“Still though… 6 years of sub-light speed boring ass travel only to end up like this! Fucking hell. I just hope I didn’t doom everyone back on earth? These things could just survive in space, uh, but they were pretty slow, it even said I offed one, blowing the ship was the right decision after all…I guess if that’s enough to get ‘em humanity isn’t really in danger.” While I was lost in my monologue the misty silhouette of a blank humanoid started taking form. When it looked almost solid, some new line of white glowing text started showing up.

[Hey there! Welcome to the fabled “Character Creation Menu”, what can I get you ?]

The previous shop was like a cold AI but this one sounds radically different. Wait, sounds ? Not only is the text there but it also has a cutesy girly voice, sounding straight out of a cartoon or something!

“Wait, did the previous system have the ability to talk also ?”

[You bet she can, she doesn’t really like talking much though, I don’t think I heard her talk to a customer for a good four thousand years or something, and we get a lot of people here.]

If every person who dies goes through this I could see that yeah.

[Ah ! Sorry we need to get to work or I’m going to get told off for slacking on the job.]

[Please start by redeeming your raffle tickets, what you get might influence your options later.]

“Uh, ok, I’ll start with the magical affinity one I guess?” The minor god blessing sounds more exciting so I’m keeping it for last.

[Great, let’s see what you get! JUMBLE JUMBLE, PAH Ja-jaaaaaaan, here’s your prize!]

[Greater affinity of growth]

[Greater affinity of growth : Affinity with growth magic, a school of magic that focuses on the expansion of time and space.]

I expected something flashy like fire or light to go with my shitty personality but I guess this works as well, it sounds good, probably, it’s good right ? Right ?!

[OoOooh a space time type affinity, you’re a lucky one, that’s pretty rare, well, lucky might not be the best way to say it since it’s probably your recent… misfortunes that influenced the result. Still it was a semi-random raffle so you could have gotten some really bad things instead.]

By the sound of it she thinks it’s pretty good, thank god.

“Recent misfortunes eh? That’s a nice way of putting it, I felt like a balloon in a fryer before I fainted.” I respond sounding quite annoyed at the recollection.

[Eheh, if that’s any help, know that since you purchased the Perfected Biological Body, your new body will be capable of withstanding outer space, well, as long as you don’t get too close to things you shouldn’t. Now let's claim your blessing.]

“Wait, I want to know, is it a ‘minor’ blessing from a god or a regular blessing from a ‘minor’ god? The ticket is pretty unclear.” Not that I know what gods there are or what a blessing exactly is in the first place, but It's probably better if I understand at least a bit of what’s happening to me.

[It’s a blessing from a minor god, the ticket will semi randomly select them, you could even get me! What the blessing is exactly and how strong it will be is up to them and what they think of you.]

So She’s a god. Yeah I could have guessed that, weird that I didn’t, this whole dying business really got me shook I suppose.

[JUMBLE JUMBLE, Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, ooooooooh interesting]

“Are you mouthing all these sound effects?”

[What if I am? Anyway, I have the god who’s going to be blessing you, I’m sending the request now so wait a second.]

So it’s not Her, I wonder if earth’s gods were real gods now. Could I get Buddha’s blessing? Or like, Nox? What is a minor god even?

[Alright old man Adroxas is ready to give you his blessing, god of exploring the unknown, If you want my opinion I think he cheated to get you, but don’t tell him I said that. Here it comes!]

[You received : Hand of Adroxas]

[Hand of Adroxas : Adroxas the wayfarer admires your spirit. The greatest explorers are usually the greatest hoarders, able to get their hands on things that weren’t meant for them. Your right hand is completely immune to damage inflicted by a held or worn artifact, artifacts suppressed by your right hand also have a reduced effect on the rest of your body and possessions. You may sometimes grab things you shouldn’t be able to.]

I don’t know if this is absolutely broken or complete shit. Depends on what is an artifact. Any crafted object? Thinking this, I wonder if I could grab the floating glowing letters. I currently have no arms though.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Is it good? What is considered an artifact?”

[Eheeeeeeh, whether it’s good is for you to find out, how is it any fun if I tell you! Gramps Adro really went all out on this one is all I’m going to say, unless a major god goes out of his way to do it, nothing will be able to mess with the blessing. As for what’s considered an artifact, any and all magic items, the dark matter quantum reactor from your ship would have qualified as one, I don’t think you’ve ever been near any other. The luck ring you’re getting is also one, so maybe don’t wear it on your right hand.]

[Now, now, let’s stay on track. We have a body to make.]

