19 Year old Zachary Rubistone was at home, currently standing under the shower.

In the process of cleaning he searched for sweat and other nuances that accumulate over the day, and vanquished them.

In short, applying routine daily hygiene.

In the middle of his routine, great thoughts and ideas of his next mental story came into being.

Especially for someone like Zach, reading more novels than anyone could count.

Doing his typical brainstorming for cool ideas and premises, for a not-really-but-work-in-progress novel, a strange and fancy game like window appeared in the middle of the shower.

Floating Inside his face, Literally.

Completely flabbergasted by the sudden appearance of a window appearing in his face, he stepped back and almost slipped in the wet bathtub.

After gracefully regaining his balance a better look at the window read the words.

 “Accept Tutorial Y/N" 

Yet again completely baffled by what just appeared, his inner Chuunibyou channeled and an embarrassing. "Yes" left his mouth.

The next moment he felt nauseated and actually slipped, almost hitting his head against the bathtub utensils.

Luckily he turned the other way around so he wasn’t hitting the metal pieces, now scary weapons sticking out of the wall.

Hitting his head against the bathtub, he lost consciousness and only saw darkness.

Or so he thought, as he was actually conscious and able to think and regret his stupidity at this sketchy, fancy, game window appearing in his face.

Being naked and in the shower truly was a way to screw with a Man.

And now, for some godforsaken reason, he saw something only happening in fantasy novels.

Of course he immediately jumped on the offer, like a madman.

He even contemplated if he went crazy, but his reaction was hard to deny.

A moment passed, or maybe even years. He couldn't really tell as time was feeling fuzzy around here. But suddenly he felt a deep tugging, something he couldn't put into words.

Another moment later, he was standing on a Green Meadow overgrown with grass.

Slumping to the ground, the moment he felt his body fully reconnect to his mind, he tried to stand up and grasp his surroundings.

Naked down to his skin and exposed.

It was a green plane, low grass evenly spread out all over his vision. He couldn’t see anything after about 50 meters in all directions but some grey fog, almost like steam or a view distance in a game.

When he finally stood on his legs, he felt himself wobble around and almost loosing balance again.

After a few seconds, he realised he wasn’t in his own body. All attributes and anecdotes of his old one were missing.

His manly parts looked completely different, and he had no hair around them or on his body.

His fingers and nails also looked completely healed without any small wounds and with different shapes.

He could also swear that he was taller.

When looking in a certain direction, another window was hovering. A few meteres away, fixated in midair.

“Kill the enemy" Reward "Individualized(Epic)”

Flabbergasted and pumping adrenaline when he finished reading, the message disappeared.

This wasn't a dream he thought to himself.

Feeling his blood pump and cold sweat running down his back just confirmed how real this was.

He swirled his head around, looking for this supposed “Enemy”. Yet there was nothing but grass and fog.

Even the sky was grey, like he was in a half sphere with steamy edges.

He did not even dare to move around to see if it was a horizon or an actual enclosure.

Extending his senses to the limit a human can do, he tried to listen to anything. But only silence met him.

Scanning his surroundings by franticly moving his head around like a maniac.

Imagining all possibilities of an enemy. That could be as absurd as a Worm or a Minotaur, or a giant Cockroach, or maybe an Elve with a bow,

But there was nothing but grass and grey around.

Completly clueless on how to even approach any of his imagined enemies.

He was naked, unequipped and completely out of his element. Sure he had many ideas and great imagination, but nothing was was set in stone.

There were no trees or boulders around to supply a makeshift weapon.

Throwing dirt or something was a plan, so he crouched down and tried to grab some dirt, but the ground felt completely flat.

Without pebbles or sticks, there was nothing on the ground but a flat and solid substance resembling dirt.

Out of good ideas, his brain was going into overdrive. He swirled his head around even more frantically.

Looking for any signs of movement or "Enemy's".

Deciding that moving in a circle would avoid being eaten by a Worm he started to pace around his initial spawning location.

Minutes passed, or maybe more, but he finally saw something approaching in the distance. Already a bit closer than right out of the steamy wall.

It was a small, armored and noticably armed, green child. Or maybe even a miniature man almost looking like a Goblin.

From the distance, it looked like a Smurf with green skin, not even up to his hip in full size but that wasn't a good scale on this distance.

It was shining with something silver on its body and in its hand. Probably armor, and a sword.

Walking slowly but steadily forward, holding the sword to the side in no particular stance but lifting it shoulder high.

After a few seconds and a lot of squinting of his eyes, he confirmed that the “Goblin” was nothing but a hip tall child, in frame at least.

It's face was open, the helm not covering it with a mask, showing a grimacing child's face.

