Am I dead? There was only void, all-encompassing darkness. He couldn’t feel his body - no, he didn’t have any body. He couldn’t tell how he knew this, he just knew. And yet there was a feeling, as if he was flying, really fast. And there was pain - excruciating pain, as if he was being torn apart. With every moment there was less of him. He was tired, exhausted, he wanted to just let go, to stop being, so the pain went away. No! I… I’m not dead yet! I am still here, can think. I… I want to live, I will live! He clutched to that one thought, to that one last sliver of hope.

After an indefinite amount of time, there was change. He was slowing down, he could feel it, and the pain also lessened. When he was just about to stop, when he was at the end of that excruciating journey, suddenly there was a blinding flash of light. He felt an awfully painful headache, like never before. He couldn’t help clutching his head in his hands.

Only after the pain subsided and he could focus again, he realized that he could feel his body again - he had hands again, he was touching his head and he could see, although had his eyes closed because of the headache and this flash of light from earlier.

Ugh, where am I? Last thing I remember… He, Alex, was on his way home from work, riding bus as usual. They stopped at the lights, when suddenly he could hear furious honking. Looking out the window, he saw a truck riding downhill with great speed, clearly out of control, right in the direction of the bus. And then…

The headache finally subsided enough that he could open his eyes. He couldn’t see anything above him, no ceiling, no sky - just pure whiteness. He quickly looked at his arms, he could see them with no problems so there clearly wasn’t anything wrong with his sight. His hands also looked alright - no bruises or broken fingers. The blouse also the same he was wearing on that bus ride, not some hospital gown. Before Alex could dwell some more on that weird whiteness around him, he heard some rustling close by.

“Mom? Mom, where are you?”

To the side, he saw a young girl, age-wise maybe elementary school. She looked somewhat familiar. Wasn’t she sitting few rows in front of him, together with an older lady? Alex quickly looked around and indeed there were more people in the vicinity, still laying down on the white floor or sitting up just like him moments earlier. He didn’t recognize everyone since he wasn’t paying that much attention to the other people on the bus, but he was pretty sure most of them were with him on that ride.

“Where are we?”

“What’s with all that whiteness?!”

“My head hurts so much…”

With every passing second gathered people were getting more and more agitated and as if to answer their worries, a low voice resounded from the side.

“Welcome”

It shouldn’t be heard amid their restless shouting and yet, somehow, everybody heard it. Not only that, Alex noticed, that as soon as he heard that soothing voice, his worries died down at least a little and he could focus again.

When he looked in the direction from which it came, he saw… something. It looked like a store mannequin but more greyish than white. It had no orifices on its face - no eyes, ears, nose or mouth, thought Alex somehow could tell that this being was smiling slightly with cheeks raised a little and two small visible dimples. It was wearing a long brown robe, quite simple in design, something you could see on the depiction of a mage in a movie.

Its looks aside, what was even more mystical was that this being was floating above the ground and in front of him, a simple-looking book, also in the air with no visible string attached to it.

“Welcome to the world of Ascea!”

The being said and waited, as if expecting an answer. How it spoke without mouth, it was a mystery but definitely not the weirdest things here. Everyone stayed quiet, not sure about this whole situation. After a while, when it didn’t get an answer from anyone, it continued in a calm way.

“Well, I won’t beat around the bush and be direct with you - you are all, quite frankly, dead. But fret not! It’s not the end of your journey!”

People were clearly shocked hearing that they’re dead and started getting restless again, but before it’s gotten out of control, this mystical being started talking again.

“One way or another your souls got here, to the magical world of Ascea. This world is governed by an all-powerful system. In this world, you’re awarded for all your feats and achievements. Since you’re already a part of the system, why don’t try it yourself? Every being here has their own unique status, try viewing yours. Just will in your mind that you want to get information about yourself, thinking something like ‘status’ may help you with this.”

Alex couldn’t believe that his life ended, or maybe he just didn’t want to accept that. He didn’t want to even think about that and so he focused on this being in front of him, on its words and the task at hand. He strongly willed to get more information about himself, about his current state. And sure enough, something popped out in his head. It was a truly weird feeling, as if information was poured directly into his mind.

Name: Alexander Mack

Race: Human (Soul)

Classes:

* [Free slot]

“It shouldn’t tell you much right now,” the being continued, “but I assure you, when you get out there it will be much much more informative. And we’ve got to the point, why are you here with me. You see, your souls getting here in one piece is a little of an achievement in itself.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“As I said earlier, system is quite generous with its rewards. So for your previous life and for getting here, all of you are given... let’s call it a headstart. You can choose your race and your magic affinities! So, who wants to be the first one in the new world?”

Obviously, no one wanted to be the first. They were still confused about the whole situation and this being also wasn’t very informative. Finally, someone mustered up the courage to voice that aloud. It was a middle-aged man wearing a suit, though it has clearly seen better days. His boots were worn off, his hair unkempt and he hasn’t shave for at least a few days.

“H- How can we choose, when we don’t know anything! Shouldn’t you tell us more? About this new world, this whole system and-”

The grey being slowly raised its finger as if to shush the man.

