《Pacternal》


 PROLOGUE: Problems and problems, why cant fictions have a normal life

    The main character, Daze wasn''t one of those so called geniuses who saw the world in a different perspective, but rather, a person who was cold towards everything in the world.


    Daze was a completely unemotional creature overall, never having to feel love or desire in his life.


    Whatever disaster befallen onto the world,  Daze couldn''t even give a proper opinion. He would probably just say, "I can''t be bothered with this," and continue on living his life without a shred of emotion.


    This wasn''t his fault. He was of course a human being, and had feelings too. But it was all due to a abnormality he has.


    A twisted sense of detachment.


    Pain, hunger, stress. All of them exists throughout Daze''s life, but why was it that he couldn''t be bothered by any of it? Not even one bit.


    Well, since he couldn''t care less about almost anything. Things around him never came close to triggering any of his emotions.


    But in return, he could put in a inhumane level of concentration into whatever he wanted to do since he could ignore everything that went around him.


    His reaction speed reaction came close to ten times of an average human.


    But there is a slight problem with this abnormality¡­ actually it¡¯s a big problem. Theoretically, if one couldn¡¯t bother himself with the world, as well as ignore everything around him, why would he bother to even feed himself or even try to live.


    For that question, the answer was the person Daze was most close to. It was the strangest person in the world, Daze''s adoptive father.


    He was a the sort of person who would spent most of his time hidden behind his work place, literally obsessed in it. Returning back home occasionally, before leaving as soon he came. He never wore a smile, but instead carried around a heartless expression, making him look much older than he actually was.


    When Daze was small, his family had many problems. But one day, things got out of hand, he was left him traumatised and orphaned. But because of his adoptive father, he was able to overcome the trauma, and lived in a comfort of a proper home.


    Even though his father did so much for him, Daze knew that the true reason why he even cared for such a person wasn¡¯t due to gratefulness or love. It was beyond that, but Daze didn¡¯t know what it was and as usual didn¡¯t care at all.


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    All he truly cared about was two things: his father was his everything and no matter what, Daze was to survive for him.


    Thus, he lived his life until now and was working in a mental institute as a psychiatrist.


    It was not a normal day for Daze as he did paperwork in his office. Rather, it was out of the ordinary that screams were playing outside of his office as he did he work.


    Not normal screams. But blood curling screams which could cause goosebumps to grow out of your body.


    Daze heard it as well. A scream so similar to a pig''s. Though, he had no idea why he happen to register the sound as a pig¡¯s.


    It was probably a death cry, Daze knew from experience.


    ''Got to finish this before the deadline.'' Daze clicked onto a folder started sorting out the information.


    Unlike a normal person who would obviously try to call the emergency helpline, Daze casually shrugged it off, treating it as if it was from a newspaper article.


    On the outside his office, a horrendous massacre had occurred. The fresh blood scent that the floor carried was enough to make people mistake about this place being a meat grinding factory.


    Blood soaked rags strewn all over the floor, and a man wearing a red gown was the only one standing. On his hand is a seemingly harmless yet deadly sharp scalpel which screamed out one thing: Fu*k he¡¯s a murderer. He was of course the antagonist.


    His eyes thoroughly scanned through the bodies, looking for someone, face constantly twitching and contorting.


    None of them was who he was after.


    He searched around the floor with a crazy slant walk from a character from Outlast, opening each door as i were some dungeon game, hunting down the last of the survivors. He sighed at his luck, There was only one room left, and yet he still gotten the target.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t there be another option. This shit is real F-ed up.¡± One of the men waiting outside the compound of the building spoke.


    ¡°No,there is no more options left,¡± The ¡®boss¡¯ sighed, ¡°What a demon of a person that man is. To think he was willing to do all this just to test his guinea pig.¡±

 Chapter 1: Abnormality

    Daze was nearly done sorting out a patient¡¯s files.


