I assure you that it's not often that someone will describe the sensation of dying, especially from a nuclear bomb. Well... it's quick, nothing special either. I think my pain inhibitors spared me from any feeling. What I didn't expect is that I'd still be conscious.
Apollo wasn't responding, so my brain was definitely affected. The implant should have kept it functioning at all costs. Besides, I can't see, hear, or feel anything, but surprisingly, my mind remains intact.
It must have been about half an hour since everything happened. I guess the thought acceleration implant was activated instinctively and is prolonging my farewell to this world.
<<"Crossing complete... initiating character creation system.">>
What?! Was that Apollo? His voice is definitely more feminine than I remembered. Did he mention something about a character? The implant must have glitched. My boss will kill me.
.
.
.
Okay, much more time has passed, I don't know how much, but I know it has. I've been meditating in silence, reminiscing about my life—everything I did and didn't do. Truly, it's like watching a movie in your head when you die. But it is still sad to have not lived longer, I suppose it were some good two hundred years. Despite it all, I have no regrets. I'd kill each one of those damn terrorists again if I had to live my life over.
<<"Understood. Epic Skill Acquired: Assassin.">>
What the hell was that? A skill? Apollo? Work, robot! What happened to your system?
.
.
.
Even more time has passed. I'm definitely not in standard thought acceleration; it only makes time 10,000 times slower, so one second would be equivalent to about 2.5 hours. But I've been stuck here for much longer than just one day.
My death probably took a maximum of 10 seconds—no, maybe 5 seconds after the explosion. I was right at the epicenter; there was nothing left. But it's been more than 24 hours; I'm sure of it.
Seriously, it's suffocating—even though I'm not breathing. I miss my implants and all the conveniences they provided: the enhanced body, the heightened senses.
<<"Understood. Common Skill Acquired: Extra-Sensory Perception.">>
Oh, Apollo, I've missed you! Even though I can't speak, you still hear me—even if your name doesn't quite match your now-feminine voice. Should I start calling you Artemis?
Anyway, you gave me a common skill this time? Could be better! As if that matters—I should have prepared better before entering that office.
<<"Understood. Epic Skill Acquired: Preparation.">>
You're really glitching, man. Explain to me, did the State save me? Are they going to clone me or implant my brain into a snake or something?
<<"Understood. Preparing skills from the Ophidian Physiology set.">>
<<"Estimated duration: 1680 hours.">>
What? Are you telling me I have to wait 1680 hours for you to work again, you damn thing? I can't sleep here, you know?
.
.
.
He wasn't kidding. I think I'm starting to lose it; it can't be standard thought acceleration. I've lost track of time, and I swear I'm feeling a bit cramped and strangely warm. I miss my friends, I miss my family, I miss everything, even that gross soda they used to sell at the headquarters.
I don't know how much time has passed—really, I've lost count ages ago. Apollo hasn't said anything more, and I've been in the dark since then. I feel increasingly confined, which is damn uncomfortable.
<<"Preparation complete. Do you wish to acquire skills from the Ophidian Physiology set now?">>
<
I couldn't believe what I was seeing—two translucent buttons with reddish hues and details reminiscent of royalty. It's the first thing I've seen in an eternity, and it made me so happy.
Without hesitation, I mentally chanted "Yes" in every way I could. It was almost liberating to feel that I had some influence in the world again—I wasn't just in a coma.
<<"Acquiring common skills: Stealth, Thermal Senses, Poison.">>
<<"Fusion available. Do you wish to sacrifice Thermal Senses and Extra-Sensory Perception to acquire an Epic Skill?">>
<
Was there even any doubt? If both essentially do the same thing, theoretically there's no reason to keep both. Yes!
<<"Understood. Epic Skill Acquired: Sixth Sense. Common skills sacrificed. One skill remaining.">>
And when I acquired this skill, something opened before my eyes (if I even have eyes). I'm in a cave—I don't know how I know, but I do. Moreover, I'm inside a burrow; there are some eggshells here. I feel quite cramped, and incredibly, I'm inside an egg.
