With a start, the sandy-brown haired man yelled "Did you say dead? I'm actually dead?"
A portion of Obinsal's strange staff clicked and whirled in his hands before he replied. "Maybe, well-you must have. Our System reports that it retrieved your dissipating soul before it could be cruelly erased from your universe and the energy within recycled."
"I don't know what any of that really means, but I know dying seems like it would be very cliche." The sandy brown haired man said wistfully.
The Concierge made an odd noise "I wouldn't dwell on it. It is what it is. The System in your universe must be irreparably malfunctioning, but still operating somehow to act in such a
manner.
I don't know how that could be, but in any event, the scan of your information was unique." Obinsal said, adjusting part of the folds of fabric around himself.
Confused, the sandy brown haired man inquired, "Scan of my information? Unique how?"
Obinsal replied "Yes, your statistics and other information. These readings are incredibly interesting. You could have much potential. See for yourself."
A translucent blue window appeared in the sandy haired man's vision, showing various information:
-STATISTICS-
Name: [null]
Race: "Person-Human" (Human, no subtype, mortal, ancestry unknown-racial information incomplete)
Class: [null] ("Humans" or "Humanity" appear to be unable to truly choose a class, due to their own Universal System performing administrative overrides affecting the entire Race)
Level: 0 (Limiters placed upon the entire Race appear to divert all experienced gained to the System or elsewhere; previous limiters now ineffective due to your former Universal System's lack of authority here)
Experience: 0 (Newborn Universal, Adult Intrinsic)
-CONDITIONS-
Will: 1 - Unrestrained, Unfocused
Body: 1 - Poor, Not Ideal
Mind: 2 - Free, Confused
Mana: [null] (Mana-based applications of any form appear to be inapplicable to Humans)
Soul: Locked, Damaged (Previous Restrictions placed by former Universal System are still unable to be removed at this time).
—
Obinsal spoke again, "Now you understand why I couldn't tell you your own name?"
Seeing the unusual screen and studying it for a bit, the sandy-brown haired man said "Yes, I understand. Can't gather my name eh? Some system. Yet, it can gather all this other intangible data about me and my former Universe?"
Gesturing as if that were nothing, Obinsal offered "Our own Universal System can recognize the works of yours. Like begets like, as they say. It appears you are the first of your kind to ever reach this place, and Tel'Amirin himself has requested that you be one of his Challengers. Though I couldn't say how it is that you currently qualify. I can only surmise for now."
Obinsal's faceplate flashed. "Nonetheless, I suppose I could give you a name. There is nothing intrinsic about a name- in most cases. It is a characteristic that is not attached to your specific physical being in any way."
Obinsal made a gesture, but the sandy-brown haired man couldn't figure out what it meant.
While not having HIS own name felt wrong, the sandy-brown haired man nonetheless said, "I don't mind. Please give me a name."
The lights in Obinsal's faceplate began blinking in what could only be described as a
random and haphazard manner. "Very well. You shall be called 'Lukazio'. Now with that completed, we shall proceed to your Uncoiling."
"That doesn't sound pleasant. The Uncoiling, I mean. The name, Lukazio, its- its fine."
Obinsal faced Lukazio silently through the screen. Holding what Lukazio was already calling the White Noise Staff in his hand, he just stood there saying nothing.
"Shouldn't I wear something?" Lukazio looked at himself awkwardly.
Obinsal still didn't say anything. Lukazio frowned and was taking a breath to speak again when the strange runic designs glowing from the pillars around the room dimmed.
Although they were still glowing, it was not enough light to make the entire room visible.
With the corners now wreathed in shadow, the room took on an ominous ambiance.
Looking around fearfully, Lukazio became alarmed when he noticed the screen showing the Concierge was now blank.
Scanning the room, Lukazio's heart seized in his chest as an eerily tall figure was standing in a corner of the room on the edge of visibility.
There were still no doors, so how the creature entered was a mystery.
