《Origin of the Shinigami》
01 - Life and Death
Sophie slowly knelt before the pair of gravestones, her knees pressing into the slightly damp grass. The cool autumn air nipped at her cheeks, turning them slightly pink. She reached out to brush away a few dry leaves that had settled on the polished stone. Her fingers lingering on the carved names of her parents. "Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad," she murmured.
She sat back on her heels and sighed heavily. There was something oddly comforting about the silence in the graveyard. "So, uh, I went to the dentist this week," she began, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Can you believe it? No cavities. Not bad, right? Not that you¡¯d care about my dental hygiene, but hey, small wins."
Her eyes scanned the cemetery; the neat rows of gravestones and the few visitors paying their respects. "I saw Mrs. Pritchard the other day. Those raccoons in her backyard have really ballooned. I swear, one of them¡¯s getting so fat it¡¯ll probably need its own wheelchair soon. I told her she should stop, but you know her. She¡¯s as stubborn as a mule."
She knew she was rambling but she couldn¡¯t help it. There wasn¡¯t anyone else to talk to anyway. Her words tumbled out, the woman speaking about anything she could think of. Every so often, Sophie paused, as if expecting a response, then filled the silence with more chatter.
¡°Oh, and I finally started cleaning out the attic last week. It¡¯s amazing how much random junk can pile up over the years. Found an old photo album with pictures of us. Remember that one trip to the beach where Dad got sunburned so bad he looked like a lobster? Yeah, good times.¡±
Her voice trailed off, and for a moment, Sophie stared at the ground, tears threatening to fall. "I miss you guys," she said softly. She stayed like that for a while, immersed in her memories.
Eventually, Sophie struggled to her feet and brushed the dirt off her jeans. "I¡¯ll come by again soon," she promised, her voice slightly choked. "Take care of each other, okay?"
As she left the graveyard, Sophie¡¯s prosthetic leg clanked. Every step extracted a slightly concerning sound. She gritted her teeth as a dull ache radiated from her thigh, where the artificial limb was attached.
"Stupid leg," she muttered under her breath. "Why did it have to be my right one? Couldn''t have been my left, oh no, that would¡¯ve been too convenient."
Each step was hard, even though she¡¯d had the leg for nearly a decade. The prosthetic¡¯s outdated design lacked the smoothness of the newer versions, but those were far out of her budget. "Maybe I should start a GoFundMe," she joked bitterly to herself. "Help Sophie get a leg that doesn¡¯t suck."
The grocery store came into view, the only large store in the small town. Sophie pushed through the automatic doors, grabbing a basket and heading straight for the frozen food aisle. She bypassed the fresh produce without a second glance, instead stocking up on instant noodles, frozen pizzas, and microwaveable meals. The woman certainly didn¡¯t forget to grab herself some chocolate either. The thought of cooking felt like too much effort. Besides, the prepackaged stuff was cheap, and it wasn¡¯t like anyone was around to judge her for it.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
At the checkout, Sophie exchanged polite small talk with the cashier, a teenager who seemed more interested in their phone than the conversation. She packed her groceries into a single bag and slung it over her shoulder, using the weight in a poor attempt at countering her wonky gait. The walk home was short at least. Although her leg was once again throbbing by the time she reached her house.
The living space was small and cluttered. Each surface was covered with some combination of manga and DVDs. She dropped the grocery bag onto the kitchen counter and immediately went to the microwave, tearing open a box of instant ramen. As she did so, there was a slight creak above her but she ignored it. The house was old, so it was only natural there¡¯d be creaks. While the microwave droned on, she settled onto her old couch, turning on the TV and flipping through her streaming service until she found the anime she¡¯d been binging.
Dinner was eaten straight from the container, her focus entirely on the screen. It was a small reprieve from the sad and lonely life she had lived for years. She was able to laugh aloud at the antics of her favorite characters and the adventures they had. By the time the episode¡¯s credits rolled, her food was finished and the container perched precariously on the edge of the coffee table.
She spent the rest of the evening playing video games. While her combat skills, honed in the military had long faded, her skill with a controller had grown massively in her retirement. Time slipped by, the only noises coming from the game or the occasional creak. Only in the early hours of the morning, when her eyes grew heavy, did she reluctantly put down the controller and crawl into bed.
Sleep claimed her quickly, but it wasn¡¯t peaceful. As always, Sophie¡¯s dreams were a trip through memories she desperately tried to forget.
The roar of gunfire resounded in the distance. Overhead, jets, both allied and enemy, bombed the abandoned city. Sophie¡¯s squad moved in formation, some distance behind her. Her squad leader occasionally spoke up, relaying the situation in a sharp voice. Sophie¡¯s speciality was recon, ensuring that her squadmates weren¡¯t caught in a trap or ambush. Unfortunately, everything had gone to hell in an instant.
