2 Chapter 1: Death, Reincarnation, and Death

It's dark.

<Error. Failure at body reconstruction due to lack of resources.>

<Error. Failure at body recreation due to lack of resources.>

I can't see anything.

I can't hear anything.

I can't feel anything.

I can't think about anything.

It's warm…

I suddenly felt a beat, as if it was a heart beating.

I can't see anything.

Hmm… Where is this place?

No light. It's pitch black. It's as if there's no light at all. Even if I have my eyes closed right, I should still see some light. But this time, there's nothing. It's darker than black.

Also, I can't feel anything. It's different from being numb or paralyzed. I still sense something but it's different from what I'm used to. Is it cold? Is it warm? I don't know. I don't even feel the wind.

Ah, no. I think that's not it. I can actually feel the wind. But I don't think I'm feeling it on my skin. If I were to say, it's like I'm feeling it through my skin.

Yeah.

Through.

I don't know how, but I feel the wind passing through and all around my body. I feel it here, I feel it there, and I feel it everywhere. And now that I've noticed it, I can't move my hands or feet. I can't open my mouth, I can't open my eyes.

And guess what… I don't think they're there. It's like it's normal that I don't have them.

Hrmmm… What in the world have I gotten myself into?

I can't feel my feet. I can't feel my arms, my hands, my fingers, I can't feel them all. I just feel like… I'm there. I want to snap my fingers to calm myself down, but I can't.

I wonder what is happening.

I, at least, don't think I'm dreaming. Even though the feeling is a bit off, everything else is vivid. My mind is not groggy nor foggy like in dreams. And to top that off, the fact that I know that this is not a dream, already denies the idea that this a dream. After all, I also don't think that this is a lucid dream. If it is indeed a lucid dream, then how come I can't move and feel anything at all? Is it that? Sleep paralysis? But I don't remember sleeping.

Anyways, I know that this is not a dream.

Alright. Let's carefully analyze the situation. The last time I remember is I was with Chloe and the other club members, who I'm only acquainted with. We were returning to each of our own home after our club/organization activities.

Well, we were just reading in the clubroom, though.

The literature club I was in was a mixed club of the actual literature club and arts club. But since we were using the clubroom of the literature club, we were calling it literature club to avoid any conflicts.

I was reading alone… Alright, not really alone, since Chloe kept bothering me all the while. Diana is just reading or sleeping, either of the two. She always mentions that the atmosphere inside the literature club is the best for sleeping. Well, as long as I'm not bothered, I didn't mind.

The other members, on the other hand, are also classmates and some are seniors. But I'm not that knowledgeable about them, as I only joined to enjoy the special privilege to read freely, given to the club members. The only time I got to talk to them was during a class project and club meetings.

For the names… Hmm… I forgot.

I tried to go home alone but Chloe and Diana insisted we all go home together. And so, the other two members, whose names I forgot, followed. Ah, right, right. Chloe and Diana were friends with the girl.

We were all together right before the school gate… walking… Chloe kept pestering me about her new record in the track… Diana was staggering like a drunk person… I was holding the book in my hand and was reading… And then…

Then…

Haa… It's no good. I can't remember anything. I don't usually take my eyes of my book when I read, so I don't really know what was happening around me then. I don't even remember what they were talking about. Then the next thing I know…

… is I'm already in this bizarre situation. It is, in fact, strange. It's like I'm… dead.

Okay, let's not go there yet. Not yet, buddy. Yeah. Relax.

Alright, done with the flashbacks in my mind. So let's analyze my current condition next. Let's not jump to conclusions.

First point of notice, I can't see.

Or rather, I can't open my eyes. Or rather, I don't' feel them. Even if I did have them and my eyes are just closed, I should able to move my eyeballs, right? But now, I don't feel anything like an eye or something. Much less, I don't even feel my head at all.

Disturbing.

Next, I can't feel my extremities. I can't move them either so the option of checking my surroundings is already out of the window. I can only feel 'a' body. I say 'a' because I don't feel it being mine at all. In the first place, I don't feel a bodily sensation. I can't render a stomach, chest, or back at all.

Again, disturbing.

Lastly, I'm not breathing. This is, honestly, the biggest point of concern. I'm not breathing, yet I'm alive. Or so I would like to believe. Hm… I'm alive, right? I think I am, therefore I am. Am I using that quote right? No? Alright.

This is really disturbing…

But… How can I phrase this…? I'm getting a bit excited. Yeah.

Don't question it. It's just my personality working. I mean, don't you also think so? Whenever a typhoon is coming, or an earthquake nearing, or a really out-of-the-norm situation is happening, don't you just feel kind of excited about it? Thrilling, if you want a different word?

I guess, this is the part Chloe and I have both in common.

Anyways, I'm assuming that only a few moments have passed since I became aware of this situation. Knowing Chloe, she may have done something to harass me yet again.

Hmm…

Nah. She's not the kind of person to do this kind of harassing. The worst she can do is to force me to jog with her in the morning or something. I mean, what kind of harassing where you make the person numb all over and make them incapable of breathing? That's just plain murder.

