James's heart raced with a blend of excitement and uncertainty as he stood in the shimmering meadow. The whispers of the wind carried the echo of possibility, and every fiber of his being buzzed with the thrilling charge of adventure. His logical mind still grappled with the impossibility of it all, but this was no time for doubt. Now was the moment to shape his destiny in this strange world.
Instinctively, he summoned the transparent panel once more, his hands moving fluidly in the air. A glowing interface appeared before him, displaying options adorned with enchanting icons. The system menu offered a plethora of classes: Warrior, Mage, Hunter, Rogue, and more. As he scrolled through the possibilities, disappointment began to seep into his heart. These classes felt clichéd, rote. They were all familiar tropes—characters he had seen and played in countless video games.
"Where's the thrill in that?" he muttered, feeling the urge to create something of his own, a legacy that was truly unique to him. Then, it came to him almost instantaneously—a name that danced on the tip of his tongue for what felt like ages. "Reaper."
The term resonated deep within him. It symbolized power over life and death, a wielder of necromantic magic and patron of lost souls. With newfound determination, he focused on the custom class creation tool. The interface responded to his will, shifting to a vivid array of blank fields waiting for input.
"[Custom Class Creation]" the panel declared, pulsing gently. He began to fill in each category:
[Class Name: Reaper]
[Primary Weapon: Scythe]
[Primary Magic: Necromancy]
James felt alive as he crafted the details, visualizing the dark cloak that flowed around him, the shimmering scythe that would become an extension of his very will. With each addition to his class, he felt a surge of energy—and just as importantly, a sense of identity.
He pressed 'Confirm,' the interface flickering once before a new window opened.
[CLASS CREATED : REAPER]
[Your understanding of Death increases: 0% → 0.1%]
[YOU HAVE GAINED: BASIC SCYTHE WIELDING, (Level 1) (Common)]
A triumphant beep resonated through the tranquil air as James felt a wave of energy wash over him. He couldn't help but smile; it was as if he had just completed a quest in one of his beloved games. The magic intrinsic to this world responded to his desires, and with it, he felt more powerful than he could have ever imagined.
Five abilities blossomed before him, each adorned with arcane symbols that pulsed with dark violet light:
[Shadow tentacles: Summon shadowy tendrils that you can control with practice. Costs 1 mana per second per tentacle summoned (0/8), (Level 1) (Unique) (ChannelChannel) (Shadow Affinity) (Shadow Affinity)]
[Requiem of Souls: Double your natural regeneration and enhance all stats by 2% by summoning a portion of the souls of your fallen enemies, calling upon the spirits of the departed for assistance, you will lose more and more of your rationality the longer this skill is activated. Costs 0.5 mana per second, (Level 1) (Unique) (ChannelChannel)(No Affinity) (No Affinity)]
[Grasp of the Fallen: Raise a single defeated enemy as a temporary ally for a short duration, bending them to your will, Cost will vary depending on strength of the target and whether their soul is willing, (Level 1) (Unique) (Active) (Necromantic Affinity) (0/1), Costs varies depending on strength of target, and whether their soul is willing, (Level 1) (Unique) (Active) (Necromantic Affinity)]
[Death's Embrace: Unleash a wave of necrotic energy that damages and pushes enemies in a wide radius, with practice, you can concentrate this effect for more power. Costs 5 mana per use, (Level 1) (Unique) (Active) (Necromantic Affinity)]
[Summon Scythe: Materialize or dematerialize your scythe from the ether into or from your hand. Costs 5 mana per use, (Level 1) (Unique) (Active) (No Affinity)]
[You have completed the [Unique] quest: Choose or create your class]
[50 xp gained]
[XP: 50/100]
[A [Basic scythe (NOT EVEN RARE ENOUGH TO BE COMMON)] has been deposited in your [Summon Scythe] ability, use [Summon Scythe] to retrieve it.