“Can I stay human?” I’m guessing probably yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

[No shot! ‘Humans’ as you know them, are endemic to Gamma 01189 59D, and you can’t go back there, you can’t even go to the same univ- ha! Anyway, we can get you something similar if you want.]

[I know a nice place where people are bipedal fish and life there seems very n-]

“No, thank you! Can I get something like, uh… elves! You know elves? Like Lord of The Ring elves?”

[Pfff so uninspired, sure… I take it you want your world theme to be high fantasy? I have a lot of worlds like that in the current roster.]

[Close to human customs… Look like elves… Can use magic… Alright I’ve got just the place.]

[But I’m warning you, you’ll kinda look like the elf you want, but! With a vestigial tail and sharp claw like fingernails and maybe some scales in your back.]

Wow She said all that veeeery fast.

“Scales ?”

[Yes the Eisure descend from a race of great Wyrm and they kept some physical traits, the claws are like 2cm long steel hard sharp nails, and the tail is essentially a useless limb covered in soft skin. They have long ears that usually go up then curve back down a bit, scales on the vertebral column, neck, sometimes on the shoulders or base of the tail. Besides that and a great natural affinity to magic, they look pretty much like regular humans. Oh and their eyes are a bit different too, more colors.] Saying this, the misty silhouette that had appeared at the start changed for the first time to illustrate her points.

[Culturally… well. You will see. Sold ?]

“Do I really have a choice ?”

[Not anymore! Next, male or female? Hey don’t make that shocked face, do you think you were a man in all those 43 lives, eheheh, if only you knew.]

“I appreciate the opportunity but I feel like having male parts is a convenient trend and I’d like to keep it that way.” Besides I have no idea whether these Eisure are open to same sex relationships and I’m not about to start liking men so…

[Again you’re no fun, but I get it, any special request concerning the ‘male parts’ WINK WINK]

“So you really were voicing the sound effects!” I say, half surprised.

“Can I just, uhm, keep it the same as it was?”

[It’s not like I can really wink so be happy I even voice it! If I showed up here in person you’d probably be scattered right away, so if you want me to stop voicing it, come back when you can be blasted by a solar flare and survive my dude.]

[Up next is the general build, let me guess, the same as it was ? Know that at 178 cm tall you’ll be on the smaller side in the Eisure. It’s not unusual to see males be over 230. You won’t be the shortest either, but not by far. Females are usually around the height of the males of your planet pretty much, just not quite as bulky.]

“That will be fine yes”

[Alright, I’m handling the small details, most things will be similar to how you were since that’s what you want. About your pilosity however, no can do, scales and hairs don’t match well. But you’ll still have hair on your head and eyebrows like the others. Also the males can grow a short beard but it takes decades.]

[Say, will you allow me to design your hair and eyes myself? You won’t be disappointed I swear.]

“Only if you tell me your name.” I kinda like Her, I don’t know if praying to these gods is useful but I sure as hell will try.

[I’m Verenila, but everyone here calls me Veren, maybe you’ll be allowed to as well someday if you try hard enough. I’m handling the hair and face then! Eheheh Eheh EHEHEHEHEHEH!]

I feel like I made a mistake, somehow.

[Now for the final touches… Weak Iris, Dark Vision, Luck Ring, 20 years old… Oh, naked start ? I can get you some basic items to start with if you want, but no clothing.]

“I’d like a bag, some way to make a fire, a water canteen, a pen and a notebook, if that’s not asking for too much.”

[This is right about the kind of things I’m allowed to give you, I’ll throw in some local currency since you were nice to work with for a V.I.P.]

“Thanks a lot, Verenila.”

[Oh don’t mind it, Arren, if you remember me when we meet next time I’ll find some free time to talk about what you did with this marvelous body I’m making you.] For the first time she sounds not cutesy and playful, but proud and satisfied. Somehow this makes me a bit happy.

[Ah! By the way, the starting location isn’t chosen by me, since you made a deal above she’s the one who will choose your starting point so don’t go pointing fingers at me if it sucks ok?]

[Also you can’t talk about the cycles to people who don’t already know, so don’t be surprised if you start puking blood when you try to spill the beans.]

“I’ll keep that in mind. But how would I know whether they already know?”

[Just assume nobody knows, that’s not far from the truth. To keep your memories of this place is quite costly after all.]

[Alright alright alright! Everything is clear! I’m not showing you what you look like so you’ll have a nice surprise later. With this, I officially declare you, Arren Sapin, REINCARNATED!]

Much like when I died, my vision fades to black. This time however, I feel at peace and ready for what’s next.

Just before I lose consciousness, a soft voice echoes in the distance.

"Now initializing penalty."