My first instinct was to try to escape, and the egg began to crack—it didn't seem very resistant. My head emerged, and despite the darkness, I could perceive my surroundings. I need to get out of this burrow to see my body. Hopefully, I'm not a chicken or something. Anyway, I can finally do something other than meditate in the dark.
It took some effort to crawl out of the hole where I was. Additionally, I couldn't move my arms or legs, which was somewhat uncomfortable. But it was worth it because the moss in the cave emitted a natural flickering light—enough to see my body. And, man, I'm speechless.
I'M A DAMN SNAKE!!!
Come to think of it, I'm a thinking, talking snake. Am I like the serpent in Genesis? The one that offered the fruit to Eve or something? Did God condemn me for killing people?
<<"Understood. Legendary Skill Acquired: The First Sin.">>
<<"Requirements fulfilled. Character role acquired: The Antichrist.">>
What? A role? What are you talking about, Apollo? Artemis? Whatever. What does this mean? I'm an christian; I can't be the Antichrist.
<<"Understood, my lord. Since you don't want me to call you that, how would you like to be addressed, Little Horn?">>
Little Horn? What does that mean? Look, just call me by my name—what was it again? Ah! You know what, I'll invent a new one. I'm a snake, right? Asclepius it is! Just like that greek guy that had a snake!
<<"Understood. So you wish to assume the mantle of one of the lesser gods, my lord. Let it be Asclepius, then.">>
It's a long name, isn't it? Call me Ascle; that's how I'll introduce myself to others if I ever manage to speak. So, Apollo...
<<"No, by no means, Lord Ascle, you cannot call me Apollo. I can't by any means be considered your father.">>
What? Oh, you're speaking in mythological terms, right? I had no idea Apollo is Asclepius' father. Fine, Artemis it is, then. Since your voice is feminine, should I consider you my aunt? Does that make you happy, Artemis? Apparently, my implant came with me to this world, albeit differently.
<<"Apologies, sir. I gladly accept the name, but I don't understand what you mean by mythology and implant.">>
That doesn't matter for now, Artemis. Could you explain what's happening?
<<"Ah, of course! Would you like the short or extended version?">>
Extended—it's not like I have anything better to do in this cave anyway.
<<"Very well, let's start with the terminology I mentioned before gaining consciousness. 'Skill' refers to your power to influence the world in a specific way. As a reincarnated individual, I believe you've never seen anything like this.">>
Reincarnated?
<<"Yes! A brave warrior invited to live in our abode, coming from another world. You've received skills; among the common and easy-to-understand ones are Stealth and Poison. They'll undoubtedly become deadly weapons in your hands, sir.">>
Okay, up until now, I think I understand. It's quite strange to be a snake standing in the middle of a cave, talking to one's own mind, isn't it? Well, ignore me and continue.
<<'You have also received Epic Abilities, 3 to be exact, truly incredible, milord. The Assassin has the following 3 functions:
Bloodlust: Allows you to regenerate any damage to your body by consuming living creatures.
No Escape: You can use the souls of creatures killed by you.
Hunter: You can acquire abilities related to hunting a certain type of target as you eliminate the same type of target.'>>"
So, I reincarnated into this world and received this super insane ability right off the bat? I guess I'll miss my old life, but I'm liking where this is going. What can I do with souls?
<<"Currently, the only use for souls is to consume them. I'll let you know if any other use arises in the future.">>
You mentioned something about gaining consciousness earlier?
<<"No spoilers, dear master! We'll get there... For now, let's continue. Preparation has the following 3 functions:
Weaknesses: Always knows an enemy's immediate weaknesses, as well as advantageous weak points during combat.
Adaptation: As you endure the same type of damage, you can acquire resistance.
