"Hunt... -ke up!"
"Wa... y~ Wakey~"
"Oi... Wa-"
'Is it morning already?'
"Wake up~! Nina is bored~!"
"Five more minutes, Anaya."
A deep, groggy voice dripping with fatigue and lethargy escaped the mouth of a male figure lying listlessly on a spotless white surface. The man was Hunter Tamaniel, still clad in the Chesher Industries uniform consisting of a boring grey shirt, plain grey pants, a dull brown tie, and stocky shoes to protect the toes in case of a mishap.
The shirt pocket was embroidered with the Chesher Industries logo, one demonstrating multiple small condiment containers spelling out the letters C.I., a truly repugnant logo all things considered.
"Hmph~! Come on! Wake up!"
The voice calling out to Hunter was gentle and feminine, soft and soothing. Despite expressing frustration and anger, it exuded a sense of contentment and childish joy, Hunter subconsciously associated it with his sister's voice when their family was happy and whole.
Bam!
"W-what!?"
Hunter woke up with a start and jumped to his feet as he felt a punch on his cheek. The impact, while not exactly potent in nature, sent his instincts honed by years of physical confrontations into overdrive and blasted away his drowsiness.
"Wh-what are you!? Where am I?"
Hunter exclaimed in abject astonishment and terror as he pointed at the creature hovering in his vicinity and observed his mortifying environment.
A space drenched in white, a bright piercing white so overwhelming Hunter rubbed his eyes in discomfort and covered his face with his arms. It couldn't be distinguished if it was a room with all sides covered perfectly in white or if the space itself was white and went on forever.
Hunter felt disoriented and couldn't help but fall back on his posterior, leaking a yelp of pain from triggering his previous wounds.
"Hello, Hunter Tamaniel."
Hunter craned his neck and gazed at the entity producing such an amicable and comforting voice. It was a small being about a foot and a half tall with long ears and relatively gorgeous facial features attuned to human aesthetics. However, the creature's small frame made it appear as if it was a doll, a luxurious and expensive one, but a figurine nonetheless.
The lifeform drifted joyfully in the air, revolving around Hunter as he gawked in disbelief. Small, transparent wings vibrated behind it, emitting an almost inaudible whirring noise. The existence had pale skin, dark maroon hair, and ocean-blue eyes. It was donned in what seemed like a glittering aquamarine party dress.
'What even...?'
Hunter swallowed hard as he failed to comprehend the absurd situation. Hunter prided himself on possessing exceptional adaptability and iron-clad composure, but the current circumstances had shattered that belief into a thousand pieces.
"He-hello?"
Hunter decided to go with the flow and responded softly. He pushed against the ground and rose slowly, trying his utmost best not to startle the creature that seemed to have orchestrated the situation.
"Hey~! Hunter finally woke up! Nina has been screaming at Hunter for ages!"
In a drastic contrast to Hunter's expectations, the fairy-like creature excitedly soared around in response to his greeting, her gliding velocity notches faster, and her voice even higher, as if greeting a long-time friend. Before Hunter could even formulate a response, the creature suddenly closed the distance, floating an inch or two away from Hunter's nose.
"Nina is here to assist Hunter! Come on, tell Nina how happy you are~!"
The entity, Nina, giggled away as she buzzed around Hunter's head so fast that all he could catch were some afterimages.
"Assist? Assist in what? And how did I get here?" Hunter once again surveyed his surroundings, at the world of endless whiteness that disoriented him even at a casual glance. He decided to keep his eyes fixed on the only color in the monochrome, Nina, to prevent himself from falling face-first. "Why did you abduct me?"
As soon as Hunter's words fell, the speedily moving Nina stopped in front of his face, her small glittering boots almost touching his chest.
"Abduct? Nina did? No, Nina made sure Hunter didn't disintegrate during the summoning!" Nina's eyes watered. She stared at him with a wronged expression. "How could Hunter say that~! Hunter is so mean!"
"I-I am sorry?" Hunter was incredibly flustered by the everchanging emotional state of his petite companion and the peculiar predicament itself. "But still, Nina, how do you know my name?"
Hunter concluded that the best course of action was to communicate calmly, for it was clear that lashing out and panicking wouldn't get him anywhere. Additionally, Nina's antics had calmed him down, and although he didn't have definitive evidence, he believed that Nina wouldn't harm him.
"Sniff~ Sniff~ Hunter's memories, of course~! Nina even named and transformed herself to fit Hunter's tastes!"
Nina's cries of resignation and betrayal returned to her bubbly voice instantaneously.
"You did what now? My tastes?" Hunter's eyelids twitched.
"Oh~ I saw Hunter looking at a doll named Nina a lot, so I transformed into it!" Nina squealed gleefully and once again began orbiting Hunter. "Tell me~! Tell me~! Tell me how beautiful I am~!"
'Oh, the figurine Anaya wanted...'
