The quiet hum of William's computer filled the room, a comforting sound amid his otherwise solitary life. It had been years since he hung up his blades, trading the darkness of his past for the serenity of gaming, but the memories still clung to him like shadows. Craft-Miner had become his escape—a peaceful world where he could build, create, and leave his violent past behind.
But peace, he knew, was a fragile thing.
A rumbling sound suddenly pierced the tranquility of his apartment. It began as a low vibration under his feet but soon escalated into something more intense. The floor creaked ominously, and the walls groaned like the building was in pain. William's instincts flared, but it was too late.
Without warning, the wall of his apartment exploded inward. The deafening roar of a truck smashing through the concrete sent a shockwave of debris flying in all directions. His computer monitors shattered, and the explosion threw him off his feet. The air filled with smoke and dust as he struggled to breathe, disoriented and injured.
Before he could react, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway—methodical and purposeful—the familiar, terrifying sound of an incoming threat.
He tried to get up, but his body refused to cooperate. Pain radiated from the impact, making it difficult to move. The footsteps grew louder and closer.
The door to his apartment burst open, and William saw six armed men, clad in black tactical gear, their rifles raised and aimed directly at him. Their movements were swift, precise, and calculated; it was clear these weren't just random gunmen—these men were professionals.
William's heart raced. He knew what would come next. He was no stranger to this kind of confrontation, but this time was different. He felt too injured and disoriented to fight back, and there was nowhere to run.
One of the gunmen stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. "Don't move. Stay where you are."
But William couldn't move even if he tried. His body was failing him, his vision blurring, his mind clouded by pain.
And then, without warning, the leader of the group raised his rifle and fired.
The bullet tore through William's chest, and then another, and another. Pain blossomed, searing through him as the world around him faded to black.
His breath came in ragged gasps, and in his final moments, his mind flickered back to his past, the bloodshed, the contracts, the life he had left behind.
This is it, he thought. The end. But just as the darkness closed in, something shifted. A gentle pull, like being drawn from the depths of an endless void.
William's soul seemed to dissolve into darkness, but it wasn't the end. The world around him began to change; the suffocating darkness transformed into an ethereal light. His consciousness was pulled from the cold void, and he found himself in a realm unlike anything he had ever imagined.
A vast expanse of shimmering stars stretched in every direction, their glow soft yet powerful. A strange, calming warmth enveloped him, and a voice echoed through the infinite space.
"William," the voice was soft, yet carried undeniable authority. "Your time in that world is over. I have brought you here to give you a second chance."
William tried to speak, but no words came. He could feel his presence and his consciousness, but his physical form was gone, replaced by something more intangible, more connected to the energy of this strange realm.
"You have suffered enough in that life," the voice continued. "You were bound by your past, by your actions as an assassin. It is time for you to be reborn. It is time to let go of the darkness that defined you."
William's thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion. Who is this? Where am I? He wanted to ask, but the words never left his mind.
The voice seemed to understand his confusion and spoke again, this time with a tone that was both kind and resolute.
"I am Aravina, goddess of new beginnings and rebirth. I have witnessed your struggles from afar, and I have made my choice—You are the one I will guide. Your journey will not end in that world."
The stars surrounding him blazed even brighter, and William felt a powerful surge of energy as if a dormant force inside him was awakening. The void he floated in transformed into a profound sense of purpose, something he had been denied for far too long.
"In your next life, you will seize the opportunity to forge a new path," Aravina declared her words a powerful balm to his troubled soul. "You will cast aside the sins of your past and take charge of a new road that you will choose. A life where you will rebuild, grow, and create something extraordinary."
William's consciousness surged with the intensity of Aravina's words, the weight of her promise settling over him like armor: a second chance. A life without the violence that had previously defined him.
Yet, with that promise came an urgent question. What will you become in this new life?
"You will be reborn," Aravina asserted as if anticipating his thoughts. "But you must have unwavering trust in the path you are about to embark upon. It will not be easy, but it will be entirely yours."
With that, William's soul was yanked from the realm of stars, his essence torn away from the calm embrace of Aravina. He felt the undeniable pull of a new world—an unknown yet boundless domain filled with infinite possibilities.
The soft murmur of unfamiliar voices marked William's new existence. He felt a radiant warmth, filled with love, surrounding him. As he stirred, a louder voice broke through the darkness, "PUSH ARIA, PUSH!" a rough but confident voice was heard before a sudden flash of light blinded William and after a moment the light softened, "James, the baby, is the baby okay?" a woman's voice was heard her voice was like a gentle melody, each word flowing like a lullaby that could soothe even the stormiest heart.
William's eyes finally adjusted to the light, and he could finally see his surroundings and the three people in the room with beaming smiles, "AH Aria he has your nose!" the man says as he pokes William on the nose, feeling like frustration was felt within him from being poked caused the newborn's lower lip to begin quivering before the sharp sound of a baby crying was heard throughout the farm.