She¡¯d felt the explosion before she heard it, the shockwave slamming her to the ground. Pain erupted across her body but concentrated mostly in her leg. It was both a sharp, piercing pain and a continual burning sensation. When she looked down, the sight was enough to make her stomach churn. Blood was splattered across the ground, and the mangled remnants of her limb were barely recognizable.
"We¡¯ve got to move!" someone shouted, their voice cutting through the haze of pain. Gunfire erupted close-by. Hands gripped her shoulders, dragging her to nearby cover.
In a daze, she had watched as Micah jerked and stiffened, blood pouring out of a wound in her neck. An explosion sent Jack tumbling and he never rose. Sophie wasn¡¯t sure how long had passed, only that she was in an immense amount of pain, physically, mentally and emotionally. One by one, her friends fell, their sacrifices shielding her as they fought to hold the enemy at bay.
By the time the extraction team arrived, Sophie was barely conscious, her vision blurred by tears and blood loss. The lifeless eyes of her squadmates haunted her even as she was airlifted to safety. They¡¯d given everything to save her, and she¡¯d lived. Why? Why would they do that? The nightmare ended when she finally fell unconscious.
Sophie woke with a start, her chest heaving and her body drenched in sweat. She sat up, clutching the sheets tightly as she tried to steady herself. The breathing exercise she had been taught came in handy, as always. The room was silent. No gunfire, no screams, no explosions. The veteran sighed.
She swung her remaining leg over the side of the bed. Her stump slotted into her prosthetic, the pseudo-limb clicking softly against the floor. For a long while, she just sat there, staring at the faint light beginning to creep through the blinds.
Eventually, she pushed herself up and shuffled to the kitchen. The packaging of her dinner still sat on the coffee table, untouched since she¡¯d left it there. Sophie sighed, running a hand through her disheveled, sweaty hair. Another night of nightmares. Will it ever get better? As she waited for her microwaveable breakfast to heat, she absently tapped her fingers against her arm. Lost in thought, she missed the ominous creaking sound above her.
Moments later, it happened again. She noticed and looked up. Her eyes grew wide. With a loud crack, the roof above her crumbled. The heavy materials fell towards her. With a final crash, the life inside the small, rural house was snuffed out.
02 - Reincarnation
The void was silent, stretching in all directions like an endless ocean of ink. Sophie¡¯s soul floated, disembodied, yet conscious enough to realise that she was no longer alive. Her memories were scattered, a haze of images, intense emotions, and an unmistakable sense of peace within her .
Then, out of the pervading gloom, three wheels appeared before her. Each was massive, eerily reminiscent of the challenge wheels those YouTubers used to use. The light that covered the wheels cast a faint shimmer across the dark expanse around her. They turned slowly, drawing her attention like a magnet.
"Oh. This doesn¡¯t look like hell." she muttered, finding her voice surprisingly intact. ¡°This seems kind of familiar?¡± Her current situation was reminiscent of the various fan fictions and novels she used to read, where the main character is reincarnated into a fantastic new world. She had never imagined it would happen to her. Still, if that¡¯s what it was, Sophie was grateful for a second chance. Maybe it would be an opportunity to live a better, more fulfilling life. Whatever that would look like in her new world.
The first wheel began to spin.
The World Wheel
The names and brief glimpses of each world flashed past as it began to spin. She saw hundreds, possibly thousands of worlds; some she recognised from popular media in her past life while many others were entirely unfamiliar. Every possible type of world passed before her eyes. Dark cities, forests, deep space, and ancient sprawling empires. Each world seemed unique, both in locale and in danger.
The wheel began to slow, and her heart, or whatever semblance of feeling she still retained in her current state, fluttered in anticipation. As it clicked to a stop, a familiar skyline appeared on the wheel¡¯s face: towers of concrete and steel, dazzling neon lights, and streets filled with danger and opportunity.
¡°Cyberpunk 2077?¡± she said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Night City, huh?¡±
She¡¯d played the game in her previous life, though calling it ¡°play¡± didn¡¯t quite cover it. It was a beautifully horrible world, one that had grabbed her and never fully let her go. Something about it had spoken to her, though she wasn¡¯t sure why. It was a world that gobbled up everyone that happened to enter, only to spit them back out, never in the same condition as they left.
It was a place where trust was scarce and survival was all about clawing your way up. Not exactly what she had thought of for a new life; it was certainly not a fresh start with clean skies and open fields, but it was a world she understood. Maybe that would give her an advantage at least.
¡°All right,¡± she murmured. ¡°Bring it on, Night City.¡±
The Body Wheel
The second wheel began to spin, slower and heavier than the previous. This one held faces and forms, each passing in a blur. Bodies in all shapes, sizes, and genders flashed before her eyes; some barely more than children, others hardened by life¡¯s difficulties. She felt a twinge of apprehension. Would she be someone new, a stranger to herself, or would she retain some part of who she¡¯d been? Did she even want to retain some part of herself?