    *Krakk* Suddenly, his office door was flatten down by a man wearing a classic patient gown, just in a newer colour.


    Daze wasn¡¯t surprise, nor could he feel the slightest impulse of fear when the crazed man entered his office. Rather he stood up and nearly gave out a greeting to the madman by reflex as he had done so hundreds of times when facing angry relatives of past patients came into his office.


    To Daze, the murderous psychopathic madman was nothing more than just a pain in the ass . However this big ass whooper posed a much larger threat towards his life compared the usual angry mob. So he was going to do everything in his power in order to survive.


    The instance the man saw Daze, his eyes literally sparkled. Pale complexion, Weak constitute, lazy posture. His target is easy prey. So long he is killed, he would get what he wanted, it is too simple.


    Daze stood out of the table and waited for whatever he couldn¡¯t care less to happen.


    The man lunged at Daze at high speed, turning into a blur. His scalpel shot out, pointing directly towards Daze¡¯s forehead.


    If it were a normal person, they would have gone ¡®Kek!¡¯ and died without knowing what had happened.  (But everyone knows Daze can¡¯t die.)


    Neurons at that moment sent a signal into his brain.


    At will, his brain automated into a singular task: Survive! No matter the circumstance. Daze can now concentrate with his utmost in the life and death battle


    There was no getting out of this attack unscathed. Even with his fast reaction time, he was way too slow to dodge the attack. Daze instantly straightened his back, tiptoed and twisted his head towards the side, substituting his cheek in for the scalpel as it struck deep.


    Daze ignored the pain like he always did, and went for the counter attack. He swung both his arms at different timings towards the madman. He manages blocked the right strike with ease using his free hand, but was smacked hard by the other for he was distracted and hadn¡¯t seen it.


    Here Daze struck was precisely at his opponent¡¯s carotid artery, causing him to topple and become short of breath. Even with a weak frame, so long as a vital point is struck, anyone could defeat a stronger opponent. Daze exploited that fact, winning an impossible fight by stats.


    ¡°WHY-*Cough*  After going through all the misery, I can¡¯t lose now! They must pay! They must all d- AHHH!¡± The rambling man shrieked as Daze stomped onto his spinal cord giving off a bone crunching *SNAP*.


    Daze was still in his survival mode, where he was programmed to eliminate every potential threats to his life.


    Daze plugged out the scalpel off his cheek and stared at it.


    ¡®Now I¡¯m going to die by all sorts of diseases.¡¯ That was probably what Daze was thinking as he realised that the scalpel was ridden with tons of DNA. His mind was in total conflict, since he was going to die in a long run but couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    But since Daze was abnormal, he ignored his problems, just like any other that he came across.


    It was five minutes later, that a group of armed man charged in the killing ground.


    ¡°Move out!¡± hollered a voice befitting of a commander.


    Five soldiers tactically surrounded the now disabled madman and carried him off. Another three stormed in immediately after them and arrested Daze.


    Daze at first thought they were here to help, but quickly corrected himself when one of them bashed him onto the head while he was defenceless.


    That day he dreamed about darkness again.


    When he came to, he was stuck on a chair. Was he glued onto the chair, Daze couldn¡¯t move a muscle. Not that it mattered.


    A crude dressed man walked over, and looked at him. The man held a pitiful gaze at Daze. He squat down, and place his long and slender fingers onto Daze¡¯s unkempt hair.


    ¡°Sorry I had to do this... all of this.¡± The slender man stood up and took a seat on the opposite side.


    Daze then realised that the voice of the slender dude belonged to as the commander he heard a short while ago.  He also then realised that this was going to be a long story.


    ¡°The person that commissioned you here was¡­ Mr. Deane.¡± The commander gave a hint of hatred as he said the name of Daze¡¯s father.


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    Now Daze had slightly more interest towards the conversation, but still far from interested. If it was his father that ordered him, he would certainly followed his order. But he couldn¡¯t trust that what the commander said was true.