An older woman grabs the newborn and hands her to the mother while giving the man a look that makes him feel embarrassed, "Aria the boy looks hungry!" the older woman says as she hands the mother the swaddled baby, not long after Aria pulled her abnormally large breasts out and William instinctively began to suckle.
A soft and creamy feeling swept William's taste fresh taste buds and he began to suckle harder, his little hands pressing the soft mounds as if to pump more milk, "Little fella has an appetite HAHAHA!" James said as he faced the glares of the women and began to scratch the back of his head.
William had his fill of milk soon and his bright blue and green eyes began to grow heavy, the last thing he saw was the face of a beautiful young woman with red hair, her eyes gleamed like emeralds as she watched the boy fall asleep.
The older woman began to chant in a strange language and an earthy wind blew forth and caused silvery hair to flow, William who was fast asleep felt some kind of force enter his body and his little body shivered, "Good news Mom, despite the troubled birth he is healthy" The woman said as she retracted her mana, Aria says nothing, her eyes haven't left the newborn since he fell asleep and suddenly her emerald eyes began to shimmer and tears began to well, "James we did it, we have a little boy!" her tears streaked down her face uncontrollably!
James seeing this rushes to his wife's side and holds her close as the two begin to sob simultaneously.
The older woman turns to leave but before she leaves, she pauses, "I'll be waiting for the promised goods!" she leaves quickly after saying this, and soon not even her footsteps can be heard.
The day ends quickly, and five years pass.
"SKKT, SKKT!" the sound of metal breaking the earth was heard, "SKKT, SKKT!" A boy with wild black hair was working with a similar older man in the fields, the glimmer of sweat caked his tiny body, and he let out a heavy breath, "SIGH, hey dad, will you bring me to town with you this time?" William asked as he took a small break, James turned to the boy and patted his small shoulders, "Maybe IF you keep up with your chores!"
The two share a father-and-son moment before continuing their work, "RUMBLE!" the sound of wheels on a dirt road was heard and the two turned their heads to see a horse-pulled carriage slowly but surely moving down the road toward the direction of town causing James's brow to furrow, "Who was that dad?" William asked with a confused expression on his little face, "Nothing good son!" he said never taking his eyes away from the direction of town.
The two walk back to the cozy home and Aria is already at the door waiting with his traveling gear in hand, "Aria I'll be back soon, hopefully, it's nothing big but seeing the escort I fear it's either war or a tax increase!"
He equips his old sword to his belt as well as a few sacks filled with silver and dried meat or fruits, "Be safe... and come back soon!" she pulls him close for a hug, and suddenly his stern expression melts into one of love and he lowers himself to give the love of his life a soft kiss!
"Smooch!"
William walked with his father until the end of the farm and waved at him until his figure disappeared over the hills, "DONT WORRY I'LL DO YOUR SIDE OF THE CHORES TOO!" he yelled unsure if his dad heard him.
"Giggle."
William heard a giggle behind him and spun to see who but to his confusion, there was no one, "Am I hearing things?" he thought scratching his head he picked up his farm tool and walked back to the farmhouse not noticing the faint shimmering in the distance where a delicate hand was peering through space and time like it was merely a curtain, "Giggle." her hand descended back behind the curtain as a faint light left the tip of her finger and flew into the farm tool William was holding, "Good luck little Assassin!" she said as the curtain finally closed and the space went back to normal.
His mother was finishing making roasted chicken and potatoes in garlic butter filling the room with a thick aroma of spices that coupled extremely well with the soft and earthy glow of the fireplace that while small managed to fill the home with a loving warmth that made one feel as comfortable as possible!
The two ate and talked about their days merrily and as they did so in the other room the farm tool was giving off a soft glow and the blunt end of the handle acquired an insignia of a hammer and chisel on a bed of wheat and grain surrounded by a soft bronze circle before the soft glow faded and the room returned to normal.
After dinner and talking with his mother as they finished house chores, William fell face-first into his bed, ignoring the subtle pokes and jabs of what this world called a pillow as he fell into a dreamless slumber.
Hours passed and soon Dawn was peeking through the slats in his window causing the young man to begin stirring in his sleep before his green and blue opened to greet the day his medium-length black hair stuck to his face and a line of drool still clung to his face!
William prepares his clothes for the day and runs down to a river to take a quick bath, the water is cold but refreshing and soon the young man is fresh as a new day!
As he walks in, he respectfully greets his mother who is currently relaxing in a chair while sipping some kind of tea after doing so he heads to his small room and grabs hold of his farm tool!
William's fingers brushed the smooth handle of the farming tool, a simple wooden hoe, unremarkable at first glance. The moment his skin made contact, the air around him seemed to ripple, and a glowing interface materialized before his eyes.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, William. You have been chosen by the Goddess Aravina to wield the Craft-Farmer System. May your fields flourish, and your name becomes a legend.
