Goddess of Reincarnation

Over the next couple of days, the three of them were trying their hardest to move in before the private beta launched. Although Amelia wouldn't play in the private beta, she also wanted to live in the penthouse as soon as possible

Since Tyler now had a stable income besides his job, he respectfully resigned. It felt good to get that off his chest after so many years of hard work for little pay.

.....

September 14th...

Tyler and Andrew walked into a decent sized room that looked like the inside of a spaceship. Two pods laid on the center and on the left with multi colored data veins pulsing through them. Andrew moved his pod into the chamber to get a higher quality synchronization rate.

Synchronization rate tells how well the body adapts to the virtual world. At 85% - 99%, the body would still be very immersive but it would be more difficult to clearly grasp your avatar. At 100% and higher, the body would feel more clear and responsive compared to your own body.

At higher levels of the game, one could manually manage the health and metabolism of their avatar so this was important in the long run. The standard helmet would have an 85% - 90% synchronization rate but more serious gamers would find this lacking, so they would choose the advanced helmet despite the headache-inducing price. The higher the synchronization, the more combat prowess and control you can exert while in the game.

Moreover, synchronization rate can train the mind to create better control over a players real life body.

"Remember to take your time when creating your character and make sure you follow my instructions... ok?"

When they hopped into the game, the players would be separated throughout AlKo online no matter their nationality or language. It usually depended on what race you chose while you were in the game. The system would automatically translate the words of any foreign language so they didn't have to worry about miscommunication.

"Fourth time you told me... you're acting like a mom Andrew..."

"Tch, You unfilial child!"

They joked and bickered while they set up their pods. When they finished, Leo's voice cut in, <Please insert the chips you received from the lottery to activate the beta.>

A slit appeared on the side of the pods and they pushed the chips in. The data veins faded until the chips were dull and lifeless. When the download was complete Leo told them they could throw it away.

"I don't know if I'll see you in there for a while, but really pay attention to every detail. The time conversion is 1 to 5, so a day out here is 5 days in there."

After he said his piece, they climbed in and hooked up. The vertebrae like back seat rapped around their back and rib cage gently while a jet pilot looking helmet cradled their heads.

.....

Tyler opened his eyes slowly as he drifted in a dark and eerie fog. He felt extremely uncomfortable as he looked around. He saw nothing but more unsettling black fog.

He didn't know this yet, but when a player died, they would drift in this "Fog of Death" for a certain amount of time before they could revive. It was considered one of the punishments for dying and the amount of time you spent in there depended on how many times you died with in a week. The fog was meant to represent what happened in death while in the game.

A minute passed and he was absolutely not enjoying the feeling of being in this place. Luckily he felt his consciousness fade again and the uncomfortable feeling vanished.

"Wake up my wandering soul..." a sweet and other worldly voice echoed throughout Tyler's ears.

He opened his eyes and the fog was replaced with an infinite horizon with gold skies and pure white sunsets on all sides. The plains of smooth marble ground spread as far as the eye could see.

This was the most magnificent place Tyler's ever seen in his life, and he's seen virtual reality images of space!

The first thing he saw was a levitating woman, she was so gorgeous that he had a hard time taking in her appearance, causing him to stare. The flowing pure gold hair perfectly matched the setting sun horizon, her eyes were a deep and stunning dark oak brown causing the atmosphere around her to feel domineering and ethereal. The pupils were perfect triangles with a glowing gold, just like her hair. The flowing garments she wore looked and moved as though she was in calm water as she floated in the air.

"I am the Goddess of Reincarnation, and I shall bestow upon you a new life in a new world."

He forgot he was in a game as he heard her words. He honestly thought he died and was being given a second chance at life.

She waved her hand and a screen popped up in front of him.

<Please choose your race...>

A ring of tabs materialized below the notification. Each tab had a picture and different color displayed. He browsed the assortment of options.

Humans...

Elves...

Dwarves...

Half-demons...

Beast Men...

Orcs...

Giant...

There were so many different options that he had trouble believing he could actually decide on one. Some of the tabs such as "Beast Men" would open up new tabs such as lizard people or cat people. Each tab would display information on the race and a corresponding lifestyle difficulty.

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

Race: Human

{Type}

Humanoid

{Vitality/Lifespan}

80 - 100 years

{Magical Affinity}

Average

{Ability for Growth}

Above average

{Curses}

Non-existent

{Strengths}

- Above average adaptive ability

- High fertility

- Overwhelming population and influence

<Extend list>

{Weaknesses}

- No immunities

- Disunity between their own race

- Partially xenophobic

<Extend list>

{Lifestyle Difficulty}

Below average - green

<Remark>

"Perfectly average except when it comes to baby making... seriously, what's up with that fertility?!"

