So apparently, reincarnation is surprisingly simple. In fact, it's more or less expected of you to reincarnate more than once. After all, 'to live is to suffer' as they say around here.

The name's Max, and this is the afterlife, or more specifically, the Dharmic Bureau. It's a nice enough place, akin to the common corporate office block, only infinite and without windows.

Here, the dead lounge about, waiting to be called and judged.

The longest line and most infuriating wait belongs to the normies. Such as myself. We here are just average folk with no great sins or achievements. No killing, no ruining the lives of others, just lived a normal life and died. Full stop. And our reward? We get to be human again, or pretty close, according to the bureau.

The second, and definitely most miserable line, belongs to the sinners. Imagine being stuck here with no access to the entertainment sector. I'd feel bad for them if they didn't have it coming. Everyone there is responsible for some heinous shit, causing death and destruction upon the lives of others. So as punishment, these people actually have to wait in line for judgement, held in place by some mysterious force, no moving, no talking.

The line is long and silent, very eerie. From what we are allowed to know, the judgement that awaits those in this line is usually reincarnation as livestock kept in appalling conditions, or prey animals of some sort. The suffering will continue until their karmic debt is cleansed, and they will be allowed back into the normies line. It's honestly not too bad of a deal, after all, it really wouldn't be fair to face eternal damnation for the sins of a single lifetime, that's demon shit, we don't do that here, the bureau is nothing if not fair, the prescribed suffering is precisely measured against the weight of the sin.

We normies tend to avoid going near that line, even if some of us suffered by their hands, partly because time is a good healer, and mainly because our actions during the wait can and will be scrutinized and used against us upon judgement. This is a pretty big deal, we sometimes spend more time here in the bureau than we had in life, after all.

The final, and shortest line, belongs to the truly stainless. Or as close to stainless as one can get. Unsurprisingly, it's filled with children.

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The endgame, according to our receptionists, is to ascend beyond the cycle or reincarnation. The achieve true enlightenment and break free from the mortal coil. Only then, will we be allowed to walk out the front doors of the building. Not sure what's out there though, they won't say.

But that's not the important part, we can talk about that later. What's important, is how reincarnation for normies works.

The HR sector has an unending list of tasks and odd jobs, I've never seen the list get shorter and they're only available to normies. These tasks range from working as greeters for new arrivals to janitors. None of the jobs allow for a deeper glance at Bureau secrets though. Not that I mind.

These jobs pay out in credits on our account. And those credits can be used on the vending machines lined all throughout the building. As the dead, we have no need for many bodily functions. We crave the things we've lost and so the Bureau provides, for a price. The vending machines contain assortments of every food and drink imaginable, as well as other luxuries such as houses, pools, cars and even planes.

I know it sounds ridiculous but I've mentioned the space within the building is infinite. I gave up trying to make sense of this place after seeing two people pull functional, accurately sized Gundams out of the vending machines and start fighting each other.

But in the end, it's all a trap. A waste of credits and time.

The truly valuable thing about those credits is when you trade them for perks in your next reincarnation.

That's what I'm after. That's what I've been slaving away for. That's why I've been skipping my turns on the cycle for several millenia.

My goal, my dream, my fantasy, my ROMANCE. Is to be a Sith Lord. Not the hate / anger / greed part, mind you, but rather the style, the aesthetic, the 'dark-lord-ruling-the-world-from-the-shadows' bit. That's the cool shit, my guy.

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To that end, I've abstained from all expenditure. I took only the most efficient tasks and saved every single credit I earned. The knowledge that I had no time limit provided me comfort. The relationships I formed with fellow supportive normies preserved my sanity, as we worked tirelessly towards the ideal lives we wished for.

Many times have I questioned my decision, many times have I looked longingly at the terminals, mulling over whether I should give up on this mind numbing crawl I've placed upon myself.

But I did not stop, I did not cease my efforts. I continued ramming my head on that wall because I am a man of Focus, Commitment, and Sheer Fucking Will.

And now, I've done it. I have enough. It is time, time to embrace my destiny.