The glowing interface pulsed with a faint golden light as text began to scroll in midair.
[Binding Complete: Divine Farm Tool Activated]
Current Tool: Blessed Wooden Hoe System Status: Online User Status: Synchronizing...
"Synchronizing?" William muttered, gripping the hoe tightly. A sudden warmth spread from the tool into his hand, coursing through his body like a tidal wave. It wasn't unpleasant—more like being submerged in a hot spring after a long day's work.
[Synchronization Complete]
User: William: Level: 1 Stats Unlocked.
William blinked as a screen filled with numbers and symbols appeared.
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Name: William Class: Farmer (Apprentice) Level: 1HP: 100/100 MP: 50/50 Strength (STR): 5 Dexterity (DEX): 5 Endurance (END): 5 Wisdom (WIS): 5 Charisma (CHA): 5
"Wait a minute, Charisma? What does that have to do with farming?"
As if responding to his thoughts, the system answered with a soft chime:
[CHARISMA]: Your ability to influence animals, trade with NPCs, and charm allies. A high Charisma score improves livestock productivity and trade prices.
"That's... surprisingly useful," William admitted, scratching his head.
Before he could fully absorb the information, another prompt flashed.
[QUEST UNLOCKED]
Title: First Harvest Objective: Till and plant 10 crops. Reward: 50 XP, 10 Copper Coins, and 1 Skill Point.
Looking up from the screen, William noticed a small plot of barren land near a flowing stream. He tightened his grip on the hoe, feeling an odd sense of determination welling up inside him.
"Alright, system. Let's see what this 'Blessed Wooden Hoe' can do."
Taking his first step toward the field, William swung the hoe. The moment it struck the ground, a golden glow spread across the soil, and a small patch of dirt turned rich and fertile.
[Skill Activated: Efficient Tilling]
Stamina cost reduced by 20%.
A notification chimed in his mind, and William couldn't help but smirk. "This is way better than real-life farming."
By the time he'd tilled the entire field, his stats flashed again.
[XP Gained: +50]
[Level Up: 1 → 2]
5 Stat Points awarded.
William stared at the glowing screen in awe. The rush of progress was addicting. He pulled up the stat panel, his fingers hovering over the glowing "+" symbols next to his attributes.
"Strength or Wisdom? Hmm... maybe both."
He allocated his points, feeling the change in his body immediately. His swings became more fluid, and he could sense the soil's energy more vividly.
The system chimed again:
[New Skill Unlocked: Quick Growth (Passive)]
Crops grow 30% faster under your care.
William chuckled to himself. "Goddess Aravina, you outdid yourself with this system. Let's see if I can take this farm to the next level."
The wind carried the faint scent of earth and magic, and for the first time in a long while, William felt a sense of purpose.
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Name: William (Nameless)
Age: 5
Class: Farmer (Apprentice)
Level: 1
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength (STR): 8
Dexterity (DEX): 5
Endurance (END): 5
Wisdom (WIS): 7
Charisma (CHA): 5
William picked up a stone that normally would require much effort and immediately felt the difference in his strength compared to before which would be considered extremely strong for a 5-year-old.
He began to aim for the nearby river and realized he was able to calculate the trajectory easier than before with less margin for error, "SPLASH!" he tossed the stone into the river only just missing the spot he was aiming for and struck close to a group of fish who immediately scattered once the stone struck the water!
[New skill unlocked: Rock throw Level 1]
A small panel popped up claiming he gained a new skill, so William looked around for a smaller stone to throw, after a moment he found a rock of sufficient size and began to imagine a trajectory.
The rock began to glow lightly as it was infused with mana!
William threw the stone, "Whoosh!" the sound of air breaking was heard and he lost sight of the stone before suddenly, "POW!" the stone struck a tree on the other side of the river creating a small crater in the bark!
MP: 45/50
A light blue bar appeared with a number attached indicating he used some mana with the ability, along with a sudden feeling of slight exhaustion!
"Interesting, this should be great for pests!" William scratches his hairless chin as he walks back up to the farm with his wooden hoe in hand!
He arrives back at the farm to see his mother holding a letter delivered by some youngster from the town who is old enough to travel and waved at William as he passed!
William was about to ask the boy's name when he heard the sound of sobbing, turning around his mother Aria was clutching the letter with a pained expression, he walked up and took a look at the letter before realizing he couldn't read this language yet.
Seeing William's look of struggle as he attempted to read Aria began translating, "All men over the age of 15 and under the age of 50 are hereby ordered to make haste towards the capital of Elaris Dominion for the draft!" her lower lip began to shake as she continued, "Scouts have discovered the movement of the Drakthar Dominion closing in on Elaris Dominion and need every man available, we thank you for your understanding!" she nearly scoffed with the last words but managed to hold it in!
