Darkness. That was the only thing I could see. Though seeing wasn’t the right word to describe it, nor did I know if I had eyes. There’s literally nothing, just my plain old friend darkness. I couldn’t even see myself, but it’s probably the muscular raisin my boss told me about.
If my memory serves me correctly, I should’ve been run over by a truck and most likely died after exposing my secret collection of…stuff…in my boss’s office. Plus, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. So, yeah. Looks like I died a hero.
…
…
...Cough.
…
I’m freaking bored! There’s nothing to do, but wait. Wait for what? I don’t know. God? Seriously, if this was the afterlife, then it sure wasn’t the image I had: no fire, no clouds, no three headed dog, no river filled with screaming souls, no godzilla, no pit of suffering, no nothing. Where were the gates to heaven? Even hell seen better than this empty void. Though, I would like to skip the whole torture routine.
…
…
I’m still bored!! I can’t stay like this. I need something to do.
‘Why not survey your surroundings?’ said my brain.
Ughh?! Why haven’t I thought of that? Maybe I will do just that IF THERE EVEN IS ANYTHING TO LOOK AT!
Fine. You want a description. You can have one. To my right is black. To my left is a more defined black. Now, looking to my front is the superior black that belittled the black of my left and right. Oh, what’s this? It seems that Mrs. Black, from behind me, is angry at the superior black, who’s also known as Mr. Black. The two blacks are now fighting for dominance, while Black Left and Black Right are avoiding the conflict. They’re argument is difficult to follow in this black void, but Reporter Brain has been providing clear descriptions of the scene. Ladies and gentlemen, news has arrived from Reporter Brain that Mrs. Black has filed for divorce. The couple’s children, Black Left and Black Right, have chosen to side with their mother, leaving the father heartbroken. What will the devastated father do know? Find out after these messages.
Blah blah. Ad stuff.
Welcome back dearest viewers. In our absence, the divorce papers are complete and the wife is about to leave. Mr. Black seems reluctant with the whole situation and is currently rummaging through his bag. Cameraman, move up for a closer view. Okay viewers, let us have a closer look at the bag. Mr. Black retrieves an oddly familiar object from his bag. And it looks like a gun…. It is a gun and it’s pointed at Mrs. Black. What a turn of events. Mr. Black has enough of his wife’s BS and thought of killing her. Annnnnnd *blam* he does. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Black has killed his wife. The kids are screaming and sirens are ringing. The black police force of Black City is rushing in, helding black tasers and black pepper spray. The black police have the husband cuffed and beaten the black lights outta him. The kids are retrieved from the scene and WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING!!!
Please, let me outta this hellish nightmare land. I promise, I won’t read anymore 18+ manga during work and have instant noodles for 3 meals a day. Please, free me.
*Shing*
Hey look. It worked. There’s a light. And it’s getting awfully close. Oh S***~t!
*Poof*
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Author note: Since writing about the whole childhood is boring, I’ll skip some of it. Skipping doesn’t influence the story because this is still partially the prologue. Also, I’m lazy. :)
“WaaaaWaaaa!!”
“Congratulations, Mrs. North. Your baby is a healthy boy.” Announced the male doctor. Within the man’s hands, was a small male baby. His cries were refreshing as it signalled the success of the baby’s birth. The mother, Mrs. North, looked at the baby with caring eyes.
“Can I hold him?” She weakly asked. Giving birth had drained a huge amount of stamina from her body. She was weak, but still had the strength to carry her own child within her harms. Feeling the warm of his mother’s touch, the baby stopped his screams and fell asleep. Soon after, a muscular man ran into the room, worried and excited at the same time; he was the husband of Mrs. North. Seeing that both his lover and child were alive, his stress levels diminished. Even so, he still had to ask to be sure.
“Honey is that our baby?” He asked.
“Yes he is.” She replied. Her eyes laid upon the sleeping figure in her arms. “I think I have the perfect name for him.”
Mr. North held his breath in anticipation for the reveal of his firstborn child’s name.
“Jeetu. His name will be Jeetu North.”
“That’s a wonderful name Kathy. I know that our boy will grow up to be a great man. Maybe even a hero.” The husband complimented. To have their child become a hero would be the greatest dream they would ever have. Yet, even if he didn’t become a hero, they would still love him with all their hearts. Jeetu was their child and nothing could change it.