It stood there, unmoving and not appearing tethered to the floor in any way. A palpable wave of fear enveloped Lukazio, originating from the shadowy figure.
He stumbled backwards yelling "Obinsal! Er, Concierge, help! There's something in here with me!"
The shadowy figure made as if to take a step forward and was immediately right in front of him.
Lukazio shouted in fright, a short, sharp, bark of sorts. The figure got in his face when lights began blinking where the creature's face should be.
The now-familiar ethereal-mechanical voice replied "Yes, Lukazio, it is I, Obinsal. However, there is no one else, we are alone here in your domicile."
Feeling foolish, Lukazio was angry for a moment before he let it go. "Why'd you say it like that? Sounds weird." He grabbed the woven blanket from the triangle bed.
Wrapping it around himself, he asked "Can't you explain why I'm here? I don't really understand where this is."
Obinsal didn't answer immediately. From the folds of gauzy fabric emerged two arms on the left side of his body. The pads at the ends clasped each other before one shimmered and turned into the odd mechanical staff he carried previously.
"This universe is a sort of crossroads, or perhaps better explained as a lost and found. It is ruled by the deity Tel'Amirin, who is the Authority over the Universal System that presides here."
"This universe, it is filled with beings beyond measure. Too many beings of different kinds, but still they arrive."
"While most are refuges from universal disasters, or wars in other planes, some arrived here through strange mechanisms and alternate devices not understood well. They sometimes cannot return. Due to the energies surrounding this universe, it is easy to arrive, but difficult to leave."
Obinsal's movements were odd, a short teleport-step that brought him to a wall at the edge of the room.
Touching a wall with one end of the White Noise Staff, a section of wall shifted into an opening in the shape of an equal-sided triangle. Beyond the new entryway was a slate-grey metallic hallway.
"In fact, exit from here is nigh-impossible for many. Some with power or special abilities can still manage, but the reason for its status as an interplanar hub of sorts is that some few with great power and cross the void.
Climb the ranks and more time shall be taken to explain things to you. Now follow please."
Lukazio waddled forward with the blanket around him. Despite the awkward movement, they made a brisk pace into the hallway.
He didn't ask Obinsal anymore questions. The creature's answers didn't really tell him much, despite being full of information.
Instead, he pondered his current situation and tried to reason things out from the few clues he had.
Unfortunately, he wasn't sharp enough to figure out more than a few basics:
1. He was trapped in a strange universe after dying. It felt wrong to be here, but dying might have been worse.
2. Humans in his prior universe were heavily restricted by an unknown being. Worse, they didn't even seem to realize it. Not his problem now, though.
3. Finally, he was going to have to compete in some way, fighting or working to accomplish the inscrutable goals of an unknown deity.
If he wanted to learn more or benefit himself somehow, he would have to improve his standing here.
The two proceeded through innumerable halls with their own strange areas. Lukazio passed through hallways of alternating beams of light and felt his body changing in ways he didn't understand.
Obinsal floated over channels of strange fluids and bade him to enter each, unknowing of what each was. Some burned, some were cool, and many were oily or thick.
Again, Lukazio felt things happening to him that he couldn't explain each time.
After many instances of these brief but strange experiences, they reached an open doorway shrouded in darkness.
Lukazio couldn't see anything past the doorframe, but again-Obinsal gestured that he enter.
Lukazio walked through into the darkness and his eyes forcefully closed. Seeming as for only a moment and he was again able to open them.
He was was outside. There were normal houses nearby and and a quiet, empty, street with cars parked in driveways or on the street itself.
Looking around quickly, Lukazio noticed he was kneeling down, tying a shoe while standing on a concrete porch in front of a rundown white and blue building.
The building seemed very old, with an electric sign that dimly read "The Pizza Arcade".
The shock Lukazio felt was huge.
This was a place from his childhood! He stared at everything and wallowed in some of the memories of playing pool (billiards) and eating the delicious pizza inside the arcade.