My bad, Chloe. Don't worry. I only find you annoying, that's all.

Haaa… Thinking made me tired…

Oh well. Que sera, sera. What happens, happens. Anyhow, my friends know my personality. So if someone is just fooling around me right now, then sucks to be them. Your foolishness will just backfire.

Wha?

All of a sudden, a digital screen-like window accompanied by a woman's voice appeared just below my line of sight, if there is. I mean I can't see anything right now. But from my point of view, it's like I'm seeing it at the bottom area of my vision.

Wait…

… Ohohoho… I see, I see. Hmhm… So that's what it is. Thinking carefully about it, it kind of makes sense. I'm quite imaginative so I won't remove the possibility, either. Of course, I'll consider every possibility as possible. The possibility that an impossible possibility can be considered possible is due to the fact that, every possibility is a possibility, even if it sounds impossible.

Yep. I'm riled up.

Phew… I got excited there. Me, getting excited about reality, is quite rare, if I say so myself.

So, did I die, after all? I mean, is this that famous fiction genre where people get transported to a parallel or other world after getting hit by a truck, or something?

Let's assume it is.

Why?

Because it's interesting that way, of course.

That's right. If it's interesting, then I'll go for it. That's all. No grand reason, no hidden implications, just that. I'm the type of guy who, if it sounds interesting, will go for it without a second thought.

Okay, I'll think about it for a while. But you get my point, right? No? Oh well.

Alright, first thing's first.

I got a Skill, a Personal Skill. It's actually what the screen is showing, assuming that I'm still sane, of course. I mean, seeing something like a screen just below your line of sight, even though I can't see right now or even at least feel like my eyes are open. I bet everyone will want to ask if I'm okay or something. But here, I'm using the conjecture that this is actually like those in the novels I've read.

Skills are the terms one usually encounter in games, especially in RPG, or Role Playing Games. These gives the player certain abilities that can help the player to achieve the goals and objective of the game. In short, they make the player stronger gameplay-wise.

Commonly, though, they just strengthen the player without any relation to the completion of the game. For example, in MMORPG's or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. The player acquire skills to become stronger. Simple as that.

In most cases, there are two types of skills. Passive and Active skills. Passive skills make the player stronger that has a constant effect. It's basically already in effect the moment you acquire it.

Active skills, on the other hand, gives the player the ability to cause an effect to either the opponent or to himself or herself. Usually, they are skills that deals damage or recover health points. But there are also strengthening skills among them. However, unlike passive skills, they only last a certain period of time.

Anyways, enough of that. Let's analyze the skills for now. First is Analyze.

[Personal Skill Analyze Lv. 1: A skill that displays the target's information.]

Then again, another screen appeared, replacing the one that has the skill names. But this time, there's no voice… Just the text.

I see.

Following are words scripted on it, defining Analyze, which is what I was just wondering about. The moment I wanted to get an answer while looking at the word 'Analyze', it appeared.

So this is the work of Analyze, huh?

Hmm…

I want to test something.

I think of boobs and tried to duplicate the same feeling when Analyze activated.

… Nope. Nothing appeared.

Next. I think of myself.

[An entity which contains the will of the deceased. It's a harmless entity that roams around the place without any objective and only waits for its rest in peace. (Intelligence Level: 100%)]

<Title>

(Spectre) (World Traveler)

HG: 1/1

CG: 1/1

Physical Attack: 0

Physical Defense: 0

Magical Attack: 0

Magical Defense: 0

Agility: 0

Crysaztel Cognizance: 0%

Crysaztel Manipulation: 0%

[Passive Skills]

(Float) (Intangible) (Personal – Reflect) (Trigger Fear)

[Resistance Skills]

(Pain Resistance Lv. Max)

[Active Skills]

(Personal – Analyze)

[Active Magic Skills]

(None)

… SO WEAK…

All the while thinking of wanting to learn about myself, a screen display appeared in my field of view. I can't see right now so it just kind of appeared in the dark.

Hmm…

I'm dead.

I'm a Wandering Soul. So, yeah. I guess, I'm dead, huh? Yet I'm still aware. I'm alive, huh?

… This is confusing.

Well, nevermind how I'm actually dead and alive at the same time right now. It says <Status> so this must be my own status, since it appeared after thinking about myself.

So I'm a level 1 Wandering Soul.

But, man… Even though I'm only a level one 'entity', these numbers are just… cruel. All of my status are zero? Really? Seriously? I'm that weak? Where's that pattern where the character is given overpowered skills or traits? Where's my 9999 average stats?

This is just plain harassing. This is just savage. Who in the world starts as something who can't do anything at all? Damn…

Ugh. The moment I thought that it would continue being interesting is now only a fleeting memory. And now, this.

Wait, maybe I just missed the overpowered skill or something. Let's carefully check the status screen.

What is this 'HG' and 'CG'?

[HG: Health Gauge]

[CG: Crysaztel Gauge]

I see. So my Health Gauge and Crysaztel Gauge are only 1.

Yeah. I'll be dead with just one hit. That's awesome. Perfect. That's just perfect. Thank you very much for giving me that 1 point. All status is zero and my Health is 1. Wonderful. Very much wonderful.

