Stepping over some old clothes Kade looked at the sleek silver VR gaming capsule. Lovingly, he ran a hand across the surface.

It was a piece of technological perfection and it was his, since two days ago. Eight days in-game if you counted the time dilation. In the game ‘New Earth’ that was a doorway to a world of swords and magic.

He stripped himself down to his boxers, lying down in the memory gel lining. So much had happened in those eight days. He’d made camp in a cave in a forest, he’d fought a life and death battle with a wolf, he’d narrowly avoided being killed by a mad boar and best of all… He grinned, recalling the flicker of blue he’d seen as he logged on, he’d created a gamer’s ultimate weapon – the status display. He logged on.

Azrael’s eyes flickered open. He was face down on the cave floor. Blood had dried on his avatar’s skin, aftermath of a mistake during the process of creating the status display.

The shock had forcefully logged him out, but he was back to reap the fruits of his efforts. With a triumphant feeling, he summoned his status and watched as a generic blue screen flickered into existence in front of him.

Status

Name: Azrael

Race: Human

HP: 50/50

MP: 50/50

STR: 6

END: 5

DEX: 6

AGI: 6

INT: 5

WIS: 5

Skills:

Weaving (Lv. 2), Crafting (Lv. 2), Spear Arts (Lv. 1), Mana Sense (Lv. 3), Mana Manipulation (Lv. 4), Soul Sense (Lv. 3).

Azrael surveyed it, impressed despite having designed it. It was kind of satisfying knowing that he had created something that hadn’t existed in the game previously.

As for his stats, his base stats were 5 and he’d gained another three over the course of his activities. His health points (HP) and mana (MP) seemed to be tied to endurance and intelligence respectively. He’d tried to add stamina (SP), but there had seemed to be quite a few variables related to that, which made it complicated to calculate.

He glanced over his skills, but was already familiar with them. Weaving was from making his grass skirt, crafting from making his spears. He’d gained spear arts from spear fishing but was curious as to why he got a combat related art instead of something fishing related.

His mana skills were from working with magic and the status display, while soul sense seemed to have appeared when he managed to enter his soul space. All in all, it was an average display, but still, it was his.

About to close the status display his eye caught something flashing in the bottom right-hand corner. It was a notifications button.

He frowned. He’d never added one in the design. Did the developers add it in? No, they hadn’t put in the display system, so why do anything now? Similarly, in the announcement he’d watched earlier today the owner of the game had declared that they were unable to add new content.

Notifications hadn’t been part of the information in his soul, it hadn’t existed before. He’d checked.

Curious he clicked on the button and a flurry of notifications appeared.

Congratulations!

For rejecting the world as the Gods have shaped it and seeking the forbidden fruit of knowledge you have gained the title ‘Sinner’.

Congratulations!

For standing against the word of the Gods’ you have gained the title ‘Heretic’.

‘Sinner’

All must suffer the consequence of their choices.

For straying from the path, the power of all Gods affects you twice as strongly as it usually would.

‘Heretic’

To forge your own path is both a blessing and a curse.

For rejecting the Gods’ power as a mortal, the power of all of gods’ apostles only has half the effect on you.

Immediately looking at the first few notifications he blanched. Was it really that serious a thing to create the system? Would they start a witch hunt for him? Actually, were there churches?

If there were gods, then there was a probable chance of them existing. Then again, he’d only learnt that gods existed in this game a moment ago. He wondered if they would leave him alone if he told them he was an atheist.

Running a hand through his hair and sighed, before reading the rest of the notifications.

Congratulations!

For creating a unique masterpiece and yet unimagined skill you have gained the title ‘Master of Status’.

‘Master of Status’

Even a master needs an apprentice.

As the master of a unique skill you may confer the skill onto any willing individual.

Congratulations!

Through a new understanding of your soul you have unlocked the unique skill [Status].

Status

Know yourself.

Allows you to see information about yourself in a systematic fashion.

Congratulations!

For creating a unique masterpiece using unknown knowledge and magic you have gained INT +5.

Congratulations!

For using a previously undiscovered rune script you have gained the title ‘Rune Master’.

‘Rune master’

A single glimpse can offer a thousand insights.

For mastering one rune script you now have a basic and intuitive knowledge of all lesser runes.

Congratulations!

For creating a piece of work using runes you have gained one level in ‘Enchanter’.

END +1 DEX +2 INT +1 WIS +1.

Congratulations!

For using an as of yet unknown rune script to create a piece of work ‘Enchanter’ has upgraded to ‘Runist’. ‘Enchanter’ levels will be carried over. You have gained a level in ‘Runist’.

END +1 DEX+2 INT+2 WIS+1.

Congratulations!

Due to creating something previously unimaginable and interesting you have caught the interests of the Gods.

You have gained the title ‘God Watched’.

‘God Watched’

Even the Gods can grow bored.

Due to doing something previously unseen, interested deities are now watching you.

Azrael scanned the notifications, happy about the stat gains, but the last notification worried him. Knowing that he was being watched was unsettling, especially by supposed deities.

The entire last notification seemed ominous. Was he now a plaything for them? Some form of entertainment?

He shrugged. He hadn’t been struck down by divine lightning yet, and there wasn’t anything he could do to change anything, so he figured he should be fine for a while… right?

Another sigh escaped his lips and he closed his notifications, his gaze resting on his updated status panel.

Status

Name: Azrael

Class: Runist (Lv.2)

Race: Human

HP: 70/70

MP: 130/130

STR: 6

END: 7

DEX: 9

AGI: 6

INT: 13

WIS: 7

Titles:

{Sinner}, {Heretic}, {Master of Status}, {Rune Master}, {God Watched}.

Unique skills:

[Status]

Skills:

Weaving (Lv. 2), Crafting (Lv. 2), Spear Arts (Lv. 1), Mana Sense (Lv. 3), Mana Manipulation (Lv. 4), Soul Sense (Lv. 3).

Azrael closed his status and stepped out to the edge of his cave. The vast forest of trees was stretched out before him, like a green ocean, framed by the mountains that formed the valley.

The waterfall thundered, loud and unstoppable, proclaiming its dominance. There was no Holy Empire, no gods and no people. This was his domain, the end of the world. Peaceful, free and uncomplicated.

A sudden breeze brushed past him, chilling his lower zones, and he had the sudden realisation that unlike back in his apartment, here he had a distinct lack of clothing.

‘Clothing and food’ he thought as his stomach rumbled. There were some disadvantages to not living in a society. At least he had magic.

A few clouds drifted lazily across the sky.

He enjoyed the view, drinking in the serenity.

With that he returned back into the cave. It was just him, the trees, the clouds and the smoke. Smoke?

He momentarily paused before turning around again and checking the horizon. A plume of smoke was rising from the edge of the forest. Grabbing his spear, he jumped down the forest below.

A fire in a forest was never a good sign, especially not when he was living in it. Or maybe it was just his curiosity driving him. Either way he was going to find out what it was.