Cold. So cold. Why is it so cold?
Aaron's consciousness floated around in an eternal river, his mind becoming less than one with his body. His corporeal senses stripped away, he was no more than another amorphous sentience floating along the river of Life and Death.
He heard a voice in the back of his head, but for the life of him couldn't understand what they were saying. It didn't even seem like human language, just the garbled noises of an animal with a human filter. He ignored it. After all, what care is a dead man meant to have?
"@; ýø7 +3@r /3¡¿
+3)łø¿¿
It made no sense to him. Almost like an extraterrestrial being was trying to make contact with mankind for the first time, he couldn't understand their garbled language.
+øłð ō;...
Cough cough cough, haack.
Hello? Hello? Can you understand me?
Aaron was shocked. Not just at the fact they were speaking, but that they managed to learn English in what couldn't have been more than a few seconds. Although, his perception of time was greatly skewed due to his new, well, state.
'Yes, I can.' Aaron tried to speak, but since he had no mouth, all he could do was think. However, it seemed as if the voice didn't register him.
Hello? Can you understand me?
'You've repeated the same question twice!' Aaron thought, a little more force behind his thoughts, but yet again, nothing.
After a solid minute of silence, Aaron heard a gasp.
OH! I forgot to give you the ability to communicate with thoughts! Hold on...
Aaron felt his consciousness shake, as a strange, near transparent screen-like thing appeared in his mind.
[Thought Communication (Weak): Acquired]
Aaron couldn't see, nor even really hear, but he was able to see and read this almost notification-like screen in his head.
'Testing, testing.' Aaron thought, trying to project his voice outwards.
Ah. Good, you CAN understand me. Human language is so weird to get a grasp on.
'I mean, we do have thousands of languages, but the most common ones, I think, are Chinese and English. You know those, there's a pretty good chance you can talk to anyone.' Aaron responded, trying to assess his situation. 'So, how am I here? My memory is a slight bit hazy.'
Ah, yes. Aaron Stone, thirty-four years old. CEO at Fable, killed by underage drunk driver. Sorry about that, it was the fault of the last god who oversaw Earth. Since she left before I could get here, there were many days of increasing chaos, like those drunk driving accidents. We still don't know how she got fired to be honest.
'So that's why the news was reporting on it. Are the kids safe?' Aaron asked, his mind wandering about what could have become of them.
Ah, those. The child in the first car is alive with a fractured skull, but should make a full recovery. The second one has a bit more long-lasting, but all they'll have is a limp for the rest of their life, so I say they got off lightly.
'Yikes.' Aaron thought to himself, imagining himself recoil. 'Well, what's going to happen to me now?'
Well, it was the previous God who neglected to mind you humans in the days coming up to your death, so it falls onto my shoulders to make sure that we sort you out fairly. I'll give you two choices. Heaven, or something else?
'Mind elaborating? Those aren't clear enough to make a decision with.' Aaron contemplated, wishing he had a hand and head so he could scratch his chin.
Well, Heaven is exactly how it is described in the Bible. Eternal life, bliss and joy every day, with as many things as you could imagine at your fingertips at all times. You know, your human's version of it. The "Something Else" can be any other place you can think of.
Aaron's mind went absolutely blank. True, Heaven was the absolute goal for most people, but he wasn't done living just yet. However, the temptation of having pure, unfiltered bliss for Eternity was calling him.
'I...' Aaron projected, contemplating what could be his last real decision. 'I am not done living just yet.'
Well, that's your choice. I can't bring you back to Earth for obvious reasons, but I can send you over to another God's jurisdiction so they can put you in theirs.
'You know what, I think I'd like that.'
Now, fair warning, the world you're going to is a fantasy-based one, like those you'd find in games from your old world. So, we're going spin a wheel with every race in there, and that's what you're going to be.
'Wait wait wait, you're leaving it up to chance?!' Aaron asked, incredulously. 'Why?!"
You're the first dead human I've had to deal with personally, so I figured it'd be a good way to get myself in the mood for this new position.
A large wheel, filled with nearly a thousand options, appeared inside Aaron's mind. A small cat-like creature spawned in beside it, jumping up so it could pull and spin the wheel. It went round, and round, and round, for what felt like eternity. The colours became a blur, as Aaron failed to notice any species due to the speed. Finally, it started to slow down, passing over stuff like "Dragon" and "Vampirite", to "Tardigrande" and "Bullworm". Finally, as Aaron watched the wheel come to a stop, he saw "Human" at the top, and he started to get excited, but it just barely toppled over into his new race.
[New Race Acquired: Skeleton]
'Are you kidding me.' Aaron deadpanned, not even surprised by this outcome.
Hey, that's just the luck of the draw, Aaron. Now, to give you your class skills.
[Strengthened Bones (Weak): Acquired]
[Magic Conduit (Weak): Acquired]
[Separated Body (Mastered): Acquired]
[Magic Sight (Mastered): Acquired]
[Magic Conduit]
[Allows for more efficient magic use, as well as stronger magic output. Effectiveness increases with more mastery.]
[Separated Body]
[Your body can come apart at will, allowing you to use your bones as a weapon. You can only be killed by having your entire body destroyed at once.]
'You know, this ain't actually all that bad.' Aaron realised as he read through the abilities. 'Strengthened Bones is easy enough, but these other two are quite nice to have as well!'
Now, for your one [Unique] abilities.
[Limited Adaptation (Unique): Acquired]
[Limited Adaptation]
[Allows the user to adapt to phenomena after repeated exposure. Once adapted, you may use the phenomena, but you are not in any way protected.]
'Oh. My. God.' Aaron said, slackjawed. 'Is it common to get this many sick abilities?!'
Actually, you're on the weaker scale. Can't make the first person too overpowered now, can I?
'Fair, but still. Now, where are you going to be sending me?'
The dungeon.
'What.'