Darkness.
Not the comforting kind that came with closed eyes and warm bedsheets—but the cold, heavy, suffocating sort that pressed in from all directions.
Then came the voice.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]Welcome, Candidate. You have been selected for reincarnation.Race: HumanInitializing base template... Done.Displaying stats:
A glowing interface appeared before him, hovering in the void like a projection only he could see.
Name: KieranRace: HumanAge: 19Class: UnassignedLevel: 1Attributes:
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 6
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 7
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Charisma: 4
Luck: 3
Skills: NoneInventory:
[Tattered linen tunic and worn sandals]
[Dry Bread x1]
[10 Copper Coins]
[1 Silver Coin]
You will awaken shortly. Please prepare for arrival.
Kieran blinked at the interface. "Uh... hello? God? Goddess? Whoever you are, could I at least get a dagger or some beginner magic or something?"
No reply.
He waved a hand through the display. It flickered slightly, but didn’t react.
"Seriously? Not even a tutorial quest? No fireball spell? Nothing?"
Query received. Clarifying response:No skills available. No unique powers granted. No divine intervention scheduled.You have been assigned standard starter items.Please proceed.
Kieran stared in silence. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He'd read the stories, seen the anime. Chosen Ones. Legendary blades. Cheat skills. Some busty goddess explaining the rules with a wink and a smile.
Instead… he got this. A floating HUD and a pair of sandals.
"Wait—are you… just a program?"
Affirmative.
A sharp chill ran down Kieran’s spine.
No deity. No guidance. Just a silent machine processing him like a line item.
He swallowed. "Great. This is going to suck, isn’t it?"
Perspective: Subjective.
Reincarnation commencing.