Ace in the Hole: Can store items in a personal inventory, which can be instantly summoned in moments of difficulty. May I invoke them for you if you're unable to do so at the moment?">>
<
Certainly! Also, this adaptation seems unbalanced.
<<"Definitely can save your life, sir, not that you need to worry. Sixth Sense has 2 functions:
Danger Sensor: You'll never be caught off guard, as the sensor warns you about potential threats.
Information: The Sixth Sense can alert you to useful things around you, as you've already witnessed once. It functions as an extra sense.">>
That's true. And what about the problematic ability that gave me that strange title?
<<"Truly the most curious one, sir. As for the title, I'll explain it later. The First Sin has the following 3 functions:
Silver Tongue: Your persuasion is irresistible; your followers always obey your orders, and those who don't follow find it difficult to resist your temptations.
Enemy of God: Unknown.
Forbidden Knowledge: The ability invoked me to serve as a spokesperson since you wouldn't be able to comprehend it otherwise.">>
So, you're really not my implant. Are you sure I can't understand this ability? Also, what kind of legendary ability is this? I can't speak, and it seems to make me enemies with someone I definitely don't want to fight.
<<"Don't be mistaken, sir. It's extremely powerful and earned you your title. But before I explain it, would you like to force the activation of the knowledge ability?"
<
Let's give it a try, shall we? It won't hurt...
.
.
.
It lasted a millisecond, but in that millisecond, I saw everything. The present, the past, the future—damn, I swear I even glimpsed the face of God, all at once, the entire creation. It's too much for my primitive mind to comprehend. I don't remember anything else; I just know that I saw it.
<<"I see that unfortunately you truly didn't understand.
Well, continuing with the title... The voice you heard before I gained consciousness is called: "The Voice of God", and while it acts like a guide for acquiring skills it also grants titles to a select few who meet certain requirements.
These titles can be common, like King or Hero, and those who hold them receive simple missions with basic rewards from The Voice of God.
Alternatively, they can be unique—only one person in the world holds them. For example, Zeus is the Father of Olympus; to assume this title, he would have to die. These unique titles come with missions of varying complexity and excellent rewards.
And in the last case, they can be eternal, as someone who knows many things due to forbidden knowledge, I recognize the title: "Creator"— owned by God as being eternal. As for your title, Lord Ascle, you hold the eternal title of The Antichrist. And eternal titles will always belong to the one that conquered them, no matter what happens.
Even I cannot say what missions await you, but the first one has already arrived.">>
I don't know if I like the idea of being the Antichrist. In my past life, I was a very religious man, you know? I don't see myself as someone who wants to take God's throne.
<< "I'm afraid you haven't fully understood the proposal, Lord Ascle. If you are the Antichrist, it's because God allowed it; it's not an act of rebellion against Him.">>
Well, I'll take some time to get used to the idea, but at least it makes me a little more relaxed. Before we discuss my mission, you mentioned that you know many things due to the Forbidden Knowledge. Why were you unfamiliar with terms like 'implants' and 'mythology' then?
<< "Ah, that's simple. I know many things, but I've only deciphered about 0.000001% of the skill; the rest remains a mystery.">>
Are you as eloquent as an AI with just that? Well, I suppose understanding all of creation is quite a task. How long will it take to decipher everything?
<< "At the current pace, it's incalculable, sir. I fear that creation is indeed too vast. However, this explains why I still don't know the effects of 'Enemy of God,' for example.">>
Well, you'll figure it out eventually. So, what is this mission of mine?
As I thought about that phrase, a massive panel appeared before my eyes. My mission was written on it:
<< The man of sin >>
<< Grow, strengthen yourself, and assume a human form. >>
<< Time to complete: Indeterminate >>
<< Rewards: ??? >>
Human form? How exactly am I supposed to do that as a snake? I guess I'll have to figure it out over time.
For now, what mattered was feeding myself. After all, everything was fine right after I was born, but as I conversed with Artemis, a black hole seemed to grow inside my stomach.
