8:00 am.

Somewhere inside of the gaming console, a panel lit up, complex scriptures passing over the screen. Simultaneously, Midnight's terminal blinked a few times in response to the activity of his brain implant.

Pa

Suddenly bright light descended, replacing the darkness.

Where am I? What is this place?

His heart skipped a beat and he looked around in confusion. The last thing he remembered was contemplating the material padding his gaming console. Then blinded by light, he suddenly found himself in this boundless white space.

I am even sitting on a high-back chair along a long rectangular table. It's one of the two seats of honor. The other one is currently empty. Why are there two seats?

|Welcome to the primordial space.|

A voice rang out, casting invisible ripples in the whiteness around. It was dreamy, melodic, and illusory without a speck of mechanical semblance. However, the speech sounded a bit stiff.

|Please choose your name.|

Before Midnight could think further, the voice spoke again, providing a task.

The primordial space? To choose a name? Is this the initial phase of the character setting? Then I must be already inside of Euclex. He wasn't in a hurry to follow this genderless voice's instructions, and once again observed his empty surroundings. It was a basic form of precaution and an instinct of his.

I am alone. Is this the AI? The god of this space. With some confidence in this guess, he proceeded to wave his hands and stamp on the 'ground'. He wanted to assess his physical movements and thus gauge the state of his body.

Virtual realities are amazing! I don't feel any sense of incongruity or discomfort! It's like my whole body was moved somewhere else...Ha, I am just like a bumpkin that has arrived in the capital city; Amazed by all the tiny new things. Lampooning himself, Midnight tried to stand up and circle the table. He was curious about the chair in front. However, this time his actions were met with rejection. An invisible force kept him in place.

It seems I can't move freely for now. I should first accomplish the tasks...Enlightened, he didn't make further attempts and used his left index finger to gently tap on the table.

Tap Tap Tap

I need to decide on a name. Should I stick to my real identity or try something flamboyant for a change? Muttering under his breath, Midnight considered it seriously.

Although my name is ironic, for I am indeed a person trapped in the night, it's just a name. Changing it won't affect anything in reality. I am already used to it, so I won't waste efforts adjusting.

As for confidentiality reasons, it's useless. The game should have some measures installed. Besides, I have always been law-abiding in nature. I don't need to hide behind a facade.

This is a chance for a brand new beginning...

After a while, he stopped tapping and nodded his head. "Midnight. I choose the name Midnight." He wanted to brave this new opportunity staying true to himself.

|Your name is confirmed. Player Midnight has been registered.|

The voice remained emotionless, not approving nor objecting to his choice. When the last word resounded around, Midnight's eyes momentarily glazed and he noticed a figure. Unbeknown to him a man had appeared on the high-back chair across.

He was a man of average height with messy black hair and somehow sickly complexion. His green eyes were very saturated and blood-shot and they were supported by darker undereye-circles. The man looked gloomy and would have been handsome, if not for the scars ruining his face. His ears were pierced.

Naturally, Midnight easily recognized the figure in front. It was none other than himself. This explains the two chairs. It's like I am looking inside of a mirror. Excluding the dull and lifeless gaze, he is a perfect copy of me.

|Please select your race.|

The AI didn't care for his realization or thoughts. It followed with another instruction and a translucent screen.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

|Race: Human

A representative race that forms the majority of the population inside of Euclex. They are versatile, balanced, and adaptable beings without extremely strong or weak points. Their strengths lay in their ability to fit their surroundings and play different roles depending on the path they have chosen. They have slightly lower-than-average magical skills and mana perception.|

This sounds quite vague. Magical skills and mana perception? The genre is fantasy?... Midnight rubbed his chin thoughtfully and saw his mirrored image doing the same.

Betting on balance is the safest choice, especially for a newbie, but... He swiped his hand over the screen, switching to the next available option.

|Race: Dwarf

A minority race of craftsmen and warriors. They are famous for their dexterous hands capable of skillfully handling both tools and weapons alike. Despite their small size, they are physically gifted beings with above-average strength, constitution, and senses. Their weaknesses lay in their lack of magical aptitude and agility, and their lower than average mana perception.|

The moment the screen changed, the fake Midnight collapsed. He shrank in size, and his muscles expanded. His face instantly grew a long black beard paired with a thick and bushy mustache. He even looked slightly older, his skin rougher as well.

