The void. Just... nothing. Total darkness, like the universe had hit the "off" switch and gone on vacation. Not a sound, not a shadow, and... wait, what? Not even my body! I tried to move a finger, blink, anything... nada. Zero. I was like a thought floating in an ocean of nothingness. Seriously, what the hell was this? I freaked out, yeah, but with a weird tinge of curiosity. I mean, it was terrifying, but also kinda... cool?
I closed my eyes or at least I pretended to, since I didn't even have a body anymore. I dug deep into my mind, trying to figure out how I'd ended up here. And then! bam! flashes... a bus, a bridge, and... splash. Water. Oh no. It all came rushing back like a sledgehammer to the face. I was on that bus, heading to meet my friends in another town. And then... screeching tires, screaming voices, the bus flipping off the bridge, straight into the river. The freezing water came crashing in like a raging beast. I pounded on the window like a maniac, but underwater, my fists were useless. The water flooded into my lungs... burning, choking. I fought it, but it was no use. Blackout.
I was seventeen, man! Seventeen! My whole life ahead of me dumb plans, crazy dreams. My parents, my little sister... their faces flashed through my mind, and I felt a lump in my throat... or whatever I had left of a throat. I hoped they'd be okay without me. But wait... if I was dead, then what was this place? The void? Heaven's budget version? Come on, spending eternity in this emptiness? That's just a sick joke. No way I was staying stuck here.
Then suddenly, everything changed. Goodbye gloomy black, hello golden white. A warm glow started to descend... Okay, this is officially getting weird.
"Well hello there, young Taylor," said a warm voice from within that golden ball of light. I jolted or at least my mind did. How the hell did this thing know my name?
"Who are you?" I asked, voice trembling, but with a slight smirk. I tried to sound tough, even if I was freaking out inside. The light shimmered, like it was amused.
"Oh, oh, sorry my boy, no answer to that question... at least not yet. Let's get straight to the why and how you ended up here," it replied, sounding like it was enjoying itself. I got the feeling it was scanning me, even without eyes. Creepy, but kind of cool.
"First off... you're dead," it added. Said it so casually, like it was announcing the weather. I let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, thanks, Captain Obvious!" I shot back, laughing a little too hard, trying to hide how shaken I was.
"So what is this place? A dream?" I asked sarcastically, arms crossed in my head, anyway. The light softened.
"Not a dream. But don't worry, I've got good news. Your soul is young, never reincarnated. So... I'm giving you a second chance," it explained, a playful tone creeping into its voice like it was setting up some big reveal. My eyes or what I imagined were my eyes widened.
"Reincarnation? Like in those web novels I read?" I asked.
"Exactly!" the light confirmed with a soft chuckle, like it found my reaction funny.
"You've heard of the multiverse, haven't you? Human theories aren't that far off. There are infinite worlds... some filled with undead horrors, others where humanity never existed, or where alien forces wiped everything out. But the world I offer you is a vast, vibrant medieval universe. Its planet is ten times the size of the one you knew. It's full of magic, fantastical creatures, knights, dungeons, and countless species. A place of endless discovery, Taylor," it added.
"A world with magic and monsters? Dude, where do I sign? When do we leave?" I said, hyped. The light flickered again, like it liked my answer.
"Patience, young soul. Your journey begins soon... once we've shaped your new identity according to your karma," it murmured gently, like a mentor guiding a student. The word "karma" echoed in my mind, stirring a twinge of unease.
"Karma...?" I asked softly, my voice trembling with hesitation, staring at the glowing entity. The light seemed to nod slowly, sensing my unease.
"Yes, Taylor, your karma. You see, every soul carries the weight of its past actions. The more malice a soul has shown, the more... demanding its reincarnation is likely to be. But a kind soul can hope for a harmonious existence perhaps even one touched by power. Let's set that aside for now and take a look at your karma," it explained in a calm, measured voice.
An imaginary bead of sweat trickled down in my mind. What if my karma was bad? I'd always tried to be a decent person, but I was far from a saint. The thought of suffering in some new life tied a knot in my stomach... or whatever was left of it. Cancel everything I'm not signing up for this!
A golden scroll suddenly appeared in front of the entity, hovering in midair. It seemed to study it carefully. My heart was pounding like crazy. Please, please, let me have good karma.
"Interesting... One hundred karma points. A perfectly balanced score," it murmured with a thoughtful gentleness, like it was contemplating a riddle. The anxiety squeezed tighter around me.
"Is that bad?" I asked, unable to hide my tension as I stared into the light, desperate for some kind of reassurance. The entity paused, like it was carefully picking its words.
"Neither good nor bad, Taylor. Your karma is neutral the soul of someone who neither shined with exceptional kindness nor sank into deep malice. A perfect equilibrium, truly," it answered with a soothing calm, as if trying to ease my fears. I let out a relieved sigh. No torture-filled afterlife, apparently. That was something.
"Good. Let's move on to the creation of your new existence. This is the moment where everything truly begins," it announced, with a measured note of excitement.
Suddenly, a translucent blue screen appeared before me, making me flinch. It looked like a video game interface, complete with options and numbers. What the heck was this? My eyes locked onto the text displayed, and my breath caught in my throat.