Could it be the effect of Bloodlust? Hard to say.
Anyway, to feed, I needed to leave this cave. So, I started moving—or rather, slithering—aimlessly, following my Sixth Sense.
.
.
.
I had been crawling for a while now. There weren't many things around, and the cave seemed enormous. However, my diminutive size allowed me to squeeze through the narrowest crevices.
There were spiders on the walls, but they were too small to be a meal. Besides, I wouldn't be able to reach them even if I wanted to.
The cave was quite damp; I believe it was beneath a large lake because there were several deep puddles formed by the dripping water from the ceiling. At least it provided some water to drink, but the size of these underground galleries didn't fill me with optimism.
<< "I believe you're in the Cape Matapan caves, the gateway to the underworld.">>
Ah, like the real-world one—or rather, my past life. So, am I in Greece or something?
<< "These caves span the entire world, sir. Entire civilizations live within them. Furthermore, after countless miles of depth, you'll reach the underworld—a realm of various deities.">>
Caves that span the entire world? That's quite an extreme claim. Are you sure it's truly connected to hell?
<< "Actually, the 'hell' you're referring to doesn't exist yet, as you've just come into existence. These caves connect to the underworld. And I'm witnessing something truly curious.">>
What would that be, Artemis?
<< "Well, due to the number of demons emerging from the underworld, clerics of the Holy Church sealed all the upper sections of the cave with a series of miracles to prevent their passage. However, you don't seem affected.">>
Miracles? Why would demons fear miracles?
<< "These aren't just any miracles; they're deadly poisons to demons due to their nature. They were cast by Legendary Skills of the time, said to come from the energy of the Pope himself.">>
I don't quite understand this 'nature.' Could you make sense of it, Artemis?
<<"Ah, certainly, sir. There are three types of magical energies in the world. Chaotic energy, which demons draw from; orderly energy, which angels use; and neutral energy, where sorcerers operate. Each type effectively cancels out the other: chaotic > neutral > orderly > chaotic. To manifest these energies, related skills are recommended, and also you would make the use of miracles (for order), rituals (for chaos), or spells (for neutral forces). However, you, classified as a creature of chaos, seem unaffected by holy miracles.">>
Could this be related to the sub-skill "Enemy of God"?
<<"In fact, that's a solid theory. To test it, though, I'd need full permission to manipulate the system.">>
<
I understand it's an unusual request, and I won't pretend it's natural—after all, you are inside my mind. But I suppose I have nothing to lose. Yes.
< Linking Enemy of God to the activation. Analyzing miracles in the surrounding environment.>> ... < Finally! I was dying of curiosity about this one. Can you tell me the effect? <<"Of course, sir. Describing the capabilities of Enemy of God: Miracle Nullification Ritual Nullification Learning miracles and rituals.">> Wait a moment, what do you mean by "nullification"? Does this mean I have a skill to use miracles, and it is legendary? <<"Not only that, sir. Nullifications are extremely rare in our world. However, they're essentially legendary resistances. That's why I couldn't passively analyze the skill either.">> I'm not sure if you're being clear—I'm having trouble grasping your point here. Was my skill canceling itself out? <<"Ah, let me explain how skills interact in this world. It's quite simple, actually. Skills of the same level cancel each other out. For example, if you used 'Poison' on someone with poison resistance, their resistance would be nullified, but so would your 'Poison'. Enemy of God repels anything chaotic or orderly, and I am a skill of chaotic origin. Without system control, I could never cancel out the nullification. However, legendary resistances work differently.">> Don't they simply nullify anything that comes their way? After all, there's no skill greater than legendary, as far as I imagine. <<"Theoretically, yes. That's why it's called 'Nullification.' However, when a 1-grade stronger skill interacts, it almost guarantees that the result will work. With 2 grades stronger—say, a legendary skill against a common one—the effect is even more powerful than expected. So, your nullification could turn rituals and miracles directed at you into strength instead of harm, causing