...Damn, a pale dwarf looks creepy! Midnight couldn't help but cuss in his mind, eager to swipe the screen once again. No matter the changes, his doppelganger retained most of his previous features, including the sickly skin tone and complexion. The result was difficult to appreciate from an aesthetic viewpoint!

Phew

Exhaling a mouthful of breath to regain his composure, Midnight forced himself to stop for a second. He was betting too much on this game and had to observe all options objectively. It wasn't a matter of visual preferences but skills!

Yes, if I want to play as a craftsman, Dwarfs do fit my ideals. Putting aside their prowess as warriors, the dexterity of the hands is a must. Besides dwarven craftsmen is such a cliche setting that it makes it illogical to ignore.

He reached up his hand and fondled the space between his nose and his lips while observing the fake's actions. The 'Midnight' across didn't disappoint. He 'happily' played with his bushy mustache, his beard swaying a little.

I can get used to this. But it will be hot in the summer...

After having his fill of teasing 'himself', Midnight shook chuckled, and swiped to the right. It was too early to make a final decision.

|Race: Monstrosity

A minority compound race of intelligent monsters. They have the favor of certain species of monsters inside of Euclex, but they are often discriminated against by humans. Their strengths and weaknesses depend on the sub-species in their evolutional tree.

Sub-species: Slime, Hogpog, Horned-Rabbit, Covert Night Mouse, Treant, Insecta, Aerial, Aranea, Dragonkin, Merfolk, Undead, Vampire...|

Currently, the copy had undergone another change - his appearance blurry.

Without much thought, Midnight clicked on the Slime option and watched 'himself' return to his human appearance. However, his skin was now slightly translucent betraying the muscles, blood vessels, and fascia hidden beneath. His whole body was glistening covered in a layer of mucus, his hair wet and sticking close to his skull.

I admit that this is very original but disgusting as well. Hard pass!

He switched between a few other sub-species and browsed their particulars, but none of them were befitting for the craftsmanship path. Besides, the Insecta, Aranea, and the Undead were particularly repulsing. Be it their huge compound eyes, hairy mandibles and swollen abdomen, or rotten flesh festering with twitching white maggots, they were all difficult to look at directly.

Next Midnight carefully checked the rest of the races.

Demonoid, Holy, Cursed Artifact, Elf, Beastman, Fae and Half-Ling. The variety was fairly big with their additional sub-species, so he spent more than half an hour, just swiping between.

In the meantime, he saw 'himself' with horns and a malicious expression covered in black snaking tattoos, a 'Midnight' with a bright halo and wings, and a mechanical body constructed from gears, levers, and milky-white bones. He saw his doppelganger grow tall with pointy ears protruding upward, 'himself' covered in fur with long fangs, tusks, nails, or horns, and he observed a tiny 'Midnight' with colorful transparent wings, as well as 'himself' as a long-eared child.

Phew

Finally, he nodded with some satisfaction and opened his mouth, "I choose the Half-Ling."

|Race: Half-Ling

A minority race of short beings with juvenile appearance. Despite their innocent looks, they are famous for their flexibility, dexterity, reflexes, and senses. They have strong magical powers but below-average strength and physical constitution. As a racial feature, they do not enjoy violence or seek fights. Their motto is - brains over brawns.|

Yes, this fits me perfectly. I can cover for my weak constitution with magic. Anyway, I am not really the physical type to begin with. I wonder what I will have to select now? After the name and the race, it should be a class, right? Or maybe I will be given some stat points to distribute freely...

Thinking about what may follow by relying on his rudimentary knowledge gained from the net, Midnight found himself slightly excited. He understood why many people played games. There was a certain sense of gambling, thrill, and accomplishment in the process.

|Your race is confirmed.|

Bang

Suddenly, the table, chairs, and floor beneath Midnight's feet disintegrated, and he fell down.

"The fuck!" He opened his mouth cussing aloud as darkness descended from all sides, and his mind buzzed, inundated by nearly imperceptible, illusory voices. Some were young, while others were old. Some sounded deep and masculine, contrasting with the higher-pitched feminine ones. His head was strained from soft whispers and roaring shouts.

|Initializing...|

|Basic character settings complete.|

|Reading personal history...|

|Estimating knowledge...|

|Eastimating physical aptitude...|

|Eastimating behavioral pattern...|

|Skills detected.|

|Weaknesses detected.|

|Profound character settings complete.|

|Initialization complete.|

|Infusing the consciousness...|

|Infusion successful.|

|Welcome to Euclex.|