The wheel came to a gradual halt along with her thoughts, revealing¡ her. Not as she was in her last life, but as she had been in her old gaming avatar, the one she¡¯d spent hours crafting and perfecting. There was a flash of connection as she recognised that digital form she¡¯d once inhabited.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
She looked closer, her heart giving an odd, sentimental flutter. It was a comedic avatar she had made using mods. Designed similar to her favourite Cyberpunk character, Rebecca, the avatar was small and pale. Around 165cm with a face that focused entirely on cute, snarky features. Inky black hair fell to the small of the avatar¡¯s back and red eyes that looked like small rubies shone as distinguishing features. However, there was one part that Sophie now deeply regretted adding. The hefty pair of breasts that dangled off the avatar¡¯s body.
¡°Well, it could be worse I suppose,¡± she whispered, a hint of resignation in her voice. She¡¯d loved this avatar once, though now she wasn¡¯t entirely sure if she appreciated her past self¡¯s choices. Yet the universe, or whatever power was running this whole reincarnation thing, had given her a chance to live in an entirely new body. And she could always get her body modified if she needed to, given what kind of world Cyberpunk is.
It felt like coming full circle, a random choice she had made in life now reflected in her future.
The Power Wheel
Without waiting, the final wheel began to spin, seemingly brighter and faster than the others. This wheel held symbols that glowed with a fierce intensity: powers beyond her imagination, each one promising a different kind of strength. All were things she had never even thought of, things that transcended anything she¡¯d ever known.
This wheel spun longer, as if deciding on something particularly challenging. She wondered what power would suit her in a world like Night City. Different powers flashed through her mind. She would love to be able to fly or fling magic at her enemies. Yet, that was the kind of thing that would land her in a corpo lab within a day.
When the wheel finally stopped, the words ¡°Legend System¡± glowed softly in silver letters.
She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Legend System, huh? That sounds¡ a bit vague.¡±
A screen appeared next to the wheel, showing a brief description: the Legend System would grant her missions, each with different difficulties and rewards. She¡¯d get access to classes, skills and a store, though the specifics eluded her. The system appeared to be a source of power and a taskmaster rolled into one, designed to take a regular girl and turn her into a legend.
She let out a dry laugh. ¡°Well, at least I won¡¯t have any difficulties finding a career. I wonder what I¡¯ll become?¡±
A system might be a blessing, she supposed, especially in a world where personal value and connections could mean the difference between life and death. But it would be dangerous. Night City never gave anyone a break. It would be a fine balance between doing enough to stay alive and not getting roped into something she couldn¡¯t escape.
¡°Still,¡± she murmured, ¡°better than no power at all.¡±
There was a final flash, and the wheels faded. She found herself suspended in the void once again, but now, something was different. She could feel a weight to her existence. Her new body. She looked at her hands in wonder before pausing. Her hands were small, as was the rest of her body.
A screen appeared before her, illuminating the darkness.
WELCOME TO NIGHT CITY.
¡°Status?¡±
Name: Sophie ??? (Awaiting Host Choice)
Age: 14
Class: Available
Passives
N/A
Skills
N/A
Cyberware
N/A
Store: Available
L-Coins: 0
*Welcome Gift Box Available*
While the screen was interesting, one line in particular stood out.
Age: 14
¡°Motherfucker!¡± She swore as she looked between the screen displaying her age and her small body. Her current figure was around 150cm, a bit shorter than she would eventually end up. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll figure it out.¡±
When she reopened her eyes, the pavement was the first thing that greeted her. Then it was the aches all over her body. She winced, feeling the pain. Sophie rolled herself over onto her back, looking up at the towering buildings on either side of her. She was in an alley somewhere. The newly reborn girl crawled over to one of the walls and leaned her back against it.
I¡¯m covered in bruises and lumps¡What happened to me? With her thoughts racing, she touched the back of her head, where the most pain was radiating from. Her fingers touched something sticky and when she looked at them, they were red with blood. Have I taken over a dead girl¡¯s body or something? This doesn¡¯t look good for me. Whoever did this, they might still be nearby. I need to get away from here before they return.
With shaky legs, Sophie stood up. With her hand propped against the wall, she hobbled out of the alley, grimacing the entire way. First, she needed to find somewhere safe. After that, she could figure out her next steps.
03 - Rough Start
It hadn¡¯t taken Sophie long to realise she was in Japantown, home of the Tyger Claws. The bright colours and significant Asian presence were clear signs of her location. It also made her suspect that the people who had attacked her were Tygers. So, she was looking for shelter somewhere out of the way in the less occupied areas of the sub-district.
Her body continued to ache, the pain she had woken up with not receding in the slightest. To make matters worse, rain had begun to fall in heavy sheets and the sky was getting dark.
