1 Rebirth; The First Companion

'Death… is this strange? I can still think, so clearly my consciousness has been retained, right? But, where am I? I'm so used to living with my five senses, but it's like everything is off now, I can feel or see anything. This feeling… seems to be even worse than not existing! This is practically life after death, but without any substantial rebirth through flames.' Rentaro mused in a bitter manner, lacking insight on his current situation.

[Host, please calm down and allow me to explain your situation.] A gentleman-like voice that seemed to belong to an older man rang out in Rentaro's mind.

The voice immediately stunned Rentaro, before he reacted in an enlivened manner, filled with both fright and a little bit of excitement.

'Who!? Who are you?!' Panicking, Rentaro felt as if his mind had been occupied by another person. Lacking the ability to speak in his current situation, Rentaro couldn't vent his emotions and could only wait for time to pass as his mind calmed down naturally.

Strangely enough, Rentaro felt a sense of happiness towards the strange voice, feeling as if his wish of being accompanied in death had been answered.

After what seemed to be five minutes, as Rentaro's current situation made it impossible to sense the passing of time, he calmed down from his earlier excitement. 'What's going on? I only just died some time ago because I stumbled unto the wrong place at the worst possible moment, now I don't even know what's going on with me in death.'

[Host seems to have calmed down by now. Please forgive me, I didn't expect my words to have an adverse effect and startle you.] The mature voice full of eloquence appeared once again in Rentaro's mind.

'What-What's going on right now? Where am I? Have I—' Rentaro was abruptly cut off by the voice before he could finish delivering his round of questions.

[System requests that you ask one question at a time. To answer your first and what would've been your third question: Your suspicions are correct. You have died, and I'll be accompanying you on your new life. At this moment, you are in the process of reforming your body in another realm. Very soon, your body will have been reconstructed to fit the requirements to survive in the realm.]

'What do you mean…. new life?'

[It's exactly as I've said: you will experience life once again. This life will be very different from your previous one. You'll live in a realm that favors the strong, where battling and death is a normal occurrence, and people spend their life cultivation to reach the summit.]

'A new life… you mean I'll have to go through the stages of growing up all over again? And my memories? Will they be gone too?' Rentaro asked in a depressed manner.

Rentaro had only been eighteen years old in his previous life and the thought of having to go through the stages of puberty for a second time left him with a bitter taste.

[Host has no need to worry. Your memories from your previous life will not have any effects that defy the laws of this realm, so your memories will be retained. Furthermore, your body is merely being reformed to adapt to the Perpetual Realm's standards. Externally, your body will practically be the same as in your previous life. Internally, your pores, meridians, and dantian have been cleansed and remodeled for the sake of cultivation. You can consider that to be one of your gifts to get you started in your new life.] The voice briefly explained, giving Rentaro time to process his current situation.

'So, the question regarding my body and memories is answered. But, what do you mean by realms?'

Understanding his current situation a bit better, Rentaro decided to question the topic that truly bothered him the most: realms. He had played a few games on his old laptop and understood the concept of different worlds.

Accepting the idea of different realms was much different in reality as opposed to hearing about them in fantasy settings, an idea he considered to be but mere fiction in his previous life. But when considering his current situation and all the recent events that unfolded, such an existence seemed rather plausible.

As for the idea of reincarnation, having experienced death personally and currently being in a state that seemed neither dead nor alive, he had no choice but to accept its existence.

The eloquent voice once again spoke, [In the simplest of explanations, a realm can be considered a world of its own, with each one having their own unique traits. Whether it's the life-forms that inhabit the realm, like different races, species, all means of life in general or the different ideology and laws that govern the realm, each one is unique. However, all of the different realms have one specification in common; they are interconnected with one of the thirteen World Trees.]

[The Perpetual Realm is a rather diverse realm, and like a vast majority of realms, it takes in account the ideology and practice of cultivation. It is inhabited by many different races, ancient clans, and filled with many legends that have been forgotten over a period of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years.]

[The Perpetual Realm is one of the seven major realms interconnected to the third World Tree, known as the Voracious World Tree. As for the other realms and World Trees, that information is unnecessary for you to know at the current moment. You'll naturally learn everything in the future when you're strong enough to stand at the peak of the Perpetual Realm.]

[While all of this is a little too complex for your mind to handle at the moment, you'll clarify everything for yourself once you wake up. Going back to your body's reconstruction, it will finish in approximately seventeen hours.]

Feeling the emergence of a headache, Rentaro decided it was best to throw the newly-gained information on realms to the back of his mind until the future and instead learn more about his companion.

'I see, well, this is a bit too much to comprehend right now. I'll just gradually learn about it in the future. Oh yeah, can't forget about introductions! My name is Rentaro Eccel! What's your name and why are you set to be my companion?'

[My name…? I am simply called The Summoner and Contractor System, I don't have an official name in correspondence to your own. Systems are rarely created, as the requirements for creating a system are heaven-defying and only those beyond the—] Pausing abruptly, the system realized that he had spoken out of line and immediately cut his words short.

[Sorry Host, but with my authority and your current situation, I can only tell you that someone powerful binded me to your soul when they saw your life's history and sincere desire in life. As your companion, I'll help you in any situation possible, but you won't be able to always rely on me.]

