Richter jolted awake, finding himself face-first in the dirt. Pain. Pain was all he could feel as he groggily picked his head off the ground, hacking a pile of dirt out of his mouth. "Holy... shit," he wheezed out. He cringed as his voice cracked, sounding strange in his ears. Gently rolling onto his back, Richter winced as every bone in his body seemed to crack and pop as if they hadn't moved in years. Richter rubbed his eyes to gain some self-awareness, but his frown only deepened as his vision adjusted to his surroundings.
"The hell? Where am I?" He muttered, his surroundings finally coming into focus. The sky was a light shade of twilight, making it difficult to get a grasp of things. The silvery moonlight faintly illuminated the surroundings, providing him with just enough visibility. Richter took a glance at his surroundings, moving his head from side to side and he found himself in a small clearing surrounded by thick vegetation. Tall grass reached up to his knees while wildflowers dotted the overgrown expanse. A shimmer caught his eye at the corner of the clearing that looked to be a small pond. Only when he saw the pond did he realize how parched he was. His throat was coarse as if he had been stranded in the desert for days on end.
Just as Richter was about to lift himself off the ground, something in the sky caught his attention. "What the f..." Richter's voice caught in his throat as his jaw dropped slack at the sight before him. Seven large moons orbited the night sky, each one a different shade of color than the other. They were scattered across the starry sky, and one was moving at a visible speed across the night. The sky was glazed with twinkling stars, each one more visible than he had ever seen a star look before, and in the focal point of it all was a large, swirling nebula that took up a quarter of the sky. Richter was almost breath taken by the scene... emphasis on almost. If his utter dumbfoundness of the situation wasn't so high, he would honestly say it was the most beautiful scene he had ever seen.
"Yup, this has gotta be a dream.’" he murmured to himself, averting his gaze from the bizarre sky. Richter huffed, and gingerly he lifted himself off the ground, his legs somewhat unsteady as he tried to regain his balance. The sensation of standing on two feet felt foreign as if eons had elapsed since he last did so. He nearly lost his balance, swaying side-to-side like a drunken sailor before finding his rhythm and trusting he wouldn't become best friends with the dirt again.
With that out of the way, Richter surveyed his body, noting how his clothes hung in tatters. His body was rigid and sore, and the throbbing pain was persisting, but it was slowly fading as the minutes went by. Yet, despite all the pain, he felt oddly... good? Really good. He was practically brimming with vitality. He had never felt more alive; it was as if he could run three marathons back-to-back and not even break a sweat.
Puzzlement soon crossed his face as his attention returned once more to his current situation. His memories were a little foggy, and a headache started to form the more he tried to remember. The only thing he could remember was that ominous orange text box materializing before him, followed by chaos and then all-consuming darkness that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. He shivered as the memory of the darkness returned, and he forcibly shook the thoughts away.
Richter moved to take a step forward, but as his foot hit the ground, a transparent screen appeared in his vision, the same shade of blue that had woke him from his slumber. He shuddered as he saw it, the memories of the recent events rapidly replaying in his mind. But, one memory overshadowed all the rest.
The endless nothing.
*SYSTEM PROTOCOL BL-0000 INITIATED. Welcome to the multiverse, Chosen Initiate. Because of Earth’s low biomass and energy, it has been merged with other suitable planets. Be warned, Earth initiation is still ongoing. Live, grow, and reach the peak.*
"Multiverse? Chosen? Seriously, what kind of sci-fi bullshit is this? Where the fuck am I?" Richter suddenly became overwhelmed with emotions as the memories flooded back. Anger, despair, confusion, solitude, they all rapidly switched with each other and he suddenly felt extremely dizzy.
