Max Clarkson laid down in the small bed in his shabby apartment. He was both terrified and excited.
After 23 years of life, his time was up. How did Max know that tonight was his last night?
5 years ago, the day he turned 18, he received a mythical system. This system was called the Karma System. It informed him that he would pass away 3 days after his 23rd birthday from a heart defect.
The first thing he did was go to the hospital. They found nothing wrong with Max. This, however, didn't change what the system told him.
Max wasn't sure what was happening, but the system informed him that based on the good deeds he did, once he reincarnated, he would have a better life.
Even though he wasn't convinced that he would die in 5 years. Max saw no issue with leading a good life. He had grown up an orphan, so he began to volunteer at orphanages. When he was promoted at work, he began to donate more than just his time, he began to donate money as well.
When Max hit certain milestones, the system would inform him of what his next life would be like. The more positive karma he accumulated the better his next life would be.
At the age of 20, the doctors discovered a defect in his heart with new cutting-edge technology. Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do about it. The issue was in his genetics. Even if he was lucky enough to get a transplant, his new heart would last a few years at most. This disqualified him from the transplant list.
Max redoubled his efforts in gaining positive karma. Every spare cent he had was put to good use. When he wasn't making money, he helped people or volunteered.
Now lying on his bed, Max's only regret was that he didn't have a chance to find love. He was dying a virgin.
Knowing that he had an expiration date made it hard to look for a girlfriend.
Max glanced at his desk. His will was laid out on his desk. His computer was set up to automatically call for the corner at noon tomorrow unless he somehow survived the night and stopped it.
He pulled the blankets over him and waited.
Max felt the world go dark. He knew he wasn't asleep. Could this be the afterlife?
He called out for his system and the panel appeared.
[Max Clarkson]
[Positive Karma accumulated: 89,043.]
[Incoming Karma]
[Having willed your remaining possessions to those in need has rewarded you with 84 Karma points.]
[Positive Karma accumulated: 89,127.]
[Completing final tally…]
[You have altered many lives for the better. Your actions have extended the lifespans of 12,452 beings.]
[Seeing your example, 811 people have begun to help others and will impact and extend many lives.]
[Calculating bonus rewards….]
[Positive Karma accumulated: 341,931.]
[You have reached the S(-) tier. Your next life has been upgraded.]
[Once you reincarnate you will become a successful businessman. Your employees will love you and their positions will be highly sought after. You will lead your chosen field in innovation and will become a billionaire by the time you are 23. You will be blessed with a beautiful and loving wife whom you will adore.]
[You and your partner will enjoy your lives together. Your children will be born healthy, handsome/beautiful and smart.]
[When it is time for you and your wife to pass on, you will be ready and surrounded by loving family. While they will be sad to see you and your wife to go, they will always cherish the time you had spent together.]
Max smiled. It sounded like a wonderful life. Family, wealth, success. He closed his eyes as he dreamt of what was to come.
///
"Oh, what's this here. A soul floating in the void. Let's take a look."
As Max's soul was drifting while being washed of his mortal taint, a figure appeared beside him.
"Now why haven't you entered into the cycle of reincarnation." The man said as he took a closer look at the soul.
"Oh! Now that is something you don't see every day. Sorry friend. While your promised life sounds good. This opportunity is just too grand to pass up. Do not worry though, I will make sure you are compensated for it."
The man pulled a metallic sphere out of his pocket and placed the soul inside. The sphere began to glow with tremendous light.
"Ah ha. It is like I thought. So much positive karma and look at all this energy. Yes, you will be the one to represent me. Let me just…"
The man began to pull out tools as he tinkered with the sphere.
"Yes, 10% will be converted into wealth. See my little friend, you will still be a billionaire."
"Oh, if I take 8% of this power and use it like this, I will be able to unseal all the restrictions."
The man paused as he scratched his chin. "Does this count as cheating?"
He then rapidly shook his head. "We aren't allowed to give our champions anything, but that isn't what I am doing, I am just rearranging things a bit. Yes, yes, not cheating at all. I am not even using my own power to do it."
He then turned back to the soul in the sphere. "Little friend I am going to use 2% of the energy in you to facilitate these changes. While I shouldn't take and use what's yours, I vow that I, Kincaid, will one day make it up to you."
The man continued his work.
"12% over here will give you the proper ability to survive."
"20% to open up the entire market. Little friend, you will thank me for that later. Trust me."
"Ah, can't forget, 15% for your beautiful and loving wife. I wouldn't want to deprive you of what could have been."
"Let's use 1.5% to enhance your mind. Can't have you lose out to those other races."
"Hmm, humans really don't have the best starting point. Let me help you out a bit more."
"5% to unlock all class options."
"3% to enhance and reinforce your mana pathways."
"Might as well spend 1% to give you a larger mana core."
"2.5% to increase muscle density and muscle memory."