The cheeks buff and the skin green with 2 tusk going from the underside of the mouth almost up the nose. A Goblin? Cobolt? Ogre? Org?

Whatever it was, it was dangerous just by having a short sword.

it almost looked like a long sword weighing down its arm by how small the Goblin looked.

Probably not intelligent enough to realise that holding it on shoulder high with one hand was a stupid move for any child like person, it struggled to hold the sword long enough for it to be about 15 meters in front of him before it switched hands.

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Starting to drag the weapon behind and hopefully blunting it.

All this time, a lot of possibilities and plans came crossing his mind.

Most of them were useless, as he had neither an object nor a weapon to intercept an attack from a sword.

Even a child equipped with a weapon can harm or even kill an adult. But the pain and ethical dilemma were the most concerning part.

Who would want to fight a child? Especially if you could suffer pain or a mortal wound?

Switching focus from pain to actually surviving this encounter, he continued planning, his brain almost steaming.

When the Goblin was approx. 10 meters in front of him, he started to touch his arms and legs calculating a few plans and confirming some ideas.

The child stopped in its tracks for a few seconds hesitating at his sudden movement.

Buying a bit more precious time and Zach’s plan was forming.

Although it was probably stupid, he had no other ideas. There were no blemishes on the meadow to take advantage of.

Only grass with even footing, no stones and no dirt to throw.

When the Goblin was about 7 meters away, he realised a fatal mistake in his plan.

If he wanted to survived this encounter, without loosing a leg or an arm permanently, he had to think about something besides getting a deep wound on the arm or a stab in his gut. Infections.

Squinting his eyes he tried to analyse the long dagger the goblin was holding.

Looking for anything like rust or blood, he saw only a pristine weapon with a small hand guard and leather straps as a grip.

As the goblin reached about 5 meter Zach prepared for an attack.

He sprung forward and immediately stopped after only a step. Almost loosing balance with his borrowed body.

The goblin flinched and grabbed its sword in both hands.

A good reaction.

Slowly circling the goblin on the right side where it held its sword high earlier.

He saw the goblins face clearly for the first time. It was tense and grimacing, with a tinge of fear, if he could tell by the shaking sword in its hands, and the tusk pressing into its cheeks.

Inspecting the "armor" a bit he saw that it was not fit for a person of this size, slightly clanking around.

He wasn't sure if this was a real child, or maybe "System" created, if it was real this was fucked up.

Was it just artificial or was it an actual goblin in the same situation he was or being sent here to test him?

As it was armored, he was not sure.

Maybe he could have armored himself with normal clothes, a jacket and a kitchen knife.

But he was stupid enough to do it naked and under in the shower. Even if he was in a different body, taller probably and with better eye sight and attributes there was nothing to do against a child wielding a sword.

Stopping that thought process when he almost completely circled the now stationary enemy, he focused back on his plan.

Realizing another flaw when he circled around the goblins left, and hopefully exhausted, arm would do no good when the sword swing was mainly powered through body weight and its right arm. That was his idea anyway.

Modifying his plan, he started to close the distance to about 3 meters and flinched forward again, preparing to actually spring into action.

The goblin, to his luck, flinched again. Even closing its eyes, holding the sword in a kendo like position.

He lunged forward and the moment passed. The goblin opened its eyes and swung his sword up high when it realised him approach.

Zach saw the blade coming and leaned backwards, falling down and going into a Subway Surfer like slide.

The Goblin, realising its crucial mistake, suddenly came down with an overhead swing.

Zach, having enough momentum tackled the goblins legs, threw his left arm above his head.

Left armguarding his head, the sword struck.

Facing his arm, so the 2 bones on the upper part of his arm are vertically facing the sword, it struck.

He felt flesh being cut and pressure applied, when it stopped as soon as it hit his bones.

Excruciating pain erupted and he flinched back.

But so was the goblin after his display, and the sword was still stuck in his arm.

As fast as he could regain his wits he reacted.

Grabbing the hands holding the sword and twisting them with the power of his right arm.

Sword dropping to the ground due to pain, the goblin screamed.

A painfully loud cry making his head spin and his ears hurt like, like metal pieces in his brain.

Then he regained his senses when a weak punch hit his head. Even if the swing was nothing but a friendly gesture to him.

Opening his eyes and gritting his teeth through the pain, he threw his right fist into the goblins face feeling something give in and almost crushing it.

The scream stopped and turned into a squeal. The goblin twisted around and put its broken hand on its face.

Feeling like a psychopath he scanned the area and saw the dagger, picking it up with his right hand and approaching the goblin.

Aiming the sword at its throat, he contemplated if that was the fastest way to kill the child.

After seeing him squirm on the ground, he closed his eyes and stabbed forward with all his strength. The feeling of piercing a steak with a knife came over him and then the feeling of hitting the cutting board.

