Bloody Mary

Drifting through the vast expanse of an endless, painfully bright, and deafeningly quiet void was an experience… an experience I would never wish on anyone. Not even the worst of people. I don't know how long I had drifted in said void. All sense of time was skewed, there was no sense of direction, there was no sound, there wasn't even any air. Not that it mattered, I didn't have a body despite knowing that I could feel the lack of sensation that I knew I should be feeling. 

I don't know how I got here, I don't even know my own name. I wondered if it was because I had been wherever 'here' was for so long. I don't remember much about my past, a bright smile here, a kind voice there. Worse yet, I couldn't even recall my own face, much less my gender. 

Was this hell? Purgatory? Was I some sort of code in a simulation that never got deleted? I couldn't tell, and it made me absolutely furious. I was glad I still had my emotions. It was one thing that reminded me that I was alive, or as alive as someone without a body could be. 

[System Initializing] 

Words appeared before my phantom eyes. At first I was happy for the change in my 'scenery'. Then the questions started flying through my nonexistent head. 

'What fuckery is this?' 

Welcome Gamer, you have been selected as the 27,853,569,432 Host. 

A voice echoed through the void shocking me at the fact that I actually heard something that wasn't the sound of my own thoughts.

'Ha- hahaha, HAHAHAHA. I've finally lost my mind…' 

You are still quite sane… mostly. 

'What the hell are you?' 

I am the AI assigned to your GS v. 2.0

'AI huh? So I am in some kind of simulation then.' 

You are in the space between worlds, this is where souls go to await their final judgment. 

'So I died and this is the afterlife?' 

Correct.

'Why can't I remember anything? My past, my own face, my death?' 

Due to the traumatic nature of your death, your memories have all been forcibly erased. This was done in order to prevent you from losing your mind and becoming one of the Husks.

'What the is a husk?' 

A Husk is a soul that has been corrupted.

'Thanks… A plus for the extreme detail you put into that description.' 

Husks are also known as demons in certain worlds.

'A little better, still terribly vague though,' I paused for a moment, 'what now?' 

You have been selected as a Player. 

'Okay… what does that mean?' 

You will be able to access the Gamer system and be given a second chance at life.

'That's very generous and I don't mean to sound rude, but why? Nothing is ever free and I doubt that's the case with my supposed second chance.' 

The Player before you has been alive for countless years. They wish to find an heir worthy enough to take up their mantle. 

'You make it sound like they're some sort of god.' 

The Player before you has indeed transcended into divinity. Though they are much more than the gods you are thinking of. 

'Okay?' 

The Player befo-

'Does this player have a name?' I interrupted the AI. 

Once upon a time he was called Belegûr. 

'Fancy name.' 

He has grown tired of existence and wishes to pass on. Before he can he wishes to select a new host for the system he possesses.

'Is that you?' 

No, I am a very limited copy of his System.

'Right, so you were saying something about finding an heir?' 

If he passes on without finding an heir to take his place, the very fabric of the entire multiverse will collapse. 

'Do I get a choice in all of this?' 

You are the 27,853,569,432 candidate for this position.

'What happened to all the others?' 

Some failed and were erased from existence, others died before they could prove themselves.

'Is it that difficult?' 

You will decide all of that should you accept. 

'Better than drifting through this void I guess, what do I need to do?' 

Instead of replying a new message popped up surprising me with how much brighter it was than the void. Once I adjusted to the brightness the words became clearer. 

Start New Game

[Yes/No]

I guess this was it. My ticket to a second chance at life. A gut feeling told me that if I accepted then my life would become infinitely more interesting if albeit complicated.

As I had very little memories about my past life I didn't know if I was the adventurous type. Still, I had basic knowledge of games and I knew that more often than not, game characters usually became forces of nature.

If what the system AI was saying was true. Then the one behind all of this started out just like me. He had somehow gotten strong enough to be able to affect the multiverse to the point where if he disappeared that it would collapse. That was an exciting thought. 

'Here goes nothing…' I pushed Yes.