"Okay, there is still 20% left. What shall I do… What will give you an edge?"
"Ah, how could I forget. 1% should be enough to give you background knowledge."
"Hmm… Yes, that's a great idea. 15% to enhance the core itself. This should help give you some unique benefits." Kincaid said while using the energy to improve the device the soul was contained in.
"5% left. What to do? Hmm… Maybe I should, no that wouldn't work. What if I… nah, to many draw backs."
"Oh, of course, how selfish of me. I should do something solely for this little friend. 3% should be enough to give you all the knowledge and experience of a top-notch lover and the equipment that goes with it. Hmm, 3% is too much just for that, so the left over will enhance your looks. You're welcome little buddy. You know what they say, happy wife, happy life."
"Yes, then the last 2% will be used to enhance your wife's beauty and figure."
The man stopped and thought. "Is 2% too much? Nah. He will be the master of his domain. It's not like there will be anyone that could cause him issues."
When his tinkering was completed, the man store away the sphere he was working on and the disappeared form the void in a flash.
///
"Kincaid! I thought you were going to be late?"
"Sorry Gemma, just had to make some last-minute changes."
"Oh." The small petite woman asked while looking over him. "Why do you look so smug?"
"I found the best champion."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Everyone says that. Why would anyone choose somebody if they didn't think they are the best?"
Gemma saw that did nothing to diminish Kincaid's smug expression.
"Ah, but mine really is the best. I am not like those other chumps."
She narrowed her eyes. "Did you break the rules?"
Kincaid feigned shock. "Me? Never. I always stay within the rules."
Gemma couldn't help but roll her eyes. "That may be true, but you know how to stretch the rules so far that when you let go, they are limp and sagging."
That caused Kincaid to let out a large belly laugh. Once he calmed down, he spoke. "I swear I did not break any rules. I don't think I even got close this time."
"Oh just tell me already. What has you so excited?"
Kincaid leaned in close and whispered while the last few stragglers entered the large open square where the meeting was being held.
"I found a soul who was bound to a system."
Gemma huffed. "Have you lost it? All souls are bound to a system. That's how they get their class and learn new spells or skills. Systems aren't anything special even if you found a unique one."
"You didn't let me finish Gemma. I found this little guy while I was exploring a universe in the outer realm."
"What? You didn't choose someone from the prime universe? That's…"
"Not against the rules." Kincaid added.
"I didn't even think about looking elsewhere." Gemma said.
Kincaid shrugged. "I doubt anyone did."
"Does this soul have some unique system that is different from the rest then?"
"Yes. Or I should say that he did."
Gemma's eyes widened. "You didn't?"
Kincaid shot her a wink. "I may have made a few adjustments."
Gemma stomped as she huffed. "That is definitely against the rules."
"Ah, ah." Kincaid said while waving his finger. "It would be against the rules if I used my own power to do it. But I used the energy from the system itself to do so."
Gemma settled but she still frowned. "I can see how that doesn't go against the rules but it's still immoral to tamper with a soul."
"Technically, I didn't. I just rearranged the power of the system. And as for the power that was spent to do so. I vowed to the little guy that I would find a way to make it up to him."
"Well, at least you're not a total scumbag. But still, it's not like you can do much with a system. They are so outdated and limited."
"True, but you are thinking about the systems in Prime. I haven't told you the best part. That little guy's system was the only one in his universe."
Gemma started coughing as she realized the implications. "That… that…"
"Not cheating." Kincaid said in a singsong voice.
"But… but… the entire system power of a whole universe focused on one soul… That's so unfair."
"But not cheating." Kincaid said with a shrug.
"Aren't you worried the others will kick up a fuss."
"Nah, the little guy is a human. You know how people always look down on that race."
"Oh, a human? You scared me. I thought you might actually win this competition."
Kincaid just shook his head. "See. I say human and you don't even care that he wields the power of a universe."
Before Gemma could say anything further, a wizened old man stepped onto the stage and scanned the audience. The thousand or so figures before him lowered their heads in respect.
"My apprentices. The time has come, you will release your champions onto Prime. They will have 6 months to establish themselves. Then they will have to complete their first challenge. If your champion succeeds you will be allowed to meet with them."
The figures in the square before the old man began to clamor excitedly. He raised his hand and they quickly fell silent.
"You may release your dungeon cores. After the first challenge we will reconvene, and you will receive the details of the next task. Now go."
Kincaid held the sphere he worked on in his hands. "Good luck little guy. Make me proud."
The sphere began to rise like all the others. When the thousand plus spheres were high overhead, they floated out past the cloud that this city was built on.
When the old man snapped his fingers. The little balls zoomed off in every direction.
Kincaid noticed the old man staring in the direction where his own dungeon core had flown off to. When the old man glanced at Kincaid, the younger man smiled and bowed. When he raised his head, the old man was gone.