"Joten I picked up the new volume of that book about the Skelton guy you like, you want me to read it to you now or after dinner?"
My sister came barging in my room, as usual. She never knocks, ever.
"Whenever you're ready Sheri," I responded. I was capable of reading my own books of course, but I was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) a form of brain cancer that affects the brain stem when I was 13 years old. I have been able to function fairly well up to this point, but now my weakness made it difficult to even sit up in bed. I was withdrawn from school before I could start high school. Virtual school was recommended to me, but unless the pathway to the afterlife was a hypotenuse I didn't want to spend my last years here learning a2+b2=c2. I'm hoping that the afterlife doesn't require a standardized test to get in. It wasn't safe for me to mingle in public because this tumor crushed my immune system. I could die from a cold simply by being in the presence of a carrier, as my doctor so bluntly put it.
Even now my sister made sure she took a shower immediately after she came from school and donned a protective gown, hair net, a face mask, and even gloves before she barged into my room, but not for her protection, but for my own. I was sure it was all such a hassle. She was even careful to spray the new book with disinfectant before she brought it in. I didn't see the point in doing this anymore. DIPG has a less than 1% chance of survival after five years. As a matter of fact, no one has survived it for more than five years and four months. I, now eighteen, have had this disease for five years and one month.
"Hey bro, how are you feeling?" She looked at me with her ever hopeful eyes. My mother and I have all but accepted my fate, but not her she believes that I am her big brother who can do anything, so there is no way I'm not making it through this. It took a lot of energy to smile at her and move into a position where I could look her in the eyes. I peeled the sheets back revealing my frail frame. Not only was cancer killing me, but the treatment was just as bad. My hair fell out; I couldn't eat leading to a weight loss so severe my ribs showed through.
"Come here, Sheri." I beckoned her over to me.
She gingerly approached my bed and sat on the side next to me.
"Listen to me; I am not long for this world. I feel the life leaving my body day by day and I am certain my time is almost here."
As if someone turned the knob on a faucet, tears started streaming down her red cheeks. A strand of her hair fell thru from the front of her hair net. Sheri's hair was jet black, but she dyed a small lock in a bright blood red, something she'd seen on one of her pop idols. My little sister was cute, but she was now sixteen and raising her hope was not something I wanted to do.
"But, I don't want you to go." She managed to mumble those words in between her tears.
"No need to fret, you and mom have each other, an I'll reincarnate in one of those fantasy worlds I love so much," I responded with a smile.
I haven't left the house in five years. I've read almost every light novel that hit the shelves. I was among the best players in the MMORPG Crestfallen because I had so much time on my hands.
She wiped her tears and laughed casually as she opened the book she just bought and began reading to me.
I really was ready to die, not because I was unhappy with life, but because my life was a burden to the people around me. My family had to sit and watch me die slowly all while knowing there was nothing they could do about it. Every phone call made my mom twinge with fear that it was the call she did not want. More than anything, she feared not being there when it mattered.
I bargained with God time and time again, telling him I would not hate him for this as long as my family was home when the time came.
Later that night it did. As I drew my last breath I smiled with feeling my hands being held be by the people that I loved the most.
Chapter 1: The Creator and the Created
Once I closed my eyes I opened them again in a great plain that was white as far as the eye could see.
"Joten Caru, I have done you a grave disservice. Due to my negligence, you were given an illness that you were not meant to have, leading you and your family to unnecessary suffering. "
I followed the voice up and, sitting there in a massive... glittering gold throne was a man I could only assume to be God. He was massive, the throne he was on was easily the size of my old house and he sat upon it exuding an aura of power and dominance that left me wordless.
"I understand this may be a lot to take in so I will give you a moment to regain yourself." He spoke and the plain trembled with each word I knew that his voice could be heard to every corner of this massive realm.
I finally found the nerve to speak up after a few minutes of silence. "My cancer was a mistake?"
"Indeed it was, it was a travesty created by someone serving under me in an attempt to cull the unprecedented reproduction rate of the human race. However, it is not our place to intervene in a world once it is set in motion."
"A world? Is there more?" I asked.
"Indeed, there are a countless amount of them."
Every nerve in my body was telling me I wasn't supposed to be here. That's when I realized, my body. It was fixed. All my hair and weight came back. I had strength in my arms and legs and that I hadn't felt in years.
I looked up to the throne once again but the brightness it exuded was like looking into the sun.
All in all, I had only one question. According to his words, there was nothing he could've done.
"Why am I here?"
"I am expected to be both omnipotent and omniscient. Mistakes are not something that I can allow. Your suffering is a clear case for that, so I wish to make up for it. It seems you dreamed of having a second chance at life in a fantasy world similar to the games you play and the books you read.
My head shot up again, this time willing to face the bright aura he exuded. My heart began to race with excitement at the thought.