William's little hand squeezed tightly on the farm tool in his hand before he went and hugged his mother, "I'll take care of things here, believe it!" William said with a cheesy smile causing a smile to form on her face in response!
"Well best get started little farmer!" she ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead.
He walked to the field that was still recently half-tilled and got to work "SKKT!" he had begun working the field and through his hoe, the ground began to become soft enough to work and simultaneously becoming more fertile, "SKKT, SKKT, SKKT!" he reached into his bag and pulled out a few potato cuttings and seeds before planting them accordingly
[QUEST COMPLETE]
Reward: 50 XP, 10 Copper Coins, and 1 Skill Point attained
[Level Up: 2 → 3]
1 skill point awarded
5 stat points awarded
[STATISTICS PANEL]
Name: William (Nameless)
Age: 5
Class: Farmer (Apprentice)
Level: 3
HP: 100/100
MP: 100/100
Strength (STR): 10
Dexterity (DEX): 5
Endurance (END): 5
Wisdom (WIS): 10
Charisma (CHA): 5
[Rock throw Level 2 - 2 points to improve]
William first felt a sudden spasm in his entire body from his muscles being reconfigured before the changes reached his brain, his consciousness went dark, and his brain matter was reinforced with mana, he stood there like that for a moment before his consciousness came back to reality.
[New skill unlocked: Reap and Sow - Turns farm tool into a Chain and Sickle - can be used as a farm tool and a weapon]
[New skill unlocked: Item Box - level 1 - Capacity: 9 slots (3x3 grid)]
[Each slot can hold a maximum of 64 units of a single type of item (like Craft-Miner). Maximum weight limit: 50 kg (110 lbs.)]
William took a clump of dirt and thought about putting it in my item box, a blue light shone on the dirt before the clump simply vanished only to appear in his item box as a cubed piece of dirt, before removing it only for it to appear out of nowhere in front of him and fall to the ground.
He spent the day experimenting with his item box and discovered that living beings such as insects and other pests are incapable of being stored and he could not store anything larger than the space itself.
"WILLIAM DINNER!" he heard his mother shouting to get his attention and only just now did William realize he was hungry and started lightly drooling as he thought of his mother's cooking.
Walking back with an excited expression he arrived to the smell of grilled Aviquill (Chicken) breast served over a bed of wilted Thistledown Sprouts, garnished with Flare Peppers.
Aria gestures to William to come help set the table and after a moment the two were digging in and heart signs replaced their eyes.
The Aviquill didn't stand a chance and after a few minutes of eating the two were done and beyond satisfied, "Amazing cooking as always Mom!" he said as he relaxed to digest his food.
Aria chuckled lightly at the compliment before starting the dishes while humming to herself, the melodious sound of her voice practically making the sunshine brighter and the wind carrying notes of happiness.
William closed his eyes and took it all in, "I wish Dad was here to hear this!" he thought as he rose to his feet and proceeded to his room for a nap.
A few miles away a group of 200 young to middle-aged men were being led to the capital in tow of the carriage that arrived previously each one bore a grave expression as they weren't expecting the sudden draft and only a few of them had ever so much as lifted a sword.
James was standing in the center near the front of the caravan and looked at the people around him, "So many kids, I guess I should be grateful my son is only 5!" he couldn't help but think as he saw the many fresh-faced draftee's
It was a few days march before they reached the encampment and divided into units under a sergeant who was familiar with working with the untrained.
"FORM UP!" the sergeant over James roared as he stood up front, most of the draftees had stopped what they were doing and formed a neat line, but a few weren't as intelligent, "I hope I get my hands on some Drakthari scum!" one joked to another but suddenly felt a tense atmosphere bearing down on him and looked ahead only to see the sergeant staring fireballs at him!
A demonic smile forms on the sergeant's face, and he looks at the rest of his unit, "For training today we will be doing the Human Obstacle, you the loudmouth come here!"
He points to the one who was caught talking who walks up front with a reddened face, "THIS shit-stick is going to become an obstacle, and everyone has to do 3 laps, every time he drops the obstacle you have to restart!
The group looks toward the poor boy who is being made an example of and wishes his soul a swift passage.
After some light training a week has passed and they must move out to meet the enemy, "FORM UP AND MARCH!" a sergeant yells out as the draftees begin taking formation for their march a palpable fear lingering in the air.
After a few hours of marching, they arrive at a flat field soaked in the blood of previous skirmishes and battles and see their opponents on the opposite side of the field, a condescending look in their eyes as they looked upon the hastily thrown-together army although they are outnumbered by the irregulars their equipment and training is superior.
"TAKE POSITIONS MEN DEFEND YOUR HOMES DEFEND YOUR LIVES!"