    ¡°For your whole life, your existence has been special one has it not?¡± the commander gave a small pause, ¡°The truth is, you been a test subject for a project when you were young. And as a result, you became like¡­ that.¡±


    The commander then gave an exasperated sigh as though it were a guilt that could never be made up for. Daze couldn¡¯t recall any memory of experiments being done on him, but he does know that there were holes in his memories, which he of course didn¡¯t mind.


    He continued, ¡°You were of course a failed product of a super soldier project the country has wasted away trying to create. That old man was crazy, he tried brainwashing over brainwashing so many young orphans until one of them, which is you, successfully completed his mental torture. Afterwards he started using you to break limits of a human being. It was truly disgusting.¡±


    ¡°Of course the government scrapped the whole idea completely. It was too inhumane... How could I forget, nothing I say isn¡¯t going to impact you is it.¡± He gave a dry laugh.


    Daze kept silent the whole time. He took in the information, but whether or not the info any affect on him was another matter.


    The commander stopped his reminiscing, and became serious, ¡°There has been a new government project now to create a new batch of super soldiers again.*Sigh* This time researchers have discovered new chemicals that can boost brain capacity of human beings from people who recovered from insanity. The people who recovered have gain a boost in strength, but will go back into their insane state after three days. So the information has been really easy to hide and manipulate.¡±


    ¡°Also from an unknown source, the government believes that when people are in the brink of insanity, some sort of desperation brain wave is sent out, transporting souls into a connected world, which they have will have to through trials in order to return. None of the subjects that come back can share any information, so no details on what goes on in the world itself.¡±


    ¡°Even with many subjects, we at most have only succeeded in synthesising the first stage serum which is practically garbage due to how unstable it is. The reason why you¡¯re called here is because Mr. Deane believed you to be the key. With his final bloody trick under his sleeves, he blackmailed us into causing this damned of a bloody massacre, just so he could prove of your potential.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean final trick in hand? Where is father now?¡± Daze quickly interjected the stupid monologue he had no desire to care.


    ¡°Dead. He had been sick for an eternity. He should have died long time ago though.¡±


    It was so sudden, Daze¡¯s whole world came crashing down in an instant. Tears constantly fell down from his cheeks.


    The commander seeing this, felt absolutely disgusted when he recalled how the monster¡¯s experiments on the young boy he took watch.


    ¡°Sorry for your loss, but right now, you are to be brought to the other side. Read this before you enter it¡¯s from your .... Mr. Deane.¡± An A4 paper was passed to Daze.


    ¡®Survive and pass the trials, my orders¡¯  it was written in an unique handwriting that could only be from one man.


    He hated his job. Killing, kidnapping and even genocide. He had experienced it all. He couldn¡¯t get used to this feeling, couldn¡¯t accept why the world would use such harsh methods. But he was too cowardly to stop them. He was no better than those monsters. Now he was sending innocent people into the skeptical ¡®Lala¡¯ land by turning them insane. It made him wonder: are we, the people, who believed ourselves to be sane, the ones who never had any sanity, while the ones we thought lost their wits are those who escaped the insanity which is the world.


    A thick syringe was pushed into Daze, and vile liquid entered into Daze¡¯s system. Moments later his head felt as though lava had entered and he blacked out into an abyss.

 Chapter 2: The start of the first

    Surrounding Daze was darkness, empty and devoid of life.


    The only thing him was a pers-... no ''it'', standing nearby him. The moment Daze had eye contact on it, he felt enormous pressure poured onto him. From then on, he knew that whatever that was before him was indeed a true higher being.


    As though trying to act like an ordinary person, it wore dark coloured casual wear, a brown shirt along with jeans, and also a murky yellow jacket, paired up with a hoodie which covet ''its'' entire face. Even though the clothes ''it'' wore seemed to clash against the fashion sense of the present world, Daze couldn''t describe the attire in any other word other than perfect.