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

Race: Elf

{Lineage}

Elven

{Type}

Humanoid

{Vitality/Lifespan}

600 - 700 years

{Magic Affinity}

Exceptional

{Ability for Growth}

Average

{Curses}

Pitiful Fertility

{Strengths}

- Long lifespan

- Stronger intelligence, agility and sense attributes

- Innate magical and hunting affinities

<Extend list>

{Weaknesses}

- Low fertility

- Strong xenophobia

- Tends to use older technology and ways of thinking

<Extend list>

{Lifestyle Difficultly}

Above average - yellow

<Remark>

"Why is their hot female ratio so freakishly high, but their fertility so low???"

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

When he looked through all the options, he wasn't enthusiastic about any of them. Even with the added benefits of the additional race choices, he couldn't seem to find the perfect one.

"Ugh... I wish I could find some more options!"

*Ting*

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

Would you like to use a [Super Wish] to find hidden options in the race selection?

Uses left: 3

(Yes/No)

<Warning>

Once the wish is used, you cannot take it back.

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

Tyler looked down at the notification and thought hard. He didn't think he could use wishes in character creation.

While he was contemplating, he didn't notice the expectant grin on the face of the Goddess. Her once disinterested eyes shone with a new light.

"I would do it," her face was now calm and confident, "You don't get this chance everyday."

Tyler was shocked by her comment but noticed her reasoning, he immediately clicked (Yes) and (Confirm).

The ring of race options extended and a couple gold, platinum, purple and black tabs appeared.

All the races had a difficulty color that represented how hard life would be for that species.

Minuscule = Cyan

Inferior = blue

Low = turquoise

Below Average = green

Average = yellow

Above Average = yellow/orange

Good = orange

Great = orange/red

Extraordinary = red

Exceptional = gold

Immaculate = platinum

Extreme = purple

This ranking system applies to a lot of things in the game so he made sure to study it thoroughly.

What was black though? He flipped to the tabs with the black cards, but was surprised to see them with a locked symbols. He clicked on one and a notification popped up.

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

Please choose one/multiple base elements for your magical affinity to proceed... You have discovered the hidden elements... Please choose.

{Basic Magic}

- Fire

- Water

- Earth

- Wind

{Special Magic}

Can only choose one:

- Life

- Death

- Soul/Mind

{Hidden Magic}

Can only choose one:

- ??? > Light

- ??? > Dark

{Forbidden Magic}

Cannot discover without corresponding elements:

- ???

Secondary elements (0/3)

Primary element (0/1)

<Notice>

Certain choices can lead to different types of magic when you choose your primary magic.

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

Instead of looking at the options, Tyler stared at the Goddess with a questioning look.

"Can I use a wish to choose more magical elements than the limit?" he didn't lack wishes, so the thought of being gifted in all of the basic elements excited him.

The Goddess smiled warmly as she nodded, "You may but it will take one shooting star wish for every additional element you choose. This only applies for secondary elements, not primary."

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

You currently have [3 Shooting Star Cluster Wishes], which is equivalent to [30 Shooting Star Wishes]. Do you wish to use 6 wishes to unlock the remaining elements?

Uses left: 30

(Yes/No)

<Warning>

Once the wish is used, you cannot take it back.

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

"..." Tyler noticed that he couldn't include the final element in his wish, "If you don't mind me asking, why can't I choose the forbidden element?"

"All you need to do is choose the corresponding secondary elements to discover the forbidden magic. Then you can choose the forbidden element as your primary element."

Once Tyler's doubts were cleared, he clicked (Yes) and (Confirm).

<Synthesizing [Light] and [Dark] elements.... you've now discovered the forbidden element, [Void].>

He chose the void element as his primary magic, ignoring all of the new options he created, and returned to the race selection screen. The black tab he tried to pull up before, now opened.

•>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>•

Race: Elven Spirit Monarch [candidate]

{Lineage}

Elven

{Type}

Humanoid//Spirit

{Vitality/Lifespan}

Immortal

{Magic Affinity}

Extreme (can only use [spirit] magic)

{Ability for Growth}

Extreme

{Curses}

- No Fertility

- ???

- ???

<Extend list>

{Strengths}

- Can command spirits

- ???

- ???

<Extend list>

{Weaknesses}

- ???

- ???

- ???

<Extend list>

{Lifestyle Difficultly}

Unparalleled - black

<Remark>

"Can't use magic for yourself? Order the spirits around to do your bidding!"

•<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<•

'Unparalleled difficultly?!' A shiver went down his spine. 'Did I bite off more than I can chew?' He scrutinized all the new tabs, but he wasn't as thrilled as he thought he'd be.

"Your excellency, may I have your recommendation?"

The Goddess let out a light chuckle as she looked at him with amused eyes, "Sure..."