In a dark and desolate space, I finally open my eyes feeling the immense chilliness of my surroundings. I couldn't even put to words how it felt as I tried to look around and perceive just where I am and I could've gotten here since the last thing I could remember was me closing my eyes to sleep in my small bed.
While I was trying to think of where I could possibly be, memories of my past started flashing through, it was like watching an old movie based on some important and minor moments of my life.
I was raised by two caring but strict parents that had somewhat high expectations of how I would turn out and my three younger sisters. We lived a pretty good life and never had many financial problems as my father was a quite successful businessman and my mother worked at the ministry of finances, so things went relatively smoothly for us.
Growing up the environment around me was good and I could dedicate my time to studying, but I didn't as I found it very boring and preferred to read novels, manga, or watch anime and cartoons. If I was studying it was definitely because someone made me, but even so, my marks weren't too terrible and I could pass on fine.
Most people around me called me smart, but I never saw myself as such but didn't want to get scolded for being pessimistic so, I would usually not complain and just thank people for the compliment.
My studies aside, I had a pretty standard life, even though my father wasn't present for most of my childhood as he would often be too busy to even look at me, but eventually, he started to be present about when I was a pre-teen, so our relationship was not too bad. With my mother, on the other hand, we were very close and I am very thankful for everything she had ever done for me, as she was the one to teach me most of what I had to understand about myself and my body while growing up. Even so 'The talk' was still handled by my father.
About my sister, we had always been on acceptably good terms, and even though we had many fights we all love each other deep inside.
As I thought of my family, some memories surged up in my mind. How I never learned to ride a bicycle, my seft-taught swimming, my inability to float, my hate for exercise, how I got bullied as a child, my hate for eating fish and seafood... A lot of things came to mind one after too many to even name.
All of this passing by in mere seconds, I could see my first part-time job at a food joint and how horrible it was and almost let a tear out as I remembered how poorly treated I was for minimum wage. This was followed by a bunch of other part times I had taken since my family moved houses quite often because of my parents.
I was just there thinking about some things as I contemplated my 19 years of life at a speed I didn't think was possible.
My eyes closed as I took a deep breath and opened them again remembering what I could be experiencing, not wanting to accept it.
Someone who never even had a real job, just a university student going through his first year. I didn't even have a girlfriend...
The situation made me feel sad, as the possibility of death grew more evident. I couldn't believe it and didn't want to, this was absurd as I was perfectly fine when I went to sleep!!!
I was frustrated and even though I understood that one could die at any moment of their life, I still felt robbed of my life... I never got to confront my father about his negligence of our family, I never got to truly make my mother proud by becoming someone, I never got to admit to any of my sisters that even though they were very annoying I still loved them, I never got to thank what little I had of friends for being there for me when I needed...
All of this just felt cheat! I was not given a chance to live my life and it ended short-lived or at least it seemed to be the case.
Having no idea of how much time passed I finally gave in to the idea that this cold and dark place was the land of the dead, as tears left my eyes.
"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!" My screams resounded and echoed throughout the whole place. My frustration was slowly overcome by sadness for a long time.
Eventually, I had faced the idea and just wanted another chance at any cost.
"Even things go terrible for me, I want to at least complete my life... Please!! I'll do anything!" But as one would expect my pleas fell on deaf ears and nothing changed.
Time kept passing and I somewhat got used to just floating around without being able to do anything accepting it to be my fate as well as how the rest of my existence would go down.
That's when something out of my expectations happened.
[Welcome to the Garos Universe System, you have been chosen to be reincarnated into a new world. Please select your class.]
A floating screen just appeared in front of me and I heard a robotic voice announcing its words in my head.
I was very surprised as I had completely lost hope of ever leaving this place but apparently, there was a way, even so, I was focused on achieving something else.
"Can't I just go back to my old world?"
[The laws of the multi-verse do not allow soul to reincarnate in the same world in the same family or time period. If you were to be reincarnated on earth, it would have to be at least 50 years into the future or the past. There are some exceptions, but none would apply to your case in particular.] The voice explained with the same tone, as my hopes that had just been renowned just died instantly after.
[In addition to that, you have been chosen to reincarnate into a specific world known as Ignus.] It added while I was still trying to digest both the factual reality of my death and the fact I could never go back.
"Is there any way I can go back to Earth?" I asked since I wouldn't lose all hope if there was a chance.
[No. Even though it is possible to travel to different worlds for powerful beings, once one has died with some exceptions which again do not apply to you, will not be permitted to enter a world where they have died. Also in Earth's case in specific, it's a world outside of any system, so it would be impossible to go there, even if you hadn't died there.] the more it spoke, the worse my expression got as I realized my chances of ever going back are none existent.
