Back in the Marble Corridor.
Viswa is staring into nothingness with gritted teeth and clenched fists. He still cannot swallow the fact that the slave boy has died. He really wished that the boy had lived.
God looked at Viswa without disturbing him for a few minutes.
"Can't you let him go back? He was so determined and so close. He would have at least had a life of a normal human. I don't think that is too much to ask."
God just smiled at his request and replied.
"Viswa, that boy has suffered enough and it is time for him to rest in peace. He fulfilled his destiny and sending him back would be taking his peace away. You might not understand what I am saying right now, but in time you will.
Now let's talk about the mission."
Viswa tensed up a bit. He still wanted to continue talking about the boy, but even God's expression became a bit serious, so he held his tongue back. His instinct told him to stay put.
"Your soul will take over that boy's body from here on out and you will live life as a resident of Asura World.
Your goal is to stabilize this Asura world. A different entity that is on the same level as me has been interfering with the Asura world for a while and the destinies of a lot of people are changing every day because of it.
I am bound by circumstances and cannot interfere directly. At a time like this, I came across some like you.
A soul with a very peculiar destiny. So, I am sending you into this world and I need you to restore the balance.
You can consider this as your last mission as a soldier. After your mission is over, you can live the rest of your life as that boy. Only after you are dead once again, your soul will go through the cycle of reincarnation."
"I am just a normal human soldier, how am I supposed to survive in a world like that? Just looking at the boar almost made me wet my pants."
God chuckled and said.
"Of course, I cannot just make you live there without any help. A guide will be assigned to you and that guide will be in the form of a system.
You know, similar to the ones in web novels back on earth."
"You read those novels?" Viswa asked with a weird expression. He is feeling a mixture of confusion, surprise, and awkwardness.
"Well, I am a fan of everything human and it was just a phase. Anyway, the system wouldn't be the same as the ones in that novel. It would be a bit similar but with its own characteristics and one of those is this."
*Snap*
He snapped his fingers and a young man who seemed to be in his late twenties appeared. He looked young, but he has an aura of an aged scholar.
"Why did you call me?"
The young man looked at God with a frown and his tone sounded dangerous.
Viswa was dumbfounded. He didn't expect that someone would talk to a god like that.
"Come on, there is a human soul here."
"I know there is one, but that still doesn't help me give a crap to whatever you are up to. Just tell me, why you called me here."
*cough* *cough*
God coughed awkwardly and said.
"That soul is the candidate for the task in Asura world. I need you to do the thing that you promised."
"Oh…" The young man turned to Viswa sized him up a bit and nodded slightly before extending his hand and placing his thumb on Viswa's forehead.
Viswa felt like something forcefully imprinted on his brain.
"I am done."
The young man disappeared.
Viswa looked puzzled.
"Say 'Guide'"
God asked with an excited expression.
Viswa was still confused, but he muttered softly.
"Guide?"
A bright light appeared and there is another person in front of them, but this time there is something wrong with this person… particularly the size.
A man who looked similar to the young man that was rude to god appeared in front of them, but unlike before this guy has a black suit, a white shirt, and a black tie with some killer formal shoes. He also had a clean haircut. He is like an agent from Men in Black.
The only problem is he is only the size of a Coke bottle and he is floating in mid-air with his hands in his pocket.
He looked at the god and gave a salute before he turned to Viswa.
[So you are the idiot, I am supposed to guide in Asura world. Sir, are you sure this guy will survive?]
The first sentence is directed at Viswa, while the second to the god.
God just nodded with a smile and the little man sighed.
[If you say so.
Young man, I am your guide. From now on, you can call me Mr. Guide or My Lord Guide, whatever is convenient for you. I live inside your head and whenever you call me, I will appear outside just like this.
Don't worry only you will be able to see me.
My duty is to help you understand the things in Asura World, assist you in reaching the goal of restoring balance there, and also make sure that your stupid head would properly utilizes the guide system god has given me.
Now follow my words and say. 'Status Screen']
Viswa looked at the little man with his mouth wide open.
[See sir, I told you he is stupid. *snap*]
*BUZZ*
The little man snapped his fingers and Viswa felt an electric shock all over his body.
He looked at the little man with a stunned but angry gaze.
"What the f.. hell is wrong with you?"
[*snap*]
*BUZZ*
[Don't talk with such disrespect. Every sentence of yours should end with Mr. Guide when you are talking to me. Unless I let you, you should always address me with respect. Now, say the words 'Status Screen']
"Status screen" Viswa is like a deflated balloon at this point. At this point, he felt like this is all a weird dream and he is in a coma after he got hit. Only he knew that with the bullets he took, he wouldn't be able to survive no matter what.
As soon as the words status screen was called out, a large dazzling holographic screen appeared in front of Viswa's eyes.
It has a dark Sapphire blue interface with white words on it. He saw a bunch of things.
[NAME: VISWA
CULTIVATION LEVEL: NONE
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE: NONE
ATTRIBUTES {LOCKED}
SKILLS{LOCKED}
MISSIONS {LOCKED}
ACHIEVEMENTS {LOCKED}
SHOP{LOCKED}
KARMA POINTS: 0
TICKETS: 0]
As he looked at the interface, Mr. Guide explained.
[In most cases I will explain things with my mouth, of course only if they are important and detailed, but if you want to take a repeated look at some things and some other basic things, you can go through this.
This system interface will have all the records of your survival and actions in the Asura world. Now let me explain what these things are.
I am sure you are not stupid enough to need an explanation for your name, although you look like you need one. The cultivation level is nill because you haven't cultivated yet. You will know what levels are there after you step foot in the Asura world and start living there.
