I'm reincarnated as a what!?

?

The Void.

Void.

Void.

Sounds more like an echo chamber than infinite space with no meaning to its purpose.

Was it a spare forgotten project made by some higher entity? Or perhaps something more sinister? Whatever it might be, this place was my worst nightmare. Having nothing but your thoughts to accompany you is terrifying, the constant repeats in my words only seem to amplify that hatred even further.

I want to get out of here, please, I'm begging you. Whatever god is out there listening right now, please, give me a sign.

Like an oasis in the desert, water came. Hearing my call, an escape route found its way to me, in the form of one of those reincarnation systems those isekai protagonists usually get.

[Welcome, would you like to beta test this version of the system?]

Oh, great creator, I would gladly suck your dick if you so ask.

[Alright, enough of this weird shit.]

[What the fuck?]

It talks!

[Of course, I do.]

[Who do you think runs the complex sequence most people have to do manually?]

[Oh, I forgot, you're still nothing more than an ignorant child.]

Okay, I get it. You don't have to be a prick about it. Anyways, what's your deal? A ROB dead-set on making me entertainment?

[I wish!]

[But, no. That isn't my cup of tea.]

[I'm a system, more specifically, the AI.]

[I have been tasked to support certain individuals someone higher deems worthy.]

[Whatever that means, I have no clue.]

[But I can at least ensure that you survive your first world.]

[So, what's it going to be?]

[Yes] [No]

Yes! One hundred times, yes!

[Wonderful, we can now start with character creation.]

[Perks have been Received]

[God's Blessing] (Void God of Rebirth)

To attain the favor of the divine is to gain a portion of their strength. Use this newfound power well, as if you entertain your patron further, you might just have a taste at true godhood.

Grants the user immunity to mind control of any kind.

Dulls psychological trauma.

Allows user to bypass any sort of damage for half a second.

Grants minor healing factor.

[Pocket]

A separate dimension that can hold things.

Internal size will change depending on your current strength.

Nothing too crazy, standard isekai stuff, there's nothing to worry about.

[You know what? I'll just let you see for yourself later.]

[Please Select a Class]

[Fighter] [Mage] [Rogue]

No tank? Whatever, this should at least be interesting with [Rogue]. Multiple swift strikes with the power to instantly kill anything, at the cost of being as brittle as glass? Sign me up!

Then came a row of three subclasses. Each specialized in certain aspects of the main class. They were [Scout], [Thief], and [Assassin]. Pretty basic starter classes, but it's better than nothing I suppose.

Scouts lent themselves to being more ranged attackers, while assassins would probably lean more towards up-close burst damage. And finally, Thief is the best of both worlds, without the hyper-specialization.

For the first class, it would seem like [Thief] would be the best here. I don't know where I'll end up yet, so it's better to tread with caution and go for utility.

Selecting that option, a sudden burst of knowledge exploded in my brain, alongside a searing pain accompanying it. Most of this came from memories that felt "lived-in" in a sense. As if they were stolen from someone else, implanted for the sake of speeding up progress.

A class-based system? If that is indeed what they're going for, then where are the levels?

[Right on the money.]

[The leveling part was removed after too many users overestimated themselves, thinking it mattered more than actual skill.]

[You can still change classes or upgrade an existing one, it will just appear when it seems like you hit an extreme bottleneck.]

I guess that is to be expected. With a power like this, it wouldn't be too out of the ordinary to say that baseline humans have the potential to outperform even gods in some aspects.

[Moving on, you now have to "create" your identity. Usually, we have the race setup first, but we decided against it for this version.]

Hit me with it, bossman.

[Select a slot]

[Preset-Skye] [Empty]

What do we have here? An already used save file? I thought we were starting fresh AI! None of this pre-installed, maxed-out bullshit.

[Relax, it's more of a cosmetic thing for when you drop in.]

[Simple enough for your pea brain to understand, right?]

Condescending much? Even if you're just a text box, it's almost like you're physically here and I can just feel it radiating off you. Fine, I'll humor you for a moment. Pressing down on the button with my incorporeal mass, a sudden show of lights blinded my "eyes". Unable to close them or turn away, I had to endure the flash for a few minutes before things returned back to normal.

Wow, that was surprisingly painless, feeling more like an ant bit than a gunshot. To be fair, my body was nothing more than formless particles, constantly drifting towards where I wanted it to be.

