Click… click… click… click.
The sharp click of his leather shoes echoed off unseen walls, each step amplifying the emptiness around him. The air felt unnervingly thick, pressing against his skin like a heavy shroud. Every breath seemed to be swallowed by the oppressive darkness, which wrapped itself tighter with every passing moment. He wasn’t sure where he was or how he’d gotten there, but the cold of the stone hall seeped into his bones. His palms were slick with sweat, and terror churned in his gut. Still, he moved forward, step by cautious step.
Click… click… click… click.
Crack… tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-TACK.
His foot struck something solid in the dark, sending it skittering across the floor like a skipping stone on a still lake. The noise echoed back at him, far too loud in the stillness. He froze, his breath catching in his throat, as if the darkness itself was waiting, watching. The sound of something scraping against the floor made his skin crawl. It wasn’t just the stone that echoed. He thought he heard something else—a faint, rhythmic clicking, like tiny claws tapping the hard surface, moving toward him.
Reaching out hesitantly, he touched the wall where the object had landed. His fingers met a surface that was cool and smooth, like polished glass—flawless, with no imperfections to break its unnerving perfection. His skin tingled, an unnatural shiver running down his spine. Something about the wall felt wrong, as if it was alive, just waiting for the wrong touch. The air seemed to grow heavier, a suffocating pressure that pressed in from all sides. He could almost hear something shifting just beyond the edges of his perception.
“What is this?” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
A sound like static crackled in his mind, sharp and alien, before a blue panel illuminated in the darkness before his eyes.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="601">
User query detected.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Unregistered user detected.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Access requested.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
--- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
GRANTED.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Authorization: System Administrator ALPHA013022.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Designation: Phil.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
He gawked at the screen as text appeared, one letter at a time, like an ancient MS-DOS interface coming to life. Confusion gripped him, but before he could process it, new text began to scroll rapidly.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Physical contact established.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
User query assessed.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
ERROR.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Unable to supply adequate response without required skill: ‘Assess.’
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
SYSTEM OVERRIDE.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
Help ticket generated.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
ELEVATED... ELEVATED... ELEVATED...
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
System Administrator presence requested for induction of foreign user.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
GRANTED.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
User, standby for induction.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="601">
It is advised that you brace yourself, or become seated. IMMEDIATELY.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
His eyes widened as the final word flashed in bold red: ‘brace… IMMEDIATELY.’
Before he could react, searing white light exploded around him, accompanied by a deafening roar. It was as if the world’s largest flashbang had detonated mere feet from his head. He threw himself to the ground, curling into a ball and shouting in defiance as the relentless assault overwhelmed his senses.
Just as suddenly as it began, the light and sound vanished, leaving him in smothering silence. His head throbbed like a sledgehammer had crashed into the back of his skull. Ringing filled his ears, and the world spun beneath him as bile rose in his throat.
Time lost meaning. Five seconds? Five minutes? He couldn’t tell.
Then he felt something soft graze his cheek. His body flinched violently, muscles seizing in a scream of agony. Face pressed into his own sick, he was paralysed, his senses overwhelmed. Burning pain flared in his head—in his eyes, his ears, deep within his skull.
The ringing stopped abruptly. Through bleary eyes, he saw a soft blue light.
The glow drifted away, and with it, the sense of something nearby—something moving, crawling along the walls. His heart thudded in his chest, a low thrum that seemed to echo through the suffocating silence. The feeling that he wasn’t alone intensified, like eyes were watching him from the shadows.
As his hearing returned, the glow receded, revealing a silhouette leaning over him. He heard a faint click-click again, much closer now—nearly imperceptible, but unmistakably there. His muscles tensed as an unnatural, biting cold ran down his spine.
A firm voice spoke, sharp and unfamiliar: “Caxan ug whoaxal vo? Epon yeep oyos.”
