The void was silent, stretching in all directions like an endless ocean of ink. Sophie’s soul floated, disembodied, yet conscious enough to realise that she was no longer alive. Her memories were scattered, a haze of images, intense emotions, and an unmistakable sense of peace within her .
Then, out of the pervading gloom, three wheels appeared before her. Each was massive, eerily reminiscent of the challenge wheels those YouTubers used to use. The light that covered the wheels cast a faint shimmer across the dark expanse around her. They turned slowly, drawing her attention like a magnet.
"Oh. This doesn’t look like hell." she muttered, finding her voice surprisingly intact. “This seems kind of familiar?” Her current situation was reminiscent of the various fan fictions and novels she used to read, where the main character is reincarnated into a fantastic new world. She had never imagined it would happen to her. Still, if that’s what it was, Sophie was grateful for a second chance. Maybe it would be an opportunity to live a better, more fulfilling life. Whatever that would look like in her new world.
The first wheel began to spin.
The World Wheel
The names and brief glimpses of each world flashed past as it began to spin. She saw hundreds, possibly thousands of worlds; some she recognised from popular media in her past life while many others were entirely unfamiliar. Every possible type of world passed before her eyes. Dark cities, forests, deep space, and ancient sprawling empires. Each world seemed unique, both in locale and in danger.
The wheel began to slow, and her heart, or whatever semblance of feeling she still retained in her current state, fluttered in anticipation. As it clicked to a stop, a familiar skyline appeared on the wheel’s face: towers of concrete and steel, dazzling neon lights, and streets filled with danger and opportunity.
“Cyberpunk 2077?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Night City, huh?”
She’d played the game in her previous life, though calling it “play” didn’t quite cover it. It was a beautifully horrible world, one that had grabbed her and never fully let her go. Something about it had spoken to her, though she wasn’t sure why. It was a world that gobbled up everyone that happened to enter, only to spit them back out, never in the same condition as they left.
It was a place where trust was scarce and survival was all about clawing your way up. Not exactly what she had thought of for a new life; it was certainly not a fresh start with clean skies and open fields, but it was a world she understood. Maybe that would give her an advantage at least.
“All right,” she murmured. “Bring it on, Night City.”
The Body Wheel
The second wheel began to spin, slower and heavier than the previous. This one held faces and forms, each passing in a blur. Bodies in all shapes, sizes, and genders flashed before her eyes; some barely more than children, others hardened by life’s difficulties. She felt a twinge of apprehension. Would she be someone new, a stranger to herself, or would she retain some part of who she’d been? Did she even want to retain some part of herself?
The wheel came to a gradual halt along with her thoughts, revealing… her. Not as she was in her last life, but as she had been in her old gaming avatar, the one she’d spent hours crafting and perfecting. There was a flash of connection as she recognised that digital form she’d once inhabited.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
She looked closer, her heart giving an odd, sentimental flutter. It was a comedic avatar she had made using mods. Designed similar to her favourite Cyberpunk character, Rebecca, the avatar was small and pale. Around 165cm with a face that focused entirely on cute, snarky features. Inky black hair fell to the small of the avatar’s back and red eyes that looked like small rubies shone as distinguishing features. However, there was one part that Sophie now deeply regretted adding. The hefty pair of breasts that dangled off the avatar’s body.
“Well, it could be worse I suppose,” she whispered, a hint of resignation in her voice. She’d loved this avatar once, though now she wasn’t entirely sure if she appreciated her past self’s choices. Yet the universe, or whatever power was running this whole reincarnation thing, had given her a chance to live in an entirely new body. And she could always get her body modified if she needed to, given what kind of world Cyberpunk is.
It felt like coming full circle, a random choice she had made in life now reflected in her future.
The Power Wheel
Without waiting, the final wheel began to spin, seemingly brighter and faster than the others. This wheel held symbols that glowed with a fierce intensity: powers beyond her imagination, each one promising a different kind of strength. All were things she had never even thought of, things that transcended anything she’d ever known.
This wheel spun longer, as if deciding on something particularly challenging. She wondered what power would suit her in a world like Night City. Different powers flashed through her mind. She would love to be able to fly or fling magic at her enemies. Yet, that was the kind of thing that would land her in a corpo lab within a day.
When the wheel finally stopped, the words “Legend System” glowed softly in silver letters.
She raised an eyebrow. “Legend System, huh? That sounds… a bit vague.”
A screen appeared next to the wheel, showing a brief description: the Legend System would grant her missions, each with different difficulties and rewards. She’d get access to classes, skills and a store, though the specifics eluded her. The system appeared to be a source of power and a taskmaster rolled into one, designed to take a regular girl and turn her into a legend.
She let out a dry laugh. “Well, at least I won’t have any difficulties finding a career. I wonder what I’ll become?”
A system might be a blessing, she supposed, especially in a world where personal value and connections could mean the difference between life and death. But it would be dangerous. Night City never gave anyone a break. It would be a fine balance between doing enough to stay alive and not getting roped into something she couldn’t escape.
“Still,” she murmured, “better than no power at all.”
There was a final flash, and the wheels faded. She found herself suspended in the void once again, but now, something was different. She could feel a weight to her existence. Her new body. She looked at her hands in wonder before pausing. Her hands were small, as was the rest of her body.
A screen appeared before her, illuminating the darkness.
WELCOME TO NIGHT CITY.
“Status?”
Name: Sophie ??? (Awaiting Host Choice)
Age: 14
Class: Available
Passives
N/A
Skills
N/A
Cyberware
N/A
Store: Available
L-Coins: 0
*Welcome Gift Box Available*
While the screen was interesting, one line in particular stood out.
Age: 14
“Motherfucker!” She swore as she looked between the screen displaying her age and her small body. Her current figure was around 150cm, a bit shorter than she would eventually end up. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. “It’s fine. I’ll figure it out.”
When she reopened her eyes, the pavement was the first thing that greeted her. Then it was the aches all over her body. She winced, feeling the pain. Sophie rolled herself over onto her back, looking up at the towering buildings on either side of her. She was in an alley somewhere. The newly reborn girl crawled over to one of the walls and leaned her back against it.
I’m covered in bruises and lumps…What happened to me? With her thoughts racing, she touched the back of her head, where the most pain was radiating from. Her fingers touched something sticky and when she looked at them, they were red with blood. Have I taken over a dead girl’s body or something? This doesn’t look good for me. Whoever did this, they might still be nearby. I need to get away from here before they return.
With shaky legs, Sophie stood up. With her hand propped against the wall, she hobbled out of the alley, grimacing the entire way. First, she needed to find somewhere safe. After that, she could figure out her next steps.