Hunter sighed as some things started to make sense. He was peeved at the prospect of having his memories scoured, but since it seemed that bringing it up would send Nina on another emotional tangent, he decided to shelve the discussion for another time.
"You are beautiful Nina..."
Hunter cleared his throat and gestured for Nina to halt, but it took a minute since Nina was busy screeching and buzzing at his compliment.
"I assume you have an explanation as to what's happening?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Nina is sorry~! This is Nina's first time handling a real candidate, so she is just super excited~!" Nina covered her petite face with her dainty hands. "But if Nina delays it any more, Mother will be angry with Nina, so—"
Nina sailed away from Hunter, enough to look down on him from above. Her casual and amicable expression turned stern, and her serious gaze made Hunter tense.
[Congratulations!]
[You have been chosen to battle for your species' survival.]
"Woah!"
A holographic screen suddenly appeared in front of Hunter, startling him. He moved back but the screen followed his every movement, as if stuck in the path of his eyesight. It was a translucent screen with a tint of black, but the world beyond was perfectly visible. The text was bright blue and impossible to misconstrue, but the content itself eluded Hunter.
"What is this, Nina?" Hunter's voice carried a hint of trepidation as he gazed at the bold words floating in front of his eyes. "Battle? Species' survival? What's happening?"
x—X—x
Two hours had passed since the holographic screen made its appearance.
Hunter was sitting in what he assumed was the middle of a whitewashed room, but he couldn't really tell as the all-encompassing whiteness had destroyed his sense of distance.
Nina had expended a few minutes elaborating upon Hunter's circumstances, and he had spent the following hour or so contemplating in silence. Nina was hovering around him worriedly. She had attempted to grab his attention several times, but his sheer concentration left no room for Nina to intervene.
"So... What you're saying is... I have been chosen to represent my race in a... multiverse war? To determine the survival of my universe and my species?"
Hunter's voice croaked out. Nina sat down facing Hunter, her small shoes brushing against his shins.
"Mmhmm."
"And this is one of the waiting rooms..." Hunter gazed at Nina through the translucent screen. "And all the other unfathomable number of candidates are undergoing a similar process with their assistants?"
"Mmhmm."
"So, all in all, I am now part of a war of survival against god knows how many other existences, some of which can destroy galaxies? And you are here to assist me in preparing for said conflict..."
Nina nodded again, her chin tucked into her chest in nervousness.
"Fascinating..."
Hunter scratched his chin, his expression complex and his gaze distant and empty.
"Haa~ Alright." Hunter rose from the ground after another ten minutes of deliberation and dusted his clothes. "No use brooding then, don't wanna be left behind by the others."
Hunter smiled at Nina which made her squeal in happiness. She brandished her beautiful tiny wings and took flight, circling Hunter a hundred or so times before halting in the air.
"So, Assistant Nina, where do we go from here? You mentioned the battle will take place in a separate realm designed for this? Are you transferring me there now?" Hunter cracked his neck and back as if prepared for the teleportation. "I've got to tell you though, I am not the strongest weapon in the holster. I'll probably die on day one considering the innumerable powerful races."
Hunter crossed his arms and spoke in a subtle melancholic tone.
"Hehehe~ Of course not~ If that were the case, we wouldn't need this transitional room~"
Nina giggled and snapped her fingers, transforming the text on Hunter's screen.
[Please choose your perks.]
"Perks?"
"Yep. Mother believes in fairness for all, so all the species that are at a fundamental disadvantage are granted perks to balance the competition~"
Nina's tone became reverential as she brought up 'Mother' for the umpteenth time, finally piquing Hunter's curiosity enough to inquire.
"You've mentioned 'Mother' repeatedly, who is she? Is she a she? You said you took this form because of my memories, so is she a sentient humanoid species?"
Hunter's question made Nina pout, she waved her arms and streaked across the air.
"Nina wants to tell Hunter, but she can't! Mother is mother, that's all Nina can say..." Nina's voice carried a tone of resignation. "Anyway~! Before Hunter can receive perks, Hunter will be granted the blessing!"
"Blessing?"
Hunter's skepticism was on full display.
"Yes~ The blessing unlocks the full potential of the body. Regardless of their strength or species, all candidates will receive this blessing. The number of perks and restrictions will be determined based on the results of the blessings as well~!"
Nina explained in a patient yet excited tone, as if she couldn't wait for Hunter to receive the blessing.
"Some individuals though outwardly untrained and weak, carry great potential, so granting perks or restrictions without understanding the full potential could tip the balance."
"Wait... Restrictions?"
"There are countless species across the multiverse who will be drafted for this war, and the disparity in strength and foundation simply cannot be compensated for, no matter how many perks are bestowed upon those who are weak, so some individuals receive penalties."
Nina recited professionally and puffed her chest, as though expecting praise for her work.
"I have a sneaking suspicion that the weak comment is directed at me, but I will let it slide." Hunter stepped back and opened his arms wide. "Hit me."
Hunter's body tensed as he closed his eyes, bracing for whatever awaited him
"Hehe~ Hunter is so funny~"
Nina chuckled while covering her mouth.