A ding sounded, and the blue panel reappeared, this time with a refined, polished interface:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Trait Gained: Gift of Myriad Tongues (Epic++)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Grants the ability to master languages’ written and verbal components at 1,000% greater speed than normal.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Grants understanding of cultural nuance and slang as mastery progresses.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
This trait may only apply to languages of humanoid biology.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Further details available through novel application or research
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The blue-white orb of light floated upward, illuminating everything it touched without casting a shadow. His senses, still on edge, tingled as though something was just out of reach, moving silently in the darkness. He forced his mind back to the glowing orb in front of him.
The panel disappeared as he focused on the figure in front of him—a woman in her mid-twenties, her features softened by the light. She tried speaking again:
“Zis wirr be baxal tee slow.”
Her frustration was evident as his blank expression mirrored his confusion. But even as her voice reached him, a snip of something sharp sounded from the dark—something large, skittering, just out of sight. His eyes darted to the shadows. He couldn’t see them, but he could feel them—feel their presence, moving closer.
Pushing himself upright again, he watched as she pressed two fingers to his forehead.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
System Override.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Language Granted: Haven (Archaic) [Written/Verbal].
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Language Granted: Haven (Common) [Written/Verbal].
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Language Granted: Haven (Noble) [Written/Verbal].
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Achievement Earned: Language is Power (Rare)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
You have completely mastered the written and verbal components of one language.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
+10% to Intelligence
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
+10% to Wisdom
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
2 x Language Comprehension Speed
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center" width="600">
Most would study for years to reach this level of mastery, but you’ve had the privilege of having it forced into your recently healed grey matter by a cosmic entity.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
He flinched as a torrent of information surged into his mind. The world blurred again, but the pain quickly subsided. His vision cleared, and he found the woman watching him intently.
“Can you understand me?” she asked. “I’ve implanted the common tongue into your mind and tossed in the written form for good measure.”
He chuckled nervously, shaking his head in disbelief. “Hell of an entrance. Pretty sure I’ll need therapy after the nuke you just dropped in my face.”
She raised a finger, and a blue panel illuminated before her face. “Your vitals appear to be within normal ranges after I healed you. Allow me to assist with this mess, then we can speak.”
She gestured over his body, murmuring a word in her language, “Cleanse.” Warm light flared briefly, and the mess on the floor and his clothes began to glow, disintegrating into fine particles. Even the lingering stench vanished as if it had never existed. Relief mingled with embarrassment as he realized the chaos had left him more soiled than he’d noticed. Still, it was no time to dwell on his dignity.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The light faded, leaving him feeling strangely whole. “Who are you, and why am I here?” he asked, his voice steady despite the swirling confusion in his mind.
The woman stood and gestured for him to rise. “I am System Administrator ALPHA013022. You may call me Phil. My role is to assist in your induction into this world and its system. You are a foreign soul, one that should have gone through the normal process of reincarnation—your mind and soul scoured clean before being reborn. But something interfered. You were left wandering the space between, untouched by the process. My presence is required to register you with the world system and resolve any conflicts. Additionally, you are entitled to compensation for lacking the inherent advantages of native-born individuals. Do you have any questions, or can we begin?”
His mind reeled from the flood of information. Struggling to comprehend it all, he shook his head. “Go ahead,” he managed.
Phil nodded briskly. “Say the word ‘Status’ aloud, and you’ll see a summary of your existence. Go on.”
He hesitated before speaking the word. A massive blue panel flared into existence before him, larger than any he’d seen so far. His eyes widened in mounting dread as he read.