Considering she had no money, connections or really any idea where exactly she was, Sophie wasn¡¯t particularly confident she would find somewhere safe. Still, somewhere she could rest for a moment is all she really needed. She didn¡¯t plan to squat in poverty her whole life after all.
She moved around the streets with obvious unfamiliarity, her inexperience visible to anyone that bothered to look at her. It was at this time however, that one of the benefits her small frame carried made itself known. She could slip through gaps easily and quietly, something she noted for later in the event she ended up in danger.
As she wandered, she was made aware just how loud Japantown was; advertisements blasted from every corner, AI voices promising everything from high-grade chrome to ¡®unmissable¡¯ street food, while holographic dancers twirled and beckoned people toward their clubs. The whole district was a mix of glamour and grit.
Sophie ducked her head as she passed a row of street vendors, trying as hard as possible to avoid making eye contact. A few sold fried skewers of¡something or little boxes of noodles. She briefly thought about making herself look hungry, in the hope one of the vendors would take pity and throw her a scrap before realising it was a bad idea. She¡¯d be more likely to get chased off rather than fed.
Around an hour of wandering later, she finally passed one of the district¡¯s most noticeable landmarks, the Cherry Blossom Market. More importantly, it was somewhere she recognised from the game. It was the biggest open market in Japantown, stretching through a couple of blocks.
It was one of her favourite spots in Night City when she played the game, though a quick look inside turned her away immediately, in the opposite direction from the massive crowd of Tyger Claws. She decided however, to return sooner rather than later, as she may be able to find an opportunity in the crowded market place.
Nobody batted an eye when she hobbled away from the market as quickly as she could. People were always busy in the city, and most of them wouldn¡¯t look twice at a stray kid. It was weird though, that the whole area felt safer than even the idea of venturing into the upper Westbrook areas, where corpos walked around with shiny, pressed suits and cold, assessing stares.
Eventually she found herself under the looming shadows of the larger apartment complexes in Japantown. Some of the apartments she could see had banners written in Kanji or traditional patterns and paper lanterns strung across balconies. It felt slightly out of place, like someone had grabbed styles from the 20th century and transported it to the future.
Sophie eyed one of the apartment buildings across the way, watching the people moving in and out. She was tempted to try her luck with one, yet she knew the inhabitants would be suspicious of any unfamiliar face; even one as small as hers. Still, it might be a better option than the alleys. If she stayed there, who knew if she would end up dead by morning.
She slipped around a corner and barely managed to avoid bumping into two passing men wearing the classic menpo and biker jackets of the Tyger Claws. She tried to avoid them, keeping her head down and moving past as quickly as she could. Unfortunately, luck wasn¡¯t on her side. The two Tygers turned to face her.
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¡°Hey girlie, you look like you could use some help!¡± One of the men spoke, his tone filled with undisguised lust.
¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Why don¡¯t you come with us? You¡¯ll get a nice warm bed to sleep in.¡± The second man¡¯s words might have been convincing if not for the way he licked his lips, staring at her chest.
Sophie panicked. With her heart thumping, she stammered out a reply, ¡°n-no thank you. I¡¯m just on my way to a friend''s place.¡±
¡°Eh, you hear that? Sounds like she¡¯s tryna refuse our generous offer.¡±
¡°Surely that can¡¯t be it. Maybe she just didn¡¯t hear us properly.¡± The men stepped closer, one of them reaching out to grab her. She ran.
Behind her, an oily voice called out. ¡°She¡¯s running! Looks like we¡¯ve got a live one!¡± Unfortunately, her damaged body meant that she was moving very, very slowly. The Claws recognised that too, sharing a grin. As Sophie tried to escape, the two men followed behind her, their speed slow.
Fucking bastards! Is this all a game to you!? That was exactly how the two Tygers saw the situation. They were enjoying her pitiful attempts at escaping, knowing that they could catch her no matter what she did. However, she refused to just give up.
"Look at the little rat," one of them sneered, his voice sharp with mockery. His bright tattoos glowed faintly, an array of tigers and flames crawling up his arms. "Thinks she can just limp away from us."
The other chuckled, adjusting the katana strapped to his back. "She''s got spirit, though."
Sophie didn¡¯t look back. She didn¡¯t dare. She focused on her feet, every step sending sharp jolts of pain through her body. Fuck, my body is basically crippled. She pushed herself harder, her vision blurring from the pain. She knew she couldn¡¯t outrun them. They were just playing with her, savoring her futile escape.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned down a narrow alley. The neon lights behind her cast a thin shadow along the wall. The smell of garbage filled her nose, making it harder to breathe. The Tyger Claws'' laughter echoed behind her, a reminder of how close they were.
"Where do you think you''re going, kid?" one called out. "Ain''t nowhere to hide."
