When Nith opened his eyes, he was no longer on the cracked asphalt of the highway. Gone were the screeching tires, the blinding headlights, and the pain that had torn through his body.
Instead, he found himself in a massive arena, the kind you'd see in some mythological story or fantasy game. Marble pillars reached impossibly high into a sky painted in endless hues of purple and gold. The vast space was filled with figures sitting on thrones—gigantic, glowing, awe-inspiring beings.
"W-Where am I?" Nith muttered, his voice echoing slightly.
"Welcome, mortal!" a booming voice interrupted, shaking the very ground beneath his feet.
Nith turned his head so fast he almost got whiplash. Towering above him were the Guardians of the Universe, their forms too divine and overwhelming to comprehend. Some wore golden armor, others radiated pure light or crackled with elemental energy. Each one exuded terrifying authority.
A voice thundered again. "You stand before the Judges of Reincarnation. Your deeds in life have brought you here to be judged."
"Reincarnation? Hold on…" Nith blinked, his mind spinning. I really died, huh?
"Yes," said a softer, almost serene voice—a goddess draped in silver robes, her eyes glowing with stars. "Your time in the mortal world has ended. However, because of your selfless deeds in life—saving that stray puppy, helping your neighbors, and being kind to strangers—you have been granted a chance. A chance to be reborn."
Nith froze and pondered with a thoughtful expression. "So karma is actually real?"
The goddess smiled faintly. "Yes, throughout Earth, you're one of the kindest souls."
He sighed in relief. "Oh, good. Because I almost thought the saying 'nice guys always finish last' was true."
"If it was so, you wouldn't have been chosen to reincarnate," another voice boomed, this one stern and impatient. "You shall be sent to a magical world. A new beginning."
Before Nith could react, the scene shifted.
Nith blinked and suddenly found himself standing in the center of an enormous temple. The walls stretched endlessly, lined with statues—countless figures carved with perfect precision, each one exuding a mysterious aura. It was silent, save for the faint hum of magic that seemed to linger in the air.
Before Nith could process what was happening, a voice spoke from nowhere. It was one of the guardians, though their form was absent.
"To proceed, pray to one of the statues," the voice echoed. "It will awaken your innate talent."
Nith swallowed. "Pray? That's it? No hints or instructions?"
Silence answered him. The god had disappeared.
"That's it?" Nith repeated, scowling. "They drop me here and leave? Great. Just great."
He turned around, staring at the endless rows of statues. Each one was different—some depicted warriors with swords, mages clutching staffs, beasts roaring into the heavens. But nowhere was there a single sign explaining what talent corresponded to what statue.
"How am I supposed to choose?!" Nith shouted at no one in particular. His voice echoed through the hall.
He scratched his head and began pacing. "This is just like that time I tried to pick lottery numbers… or when I stood in front of the vending machine trying to decide between soda or juice. And I still ended up with an empty pocket and a crushed dream."
Nith groaned and slumped against one of the statues.
Still, something inside him—an unexplainable urge—pulled him toward a particular statue. It wasn't grand or impressive, just a simple figure cloaked in shadow, its features obscured. It felt oddly unassuming compared to the others.
"Hmm… This feels like a scam. Maybe I should pick the giant sword guy or the mage statue instead…"
He turned his head to glance at other statues, then back at the shadowy one. Something tugged at him again, that small voice inside whispering, Pick this one.
"Fine, fine! Whatever. I'll go with this one."
Nith knelt before the statue. He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and prayed awkwardly. "Uh, great and mysterious statue… Please awaken my talent. Make it something cool. Like fire magic or super strength, okay? I'll even say 'thank you.'"
A low hum filled the temple. Magic gathered in the air, swirling around Nith as if answering his prayer. His heart pounded in anticipation. This is it. My life's about to change. No more bad luck. I'll awaken something amazing—
A voice, cold and mechanical, echoed in his mind.
[Talent Awakened: SSS-Ranked Talent—Concealment.]
For a moment, Nith froze. Then he opened one eye cautiously. "…Huh?"
[Talent Details: Concealment. Your system panel, talents, and aura are completely hidden from all beings, including Higher Beings.]
Nith stared at the statue. "You've got to be kidding me."
He stood up slowly, his hands trembling. "Concealment? SSS-Ranked? That sounds powerful, right? Wait—what does it actually do?"
The voice echoed again, repeating the details.
Nith's eye twitched. "So, it conceals my system panel. My aura. My talents. From everyone…"
He scratched his head furiously, pacing in front of the statue. "That's it? What about offensive abilities? Defense? Can I throw fireballs? Summon a dragon? Anything?!"
The temple remained silent.
His scream echoed through the hall. "What am I supposed to do with this?!"
Nith fell to his knees dramatically. "I'm cursed! CURSED! My bad luck strikes again!"
He banged his head against the statue's base lightly. "This is just like that time I found a gold coin only to realize it was chocolate. Or when I thought I won a raffle, but it was for free tofu. Tofu, for crying out loud!"
But then, amidst his despair, a thought crept into his mind. Nith froze mid-rant.
"Wait…"
His eyes lit up, a wicked grin slowly forming on his face. "If my talent is concealed… even the gods can't see it, right?"
He stood up, dusting off his clothes. "What if I just pretend I didn't awaken anything? What if I trick the other gods into giving me another talent?"
A gleam of mischief shone in his eyes. He didn't know if this would work, but there was no harm in trying.
Nith glanced at the next statues beside him and approached one.
He knelt down and …
[Ding! You've Awakened...]