<table style="width: 90.0243%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Status
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Name
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
N/A (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Title
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Age
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
N/A (8540 years)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Race
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
Human (Earth) - Haven (Aes#@-ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Class
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
Not Selected (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Professions (#/2)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
1. N/A (Highschool Teacher.) (ERROR INVALID)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
2. N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Stats
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Health - N/A (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Mana - N/A (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Free Stats
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 72.8752%" colspan="3" width="285">
+17,080 (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Strength
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A (ERROR)
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
Vitality
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Dexterity
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Intelligence
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A (ERROR) [11]
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
Wisdom
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A (ERROR) [11]
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
Charisma
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
N/A (ERROR)
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Traits (#/3)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
1. Breaker of Chains (Unique) (ERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
2. Gift of Myriad Tongues (EpicERROR)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
3. N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Skills
43 invalid entries detected. (ERROR UNQUANTIFIED SKILL PARADIGM)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Active
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 99.4575%" colspan="4" width="388">
Passive
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 26.5823%" width="104">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 21.6998%" width="85">
</td>
<td style="text-align: center; width: 25.5877%" width="100">
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The sea of red errors stabbed at his nerves, each line a glaring warning that something was fundamentally wrong. His head spun as he struggled to make sense of the symbols, but it was as if his very mind rejected the meaning. He leaned against the wall, his chest tightening.
Phil’s tone softened, though her words came faster now. “It’s a mess, yes, but nothing we can’t resolve. Most of these errors stem from differences between your world and ours. Your listed age reflects the time your soul has existed without proper reincarnation. I’ll reset it to twenty-five to minimize dissonance.”
As Phil spoke, he noticed faint vibrations in the air, like the soft hum of something too quiet to hear directly but undeniable in its presence. The polished walls reflected the soft light of her glowing orb, but shadows seemed to creep closer at the edges of his vision, almost as though they were alive—stretching, curling, as if drawn to the faint warmth of the light. He glanced around uneasily, his instincts screaming that something was wrong, though he couldn’t pinpoint what.
Phil continued, her voice sharper now. “We must hurry. This place is dark for a reason, and my light will draw attention. I’ll keep it brief. You won’t keep your seventeen thousand free stats—it’s an imbalance we cannot allow. Compensation will be discussed later.”
The air around him felt heavier, suffocating almost, and the shadows seemed to close in with each passing moment. The stillness was pierced only by the rapid thump-thump of his own racing heartbeat, but the silence was oppressive, thick with something waiting just beyond his senses. Phil’s light seemed to grow brighter, but even that warmth felt like it was struggling to push back the encroaching cold.
Her movements became brisk, her words clipped. “Your stats will reset to ten. A clean slate. Your unique trait, ‘Breaker of Chains,’ is a problem. It shouldn’t exist here. I’ll offer substantial compensation for its removal, but refusal is not an option.”
The air grew even colder, and the oppressive silence became unbearable. He could hear a faint rustling now, like something moving in the darkness, just beyond the edge of his sight. It was as though the walls themselves were alive, the cold creeping in from every direction, slowly surrounding him. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, as the unsettling sensation of being watched returned with full force.
“Fine. Remove it,” he rasped, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to hold it steady.
Warmth returned as she nodded. “Good choice. It explains why your other trait is enhanced. You’ve gained an excellent adaptation modifier.”
Phil glanced over his status screen, tapping her fingers in the air. The blue light around them flickered briefly, but for a moment, the shadows seemed to shift with a purpose. The vibrations in the air grew stronger, as if something deep in the space was waking, shifting toward them. He could hear it now, the sharp skitter of chitinous legs just out of sight. It was as if the very darkness was alive, growing impatient.
“Your incompatible skills will also be removed, and we’ll provide recompense. Now, let’s finalize this and move. Time is no ally here.”
She flicked her hand dismissively at the panel in front of him, her movements quick and practiced, though a flicker of urgency was evident in her eyes. "Please observe the following list of changes I’ve made and the compensation you’ve received," she instructed, her voice just a shade quicker now, "then we’ll discuss the currency exchange. We need to move swiftly."