Her heart thumped in her chest as she scanned her surroundings for an escape, but there was nothing; no doors, no windows, just towering walls and piles of garbage. Tears trickled out of her eyes. A new life and already, she was done for. She hadn¡¯t even lasted a day.
"Still fighting, huh?" one of the Tyger Claws called out, his voice reaching her ears.
She pressed herself against the alley wall, desperately trying to make herself smaller. But when their footsteps stopped just outside, she knew it was over. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Just as she gave up, a hand shot out from the shadows beside her, clamping firmly over her mouth. Sophie froze, her body too weak to resist as she was yanked sideways into a thin gap between two buildings. The space was tight, hidden by a cleverly arranged pile of debris that blended with the alley''s general filth.
Her saviour held her close, her back pressed against their chest. A sharp whisper reached her ear.
¡°Don¡¯t move. Don¡¯t breathe. Don¡¯t make a sound.¡±
Sophie¡¯s eyes widened, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Who is this? Are they friendly? Or will they use me the same way the Tygers wanted to?
Her pursuers stopped at the alley¡¯s entrance, peering inside.
¡°Where is she?¡± One asked.
"She didn¡¯t just vanish," the taller one growled, his voice laced with irritation.
"Check it out," the other replied, nudging his companion forward.
The taller man hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the alley. But the piled trash and dense shadows offered no hints, no clues to where their prey had gone.
"Nothing here," he muttered after a moment, stepping back.
"She can¡¯t have gone far," the other said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Maybe she ducked into one of these other alleys. Let¡¯s sweep the block."
Their footsteps retreated, their voices fading as they moved further away. Sophie didn¡¯t dare move, barely dared to breathe, until the silence stretched long enough to be sure they were gone.
The hand over her mouth eased, and she sagged against her rescuer. The voice spoke from behind her.
¡°You¡¯re lucky I was here.¡±
Sophie turned her head slightly, her eyes struggling to see through the shadow.
"Why¡?" Sophie croaked.
The figure shrugged. ¡°Didn¡¯t feel like letting those scumbags have their fun. And I know what it¡¯s like to be helpless.¡±
Sophie blinked up at them, her mind struggling to process everything. "Who¡ are you?"
¡°A friend. We can introduce ourselves later. For now, I¡¯ll take you back home. Are you able to walk?¡±
¡°Yeah. I think so.¡±
¡°Nova. Let¡¯s go.¡±
04 - Mia
As they slowly made their way through the alley, the dim light allowed Sophie to make out the faint glow of cybernetic implants along her saviour¡¯s neck.
"Mia," the girl said, breaking the silence. ¡°That¡¯s my name. What¡¯s yours?"
"Sophie," she managed, still breathing heavily from the encounter with the Tygers. She stumbled slightly, as she walked, catching herself on the alley wall. Mia paused before grabbing the injured girl¡¯s arm and looping it around her neck.
"Come on. You¡¯ll be safer where we¡¯re going."
Sophie hesitated slightly. Her wide eyes darted to the empty alley where the Tyger Claws had stood moments ago. The logical part of her brain told her to run, to hide. But her body was too battered and her mind too tired to argue. With a weak nod, she pushed off the wall, letting Mia guide her.
They emerged back into Japantown, the district¡¯s neon lights shining even through the drenching rain. Fortunately, there were no Claws wandering the street.
In the brighter light, Sophie got her first clear look at her savior. She was around the same age, maybe slightly older than the newly reborn girl. Mia¡¯s frame was wiry, and her face was set in a determined frown. Her dark, brown hair was cut unevenly, jagged strands framing her face, clearly cut for practicality, not style. A faint scar ran from the corner of her lip to her jawline, reaching the cybernetic enhancements along her neck.
"Keep your head down," Mia murmured, her voice low. "The Tygers patrol this area often. With what just happened, they might still be looking for you."
Sophie nodded, her heart pounding. They moved carefully, weaving through the nighttime crowd. Mia¡¯s eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings. Normally, Sophie would have been the same but she was just too tired at that point. At one point, the older girl tugged her charge into the shadow of a vending machine as a pair of Tyger Claw enforcers strolled past, their chromed arms shining under the street lights. The men laughed loudly, oblivious to the two girls crouched mere meters away.
After the enforcers disappeared around a corner, Mia whispered, "Come on," and they resumed their journey.
¡°Where are we going, exactly?¡±
¡°The edge of Japantown. My group and I have a little shack there.¡± Sophie didn¡¯t reply. The mention of a group made her slightly nervous, but she was willing to give the older girl the benefit of the doubt.
As the two girls got further away from the centre of Japantown, there was a noticeable shift. Street vendors and pedestrians seemed happier while there was a significant decrease in the number of Tyger Claws. Seems like the Claws aren¡¯t too popular. Makes sense, I guess.