Looking at his son, he got a glimpse of his child's brown eyes and tanned skin, a trait from him. His black hair and oval face came from his wife. Truly, Jeetu was their child; from one aspect to another.
Jon/Jeetu POV
At birth
I’m going to be overpowered as hell. I can’t wait to get a childhood female friend and harem. Just like the anime I watched.
5 years later
Age 5
I’m still going to be OP!!!
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Another year later
Age 6
Apparently, there aren’t anything called levels and level ups. People become stronger by getting better rankings (SSS being the best and F being the worst) in certain aspects like defense and offense. There’s also no listed skills on the status window. Skills are bunched up into one whole ranking; the higher the ranking the more skills someone has. Skills are basically fighting styles, magical attacks, and any other technique in all categories, like normal jobs and behavior. People will automatically know what skills they have, but only if they use it first. When they do use it and know the skill, they will also know the name of the skill and it’s requirements. The average ranking of a child is F or E; an average adult is usually D; soldiers and adventurers make up the rest. Plus, there are two main continents: the demons on the west and everyone else on the east.There’s no actual name for the two continents because every race uses a different one. Monsters and demons also have the same status window. How do I know all of this? Let’s just say that parents are always willing to tell their children anything they want, if there’s no huge risk. And yes. The adventurer guild is real. If anyone doesn’t know what it is, it’s where people sign up to kill monsters for money. Also yes towards elves, dwarfs, beastmen, etc.
The reason that I’m saying all of this is that I’m finally going to find my hidden potential as an overpowered badass. Unlike most animes/novels, you can’t check your, quote on quote, status without something called the status crystal. It’s basically a fist sized stone that glows blue when you touch it. Once activated, a blue window will appear and reveal your status for everyone to see. As such, you can’t look at your status without the stone and skills that allow this function are rare. My father, Mark North, explained this to me and every other basic knowledge last week. He also said that the status only measures the basics of a person’s strength and wouldn’t go into much detail. So someone’s true strength can’t be determined by their status alone.
Since I’m thinking about all of this, why not also explain about my new parents. My father and mother were retired adventurers who settled done and married each other. Now, my father was a soldier and guarding the village, while my mother took care of me at home. It’s disappointing that there’s nothing special about my home or the history of my family, which was a big no no to OP protagonists.
At the moment, my parents and I were heading towards the church, the only location within our village with a status crystal. At the entrance, we encountered a priest who politely allowed us entry to the church. I walked into the building behind my parents, puffing my chest and restraining my excitement. We walked past a row of seats and entered another door that led to the back of the church. There, we saw the father of the church, who smiled and shook my father’s hand.
“Thank you for visiting this one’s humble church, Mr. and Mrs. Mark.” The father welcomed with open arms. His face lighted up with a genuine smile. In return, my parents also smiled and took turns shaking the father’s hand.
“You are far too kind. It’s us that should be thanking you for allowing our son, Jeetu, to use the status crystal.” My father replied.
Hearing my name, the father took a glance at me and smiled. To not be awkward, I smiled back and greeted him with a hello and bow. The father’s smile brightened at my action.
“Let’s not waste anymore time. I know that you’re all extremely excited to see Jeetu’s strength.” In mid sentence, the father brought out a blue crystal upon a short rod. It was at a height that I could barely reach. Without hesitation, I touched the stone. In a millisecond, a blue popped up and everyone crouched down to see the exposed data.
Name: Jeetu North
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: None
Physical Strength: D
Physical Defense: E
Magical Strength: F
Magical Defense: F
Stamina: D
Skill: F
My dreams of becoming the badass hero had dropped to nothingness. These stats weren’t the kind that cheat main characters were supposed to get. Where were my triple S magic and skills? Why was I… was I NORMAL?!
Unknown to my suffering, my parents seem satisfied by my potential to become a warrior, since my father was a tank and my mother was a warrior when they were both adventurers.
Sensing my discomfort, my father placed his hands on my shoulder. “Cheer up champ. You are still young. At your age, these stats are already above average. And we are proud to be your parents.”
My father is right. I’m still young so there’s tons of room for growth. Maybe I’ll even get some sort of ancestral artifact. I can still become overpowered.