James leaned closer, his sharp black eyes alight with curiosity and delight at the xp gain. "Only 50 more to go." He muttered absentmindedly as he began exploring the descriptions of each ability, mentally envisioning how he would wield such powers.
"Wow…" he said under his breath, "this is going to be incredible."
The thrill of necromancy, of controlling the very essence of life and death, sent shivers down his spine. The very thought of raising fallen foes and wrapping his enemies in shadows thrilled him. He felt powerful. He had always been stuck on the sidelines, an observer in his own life, but now… now, he was ready to make his mark.
Then, as if on cue, his stomach rumbled, grounding him back into reality. Adventure could wait for just a moment. Checking his health and mana—it was more than enough to start his journey. But first, he needed a place to explore and hone his abilities.
Turning around, his gaze fell upon the forest that loomed in the distance, an ancient expanse of trees that rolled toward the horizon. Unlike the cheerful meadow he occupied, this grove seemed dark and foreboding, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. Yet, there was something captivating about it—a beckoning sensation that hinted at hidden mysteries and untold stories.
"There's got to be something interesting over there," he mused, weighing his options. "What could go wrong?"
It seemed an innocent enough statement—those words often used when venturing into the unknown—but internally, James felt both trepidation and exhilaration. The forest represented the first steps into his new life, a proving ground for a new identity he was desperate to embrace. With a firm resolute posture, he set forth toward the shadowed thicket, the soft grass beneath his feet giving way to the hard-packed earth of the forest path.
With each step, the meadow faded behind him, replaced by the soft crunching of leaves and twigs underfoot. Light dimmed as he moved deeper into the trees, the dense canopy blotting out much of the twin suns above. Mysterious shadows danced and shifted, fueling his imagination. He could hear rustling sounds, whispering voices of the forest itself—each sound urged him to delve further in.
Moments turned into minutes, and as he navigated farther along the winding trail, he suddenly felt a strange sensation; as though an unseen force was guiding him, pushing him forward. He glanced down, his heart racing as he noticed a glowing path materializing beneath his feet, marking the way ahead.
As soon as he placed his foot within this ethereal trail, the system chimed again, drawing his attention. A small panel opened in front of him, revealing the message:
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: PATHFINDING (Level 1) (Common)]
[Description: The art of navigating through unknown territory. Enhanced sense of direction and spatial awareness. Improves movement speed in forests and wilderness areas. Level up to gain increased proficiency in traversing complicated terrains.]
James grinned broadly—the world itself was recognizing him, rewarding him for his exploration. It felt surreal yet invigorating, as if the universe acknowledged the story he was hoping to write.
Skimming the description with eager eyes, he absorbed every detail. "Finally, something useful! I'll be like a phantom in these woods," he breathed, a sense of confidence swelling in his chest.
He examined his surroundings, the thick underbrush suddenly seeming less oppressive. "Alright, James," he said aloud, channeling the excitement surging through his veins. "Let's see what this place has to offer."
The trees closed in, their branches weaving together like ancient sentinels watching over a sacred grove. Shadows danced playfully along the brush, and every creak and rustle brought with it a promise of adventure, a hint of danger, and an insatiable curiosity that would lead him further down the path of becoming the Reaper he'd envisioned.
As he ventured deeper, every one of his senses heightened. He could feel the brush of the cool wind, the earthy scents of moss and damp soil, and hear the distant call of an animal—perhaps an owl or something more surreal. With his newfound abilities, he was no longer just a lost boy; he had become an entity to be reckoned with, or so he thought. The Reaper was on the hunt, and what lay ahead could challenge his essence, but he was ready to meet it head-on.
The journey had only just begun, and he could already sense the whispers of fate wrapping around him. James, the boy who had once felt so out of place, now strolled resolutely and recklessly into the unknown, ready to carve his own path in the vibrant tapestry of his new existence, but as he said, "What could go wrong?"-James, 2007-2025, died tragically from being reckless, what a loser.