Mia finally stopped outside a ramshackle structure tucked into the corner of a narrow street. The shack looked like it had been cobbled together from scavenged materials; corrugated metal sheets, warped plastic, and patched tarpaulin. There was a faint orange glow from within, signs of a small fire. Mia glanced over her shoulder, her sharp eyes scanning the street before gesturing for Sophie to get inside. As she did so, a shiver went down her spine.
Her long dormant instincts, cultivated during her time in the army, screamed that there was something wrong, yet when the girl looked around, there was nothing. Am I imagining things? Slightly on edge, she followed Mia into the shack.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The interior was cramped and dirty but surprisingly organized. Makeshift furniture, made from salvaged crates and cushions, filled the small space. A few mattresses, filled with holes and covered in stains, blanketed the floor. In the centre, a flickering fire provided the dim illumination visible from outside. Sophie¡¯s eyes took in the scene: six children, all around the same age as herself, were scattered around the room. They froze at the sight of her, their wary eyes darting between Sophie and Mia.
"Who¡¯s this?" a boy with spiky blonde hair demanded. His arms were crossed, and he leaned against the wall, his posture defensive. Bakugo? Is that you?
"She¡¯s hurt," Mia replied. "Found her being hunted by some Tygers."
Another girl, her curly hair pulled back into a messy bun, stepped forward, her expression softening. "She looks like she¡¯s been through hell."
"She has," Mia confirmed, guiding Sophie to a crate in the corner. "Sit. Rest."
Sophie sank onto the seat, her body finally giving in to the exhaustion she¡¯d been fighting. She felt their eyes on her, a mixture of curiosity and caution. Mia crouched beside her, gesturing to the group.
"This is my family," she said gently. "As you can see, we¡¯re not much. Just a rag-tag group of street rats trying to survive. But we¡¯ve got each other. And if you want, you can join us. Be part of our family."
Sophie blinked, unsure if she¡¯d heard correctly. "You¡ you want me to stay?" The offer was unexpected. The tired girl had assumed that they would kick her out the next day, unwilling to feed another mouth. Especially one who couldn¡¯t help much, injured as she was.
Mia nodded. "Surviving alone out there¡It¡¯s tough. We look out for each other, share what scraps we find. It¡¯s not definitely not perfect, but it¡¯s better than being alone."
The spiky-haired boy snorted. "If she pulls her weight."
"Hush, Jay," Mia shot back. "She¡¯s just like us. She needs help."
Jay muttered something under his breath but fell silent when Mia shot him a look, arms still crossed. The girl with the messy bun offered Sophie a tentative smile. "I¡¯m Lyra," she said, her voice kind. "You¡¯re welcome to stay if you¡¯d like."
The introductions continued, each of them offering a name and a brief look at their personalities. Jay, the blonde boy, was brash but clearly protective of the group. Lyra had a gentle demeanor, behaving similarly to a mother, rather than a child. There was Rei, a quiet boy who barely spoke, his large, dark eyes peering out from beneath a mop of brown hair.
Tessa, a tiny girl with a mischievous grin and twitchy hands, perched on a crate in one of the room¡¯s corners. The twins, Sam and Sasha, were identical, their freckled faces filled with curiosity as they stared at her.
Sophie¡¯s head swam as she tried to remember the various details about each of the kids. However, by far the clearest dynamic was how much each of them cared for the others.
"So," Mia said, pulling Sophie¡¯s attention back to her. "What do you think? Do you want to stay with us?"
Sophie hesitated. On one hand, staying with the group would offer a modicum of safety and support. On the other hand, she wasn¡¯t sure if she wanted to be part of a group or team. Not after what happened to the last team she was a part of. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I¡ I¡¯m not sure."
Mia gave her an understanding look, then shrugged. ¡°Well, the offer is open. Stay the night with us, think about it some more. Once you¡¯ve had some rest, you can give us an answer.¡±
Lyra nodded along, an encouraging expression adorning her face. "We¡¯ll help you if you want. You can be part of the family."
"Okay," she said finally. "I¡¯ll stay the night and think about it some more. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll give you an answer."
Mia¡¯s lips curved into a smile, and she patted Sophie¡¯s shoulder. "Sounds good. Now get some rest. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll show you how we do things." The older girl guided her over to one of the mattresses. ¡°You can sleep here tonight.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mia. I appreciate your help, truly.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I like helping people, y¡¯know? Sleep well, Sophie.¡±
-----------------------
In the middle of the night, Sophie¡¯s heart thumped loudly in her chest. A sense of dread descended on her and she sat up. Well, she tried to. A cold, metal hand clamped down over her mouth, stifling the scream that tried to escape when she opened her eyes.
Above her, a man wearing a hologram mask was connected to the metal hand over her mouth. Her eyes widened. Scavs! She tried to kick and scream, but the man¡¯s hand pressed down on her harder. From behind his back, he retrieved a small, metal stick. He pressed a button and the entire thing lit up with crackling electricity. The girl recognised it as a taser.