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I entered the office and sat down. In front of me was a massive desk of unknown material. And behind the desk sat an Angel. Or at least I think it's sitting. You can never really tell what you're looking at when it comes to these guys. I get a headache just facing them so I end up looking to the side.

I feel a strange tingle in my head, It asks if I'm ready to move on. I nod my head.

It asks if I wish to make any purchases with my credits. I nod again, with more gusto.

Information surges into me, words and numbers appearing before my eyes, and I feel a dull ache. But it's quickly washed away by my excitement. I know exactly what I came for.

Selecting.

World type - Classic Fantasy. Check. I'm a sucker for those.

Civilization rank - Dark Ages. Check. The irony of not choosing a space age setting is not lost on me. Maybe I did lose my sanity.

Alright that's all I can afford in terms of world selection. The Angel is already filtering through the list of available worlds at this moment. Don't ask me how I know, I just do.

Next, Character Creation.

Being - Human. Check. I'll choose something else on my next run. If I remember to.

Skip all the customization except height, build and voice. Gotta be tall, have abs you can grind cheese on, and have a voice like melted chocolate. Optimus Prime style.

Okay, now we get to the real credit burners. Apparently, 'The Force' is too vague a concept and too large a scale to bring into another world. I'd need admins approval for that and that's not happening, so I'm going for the next best thing.

Perk - Telekinesis Max. Check. Close enough.

Perk - Pyromancy Max. Check. Gotta get a lightsaber somehow.

Perk - Master-at-Arms Max. Check. Don't wanna look like a dumbass when I go in on people.

Perk - Telepathy Max. Check. For advanced Sith shenanigans.

Perk - Hypnosis Max. Check. Dark side stuff, you understand.

Perk - Sixth Sense Max. Check. Have to maintain an unshakeable image.

Perk - Body Control Max. Check. Again, unshakeable. Even while fighting on a unicycle on a tightrope.

Perk - Cognition Max. Big Brain time. My decision making needs some help, and juggling all these powers in an emergency can't be easy.

Perk - Mana Drain Max. Ain't never seen a Sith run out of Force before. Ain't gonna be me.

Perk - Mending Magic Max. Check. Force Healing is a thing right?

Perk - Memory Pass. The most important piece, and the most costly. The memories of my time in the Bureau would normally be put on hold until my next visit. The memories of my past life as well. This will allow me to retain those memories for a single reincarnation.

And just like that, my last credits are spent.

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Before my departure, I was assigned an agent from the Department of Otherworldly Affairs, along with contact details and guidelines.

My purchase was considered rather extravagant and thus I am now obligated to consult with my agent before attempting to do anything that may result in 'Cataclysmic changes upon the natural order', whatever that means. My agent will brief me on it when the time comes. I suppose this is acceptable.

With a wave of my hand, I bid farewell to the brothers in arms that slaved away alongside me towards a brighter future. No doubt, my success has granted them the inspiration and motivation they need to keep moving forward.

Courage, lads! Keep your chins up. You'll make it too, one day.

I stepped towards the terminal with a spring in my step, my long dead heart, pounding with anticipation.

I turn around and take one more look at the Bureau, what a fantastic place. Can't say I'll miss it since I'll be seeing it again eventually.

I stand in the designated spot, waiting patiently as Angels drift around my form, doing whatever it is they do. A feeling of drowsiness washes over me, it's been so long since I felt it, I couldn't help but savor the feeling.

Just as I am about to surrender my consciousness, an Angel turns to face me directly, giving me that strange tingling in my head again. It wants me to know that I will be starting life the normal way, seeing as I didn't purchase the direct transmigration perk.

Perhaps my visible confusion implored it to continue.

I will have to be born like a normal baby, and my purchased perks will take time to come into effect in accordance to my body growth. Huh. Can't believe that slipped my mind. I ask the Angel if I'll get a credit refund if I die before getting the full value of my perks.

It said no. Drats. But I would be eligible for the Stainless line if I die too young. Alright, better than nothing.

Rolling my eyes, I relax my mind, letting exhaustion take hold of my entire being, and I let go.