I always imagined death would be more dramatic.

Maybe there would be pearly gates waiting for me to enter or a fiery pit to be pushed into, but instead, it was a small office. There were no windows in the office, just a single door with a desk and computer—even the walls had no decoration.

Sitting behind this desk was a man, one very well-dressed, middle-aged man in a white suit. For some reason, he looked nervous, not even daring to meet my eyes as he mumbled out the words, "It appears that there's been a slight... mix-up with your case, Mr. Graymoore."

Why does this feel like some kind of police interview?

Confused, I looked at the man while raising an eyebrow: "Mix-up? Isn't this supposed to be the afterlife? Do those actually still happen?"

There was an awkward silence for a moment before the man coughed, "Normally... no, but they do still happen, I'm afraid." His eyes suddenly looked away guiltily.

"So, what happened? Don't tell me I'm going to hell or something?" I laughed jokingly, thinking that it wasn't likely. There wasn't even a parking ticket to my name!

However, the man didn't laugh. Instead, he just shuffled rather uncomfortably in his chair, "A slight typo of sorts. You... weren't supposed to arrive here this early."

"What?" My eyes widened in shock before it slowly turned into anger. "So let me get this straight. I died not because of my own stupid eating habits but because of a 'slight' typo?!"

He didn't look at me, "Yes, I'm sorry."

Sorry, huh?

There's no way in hell that excuse is going to fly with me!

I angrily looked at the guy, "Can't you just send me back?"

"I'm afraid that's impossible. It's against all of the rules here."

Rules, what a joke. Then killing someone who wasn't even supposed to die yet is fine?

Which reminds me...

"Don't tell me there won't even be any kind of compensation for this?!" I shouted, feeling like a victim, which was basically the truth. There had to be something they could do, some way of repaying me for what was lost.

I'll admit that it wasn't the perfect life, but it was mine. And they ended it by accident, with something as stupid as a typo?

Who would accept that?

If this doesn't deserve some kind of compensation, then I don't know what does.

"Compensation?" He paused, one hand supporting his chin. "Hold on a moment..."

I impatiently watched as the man walked out of the office, trying to glimpse behind the door, but it was just too bright to make anything out.

What the hell is behind that door anyway, the sun?

A couple of seconds later, the door opened once again.

That was fast...

Another man, different from the last, walked into the room, followed closely by the first. His multi-coloured suit shone brightly, reminding me of a painting. Colours, patterns, and all kinds of textures just seemed to blend together, moving around as if they were alive. His long hair and neatly styled beard joined in, changing colours like a rainbow.

This guy sure is eccentric...

"Mr Graymoore, I presume?" He asked with a smile, eyes sparkling in what seemed to be great interest.

"Yes, and you are?"

He shook my hand with an enthusiasm that caught me off guard. "You can just call me Ludus. Nice to meet you! I've heard all about your... situation from my good friend here." He turned towards the man from earlier, who looked back at him nervously. "But don't worry, as I have an offer that, hopefully, you'll find to your satisfaction!" The bright colours that made up his visage seemed to brighten.

"Offer? What offer?" I asked, trying not to get too distracted by the man's eccentric behaviour and looks. Which, let me tell you, was much harder than it seemed.

Chuckling lightly, Ludus looked towards the other, almost non-existent man in the room. Who, after startling for a second, produced a few pieces of paper. He handed them over promptly before leaving the room.

"First," Ludus began, bowing his head slightly. "I'd like to apologise for my underl-" he coughed slightly, "subordinates mistake. And to make up for this error, we are willing to give you one of three options as a form of apology."

He pulled up a chair at the desk and sat down, pushing the papers towards me. Each one shone brightly. One was silvery in colour, the other had a more bronze tinge, and the last looked the brightest, with a platinum glow.

Curious, I leaned in to take a closer look as Ludus explained, "These three contracts contain three different blessings to be used in your next life." He pointed towards me, "Of course, what you do with them will be totally up to you."

Blessings?

As an avid gamer, such a thing wasn't unknown to me. However, knowing how it worked in a game compared to the real world was completely different.

Ludus, noticing my confused look, smiled knowingly. "Let's start with this one." He tapped the bronze contract, which released a wave of powerful light in response. "The bronze contract carries with it the blessing of Valoria, the goddess of valour and battle. And just like her domain, it provides you with a strong body filled with power, including an innate talent for battle."