The weapon was jammed into her ribs without a care and the electrical current flooded her body. Immediately, she started convulsing, her muscles spasming and out of control. Mere seconds later, Sophie¡¯s body went still, her head lolling to the side. As her eyes closed, she could barely make out the silhouettes of other scavs, all performing similar acts on the other kids. The silent screams she knew they tried to let out felt burned into her mind. Unfortunately, that was the last thing she thought before unconsciousness claimed her.
05 - Captured
Sophie had a vague impression of being carried somewhere, then being thrown atop a pile of soft, hard and warm things. Her eyes tried to open. Through blurry eyes, she could see the faces of Lyra and Jay beneath her. She could faintly hear the groans of the other kids as well.
They were in the back of a van, she realised. On one side, a scav sat on a small bench. Sadly, when she looked at him, he noticed.
¡°Mustn''t have fried her enough,¡± he muttered. His arm came forward, shoving his taser into her body again. Lightning once again flooded her body and she convulsed, face contorted into a silent snarl. She dropped off again, the pain of her original injuries and the electricity too much to bear.
Oddly, only 15 minutes later, she woke up again. She was still in the van, though they were moving now, compared to previously. The same scav remained at the side of the vehicle, the hologram mask lighting up the dark interior to a certain extent. He noticed that she was awake, again.
¡°Again?¡± The confusion was evident in his voice. ¡°Whatever¡¡± The taser came down again and once more her mind shut down.
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The next time Sophie woke up, she was being hauled out of the van. Her groggy eyes could barely make out how the other captives were treated similarly, thrown over the shoulders of their kidnappers.
She looked around, desperate to find something, anything, that might help her escape the situation. They were in some kind of industrial plant, that much she could tell. A tall smoke stack seemed to pierce the sky above the building they were entering. In the other direction, a tall, cylindrical building was visible. However, there were no identifying features. That was all she could see before the line of scavs, each carrying a captive, descended into the bowels of the building.
Inside, there was a wide array of rooms. One that seemed dedicated to drug manufacturing, though she was completely unfamiliar with what type. Another that appeared to be an administrative room? Her drowsy mind failed to comprehend what that was for. Do the scavs regularly have visitors? She didn¡¯t get much of a chance to think about it as they entered a different room, straight out of hell.
Thick layers of blood caked the walls and floors. Medical equipment was present too; ripperdoc chairs, monitoring devices and large, blocky freezers. It was the chairs however, that drew the most attention.
Adorning them like pieces of macabre artwork, were bodies, all torn apart in various ways. Most terrifying however, was that some seemed to still breathe, even with arms or organs torn out. This has to be a nightmare. Yeah, that¡¯s it. I¡¯ll wake up and still be in the shack, with Mia and the others.
Her hopes were dashed when the train of kidnappers made their way into a much larger, more open room. They headed straight for one side of the space. Three, massive cages, one of which was occupied, stood menacingly. The scavs opened an unoccupied cage. All of the kids Sophie had been brought in with were thrown inside, one by one. There was no care, simply throwing them inside before walking out again.
Sophie, half awake, found herself flying through the air. No! The back of her head cracked against the ground and she instantly lost consciousness.
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An unknown amount of time later, Sophie¡¯s eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was the dirty, grey cement roof. Then she felt the immense pain emanating from her skull, where it had cracked against the ground. She groaned.
¡°She¡¯s awake!¡± A somewhat familiar voice entered her ears and suddenly, Mia¡¯s face was above her, upside down. Arms slipped under her own and she was dragged up until her head rested comfortably on the older girl''s thighs. ¡°Are you alright? You weren¡¯t waking up. I was worried.¡±
¡°Eh? How long have I been unconscious?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she said. ¡°Probably a day or two? It¡¯s hard to tell the time down here.¡±
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Damn, I must have hit my head way harder than I thought. ¡°What is this place?¡±
The older girl¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. ¡°A scav den. Although it seems to be different from what I¡¯ve heard. Normally they chop you up once they have you. These scumbags seem to have a different agenda.¡±
A noise came from outside the cage and both girls looked over. A line of scavs were carrying more kids, all of similar ages to Mia¡¯s group. They opened the door to the cage and threw all of the unconscious bodies inside.
¡°I need to check on them. Will you be alright by yourself?¡±
¡°Yeah, do what you need. Not like I can go anywhere.¡± Sophie spoke with resignation. Mia nodded.
¡°I¡¯ll check on you soon, ¡®kay?¡± The younger girl grunted in reply. With the other girl¡¯s help, she was able to sit up, back against the cold wall. She watched as Mia went around, calming her friends and checking on the new arrivals. Her eyes moved on, beginning to look at the surroundings.