“I’m not here to teach you, but to oversee your passing to Ascea. You will have to learn about the world yourself when you get there. Hmmm...” It contemplated for a while. “But I guess I could give you a little information. Very well. For the system - you will get so-called stats, which number and type will depend on the race you choose. I won’t list all the races, there’s too many to count and we don’t have all the time in the world. Though I will suggest some on an individual basis when it gets to your turn. As for affinities, you can’t practice whatever school of magic you want, you need the right affinity. That’s all you will get from me. So, who’s first?”

It slowly turned its head, as if to look at every one of them.

“C- Can I meet my mother there?” Asked young girl, the one Alex saw first when he woke up.

“In the world of magic, nothing is impossible. Come here, child.”

That’s not a definitive answer. Alex furrowed his brows.

The girl too anxious or maybe just too inexperienced to notice that. She slowly started walking, every step taken with hesitation, evidently afraid of the being in front of her. When she got closer, the floating book suddenly opened up and the pages started turning to finally stop at one.

“Hmmm, I can clearly see that you’re not a fighter. Why don’t we change your affinity to light? It great for defence and you will be able to heal others. As for the race, how about elf?”

“Elf?”

“Indeed, there are many elves in Ascea. They’re known for their beauty and talent in magic. How about it?”

The girl slowly nodded after a moment of hesitation. There was a bright flash of light and the girl disappeared.

“So, who’s next?”

One by one each of the gathered people approached the floating being to start a new life. There were such races as humans, elves, dwarves, someone even started as an orc. Slowly the number of people in this white place decreased.

“I want to be a dragon!” Exclaimed middle-aged man from earlier.

For a moment there was a silence before the being started laughing out loud. For the first time since the beginning, it was hearty laughter.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.” It said after calming down. “Dragons, you see, are truly legendary beings. Few people meet them, and even fewer can tell the tale. When you said that you want to be a dragon… Sorry, unfortunately, your achievements are not enough for that. Hmmm, what do you think about a young wyvern?”

“Wyvern? Uh, that’s not even close to a dragon, right?”

The being chuckled lowly.

“Let me tell you a secret. You see, when a being gets enough experience it can evolve its race! If you work hard, maybe you will be able to become a mighty dragon. And honestly, wyverns are far above some simple humans or dwarves. So?”

The man sighed and nodded his head.

“Good luck on your journey.”

“Wait! What about my affinities?”

“Getting to be reborn as wyvern is already more than you should get, let alone change your affinities.”

The being said and lazily waved its hand. The man standing in front of it disappeared with a flash. The mannequin-like head slowly turned in the direction of the last human.

“Now, what do we got here?”

Alex could feel goosebumps when the being focused on him, but he mustered up his courage and answered.

“Do I have to choose?”

“Hmm, what do you mean? Don’t you want to be reborn?”

“I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant… can’t I leave it to the fate? You said that system will reward us for getting here. If I don’t choose now, won’t I get something, some boost after being reborn?”

“Have you considered that this, the choice, was already a reward? That you will be left with nothing if you leave like that?” The being slowly said, its smile much deeper now.

Once more, not a definitive answer. Alex did consider that, but he had a hunch that he was on to something. The being maybe didn’t lie to them, but it definitely wasn’t telling the whole truth. It never answered in a straight, definitive way.

It said earlier that they will be rewarded by getting here, but the way it tried to change everyone’s race and affinities, was suspicious to Alex. For example, the first girl - it didn’t give her new affinity, no, it changed the ones she already had. If someone wanted to stay human, it tried really hard to change something else. If they didn’t want to change their affinities, it tried to make some big changes with their race. It was as if the being was trying to make as big changes as it could, as if… To spend all their rewards here. Thought Alex. Fuck this, I’m already dead!

“I think I will let the fate decide.” He had a hunch, a feeling, and he definitely trusted it more than the suspicious being in front of him.

The smile on the grey head deepened even more and when Alex thought that it can’t get any bigger, the being opened its mouth. As it turns out, it had one, but not only it had no lips, the mouth was so thin that Alex couldn’t see it earlier. When it was open, not only was it much much bigger than a human mouth, Alex could see row after row of sharp shark-like teeth in it. Now not only he had goosebumps, but he was also paralyzed from fear.

“Hmmm, interesting.” The being slowly said with amusement clear in its voice. “Let it be as you wish. But don’t regret it later, boy.”

There was a flash of bright light and then there was only darkness.

----------------------------------------

When Alex woke up again, he saw a night sky full of stars. He was laying on his back, but when he tried to sit up he failed. His body felt… different. He clearly had two legs and two arms, but he couldn’t move them properly, as if he wasn’t used to them.

Fuck, I can’t even look around. At least I don’t have to wait nine months to be born again. What have I even become?

He breathed slowly and mentally braced for the inevitable.

Status!

He looked at his information and started laughing out loud. But soon the laughter changed into cackling befitting some kind of madman.

Fuck. I’ve been bamboozled.

Name: Alexander Mack

Race: Lesser demon

Subspecies: Demon spawn [Lvl 1]

Classes:

* [Free slot]