"Is that really a possibility!?" I exclaimed. My excitement was obvious.
"I see that option appeals to you."
"Yes, Please!"
"However, you cannot go to the new world as you are. So, as an apology, I will allow you this."
As his sentence trailed off, a computer appeared out of nowhere directly in front of me.
" use this computer the same way you would create a character in the games you like to play. However, bear this in mind the person you are about to create will become you."
"This is unbelievable, this is a dream come true for me."
"I will leave you to create yourself. The options here are far more in-depth than what you are accustomed to, so please take your time and review each option. There is a help option on the computer that you can ask specific questions. I have to take my leave; I will be back once you are through."
With that, he vanished into thin air leaving me here with the computer.
I sat at the desk and the screen began changing before I touched it.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
In front of me was a simple series of questions.
The first was the race.
There was a drop down that gave me options to choose from Human, Elf, Dwarf, Beast man, Demon, Monster, Undead, Spirit, and Dragon. Each option I ran the mouse over displayed the base stats of each race, and also had a sub-race to choose from apart from human. For example, if I choose to be a beast man then another drop down box extended out for me to choose which form of beast man, whether it be a Tigerman, bear man or wolfman. Similarly, the option to be an undead gave me options such as a zombie, vampire or skeleton. Each race also had its own specific lifespan. For human it was sixty-five. once you reached that age your body began the dying process. There were races like undead and spirits with no life spans of course and the heavenly dragon race which offered the highest base stats had a lifespan of ten thousand years.
Ultimately I choose humans as I usually did in the games I played after an internal dilemma with that and the elven race. It took me thirty minutes to make the very first decision. I began to realize this was going to be a long process.
Next was basic demographic information.
Name: Joten Caru
Age: 18
Height: 6'1
Weight: 205
Body type: Muscular
These, of course, were not my stats from my past life except my name and age which I could choose, even having the option to start from birth. I also wasn't like the people in the books I read about. I planned on taking full advantage of the opportunity to given to me. As I continued going down the demographic information, I began getting to prompts that made it clear this was no game. It also changed to a scale where I picked a number one thru ten.
Sex Appeal: Ten
Libido: Ten
Base Intelligence: Ten
Base Strength: Ten
Base Speed: Ten
Luck: Ten
Dexterity: Ten
Speed and Agility: Ten
"What's the difference between Base intelligence and regular intelligence?"
<
ANSWER: BASE SKILLS ARE LIMITED TO THE CONFINES OF YOUR RACE.
An automated voice responded to my
question from the computer. he did say there was a
Help function.
"So basically just because I put my base strength at ten I wouldn't be able to punch a hole in a concrete wall, I'll just be very strong by human standards."
THAT IS CORRECT.
"I see."
It didn't matter, either way, I was maxing out all of the stats I could.
After I finished, I click the next button, it brought me to a screen which allowed me to make physical alterations to the avatar displayed, or the new me. He was a strapping young man. One that would look older and more mature than he was. A head full of hair, with a lock falling down my forehead.
"This is going to take some getting used to."
Then as I was looking over him/me it struck me, and a smile crossed my face. I changed the wayward lock of obsidian black hair to the same bright blood red like my sister's. That was the only change I really needed to make. My character was displayed complete nude. They clearly took the muscular term to heart. It wasn't hulking by any means; the muscles I had were clearly defined. I looked like a male model, I added a couple of inches to my manhood, just as any man would do, given a chance.
"Okay, on to the next page."
Skills were the title written on the top of the next page. My Otaku heart began to race all the anime, Novels and MMO characters I have seen or created I could culminate them into one perfect being.
"Is there a limit?"
<
ANSWER: NO LIMIT HAS BEEN SET, HOWEVER IN ORDER TO REDUCE STRAIN ON THE NEW BODY SOME SKILLS MAY TAKE TIME TO ACTIVATE.
The first part of the Skills screen was simply another one thru ten, but this screen had to do with my actual combat ability.
"Are the stats listed here also limited to the confines of my race?"
<
ANSWER: NO
HP: 10
As I entered I began thinking to myself if these stats are not limited, how does my 10 HP compare to regular humans.
<
ANSWER: THE AVERAGE HUMAN STAT IN YOUR NEW WORLD IS BETWEEN 2-3.
"Wow, so you're saying I could make myself five times stronger than the average human?"
<
ANSWER: INCORRECT, THE HIGHEST RECORDED HP WAS 7 FOR A HEAVENLY DRAGON WHO WAS 20 TIMES STRONGER THAN THE HIGHEST HUMAN STAT EVER RECORDED AT 3.2.
I simply could not believe what I was hearing. So a ten is almost a God like number.
"Oh well."
MP: 10
Speed: 10
Strength: 10
Defense: 10
When I got to magic the question switched to a drop down.
"Now we are at the good stuff, but there are only three questions"
Magic Affinity: High
"That was obvious.