"I understand..." I say disheartened.
[Now, please select the class you would have to have in your new world.] The voice did not seem to care about how I was feeling as it continued with the same bland tone.
This time knowing I don't have much of a choice since I don't want to stay here forever, I decide to pay attention to what it's saying.
"A class? As in rogue, warrior, mage, or is it something different?" Even though I think know what it wants from me, I still ask just to make sure.
[Indeed, that would be it. There are many classes available please choose from the list.] As it said so, I could see a new screen appeared right in front of me with multiple options on it.
[Class List:
Warrior
Mage
Archer
Rogue
Sorcerer
Witch
Paladin
Knight
Swordsman
Blacksmith
Alchemist
Barbarian
Fighter
Monk
...]
The list was very long and it went on for longer than I thought, but I decided to look at every single one of the classes to chose the one I want the most.
As someone who had played a few RPGs and read enough novels, I was familiar or at least had an idea of what each class was about, and none of them completely satisfied me, as I was starting to think I would have to settle for a class I didn't necessarily want but knew was good, that was until I ultimately found a class that was all I wanted or at least it seemed to be.
For someone who doesn't know how this new world works, it would be hard to know which classes are good.
Having found what I believe is the class I want I finally decide to ask.
"Can I know more about the classes? Choosing from the name only sounds dangerous." I voiced my worry as this was quite obviously a bad idea.
[You will not be given any more information, you will have to learn more about it once you are reincarnated. No individual would get to choose their class in normal circumstances, so what you are experiencing is already a great privilege.] The voice answered letting me know, I don't have the right to any info.
Understanding that insisting would lead to nothing, I decide to go with my gut feeling and choose the class I have been eyeing.
[You have chosen the Skill board user class. Are you sure this is your choice? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change your class later.]
"Yes, I'm sure." I respond deciding that I'll risk it.
[You have acquired the Skill board user class. As a unique class only one individual can have it at a time. No one other than yourself will have it.]
[As part of the Skill board user class, you must now select 3 Paths that will work as the foundation for your subclasses.]
A unique class that only I have... That's great! At least I hope it is, but it can't be bad if it's unique.
Also, what's this about paths?
"Hum... What exactly is a path supposed to be?" I ask as I am legitimately confused by it.
[A paths are similar to oaths or maybe even quotes. They are phrases that will define what kind of subclass you will receive. They are only available for unique classes.]
Hearing that, I had a better idea of what it was but still didn't exactly get how it would work, which made me worried about what to say since it would define my subclasses.
I spent some time thinking about it and trying to find a way to make it favorable to me but in the end, I decided to just go with what I want rather than what I think would give me broken classes, cause once again I don't know the criteria and it could go wrong and two I don't want to try something and then regret it, at least this way even if it's not exactly what I except, it would still be fine since I choose what I want.
It would probably be a stupid decision, but I didn't care and had already made up my mind. I wanted the most basic things that anyone would want, so I was happy nobody was there to hear me say it.
"I want a lot of stats, so I can be very powerful." I say almost stuttering because of my slight embarrassment.
[Will you register "I want a lot of stats, so I can be very powerful." as your 1st path? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change it later.]
"Yes." I respond immediately having already decided previously.
[Please state your next Path.]
As expected the results will only come once all of them are chosen, whoever made this system is probably a sadist.
"I want to be able to get the best items and lots of money" This time I didn't really feel embarrassed and just said it.
[Will you register "I want to be able to get the best items and lots of money" as your 2nd path? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change it later.]
"Yes!" I once again don't hesitate and keep my resolve.
[Please state your next Path.]
"I want to find love and feel pleasure in this life." Saying this with a straight face wasn't really hard, as I had said worse things in my worse weeb years.
[Will you register "I want to find love and feel pleasure in this life." as your 3rd path? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change it later.]
"... Yes!" This time I had a bit of hesitation, but I went with it, then again even if I wanted to change it was already too late.
[You have selected all your paths.]
[You have acquired the subclasses: Stat conquerer, Loot collector, Dual cultivator]
[Systemic imbalance... One of the subclasses is also a unique class. Since it is a subclass some of its perks as a unique class will be revoked. Except for the main rule that no other being other than yourself can have it.]
[Imbalance corrected, you may now proceed and choose one of your 3 paths as your main path.]
I was slightly surprised by things happening but it's not like I have any control so I just wait for it to finish. I was relieved that my second unique class at least keep some of its perks, such as an evil system, it won't even let me have two unique classes normally... Oh well, I better move on.
I don't really know any of these subclasses but they seem like they will work.