Zach's head went into overdrive by what he did and he stumbled back, almost vomiting.

A moment later he heard the gurgles of the still alive goblin. His mind snapped back into place by what this meant.

He had to finish this torture.

With new conviciton, he mindlessly got up and approached the goblins side. Swinging the sword with all the power a cut arm and a "Powerhouse" can do.

Into the ground and severing the neck from its head ending its pain his sword struck the hard surface.

Realising that it was probably improper sword handling, he released his grip of the sword and stepped away.

Disgusted by his thought process he wreched again, gagging.

"Killing a child and then complaining about how he handled a sword?" he said to no one but himself.

Thinking it through again Zach shuddered and finally vomited nothing but air.

Then he felt a sharp pain in his nose and a disgusting smell. Trying to regain his wits, he felt smoke also overcome his eyes.

He stumbled back by the sensation and fell.

Crawling away from the smoke, the sensations diminished and he saw the goblin also turn into smoke.

As was the dagger in his hand for that matter.

Trying to move away from the dagger, he felt a not so unpleasant sting on his left arm.

Looking at it, he saw the wound closing itself and the blood turning into yet again disgusting smoke.

Pain that just came as soon as it vanished made him question why this makeshift body even got healed.

Was he getting a new body?

Then another window appeared in his vision.

"Title: Child killer. Congratulations, you murdered a helpless, yet armed, but also helpess child. +1 to all stats"

Disgusted that he actually got rewarded for murdering a child he saw the window vanish. Seeing another window behind it he got ready for something good.

"Unique Reward: Underpants"

Reading the window once again made it vanish and yet another window was behind that one.

Rather than reading it hesaw the underpants.

Manifesting in front of him and slowly floating down he looked at it closer whilst picking it up.

Pink underpants, with a picture of the goblin child he just murdered all over it. Or maybe just any random goblin as he didn't really see anything special to tell who it was, nor had he any reference.

The mental torture it was, he still needed clothing, so he picked it up and saw another window come up.

"Legendary Underpants. 1% more damage to children"

He read the description and shuddered. Immediately dropping the pants and feeling the blood on his hands.

Disgusted by this sadistic system he saw a flashback of the fight, not even a minute ago and felt the urge to vomit again.

Stopping his urges and regaining his wits he read the last window.

"Congratulations, you survived the tutorial!"

Reward:"(Epic)Guidebook"

Comprehending the messages was the last thing he did before he lost consciousness and hear his borrowed body hit the ground.

***

This time Zach was prepared for the darkness.

Even though he just had the weirdest thing happen to him or he dreamed the weirdest thing that ever happen to him.

Nonetheless, he was ready to contemplate on what just happened.

The darkness gave him a calm Mind, and even though he didn't try to feel his body because he feared to loose this state of mind.

Now he could focus on what just happened and what to do next, without any distracting bodily sensations.

He still knew he was 19 year old Zachary Rubistone. Just finished school, avid gamer and reader with a lot of time on hand.

Going through the possibility that all of this was real came to a thousand new questions.

Who gave him the tutorial? What did it entail? Was he still in the shower? Was he in a hospital? Did he really murder a child? What was the guidebook he got? were a handful of them.

After he had enough time to calm his racing mind and somwhat process everything he tried to feel his body.

The moment he did he felt a familiar tugging and his senses came back.

First was a loud white noise from his ears, next was the sensation of a warm blanket covering him and then he opened his eyes.

Light blasted his eyes. A moment later he hesitantly opened his eyes a bit and saw he was still lying in his shower.

A small leather notebook was on his stomach and soaked in water.

This actually happened?

He asked himself, holding the answer of his question in his hand.

Then he came back to reality, he got up and held the book out of the shower's reach. Getting out of the shower he tried to read the title.

Guidebook. Zachary Rubistone.

Written in plain English and perfectly readable.

Under it appeared the answer to his worries.

Waterproof.

No color or anything.

That flabbergasted Zach, but he realised the book was still pristine, if you can call a leather book pristine.

Putting it down, he got back to showering, drying himself up and disguising the book under his towel when he moved to his room.

His mother didn't even comment on him just walking out of the shower after an hour or more of showering.

Drying, dressing and getting ready, he asked his mom how long he took a shower, out of curiosity.

"Like 20 minutes honey? Why? I heard a loud noise, did you slip in the shower?" she replied.

Confused, he assured her that everything was fine.

Moving to his room he noticed a small light on the corner of his vision, blinking.

Laying down in his bed first he tried to focus on the small light with his eyes.

When the notification moved with his vision, he focused his mind on it instead of his eyes and saw the small letter open and a window appear.

"Quest: Read Guidebook. Reward: Integration."