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What the luck!
Chapter 1 - Face planting

Chapter 1 - Face planting

Robert Frost was standing in the queue at the local ice cream shop, after having been rejected at yet another job interview he decided that he would have a stroll on the beach while eating an ice cream, all by his lonesome. Standing 1.75m tall, with light brown hair and eyes; average and forgettable is how those that can remember him would describe him.

The problem for Robert was his personality, people didn’t like him, and he had never been able to figure out exactly why; ‘sure he had been a dick to people from time to time sure, but what the hell, people do stupid things when they get drunk!’ Is what he always claimed in defense to himself though, ‘at least now he had stopped drinking and smoking... so things should be getting better from now on right?’ he thought as he started walking on the beach. He certainly felt healthier than he used to.

Walking down the beach he enjoyed the fresh and salty sea air on his face and in his lungs, finding yet another reason to continue his prohibition of cigarettes. As Robert was being thankful for the greatness of life, ice cream is awesome; a blue screen pops up in front of him ruining his brilliant mood.

Damned earthlings,

I have made mistakes in the way I guided life on planet earth, I go on holiday for a couple of millennia and look at this shit!

I don't like you human bastards.

Thus I will be kicking you out into the mortal plane, where hopefully you bastards will die.

Farewell. Hope you die. Earth is going be awesome without you trashes.

I’d kill you all but you aren’t worth the bad karma.

‘Well shit’, Robert thought as space warped around him and he found himself in the middle of what appeared to be an Amazonian forest. He was standing on a small island protruding out of the swamp-ish hell that he was surrounded by. No solid ground as far as his eyes could see, only trees, a magnificent variety of trees, some tree roots even formed small makeshift islands around the base of the trees, and others had roots randomly spreading out in all directions popping up randomly from the water. “...sigh, thanks god... asshole.” Inhaling the stale, pungent, forest air and almost vomiting; Robert cursed at himself for not having cigarettes on him. He continued eating his ice cream as he observed the environment more closely until...

Welcome to the mortal plane rejected earthlings.

You will be receiving a randomized gift in order to increase your chances of survival and assimilation into the mortal plane.

Do not despair; all living things have a chance at ascension in the mortal plane. You just need to be luckier than any of you are.

Mortal plane administrator XXVI.

PS. What did you do for Earth’s god to hate you so much? He was mumbling something about his pets all being killed?

Gift package received!

Gifts package opened:   1. Random Skill

2. Random Elemental Affinity

+++++

Bonus Gift

+++++

3. Random Race

Applying gifts...

Status Name: Robert Frost Level: 1 Race: Halfling Class: - Fame: 0 Infamy: 0   Health: 10/10 Mana: 36/36 Stamina: 100% Stats Strength: 3 Intelligence: 18 Vitality: 5 Wisdom: 15 Agility: 4 Charm: 4 Dexterity: 4 Luck: 7 Distributable Stats: 5 Elemental Affinities Life       Skills Observe Respawn    

Life Affinity The life affinity grants access to all life magic related abilities.

Increases life span drastically.

Natural health regeneration is increases drastically.

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Observe F 1 0% Allows the user to gain information about anything by staring directly at it and activating the skill.

Information given is determined by skill level.

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Respawn SSS 1 0% Grants the holder the ability to respawn after dying. Holder respawns to random location. Level and stats are reset depending on level of skill.

Racial characteristics Halflings have very long life spans.

Bonus to intelligence and wisdom.

Magic related skills gain double experience.

“Well that is some earth shattering luck right there... my luck is only seven though...” as Robert inspects all the blue screens there is a sudden flash of light, blinding him, when he regains his vision everything around him seems larger, including his clothes... realizing that he is exactly half of his previous glorious 1.75m, a bountiful 0.875m tall, Robert breaks down into tears. While experiencing an earth shattering bout of depression, Robert voluntarily regurgitates his delicious ice cream in order to taste the greatness of it after it mixed with stomach acid, he definitely did not vomit. On his knees panting, Robert ponders the meaning of life.

In the divine plane, in a grand hall with a huge round table surrounded by numerous God’s who have gathered for the fun of a mass migration into the mortal plane. Currently the atmosphere isn’t as predicted though because of a certain new, vomiting, Halfling. “WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SKILL? EVEN WE CAN’T KILL HIM!” a blood red draconian roars at an elfish woman, otherwise known as Mortal plane administrator XXVI, on the other side of the table who is furiously fidgeting whilst looking extremely awkward. “For a mass transfer of this nature there is a certain amount of karmic luck which is normally distributed across the entire transferred population but... their previous god specifically requested for them to be unlucky; so I could only concentrate the luck into one gift package, which was randomly distributed...” she trails off after trying to justify herself. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN KILL HIM? HE IS ONE OF MY KIN! HAHAHAHA” a Halfling god, swinging a bottle of liquor half his size around, laughs his ass off while being happy about the windfall his species just gained, an undying Halfling with one of the rarest affinities. The draconian could only fume in his rage watching the ‘ex-human’ that received a skill with a SSS level that even he doesn’t have.

