There were only a few lines of information that had entered Lucas' mind moments before, but what was contained in that information was enough to completely disturb Lucas' heart. To start everything off, it was already unnatural for something like this to happen. It wasn't like somebody had spoken to him or like he had seen the information written on something.
This information had been relayed directly into his mind. As somebody from Earth, such a thing seems impossible.
However, just as it is something that is unheard of, it was the easiest thing for Lucas' mind to over come. After all, he had absorbed his fair share of fantasy content in his short life. And, while it wasn't the so called 'system' screen, it was certainly close enough, and most likely even cooler than what he would be feeling if it was the system screen.
No. To Lucas, the hardest thing to understand was the fact that he had died. Of course, he was prepared for it. It was one of the first things that had ran through his mind back when he was still struggling to open his eyes. But the information he had received had all but confirmed his worst fears. He had died.
It wasn't merely the idea of his own mortality that had him shook. It was the difficulty of accepting that he couldn't be there for his grandfather. The man had practically raised him after his parents had passed away.
And after his grandmother left the world, the two only had each other.
It was hard enough to accept the fact that his grandfather may never wake up once he had had his stroke, but now Lucas can't even sit by his side.
Thinking this far, Lucas laid back onto the ground feeling like his eyes should grow cloudy with tears. Yet nothing fell from his eyes.
Lucas had a strong mental fortitude, yet he knew that it wasn't that strong.
Such a situation should have him sobbing, yet while he feels that he should cry, something was stopping him from doing so.
'This... this is just too much. I don't even know if I should feel grateful or not for a new chance at life. I mean, I died. I'm dead to the world, to my grandfather, and to the hospital that's keeping him alive.
Will he even get the insurance money? I wanted to be there when he woke up... but now...'
Lucas spiraled. His thoughts getting increasingly dreary, and his mood increasingly sour.
Lucas doesn't know where he is. A planet called Heike, sure, but what continent or country, he didn't know.
He didn't even know if he could be considered alive or not. After all, he hadn't taken a single breath since he realized he couldn't breathe under the earth. If he can't breathe is he really alive? If he isn't alive how can he think? If he is dead, is this really him, or just some memory of himself?
The panic began to set in, yet it died off just as quick.
The questions that were rushing through his mind began to slow and a familiar piece of information entered his mind.
[For further information regarding your current status and position, use key word 'Status']
'That's right. Just slow down, Lucas. If you can think, you can move forward. That is all that matters for now. As long as you move forward, the answers will come with time.'
[Ding!]
As this thought passed through his head, Lucas heard the familiar sound that had come with the information he had received earlier. Yet, wanting to get some new information on his situation as quick as he could, he placed the alert into the back of his mind and proceeded to speak the key word into the open air.
"....."
His eyebrows furrowed and his forehead scrunched. The information had told him to use the key word status yet even after opening his mouth, nothing came out.
"..."
Trying again, the situation remained the same. Even more confused, Lucas reached out with his right hand, bringing it to his mouth.
*Click*
His finger connected to his mouth and the sound of rock touching rock sounded out. Confused, Lucas opened his mouth and stuck a finger inside, feeling for a tongue that wasn't there.
Taking his finger out, something dawned on him and he brought both hands to his face again touching his fingers to his mouth.
'No, something isn't right. This is where my mouth should be. I can feel it opening. Where are my lips? No tongue, either. And what the fuck is up with 'Click'?'
Raising his fingers slightly higher, up to his eyes, the first thing he sees is the ivory color of bone. The second thing that comes to into sight is a loose and slightly wet patch of skin. There wasn't much skin, just a few patches up and down both arms.
'B-Bone?'
Falling back into a laying position, Lucas stared at the ceiling of the cavern he was in emptily.
'So I'm bone. Huh. What the fuck am I supposed to do if can't say the key word? Do I just think 'Status' or --'
[Ding!]
