My name is ***, ** years old. Married.

Two kids, a wife, my own house and a high-paying job. I have it all. I was happy.

But enough about the past. What’s important is today, and the future, however bleak it may be.

Let’s talk about today. Worrying about what happens next isn’t important.

Alright, so let’s begin.

Today is the day I’m filing my divorce.

Coincidentally, today is the day I die.

Abrupt, I know, but life is never fair, yes?

(Notice : Transfer sequence initialized. Parsing host data.)

Three bullet wounds in the abdominal region, I’m certain that my stomach was shot through. The burning pain that comes from what I assume my gastric juices should be enough evidence for that. Even the pain from the three holes I had couldn’t compare to the acidic burning I felt inside.

(Confirmed. - Skill : Physical Attack Resistance - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Corrosion Resistance - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

Two bullet holes on my right shoulder rendered my right arm useless. I can’t even move it even if I wanted to. It just hangs loose, like a kite that has lost its guidance and purpose. Not that moving it would amount to anything. I’m just laying here prone and dying, after all. It’s cold.

(Confirmed. - Skill : Cold Resistance - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

I had ten fingers on both hands before, now, I only had eight. Two were cut off the moment my inspired genius struck. Who would have thought that an attempt in blocking the bullets from a semi-automatic pistol would shave off two of my little appendages, blood, flesh, bones and all that. It hurts just thinking that I won’t have a complete set of fingers anymore.

(Confirmed. - Skill : Regeneration - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

I just stared at wonder in the state my body was in. I felt pain, but every second that passed. The pain felt dimmer and dimmer. I realized it at this point, I was going into shock.

(Confirmed. - Skill : Shock Resistance - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

I did not even have the composure to look at the people encircling me. The shouts of my murderers were thoroughly ignored. Even the singular wailing of the only woman in the background passed through my ears unnoticed.

Two drops of tears fell, and with them, a question. Directed towards the one who threw my whole life, my everything, in disarray. The one who stole everything from me.

“Are you happy?”

I thought,

‘You were always brilliant. A dazzling light. You gave me a warm home, two children to call my own, you gave me a reason. Your existence was a blessing I couldn’t hope to repay. You were my family, my best friend, my partner in life. You were my sun, my stars, my everything. I loved you - ’

but no matter how I refuse to believe it, the facts that made themselves known could not be ignored.

‘yet, you showed them to me. Those... things. The cruelty you orchestrated from the beginning. The truth of the lies that you shoved down my throat and up my ass with. I tried everything, you know. I asked you the reason, I asked what’s wrong. Maybe I was lacking, I thought, but you never bothered to explain. I tried to communicate but you blocked me off. I endured, but even insanity has its limits. I’ve had enough. And this is how I ended up.’

(Confirmed. - Skill : Pure Vision - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Inquisition - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Universal Tongue - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Persuasive Suggestions - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Mental Resistance - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(*Ding!*)

(Confirmed. - Skills : Pure Vision and Inquisition will be fused into Skill : Eyes of Truth once transfer is complete.)

‘God damn you. I’ll wait for you in hell you monster. I never believed in god but now, oh, do I believe. I’ll pray that you end up with me on hell’s deepest pits. I’ll wait for you to come down with me in paradise. If there is no such thing as heaven or hell, then I’ll make it. I’ll make it for you. Then, I’ll love you. I’ll tear off your skin then burn your raw flesh. I’ll rip your every joint. I’ll cut you and slice you and maim you and gouge and pierce you and crush you like how I loved you back then. I’ll revel in your screams like how I slept with your lullabies back then. I’ll tear your limbs, I’ll cut off your fingers, I’ll rip your skin, I’ll gouge your eyes, I’ll maim your flesh, I’ll lovingly break every single strand of your being like how I loved you back then.’

(Confirmed. - Skill : Spatial Creation - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : Flame Mastery - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(Confirmed. - Skill : True Strike - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(*Ding!*)

(Notice : Skills : Cold Resistance and Flame Resistance derived from Flame Mastery will be fused into Skill : Thermal Resistance EX once transfer is complete.)

‘You took everything away from me. Everything I’ve built, everything I loved, everything I was. And in the end, I’m lying here on the ground while you’re still standing there, watching me from above with eyes full of conceit. I hate it. It’s not fair. I’ve toiled blood, sweat and tears just to build it all but in the end, it all amounts to this? This is the extent of my effort? I refuse to believe it. ’

(Confirmed. - Skill : Unbound Potential - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

‘God, I don’t believe you but if you’re out there, listen.’

‘I didn’t do anything wrong. I lived as a person with morals. I was the perfect catch. Yet every single good I did was repaid with this bullshit. My existence, everything I’ve made, everything! All of it thrown completely to waste.’

‘If you’re alive.. if.. if you’re real, shouldn’t you prevent these kinds of things from happening? I tried to do good, didn’t I? I even did charity. I lived as a nice person. I went to church! I was the good guy! And yet, and yet!’

(*Ding!*)

(Error : System is unable to process the-)

(Error!)

(*Ding!*)

(???? : Superbia - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(*Ding!*)

(Notice : Due to - ???? : Superbia - Skills obtained pre-transfer and skills obtained once transfer is complete will derive from the predetermined evolution path.)

‘And yet this is how I was repaid!?’

‘It’s because of you! Right!? It’s because of you that I went through this hell! Right!?!’

‘You were irresponsible. I needed help. But you left me alone!’

I managed somehow, but it was hell, and in the end, the result was complete utter bullshit. I’m even dying.