*sigh*

Oh well. What can I do? Go with the flow, me.

Hm. Then what is Crysaztel?

[Crysaztel: The fundamental element of every energy. It is an extremely vital component for every living organisms.]

Oho… I see, I see.

I don't get it.

Anyways, I'll set it aside for now. But there goes the proof that this is really not the world that I know. This is not the Earth. It's either I'm transported or reincarnated. Either of the two.

However, I think that the latter is more plausible.

Let's say I'm transported. Then my body from the former world should be here. But instead, I'm a Wandering Soul right now. An entity different from that of a human. It even clearly states that my Type is Apparition Type. I'm not even close to being a human. Hence, the conclusion of me being reincarnated.

So comes the question…

Did I really die?

I still can't remember. My memory while we were walking along the streets is vague and foggy.

Oh well. Not that I can do anything anymore at this point, right. Let's, for now, decide with the fact that I died, reincarnated, and is already dead.

… That's… really ridiculous.

Anyways. That's it. It's not because I thought of it, that the Analyze activated. It's because the target is there and I analyzed it, that I got to analyze it. I tried thinking of boobs but the Analyze skill didn't activate and identify boobs. But when I thought of analyzing myself, which is here and I sense it, it activated. I guess I have to perceive the target first to activate the skill.

It got me concerned. Because, if it did Analyze anything just from the thought of it, that's just plain cheating. I can learn anything and everything in the world then. I don't have the courage to do that.

If I did…

I doubt I would still be able to stay sane after that.

Going back to my status, which is still projected in front of me, there's still something that caught my interest. The Titles.

[Title: An epithet that is granted to a creature who achieved a certain condition. It grants additional status or skills in accordance to its specification.]

I see. Just as I thought.

In games, there are things called Titles that are granted to players who completed a certain task or something. In most cases, they're just there to show other players that that player achieved something in the game. But in this case, it gives me additional status and skills. It's a very nice thing to have. It's actually a must have, if I do say so myself.

But there's one problem… A huge problem…

[World Traveler: A title granted to those who have crossed dimensions. It bestows the granted a base 10 points to Health Gauge, Crysaztel Gauge and adds another 10 points with every level. Bestows base 2 status points to Physical Attack, Physical Defense, Magical Attack, Magical Defense, and Agility and adds another 2 points with every level.]

This… This is the problem. Where's my bestowed base status…? I don't really know if 10 or 2 status points is actually great deal or not, but it's better than having 0.

Is it bugged? It's bugged, isn't it? I'm bugged, right? Or am I just destined to be a weak existence forever? Even when I was still a human, I wasn't the type to accomplish anything.

*sigh* Whatever. Like I can't do anything about it. Go with the flow, me.

Anyways, it gives World Travelers a head start, huh? I'm actually a World Traveler, huh? So there's my proof that this is really a parallel or another world.

[Spectre: A title granted to Apparition Types. Skills bestowed: (Pain Resistance Lv. Max) (Trigger Fear)]

On the other hand, this one's actually good. Well, it's kind of obvious that the skills I will get from the Spectre title are these. Since I'm a ghost or something, or dead even, I can't feel pain. Moreover, I could also induce fear to others. A very ghost-like title.

It's kinda funny though. I reincarnated and I found myself dead. Hahahahaha.

*sigh*

… Proceeding with the status. There's also the Crysaztel Cognizance and Crysaztel Manipulation.

[Crysaztel Cognizance: It is the ability to recognize the Crysaztel in the surroundings.]

[Crysaztel Manipulation: It is the ability to manipulate the Crysaztel in the surroundings.]

Hrmm… Crysaztel… huh? I guess, if I want to understand this, I have to raise the percentage first. It says 'to recognize.' In other words, to be aware of, right? So right now, I still can't perceive it since it's still 0%. I see, I see.

But I don't even know how to raise the percentage…

Hmm…

Next are the skills. After the Analyze skill, is the Reflect skill.

[Personal Skill Reflect: Reflect any kind of attacks that uses Crysaztel to the owner.]

Oooohohohoho. Isn't this one powerful skill? In contrast to its dull name, it's a very useful skill indeed.

Okay, let's analyze it first.

It reflects attacks. However, those attacks are attacks that uses Crysaztel. So Crysaztel can be used to attack? Hmm… I can't make a conjecture from only this. First of all, how do I attack using something I don't perceive?

For now, I should find a way to cognize this so-called Crysaztel.

So from that, if I'm attacked anything other than an attack that uses Crysaztel, it won't activate and I will still receive the damage. I see, I see.

Just as I thought, I still can't rule it to be the overpowered skill that I wanted.

There are still a lot of questions swirling inside my head right now. How did this happen? What to do from now on? Am I really dead? Why am I here? What happened to Chloe and the others? Is it related to that book? Why did I reincarnate to another world? Or how?

I don't know. I can only form speculations. I want actual answers. Well… Even that, I don't know how to acquire.

But one thing's I know.

Que sera, sera. Whatever happens, happen. Go with the flow, me.

…

Chapter End

Next chapter