[Name: Lucas Mann][Species: Ghoul][Classification: Devil]
[Individual Level: 0]
[Species Evolution Level: 0]
[Natural Defense: 15]
[Attack Power: 35]
[Stamina: 210/210]
[Energy: 500]
[Strength: 5]
[Physique: 3]
[Agility: 7]
[Intelligence: 5]
--- ---
[Skill List][Passive: 2*][Active: 0]
[Passive:
- Elemental Resistance (Species)
- Mental Fortitude (New)]
A new series of lines entered into the mind of Lucas before he even had the chance to finish thinking. It wasn't like he had meant to open the 'status', but he certainly won't be complaining. Any new information is absolutely welcomed.
After receiving an update on his specific 'status' more and more information began to pour into his mind. Certainly it wouldn't take a genius to figure out what it meant to have a certain strength or defense, yet the information provided gave hints and clues on everything that he could see in his own 'status'.
The main points he focused on first were, of course, the fact that he was no longer human. Rather, he seemed to be something called a ghoul. The term wasn't something he was completely unfamiliar with, as he recognized the species as one of the many undead types within fantasy settings, yet it did provide him with what it meant to be a ghoul, something that he, in fact, did not know.
A ghoul, was unlike a zombie, though they were derived from the same source. While a zombie would exist to infect and to spread, a ghoul exists to feed. What they feed on changes, yet as a violent and carnivorous species, flesh is often the answer.
What he was confused to, however, was his own lack of flesh. In his mind, and in the information he received, ghouls are primarily creatures that do, actually, have skin. It appears, from the information in his mind, that the body he finds himself in now had once been a living human who had passed away. With the death of the body having been long ago, much of the skin had rot away or had been eaten.
There wasn't much of a problem to this, he could absolutely still move and he wouldn't have been able to speak even if he did have skin.
It was just a little off putting.
Browsing through the information once more, Lucas realized another thing.
'I seem to be classified as a devil. While the information says that all monsters are given the classification, it doesn't really tell me what this classification means. I suppose that the best guess would be that it relates to what faction I would be a part of. Humans likely have their own classification, but I wonder if there are others, as well.'
Besides all the big stuff, information as to what the different numbers began to trickle into his mind.
'The main stats seemed to speak for themselves. Strength is strength. Agility is Agility. Etc. The information says that 5 would be the base number for Strength, Agility, Physique, and Intelligence, so would my intelligence be so high due to my first life? I find it hard to believe that other ghouls would have a high intelligence at this level. That is if Intelligence even contributes to intelligent thought.
It also seems like my physique will be lower than the typical ghoul. I guess that would be because of the lack of skin. Though, I won't complain about a speed build.
My defense is... a little low, but I guess that would also be due to the lack of physique points. It seems like Natural Defense is evaluated based on Strength x Physique. Likewise, Attack Power is Strength x Agility. Damage will be hard to deal if my Attack Power is lower than the enemies Natural Defense, meaning the opposite is true, as well. As long as my Defense is high enough, those with low Attack won't be able to due to much to me.
My Stamina seems to be Agility x Physique x 10. And Energy is Intelligence x 100. Why are these numbers so high? I suppose energy will be used for active skills, so they must consume quite a bit of energy. Stamina doesn't really have to much information. Hunger? Endurance? Probably a little bit of both, I suppose.'
After reading through all the information, Lucas was practically out of breathe. There was just too much to take in all at once.
The last thing that Lucas saw were the two passive skills. The first one seemed to be something that all ghouls were born (?) with. The second was a new skill: Mental Fortitude. It seemed to be a mental skill that helped keep him calm, though Lucas could think of a few more uses for such a skill. After looking through everything, Lucas sat up from his laying position, clapped his hands once. Then twice. Then a third time, before standing up. Looking down the sloped hill of the cave he was in, Lucas took his first step down into the darkness, ready to see what this new world, and his second life, would offer him, with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.
'After all, I still don't know... Are ghouls born? Maybe we just spawn? Awaken? Arise?'