I wake up. Not in the clinic, which is a nice change. After all, they say variety is the spice of life. Instead, I appear to be in a blue-black void. Space, more or less. Above me, I see numerous stars, same below me, to my left, to my right, and so on and so forth. I'm not one for believing in heaven, but how else can I explain this? Before me lies a stone slate, approximately 1 square meter large, with sand covering it. The slate is tilted towards me, making me wonder why the sand isn't falling off, but just as I formulate these thoughts, the sand begins to shift. I wait for it to fall, but it seems to defie physical laws, as it just wriggles around, and the common sense, when it begins to formulate words:
[Welcome transmigrator HINT ASA, ID 19292109487211244. Please do not panic. You are in In-Between space. Please wait while we select which worlds we can send you too...In the meantime, we will grant you a system. Please remain calm and say "Status Window" when ready.]
A second passes before I can make myself say it. Then, pulling myself together, I say it.
"Status Window"
A blue, translucent panel appears, instantly.
[
Name: Hint Asa
Level 1
Titles: None
Skills: None
Bodily traits: (restricted access), (restricted access), (restricted access)
]
My heart is beating too fast, so I calm myself down. Regular heartrate. My information looks promising, and the words "restricted access" are enough to provide me with a wet dream. Does it get any more main-character-y? My attention goes back to the slate. Now, a new message is "carved" into the sand:
[It has been detected that this is transmigrator HINT ASA's first time reincarnating. Due to this, we can only display beginner level difficulty worlds. Available worlds:
A:
Aster; Type: Magic, Fantasy; Objective: Defeat demon king; Start at: Current age; WARNING: HOST WILL BE REBORN INTO NEW BODY!
Astuma; Type: Magic, Fantasy; Objective: Defeat demon king; Start at: Newborn
Atlas; Type: Steampunk, Magic, Dark; Objective: Bring down the corrupt organization; Start at: Current age
...]
I look at the sand, and realize:
I'VE BEEN FUCKING ISEKAID!!!
A grin shapes on my face.
It contorts and twists, becoming more and more pronounced. A new world! One with land to explore, people to save, a demon king to defeat or whatever else, powers to gain, and endless rewards just waiting for me! And - tears form in my eyes - I'm free from my wretched condition! I can date, experience thrills, eat unhealthy... the list doesn't end! And, for that matter, neither does the list of worlds. My head is spinning just from looking at the obscene amount of information listed, and I realize I can barely make out the words. The writing is so cramped together on the sand, I can barely read anything... and the list hasn't even gotten to the worlds that start with the letter B! Just as I think this, the slate begins shifting. It promptly expands the script to tens of times its original size, and all of a sudden, a...mouse is in front of me? I don't know what to make of it, but I don't want to offend whatever made it appear, so I crouch and move the mouse. I realize that it probably is there to affect the slate, and have my thoughts confirmed. When I move the mouse, a small hole on the sand moves accordingly. It dawns upon me that this is the mystical, archaic equivalent to a modern pc. I continue scrolling, almost in a trance. So many worlds to pick from! Hours go by, and I've only now reached C. Continuing further, I come to D. And now I'm at E. Right there, third planet to start with E, is the Earth.
Does that mean I can go back? I'm tempted to try, but why waste my one new shot at life on a place I'm familiar with? But something makes me reconsider. Who says it's my only shot? I decide to go over all the information I've come across so far.
"Welcome transmigrator HINT ASA, ID 19292109487211244. Please do not panic. You are in In-Betw..."
That's not it. I shake my head and scour my memory banks.
"It has been detected that this is transmigrator HINT ASA's first time reincarnating. Due to this, we can only dis..."
Well, it is what it is. Nothing useful. Maybe I missed something? Look again.
"Welcome transmigrator HINT ASA, ID 19292109487211244. Please d..."
Still no.
"It has been detected that this is transmigrator HINT ASA's first time reincarnating. Due to this, we can o..."
"...ansmigrator HINT ASA's first time reincarnating. Du..."
"first time reincarnating"
Wow. I really missed that? My self esteem plummets, but I'm still overjoyed. I can experience my home planet to it's fullest - and the other worlds too! I pull up the Earths info.
[Earth; Type: Technology, Objective: Remove planetary tumor, Start at: Current age]
Why not? I chuckle and click on it. The sand begins swirling, and forms a vortex. And now, a blue panel, just like my system, appears.
[Attempting connection... Genetic traces of the host have been detected.]
I look, and realize what's happening. No... WAIT!
"CONNECT, FUCKER!!"
I yell, knowing damn well it won't do jack.
[Due to information indicating the hosts previous habitat, we must perform security measures... It has been detected that the host has previously resided here.]
I'm crushed. No goodbyes? Why should I even explore a new world when I barely know anything about my homeworld? Still, it makes sense. It's stupid to think that one could come back to life - on their homeplanet! What would I do, burst right back out of my cascet if I return? I shake my head at myself. Fucking dimwit.
I'm about to click to exit, when I click on the "Earth" again. I roll my eyes, knowing that I've just wasted a good 30 seconds of my life on this click, as, like previously, a vortex forms.
[Attempting connection... Genetic traces of the host have been detected.]
I sigh. But then:
[Unexpected vital signs detected...]
What?
[Tracing vitals origin... 100% DNA match with HINT ASA, ID 19292109487211244.]
I'm... alive?
[We apologize for our mistake. The host appears to be alive after all. Please wait while we send your consciousness back to planet "Earth"...]
I'm schocked. But it won't work, right?
[Connection successful. Due to the host returning home, we must take back the system. Please step into the portal when you're ready. Your system will be gone when you arrive.]
Wow. I really AM alive! But... I was losing LITERS worth of blood a second... shouldn't I be out like a candle? Meh. Whatever. I don't seem to have a choice either way, so I might as well. This was probably all a delirium anyway, so it's fine. I step into the vortex, preparing to feel the sand grating against my skin, but am pleasantly surprised. I'm going back home.