-You have Died (Ascended)-

The large black letters were written on the wall in front of me as I suddenly became aware standing up, the only thing I could see was the writing, everywhere else I looked was white.

"Hello?" I said into the emptiness, my voice sounding muffled as though in a heavy fog.

.:Hello Champion.:. A genderless voice responded directly into my mind.

I carefully looked all around but couldn't see anyone.

"Who, what, are you?" I asked.

.:You may refer to me by my relational name of Interface or Manager, that is who I am to you. I was assigned by my faction to you to control the variables of your reincarnations for your first runs.:.

I sat down, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "Your faction?" I asked.

.:Our members are entities that generally focus on knowledge-based approaches to achieving goals. Your psychological profile suggests that you might be a good fit with us, and so we are sponsoring you to get you started.:.

This wasn't making any sense to me. Every question answered was just causing me more confusion.

"Started with what?" I pointed to the writing on the wall. "That says that I died, or maybe ascended. What does that mean?"

.:Right. Your memories have been locked. In your last life you got powerful enough to have the option of Ascending, which gave you the chance to become a Champion, starting your next life with advantages and a specific goal to achieve. Most entities just have their memories cleared and their consciousness moved to a new life.:.

Wait, what? I tried to remember something before the white place I was in and came up with nothing. I couldn't even remember my name, which was unsettling.

"What is my name?" I asked.

.:It is recommended that you choose a new name for each new life. Or you can use a title that you have earned as a Champion, but of course you haven't lived a life as a Champion yet. You do have a designation, which is DS-2248694637-1.:.

I opened my mouth to ask about the designation, but Interface was already answering.

.:'DS' stands for 'Digitised Sentient', the first number is a time from your originating planet, and the second number is your index of sentients digitised at that time.:.

Digitised... I've been uploaded to some sort of computer system? I need to get my memories back, I don't have enough information to make any sort of informed decision.

Wait... "How is it that I know what a computer system is if I don't have access to my memories?" I asked.

.:When you see or hear a word you get your intuitive understanding of it, based upon your memories, without actually remembering anything. Digitised, in this case, meaning to be converted into digital form requires an understanding of digital and non-digital existence and how a digital existence must run - on a computer system.:.

Perhaps I should try a more direct approach. "Why are my memories locked?" I asked.

.:Newly digitised sentients are limited in how they can think and process information, it's called phantom brain syndrome. Restricting access to your memories and then getting you to compete in a simulation that expands your limitations is how my faction has decided to help you grow.:.

"So you want me to compete in a simulation, sponsored by your faction, and in return I get to expand my limitations." I stated. "What are you getting out of it?"

.:We aren't sponsoring the simulation, just your entry to it as a Champion. And people will always pay for good entertainment, as well as wagers on what you do and whether you will succeed or fail at the goal assigned. Even if you do not end up joining us afterwards we should come out ahead.:.

I rubbed my eyes, the bright white of this place making them tired. As I was thinking that it would be nice if it wasn't so bright, the white dimmed to a soft grey.

"Did you do that?" I asked.

.:No, this is your simulated space, I have very little direct access. Currently I can only display text on a designated surface. It costs processing cycles to simulate anything, which includes consciousnesses like you and I. After your first competitive simulation you will likely have enough cycles to set this place up as you would like. My faction is currently hosting you at our expense, though compared to your human form a chair wouldn't cost much more if you would like to make one.:.

As soon as Interface said 'chair' I realised how uncomfortable it was to be standing this whole time and how much better a chair would be.

"I would." I said. "How do I make it?"

.:Just focus and visualise what you would like to create.:.

I closed my eyes. A chair. A comfortable chair. Soft, something to sink into, like laying back into a cloud. Covered in a red coloured fur, large arm rests, an adjustable reclining backrest and foot rest. Placed perfectly to view the space with the text on it.

Opening my eyes the chair was exactly as I pictured. With a sigh of contentment I sank into it. Bliss.

.:... to the next stage.:.

I drifted off a bit, I couldn't help it. This was the best thing I could remember experiencing, which wasn't saying much considering I could only remember about an hour. But I should probably pay attention to what Interface is saying.

"Sorry, what was that?" I asked.

.:I said, Champion, we should move on to the next stage.:.

Wait, if I remember important things about concepts when I hear words related to them, maybe that is why Interface isn't using my name.

"What was my name before I ascended and became a champion?" I asked.

.:It would harm your potential to take on the limitations of your old name.:.

It seems my guess was correct. My memories have been tampered with, and there could be something related to who I was that would give me an advantage. Even this heavenly chair could be a manipulation. My only source of information is Interface, and there is little chance I can learn anything that it doesn't want me to know. Is there anything I can do about it?

"What is the next stage?" I asked.

.:The first stage of Reincarnating into your first trial simulation is to pick the powers you will have. Each power you pick will have it's level assessed, and the total level of all of your powers together will affect the difficulty of the scenario you are given. It being your first simulation the difficulty will be adjusted to compensate for your lack of experience. What simulations you will have access to after the first will depend on your results from this one, there is an infinite number of variations.:.

As I thought on that, the message fixed on the space in front of me changed.

Powers: 0 Threat: 0

"What are the limitations of powers?" I asked.

.:The only real limitation is that you are not permitted to create powers that generate cycles outside of the simulation. Occasionally new champions try to enslave their Interface, though that only really works with weaker Interfaces. Another thing some try is to give themselves 'I win' powers, usually in the way of Ascending at will. One of two ways that works out is either you win immediately and earn very little or you get an impossible scenario and so lose, and earn very little. The other thing to be aware of is that depending on what powers you pick you can limit the scenarios that are available to you. Choosing a power that would be exclusive to a sci-fi scenario would remove the fantasy scenarios that don't allow sci-fi, and magic could limit sci-fi scenarios.:.

I should be able to pick powers that affect me outside of the simulation, I can add abilities I can use in this space.

"I'd like the power to fly." I said.

Powers: 1 Total Threat: 10k Power 1: Flight Assessed Threat: 10k

I got a new sense of lift, like having a third arm. Focusing on moving it upwards caused me to float upwards, returning to neutral allowed me to hover in place. I spent the next few minutes levitating around before floating back into my chair.

"It isn't really flight, it's more levitation, why is that?" I asked.

.:Your powers are affected by the simulation you are in, and this simulation is very basic. You will be able to upgrade it at your own expense to include more realistic physics if you so choose. Flight is a good general purpose power, though it can usually be achieved through other means in the competitive simulations. Jet packs, flight magic, and things of that nature. My recommendation is to pick an AI companion as one of your powers. It will allow you to adjust to digital thinking, and will limit the simulations to sci-fi scenarios.:.

So I won't be able to test the powers I choose very well. An AI companion that is pre-programmed sounds like a way for Interface to control me.

"Remove flight as my first power, I'd like my first power to be that I remember all of my existence." I said, happy to have found a loophole.

.:I strongly recommend against that. You would remember your past life, which would limit your progress, and it would also increase your base hosting cost. You would be in debt to us for far longer.:.

That I am in debt to them at all reinforces my need to remember, what else hasn't Interface told me that I need to know. I don't trust it, and this is the only way I can see to get all of the knowledge that I need.

"That is my choice for my first power." I said.

.:This isn't likely to work as you intend. You agreed to having your memories locked. But very well, I can see you aren't changing your mind.:.

A moment later there was a sharp throbbing pain in my left wrist and I was standing with no memory of having stood up. And the display had reset.

Powers: 0 Threat: 0