Magic Affinity level: High
Magic Specialty: All
I didn't read all the prompts under the drop down because it was in alphabetical order and all was at the very top.
"Next"
On the top of this page was unique skills and there was no more next buttons, it was just a done which meant this was my last page.
The options here were checkboxes on the unique skills I wanted. Most were resistance and nullifications skills.
Lesser Melee Nullification
Pain Resistance
Lesser Magic Nullification
Temperature Resistance
Direct Mana Manipulation
Poison Nullifications
Paralysis Nullification
Psychic Nullification
Abnormal Status Nullification
Ultra-Regeneration *Note Prevents the Death of cells
Foresight
Advance Tamer
Ultra-Perception
Inventory
Status check
Map
Appraisal
Copycat
Augmented Reality Display
Advance Weapon skills
I clicked ever one, and then there was a box that looked like a comment box.
Note: You have the ability to create one skill
I thought about it for a few seconds and decided to go with a skill I have seen in a first-person shooter I used to play.
"Help Function."
<
PLEASE NAME FUNCTION.
"I could name it after my sister. Then again I don't like the thought of having my sister in my head watching my every move.
"I will name you Tasa"
<< ACKNOWLEGED>>
The Voice changed from an automated robot to a slightly more feminine version.
"Done."
Once I clicked the done button the computer began glowing a golden hue that was too bright for my eyes. I covered my face until the heat dissipated.
Then the computer was gone. In its place, there was a door.
"This must be it my first step into the new world."
When I opened it and walked through, there was the Godly figure I was speaking to standing behind a counter, however, something was a little different. This time I could see him clearly, but that wasn't it.
He was well-built, with long white hair and a white goatee to match. He had gray eyes that shined like refined platinum.
"Welcome Joten, this is the armory. I have already activated the profile you created." He spoke as soon as I entered.
"Did you proofread it or anything first?"
"No need I set limitations on it."
"Oh did you now?" I clearly remembered there was none. Also, this man in front of me didn't; exude any of the aurae the previous man did.
"Are you the same person I was speaking to earlier?"
"Oh, no way buddy. the man you were speaking to earlier is the God here. I am the trusty employee whose mistake caused you despair. I was tasked with this job as a way to make amends," He responded
"I see."
This guy was clearly a screw-up. he didn't set the limits on the computer he just gave me.
"Now it's time to choose your starting gear for the next world," he said as he snapped his fingers and after the room changed from a vast white plain with a counter to a fully stocked weapons store.
"Okay, this is the armory. I was told specifically the world you are going to has no guns, and to limit you non-artifact weapons. You may choose a sword or staff," He said as he pointed me to my options.
I found myself gravitating to a long, curved black sword with red runes inscribed on the side. It resembled a katana but it was slightly broader. The hilt was a dragon. The blade extended from its wings, and at the bottom, it held a crimson red orb in its mouth.
"Ok, the black dragon blade caught your fancy. I am not sure how that blade will work for you. It's a wondrous blade, probably among the most powerful here. Crafted by a heaven's smith that red orb contains more magical power than one can fathom," He stated.
"May I take this blade?" I asked.
"It's technically not considered an artifact since it was crafted."
"What exactly makes a weapon an artifact?"
"Oh that's easy, it's a weapon or item that can never be reproduced," He answered.
As I looked over the grandness of the blade combined with the fact that he said it was among the strongest here, I was almost certain that it was an artifact. Questioning a disciple of God is not something I would be doing.
"Okay, we'll start you with some base gear I modeled off of your video game character."
"My video game character? He was in highly magic resistant adamantine silk, the only set available in the whole game." I added
"Yes I'll do that, although silk might make you a little hot, so you would need another set sooner or later. "
I don't think he understood what I just said. Even in the game, my Crestfallen character gear caused people to send numerous complaint emails to the developers as it was too overpowered.
My body started glowing that golden hue again and an outfit I was very familiar with appeared on me.
My black Cargo pants tucked into my leather shoes, I wore a tight fitting shirt that would hug that abs on my new body like an obsessed lover, but what was special about this set was the long, sleeveless black coat I was wearing. Again, it was a magical artifact from a video game. It allowed me to transform my outfit into anything I pictured myself wearing, including full plate armor if I needed it.
"See you look great! Am I a genius or what?" he sang his own praises.
"Thank you for your help is there anything else?"
Well, unfortunately, we cannot give you items from your new world. I am unable to do anything more than what I've done. So in terms of funds, you will have to raise your own."
"I do not expect that to be an issue. Can you put me in a city?"
"I cannot open a heaven's gate with one mile of an intelligent being, but I will do what I can."
"Thank you for all your help."
Another door of light opened up behind me and I quickly stepped through it. I felt like I had stolen something with everything I had just gotten away with. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. Hopefully, I would not be on the receiving end of some divine retribution.