"W-what?" Hunter's face reddened as he lowered his arms.
"Well, first look at this~"
Nina snapped her fingers, and the text transformed yet again.
—————————————
[Name: Hunter Tamaniel]
[Origin: UE9HI-VQ851P72-G6TP4]
[Region: Unassigned]
[Level: Nil]
[Physique: 0.7]
[Spirit: 1.4]
[Cognition: 1.6]
[Vitality: 0.9]
[Essence: 1.8]
—————————————
"Is this... A status window?"
Hunter gawked at the holographic screen that had laid bare his reality as a physical specimen.
"Yep~ Every participant has a similar one~" Nina floated over and settled on Hunter's shoulder, gazing at his panel with interest. "Of course, the language, template, contents, and way of presentation may be different, but this whole experience was attuned to Hunter~"
Hunter spent a couple minutes scrutinizing the status panel closely, but he could only sigh in defeat as he failed to glean any further information.
Nina used Hunter's head as a jump pad as she took to the air yet again.
"Now that Hunter has been familiarized with his current capabilities, we can begin with the blessing~!"
Nina excitedly cheered, ready to begin the procedure but Hunter raised his hand and interrupted her.
"W-wait, explain these attributes and numbers to me— Are they high? Low? Where do I stand compared to others? What does essence mean? Spirit?"
Nina awkwardly scratched her beautiful maroon hair as she fidgeted around, seemingly hesitant about speaking up.
"How about this... Let's first get this blessing over with and then I'll explain them to Hunter?"
'Is it that bad?'
He desperately wished to know. However, sensing Nina's reluctance, he let the topic go.
"So, what do I do? Will it be just like the summoning? Just relax my body and let it happen?"
Hunter muttered as he whipped his arms and legs around, relaxing them and relieving any accumulated tension.
"This will be very difficult considering Hunter's physique." Nina slowly levitated over to Hunter and placed one of her minuscule hands on his forehead. "Hunter has to be mentally prepared... No losing consciousness under any circumstances... Essence and spirit will not reach their full potential if Hunter faints during the blessing..."
"So... It will be painful?"
Nina merely stared at him with a grave expression, and Hunter received his answer.
"Is there any possibility of death?"
"Let's begin Hunter~!"
Nina cheerfully exclaimed with a non-committal smile. Hunter wanted to say something but before he could, Nina snapped her fingers.
Snap
The sound resounded throughout the unexplainable environment, but it didn't die down. On the contrary, it resonated and echoed, increasing in intensity, and bounced against Hunter's psyche. Hunter felt weirdly attracted to the reverberations, it was as if the sound was dragging along his consciousness, pulling his existence along on a dark and despairing journey, leading him to a downward spiral that had no end.
An instinctual fear gripped Hunter, and he tried to pry away his mind from the sound.
"Don't resist it!"
A distant voice pierced the veil obscuring Hunter's mind. He stopped resisting and allowed his body to be engulfed by the unknown.
Hunter felt as though his entire being was drowning in extraordinarily viscous water, sinking faster and faster, almost akin to something tugging at him from the depths beyond. The pull was strengthening by the second.
Hunter didn't know how long it took, but he perceived his existence reaching the extreme depths of the terrifying spiral. He could discern the end was near, and his being was heading towards it.
Pwoom~!
Hunter's eyelids snapped open as soon as his consciousness hit the proverbial end of the unnerving spiral, and the white world once again presented itself to him. Hunter breathed deeply, still experiencing the eerie sensation that had overcome his entire soul. It took quite a bit for him to regain his bearings.
Hunter found himself lying on the ground in a rather embarrassing manner, and Nina was floating right above his body.
"That wasn't so bad?"
Hunter smiled and was about to get up when Nina waved her hands, gesturing for him to remain on the floor.
"What is it?"
"That was just the preparatory stage, the real thing begins now. Nina is sorry Hunter."
"W-what...?"
As Nina's apologetic words fell, Hunter experienced a pain that he couldn't even imagine could exist.
"AAAAAAH!"
Nina watched as the young boy covered in bruises, marks, and wounds, with deep and irreparable scars that went beyond mere physical, writhed and squirmed on the ground, scratching and clawing at anything he could get his hands on, including his hair and body. Tears and snot covered his face as a dull golden light escaped from under his skin, exhibiting the complex array of nerves, tendons, muscles, and bones that made up the human body.
"UWAAAAAH! WAAAAAA!"
Nina's expression was one of genuine pity and sympathy as she watched her designated contender suffer through unimaginable pain. However, she was also relieved that he was maintaining his consciousness despite the overwhelming agony.
"Stay strong, Hunter."
Nina could not provide any assistance, for this was a rite of passage that every participant had to endure, and would distinguish those destined for greatness from those doomed to obscurity. Nina believed in Hunter and the resilience and grit she had seen when brushing through his memories.
"I'll make sure Hunter is more than ready."