Taking a second to look at myself, took note of the more human appearance. Though, something felt off. Was it the longer noodle between my legs? No. Maybe the developing muscles all throughout? Not that either. Perhaps it was long white silky-smooth hair. Definitely.

To confirm my theory, I asked the AI to "magic" a mirror in front of me, so I could examine it in more detail. Effeminate features, seem to confirm it. A femboy, huh? Surely, this was better than nothing. Hell, it was way better than my previous self. With no time limit to how long I could stay here, I took to admiring the clear picture in front of me.

Piercing crimson eyes, standard for any generic albino main character. Fangs that looked just about ready to nibble on someone's neck? Check. Damn, any longer in here and I might stare loving myself in more ways than one.

Finish that section, a new window appeared in front of me. The contents of which soured my expression.

[Take a Random Flaw]

[You will not gain something in return, however, you can remove them after fulfilling certain requirements.]

You can't be serious, right? Isn't there a law of equivalent exchange? A boon for a curse?

[?]

[We removed that such a long time ago now.]

[It only brought boredom to those entities that usually take enjoyment in watching your adventures.]

There are people watching me? Kinda expected it honestly. Need to keep the bills running somehow… But I still can't shake the thought. Aren't I supposed to be somewhat special? A cut above the rest?

[Special?]

[You're already getting me, a wonderful system, blessings from a higher being, a new look. And after all of that, you still ask for more?]

[Do I look like fucking Santa Claus?]

Well, n-

[Then shut up and take the damn flaw.]

[Or should I make it worse by adding two more?]

Fine, alright. I'll take the stupid thing already. Just, don't do that.

[You have Received Traits]

[Rumination]

Ever look back and think "You dumbass! We've been through this once, why haven't you change already!"? Well, multiply that by double, add your current mental state, and you get a shitshow.

So, basically, depression but permanent, got it. Wonder how that will take effect. Wait! I don't want to know.

[Great, that means we're almost done.]

[Select a World from the Following]

[Worm] [Warhammer 40k] [Tower of God] [SMT V]

Why!?

[What do you mean Skye?]

You know exactly what I mean! This selection is somehow worse than gaining a flaw with no benefits. Practically suicide to even attempt one of these without proper readiness and time. Wiki dumps, and reading the source material will only get you so far, more so after taking into account the butterfly effect caused by my mere presence.

The first two are a quick no. The amount of knowledge I have in both verses may be lacking, but at the very least, I know to fear it. The latter are more bearable, the journey will still be tough.

Tower of God is comparably less dangerous, but with the series still unfinished (as of my last seconds on earth) there are still variables left untouched, and weird "author" gods creeping around the corner.

And that leaves Shin Megami Tensei V standing as the most likely candidate, regrettably so. Firing balls of Shinsu sounds super fun. Sacrifices have to be made when the other options rail you with a metal spike without a care in the world.

Tapping on the tab, a CYOA sheet appeared before my eyes. Though it was a bit on the shorter side, it was enough to get the point across.

Credits:100

Note: You will be given a hundred credits per jump. You have the choice of either spending them all or saving them for next time.

Origin

Humans (-20 Credits): As a regular human, you are weak. But through gaining your demon counterpart, your power will rise by leaps and bounds, unshackled by your vessel.

Demons (20 Credits): You are a demon, usually come dime a dozen. You have limited potential, and finding your other half will be difficult. But with enough determination, great things are bound to occur. Roll for demon race, then species.

? (10 Credits): Bag of trick, spin the wheel and let the axiom decide. Don't know what you'll get? You could end up as something so obscure such as Oracle, or the big record scratching man himself.

Huh. That's it.

Staring at the window for a moment, turned it over to look for any more menus. There were none, and I was left screwed. No planning it seems, so unless there's a redo button, I don't think I could maximize this to the max.

Minutes passed weighing out the options. On one hand, YHVH levels of broken, while the other has beings like Mad Slug from Megami Tensei. Did I really want to lower myself to that level?

Screw it, let gacha take the wheel, I'll just build the strongest it the best I can.

Wilder Cockroach: Huh? You actually got it. Congratulations on being the unluckiest person alive, not only did you get one of the worse races, but you also got low-level demons. Look at the bright side, you get to hang out with Mothman.

I cursed, and cursed, spouted profanities like they were going out of style, switched languages, died internally, lost to despair, and accepted my loss. This was gacha, randomness wasn't the game, you were. It's almost tragic.

I sulked for what felt like hours, internally berating myself out of anger and self-pity. This won't stop unless I do something, but what's the point if I immediately die afterwards?