Knowing that complaining won't do anything, I focus on my 3 paths and decide to choose my third path as my main path. I thought the path you choose first would be the most important but that doesn't seem to be the case, so I just choose the one that will probably make me the happiest. In the end, what's life without love and pleasure.
[You have selected the 3rd path "I want to find love and feel pleasure in this life." as your main path? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change it later.]
"Yes." As I had already decided to not back down, it wasn't hard to just answer.
[As you have selected your main path, your Ultimate particularity will be generated based on it.]
"Wait what?! I wasn't told about this!" As expected my words were completely ignored and a new message appeared.
[You have acquired the Ultimate particularity: Irresistible might.]
"Just what is an Ultimate particularity?" I asked very curious about this, but not really expecting an answer.
[An Ultimate particularity is an innate ability beyond skills, as it has no clear growth limit as long as you don't have a growth limit, so if you can become stronger, it will as well.]
I just nod my head as I know I won't get much more information out of this thing.
"So, what now?"
[You will be required to design your new appearance. Once you are done, you will be transported to your new world, Ignus.]
Just as I was about to ask, how I'm supposed to do that, a blank mannequin with no features appeared in front of me.
I thought a bit about how I want it to look and it changed to match my wishes, and so I proceeded to make all the changes I could think of. You see, just like any other person I have my own set of wild fantasies I had buried in the deeps of myself, and even though they are not exactly 'normal', well it's a fantasy, after all, they are not too bad as I have seen way worse.
Thinking of some of the things I secretly wanted to try, I modified the mannequin to look androgynous as I like the look and added long platinum hair that covers the left eye. It doesn't look muscular at all but is very well toned even having a six-pack. Following that, I added the more degenerate side of it by giving it breasts and making it hermaphrodite, as it now has the genitalia of both sexes.
I have always had a thing for Futa and this was my way of best satisfying it, not by getting at it with one, but by becoming one instead. I continued as I readjusted the size of the breasts, ass and male genitals to best suit my taste and fantasies. I might later think that this is going a little overboard but right now I'll do what my heart guides me to.
After a bit of back and forth, I was happy with how what would be my new body looked. The body of an androgenous hermaphrodite was what I wanted for myself. I'm sure most men would think I'm crazy and even if I agree a bit, I'll live my fantasy my way and you live yours, your way.
After I was done with the body, I gave it one last inspection, and as I looked at it, its cup E nearly F-sized breast, an ass to match, and a clearly oversized dong. That all wasn't exactly the best match for the height limit of 165cm(5'4) and quite obviously ruined the androgenous ascetic.
In the end, since I didn't want to reduce anything, I instead asked the system if I could make clothes that hide my extravagant body and make me look flat on all fronts. Surprisingly the system agreed, stating that since it wasn't something too difficult, it would let me make clothes with such effect.
Having received ok, bland-looking clothes appeared on the until then naked mannequin, and I started working on them to fit my tastes.
The result was a long-sleeved on the left side and sleeveless on the right side cropped top that reached the top of the abdomen but didn't go any lower and despite being like that, it completely covered my chest and made it look flat, under it is a short-sleeved net top that only left the space between my navel and my lower body uncovered, not that the net top did much covering. On the lower body, it was some swag pants that fit just fine with short-heels on my feet.
Finally, I looked at the purple eyes and smooth dark skin contrasting with the platinum hair and eyebrows with a smile as my soon-to-be body, looked as good, if not better than I had imagined at least for my taste.
"I'm done." I announce satisfied with the end result.
[Body model has been registered, are you sure you want this? Y/N
Note: You will not be allowed to change it later.]
"Yes!" I proudly reply as I couldn't wait to experience my new body. This whole process somehow felt like my little escape from the reality that I had just died and lost everything, after all looking at things from those lenses would bring me no good.
[The process has been completed, you will now be transported to your new world. Good luck.]
As soon as that message was over, I was covered in light and closed my eyes due to its intensity.
Once I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a vast and beautiful forest, with a soft breeze blowing my hair, the grass on the ground, and the leaves on the trees.
I felt quite good being bathed in sunlight but soon decided to move on.
I got up and immediately received a new message.
[You will now have access to your status, it can be seen by uttering the words "Status screen" or simply think of doing so, please do check it.]
"Status screen." I tried it right after being told about it, as my curiosity peaked thinking about what my status would look like. It was probably the little bit of gamer in me.
[Status]
[Name: Ezra Alex Talia
Species: Low-Energy being
Age:19 years old
Sex:Both(hermaphrodite)
Gender: Bigender(50%male, 50% Demi-girl)
Titles: Chosen by the system.
