Rey Skylar.
A regular 16-year-old boy of average height, average build, and an overall look that blended into the crowd.
He wasn't a stranger to his classmates, but he wasn't exactly the life of the party either. Grades? Nothing exceptional. Friends? There was only one person he talked to on a regular basis, the rest he barely knew.
In school, Rey embodied the essence of average. And to a certain degree Rey didn't mind that. Sure he would love to be popular, to be smart and a prospect for greatness.
But why though.
Just passing is enough, when he could spend his time playing games and watching anime. Rey used to study really well in his earlier grades, but at one point going up 1% even when you are already in the upper echelon of grades seemed… worthless.
Why should he put as much effort as he put into getting 75% into going from 94% to 95%. It all seemed like numbers with no meaning in the end, and he had no real goal.
The idea of being popular appealed to him every now and then, but then he would just be another one of 'them'. He would have to continuously go out of his comfort zone and that scared him to be honest. It seemed tiring.
So, he would rather keep to himself.
However, now that he was standing beside Alicia and Adonis, he was beginning to feel a little inferior—perhaps even less than average.
'This whole thing is a fluke. I didn't even raise my voice when I asked that question.'
He looked over at the angel, who still fuming over what Acela had done.
She seemed annoyed and even worried. Muttering things like 'trouble' and 'unallocated karma'.
He didn't really understand the problem. So, what if a student didn't obtain a power in the beginning. He found it hard to believe that she truly cared for her classmate's well-being.
He still admired how daring Acela was, her figure as he stood up to an eldritch being like her was still etched into his mind. Everyone would probably be murmuring like crazy, if the goddess didn't take away their ability to speak.
Now they just had to wait, as the goddess seemed to be looking elsewhere with glowing golden eyes.
Having played quite a few games himself, Rey knew how crucial these choices were in shaping a character's journey.
Rey knew that Skills and Classes in games always aimed for a balance, ensuring fairness for all players.
But this wasn't a game; this was real life, where unfairness was as common as breathing.
Suddenly, the angel's enchanting voice pierced through his thoughts, pulling him back to the incredible reality playing out before him. She always seemed to switch from alluring and absolutely terrifying.
Among the boundless clouds, there they stood - Rey and his classmates - face to face with the creature in white.
Her pure white countenance was accentuated by intricate golden patterns on her attire, and her constantly flapping wings contrasted with her still and stable appearance.
Her gleaming golden eyes held an otherworldly beauty, resembling the most precious of gems.
It was his turn now.
"Come here" the thing in white announced, her gaze fixed on him.
Rey's heartbeat raced the instant he locked eyes with the angel. He regretted instantly. And before he knew it he was lying on the floor being helped up by Billy. Luckily, she had averted her gaze first, or he might have truly gone insane.
'Whew!'
He got up slowly after thanking Billy and with each step nearer, his heart thudded faster in his chest.
~VWUUUUSSSHHHH!~
As the radiant light encased them both, Rey felt his heart race even faster, now that it was just the two of them. He could finally speak now.
The closeness intensified the emotions within him. The fear, the danger… all of it only seemed to intensify the feelings.
'What am I doing...?'
Rey's mind raced, aware that he shouldn't entertain these thoughts—it might come off as creepy.
However, before he could rationalize further, a jolt of shock surged through him at Seraph's unexpected words: "Quiet those thoughts of yours" She said calmly.
"E-eh...?!" Rey's response was instinctive, his gaze meeting the disapproving glance of the Angel before him.
An uncomfortable silence hung between them, stretching into unbearable seconds.
"I-I'm sorry..." Rey finally managed to mutter, the weight of the silence pressing down on him like a heavy burden.
Well, some of the thoughts he had shouldn't be entertained at all. So, he truly was apologetic at having subjected her to it.
"Let's just get this over with," Seraph sighed, her words hitting Rey like a blow. It felt as though he were nothing more than an inconvenience, a throwaway piece.
'It's fine. I deserve it. Besides… I'm used to being ignored.'
Rey, accustomed to being met with disinterested or disconcerted gazes due to his easily overlooked personality and appearance, found this treatment nothing out of the ordinary.
It seemed she had already forgotten everything that just happened.
Finally, Seraph revealed, "Your total Karma Points are 57. That's pretty average, all things considered."
'57? But it was a hundred at birth... How?' Rey's mind raced with questions.
