" Could I know more about option three?" Gerhan asked, standing in the middle of the strange white void. His voice sounded small and insignificant in the vast emptiness.
The system's reply was immediate, cold, and utterly unhelpful.
"System has already given all the information needed for your choice."
He frowned, frustration etching lines on his face. Option two seemed tempting. If he was lucky, it could give him a life of instant wealth, power, and experience. The idea of being reborn as a king, a hero, or at least someone with significant advantages sounded appealing. But luck? That had never been on his side.
Option one held its own allure. The prospect of creating a character, molding an identity, and selecting abilities seemed exciting. Yet the limitation of only five races—human, orc, elf, dwarf, and undead—felt like a restriction. It was as though the system dangled the promise of limitless possibilities but confined him to a narrow framework.
"Could I know more about the third option?" he asked again, as though repeating the question might coax a different answer.
"System has already given all the information needed for your choice."
Gerhan let out a sigh, accepting that no further details would come. No hints, no insights, no secret explanations. The options hovered before him, glowing faintly in the void:
1. Create your own character.
2. Be born into one of the five races.
3. Everything will be randomized.
His gaze lingered on the third choice. His heart thudded in his chest as he considered it. Randomization meant he could end up as anything—a dragon, a troll, maybe even something as pathetic as an ant. But wasn't that uncertainty part of the thrill?
"System," he said finally, his voice steady despite the racing of his thoughts, "I choose the third option."
The system responded without delay, its tone calm and mechanical.
"There is still time left. Wait for the time to pass."
Time? That caught him off guard. He'd expected everything to happen immediately.
"System, how much time is left?"
"12 minutes out of 2 hours."
Nearly two hours had passed? His mind reeled. When had that happened? He must have been so deep in thought that the time had slipped away unnoticed.
Lowering himself to the featureless ground, Gerhan tried to relax. His thoughts began to wander as he imagined what lay ahead.
"What kind of life will I have?" he murmured. "If I end up as a dragon, I'll conquer everything. I'll soar through the skies, eat all the food I want, and build the biggest treasure hoard in history." His pulse quickened at the thought, excitement mixing with nervous energy.
Then, a glowing countdown appeared before him, hanging in the air like a beacon in the void.
10 seconds until the start.
His heart skipped a beat.
9.
The weight of anticipation settled over him.
8.
Was this excitement? Or fear?
7.
It didn't matter now.
6.
There was no turning back.
5.
His fists clenched involuntarily.
4.
He could hear his heartbeat thundering in his ears.
3.
He told himself he was ready.
2.
Was he?
1.
The system spoke one last time, its voice devoid of emotion.
"Good luck to everyone."
Suddenly, the space around Gerhan began to distort. It twisted and warped, as if reality itself were unraveling. Colors he didn't recognize exploded around him, and the void fractured into chaos.
Then, just as quickly, everything went dark.