His entire world just flipped upside down, everyone he knew and loved was gone, and he was in the middle of nowhere. His family, his friends—everything he held dear—snatched away without warning. Richter couldn't help but laugh at it all; the only way to keep himself from breaking down completely. "This has gotta be some kind of prank. Please say there's a hidden camera somewhere." Nausea overcame Richter as he collapsed to his knees, putting his hand over his mouth as he felt bile start to rise in his throat. He swallowed hard to push it back down but ended up in hacking coughs. His breaths came in rapid bursts as panic started to rise in his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Richter closed his eyes and tried to take deep breaths, attempting to stop his shaking. He clenched his fist, trying to ground himself as he slowly calmed his breathing. He needed to try to think rationally. He didn't know where he was, or how he got here, or what happened to his world. But considering it all, he was still alive; that's a start. And as long as that kept running for him, he could find his friends and his family. Richter tried his best to keep that thought center fold in his mind; despite it all, it could be possible that they got sent to a random place like him, all he needed to do was find them. He forced his mind to focus on the screen in front of him, trying to understand it. He reached out a shaky hand, trying to grab it, but it just phased through the screen.
"The hell is this thing... it's like, it's there, but not actually there?" Richter muttered. Trying to be optimistic, he continued to fiddle with it. Wherever his eyes moved, it followed. Through some testing, he found that he could move its position by focusing on it and the direction he wanted it to move, and he promptly moved it to the side of his vision and minimized it. As he did that, however, another flickered to life before him, this one being the familiar shade of orange.
[Earth initiation ongoing. Biomass High D-grade. Energy High D-grade. 0/7 Dominion slots filled. 6,809,895,164 anomalies were detected and neutralized. One chosen initiate has ascended. Dominion will open in 1 month.]
A familiar monotone, robotic voice echoed through his head. Richter’s eyes went wide, the text on the screen seeming to almost bulge out in front of him, “6.8 billion anomalies? Isn’t... that what this thing said I was?” He said in a whisper. Richter gagged as he felt the vomit threaten to come back up and tried to swallow it back down, but to no avail. He hunched over, his morning meal making an unwelcome return. Richter hacked as he wiped the remnants of his breakfast off his lips and stared at the text once more. “6.8 billion people… dead? Is that what that means? There’s no way…” Thousands of thoughts rushed through his mind at breakneck speed. His family, his friends, were they all among the ones that were killed?
Neutralized. That word echoed back from his returning memory. The office crumbling around him, the terror-stricken expression on his friend's faces as they were trapped and held against their will. The destruction of the city around him, and the thousands of people he saw in those bubbles were likely being sent to their deaths.
Burning rage age like never before began to bubble up inside him. It was utter bullshit. This thing took his entire life away from him. He had a good life. Maybe not the most exciting, but he was content. He had friends, he had family, and he had a good job. And everything was taken away from him in moments. Richer scowled at the screen as a raging inferno tore through him. He clenched his fist so tightly to the point blood was drawn, and with a guttural roar, he punched at the screen. Only, instead of the 'glass breaking' scene he envisioned, his fist phased through the screen once more causing him to lose his balance, and he tumbled to the ground.
“What the fuck is happening!” He cried out, slamming a fist to the ground, causing a small plump of dust to be kicked up in its wake. It momentarily surprised him at his power in the strike, but it was quickly lost in his fury. He needed an explanation. He needed to know what the hell was going on.
As if on command, another blue screen appeared before him, his face scrunching up the more he read.
[System initiation of Richter Alma complete. Welcome to the multiverse, Chosen Initiate. Due to protocol BL-0000, you have been foregone from the tutorial. Live, grow, and reach the peak.*
Richter’s anger briefly abated as confusion took over. “That… didn’t help at all. Give me some actual information!” He demanded. The screen flickered away for a moment, then appeared once more.
*Due to protocol BL-0000, you have been foregone from the tutorial. Live, grow, and reach the peak.*
“So, you can respond to me, you asshole." Richter spat, "Tell me what's going on! Why is all this happening? What did you do to my friends and family!" He shouted.
[Due to protocol BL-0000, you have been foregone from the tutorial. Live, grow, and -]
"Holy shit, I'm talking to a broken record." He despaired, raising his arms in exasperation, "This isn't helping, damn it! What is protocol BL-0000? Why is there no explanation for things? Let me do the damn tutorial if that tells me what happened to my friends and family!