Robert, finally having composed himself, started analyzing his current circumstances. He is weak and he is short. Two physical traits which are not welcome in a forest filled with swamps. Especially considering how deep the water of the swamp is... and how short he is. Lamenting his fate he starts considering his options, he could kill himself? If what the respawn skill says he should simply respawn somewhere else. Disregarding this idea because of the unreliable nature of the skill, he could end up in worse and worse locations... Robert ends up left with only one option, which is magic, figuring it should exist considering everything else that has happened. Robert thinks about all the fantasy novels he has read through the years, and comes to the conclusion that the only real option and strand of hope he has is that meditation would somehow solve his current crisis.

Robert tears of the sleeves of his long sleeve shirt, wearing it as a robe, since all of his clothes are completely oversized for him now. He makes a makeshift meditation mat to sit on out of the rest of his clothes and tries to meditate. Closing his eyes he tries to ‘commune with the elements’ with no results, he tries to ‘become one with the world’ with no effect, he tries to ‘sense the dao’ with no outcome.

Frowning, he remembers his life affinity, he tries to meditate once again but this time he simply imagines all that represents life to him, plants, animals, nature, all the biological processes he can possibly remember. He imagines all the billions of single celled organisms in the air, water, and earth. He imagines all the interrelationships and dependencies that all life has with and on each other. The more he contemplates life while meditating, the closer his connection with the life elemental essence in the world he becomes until after while he falls into a trance like state. After a couple of hours of deep meditation Robert is jolted awake, the moment he awakens he experiences a mind rending headache before promptly passing out.

At day break the next day Robert is rudely awoken by a loud repeating thwacking sound. Sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Robert observes his surroundings. Promptly Robert jumps up and gets into a defensive stance with his Halfling fists held up before his chin, staring at an alligator the size of a bus ramming into an invisible shied between him and it, realizing he is being a complete fool he relaxes his posture, and observes the shield that is protecting him, now that the alligator is ramming it, it became visible, it is a transparent dome with a tinge or blue covering his little island. Only now does he notice the blue windows in the corner of his vision, he immediately focuses on them after realizing that he is safe.

Meditation learned!

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Meditation C 1 74% Skill user enters a trance-like state in which the user gains a greater understanding of the element focused on.

Can spontaneously learn new skills related to element focused on.

Chance of learning a skill increases with the skill level of meditation.

Consumers 3 mana per hour.

Mend learned!

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Mend E 1 0% Basic healing spell of the Life element.

Healer must be contact with target of spell.

Heals health at the cost of mana in a 1:5 ratio.

Ratio improves with the level of the skill.

‘I am going to be a healer? But... who am I supposed to heal?’ Robert looked on in disgust at his new spell. ‘Should’ve expected that... I could try and heal the alligator? And tame him?’ Robert thought to himself.

Slowly Robert made his way over to the bus sized alligator that was still mindless charging into the shield making the thwacking sound. As he got to the edge he stretched out his hand, poking the snout of the alligator with his index finger, and said “Mend!”, pouring 5 mana into the spell, a green light flashed around the alligator. The alligator paused momentarily, it was in this small pause that the entire shield around Robert’s little paradise island shattered leaving him completely unprotected. The alligator immediately noticed this and charged forward, opening its giant maw preparing to bite down on Robert. Robert jumped to the side dodging the head of the alligator by a hair, the alligators jaw shut down with an audible SMACK which resounded through the forest, sending birds flying.

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Robert at this moment knew the situation wasn’t good, he couldn’t run with his little stump legs, he had no way to get away from this huge reptile. Robert quickly makes the decision that the only place with relative safety would be on top of the alligator. Robert jumped and grabbed onto one of the protrusions on the back of the alligator, and tried to pull himself up.

The alligator feeling the actions of Robert swung its tail around hitting Robert on the back, a resounding crunch rang out as Robert lower spine was shattered. Pain shooting up his back Robert clung onto the protrusion for dear life, pouring 20mana into the Mend spell; healing him. Fighting a losing battle against blacking out, Robert noticed that although the pain is gone, he didn’t regain control of his legs, he was still paralyzed in his legs.