Shaking his head wistfully, he smiled as he recalled his surroundings from a lifetime ago, trying to recall exactly what might happened on this day.
He was suddenly overcome by a very bad premonition.
Too late, a fist slammed into his right eye from outside his peripheral view. The force was not small and he fell to his side on the left, catching himself on the edge of the concrete.
A nearly two foot drop onto large gravel and the nearby road awaited him if he fell, but he was luckily able to stop his fall.
Surprise, disbelief, and pain were the obvious feelings awash on his face as he tried to clear the sting, and his watering eyes.
He hurriedly stood and turned face his assailant, raising his fists near his face.
An ugly taller boy of probably 11 or 12 stood slightly above him, giggling and scratching his pock-marked nose.
'This really did happen.' Lukazio remembered. 'I was only 9 or 10.'
In his former life, he now remembered this bully; he was highly aggressive with everyone.
While he couldn't remember how this event turned out, or even what this kid's name was, he was certain that this was his first experience with the kid and he hadn't done anything to provoke him.
Lukazio had never even spoken to him before this. But if it was a fight he wanted, then Lukazio would give him one.
Looking himself briefly, Lukazio remembered that he wasn't very big, or strong as a kid.
He'd just have to do the best he could.
Cackling, the older oaf threw a lazy jab at Lukazio, hoping to knock him backward off the concrete this time and perhaps thinking that Lukazio would be too slow to react.
But Lukazio was faster this time as he took a half step back with his right foot to dodge the punch and then immediately jumped forward after the punch missed.
The added extra momentum of his lunge forward as he threw a right hook from the shoulder while rotating from his waist generated much more force than his small body could just throwing a punch.
Almost in slow motion, the bully turned to look at Lukazio's fist in dumfounded surprise.
It was eye for an eye as Lukazio's punch smashed into his assailant's left eye with much more force than anyone could've guessed a small boy like him could produce.
Lukazio didn't waste time with indecision as was sure he had in his past life. Instead he immediately went on the offensive.
His attack had greatly surprised the older boy, who thought the small nerdy kid without glasses would be fun to pick on. Now he was cursing and holding his face.
Though both kids clothes were faded and worn, the small boy had a pair of black shoes with a basketball star in red dunking a ball that absolutely shone with radiance. It also pissed the older boy off and made him jealous, because he knew he couldn't ever have anything like that.
Lukazio's follow up assault left no time for any other thought, as he lowered his head and body and rammed his shoulder into the guy.
Slamming him against the wall behind him, the bully yelped in agony as his back hit the ribbed ledge where many people often left drink containers and cigarette butts.
Lukazio then deftly extracted himself as the bully tried to recover, and throwing a hurried swing at the left side of Lukazio's face with a grimace.
But Lukazio was just getting started as he jumped and swung his left foot at the older kid's head.
If the kid had been standing at full height there would've been no way, as Lukazio couldn't jump very high. But his lowered posture from the shoulder slam made it perfect as the kick slammed into the bully's still-freshly smarting left-eye.
Some grown-ups watching nearby muttered "Holy shit!" as this occurred, but they made no move to intervene. They continued puffing on their cigarettes as they watched the fighting with great interest. [1]
[1] Narrator's note: The adults, several regulars at the Pizza Arcade, all have empty hands. There are no cell phones at this point in time and the internet would've still been unavailable commercially.
For his part, Lukazio knew that, although off to a good start, his smaller body, in this memory, just physically wasn't strong enough to do lasting damage to the other kid.
It showed a few seconds later when the bully recovered somewhat while Lukazio righted himself from his kick.
In fact, the older boy was really thinking that these hits weren't anything close to what he got at home.
The brawl became less defined by skill as the duo scuffled and threw several exchanges of hits and misses.
Dodging a heavy right swing caused Lukazio to awkwardly jump off of the concrete pad of the Pizza Arcade and stumble into the neighboring yard.
The adult mind in the young body began racing to figure out how to end this quickly.