In a moonlit foggy swamp. If this scene was Described to you it would be considered eerie, creepy, or depressing. But to me it's none of those things. It's actually rather calming. The constant sounds of frog croaks and crickets be damned.
'Why am i thinking about that right now? Focus It won't be long now. I'm so close you've got the treasure James. Now you just have to get it to your fence.' I repeat this like a mantra in my head as I move through this swampy terrain.
The sound of frogs and crickets drowned out by my mental focus. Clutching the golden medallion in my hand as I walk across a fallen log carefully as to not fall in the croc infested waters below.
'With this you can pay off your debts and your moms hospital bills. So don't fuck up.' I say to motivate myself. The full moon offering enough light that using my flashlight would be a waste.
With a sigh of relief i finally get to my truck, having parked it on the side of the road to make the trek through the swamp.
'Stupid cultists didn't even know what they had. Seriously this medallion is worth millions but all they want to use it for is rituals.'
I hop in my truck the door shutting cutting off the outside world from the inside of the truck. I take a moment to relax in the silence. Then I hear it, breathing, and it's not mine. I tense up to feel something cold push against the back of my neck. The sound of the guns hammer being pulled back tells me everything I need to know.
"Just hand the medallion over James." As I hear this my eyes widen not because of the words but because I recognize the voice.
"Scott... why? I thought we were brothers?" I hear an almost pitying laugh.
"Moms dying and you're a parasite on this family. I'm going to Make it in this world no matter what. So hand over the medallion."
My hands unconsciously clench the medallion but I don't awnser. The next thing I hear is "I didn't want to do this."
The next thing I saw was my memories. The joy of running into my mothers arms as a child. My brother as he congratulates my every achievement. To my dream of being a treasure hunter. My mother getting sick and ending up in a hospital. Going into debt to get my dream job working. To the cold eyes of my brother in the rear view mirror as he kills me...
Then suddenly a flash of green light blinds me. I blink the light out of my eyes... I BLINK THE WHAT NOW!?
Realizing I can still see I seem to be in old kind of rundown room. With a singular window and dusty furniture. I rush to the windowsill and see calm lake and an almost flat land if it wasn't for the pond at the edge of the yard.
I just stand there. My eyes watering as I try to focus and figure out where I am. 'It's not manly to cry but fuck man...' I let out a shaky breath only for it to sound almost like an echo. Like an after thought of the wind.
I look down in confusion bringing my hands to throat only to see that my hands are see through. My eyes widen. 'No fucking way.'
I quickly check my throat and feel a hole in the center of it. 'So I did die and this is where the bullet exited.'
I just finish processing that thought when a game panel pops up in front of me.
[Congratulations the rituals has been complete. You've completed the final step]
'What? What ritual?'
[The ritual of eternity.
Consisting of
tempt someone to do something against there better judgment.
Fight a king.
Rule a land nobody wants.
Steal a women's virginity.
Refuse a starving man the food you waste until he dies.
Hold the medallion as you starve to death with food right in front of you.
Reenact the first murder.
This seven step ritual has just been completed. As you were the one holding the amulet. you are given the benefits. Given your situation you are given the tools to last eternally. Welcome to the belief system]
'I didn't do anything in that ritual. Unless reenact the first murder means Cain and able.'
I go to sit on the dusty rocking chair that's in front of the window. only to fall straight through it.
'Great...' I just lay on the floor. 'Alright system what do you do?'
[With the belief system the more people believe you exist the stronger you are]
[People who believe you exist whether it's only for a second will generate energy. this system will take that energy and make you stronger with it in the most efficient way possible]
[Status]
[Lv 1] [1/100]
[Name: James]
[Title: eternal ghost]
[Race: soul ghost]
[Class: bound ghost]
[Hp: ---/---]
[Sp: ---/---]
[Mp: 330/330]
[Str: 0]
[Dex: 0]
[Vit: 0]
[Int: 11]
[Wis: 11]
[Cha: 6]
[Mag: 11]
[Points: 0]
'Why do I have zero strength? Wait don't awnser system that's a dumb question. Why is my class bound ghost not just ghost.'
[A bound ghost is a ghost who is bound to a certain erea. You for instance can't leave this house. There are two types of ghost a bound ghost and a wandering ghost. A bound ghost is more stable but confidened. A wandering ghost is more unstable but free. Do note stable and unstable are not just referring to mental state. From strength to existence. so the system chose to pick a safe place to bind the host to]
'What even does an unstable existence mean?' Waiting for a moment I get no awnser. 'It didn't awnser. Wait don't tell me. System what is a bound ghost?'
[A bound gh-
'It's the exact same explanation. So the system is automated. Great I've got an npc in my head.' I finally get up off the floor.
'Let's just figure out what I can do?'
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