"Dive In."
As Zen's words came out of his mouth, a feeling of weightlessness that made him feel sick overwhelmed his senses.
It was as if he was riding an airplane, but the twist was that the airplane was rolling and performing all sorts of tricks in the sky.
After a while, he noticed that the scenery in his sight changed. From the previous black surroundings with a floating timer, to the now white blank space with grids on it.
As he was observing the place he was in, a monotonous mechanical voice was heard as floating words once again entered his vision.
[Dear player, welcome to the Free World.]
While Zen was shocked at the sudden change of events, the mechanical voice continued to talk.
[You can call me the system. You are not in the Free World yet, as you are not allowed to enter it with your real body.]
[That is why before descending on the Free World, you must first go through a phase called the [Character Creation] phase.]
[But before that, the system would have to scan the player first. Please note that all the player's achievements and expertise in their homeworld could be converted to skills.]
[Scanning, 10%]
[Scanning, 27%]
[Scanning, 59%]
[Scanning, 78%]
[Scanning, 100%]
[Ding!] [Ding!]
[Scan complete.]
[Detected that the player has achievements from their homeworld.]
[Error!] [Error!]
[Detected that the player's skill could not be found within the system database. Now presenting the skill detected from the player.]
{Unnamed Skill
Grade: Cannot be measured
Tier: Cannot be measured
The player's special cells which could proliferate infinitely have given the player the following sub skills:
[High-Speed Regeneration
Type: Passive
The player's special cells have the ability to heal its host at high-speed]
Note: This skill has not reached its limit.}
Looking at the skill he gained, Zen wondered why the description sounded familiar.
Before he could think any further, the mechanical voice sounded again.
[As the System's database doesn't have any record that matches the definition of the player's skill, the system wouldn't be able to give out its exact details and effects. The player can only explore it themselves.]
[Also, as it is the first time such a skill has been recorded in the system, the user may name it personally.]
Zen was happy as he got to name the first skill that he received.
Zen also had the "experience" of playing games in the past, and one of the things that gave him a hard time was when there was a need to name something!!
As such, he took this task seriously.
After a few minutes of reading the skill's description, that was when it hit him.
Zen came to a realization and was shocked.
"Aha!! The skill's description was just like that of when my parents first explained my cancer!"
"It sounds cool and all, but since when did having cancer become an achievement, much less an expertise?!"
Zen was dumbfounded.
"All things aside, I want to have a cool name for my first skill."
"So my cells have the effect of high-speed regeneration huh…"
Zen pondered thoroughly.
"Then what if I name it the [Immortal Cells]?"
[Ding!]
[Detected that the name [Immortal Cells] is available, please confirm.]
'Immortal Cells, immortal cells huh… I quite like the sound of it.'
"Confirm."
[Proceeding…]
[Recording Complete.]
[Detected that the player have contributed to the system's database, the player is hereby awarded with 1,000 merit points.]
"Hmmmm, merit points? It doesn't sound impressive. Meh, it's better than nothing at all." Zen complained like a spoiled brat.
The Zen of the present still has no knowledge about the impact of his merit points in the future….
After a while the mechanical voice sounded again.
[As the system has finished scanning the player, we will now proceed to the [Character Creation] phase.]
As the words of the System sounded, a big mirror appeared in front of Zen.
As he saw his reflection, Zen was flabbergasted.
What he saw wasn't the wrinkled and loose skin, what he saw wasn't the dull and dry hair and most importantly, what he saw wasn't his bedridden self.
Instead, what he saw was a dashing young man in simple shirt and pants with smooth skin, lush pitch-black hair and lively ruby-red eyes.
He also didn't notice earlier, but he was standing the whole time!
Thinking of this, Zen began to unconsciously tear up.
It was what he would have looked like without his cancer. He would have looked just like the man in the mirror if he grew up normally.
"Huh? Am I crying? I'm not that weak…"
As he was not used to having tears of joy after 10 years of suffering, he unconsciously tried to suppress his tears.
But alas, just the feeling of being able to stand again overwhelmed him.
After a few minutes, Zen realized that he had been crying the whole time. He tensed and looked at his surroundings, relieved that no one saw him.
'Damn, I feel like I've cried too much today.'
Zen saw that the mirror was still in front of him, he hurriedly wiped his tears with his arm and said loudly. "I'll go with this."
[Detected that the player has chosen his original look.]
The mirror in front of Zen vanished.
[The player is required to choose their player name. Please note that the player name would be the player's 'legal' name in the Free World.]
Upon seeing the System's message, Zen began to think hard again.
'Hmmmm name… name…'
'Since I have a skill called high-speed regeneration, then my name could come from that…'
'Hmmmm Immortal? Sounds a bit cringey...'
'How about Zombie? Nah, what if there are creatures called zombie in the game. I wouldn't want to cause confusion.'
'Besides, I'm such a handsome young man! Why would I wanna be called zombie!?'
'Aha!'
Deciding on his very own personal player name, Zen said. "I'll go with Deadman."
[Detected that the player name [Deadman] is available, please confirm.]
"Confirm!"
[Detected that player Deadman has finished the [Character Creation] phase. Does the player wish to descend upon the
Seeing the floating words of the System, Zen took a very deep breath and replied.
I am.