He looked at the culmination of his work. Endless Millennia to reach this point. The guidance for many. His opportunity for even more Power. An endless Abyss enters the world, ready to be filled. Every Concept digested and every Strand of Power coming towards his creation. A blue Screen flickers and manifests into Life before him. His ultimate Moment of Glory.
-LOADING-
-INSUFFICIENT DATA-
Suddenly, a Strand of his own Concept, the Tool that helped create his most perfect Achievement, leaves his Body. He can't Stop it, not even with his unending Might, endless Wisdom, and Understanding about everything, he is powerless. “I am too weak” is his last Thought before Darkness claims him and as he falls, every Concept wielding living Thing… falls with him.
-DATA COMPLETE-
-INITIATING-
Erik sighed. Why did he have to change Shifts with Michael? He didn't even like that guy. And he hated working morning Shifts. Waking up before 7 am as a college Student was not exactly what he thought his senior year would start with. But here he was, trotting to the Bus stop regretting all of his Life Choices. At least he got his trusty Coffee Mug with him. While waiting the last few minutes for his Bus to arrive he checked his Phone. Still no message from Lisa. Three Days had passed since their Date and he began to accept that she wouldn't text him back. “Well, such was online Dating,” he sighed. No point in dwelling on it.
The Bus door opened in front of him, being the only Person taking it at this early Time from Campus. He went to enter but the Moment his foot touched the Stairs he stumbled. He righted himself before he could fall. Bewildered he looked up. Where was the Bus? Why am I in a white Room? What's happening, is this a Dream? Am I still in my cozy Bed and sleeping?
“Hello Human,” the voice came from nowhere. “Your planet was assimilated in the 45th Expanse. Welcome to the Universe.” Hold up, Erik thought. “What? What is going on?”, he asked aloud. “All human-made Objects will be removed from you and your Planet. After scanning it, some Alterations had to be made to complete and aid your Transition.” Changes to your Energy concentration and Landmass had to be arranged and completed to give you the Tools to conquer your Planet anew.” Erik looked down at his Body where all his clothes and Belongings just disappeared. He stood completely naked in less than a second. “Wait Stop, what the Hell!”, Erik shouted before covering himself. “Please Check your Status Screen and choose your starting Equipment in the next 5 minutes. After that Time you will be sent back to your Planet.” Erik almost fell on his Butt when a blue Screen appeared half a meter away from his Face.
STATUS
Name: Erik Haert
Age: 24
Allegiance: Earth-43I
Progression Stage: 0
Level: 0
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Mental Strength: 5
Mental Speed: 7
Luck: 5
Free Points: 0
Achievements:
Skills:
This must be a Dream, Erik was sure about it. There is no way this can be real. He tried to touch the floating screen in front of him but his Hand went right through it. “To close the screen and open it again just think STATUS,” the voice said. He thought “STATUS” and the screen disappeared just as it had come. “Many opportunities await you, Human, but also Dangers. You have 4 Minutes before the Teleportation. Good Luck.”
Right then, the Wall in front of Erik filled with Items. Clothes, Backpacks, Shoes, and all sorts of Weapons like Swords, Maces, and Bows. “Hold up,” Erik murmured. “Why only medieval Weapons? Is my Dream going full RPG Mode? He never held something heavier than a kitchen knife in terms of Weapons, so this huge Display threatened to overwhelm him. Firstly he went for the clothes because he was still naked in a strange Room with whoever watching. Thankfully they had a set of soft underwear because the padded Pants and Sweatshirt were itching his arms and legs. After he was fully clothed he reached for the first Sword he recognized hanging on the Wall in front of him. A Short Sword similar to a Gladius he once saw in his Hometown Museum about Roman History. He weighed it in his Hand. It was heavy and cold but not discomforting. He slashed the Air and laughed about the absurd Situation his Sleep had put him in.
-2 Minutes remaining-
Erik looked up; he had forgotten about the Time limit. He scanned the assortment of Weaponry in Front of him. In his DND Session with his College Friends, he always picked a Human Fighter, so why not go for the same Route here. He hated playing Rangers or other ranged Fighters and also was really bad with a Bow in Real Life so he discarded the ranged Options in an instant. His Eyes fell on a small round shield which had leather straps to secure it to one's arm. He picked it up and put it on. With some adjustments on the straps, he got it secure and looked down on himself. Armed with a short and shield. He laughed about the absurdity.
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-30 Seconds remaining-
Erik looked around the Rest of the Items. He spotted a Backpack with seemed to be filled with different kinds of Things. He lacked the Time to inspect them properly, so he just put it on his back and took his sword back into his right Hand. He felt ready. He was clothed, got his Weapons and some Gear. “Let's see what this Dream got for me before Work,” Erik smiled.