According to Seraph, Karma Points were reduced based on the negative perceptions people held towards a person.
'But I've been pretty cordial with everyone.'
Was this yet another unfairness of life? The fact that people could hate a person or hold negative impressions of them for just existing.
'Will 57 Karma be enough for decent Skills and a good Class?' The worry gnawed at Rey, looming large in his mind.
Seraph summoned a massive translucent blue board. It displayed a lengthy catalog divided into two sections: Skills on the right and Classes on the left, neatly categorized by their Tiers.
Observing the abundance of Skills compared to Classes, Rey deduced, 'Skills outnumber Classes, probably because we can choose only one Class but multiple Skills.'
Taking his time to scrutinize the vast System Window before him, Rey noticed Seraph wasn't hurrying him along. His theory about time slowing down within this realm seemed to be spot on. This realization eased his nerves, allowing him to focus on the daunting task ahead.
'Now that I've reached this point… which one should I choose?'
Rey mulled over his options, starting from the bottom of the list, well aware of his limited 57 Karma Points.
'Okay, F Tier Skills are just 1 or 2 Points. E Tiers won't exceed 5 Points. D Tiers cap at 10 Points. C Tier stops at 15 Points. B Tier is at 25 Points, and then A Tier jumps to 30 Points. S-Tier is... whoa! I can snag one for 45 Points!' Rey was surprised at the possibilities within his reach. He realized that even an S-Tier Skill was attainable if he strategized.
'But that'd leave me with a lousy Class,' Rey realized. Conversely, opting for an S-Tier Class would mean weaker Skills, creating a dilemma that begged for balance.
'Balancing both is the smart move for a good build,' Rey acknowledged, recognizing the need for equilibrium between Class and Skills.
'SS Class starts at 60 Points. Out of my league,' Rey sighed. The most expensive S Class was about 59 Points. He knew chasing after something beyond his reach was futile, but curiosity compelled him to explore further anyway.
'SSS-Class is 80 Points upward. That's insane! Some of them even require all your Karma Points. Who would choose them?'
Rey marveled, eyes scanning the dazzling options before him
He could see a lot that was really cool and tempting. The power to obliterate anything, that was seriously tempting.
And invulnerability against any harm? That was hard to resist. Rey mused, maybe that invulnerability was worth everything else; at least he'd be safe, right?
'But it costs 85 Points. I can't afford it…'
In the end, he settled for the B-Tier selections. Perhaps even a dip into the C-Tier for a broader range.
Being a one-trick pony wasn't really what he wanted, but Rey figured having multiple Skills for versatility was the smarter move.
His gaze drifted downwards, ready to explore, until it snagged on something amid the SSS-Tier Skills.
'Hold on… this is…'
It was a Skill.
'T-this is…!'
The Skill was incredibly expensive. It seemed impractical, as it would demand absolutely everything from anyone who dared to acquire it.
"I have a question, Seraph," Rey ventured, his gaze locked onto the Skill before him.
He noticed a faint frown crease on her brow when he summoned her without the usual reverence, skipping any honorifics in his address.
At this point, Rey couldn't care less. His focus was solely on the answer he sought.
"What's your question?" Seraph responded, barely hiding her irritation.
At this point, Rey wasn't concerned about appeasing her.
In the end, she couldn't hurt him.
"This Skill…" Rey gestured toward the SSS-Tier Skill in question.
"It mentions costing 100% of initial Karma Points. Does that mean it doesn't matter how many Karma Points I have? Whether it's one or ninety-nine?"
Among the array of SSS-Tier Skills and Classes sharing the same description, Rey's eyes remained fixed on one for a singular reason, a reason that set his heart pounding fiercely.
"Hm? Oh, that one…...yes" Seraph's tone said as if amused he would make such a choice.
However, before Rey could hold his breath in anticipation, Seraph continued, "Indeed. However, since it refers to initial Karma Points, the moment you make a purchase, those points are no longer accessible.".
In that instant, excitement welled up in Rey.
'Even someone with an average Karma Point can get an SSS-Tier Skill!'
Rey's mind raced, his concern about the accompanying Class taking a back seat to his burning desire.
He read through the details of the skill.
[Skill Details]
[Wish]
Tier: SSS
Ability: This unique ability can only be used once. Allows the user to create a story when 'Intersection' occurs.
Cannot use any other Class except Commoner while in possession of this skill.