    Daze suddenly realise that he is starting to take interest in the higher being before him.


    ¡°How in the world is it that I can feel?¡± Daze unexpectedly spoke his mind. He suddenly felt the sensations of shock and surprise, the two sensations which he never experienced before in his life.


    Perhaps it was because he was in the world for lunatics, that all his mental abnormalities had been removed, allowing him to have desires or even sympathise.


    Even with the mental block issue resolved, Daze isn''t happy. That cold outlook to the world he has spent his life to cultivated still remains in him. He has no longer cared nor see purpose in the world he lived in. With the crazy exception of his father.


    That was his only purpose to life now. To devote his life in his father''s life long wishes.


    Daze restricted his newfound feelings of sensation, ignoring the signals actively swarming his mind as though he were a Chinese monk casting away his desires.


    ¡°Come.¡± The higher being finally spoke, gesturing Daze forward. Daze complied.


    ¡°You should know you¡¯re here. I¡¯ll skip some steps then. The people that are brought here are those who seek to escape their reality, but you chose to come here for a different reason. But nevertheless, you will be treated the same.¡± ''It'' spoke in high pitch, clear and cheery voice, which one could distinguish as a female¡¯s.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken, I¡¯m no god, but merely just a guide entrusted by god to help those who are entering a trial. So long you have reached here, you have already started your participation in the five trials god has set for you. But you may choose whether or not you want to complete them. If you managed to complete them, you will return back to the world as god¡¯s champion. And choose not to do the trials, you can live how you wish in this world. Whether to enjoy it or end it all and be with god.  But remember this, only the deserved can live in this world.¡± The guide waited, knowing that Daze had a question.


    ¡°god¡¯s champion and five trials... I¡¯m curious, what are they?¡± Daze shot a question to the guide.


    ¡°god¡¯s champion is the chosen one who will save the desecrated world you once lived in from killing itself, leading it to greatness once again. As for the five trials, they will be the determiner of who will be chosen to become god¡¯s champion. For every trial you succeed, you¡¯ll be sent back to a soulless living body with the most compatible brainwave to finish any unfinished business you have in the real world. The body you have manifested will also become stronger depending on the number of trials completed.


    But do take note, this will only be in effect for 3 days, and if you die with your soul still intact in the body, you''re dead. ¡± The guide explained to Daze.


    ¡°I see, so the man that was sent to kill me in the hospital was someone who completed a trial. Probably is someone who has a vengeance, and was given a carrot and stick to kill me.¡± Unexpectedly, Daze thoughts were spoken out loud again.


    ¡°In this world, you will be given advantages as well as limitations. For limitations, all thoughts will be spoken out loud. Food effects, like poison or drugs will not work, and there will be no need to defecate waste. However, food is still a necessity in order to survive.


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    Lastly, the lust for flesh has been taken away in this world, seeing there is no need for breeding in this world."


    "As for advantages, all clearly distinguishable enemies you have defeat will grant ¡®power¡¯, which you will be used in strengthening your strength.


    Also, you are given an option to gain characteristics of a game character. This allows one to gain information on items, encounters and even areas explored. Stats can be added manually, and you''ll be missions to strengthen yourself.


    However if you choose to decline this option, power gained from enemies will be used to strengthen based on the way they live and fight. Since this is your first trial, you can change the way you look and will be given the appropriate system to help you with the trial, along with a spirit gift that you will be most familiar with.¡±


    ¡°Now decide. Do you want this ability?¡± The guide waited the answer she already knew.


    ¡°Can you explain what sort of stats there are, and how they work?¡± Daze asked.


    ¡°That will give unfair advantage, so no.¡± The guide humbly declined.