Before my vision went completely blank, I wanted to let out at least a bit of it. Mustering the last bit of strength this dying body had, I spoke.

Full of fury and indignation, a crisp voice resounded in the hallways.

“Fuck you.”

‘You along with that bitch should all just go die and rot in hell.’

‘I’ll wait for you. Then I’ll end you. Then I’ll make you feel pain. Then I’ll make you wish you never let me slip away from your grace. All my pain and all my suffering and all my regrets and all my disappointments and all my fury, I’ll make you feel every crippling inch of them.’

‘I sincerely loathe you you fucking pieces of shit.’

(*Ding!*)

(Error : System is unable to process the-)

(Error!)

(*Ding!*)

(???? : Ira - will be obtained once transfer is complete.)

(*Ding!*)

(Notice : Due to - ???? : Ira - Skills obtained pre-transfer and skills obtained once transfer is complete will derive from the predetermined evolution path.)

After that, I felt as if the taut strings holding me aloft this muddy consciousness snapped.

Then.

Everything went blank.

(*Ding!*)

(Individual *** has ceased life functions.)

(Beginning transfer.)

(*Ding!*)

(Error : Incompatibility detected. Attempting recovery.)

(*Ding!*)

(Notice : Transference underway. Recovery attempt failed. Searching data-matrix for resolution.)

(*Ding!*)

(Solution : Forced coalescence of conflicting factors with host possible.)

(*Ding!*)

(Solution chosen. Transference modified. Preparing restoration.)

(*Ding!*)

(Error : Forced modifications resulted in irrecoverable lost.)

(*Ding!*)

(Notice : Transference subject irreparably altered. Searching data-matrix for resolution.)

(*Ding!*)

(Solution : Aspect relevant to subject will be used as compensation for lost.)

(*Ding!*)

(Error : Relevant aspect could not be found.)

(*Ding!*)

(Resuming transference.)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Sometime after a certain individual finally closed his eyes, the sole person that was inconsolably crying near him finally took the courage to walk towards him, albeit unsteadily.

She was crying. Heartbroken.

From another person’s perspective, one wouldn’t be able to determine what expression was lingering in her eyes. The expression on her lips could not be seen as well due to both of her hands covering the entirety of her lower face.

She neared the bullet hole-ridden corpse of the man she used to call her husband.

The shivering of her body that intensified after every step couldn’t go unnoticed and when she finally arrived at his position, she fell down.

She opened her mouth but her voice only came out stupidly,

“Ah--?”

Moving one hand away from her face, she nudged the corpse of the young man.

But there was no response.

”....?”

She couldn’t believe it. She thought that everything that happened to day was an illusion. Just a nightmare.

She slumped there stupidly. Her eyes unfocused, her mouth left agape, her tears flowing endlessly. Endlessly cold.

Endlessly regretful. Her refusal to acknowledge the current situation led her to recall how everything progressed to how it was now.

Today, morning.

She thought that this would go like any other. They’d eat breakfast, she’d carry the twins with her by the door before kissing him goodbye as he went for work. But unexpectedly, the look on his face this morning was far from the usual.

Dead eyes with bags beneath. He even looked older than he actually was. Skin pale and cracked lips replaced the usual vibrant visage he had.

She wanted to ask what was wrong as she took the spoon near her mouth but the words that left his mouth had her thoroughly shocked.

“Hey? I’m filing divorce today. I’ve had it with you. Bitch.”

And with those hurtful words, the spoon fell, he left the table, dragged her outside, tossed her inside the car and drove away. The two children they were eating with was unceremoniously left on the baby chairs beside the table. The Asian maid living with them who couldn’t understand the slightest bit of English was left dumbfounded.

Silence permeated the vehicle. And as they drove on, she was slowly figuring out their destination.

This road. It was the way to her father’s company. But why, she thought.

They had no issues until today. She loved him and he loved her. Her parents approved of him, especially her dad. They even had talks about the company’s inheritance but it was kept from her husband, too early, her father told her. Asides from that, there were no problems. The twins were growing well. They lived in a house full of warmth and love. That’s why..

That’s why she wondered what happened.

The worry she felt in her chest grew bigger and bigger as minutes passed. The silence grew louder and louder until it felt maddening, then finally, she asked him.

“Honey? What’s wrong?”

And instead of the usual warm, smiling face, what she saw was it’s complete opposite.

She wasn’t given an explanation. A cold gaze lurked within those dead eyes. She stared back at him, shivering. She wanted to speak but the intense pressure that he gave off wouldn’t let her utter even the slightest noise.

Fast forward thirty minutes.

Her father died, strangled by the man she loved. Then, they both ran out. He was shot and now, he lay there. Dead.

Recalling everything, she realized.

And with it, her vision swam towards one of the guards walking towards them.

After approaching the unknowing person, she deftly moved her hands towards his waist. Took something from it, then afterwards, an ear-piercing noise.

Then, silence.

(*Ding!*)

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

In a certain place during a certain time.

A sad, resigned sigh echoed, followed by the faint sounds of falling drops.

Silence came afterwards and with it, the entire world shook.

Then everything went quiet.

Author's Note :

Hi there, esteemed reader! Thank you for taking your time to read the prologue! I apologize if you found the chapter quite rushed or a bit lacking in some aspects. You see, this has been my first attempt at writing. Therefore, I'm certain I'll have terrible sense in all aspects of it. But I do want to continue and improve! - especially considering that English isn't my native tongue - so I sincerely hope I'll receive your guidance! In fact, I'm looking forward to it, haha.

But anyway, this has been blanc, and welcome to Cliché Fantasy I. Best regards!