Steven felt a surge of dread and resolve in equal measure as he stared into the shadowed face of the god before him. The offer was real, as impossible as it seemed. Thirty quotas, three months of work. Monsters, danger, survival. And a chance to return to life.
"I accept," Steven said, his voice steady, though his heart pounded in his chest.
The god's smile widened, though it was more ominous than comforting. "Good. But before you begin, you will need... assistance." His voice seemed to stretch, hanging in the air. "You are entering a realm far beyond anything you've known, and while you may be human, I can bestow certain enhancements to help you along the way."
Steven's brow furrowed. "Enhancements?"
"Yes," the god responded, stepping closer. "Abilities that will make you stronger, faster, or simply more knowledgeable. But everything has a price." He lifted a hand, and suddenly, a shimmering list of abilities appeared before Steven, suspended in the air as though written on invisible paper.
Steven scanned the list, his eyes immediately drawn to the various abilities on display.
Some were simple, some extraordinary, but they all came with a cost. He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him already.
"Choose wisely," the god advised, his voice almost casual now. He raised his hand and held up three fingers, slowly explaining how his abilities will be selected "You can select up to three abilities. However, to maintain balance in this game of ours, you must also choose two weaknesses. The universe demands equilibrium, Steven. Nothing is given freely."
Steven nodded. He wasn't surprised that this so-called god wouldn't give him everything on a silver platter. There was always a catch, especially in situations like this. But the fact that he was even allowed to choose abilities and wasn't just thrown as his regular self into the whole mess gave him a sense of control over the chaos ahead. Maybe he could actually survive this if he chose the right build.
He took a deep breath and began to examine the abilities in more detail. Some were practical, while others were clearly designed to address the monstrous threats he would face.
Shovel combat skill (1): A surprising skill, but one that might be useful in a pinch. He wasn't much of a fighter, but if a shovel could somehow save his life, it wasn't the worst option.
Information of all monsters (1): This one caught his attention immediately. Knowing what he was up against could make the difference between life and death, but is information really worth spending a precious ability slot on? Trading potential for immediate gains?
Stronger senses (1): It could help him hear approaching enemies or even smell them before they even saw him, so it might be useful for avoiding the monsters.
Recovery suit(2): his suit would receive enhancements, that allow him to gradually heal if he ever got wounded heavily, but the healing would still take the same time if he broke a limb, only affecting shallow fractures and soreness.
Double the stamina (2): As someone who wasn't exactly an athlete, Steven saw this as a lifeline. He had a feeling that running and endurance would play a huge role in his survival.
Suit with pockets (1): A practical option. He had no idea what kind of supplies he'd need, but being able to carry more sounded useful.
Patchwork Outfit(4): your suit can receive"patches" and new functionality. Steven didn't know exactly what these "patches" were, figurative patches or maybe special upgrades, but the price was too steep.
There were Many more such interesting abilities, but Steven's eyes shifted towards the red screen, where he had to choose weakness. They were more unsettling then expected, especially when the effects were this dire.
20% less stamina (-1): Steven winced at this. Losing stamina seemed like a terrible trade when he'd just been eyeing the stamina-boosting ability.
50% less stamina (-2): Worse than the previous one. He didn't like this at all.
Asthma (-2): Stamina would regenerate 50% slower, which seemed brutal, but maybe it was manageable, as he wouldn't be in danger 24/7 and would have time to recover in between encounters.
Eldritch hunger (-2): The description was vague, but it gave Steven an ominous feeling. He would "know what he hungers for," but what did that mean? It was both intriguing and terrifying.
On your own(-3): This was , surprisingly, a suit, rather than something else. It would make it so his suit would only have the most basic function of a backpack and, no matter how many suits he changed, no other function would be enabled
Steven didn't know what exactly his "suit" will do when he resurrects, but he didn't like how this single weakness was worth as much as a 70% decrease in maximum stamina. That was too ominous to simply ignore.
Hand on approach (-3): this was a strange weakness. By its description, Steven could only use his hands, but he didn't understand what this weakness did. He senses a theme as well, the higher the "-" counter, the less clear what the weakness will be became.
Steven looked over the rest and weighed his options carefully. He needed to survive, but he also knew there was no perfect combination. If he chose stamina boosts, would the monsters be too much to handle? If he took monster knowledge, would his endurance fail him? The weaknesses had to be chosen strategically, too.
It took a while, but he made his decisions.
"I choose Information of all monsters," Steven said, his voice firm. If he was going to survive, he needed to know what he was up against. Monsters, as the name implied, would be powerful and dangerous, the most cost effective method to gain advantage over them is information, rather than brutish strength. Blindly stumbling into danger wouldn't work. He needed every scrap of information.
"Good choice," the god said with an approving nod.
"I also choose Double the stamina. I'm not exactly in great shape, and I have a feeling I'll need to be able to run."
The god gave a knowing smirk. "Yes, you will, also a commendable choise."
"And finally, I choose the Suit with pockets. I don't know what's waiting for me, but having a suit with a special function, such as extra storage, sounds like it'll help in ways I don't even know yet."
The god tilted his head slightly, impressed with Steven's practicality. "Smart."
Steven hesitated for a moment before continuing. "For weaknesses... I'll take Asthma." He swallowed, knowing it would make things harder, but he had to accept the challenge. "My stamina will regenerate slower, but I'm hoping the extra stamina will make up for it."
The god nodded in glee" Makes sense. Half the regeneration, but better burst. And the second?"
Steven took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "Eldritch hunger."
The god's smile widened, his shadowy form shifting slightly. "A bold choice. Truly, ignorance is bliss. I expected something, such as bee allergy or loud shoes suit, as that seems more like something someone in the dark would choose, but eldritch hunger... Hehe. What an ominous choice!"
Steven's skin prickled. He didn't like how the god had reacted to that particular weakness, but it was too late now. He could only hope that whatever this "hunger" was, he would be able to control it.
"Very well," the god said, his voice echoing in the vast space. "You have made your choices. These abilities and weaknesses are now bound to you. Use them wisely, for they will shape your experience in the Company."
Before Steven could respond, the world around him seemed to twist and bend. The whiteness of the void shattered like glass, leaving him spinning in a dizzying swirl of colors and darkness.
Steven awoke with a start, his body aching as though he had just fallen from a great height. He blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the disorientation. When his vision cleared, he found himself sitting in a small, cold room. The walls were metallic, and the low hum of machinery filled the air. The unmistakable scent of oil and metal lingered in his nose.
He was in some kind of spaceship.
"Welcome aboard," a gruff voice said from nearby.
Steven turned his head to see a man dressed in a dark uniform, standing at the far end of the room. His face was scarred, and his eyes held a sharp, calculating gleam. He wore a captain's insignia on his shoulder.
"To assurance!" the captain said with a crooked smile, raising a small flask of something that smelled faintly of alcohol. "You're going to need it where we're headed."
Steven's heart sank as the reality of his situation hit him like a ton of bricks. This was real. The quotas, the monsters, the survival. It was all real.
And it was just beginning.