[Chosen Initiate does not qualify for the tutorial. Live, grow, and re-]
“WHAT! Why the hell not? Give me some answers!” He yelled at the screen.
[Chosen Initiate has been given a unique opportunity. Please explore the newly initiated planet yourself, and demonstrate that you have the capability of holding your status. Live, grow, and reach the peak]
“I swear, if you say 'live' or 'grow' one more time, I'm going to find a way to uninstall you," Richter threatened the empty air. He scanned his surroundings, fruitlessly trying to spot anyone who might be responsible for sending him these messages, like some kind of puppet master akin to the great and powerful Oz. However, upon reassessing his environment, it was painfully clear that he was a far cry from being in Emerald City.
“Maybe if this system would tell me what to do, I could figure out what the hell it wants from me.” He shouted.
Main Quests:
1. Prove you have the capability of holding your status as a Chosen Initiate. (Unique)
2. Reach level 10 to choose your class. (Common)
Side quests:
N/A
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
"Finally, something to work with!" Richter exclaimed, his sarcasm thick as molasses. He poured over the quests, but the more he read, the more his brain felt like it was trying to do cartwheels. It was like the more he read it over, the more confusing it got.
Jeez, what is all this bullshit? Level 10? Like, a video game or something? He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion as his eyes rose back to the first prompt. Yeah, no clue what the hell that means. I need to prove myself? What, did I suddenly join the cast of Whiplash? Dude, that could mean anything! Richter groaned at the incoming headache. He sat back, rubbing his temples in thought.
Eventually, he shrugged, not knowing what else to do and he looked skywards, casting a big, beautiful and charming smile, “Hey um, system, could you explain what you mean by reaching level 10? And while we're on the topic could you also explain like, everything else too?"
Richter crossed his fingers and stared in front of him, hoping to see the chime of the system sending him another message. Alas, as he expected, that dream did not come to fruition. The blue screen continued to give off its usual light blue hue without a care in the world. Richter decided to wait for a bit longer, but still nothing came. Richter grunted in frustration, minimizing the screen and tossed it to the outskirts of his vision.
Flopping onto the cool grass beneath him, he closed his eyes and weighed his options – all zero of them. "Okay, let's recap.” He said, rubbing his temples, “In the middle of Timbuktu, with no idea what I'm doing. This thing wants me to complete some tasks, but seems to miss the very important part of actually telling me how to do it. What am I even doing this for? Great question!" He sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair, "What a mes-"
Richter stopped mid-word, eyes popping open like champagne corks as he sat bolt upright. He frantically tousled his head, but something felt... off. That something being the unmistakable chill of skin where hair should be.
"...Where'd my mop go?"
He quickly ran his hands over his body, trying to check to see if anything else had been altered. It wasn't just the hair on his head, it was all of it. His eyebrows, eyelashes, even the little peach fuzzes, it was all gone. Richter gulped nervously as his hands reached lower. “I swear, if the family jewels are missing…” he threatened, only to sigh with relief as it appeared the only thing missing was his hair.
“Okay, so now I'm as bald as a pool ball and twice as shiny. Awesome! At least nothing else about my bod seems different...” He said, his tone oozing with sarcasm. As if on command, another new screen appeared in front of him.