The alligator charged straight into the swamp and dove down under the water, feeling the that Robert still clung onto it’s back it started rolling over, diving out of the water, and just in general thrashing around, all the while Robert was flinging around and holding on for dear life. Breaking down trees and charging into other alligators that were looking at the comical display, the alligator continued in the hope of throwing off the Halfling.

Robert still clinging on for dear life, after having been water boarded, swung around like a rag doll, and had more bones broken than he cared to count from the alligator charging around and bumping into everything possible, it was a miracle that he still managed clung onto it this long. Realizing that he would die soon, Robert thought of his last straw of hope, he reached out into the space surrounding him with his life affinity to the life essence in the air in the hopes of finding a way for him to survive. As he did so he noticed an enormous amount of life essence clumped together inside of the alligator, the alligator was literally filled to the brim with the stuff. As Robert tugged on the alligator’s life essence with his mind it literally flooded his into body the moment he touched it, it was as if flood gates was opened.

As the life essence flooded Robert, healing him off all his broken bones, cuts, etc. even his spine started mending itself and he soon regained control over his legs. While Robert was being healed the alligator soon became lethargic, moving around slower and slower as time passed. The alligator was later just swimming floating while propelling itself forward with its tail at a very slow speed. As the life essence flooded Robert’s body, once he was healed he started feeling full, his face turning red, and his body temperature was sky rocketing, Robert immediately diverted the flood of life essence spewing out of the alligator into the air. Robert drained the life essence of the alligator into the surroundings until the alligator came to a complete stand still.

Robert was now floating on the corpse of the alligator, looking at the surroundings, Robert was shocked to find that he was completely surround by alligators, he could see fish moving around under the water, and he could see birds flying in a circle a couple of meters above him. Figuring that they were probably attracted by the freed life essence he quickly starts trying to figure out a way out of his certain death predicament.

Soon he came to the conclusion that he was definitely going to die, he could try and jump onto another alligator but he would end up in the same situation once again. Thinking about all the game like elements he thought that perhaps if his respawn ability was true, he could die. But then he would possibly end up in another similar situation, figuring he needs time he thought about trying to bring the corpse of the alligator along with him when he dies, which would provide him with food while he tries to learn a way to survive. Poking the alligator with his index finger he says “Loot” and amazingly nothing happens.

Looking at his surroundings again, he notices that the excess life essence in the air was getting thinner and thinner as the creatures passed through it, as if they were absorbing it by simply touching it. Figuring he has at most a couple of minutes before they turn their attention to him he once again tries to think of games, “HELP!” and nothing happens. Figuring he had no other options he decides to simply ride alligators while draining them of life essence until a different option presents itself.

Robert spots the largest of the alligators and waits for it to pass by close enough to him, the moment it does he does a superman dive onto its back. Robert doesn’t immediately activate life drain in the hopes that he might be able to ride the alligator out of the forest or to dry land at the very least.

The moment Robert lands on the alligator even larger than the previous one, it immediately dives under water and stops. ‘What the fuck is this!’ Robert yells out in his head as he quickly runs out of breath, he activates life drain in the hopes that it can provide him with oxygen preventing his inevitable death. To his disappointment it doesn’t, and to his disgust it feels as if the alligator is convulsing as if laughing at him. Soon his vision starts turning black, deciding that he has no other option he releases and swims up to get fresh air; before he makes it to the surface another alligator rushes from the side and clamps down on him with its humongous jaws, killing him instantly.

In the peaceful darkness Robert found himself in, seconds turned to minutes and minutes to hours... then after a couple of what he could only guess to be days a blue screen disturbed his peace.

Respawning...

Removing experience and stat gains...

Constructing new mortal body...

Spawning to random location...

In a flash of blinding light, Robert found himself standing on an empty cliff protruding from a rock face hundreds of meters off the ground, looking over the world. He was dressed in a basic short sleeve white robe, with basic sandals made out of thick yarn. “Fuck!” is all Robert could bring himself to say as he realized he was stuck perched on the cliff; sure he was happy the Respawn skill was real... but... Noticing the flashing blue screens in the corner of his vision he focuses on them...

Life Drain learned!

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Life Drain A 2 15% Drain the life essence from the target.

Must be in contact with target.

If contact with target is lost while performing life drain, the spell will rebound, damaging user for 95% of HP.

You have died.

‘I’ll have to be careful on what I use life drain in the future... I was lucky with the alligator’ Robert thought casually. ‘What to do, what to do...’ looking off into the distance Robert notices smoke rising from a deforested area. “A town!” Robert exclaims as he notices the buildings at the base of the smoke.

