[Ray's POV]
'Lianne, tell me everything you know about the original owner of this body'
I sneakily exited the warehouse.
The workers provided no more useful information and their laughter was slowly getting on my nerves.
I started walking towards the downtown area, where the streets are the busiest.
'I do not have much information other than what I picked up along the way.'
'Just tell me what you know.'
'Understood.
This body belonged to a person named James Windsor. I was incharge of deactivating the older soulframe and installing your new one.'
'What's a soulframe?'
'It's basically what humans call soul. It's like a backup of your tangible existence and helps establish connection with the higher dimension.'
'Where and why did you do that? Are you allowed to answer this or do I need to clear some other Task?'
'With you clearing the First Task, you have proved your worthiness to challenge the Trial of Destiny. I am now fully allowed to cooperate and answer everything you ask to the best of my knowledge. Regarding your question, I was designed to assist the user of my system to the best of my capabilities. As I was instructed, I descended to Earth, near the hills on the outskirts of Reji city. There, I found the human named James Windsor's dead body on top of a tree. His body was completely destroyed. The crash had crushed his ribcage, broken his fingers, split his skull open alongwith major fractures of the lower limb and third degree burns covering greater than 70% body surface area. There were also multiple lacerations and piercing wounds. Signs of postmortem putrefaction were also present..."
'Okay, I get it. He died. Then what?' I didn't need the gore details.
'When I first scanned James' brain, I noticed that he had Autism. He also had multiple aged bruises all over his body indicating previous trauma. His body was frail and malnourished. His BMI was 16. I used the medical knowledge provided to me, to repair his broken body and I also added and tweaked a few things. I restored his body to as much normalcy as I could after researching my database to get a good reference point.'
And here I was thinking that this James dude was like a Gary Stu. He had everything. Deep pockets and enough money to kill himself while driving a supercar.
I guess I was stupid in assuming that.
'Hm..'
I looked at my body.
It looked flawless. It wasn't too muscular, or too skinny, just the ideal amount of lean.
Lianne continued, 'After that I formatted the pre existing data and installed the new soulframe. I ran a few elementary tests of walking and hopping to check whether everything was functioning properly. My next task was to bring the body to the designated location and await further instructions.'
So that's how I came to that rooftop.
'You did a great job, Lianne. Thank you. Your skills are extraordinary', I was truly in awe of Lianne's skills.
Lianne seemed to like my compliment, as she replied, 'It's nothing, Ray. It's only my duty.'
Her words were neutral but her voice gave her away.
I didn't know robotic voices could sound so human.
The highs and lows were in perfect harmony, giving her voice a sweetness, unlike what could be expected from a machine. Her voice was efficient, fluid and nuanced.
Humans naturally pause for actions such as inhaling, exhaling, swallowing, and starting over again. These pauses help create rhythmic, natural-sounding variations in speech.
When I first heard her voice, it wasn't as crisp and natural as it sounds now.
She learns fast, which means that she could be faking her emotions right now.
'However, this is just my personal recommendation, Ray. You should train your body and become stronger. The upcoming tasks won't be easy '
'Wasn't the First Task of Destiny easy? I think the rewards I got are pretty overkill. 3 skills from such an easy task, that's illogical.'
'You weren't meant to clear the First Task, Ray. Your chances of clearing it were less than 1%.'
I knew that already.
Lianne explained further, ' A person's destiny isn't easy to change. And it is literally impossible for a mere human to do so. To meddle in the affairs of higher beings is equivalent to sentencing yourself to damnation. Everytime the Wheel of Fate turns, multiple Gods are involved. Although none of the Gods, other than Lord Destiny the Great himself, are in charge of making the events turn out exactly how they were prewritten, any altercation in the course of Fate or change in the final Destiny of anything will significantly hamper the ways of the higher beings and it may anger many Gods.'
Cold shivers ran down my spine.
Lianne explained more, 'For instance, in the First Task, you preventing Enna Kimura's death should have angered the Great God of Death. The only reason you weren't cursed with the widely feared Curse of Dark Death, was because of My Lady, Goddess of Beauty herself. I do not know why Her Grace decided to side with us but we should be grateful for her help.'
Lianne speaking as if we're in this together calmed my uneasy mind. I was weak.
I had entangled myself in something beyond comprehension.
I asked her, 'If that were the case, then why did the First Task ask me to do something apparently impossible?'
'Because that is how the Trial of Destiny works. You challenge The God's authority and show that you are capable enough to be noticed by a higher being.'
So I was in an interview, basically.
I was pissed. I was forced here against my will. And I was asked to play with my life on the line?
'What happens if I quit?'
'You can. However, you'll lose your current memories and also the chance to get awarded the highest honour a contender gets when they clear a Trial.'
'And what exactly is that great reward?',
'Since in this Round of Games, Lord Destiny has been appointed as the Chief Organiser, his Grace holds the power to grant your greatest wish. Normally clearing a God's Trial bestows you with abilities and divinity to rise in rank and reach the higher dimensions. You may also be appointed as a Divine Being in a God's domain. Countless contenders participate just to get a chance to be noticed. And the possibility of having your greatest desire fulfilled would naturally be very attractive to every participant. That is why you should think twice before withdrawing from the Trial of Destiny.'
'You speak of some kind of Game. What happens if I win that?'
'You can become a God.'