-5….4….3….2….1...0-
Even though he knew it was going to happen, Erik almost stumbled again at the sudden Transition of Scenery. One Moment he was in a white Room and the next he was standing… somewhere getting fully blinded by the rising Sun. He turned away from the Light and started to rapidly blink to lose the sun's imprint on his eyes. Right then a sharp Bark ripped through the silence. Erik yelped in Shock and raised his Arms. Suddenly he was rammed to the ground by a furry black Animal with salivating Fangs open to bite his Face off. The creature gave a pained sound from it, and all of its bloodlust left its eyes, which turned empty. Before he realized what had happened, a sharp Pain erupted through Erik's Leg. A second similar-looking Animal had clamped its teeth into his calf. Erik kicked out in Pain and Panic before crawling a few steps back. Then he realized what had happened to the first Animal. It had impaled itself onto his sword, which he had raised in surprise. He recoiled at the sight and smell of Blood on his Blade but held it firmly in his grip. He looked at the Animal, that had bitten him. It was smelling its dead companion and quietly whimpering at it. Right then, a blue Box appeared over its Head.
Black Dog Variant Level: 1
Erik got to his feet. “What the hell is happening!” he yelled out loud. Still gripped by panic and the instinct to survive, couldn't overcome the fear instilled by this wild animal. With a heavy heart, he raised his sword, determined to defend himself against the injured creature. It lunged at him, seeming to have lost all regard for its safety only to bash its snout against Erik's raised shield. The impact rattled Erik's Arm, but his Shield held. He tried to lash out with his sword but missed the creature which had jumped back a few steps shacking its head. It seemed slightly confused; Erik guessed the impact had shaken its Brain. He used the opening to step forward and slash the Dog across its front right leg. A Small stream of Blood started to seep out of it, and the Dog raised its Leg and howled in Pain. It jumped at him again, this time a little bit slower. Erik managed to raise his Shield and sword again, deflecting the creature's Teeth and cutting it in its right flank. It fell to its side, and Erik raced forward to plunge his sword deep into its chest. A last sharp yelp. Then silence. It was over. Adrenaline was still pumping through Erik's Veins, his Heartbeat almost too loud to hear anything else. He fell against a nearby Tree, sitting down and trying to calm himself. Then he first realized the small blue Box pulsating in his lower right corner of his sight. He mentally pressed it.
-Congratulations-
Level Up
New Achievements
The Reaper
First Kill
Erik didn't understand, “Achievements? What is this? What's going on?” He remembered the voice in the Room. “Status,” he said slowly, and a second Blue Box appeared in front of him.
STATUS
Name: Erik Haert
Age: 24
Allegiance: Earth-43I
Progression Stage: 0
Level: 1
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 6
Constitution: 6
Mental Strength: 6
Mental Speed: 8
Luck: 6
Free Points: 1
Achievements:
The Reaper (Be the first Human to kill a hostile Entity on your new Planet- +3 Strength +1 every other Stat)
First Kill (Kill a hostile Entity- +1 Strength)
Skills:
Suddenly, a massive Pain began in Erik's Body, every muscle began to hurt at the exact same Moment, even his Brain seemed to start itching. Erik winced as the sudden surge of pain coursed through his entire body. It was as if every muscle, every fiber of his being was protesting against an unseen force. The discomfort extended to his very core, making even the thought of movement unbearable. "What's happening now?" Erik groaned, his voice strained. The blue screen had offered some clarity, but the unexpected physical reaction left him even more bewildered. He clenched his fists, trying to endure the pain and make sense of the new information. As the pain subsided, Erik felt a strange energy coursing through him. It was as if something had changed at a fundamental level. He cautiously flexed his fingers, testing the newfound strength. He felt stronger than before, his back was straighter, and his clenched Hand seemed to be ready to crush his own bones. Erik's eyes widened as he observed the changes. The Achievements had impacted not only his strength but also his other attributes. "So, it's like some kind of leveling system?" he mumbled to himself, still grappling with the surreal nature of his situation.
As Erik sat there, the weight of his situation finally settled upon him like a heavy cloak. The silence around him emphasized his solitude, and the alien landscape seemed to close in, amplifying the sense of isolation. Alone with his thoughts, he couldn't escape the profound uncertainty that shrouded him. His mind wandered to his family—his mom and dad. Were they experiencing the same bizarre reality? Were they safe? The fear of the unknown gripped him anew, and a pang of longing for the familiar swept over him. "I hope they're okay," Erik whispered into the quiet emptiness, a silent plea to an uncertain fate. His eyes shifted to the lifeless bodies of the Dogs. In the stillness of the moment, he observed the canine features that now seemed eerily familiar. Memories of beagle dogs from his past flashed before him, their smaller counterparts sharing resemblances with these creatures. The guilt within him intensified as he considered the similarities. These beings, though larger and more menacing, held a trace of familiarity. "They're like twisted versions of dogs I used to know," Erik mused, a tinge of sorrow in his voice. He had been forced into a situation where survival meant taking the lives of creatures with a semblance of something he once cherished. But now was not the time to sit and dwell; he had to move, get away from the corpses, who knew what other dangers lurked nearby, drawn to this place by the blood and noise. With shaking legs, Erik rose to his feet, his gaze wandering through the Forest. “I have to find Shelter,” he thought. As he stood, he remembered the Bite the second creature had inflicted on his leg. He rolled up his pants only to find small red dots were the teeth had been unable to fully pierce his padding and skin. Relieved he began to walk.