————————————————————

The void disappeared and was replaced by darkness, and a floating screen. The screen displayed a character model and various options. I went to the first option, 'Gender', not remembering my own I selected 'random'. The screen changed again and. I was greeted by a naked model of a woman. I didn't want to hit 'random' again and end up looking like a deformed baby so I spent a solid two hours sculpting the model to what I felt was a fairly attractive character. Seeing that this was going to be my new body I was generous with my looks. 

I gave myself long raven hair that reached the small of my back, bright steel gray eyes, healthy skin that wasn't tanned nor pasty, and killer curves. I didn't go overboard though since I didn't want my own body to be a hindrance should I need to move quickly. Setting my height at a respectable 5' 8", I closed down the tabs and finalized my choices. 

Create Character

[Yes/No]

Selecting the 'Yes' option I wasn't prepared for the sudden feeling of falling that came over me. I didn't realize that I now had a body until I heard myself screaming. Clapping a hand over my mouth I felt my heart pounding out of my chest. Fighting the urge to jump up and down in happiness I composed myself and took a deep breath. 

Looking down at my very nude body I ran my hands all over myself and relished being able to actually feel things again. A shudder ran up my back when I accidentally brushed against my womanhood. Blushing furiously I stopped feeling myself up and looked around. The screen had disappeared ever since I got a body and I was worried it had left me out to dry. 

Try calling out or thinking 'Status'. 

'Status?' 

A new screen appeared in front of me lighting up the strange dark area I was in. 

Name: ?

Race: ? 

Level: 1 (0%)

Title: ?

Abilities: ?

HP: 100

MP: 100 (locked)

SP: 100

STR: 10

END: 10

VIT: 10

INT: 10

WIS: 10

DEX: 10

Luck: 10 

Stat Points: 0

Skill Points: 0

————————————————————

Perks/Abilities:

Gamer's Mind:

Instills a calm sense of mind and grants protection from mental intrusions. 

Gamer's Body:

Allows the player to experience life as a video game. Player will not die so long as HP does not hit 0. Regain stats by sleeping/meditating. 

(Sleep regens 100%, Meditation regens 50%)

————————————————————

Skills:

?

?

————————————————————

Nothing too impressive, I was only level 1 after all. I felt excitement at the thought of being able to live again. I wanted to whoop with joy but held myself back. I dismissed the screen, finding myself in the darkness again. 

"What now?" I called out to the AI. 

You will be sent to a new world.

''Do I get a choice?''

Not yet, certain conditions must be met. 

"What do I even have to do to pass this test?" 

You must reach a certain point and clear a set amount of worlds.

"So I'll be jumping worlds?" 

Eventually, yes. 

"Will I at least get a hint as to where I'm going?" 

No.

"You're kind of an ass." 

Sorry.

Adjusting AI personality from 'Indifferent' to 'Friendly'

"You didn't have to do that for me…"

As my host, it is my duty to aid you in your quest. Ensuring that I do not hinder you by not having a compatible personality archetype is the least I can do.

"Thanks, what do I call you? Wait… what do I call myself?" 

I will accept whatever name you give me.

"Right, um- let's go with Eris." 

Understood. 

AI name set to 'Eris'

Adjusting Sound

Thank you for naming me.

The voice now sounded feminine whereas before it sounded like a mix between male and female. The System must be independently sentient if it adjusted Eris' voice based on the name alone. 

You are correct, the system and I are separate entities. I merely exist to assist you in navigating the system. You can disable me in the settings option of the system. 

"I'd rather not do that. It's nice having someone to talk to for once." 

Very well.

"Have any suggestions for my name?" 

Unfortunately no, however. Entering your first world without a name will automatically give you a name. 

"That makes things easier, hopefully it isn't anything stupid. Will I be coming in as a baby? Do I even have a choice as to who I'll be?" 

Not in your first world, sorry. 

"No, don't apologize, it isn't your fault. Besides, I think it'll be more fun this way." 

Very well, would you like to enter the world now? 

"Yes, I can't wait to be able to take a walk again." I grinned in excitement.

Initializing World Jump

Random World Selected

Jumping in:

5

4

3

2

1