You have to obtain your own cultivation technique, I will help you improve it for a price, but neither god nor I will give you one.
Of course, there are a bunch of human legacies left behind in that world and they were a result of blessings from the gods, I will help you find them and obtain those legacies so that you wouldn't be so weak. Of course, everything is for a price.
Now let's go to attributes.
Since you are so stupid and only have so many brain cells, I decided to give you this panel. This one gives you a quantifiable estimate of your strength, speed, and other physical, mental, and elemental attributes.
Just so you know, the average attributes of a healthy and balanced human that has good physical and mental strength are around 10. Now, you can compare how dumb you are to an average human, when you check your comprehension attribute.
Clear so far.]
Mr. Guide turned to look at Viswa who had a deep frown on his face.
[I knew it. You are really so dumb. You didn't understand even though I explained so clearly.]
"No, I understood every word you said."
[Then why did make a face like you are constipated for a year?] Mr. Guide asked with a frown, it seems like he is ready to snap his finger any moment.
"Why do you keep calling me dumb? You don't even know me."
[*snap*]
*BUZZ*
[That's why you are dumb. I already told you, every sentence must end with Mr.Guide.]
"Why do you keep calling me dumb? You don't really know me. Mr Guide"
Mr. Guide appeared to be satisfied as he replied with a smug expression.
[You died at 28, are you supposed to be smart?]
Viswa didn't even know what to say to that. Even though a couple of responses are forming in his head, he felt like he would only get buzzed more and more as he did.
[Since you say, you understand, let's continue.
Skill column is pretty self-explanatory. You should be learning basic skills after we go there and based on that if you obtain any of the advanced skills left behind by the legacies of previous humans, then I will let you learn them.
Otherwise, you are not allowed to learn those good-for-nothing fancy pansy skills of that world. You better keep that in your mind.
Missions will be triggered at random based on your circumstances, as for achievements they are hidden and if you meet certain conditions they will reveal themselves. You might have some rewards or punishments based on the achievements you have.
The shop is where you exchange different things with me. I don't take a currency that belongs to Earth or the Asura world. We have a special currency.]
"Special currency? What is it, Mr.Guide?"
[*snap*]
*BUZZ*
[Why are you in such a hurry, that's what I am about to explain next.]
Karma points and tickets. Those things are the special currency I am talking about. First, let's talk about the tickets.
Tickets are something that you can earn either through some special achievements or by completing some missions. Tickets are special, even without my explanation you will understand when we get one.
As for Karma points, they are my favorite things.]
Guide paused and turned to Viswa.
Seeing that the latter is silent he nodded in approval and said.
[You are not a person that is supposed to exist in this world and everyone in Asura world has a destiny of their own.
So, because of your interference, a lot of those things are going to change. Someone might have to do some bad things when they are eighty and it would give them some negative karma.
But if that guy is dead because of you, the negative Karma he should have gained would be your positive karma.
So, let's just say you killed a person that was supposed to commit enough murders in their destined future to accumulate 100 points worth of negative Karma, then you will get 100 points worth of positive Karma.
Of course, the reverse is also the same, if that person is supposed to save enough people in their destined future to accumulate 100 positive Karma points, you will get 100 negative Karma points.
And the number of karma points in your possession will determine a lot of circumstances for you. The only thing I would say is it is always better to have positive Karma, of course, I prefer that you have negative most of the time.
It is very rare for a person to be absolutely good or absolutely evil.
So, when you kill a person or change an event from its supposed course, you will be rewarded with both positive and Negative Karma and whatever the net is for them, that is what you would accumulate.
You understand.]
Viswa nodded as he digested all the information.
This is an information overload, but he understood almost all of it. At least, he doesn't have to stay confused after he entered the Asura World.
By now, he resigned to his fate.
[Seems like you understood. Now, let's start.] Mr.Guide said and the screen shifted.
[MAIN MISSION TRIGGERED
RESTORE BALANCE TO THE CHAOTIC ASURA WORLD
DURATION: -
REQUIREMENTS: VISWA, THERE IS MORETHERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO RESTORE THE BALANCE OF THIS WORLD. YOU MUST CHOOSE YOUR PATH.
1. CONQUER THE WORLD UNDER YOUR REGIME.
2. HELP THE WEAK FIGHT THE TYRANT AND WELCOME A NEW WORLD.
3. HELP THE TYRANT DESTROY THE WEAK AND SOLIDIFY THE EXISTING WORLD.
4. DESTROY THE WORLD AS IT IS NOW AND START ANEW. (GUIDE'S PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION)]
Viswa's eyes opened wide like saucers. He took a step back as he looked at the choices in front of him. He turned to Guide who seemed to be impatiently waiting for him to choose and then he turned to God only to be dumbfounded.
He didn't know when, but God is already sitting on a chair with a bucket of popcorn in his hands. He doesn't seem to have any intention to help.
[Okay, okay. Don't look like such a wimp. You don't have to make your choice now. It is your primary mission and wouldn't be completed any time soon. You can make your choice after you experience enough of the Asura world.
Or based on your actions, I will pick one choice for you. Now, let's not disturb the god any longer and get going.]
[*snap]
With another snap of the fingers, the interface, Viswa, and guide all of them disappeared.
After a few seconds of blankness and loss of senses, Viswa finally came back to himself, but for some reason, he felt his whole body sore. Not a single muscle is not hurting.
He felt tired beyond belief and he doesn't even have any energy to open his eyes. He also felt wet and damp all over with some sharp sensation all over the rear of his body.