There were two additional cages on both sides of her own, each empty. The back wall of her own cage had a single toilet, covered in grime. That thing looks absolutely foul, the girl thought in disgust. Aside from that single amenity, the cell was completely bare. The other kids in the cell, specifically those from Mia¡¯s group, each had various looks of fear plastered across their faces.
The twins were hugging each other tightly, Tessa nervously wrung her hands and Rei had curled up into a ball, seemingly in an attempt to hide from reality. Mia, Lyra and Jay seemed to be the only ones doing better but there were still signs of fear.
Sophie turned her attention to the new arrivals. They didn¡¯t appear much different from Mia and the others. She sighed. This really doesn¡¯t look good. Her attention turned to herself; more specifically, her body. There hadn¡¯t been much time to stop and actually examine her condition. Now that she had nowhere to go, it was the best opportunity to find out what she was working with.
Her discoveries were pretty much exactly as she expected. All across her body, bruises bloomed. The purplish spots were almost like massive polka dots and she wasn¡¯t able to find anywhere that didn¡¯t have at least one. Her head was still sticky with blood, both from when she had woken up originally and when she was thrown into the cage. Obviously, all of that damage had taken a significant toll. Pain washed over her body in waves and she was physically exhausted. Mentally though, she was mostly fine.
Right. I do have one option to get myself out of this situation. With a mental command, she brought up her system page.
Name: Sophie ??? (Awaiting Host Choice)
Age: 14
Class: Available
Passives
N/A
Skills
N/A
Cyberware
N/A
Store: Available
L-Coins: 0
*Welcome Gift Box Available*
¡°Name and age are simple, though I think I¡¯ll hold off picking a surname.¡± Sophie muttered, ¡°a system store will hopefully be useful, and I assume that the L-Coins are a system unique currency. I wonder if the system can talk? Hey system, can you explain my status to me?¡±
Class: You may pick one class at a time. Each class comes with a set of skills and one Trait that unlocks at max level. Every class maxes out at level 100. When you reach level 100, you may evolve your class further along the same path or you can choose to start a new path. For example, the ¡®Gunner¡¯ class evolves into the ¡®Markswoman¡¯ class. You can however choose to take the ¡®Thief¡¯ class first before taking the ¡®Markswoman¡¯ class.
All classes that are unlocked and maxed will remain no matter what. Some classes require multiple classes to be completed before becoming available. For example, the ¡®Assassin¡¯ class requires the classes ¡®Queen of Thieves¡¯ and ¡®Gunslinger¡¯ to be completed.
¡°Right¡I think that makes sense. What about the rest?¡±
Skills: Each class comes with a set of appropriate skills. Skills gain proficiency via actions directly associated with them; The ¡®Tracking¡¯ skill will gain proficiency when you track someone or gain more experience in tracking. Every point of proficiency will provide a small amount of knowledge. Skills typically start off at 0/100 proficiency points. Once a skill reaches maximum proficiency, it might evolve or fuse with other skills. All class associated skills must reach full proficiency before a new class can be chosen.
¡°You mentioned class associated skills, so are there other skills available?¡±
Additional skills can be bought from the system store. Price is dependent on the skill.
¡°Right¡What about passive skills?¡±
Passive Skills: Awarded upon successful completion of a class, Passives are typically connected to whatever class you have completed. For example, the Passive associated with the ¡®Soldier¡¯ class is ¡®Steady Hands¡¯, a perk that makes it easier to aim under any circumstances. They can also be bought from the system store, though they are significantly more expensive than skills.
¡°And how exactly do I level my classes? Do I have to kill people and farm exp that way?¡±
Classes gain levels via actions associated with the class. Stealing will naturally level the Thief class if possessed.
¡°That shouldn¡¯t be too hard. Can you explain the store and L-Coins as well?¡±
The System Store allows you to buy almost anything you could possibly want using L-Coins. L-Coins can be earned through completing system missions.
¡°How do I get missions then? I don¡¯t seem to recall being given any.¡±
Missions will overlap with any jobs or gigs you obtain in the world. They may also appear randomly, be spawned to provide a challenge or be given as guidance. Here is your first mission, generated based on your current situation.
New Mission
Find a way to escape the Scavengers.
Difficulty: Very Hard
Reward: 2000 L-Coins, 1000 Eurodollars, Mid-Grade Healing Injection, ???
¡°That doesn¡¯t help at all. Can I open the Welcome Gift Box now?¡±
Opening¡ You have received the following:
Would you like to install the Interface System?
Sophie thought about it for a moment. ¡°No, it would just give the scavs something else to rip out of me, aside from my organs. Not to mention it¡¯d be super suspicious to suddenly possess one.¡±
Acknowledged.
With the basic explanations out of the way and of no real help, the girl turned her attention to the Class section. Maybe you will have what I need.