You may rest when you're dead...

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Buildings looming on the horizon, a cityscape vast and endless. The fruits of late-stage capitalism hiding the dirty interior. The night was dark, devoid of many stars except one lone and solitary light in the north. To Nathan, it almost felt as if the solitary star was looking at him, like it was giving him the attention and care he had longed for... yet it was simply that, a solitary star.

Nathan's life was a below-average one in an extraordinary world. In a world with Gates and Systems, he was born underpowered, middle class and fairly average in looks. It certainly wasn't the worst way he could've started off, not in the slightest, but no one likes bathing in mediocrity and broken dreams.

Instead of being a legendary hero like everyone aspires to be, Nathan was condemned to work at an office until he was 37 when he was promptly crippled. Nathan's office building had been invaded by a rampaging monster, one that should've been safely kept inside the gate.

The beast had broken through the wall of the building, killing many and injuring few. By all means, Nathan should've been amongst the casualties, yet he was 'saved' at the last minute, if you could call it that.

A hero had swooped in at the very last moment, killing the monster and Nathan's chance at an easy death.

For the next several months, Nathan was bound to a bed in recuperation. If he didn't die in the hospital, the medical bills would have surely been the death of him. He was so sure of dying in the accident, then he was so sure he wouldn't recover, yet his unforeseen vigor had spited him twice.

He would receive disability from the government, but it would never be enough to pay off his hospital bill. Since he now lacks arms, he's also unable to properly work or function autonomously.

He would need either a brand new pair of cybernetic arms, which are out of the question due to the cost… or a caretaker. Nathan lacked any family and had few people he could call friends, living a very solitary and sad life.

He was at a dead end, having nowhere to go and nothing to do, finding himself in a hole the world had dug for him.

Seeking a way out, easy or not, Nathan had found a decently high building of which he could acquire one final view of the city he hated so much. Funnily enough, getting to the top of the building was the hardest part of the matter.

As one would imagine, opening doors is a struggle when you lack arms.

 Nathan had checked his status window by whispering its invocation phrase, checking his stats one last time before jumping. To no one's surprise, it hadn't changed, just like every other day of his life. It still displayed the hopelessness that was Himself.

[Name: Nathaniel Francis James.]

[Level: 2.]

[Class: N/A.]

[HP: 100/100.]

[MP: 50/50.]

[Skills: Dash.]

[AGI: 8.]

[STR: 5.]

[VIT: 5.]

[INT: 5.]

[LUK: 3.]

Nathan had sighed once again, looking at the transparent yellow screen hovering before him.

It was like the world didn't want him to feel hope, even in what could be his last moments. Nathan wanted to spite the world, to continue living out of hatred, yet he couldn't bring himself to feel anything of the sort.

All he felt was what he felt his whole life: a dull and perverse unfeeling gray, although now tinged with a shade of blue.

"In case anyone's listening, this is the last chance! No more Nathan after this..." He hadn't believed in God in a long time, longer than he could remember, but perhaps he just wanted a sign, yet all he found was silence.

And so, Nathan clambered onto the railing, having difficulty due to lack of appendages. He looked back at the door in some hope of the universe throwing him a bone, perhaps a wandering wayfarer with a conscience that would convince him that he still has something to hold onto...

Yet no one came.

Looking down at the ground far below him, the wind threatening to throw him off before he could do so himself.

He extended his foot outwards, acting as if there was a platform in the air, yet knowing no such thing existed. The fall lasted all of 4 seconds, although it felt far longer to Nathan.

Hitting the ground, a loud thud sounds out. There are one or two screams, but not many due to the time of day. The window behind the landing point is painted in a red, what one was Nathan now splattered upon the sidewalk.

It was instant, considering he had landed on his stomach, but a fall from that height would kill a normal man regardless of how he landed.

In short, it was a sure death for him...

Yet what he had failed to account for was an unwelcome overseer, a being of untold age staring at what remained of Nathan with an interest that could only be described as morbid.

Her form blended into the sky, the white hair appearing pitch black and sprinkled with stardust. She reached her hand towards the smear on the ground formerly known as Nathan, a grin playing at her face.

"Not so fast, my child. You may rest when you're dead."

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