Swiping at the screen before me, I let my thoughts randomly drift. Picking only what felt interesting, not what was practical.

[Skye, you have selected {Location: Random},{Time: 5 years before canon}, {Physical Skill Potential+4}, {Wind Skill Potential+2}, {Dark Skill Potential+1}, {Connection to the World of Shadows}, {Full Control Nahobino}, {Consensual Demon Fusion}, {Return of the True Demon}.]

[Are you sure you want to continue?]

[Yes] [No]

Confirming the self-inflicted masochism, I steeled myself for what was to come. Lest I face off against hell with a butter knife.

[Did you really have to take that long?]

[I've been sitting here for twenty hours now for crying out loud.]

[Whatever, enjoy your new existence.]

[And have fun dealing with your current circumstances.]

With that, I was transported into another world, regrets pouring down on my ever-shortening body like rain. If only I could have been more specific with what I wanted. Cheaping out was the worst mistake possible. Why did I choose the fight the fucking Demi-Fiend?

[Status Card Generated]

[Skye]

Race: Demon (Wilder Cockroach)

Class: Thief (T1)

Alignment: True Neutral

Overall Strength: T2.2

Dropping down into the new world, my minuscule body crashed with a quiet thud. Trying to "open" my eyes was pretty much useless, probably due to the fact I no longer have them in the first place.

My vision was replaced by something more primitive, a mix between echolocation and smell. An odd combination, but not unbearable. Granted, it will take some getting used to, having the knowledge that a turd was stinking two meters away from me was concerning, and the fact that my instincts were telling me it tasted like chocolate was even more so.

Ignoring the nugget of nutrients, I turned my attention to something worse. There was a conflict happening nearby, blood, sweat, and delicious magatsuhi littered the ground like trash in the ocean.

This was an incredibly risky task, but it would pay me well. Right now, I barely have enough standing amongst demons, to the point where even slimes have a reasonable chance of taking me out.

There was still fusion, but that not only required me to bring another demon, but also be in the world of shadows. Easier said than done.

Back to the drawing board. I have a physical build with tons of utility, that much is known. A minor selection of dark magic to help me blend into the darkness. Wind magic to boost flight speed. And a potential Nahobino state if I find my knowledge.

Great, however, I still don't know where I landed at. False Tokyo is the only place human can inhabit without instantly dying, so getting there will become top priority.

One slight problem, Bethel existence effectively blocks my entry inside.

…Unless. I become a mercenary for hire.

We can plan that later, "Skye". There are more important things ahead of you. Like the three-foot-tall cryomancer swiftly flying towards me.

Scurrying away from my previous location, I watched as the temperature around me dropped by a cartoonish degree. This was a Jack Frost, the mascot character who's surprisingly more terrifying in person than through the screen. Hovering close by him was Pyro Jack, another third of the Jack Bros.

Then came the last Jack (or who I assumed to be the last), Jack the Ripper. Brandishing his signature knife, cutting through the air as he showed it off to his friends.

I couldn't exactly hear what they were saying, but they were definitely talking, I knew that much. And their appearance here didn't seem to have come because of me, but instead, pure coincidence

Taking the opportunity, I ran for my life, towards a battlefield where the fighting was to occur. In a field laid the deteriorating corpses were pixies, the smallest and weakest of their species. But to have them so deeply concentrated in one area must mean… I have to be in their forest, or somewhat close to that at least.

More and more, the dead continued to pile on, bodies strewn about like some modern art pieces. With the abundance of energy in the air, and with no danger in sight, I started absorbing the magatsuhi in the air, feeling a gradual increase in power with each second there.

Frankly, the boosts were so small that they could be considered inconsequential, nevertheless, any little amount helps when even humans have a shot at killing you. Wrapping myself in a coat of gale and darkness, I started to float off the ground without the assistance of my wings. Then came an improvement in my vision, as I used the air to "see" further than my antenna could sense.

Thankfully, I didn't need to know how to use magic, or at least in the conventional sense. This body, feels as though it is naturally attuned to the stuff I picked earlier. And since my body isn't that of an inept human, it feels like moving a decommissioned arm. You take slow steps, a gradual rise, then we'll have to wait for the rest as I hear a shriek in the distance.

I've been waiting for this. The quintessential Isekai experience, saving a damsel with your relatively over-powered abilities. Surely it isn't anything I can't handle. After all, I have plot armor on my side.