Sounds a bit like Hercules...

Tempting, but I've never really seen myself as much of a warrior type. Even in games or books, most of them followed more of a hybrid or magic-type path.

Ludus tapped the next one as it pulsed softly, "Then we have the silver contract. This one contains the blessing of Caelum, the god of wisdom and strategy. As you can guess, you'll have an unmatched intellect and a talent for strategic thinking, being able to plan several steps ahead."

Now, that's more like it.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

My life had always revolved around strategy, outthinking opponents, and mastering complex systems. Yet, before I could voice my preference, Ludus's hand moved to the final, brilliantly glowing platinum contract.

"Finally, this one contains my blessing." He grinned mischievously, "As the god of games and challenge, it's not just a blessing but an opportunity I believe you'll appreciate." Ludus paused, stretching out his arms in mock amazement, "Life will be like the ultimate game, filled with statistics, potential for growth and a clear path to power. A future without limits, if you will."

Isn't this like having a system? No, maybe that's exactly what it is. Just thinking about the possibility excited me. If what he says is true, then how great would that be?

Still, let's just make sure...

"Wait, just to clarify," I began to question with a hint of scepticism, "Would this entail some kind of user interface like in those certain novels or games?"

Hearing this, Ludus clicked his fingers together dramatically, "Exactly. The blessing can vary, but depending on each person's needs, it will evolve with you. Think of it as an ability or a natural talent of sorts."

As the meaning of his words began to sink in, my earlier excitement returned. It really was a system! This was like the holy grail for gamers, the literal treasure amongst treasures.

And let's be honest here: who would refuse such an offer?

I'll tell you who, only an idiot!

My hand immediately took the shining pen but paused a second later. Thinking about it for a second, I couldn't help but ask, "Uh, since this is reincarnation we're talking about here, do my memories also get erased?"

It really wouldn't be surprising if that were true. Just think about the number of people who can't recall their past lives, for example.

"Normally, yes..." Ludus leaned forward, a sly grin appearing as his colour changed to a more subtle tone. "But not for certain people, such as yourself. Think of it as part of the compensation for our mistake, in this case."

Hmm, so he means that certain people do remember, then?

Well, whatever, at least that's cleared up for now.

I sighed in relief that my memories, and by extension, my personality, would be safe. Getting them wiped away would scare the sh#t out of me. Without all those experiences, wouldn't that be like getting killed twice?

Yeah, let's, uh, move on...

After signing the contract, I looked up at Ludus as he stood up and applauded. "Great choice, Mr Graymoore! I promise that your next journey will be unique. Unlike any other!"

Ludus's applause echoed oddly in the stark, windowless office, giving the moment a surreal quality. The document itself seemed to glow with a newfound energy.

"Unique, huh?" A feeling of both excitement and apprehension filtered into my voice. Living life like a game in a place filled with unknowns was daunting but also thrilling.

Ludus, sensing my mixed emotions, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Yes, unique indeed. And fear not, Damian. The blessing of a god, especially one tailored to your... interests, is not given lightly. You'll find that this new existence will suit you well."

His words, meant to comfort, did little to quell the flurry of questions racing through my mind. The specifics of this "blessing," the world I'd be reborn into, the challenges awaiting—all unknowns that suddenly seemed far more imposing now that the choice was made.

"And what of this world, this race I'm to be a part of?" I inquired, feeling a bit uneasy. "You mentioned it'd suit me, but a hint wouldn't hurt, would it?"

What kind of race would suit me anyway?

Hopefully, it's not a race like the dwarves. In most fantasies, they might live longer than humans, but all of them look old, even the kids. Let's not even mention the women...

Then, maybe a beautiful elf who could pick up the chicks? Or a human born into powerful nobility? Ah, that sounds kinda nice, actually.

Now that I think about it, there are tons of good options out there.

Ludus laughed, a playful, knowing glint appearing in his eyes, "There's no fun in spoilers, Damian." Patting my shoulder, he continued, "All I can promise is that you won't be bored. But remember this: with my blessing, you'll be equipped to handle whatever challenges you face."

His reassurance, although cryptic, carried a strange sort of comfort. The blessing made it seem less daunting and more like the start of an epic quest. And considering my love for challenges, it sounded great.

