orb".

After a minute of looking around the room, I have a sudden realization that makes me want to smack myself. As I recall how all those system stories that I read about worked, I say-

"Inventory" in a quiet whisper.

A blue grid screen appears in front of me. Though not that like inventories that I've seen in games considering this one only had a measly 3 boxes. One of which was filled and housed an Orb like object. As I poke the Orb on the grid it suddenly appears in my hand.

The orb had a myriad of colors flowing through it, like a rainbow was moving through the orb, it looked mesmerizing, almost to the point where I was tempted to just stare for a while.

Use [Memory Orb]?

Yes/No

Though with this prompt that popped up as soon as I took it out of my inventory, I had an incentive to use it rather quickly to get my hands on that quest reward, and to confirm which world I'm in.

Choosing yes, the orb bursts, and a flood of rainbow colors washes over my vision. The brightness is so intense that I squint my eyes and eventually must close them to protect them from the assault.

….

I feel the effects of a migraine begin from the montage I just watched. It almost feels like I lived through a whole new life as I experience this montage in first person. I doubt it lasted more than a few seconds, but it certainly felt a lot longer. Though it's not like I was overloaded with information. Despite experiencing a lifetime of moments in what had to be minutes I only recollected the crucial details.

Things like my family's identities, or my ineptitude in terms of a quirk. Everything else remained as faint feelings, like a small admiration when I looked at the All Might figurines.

Weirdly enough some of the core memories I still have are some of the bullying incidents and name calling I've experienced over the years. Everything on the spectrum between qurikless and adopted. Though I can't recall any memory where I was told that I was adopted or had different parents, so either I'm not or any memories regarding that were somehow filtered out of the core ones.

I won't be giving it too much thought now since the more important thing is the Rare Gacha Roll I got for that quest. This is probably meant to be my starting skill which is why it was so easy to get. From what the system said earlier I probably shouldn't expect any more freebies.

I start hearing footsteps coming towards the room. As the door opens, a sweaty green-haired girl comes in wearing a grey tracksuit that looks dirty. One Izumi Midoriya, I guess it's safe to say I know what world, or rather weird version of world I'm in.

Izumi looks surprised as she stops me in front of her dresser. "Why're you still in your uniform? Did you just get back from school?"

Ah right, we stopped coming back from school together a while ago. Soon after Izumi's quirk "mutated" she started running off somewhere as soon as class ended to meet up with Dad to train it.

Of course, once the coast was clear and no Izumi was protecting me, that's when my bullies struck. However, they wouldn't bother me for too long since "I" learned that the less reactive I am, the quicker they get bored.

"Yeah, I got held up doing something. How's training going?"

"It's been going great actually! I've been getting a better handle on improving my control over how much strength I use, and I also feel like my body is adapting to the quirk more. So, I can exert more strength without worrying about breaking or injuring anything!" Izumi starts rambling excitedly while changing.

As she continues to ramble, I start thinking about my situation more. There's already plenty that's different from the series that I remember. Forget Midoriya being a girl instead of a guy. She still has her dad- well "our" dad who I can only vaguely recall for some reason (really? Not a core memory?), and the most damning difference is she already has a quirk.

And yet from what I remember of her mutation, it's sounding awfully like One for All. While it's all nice and good that the side of the angels is powered up what's to say it's not the same for the villains? What if All for One ends up having 3 Nomu's attack USJ just to ensure damage is actually done.

With a new drive, and urgency to get my first power I cut off the still-rambling Izumi. "Since you're home, I'm guessing Dad's downstairs?"

"Actually, he isn't, apparently someone needed an urgent session." She explains with a shrug.

Right, dad is apparently a quirk trainer. One of the main reasons he spends so much time with Izumi. Apparently, it's a lucrative job.

If he isn't home, I'll just ask Inko for some money and find out where the closest gym is to get a membership there. Recalling the skinny state of my body reminds me that there's a lot of work to do before canon starts, if there still is a canon.

Though I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. Firstly, I should cash in the Rare Gacha roll and get that skill. Excusing myself, I make my way to the bathroom and lock the door.

Inventory. Logically it's the only place the reward could be since it didn't show up in front of me, and the memory orb was also discreetly placed in my inventory as well.

Looking at the 3 half transparent boxes in front of me I see a blue ticket in the first one. Taking it out of the inventory I get a prompt just like earlier.

Use [Rare Gacha Roll (Skill)]?

Yes/No

Quickly pressing yes, I see the ticket tear itself and vanish into thin air.

Rolling

[Wind Magic]

You have been given the power of wind at your fingertips. Keep in mind while its applications are only limited by your creativity, its executions are limited by your stamina and physicality.

That doesn't seem too bad for a rare skill. And wind is cool. What does it mean by my stamina limiting its execution though?

Like how some quirks in this world drain stamina when used.

….so, it all goes back to improving my physique huh?

Well, at least the plan stays the same-

Knock Knock Knock

"Sven, I gotta shower. Are you gonna take a while?" Izumi's whiny voice cuts my tarin of thought.

Sighing I open the door with a mutter "All yours".

As she rushes past me into the bathroom with a quick "Thank you!" I decide to go back to our room to play around with my new power.

I reach the room and grab the All Might figure from the desk and concentrate on pushing a little bit of air from my palm to make it float just a bit over my hand. It takes a bit of concentration, but the figurine starts floating a few inches from my hand.

As it wobbles up and down slightly as I try to maintain steady control, I make note of how I can't see the wind, so it just looks like it's floating there.

The description did say the limit was my creativity…

Concentrating even more I try to make the wind visible, and as I do the wind slowly becomes more visible. As it gains a very slight blue tint, it also looks semi-transparent, the same way water does.