__________________
Karma: 100
Race Selection
Goblin – 25 karma
Skeleton – 50 karma
Human – 150 karma
Elf – 250 karma
Ogre – 300 karma
Orc – 300 karma
Gnome – 200 karma
Dwarf – 200 karma
Troll – 350 karma
Minotaur – 400 karma
Centaur – 450 karma
Lizardman – 300 karma
Kobold – 75 karma
Golem – 500 karma
Draconian – 600 karma
Fairy – 350 karma
Werewolf – 400 karma
Vampire – 450 karma
Harpy – 300 karma
Giant – 550 karma
Dryad – 400 karma
Basilisk – 600 karma
Chimera – 700 karma
Griffon – 650 karma
Lich – 800 karma
Dragon – 1000 karma
Phoenix – 900 karma
Wraith – 250 karma
Demon – 700 karma
__________________
I stared at the screen, stunned. So many choices fantastical creatures, like the ones from the novels I used to read. But with only 100 karma points, my options were limited. Goblin? Skeleton? Not exactly a dream come true. My eyes wandered to the more powerful races dragon, phoenix... but they were way out of reach. One hundred karma was really average... The entity seemed to be waiting patiently for my decision, its glow soft and unwavering.
I fixed my gaze on the translucent blue screen floating before me. One hundred karma points. Not great, but not a disaster either... Skeleton, at 50 karma, seemed like my best bet with this limited budget. I didn't have enough for prestigious races like elf, ogre, or dragon. My eyes skimmed over the other choices... dwarf, troll, minotaur, centaur, golem, phoenix... All out of reach. Well, skeleton it is, I guess? It sounded weird, but I could work with it.
"I choose the skeleton," I declared, looking at the glowing entity with a firm voice, trying to mask my uncertainty. The light shimmered gently, as if approving my choice.
"A wise decision, Taylor. Many underestimate skeletons, unaware of their nearly limitless evolutionary potential," it murmured softly. That comment piqued my curiosity.
"Evolution? Limitless?" I asked, a note of confusion in my voice as I studied the entity, searching for more information. The light seemed to smile, its glow warm and reassuring.
"Indeed. Every creature in this world possesses the potential to evolve, but skeletons are unique. Their lack of flesh frees them from many constraints, opening up a multitude of evolutionary paths. However, their natural lack of intelligence often prevents them from fully exploiting this gift. You, with your intact mind, might be able to take advantage of this opportunity. Are you capable of that?" it replied with a calm and encouraging voice.
I thought it over. I'd read enough isekai novels to know that skeletons, under the right conditions, could become incredibly powerful. Liches, skeletal lords, necromancers... If I played my cards right, I could turn this into something epic. I can do this. I have to.
"Yeah. I'll make it work!" I said with determination, feeling a new fire rise within me. The entity let out a soft, almost melodic laugh, filled with a calming warmth.
"Your mind is sharp, young soul. That's a promising start. Now, let's move on to your skills," it announced.
The blue screen shifted suddenly, displaying an endless list of skills, each with a karma cost. Some cost as little as 5 karma, others went up to 1000. The best ones were far beyond my remaining 50 karma. My eyes drifted toward the bottom of the screen, where one option caught my attention: "Random Skill" for only 10 karma.
"What's this random skill thing?" I asked with curiosity, looking up at the entity. The light shimmered again, as if amused by my question.
"A bold option, Taylor. It allows you to obtain a randomly selected skill from the entire existing pool like a game of chance. You might receive something modest... or something extraordinary," it explained.
I nodded... or at least I imagined myself nodding. Ten karma for a roll of the dice? With 50 karma left, I could afford to take a gamble. Let's go. I focused on the option, and the screen changed to display a glowing wheel, covered in thousands of skill names. It began to spin, faster and faster. Come on, luck, be on my side. I need something strong to survive as a skeleton! The wheel slowed, then stopped on... Devour Soul – Level 1.
"Devour Soul? What's that?" I asked, both excited and puzzled. The entity glowed with a gentle intensity.
"A rare and powerful skill, Taylor. At level one, it grants you a 5% chance to absorb the abilities of a living being you defeat. As it evolves, this probability may increase opening extraordinary possibilities," it responded.
My thoughts raced. Five percent isn't much, but if it scales with levels... this could become amazing. Maybe even reach 100% someday? I hit the jackpot!
The screen returned to the skill list, but the random option had disappeared. Shame. Then my eyes were drawn to another skill: Guide – Level 1, costing 40 karma.
"And what about Guide?" I asked, intrigued.
"Guide is a valuable skill for newcomers. It acts as an auxiliary consciousness, providing you with information about the world you're entering and helping you manage your abilities. A loyal companion for a traveler in an unfamiliar universe," it explained.
Without hesitation, I selected Guide. With my remaining 40 karma, it was perfect. Help to navigate a world full of magic and monsters? Exactly what I needed. The entity shimmered one last time, as if pleased.
"Everything is ready, Taylor. Before you go, know that you'll be accompanied by a system an interface that will assist you on your journey. It will track your progress, guide you, and help you unlock your potential. Go now, and live a life worthy of this new beginning. May your path be a bright one," it concluded with solemn gentleness.
Before I could reply, the golden void vanished. Everything turned black, and my consciousness faded, like a candle blown out by the wind.