    ¡°Game characteristics¡­¡± Daze unhurriedly analysed his options, ¡°There are many different types of games in the world, while some games have over 16 types of stat types, others only have a few like 6. There are probably no retries once stats are chosen, meaning a perfect stat composition for a person is impossible. Definition of each stat may not be shown, so people may become ignorant of the importance of certain stats, which the auto-add may correct this mistake.


    For information, the game ability holds a higher advantage. Information is priceless in a new environment since it will greatly boost survivability.  However the amount of info gain is also based on the types of encounters and how much a person deduce from it. Thus, the disadvantage of information loss can be made up by gaining power to boost luck and intellect...¡±


    After spending some time, Daze came to a decision.


    ¡°I¡¯ll decline the offer.¡± He unhesitantly said.


    ¡°Hah, thought as much. You¡¯ll now be sent to the other side where you¡¯ll meet others in the same situation like you to face the first trial.¡± The ground where Daze stands started shimmering in a bright circle of light.


    ¡°Before you go, god has entrusted me to give each person a hint before they enter a trial. If you want to succeed in it, its best you listen and reflect on it." The tone of her voice suddenly became much more serious.


    ¡°Why is life precious? Good luck.¡±


    Afterwards, the shimmering light under Daze swallows him whole like a vortex, sending in a twister of vertigo.


    Daze could felt his body vibrating like crazy, being painlessly torn apart and contorting into strangest shapes.


    ¡°Is thee mettthhhhod to chaaaaaange appppearanceeeeeeeeeeee.¡± Daze struggled to talk as the shape of his mouth continuously changed its length and size.


    Daze concentrated on the image of his original appearance, and immediately, the cells in his body obeyed and merged back together into his original form.


    However, Daze never considered for a second about changing the way he looked, a scrawny, pale figure whose face was absolutely saggy from constant overwork he has experience.


    It was fine though. To Daze, appearance wasn¡¯t important.


    Well to him, everything is meaningless except for his mission.


    And Daze traveled to the other side, a world where he will eventually fight and struggle to survive.

 Chpt Tri. Have a friend in Wally

    Daze was sent to a medium size city. It was picturesque with many vibrant structures made from stones and gems. There was even a magnificent fountain nearby the place Daze had fallen. At the centre was a giant seashell made from stone. It was without doubt the most beautiful than any other that had existed in Daze¡¯s world. Surrounding the shell were all sorts of sea creatures, crabs, fishes and even some which he had never seen before. They were all chiselled into perfection, so much that they could have been said to carry life. These were only the few of the countless arts in the city.


    Though the city had so much beauty, it was quiet and deserted. There was barely anyone living here.


    Daze was laying on the cold and uneven floor, head feeling fuzzy as he scrambles to wake up. While he was in the white vortex, an overload of information was forcefully downloaded into his mind- information on the first trial.


    ¡°Hey bro, you alright?¡± A husky voice from a guy voiced his concern for Daze.


    Daze looked at the direction of the voice and was almost surprise. The man that spoke was no doubt the most striking alpha males Daze had ever seen. The man had a perfect face and marvelous proportions that only one could dream of.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me, being surprised l-urgh!¡± Information from Daze¡¯s mind started surfacing, causing him awful amounts of headache.


    In Daze¡¯s mind, there were thousands of glyphs, all actively swimming about in Daze¡¯s mind. Slowly, they started forming themselves into a puzzle or pattern, and then into message. Even though this was the first time Daze had seen these symbols, he could understand them. It said, ¡® Locate an informant in the city before the time sets ¡¯


    ¡°What in the world¡­¡± Daze sat up, placing his hands on top of his head.


    ¡°Darn mate, you don¡¯t look so good. That crazy teleportation really done a number on you.¡± The man pitying the newly arrived rookie and offered his hand to help him.


    Daze, however ignored his kind gesture and stood up by himself. He calmly analysed where he was, and decided upon what he must do.