Continuing to play around with the power more, I try to spin the wind in a spiral motion. As the wind slowly begins to twist, the figurine does as well. Now the figure is spinning in the palm of my hand and the wind is in the shape of a spiral instead of just pushing up. Making the wind transparent again, I stop actively thinking about levitating the figure and it falls back to my palm.

I understand what the description meant about physicality as it feels like I just did a set of a forearm workout. With my forearms feeling sore, I realize just how crucial it is for me to start getting into shape immediately.

Besides going to the gym to train my body I'll have to also experiment with this power. The beach junkyard could be a good place to train my quirk, but I'll have to see if Izumi and All Might are using it in this world.

I should also figure out the power scaling of this world, so I have a good idea of how much I want to prepare. And on that note, I should start working on my physique. Heading downstairs I spot Inko doing some cleaning.

"Hey Mom, I was thinking of getting a gym membership to start working out. Could I have some money, please?" She's not as short or chubby as the canon version, I guess not having a single, quirkless child did her good. Maybe a husband helped too.

"Oh, that sounds wonderful! I remember your father started doing that at your age too." She cups her cheek while she reminisces.

As she goes to give me money from her purse she adds "Make sure to find one that isn't too far away, okay?"

Giving her a nod, I grab the money and get dressed quickly. Nothing crazy, just a grey shirt, black track pants, and white shoes. Making my way out I start searching for different gyms I could go to. I quickly found one that's not too far.

Looking up at the sign in front of me "MIGHT GYM" I sigh, putting on my headphones before making my way inside.

- Later -

The gym membership wasn't too expensive. The lady showing me around the gym and who eventually rang me up when the time to pay came explained how the franchise of gyms was mainly advertised as an affordable gym. Citing how All Might in many interviews lamented the struggle of finding a decent gym during his time as a student and thus wished to ensure that whoever wanted to can get a membership and stay healthy.

Not that any of it being cheap would've changed the success of it, even if it were extremely cheap, with All Might being such an influential figure in Japan and even the world. There are even a bunch of gyms opened in the United States and the big provinces in Canada.

After getting a membership I decided to do a full-body workout so my body could quickly get used to the soreness. With some of the money left over from what Inko gave me, I decided to grab something to eat at the convenience store. I'm feeling tired, and a bit mentally drained but not too bad for my first day in a fictional world.

I stop walking when I catch a whiff of smoke. Looking around I noticed an area with a lot of smoke and fire coming from it.

There's no way this is the sludge incident, I mean what are the odds? Especially with so many differences in this universe.

Getting closer I make sure to walk slower as I get closer to the main area, especially as I hear more and more noise, and see more broken glass on the ground. Explosions and heroes yelling out different commands. I look around a corner while I'm crouched down.

The first thing I can see is a big green, moving sludge, it frankly looks disgusting in real life. I can't quite see who it's controlling though the explosions are telling. Considering a quest hasn't popped up yet, it doesn't look like I'll benefit from putting myself in danger here so might as well go back-...

And that's when I step on some broken glass while backing up, shit.

[Emergency Quest]

[Objective: Ew gross, don't get near me Sludge guy]

Reward: x1 Status Recovery

[Bonus Objective: ?]

Sigh

- Shinya Fukumatsu -

Looking at all the heroes surrounding the burning street I realize I'm in a bit more of a bind than I thought. Though I'm keeping them at bay by using this brat's quirk and body as a shield, I can't stay for too long and risk All Might or some other strong hero showing up.

I keep the brat's palm aimed at the heroes and start suffocating him a bit more, just enough to get him to explode. The wood-tard creates a barrier to minimize the damage to the normies behind them, but man I can still see that I did damage even from this far away. This brats quirk is gold!

…. Tsk, its faint but I can hear a helicopter getting close. This is drawing way too much attention; I need to take over this brat quickly- What was that noise? Turning around I see some foreigner brat crouched down…

Someone's tryna be a hero huh. Heh, another hostage to use, maybe I can use him as a distraction to get away with the exploding brat.

The Wood-tard starts yelling "YOUNG MAN!, RUN AWAY!"

The dumbasses panics as he jolts, but it's too late since my tendrils already got-

ARGH- my tendril blasts away before it touches the brat. A gust of wind hitting me afterwards.

His quirk? Damn, I can't waste any more time. I need to focus on taking over the exploding kids body-

"AH SHI- '' my eye! Damn it, what the hell just hit it?! Another blast goes off but it's between me and the exploding brat, fuck he got loose when I got distracted.

A long wood whip beelines through the fire and smoke and latches onto the exploding brat pulling him out before I can pull him back into my body. Shit…

Without my insurance, the heroes are quick to act with Death Arms yelling. "The hostage has been retrieved, surround him now!"

…No, I still have a chance, it's not like they can hurt me in sludge form, I just need to grab the foreigner! Rushing towards him I-

"It's fine now- why?"

Ah shit-

"Because I am here!"

Next thing I knew parts of me are flying everywhere and I'm passing out. Man, this is not my day….

---

Author's Note: So this is my first story ever. Constructive criticism is welcomed since I do want to get better at writing, and suggestions are always welcomed.

This chapter was originally going to be much longer (and there's lots written past this) but I decided to finally get this out in the open since if it didn't happen now I wasn't sure if it would've ever happened.

This story is inspired by many but most notably: are TheDarkWolfShiro and that one MHA fanfiction on Wattpad whose name I can't remember (which I realize isn't a good description, but I'll either find the name by next chapter or explain it better).

For now it's late, and I would like to call it a night. Happy reading!

P.S Man this website sucks when it comes to uploading the story, took sooo long esp with all formatting getting messed up.