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Total compensation for soul displacement and integration.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Total Memory Modification - +25,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Profession Removed - +9,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Free Stat Removal - +34,160
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Stat Point Reset - +3,200
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Trait Removal - +150,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Skill Removal - +21,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Disadvantaged Integration Bonus – 10,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Total Compensation – 252,860’
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Currency Exchange
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Free Stat Points Per Race Level – 2,500 (0/2) 10,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Class Specific Points Per Class Level – 2,500 (0/2) 10,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Profession Specific Points Per Profession level – 5,000 (0/2) 20,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Stat Efficiency +10% - 5,000 (0/2) 10,000 (0/2) 15,000 (0/2)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Trait Slot – 10,000 (0/1) 100,000 (01)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Trait Upgrade Token – 15,000 (0/1) 20,000 (0/1) 25,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Race Upgrade Token – 25,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Class Upgrade Token – 25,000 (0/1) 50,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Profession Upgrade Token - 10,000 (0/2) 20,000 (0/2)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Skill Upgrade Token – 5,000 (0/5)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
The Hero’s Beginning Integration Pack – 250,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
The Warrior’s Crucible Integration Pack - +50,000 (0/1)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
--- --- --- --- ---
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="600">
Total Compensation – 252,860’
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The enormity of his new reality hung over him, but the sudden revelation of his compensation package was an unexpected balm to his turmoil. Despite the bitterness that lingered from the loss of a clearly powerful trait, the rewards before him were significant. However, choosing was hard—he couldn’t quite understand what some of these rewards meant, and making a wrong choice now could have dire consequences.
"What is ‘The Warrior’s Crucible Integration Pack’?" he asked, his voice still steady but laced with curiosity as he looked up at Phil.
She smiled slightly, though her eyes were sharp, calculating, the usual calm of her demeanour tinged with something more—something urgent. "That’s a challenge pack, designed specifically for people like you. It will test your limits, force you to grow faster than most. It will provide starting equipment, but..." Her words trailed off as she glanced toward the shadowy distance, then quickly refocused. "Choosing it will place you in an area with enemies far stronger than your current level. The world will actively send wave after wave of challenges your way. It’s not for the faint of heart, though... you’ve already proven you can survive one death."
His pulse quickened. He had the chance to be stronger than anyone else, to become a true warrior in this new world. His chest hardened, his resolve solidifying like molten metal. He couldn’t pass this up.
Phil, noticing his resolve, spoke quickly, more sharply now. "I can see you’ve made your choice. Don’t bother selecting; I can already see it in your mind. Just say the word, and I’ll update your status." Her voice was quick, almost brisk now, urging him on. She had been calm until now, but there was an edge to her tone—a sense of impatience creeping in. The dark air around them felt heavier, pressing against them as time seemed to stretch.
A deluge of notifications burst into his vision, overwhelming in both speed and volume. He flinched back, and the flood of information vanished with a resounding ding.
Phil’s gaze flicked to the distance, and for a brief moment, her expression shifted—worry? "If you wish to adjust how your system functions, think about it. There will be a period of adaptation, but soon it will operate according to your preferences." Her voice was clipped now, more urgent. "Shall we continue?"
He nodded, steeling himself for whatever came next.
Without warning, a blinding explosion of light and sound overwhelmed him, sending his senses into chaos. The darkness around them seemed to recoil, twisting violently, as a strange scraping noise echoed in the air, followed by a chorus of rapid, chittering clicks. He caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows—massive, countless limbs scrabbling across the floor—and the hairs on his neck stood on end. His heart pounded with fear.
Phil’s hand shot out, a barrier of light flaring into existence between them and the encroaching darkness. The air crackled, sharp with energy as her voice rang out, urgent, commanding. "Stay back!"
The barrier shimmered with power, but it flickered as though the weight of the encroaching threat was too much for it to hold for long. The sound of clicking intensified, growing closer, more frantic.
Then, with a sudden pulse of energy, Phil’s expression hardened, and she spoke swiftly. "I’m sending you away. It’s too dangerous here."
Before he could respond, an immense flash of light enveloped him. His body was jerked from the ground as if the very air beneath him had been torn away. His surroundings blurred into a violent, dizzying spiral of colours and sound as his consciousness was ripped from the scene. The last thing he heard before everything went white was a pained scream, echoing through the growing darkness.