[STATUS]
Name: Richter Alma l Level: [1] [F] l Race: [Human] [F]
Path: [?] [F] l Profession [?] l Crystal Currency: 0 [F]
Health: 160/160 l Mana: 140/140 l Stamina: 160/160
…
Stats:
Strength: 16 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Agility: 13 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Endurance: 16 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Vitality: 15 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Wisdom: 13 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Intelligence: 14 (+15%) [Path - Locked]
Willpower: [EST. 35] (N/A)
Free points: 0
…
Bloodline: [Indomitable]
Titles: [Chosen Initiate] [Bloodline Patriarch] [Born Conqueur] [Newcomer]
…
Skills (Passive): N/A
Skills (Active) - N/A
Richter looked at all the numbers and words on the screen in confusion for a bit, then minimized it. The confusion didn't come from not understanding the terms and words - well, kind of. There were definitely some parts, such as the 'Paths', but it was the situation it was all the terms were being used in. His 'stats' - the term the system coined - all used terms he was familiar with in gaming. Strength, Agility, Endurance, Intelligence... those were all terms that were used in the video games he played as a kid. Except, the problem resided in the fact that this wasn't a video game. No doubt about it, this is the real world. Richter raised his arm, regarding it with scrutiny. “Is this actually my body?” He said with a hint of nervousness. Knowing there was only one way to know for sure, Richter turned his arm over, checking the back of his bicep. For the past couple of years, he had a large scar lining the back of his arm. He let out a relieved sigh, seeing the scar was still there.
That out of the way, Richter turned his attention back to his stats. Gradually, he clenched one hand into a tight fist. Richter's eyes widened as an overwhelming surge of power engulfed him—the likes of which he’d never experienced before. He could almost envision himself turning a rock to dust with a simple squeeze of his hand. His thoughts drifted back to when he first arrived here—sore and exhausted, yet feeling alive as if he were an entirely new person. Though that sensation had since subsided, he now felt stronger than ever before in his life.
Eyes wide, Richter returned his attention to the screen, analyzing every detail meticulously. So, this must have been what the system meant by him reaching level 10. He was currently level 1, and these were the stats he was given to start with. It really is like a video game. So the system decided to stop by Earth, give everyone magic powers, and dip? That’s just batshit crazy. Fixating on the word “strength,” Richter hoped for further clarification. To his astonishment, additional information appeared on the screen. Finally, this damn system was giving him something he could use.
[Strength: Measurement of how physically strong a being is. Increases ability to lift and exert force.]
He looked at the text, considering it before he shifted his eyes to Willpower. It was the only stat that looked different than the others, and willpower tended to have a different meaning in most games he played as a kid, so he decided to take a look at it.
[Willpower: The estimated power of a being’s soul. Increases resistance to auras. Increases strength of aura.
“Interesting. So each of these attributes must be related to my body,” Richter said flatly, still struggling to comprehend the bizarre circumstances he found himself in. As an avid gamer during his childhood, Richter understood the general concept of his ‘stats.’ However, there were aspects of his status that remained unclear. His eyes drifted to the bottom of the list—a section containing his titles.
[Chosen Initiate [???]: The only title used analogously by both Systems[???], this title is granted to a being that has, against all conceivable probabilities, succeeded in transcending any and all expectations set forth by the heavens. [???.???] Continue to prove your ability to bear the status of one of my rare Chosen Initiates, Richter Alma. [???] Be forewarned, however, that the significance and repercussions of such a prestigious status shall not be overlooked, neither by myself nor by any other parties. (No bonuses come with this title)]
[Bloodline Patriarch: Forefather of a bloodline. May your lineage flourish and outshine all others. (+10% to all stats) (+5 to willpower)]
[Born Conqueror: The first to set foot on a newly initiated planet. May you triumph over this world and others beyond it. (+5% to all stats)]
[Newcomer: Your planet joined the multiverse. Welcome aboard! +5 to all stats]
Richter could only stare blankly at the titles, his eyes especially lingering on [Chosen Initiate]. “Right. That just left even more questions.” Richter sighed and sat down, his eyes studying the screen for a long time. Through some small experimentations, he found that he could pull up previous text boxes. He frowned at how some were orange and others were blue, but he shook his head, knowing it was pointless to try to understand the strange system until he knew more.
There was one final section of his status he didn’t understand. His bloodline. After seeing a title for it, he had even more questions. He looked towards the middle of the screen, the one called his bloodline and pulled up the information.