Thinking about my previous life, a mundane existence filled with repetition and escapism, only made it all the more appealing.

"Alright, let's do this then," I excitedly nodded towards Ludus as the platinum contract burst into flames of multi-coloured light. It hovered in front of the desk momentarily before quickly entering my hand.

Surprisingly, it didn't hurt or even tingle. There was just a warm sensation followed by a faint glow that slowly receded.

Ludus watched the entire scene with satisfaction, his aura growing slowly brighter. Only when the glow disappeared completely did he speak again: "This is where we part ways, Mr Graymoore." The tone of his voice grew solemn as he waved a hand forward, causing a strange portal to appear in front of us. "But remember, from now on, every choice is yours and yours alone."

The portal shimmered with an ethereal glow. The other side was filled with unknowns, with possibilities.

The system could make anything possible. I could become a hero of my own story. Imagine a fantasy world filled with magic, slaying dragons, exploring mystical landscapes, and maybe a beautiful cat-eared girlfriend or even an elven one.

Heck, why not both?

With a final, excited nod towards Ludus, whose smile seemed to carry a mix of encouragement and mischief, I stepped through the portal. The world I left behind faded away, and for a moment, there was only the brilliant light and the rush of crossing into the unknown.

..........

[Ten minutes later]

How the hell did it come to this?!

One moment, I'm in heaven, anticipating a perfect life; the next, getting thrown down into hell. The dwellers intent on murdering me.

"There it is, kill it!" A group of villagers chased after me with all kinds of makeshift weapons. There were pitchforks, hammers, rakes and even a few rolling pins here and there.

"Hey! I've got no idea what you're saying, but please, let me explain!" I tried to say, but it came out in a rapid, high-pitched growl. A knife even came flying over not a second later.

Running with all my might, I jumped over their feet, climbed under some trash, and hid in the sparse patches of weeds. Doing anything possible to avoid detection and, very possibly, death.

My new little body was weak but incredibly nimble. With four limbs scurrying across the ground and a tail dragging behind, it all felt so strange. But there wasn't any time to think about that anymore.

No, I have to get away.

Thinking about a possible escape route, I suddenly changed direction.

A large pipe should be at the end of this cobblestone road. It went underground as part of an old sewerage system that was no longer in use.

"Here! The Scrittles here!" a chubby teenage boy shouted at me, throwing a large, dangerous-looking stone. The lad huffed and puffed, a look of anticipation on his face.

Swiftly dodging the stone, I bypassed the freckled, ginger menace. Thinking about how to get revenge on the annoying kid later.

Yeah, I'll remember you!

There wasn't far to go when the mob began to close in—forever chasing my shadow in an attempt to snuff me out.

Persistent bastards...

Ah, but unfortunately for you guys, I can already see the pipe.

"Charlie! Let Jasper out. He'll deal with it! Quickly now, son!" another man shouted from behind. His urgency spoke volumes about their intentions.

The boy ran back into the house and returned seconds later with a large dog. The dog had short, matted fur, a large drooling mouth, and medium-sized pointed ears. But what stood out the most to me at this moment was its eyes.

Eyes that were filled with bloodlust, wanting nothing more than to rip me apart for its own amusement. The black fur and pointed ears combined together, making it look more like a demon than a dog.

All of my fatigue vanished instantly upon noticing those eyes.

Faster!

I have to move faster!

With this thought, my body went into overdrive as the pipe became closer and closer—the sounds from behind fast approaching as time seemed to slow down.

Paws pounded against the cobbled stone floor while heavy breathing became increasingly excited. A few strained seconds later, I could hear a loud growl from behind.

The dog had caught up with me, lunging itself forward.

Shit! I could sense its approach and feel the hot breath on my neck. So, thinking quickly, I changed directions, using my size to easily fit under a heavy-looking trash can at the side of the road.

The stupid mutt yelped in surprise at this sudden change, failing to stop itself and almost face-planting. He, or at least I thought it was a he, rolled a few times before heavily hitting the wall with a loud yelp.

Heh, Serves you right...

Sneering at the dumb thing, I quickly scurried past him and traversed the last few meters along the road. People were beginning to approach again, but it was already too late for them to catch up.

Looking back for a second, a deep wave of fatigue hit me. But more than that, my anger towards a certain person grew.