I had survived a grand total of less than a day after the zombie apocalypse arrived despite all my so called preparations and boasting. I didn't die a heroic death, nor was I killed by the government trying to contain the infestation, hell there wasn't even a government anymore. I died to a freaking laser shot from the sky by what I assume to be aliens. So now I'm floating around dead as a ghost, spirit, whatever you call it with what appears to be a dark elf lady sitting behind a desk, looking down at me from a raised platform... I want to go back to the days where fiction stayed as fiction, where I wasted days away living as another human accomplishing absolutely nothing significant.
The dark elf woman smiled at me, the big red button next to her doesn't bode well. Ah, not that I really care anymore. I have regrets but they were mostly just about things I didn't get to finish reading, playing, finding love etc. If I could choose I rather be reincarnated as something other than a humanoid, free to pursue whatever it is I desire.
"They sure made one hell of a mess of your world."
"Who?"
"No one you need to know about, now let's see." Giving me another smile she returned her gaze to the screen. "You have a total of 11 Reincarnation points, slightly higher than the average human." She made a motion to pick up something and flicked it my way, a floating screen appeared in front of me with various small animals and bug's names on it. "Please choose from among those, any points you don't use will be saved up until your next reincarnation."
Looking through the list the most expensive thing I can be is a large dog at 11 points, how expensive is a human? Oh there's an option for keeping your memories intact, that costs 1000 points, who the hell will get that much!?!? "Hmm? Does that mean I have died before?"
She looked at me in surprise before returning her gaze to the monitor, "No, this would appear to be your first death."
"I see..." How does that even work? Is it something like I was made from random floating energy or something? "Am I being reincarnated to earth?" There wasn't anything special or weird in the options, just normal earth beings.
"Yes, because reincarnating to other worlds require a fee of at least 1000." So I'm stuck in the destroyed messed up world, will I even be able to live long? Actually bugs die off in weeks at best so if I tried to reincarnate as a bug to gather points I won't get many if any at all. Wait if I can't keep my memories...
"If I reincarnate as a bug... does that mean I'll forever be an insect?" Without my memories intact I don't think something like a bug is capable of choosing something to reincarnate as.
The dark elf lady made a big smile, "Most of the time that will be the case, the exceptions being if mutations or magic interfere. Of course in the case that the subject is unable to make a choice on it's own, the excess points are reallocated somewhere else."
She answered honestly but isn't that an extremely shady thing to be doing? Rather regardless of what I pick the chances I'll ever be sentient again is basically non existent. Ah, but it may be better that way, just living off of raw instincts. But if so I really rather be a dragon or something extremely strong. "Is there any way of getting more points before reincarnation?"
The atmosphere around the lady suddenly darkened, "There is... If you work for the Lord you can slowly collect the points that are confiscated from people who choose to reincarnate as a lower life form." So basically taking her job will allow me to reincarnate as a human? That'll explain how hostile she is, but is telling people that normal? "It's part of the job... I'm not allowed to lie." As if reading my mind she spit those words out with contempt.
"So... how close are you to your goal?"
She looked at me in surprise, "Normally people would be more interested in how to get points for themselves. I'm at 1,332,999 points out of 10,000,000."
"What are you even going for?!?!" Ten million points?! Is there even anything that expensive?
"A goddess of course, specifically a goddess that's part of the Lord's group. I won't have a thing to worry about for the rest of eternity you know."
"Hmm... How do you get points anyways? While alive I mean." She said that I had more points than most humans before, but I hardly think that it's because I had more karma, wealth or luck than anyone else.
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"Various ways but the simplest two would be achievements and experience, you know like the ones in games." Achievements and experience huh... I don't think I have a particularly large amount of either considering I lived an exceedingly normal life. "What gave you that extra point would probably be your pessimistic way of thinking."
"I just see reality as it is though?" Most humans live out their entire lives without amounting to anything. Sure everyone has certain goals or dreams, but the few that actually get to reach it are by far the ones in the minority. I often questioned the reason of my existence, there were simple joys in everyday life of course but life seemed... pointless to me.
"Well that's just what it says here, anyways are you done choosing? The souls that died after you are being taken by the others."
"You won't be reaching your goal anytime soon this way though." Considering the amount of points I have and how it's more than most humans, it must have taken her a large amount of time to gather this many points.
"And? It's none of your business anyways."
"Can't you lend me some of those points?"
"HAH!?!?" She looked at me like I was crazy, can't blame her.
"Like I said, can't you lend me some points? I rather not be a bug forever and from what you said if I can reincarnate as something strong like a dragon I can easily collect a bunch of points for you. It's a win win situation for both of us."
"Listen here, there's no guarantee that you would be able to collect enough to even equal to amount you used. In the first place you might not even meet me again even if you do get more points. Then there's also the fact that you will probably not give any of the points over to me even if you do get the points and meet me again."After her rant she was breathing heavily with a red face.
"So it is possible to trade points."
"ANYWAYS, choose already with the points you have available to you." Her hand inched closer to the button, so it was something that would get rid of me. Well if I'm going to end up just downgrading further and further, might as well give the points to someone who can use them.
"Here I'll just go with the fly, you can have the other ten poi-" I stopped as I noticed something very strange, her tan skin was pale to the point that it was almost white.
"That wouldn't be very amusing now would it?" Hearing a voice behind me I looked around to see a hooded figure dressed all in black with not a single bit of skin showing. "I think you should take him up on that offer."
"Bu- I mean ye-yes my Lord." Despite her shivering and stuttering while lowering her head she still managed to shoot me an angry glare.
"Let's see... you'll be lent 1,000,000 points to customize yourself with but your race will be chosen by me. If you gather ten golden souls for me I'll consider your debt paid in full, if you manage to double that I'll even make the both of you gods." What is a golden soul is a question I want to ask but there's a more important one before that.
"And if I fail?" I got the feeling he was smiling despite not being able to see past the shadows of his hood as a chill filled the air.
"6817 will serve Celesta for eternity while you will be doomed to live as a human that will never accomplish anything nor get joy out of anything." 6817, the dark elf lady turned even paler if that was even possible, who was Celesta? As for my penalty, living as a human isn't too bad but never accomplishing or having joy is just extremely depressing. Becoming a god though, I wonder what I could do as one. Well for now however...
"I accept." There really wasn't any other option, with a million points though there shouldn't be a problem with enjoying my new life at the very least.
"Then we have a deal." Snapping his fingers black chains snaked out from his shadow and coiled around me and 6817, it felt cold and tight but not particularly painful to me. That seemed not to be the case as 6817 had her eyes shut tight and her teeth clenched enduring what looks to be extreme pain. "I look forward to watching your life."