    ¡°Wow, a real jerk¡­ Sorry, I spoke my mind out again.¡± The handsome guy shook his head and sighed, ¡°Anyway come with me, the others will want to meet you.¡±


    Daze had no intent on following this overly friendly hunk. His behaviour has been very suspicious, causing him to distrust him. He too was obviously stuck in the same situation as Daze was, trapped in a world and forced to do god¡¯s trials. Trials which Daze presumes to have contain all sorts horrifying situations that no one should ever go through.


    Then how is it that the man can act so kind and casually towards Daze. But looking through the facts again, there is the limitation of thought, so is this true nature of this man?


    ¡°Shit, I don¡¯t know anymore. I can¡¯t trust him... Where¡¯s the informant?¡± Daze decided that his safest bet would be to swiftly complete the task on hand.


    ¡°Geez, chill out bro. I¡¯m not here to hurt anyone.¡± The man sighed again and rubbed his knuckle onto his temple, ¡°The informant is at the tavern, where the other players are hanging out.That¡¯s where I¡¯m bringing you.¡± and he went off along a cobblestone path.


    Daze didn¡¯t have much choice but to follow. If he were to look for the informant on his own, he would surely meet other people like him, causing him to waste more of his time.


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    ¡°You sure read a whole lot betrayal novels haven¡¯t you. The name¡¯s Wally. Lived in California before I was brought here. You?¡± Wally finally chose to break the ice.


    ¡°No. Daze. Eurasian I guess from somewhere.¡± Daze answers.


    ¡°What do you mean somewhere? Hah, don¡¯t tell me the vortex really screwed up your brain.¡± Wally turned around and gave Daze a stunning grin.


    ¡°Gay. I mean I had long forgotten about my origins.¡±


    In the past, Daze had never cared about the world. Thus, he hadn¡¯t interacted much with the exception for the patients he was charged with. Because of that, no one had bother to know about him, and he eventually forgotten many of his personal information like age and date of birth, not to mention the country he once lived in.


    ¡°So you had it tough as well huh.¡± Wally¡¯s tone suddenly changed, from his normal harpy easy-going tone to a solemn one.


    When the conversation was over, Daze looked up into the sky. It has been a long time since he has dared to care upon the stars. But instead of the seeing the infinite cosmos, he saw a translucent purple dome. It wtremas exely large that it even covered up the entire city.


    And at the center of the dome there hung a glyph, similar to the ones that had flocked Daze''s mind. They positioned in a strange formation, forming into a shape of a clock.


    Though the glyph was confusing to decode, with Daze''s insane concentration, he was swiftly able the . It read:


    ¡®Protection shield up for 7 days 3 hours¡¯.


    Daze assumed that it was the due time in finding the informant as well as the preparation time before the trial. So that was the reason why the man, Wally could afford behaving that way.


    ¡°It is only when people have gone through life¡¯s horrors will they learn the naivety and pointlessness of morals. Thus shed them away in order to survive.¡± Daze mumbled to himself under his breath.


    ¡°Huh, did you say something?¡± Wally could have sworn he heard the rookie mumble something.


    Halfway through the walk, Wally became bored, and started incessant monologue about the various shops in the city as well as their individual specialty. There;re shops that sell foods that could control people''s emotions, as well as shops which sell sci-fi weapons such as guns and swords. There is also a shop that can modify a person''s strength/individual stats.


    Daze used every ounce of his brain cells to gather information any info he could get from Wally. Information was a matter of life and death in the preparation for the upcoming trial. He only had seven days left, and there wasn¡¯t much time to lose.


    Just when Daze wanted to ask Wally a few things about the shops and system, the duo had arrived at an old western style tavern with a modest sign hanging on the front, ¡®Shire Swallows¡±.


    ¡°Yo Daizy, this the place. Forgot to tell ya, but there are 28 others in this city. Most of us tend to spend our time here and are easy-going people but some are slightly more¡­ complete assholes,¡± Wally chuckled, ¡°Thought correction doing work.¡±


    They entered Shire Swallows.