Class: Skill board user
Sub-class: Stat conquerer, Loot collector, Dual cultivator
Affinity: All/any
Level:0
Exp: 0/50
Hp: 5/5
Mp:50/50
Attributes:
Strength:0
Vitality:0
Agility:0
Intelligence:0
Charm:0
Luck:0
Attribute points:0
Ultimate particularity: Irresistible Might
Unique skill: Skill board
Skills:
Synthesis/Dismantle, mana manipulation-lv-0
Magic:
None
Extras:
None]
Looking at my status I was first happy but as I saw that I'm level 0 and don't have many skills, my worries started as I don't know the standard for this world and it feels dangerous to stay like this.
Not having much else I can do, I decided to test my skills since I don't know what exactly they do.
"Synthesis." I said trying to test my skill out.
[Please select two or more skills to be used as skill material to create a new one.
Note: This skill can not be used as skill material.]
After seeing that, I tried to use my unique skill to combine it with my only skill available as skill material.
[Unique skills cannot be modified or affected by skills inferior to them. Only skills classified as unique or above may affect them.]
Now knowing that I couldn't mess with my unique skill, I decided to test it with my Ultimate particularity. I'm curious to see if I can, even though I don't intend to even if I can, as it would have been the case with my unique skill if I could. Not knowing what kind of effect it would have, I can only wait until I have more skills to actually do it.
[The Ultimate particularity can not be modified by any skills or means, even unique skills or above, there are some exceptions but naturally, they only change by evolving or improving according to their user's antics.]
Upon confirming that I can't modify my Ultimate particularity, I decide to move on to the next skill.
"Mana manipulation." As I say it, nothing happens but I feel something, what I would probably describe as a tingly feeling.
"I really wish I had more info on my skills, but the system never gave me a chance." I let out my complaint before moving to the next one.
I decided to try my Ultimate particularity next as I got curious about it, after knowing it's special.
"Irresistible Might." I once again announce my skills and no response came from this one either.
Not knowing how to use it yet, I decide to leave it for later and focus on my unique skill.
"Skill board." Unlike the two before it, this one activated immediately after I invoked it.
Another floating screen appeared before me and I could see many skills in it.
[Skill board
Skill points:0
List of available skill:
Basic swordsmanship
Basic fire magic
Skinning
Tailoring
Cooking
Cleaning
Strength increase
Vitality increase
....]
The list was big and I looked through it for a bit, but I don't have any skill points, so I decided to leave that for later.
I looked at my surroundings and there's mostly a plain field with a bunch of trees on the side, which should lead to the forest and some rocks up ahead.
Some of the rocks are quite big, so I decide to move closer so I can get a better view if I climb one. I move my legs forward and I feel slightly weird, it's as if I wasn't completely used to my body, so I move slowly.
I can feel my newly acquired breasts but I can't see them duo to my concealing clothes that work perfectly, and if I didn't know my proportions, I would think I'm flat. Also, having my hair covering my left eye will take some time to get used to, since my vision is now limited compared to before, but for some reason, I feel aware of my surroundings anyway.
Getting near the rocks took a bit, and as result, I'm feeling a little more comfortable with my new body, it still feels weird but less than a few moments ago.
I found a foothold and started climbing one of the rocks until I was at the top. Once there, I realized that it didn't tire or strain me to climb this rock at all. Is it because I'm not human anymore? I had noticed in my status but I decided to ignore it since it didn't really matter as long as I got the body I wanted, besides I didn't get to choose my race, so I assume the system did it for me and that being the case there's nothing I can do about it.
"Well, I can think of that later." I told myself as I looked around to see if there's a village, town, or city nearby.
Instead what I found is that on the other side of the rock there's a small area surrounded by rocks in which a bunch of blue jelly globs were jiggling and slithering around.
Seeing these creatures I could only think of one of the common RPG mobs, a slime. I wanted to look a little closer since I was curious about these creatures, so I move to the edge of the rock on their side but was too careless and slipped, falling on the grass butt first which was painful.
"Ahhh!" I let out a moan of pain for my dear gluteus maximus.
[Status]
[Level:0
Exp: 0/50
Hp: 4/5
Mp:50/50]
I could see that I lost one hp from the fall and that made me realize just how frail I am right now. If I'm not careful, I might just die in some small accident.
I then closed the status screen, only to find one of the blue jelly globs right in front of me!
"Stay away... I mean no harm." I say as I calmly stand up doing my best to not alarm it.
Once I was up and ready to start running it jump at me faster than I could react, I was knocked to the ground and now had a slime on top of me.
"What I great start to my new life." I mumbled aggressively and sarcastically, as I was in quite the predicament right at the start.