Indomitable - Pure, indomitable will. The soul that is unyielding and never breaking. It is the burning fire within, awaiting the call to action in the darkest moments. When this flame is ignited by passion and invigorated by ambition, there is no force powerful enough to extinguish it – an indomitable soul and spirit knows no bounds.
"Um. Okay?" Richter said after some time, scratching his head. "So, I've got some kinda supercharged pep in my step or something? Doesn't exactly sound like me…" He wasn't one to knock his own spirit, but that description felt like the system was an over-eager hype man that was eager to throw confetti all over him.
There was a lot to unpack here. So much so that it was starting to give him a headache. This ‘system,’ if that’s what it’s called, seemed to have taken his home, thrown it into a blender, given him magic powers, and left him in the wilderness. Richter pulled up some of the text boxes that were shown to him before he was sent to the middle of nowhere. “Yeah… there it is.”
*Anomaly neutralization failed. Protocol BL-0000 initiated. Welcome to the Multiverse, Chosen Initiate*
He was deemed as one of those anomalies. He was due for termination, just like the other 7 billion or so anomalies. Richter shivered just thinking about it. If he was supposed to die, why was he still here?
A slight tremble passed through as he remembered the pain. The bubble probed him, searching every part of him, completely exposing him to whatever they were looking for. He was supposed to be dead, along with every other one of the ‘anomalies.’ Richter looked at his surroundings, dead-eyed. The system sent him here, but for what? It also said he was the first to arrive at the new planet. Was he really all alone here?
*DING*
Richter’s heart dropped as he heard the familiar, bone-chilling notification of the system. The same sound he heard when the system introduced itself to the world before completely destroying everything. The faint glow of orange materialized, momentarily followed by a robotic, lifeless voice. Richter’s eyes snapped forward to the text on the screen, his heart dropping with every word.
[System initiation of Earth complete. Tutorial candidates returning in 3 months. Domains open in 1 month. Beginning introduction of species and wildlife]
Without warning, the Earth was besieged by an immense pressure, forcing Richter to his knees in an instant. He let out a groan, feeling as though the pull of gravity had multiplied tenfold. The ground beneath him trembled violently, splitting and fracturing under the strain. The trees, too, voiced their protest, creaking and groaning under the unexpected pressure. A radiant orange light began to spread, blanketing the entire forest in its chaotic embrace. From the distance, the rapid firing of explosions echoed, sounding as if an army had assembled hundreds of cannons and set them off simultaneously. The shockwaves from the blasts coursed through the ground, causing the trees to sway and shudder. Roars suddenly joined in on the chorus of cannons, their echoes causing an innate sense of danger in Richter’s body and setting him on edge.
Richter wrestled against the oppressive force that pinned him to the earth. His only option was to seek refuge under a nearby tree, frantically scrambling on all fours, silently hoping for the chaos to subside. Using the sturdy tree trunk as support, Richter managed to pull himself upright, wrapping his arms tightly around it as he steeled himself for whatever was to come next. He shut his eyes tight and mumbled a prayer, "Dear whoever-is-listening, I'd very much like my life to be less... explosive. Please." His grip on the tree bark was so strong it began to splinter beneath his white-knuckled fingers.
Though his eyes were closed, the bright blue flash still blinded him, the colors cascading in waves behind his lids. Another shockwave of immense power nearly blasted him off his feet, causing him to grab a branch to keep himself from blowing away. As the blast subsided, his eyes sprang open, quickly scanning the wreckage around him. A small crater had formed just a few feet away. In the center of it, hunched over, was what seemed to be a sort of humanoid, but it was grotesquely disfigured. His heart pounded like an uncontrollable drum, fear gripping Richter as he released the tree and wheeled around. In his haste to back away, he collided with the same tree he had held onto moments earlier, stumbling and falling hard onto his knees before the creature. It lifted its head, tilting it to the side before pulling back a grotesque bloodied upper lip, exposing a mouth full of jagged canines. It let out an ear-piercing scream.
Why is it always the Monday's…