Cannot gain Aspects.
Cannot break promises.
If you kill any of the world's inhabitants, you will lose this skill.
[End of Details]
'It makes a strange kind of sense, that a skill on the realm of gods would have such restrictions for it to be so freely given.'
Especially the part where he couldn't kill someone, he would essentially have to take a backseat to combat and perform support tasks before he finished using this skill.
There was also the fact that it was a one-use ability, what if he used it one big boss battle and then he never got its benefits again...?
He didn't know what aspects were, and he didn't think the angel looked willing to answer anymore questions, but it's still another weapon taken from my future arsenal.
But, he could almost see what would happen if he didn't take it. He would slowly realize that he didn't have the gifts or mentality to strive in this new world and would eventually fall back on being some kind of foot soldier or Extra... just like in his old world.
'So, for the sake of escaping this boring life of mine...'
'I will take this godforsaken gamble.'
With a near-manic grin, he pounded the selection with such fervor that his fingers trembled.
"I choose this!"
"Are you really sure?" Seraph's words carried a note of caution, a vibe that made Rey pause.
Her face mirrored her concern, telling him what she thought about him trying to acquire this Skill. But since when did he care about her wishes?
"Absolutely!" Rey's certainty surged within him.
He would probably regret this eventually.
He could almost see it. His future-self begging him not to make such a foolish mistake. To take the straight path rather than risk it all in a gamble.
But he would just end up with the same old life, the same old boring routines and conversations.
'Change requires courage, even if it means falling of the path.'
Whether he ended up with a decent Class was no longer his primary concern; all that mattered was this Skill.
"Okay, then. Now that you've bought the SSS-Tier Skill, [Story], you will have to permanently become a Commoner." Seraph's confirmation echoed what Rey already knew.
"Are there any benefits to my class?" Rey's curiosity drove him to ask.
"None. You're just a commoner," Seraph replied matter-of-factly.
"Ah..."
Disappointment tinged Rey's voice. What did he expect? Just with the name, he should have expected such restrictions.
"We're done here," Seraph declared, brushing off Rey's inquiry with a casual wave of her hand.
The veil of light enveloping them faded, revealing the world around them.
'So, this is what Adonis and Alicia experienced, huh? I wonder what Skills and Classes they chose.' Rey pondered, his thoughts drifting to his companions.
With their popularity and charm, Rey speculated they likely possessed at least one S Tier Skill and rested comfortably in the A-Class league.
'Maybe they even aimed for the SS or SSS Tiers,' Rey mused. Their karma probably afforded them such options effortlessly.
'I don't know if they chose to give up all their Karma Points for only one Skill or Class, though. If that's the case, they'll only have one power. Or maybe… well, who knows?'
"Next," Seraph's call jolted Rey from his reverie, prompting him to step away from his position.
In the midst of it all, he realized his hand was no longer clasped with Seraph's.
'Well, chances are I won't see her again…'
Rey accepted the likelihood, pushing thoughts of Seraph aside and focusing on his new Skill.
'There's so much to do.'
********
Finally, when the last selection was made, Seraph, now positioned to their right, turned towards them.
A smile graced her face, visibly relieved to be finally done with the students.
"As Otherworlders, you'll intuitively understand the language you first encounter and possess considerable benefits compared to the natives. But remember, wield your powers responsibly," Seraph emphasized, her words resonating with many while others sported mischievous expressions.
"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Never forget that. Watch out for one another and this world you've been summoned to," she advised, her tone carrying a weight of caution.
For some, it was now sinking in—the realization that they were truly departing for another world. The elegant gate behind Seraph swung open, her hand gesturing toward it.
"You may now pass."
It seemed that not everyone was confident in their ability to survive the trials that awaited them.
As the students moved forward, a blend of confidence and uncertainty propelled them toward the unknown. Adonis and Alicia took the lead, followed by the rest of the group in their wake.
And then, in a radiant beam of light, one by one, the students vanished from the expanse. With their departure, the domain now stood empty of their presence.
********
'Whatever happens next is none of my business!'
Wearing a deliberately sweet and oblivious smile, Seraph unfurled her wings and soared high above the cloudy platform. Her ascent enveloped everything beneath her in a misty haze.
"I wonder how they'll react once they discover what's in store for them," she chuckled to herself, finding amusement in the situation.
The thought brought a smile to her face as she ascended further, leaving the students and their fate behind.