It was finally Axel’s turn to step up to the orb. 

“Axel...there's still plenty of great low-common classes out there, life isn’t all about Exceeding,” grunted the guildmaster as he adjusted the strap of his crimson breastplate. He was getting into his older years and he couldn’t quite handle the weight of his Paladin equipment as well.

Axel heeded him no attention as well as the murmurs of the townspeople as he extended his hands toward the orb. It was close to him, only an arm’s length away. 

This year, it's going to be my time. This year, I'm going to show everyone I’m not trash. This year, I'm going to Exceed. 

Light reflected upon Axel’s face as the orb began to shine. 

Axel’s heart pounded as his eyes fixated upon the gleam surrounding his body. It was here, he could feel it in his body. Finally, he was going to Exceed and prove his worth to everyone around him.

“Hey, Axel.”

Axel looked around. Confusion spread throughout his mind. What was happening? Why was there no announcement? Why was the guildmaster frozen? 

“Hey relax! You’re going to hurt yourself in your confusion!” 

Axel tried to pull his hand away from the orb. It was stuck.

“What is happening? Why can't I move? Who are you!?” shouted Axel. 

“You can call me The System of Returning Neo, or SORN for short.” stated the Voice.

“SORN, right. Did you do this to me? Why have you frozen me?” asked Axel.

“Oh child, I didn’t freeze you. I stopped time! I needed to have a quick chat with you without anybody else listening in!” exclaimed SORN.

It was true. Time seemed to have stopped for everyone and everything except for Axel. There was no rustling of winds, no sound of talking, no rumbling of the forge bellows.

“Okay, let's get down to business since I don't have much time to talk to you. In fact, I had to save up six years worth of time to have this conversation, that's why I had to prevent you from Exceeding,” said SORN.

Prevent me from Exceeding? Six years??

Axel realized what SORN had meant. “You were the one responsible for my failure to Exceed those past six years of my life?!” shouted Axel as he boiled with anger.

“Now now, know that this all had a purpose. I'll keep it brief. I’m sure you have many questions but the answers will come in time. You are not of this world Axel, you came from a place called Earth and you were reincarnated in this world to save the Five Kingdoms from an impending calamity.” said SORN. “You had a rather unfortunate early death in your previous life so you were added to the lottery of Redraws for another life, lucky you!”

As the word Earth was spoken by SORN, a rush of memories slammed into Axel’s mind. They were very familiar. He had seen these memories in his dreams ever since he could remember but he was never able to make the connections until now.

Earth..ah, right. I was Alex Lan.18 years old, an average high school student. Played games and hung out with friends. I died because...

“Don’t bother trying to remember how you died, the system restricts you from doing so,” drolled SORN.

“You know what I'm thinking?” asked Axel.

“Well, sometimes, I am a part of you now that you’ve won the lottery for this world.”

“What does that mean? You’re a part of me?” 

“Didn’t I mention it earlier? I'm the System of Returning Neo, I’m here to guide you on your journey in this world! You know, to provide you with help and such.”

“Okay...so what do I do now? Am I still going to Exceed? You still haven’t explained what's going on!” Axel was still very confused. 

“All in due time boy. For now, just take this and figure it out. I left some tutorials for you in the system so that you can get along just fine before we meet up again. I don’t have much time left  so the next talk we will have is when you Exceed to the next stage! There's just one thing to keep in mind, never use the st-- g--bl--g --stem...” SORN instructed. 

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“The what?” Axel waited expectantly. He couldn’t quite catch the last part. 

“It's still in beta…don't us--” Came the fading reply. “Good luck, kid.”

The world suddenly came back to life with a burst of sound.

“Wait I still--AHH!” screamed Axel.

Searing pain suddenly enveloped his left hand. The pain intensified and coursed rapidly through Axel. It felt as if a hundred serrated daggers had sliced into every fiber of his body. Unable to bear the pain, Axel crumpled to the ground.