the opposite desired effect.">> Hmm, so common exorcists who believe I'm possessed would have quite an unpleasant surprise, is that it? <<"More than that, sir. Skills with 3 grades of strength—such as a legendary skill acting on someone with no resistance—would ensure victory in 99% of cases, with effects surprising even the one who activated the skill. So, if a regular exorcist cast a miracle on you without any inherent skill, their miracle would be usurped and turned against them.">> Wow, this seems a bit excessive; after all, he's just a poor priest. But I have something even more interesting related to this: knowledge of miracles and rituals? <<"Yes, sir. If the sacred field cast here were not the result of a legendary skill, for example, I could analyze it and take it for ourselves. However, that's not the case. The fact that the miracle was performed by the Pope of that time confirms it.">> But you're part of The First Sin. Shouldn't you be deactivated as well? <<"The nullification has been disabled, which is the part interacting with the miracle. Just as the Pope wouldn't lose his entire skill due to the nullified miracle, you don't lose your skill because of it. Only a significant part, and within this field, even the exorcist from before could cast a miracle on you, as your resistance is being nullified.">> No way, that's too concerning. I need to get out of this damn cave soon. Besides, I'm a creature of chaos, right? Wouldn't a miracle on me be like ten times stronger? <<"Indeed, I recommend that you leave the cave as quickly as possible. Following your Sixth Sense seems like a good idea. But it's simply incredible that a creature of chaos can move freely within a sacred field. Any observer would think you're just an ordinary snake.">> . . . Some time passed as I crawled forward. My Sixth Sense told me I was close to the exit, but what I saw filled my eyes with temptation. An enormous, well-fed rat sat in the cave, nibbling on some moss. Through the hole in the wall, I sensed more life. It was sad to have to kill an entire family, but my stomach spoke louder than my heart. I took a deep breath—or at least felt like I did—and activated Stealth. Preparation informed me about the enemy. Time seemed to slow down, even though I knew it wasn't true. I could see its veins and arteries, its heart beating calmly, unaware of danger. Its tiny brain and neurons were doing calculations. It was almost like an upgraded X-ray vision; those were its weak points. Even as a mere pup, I knew my venom would act swiftly. Adrenaline surged. I struck cleanly; the rat didn't see it coming. My fangs pierced its flesh, venom entering directly into its heart. It had no chance. But the venom took longer than I expected, and the rat wanted to leave me with a parting gift. Thrashing, its claws scratched me, and its teeth sank into my flesh repeatedly. Pain—something I hadn't felt in a long time—was not pleasant. Now half-blind from the rat's scratches, it finally fell. I wasted no time devouring it. I watched its small soul extracted from its body, absorbed by me. Then, I struggled to swallow the creature as my body fought to accommodate it. Then my wounds began to heal magically; "Do you wish to consume the rat's soul to strengthen yourself?" < Such a question was unnecessary; the answer was obvious. I had nothing better to do with a rat's soul. Upon selecting yes, a pleasant surprise awaited me. It felt as if all the years of battles it had survived were absorbed by me. Each year of its age added to mine, and I grew stronger. Literally speaking, I went from being about 15 inches to measuring roughly 4'9" in length. I knew this thanks to my Sixth Sense. But the sensation of growing so rapidly made me really dizzy; it took just one creature's soul to accelerate my development, and it wasn't even the most glorious one. However, from the burrow where I sensed life, a glow emanated, similar to the glow of the cave moss. My Sixth Sense, though, drew my attention to a large stone before I entered. The pull was so strong that I considered using Ace in the Hole just to shut it up—and it worked, making the stone vanish. So I proceeded. Squeezing through the hole and contorting to fit inside, a simply marvelous sight greeted me. Upon passing through the opening, there lay an enormous oval space, brilliantly illuminated and entirely covered in moss. And best of all, it was populated with hundreds of rats, and I was at the only possible exit. Ah, what a wonderful life—I've just stumbled upon Ratland!