Understanding the possible implications behind the system's sudden change in conversation, Rentaro decided to abide by the current situation as he continued sincerely, 'I see, but no one wants to live without a name. So, how about I give you a name?'

'From now on, I'll call you Wilhelm, as you give off a shocking similarity to someone I've recalled! As for your surname, you can just adopt mine, Eccel. Wilhelm Eccel is your name from today on out. You can just call me Rentaro, there is no need for you to refer to me as "Host." You're the first companion I've ever had, I'd hope we could be friends at the least.'

[Wilhelm… Eccel…? Un! I'll accept this name. I am Wilhelm Eccel from today on!] Filled with a strange sense of emotion towards Rentaro's earnest words, an inconceivable sense of warmth perhaps, the system, Wilhelm, accepted Rentaro's idea happily.

After all, Rentaro could be considered to be Wilhelm's first companion as well, and it was for a system to be considered a companion rather than a tool according to the knowledge imprinted within his mind.

'Wilhelm, while we wait for my body reconstruction to finish, is there anything to do other than talk about complicated subjects?' Rentaro, feeling slightly bored from the wait, couldn't help but ask with a drawn-out sigh.

With a warmer and much more casual tone than earlier, [Naturally, Rentaro, there are a few system functions which will help you in your new life.]

'Alright, Master Wilhelm, please teach me the basics awhile, haha.' Rentaro laughed as he jokingly spoke with the tone of an apprentice towards a master.

[As I am Wil~helm, The Summoner and Contractor System, my main function is allowing the host to do different types of summons and make contracts. My abilities don't allow any direct summons, meaning I can't summon anything specific, unless you meet a specific criteria or find a specified item that allows me the power to do so.]

[Summons include different elementals, beasts, and creatures of the like. Heh, even fabled equipment inhabited by spirits can be summoned—all of which can come from different planes, realms, worlds, etcetera.]

[Once one is summoned, I'll help you form a contract with it. You can summon a contracted summon at any time, as long as you have enough energy to summoner and support the summon's existence in the outside world that is.] Wilhelm spoke with great morale and a slightly smug, yet innocent attitude as he emphasized his new name and abilities.

Enthralled with Wilhelm's abilities, Rentaro couldn't help but cry in admiration, 'Amazing! Wilhelm, what types of requirements and items are able to do direct summons, rather than random summons?'

Empowered by Rentaro's adoring attitude, Wilhelm continued, [My younger brother, I am able to assign you specific missions that those "beyond" set and approve of. Said missions offer various rewards upon completion, of course, the rewards are dependent on the difficulty and importance of the mission.]

[As for items, there are many miraculous items scattered throughout the realms, such as rare spatial stones, elemental stones, and ancient relics which can be used to commit a direct summon based on their connections.]

'So, right when my body is reconstructed, I just have to start the missions so I can summon and contract some elementals, making new companions. Right?' Rentaro asked gleefully, enraptured by not only Wilhelm's abilities, but also how he addressed him as a younger brother.

[Slow down there, Rentaro.] Wilhelm spoke in concern, [Missions aren't all that easy. Like I said, the Perpetual Realm is a place of cultivation, where the strong are in charge and the weak respect them. Most cultivators start training their bodies at the age of seven externally with physical exercises, training stances, practicing with a selected weapons, mock battles, etcetera.]

[They also train their internal body, discovering their energy affinity, learning how to sense the energy around them, cleansing their pores, strengthening their meridians, and expanding their meridian channels. At the age of ten, they start training their energy to expand and strengthen their dantian, learning to channel it throughout their body. Well, that's the rudimentary explanation behind it, and not everyone follows this method.]

'I'm already eighteen years old, doesn't that mean I'm behind? Even if my body is reconstructed, from what you've just said, it still won't be able to compare with even the youngest of cultivators, will it?'

With a soft sigh of resignation, Rentaro couldn't help but think of his old life where he lived as a heavy laborer. If he was already behind everyone else, how was he supposed to live a life different than that of his old one?

[Calm down, Rentaro! Don't worry me with that depressed tone, you shouldn't give up so easily! As I said, your body is being reconstructed to fit the requirements to survive in the realm. Naturally, the reconstruction ensures that your pores are cleansed. Not to mention, your meridian channels and dantian will already be off to a good start as well as they're being reconstructed.]

'Eh? What's with all the emphasis on cleansed pores?' Rentaro questioned with his "hand" placed upon his "chin," or so it would be if his body had been formed.

Wilhelm interjected, [Hmph! Don't underestimate any function of the body. Blockage in the pores lowers the absorption rate of energy, an obstacle that has already been taken care of for you. Normally, such benefits only come with rare medicines or as you progress your cultivation, consider it a great boon!]

'I see, I will keep your guidance in mind!" Rentaro acknowledged.

[Good! I will naturally take care of you as your elder brother and have already prepared a gift for you once your body has finished its reconstruction.]

'A gift?! What is i—'

Wilhelm laughed as he interrupted, [Hehehe. Rentaro, the gift is a surprise. I've already placed it in the storage function, another ability of mine. You'll have to be patient and bear with me while I explain the cultivation fundamentals. Don't worry, I won't overload you with too much information, I'll just go over the three basic cultivation stages and the cultivation technique I've prepared for you.]