The crowd instantly lit up in a burst of shock and chatter. Fingers were being pointed and people were jostling to get a better view of Axel convulsing on the ground. The town guards tried their best to hold back the wave of bodies interested in the spectacle.

“Axel! Axel are you okay? Stay with me!” roared the guildmaster as he lifted Axel’s head. “Get the head priest here right now!”

A pair of guards scampered away hurriedly in response to his orders.

“Axel! What's going on! Say something!” Illicia had run over. Her face was frantic with panic as she knelt down, disregarding the dirty tiles that smudged her clean skirt. 

Axel couldn't speak, the pain was too great. His vision clouded with botches of colors as it began to fade. He felt himself being hoisted onto a carrier and someone’s warm hands clasping his. He saw his father and mother being held back by the guards as his eyelids slowly descended, their expressions twisted in anxiety and concern.

“That’s my son! Let me through!” bellowed his father. His mother was wailing. But the guards gave no ground, completely quarantining the area around Axel.

Edwin was also there, cackling away with his gang of goons as they ridiculed and mocked his painful expressions. Axel caught words like loser and useless in their jeering through the increasing noise of the crowd.

But just as he drifted to the darkness he saw it.

Impossible. It must be his eyes playing tricks on him.

On his left hand, a fading dim golden symbol.

[A].

Then all turned black.

***

*Crackle*

Axel woke up in a hot flash. His mind was spinning. The smell of oak wood and savory broth permeated throughout the air. 

Huh, I just had the strangest dream where the orb was talking to me and then intense pain overtook me...and that mark..

Alex’s heart skipped a beat as he slowly moved his gaze to his left hand.

Nothing.

“Axel, are you allright?” exclaimed Axel’s mother. “Graff brought you back after the head priest finished healing you. They said I wasn’t allowed to be there because they wanted to reduce exposure.”

Axel looked up and realized his mother was next to him. He also caught a glimpse of the guildmaster’s crimson cape just as Axel’s father closed the door behind him. 

“Jacky, let him breathe a little. He just came to,” called Axel’s father who was walking back to the crackling fire. His voice seemed to shake a little, an uncharacteristic moment for the brawny smith.

“Anders, how can I not worry? My poor child collapsed and I wasn’t there to help him!” worried Jacky. She held him tightly in her arms. 

He felt his cheeks grow hot. “Mother, cut it out. I’m fine, I just had a bit of heatstroke”. Axel unlocked himself from his mother’s protective grip as he stood up to get some delicious homemade stew. 

“Careful, it’s hot…” murmured Anders as he cautiously scanned his son’s face while pouring him a bowl. He turned back to tend the fire. “Son...I think you should apply for an apprenticeship at the forge. You have a knack for smithing.”

Axel put down his spoon. He felt embarrassed. His parents were still treating him like a child. He was capable of making his own decisions.

“I’m going to step outside for a bit.”

“Don't stay out too late honey…” said Jacky. But Axel was already out the door before her words could reach his ears.

Axel sprinted towards the oak tree. The one place where he could get away from the protectiveness of his parents and the stares of others. At the very least, it would be quiet there.

Axel stopped in front of the tree panting heavily. He began to collect his racing thoughts. Axel thought back to the seconds before he went up to Exceed. 

What happened to me earlier? The Exceed Orb was talking to me? It mentioned its name was SORN...right… my real name was Alex Lan and I’m from Earth. That explains all the weird dreams I've been having ever since I was a kid. SORN also mentioned giving me something but never explained what it gave me. How am I supposed to figure this out? The damn thing didn't tell me anything!

Axel’s blood boiled as he thought more about what had transpired earlier. He was still Exceedless, he was still protected by his parents, and he was still the Trash of Kingdom Lobosad. 

He angrily punched the tree, fully knowing it was going to hurt. But it was fine, maybe the pain was what he needed right now to take his mind off things.

System Gamble: 5 DMG Yes/No Risk: Take 10 DMG, +1 GC Reward: Take 0 DMG, +2 GC Status

System message? GCs? Accept the Gamble? What’s going on?!