“HAHAHAHA I think I’ll give a blessing to that alligator! HAHAHAHA” laughs the Blood red Draconian, feeling a lot happier after seeing Robert’s miserable end. “Life drain... he managed to learn life drain by himself... A-rank...” mumbles a stereotypical wizard, long grey beard, a staff, robes, and a pointed hat. “HAHAHAHA LOOK AT WHERE HE SPAWNED” the draconian laughingly yells out once again after Robert respawned on the cliff. Even though it felt like days between dying and respawning for Robert, it was actually instantaneously...

“HMPH HMPH HMPH, doesn’t matter, he is undying, let him fail a couple of times, he’s got all the time in the world.” the Halfling god mutters, annoyed at the happy mood of the draconian. “I’d like to formally nominate him as my champion.” the Halfling God says, his voice heard by all as if the declaration was powered by the laws of the world. Silence is all that answers the Halfling. Until...

“I too would like to nominate him to be my champion.” the stereotypical wizard states, earning a furious stare from the Halfling. Not a second passed then...

“Me too!” Me too!” Me too!” Me too!” The voices of numerous gods echo out, the draconian’s eyes were growing wider and wider, aghast at the thought of the Halfling receiving blessings from all these gods.

“DENIED” an overbearing voice echoes out, the word knocking the wind out of all present. Silence pervades as the atmosphere becomes tense. “Leave him be, warn your people to beware of angering him, the consequences I think you can imagine.” Silence reigns over the Gods sitting around the round table.

“Tch” the blood red draconian clicks his tongue he realizes the meaning behind the words just said...

Two days have passed since Robert spotted the Town off in the distance, the hunger and thirst was starting to get to him. Early in the mornings he can lick the rocks, satiating his thirst with a bit of dew... but he hasn’t found any solutions to his hunger.

Coming to the conclusion that he is going either going to die of thirst, but if he manages to lick enough rocks he might achieve starving to death... figuring that he either has to find a more reliable solution to his thirst and a source of food or he simply has to dive down head first from the cliff.

Sitting down in on the cold rock floor he starts meditating again, this time he focuses on imagining everything he knows about the physiological processes that occur after ingesting food and water, how the food is broken down by the hydrochloric acid in the stomach, how some of the water is absorbed through the stomach lining, how after the food is broken down it enters the small intestine, how the molecules gets absorbed into the blood stream in the small intestine, etc., etc. he once again enters a trance like state while growing closer to the Life element.

Robert is once again jolted awake out of his, he experiences another mind rending headache before passing out again. As he is blacking out he thinks ‘I seriously have to find a way to stop this from happening’.

When he wakes up it is still dark, and ice cold. The wind is billowing so loudly that he can’t even hear himself screaming, frustrated, he notices the flashing blue screens in the corner of his vision, focusing on them he sees...

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Meditation C 2 45% Skill user enters a trance-like state in which the user gains a greater understanding of the element focused on.

Can spontaneously learn new skills related to element focused on.

Chance of learning a skill increases with skill level of meditation.

Consumers 3 mana per hour.

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Mend E 2 0% Basic healing spell of the Life element.

Healer must be contact with target of spell.

Heals health at the cost of mana in a 1:4.9 ratio.

Ratio improves with the level of the skill.

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Life Drain A 2 73% Drain the life essence from the target.

Must be in contact with target.

If contact with target is lost while performing life drain, the spell will rebound, damaging user for 95% of HP.

Regeneration learned!

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Experience: Regeneration A 1 0% Buffs the target of the spell for 48 hours with 400% health points regeneration.

Must be in contact with target.

Consumes 5mana.

As Robert finished reading the notifications a severe pain hits him in the gut, ‘ughh, what the hell is this, it feels like I’m digesting myself!’ Robert thinks to himself. Groaning only to irritate his extremely sensitive dried out throat, mouth, and tongue. He blinks in surprise only to feel his eyes burning, ’it feels as if my eyes-lids are made out of sand paper!’. ‘FUCK THIS’ Robert screams out in his mind, crawling over to the edge of the cliff he doesn’t stop until he is free falling head first straight down.

Taking a moment to enjoy the freedom of free falling, Robert smiles to himself as he considers he thinks about the past couple of days, ‘Please be a better respawn... please.’ Robert prays to himself. With a deafening crunch Robert’s head burst like a water melon. His entire body changed into a meat patty.

After a couple of days of peace in the endless darkness...

Respawning...

Removing experience and stat gains...

Constructing new mortal body...

Spawning to random location...

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