Another 12 years later
Age 18
Dear Diary,
It's nice to have someone listen to me, especially when I am alone in the dark woods filled with monsters who want my man meat. Today, I left my village and began my travels as an adventurer. My parents happily agreed to my selfish dream of becoming an adventurer. We gave each other hugs and I left after giving my farewells to some of my friends. Sadly, I didn’t have a girlfriend. My only childhood female friend married my best friend. Lucky bastard. But, I wouldn’t hold any grudges; it’s not within my nature, and they deserved a happy couple's life. Even if it meant leaving me in the side lines. *Sniff* Anyways, I’m not OP yet. YET!!! But I know that I will be. I just need to be patient about it. BUT, I’m positive that this journey will be the route to my cheat skills. I can almost taste the OPness.
Another 5 years later
Age 23
Dear Diary,
I got rejected by my fellow adventurer and crush. Apparently, she loved someone else who was stronger and sadly, more handsome than me. What happened to ‘it’s what is in the inside that counts’? I’m not that ugly, am I?
Sigh~
No... Don’t give up. One day, I will find my true love. It’s just not today.
At least I have you, Diary. *Smooch*
Another 7 years later
Age 30
Dear Waifu Diary,
I… never got to be OP nor find my true love. My stats, at best, was an average of A. When I got this average (mean value of all stats) as a warrior class, I thought I was special; apparently, I wasn’t. In reality, most veteran adventurers had this average ranking. This shocked me to the core, but I still held on. The hope of becoming a hero was still in my mind. No matter what the world tells me, I won’t give up on my dream.
Another 2 years later
Age 32
Dear Partner Diary,
I decided to quit being an adventurer and settle down like my parents. Yet, unlike my parents, I was still single and a VIRGIN. Come on! Why was it so hard for me to find myself a love life?
My adventurer buddies ‘got it on’ in those love hotels, but I didn’t. Who knows what’s going on in those rooms. I bet all sorts of diseases are rampant in those places. When they are done with their business, I will have the final laugh and live my life without losing my little brother to the local doctor.
Anyways, becoming OP was still on my mind. I’m just trying a strategy of reaching my goal. If being an adventurer didn’t work, then surely settling down in a village would. Superman Jeetu will be a real thing....Soon….Hopefully.
Another year later
Age 33
Dear Old Friend Diary,
On my hunting trip in the forest, I found an abandoned baby in a basket. I made sure it wasn’t a trap and brought it to the village. Everyone I knew in the village decided that I should raise him as my own child, which I agreed upon. I always wanted a child. What’s the worst that could happen?
Another few months laters
Dear Quiet Diary,
I regretted my choice of raising the baby. He screamed and cried every freaking day. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a full night of sleep. On the bright side, I named him Akio, which means hero, so he can be the hero I could never be and save the world.
Another 6 years later
Age 39
My adopted son was now 6 years old; the same age when my parents took me to the church to see my status. Believing that it was time, I chose to take my adopted son to the local church. I told him to dress himself for the occasion, while also making myself presentable. Over the years, I allowed my hair to grow so that I could sell it for a profit as a wig. Slaying monsters did bring in the profits, but it wasn’t a consistent income. Earning a few extra coins wasn’t a bad idea. Just for today, I tied my hair into a ponytail and wore my best clothes.
I examined myself in the mirror, made some final adjustments, and called for my son. The ponytail wasn’t the best, but it was based on the most common style in the popular manga and anime I used to watch/read.
I wonder what this style was called...Oh well, it’ll probably come to me sooner or later.
Akio ran towards me with a bear hug and we began our walk towards the church. The local church was strangely empty today besides the priest. In fact, the surrounding area was also oddly devoid of life. Maybe there was a gathering festival today that I forgot about.
We exchanged greetings with the priest and got his permission to use the crystal. Filled with excitement, Akio touched the status crystal and was entranced by the light that the stone gave off. On the other hand, I was struck dumb by his status window.
Name: Akio North
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: Hero
Physical Strength: B
Magical Strength: A
Magical Defense: A
Physical Defense: B
Stamina: B
Skill: S
“My God! Mr. North, your son is the hero foretold by the prophecy.” Shouted the father of the church. Looking at the status window and then looking at my adopted son, the only thing I could think of was “Karma is such a B**ch.”