Darkness. It's not just an absence of light. Before now he never thought it was possible for something as simple sounding to be so complex and complete. Alex is surrounded completely by absolute and unyielding darkness. The darkness doesn't only affect his vision though. It feels like it encompasses all senses.
"How did I end up here? Where is here even at?" Alex thought.
Flashes of memory started rushing through his mind as the events of what transpired beforehand pieced themselves together.
Death.
This was the conclusion he ended up at. He died living the exact same life that he was born into. Alex made no effort at all to change the unfortunate circumstances that he grew up in. Instead, he chose to embrace the darkness and thrive in it rather than letting it consume him or struggling to change it.
When he was born, Alex only had his mother. Unfortunately, they were very poor. Being an inner-city kid Alex only showed the world a cold and ruthless side that pushed people away from him, keeping anyone from getting close. His mother was the only exception to this. Alex let his mom see the real him.
Granted Alex might have been a cold and violent person to the outside world but deep down he wanted nothing but to be able to provide for and keep safe the people he loved. That only person was his mother. She gave up everything just to raise him and Alex couldn't have been more grateful.
That is why when he realized the reason he had died he wasn't upset at all. Alex died saving his mom so as far as he was concerned there was nothing in the world worth dying for except to protect those you care for. Someone had broken into their home to rob them. Alex acted on nothing but rage the moment the thief pointed a gun at his mother. He ended up getting shot in the struggle but killed the man with his bare hands before he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died himself. He felt that even though he didn't live a particularly long life that the 34 years that he did get to live were enough.
Alex felt like he had been in this darkness for longer than he was alive. He wasn't really sure what this place was but assumed that it was the afterlife since he was dead and all. The longer Alex was surrounded by the darkness the more comfortable it felt. He felt a new and unique feeling, it was almost as if he was becoming the darkness and the darkness was becoming him. That wasn't quite right though. The more he focused on the sensation the more he felt that it was as if the darkness was fusing with him.
Alex didn't understand what was happening to him. He came from modern earth and as far as he knew there was no such thing as supernatural experiences. Alex couldn't help but think about the novels that he used to love to read and how what he was feeling right now almost sounded like what he used to read about in cultivation novels, but he knew that was impossible. After all, cultivation was nothing but a myth right?
Before he could think too much about it he heard a sound and text started appearing in his vision.
*Ding!*
*Congratulations to host Alex Richards for successfully fusing with your first element and awakening the Verse Gate System!*
*Verse Gate System Interface
Host: Alex Richards
Title: Locked
Cultivation Level: None
Elements: Darkness (100%)
Strength: 0 (Host currently has no body)
Constitution: 0 (Host currently has no body)
Dexterity: 0 (Host currently has no body)
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 17
Charisma: 4
Luck: 43
Skills:
None
Cultivation Technique:
None
Verse Points: 0
Ability Points: 0
Stat Points: 0*
"…"
"…"
"…"
"What the hell!!! This can't be real right? I can't be lucky enough to be reincarnated with some kind of overpowered system right?" Thought Alex.
*Yes, host! When you completely assimilated with the darkness element you gained the qualification to fuse with the system. The system is currently looking for a suitable Verse and world for you to reincarnate into now.*
"Wait, what! What is a Verse? There is more than one world with life on it? What do you mean by "completely assimilated with the darkness element"? You can hear my thoughts?" Alex thought. He was completely and utterly dumbfounded by what was happening right now, but he would be a liar if he said that he wasn't excited by the thought that he might get to live a life like his favorite characters from the novels he always used to read.
*Host the only way to explain what a Verse is, is by calling it an individual reality. There are an almost infinite number of Universes or what we call Verses stacked on top of one another. They are usually inaccessible to people from other Verses, but you are different. Now that the Host has fused with The Verse System any and all Verses will eventually be open for you to explore and use to become stronger. There is way more than just one world with life in each Verse. There are so many it is uncountable. By fusing completely with the darkness element you have an unparalleled talent for cultivating darkness. I'm not going to answer your last question either Host. Stupid questions with an obvious answer don't deserve an answer. Host, please prepare yourself, the system has found a suitable Verse and World for you to reincarnate into.*
*Reincarnating in 10…*
9…
8…
7…
"Hold up a second system! What is with that attitude? Don't I get an option as to which world I will be reincarnated into?" Said Alex out loud completely forgetting that the system could just read his thoughts due to his frustration...
6…
5…
…
1…
*Reincarnating Host now to the Naruto Verse!*