‘A game-like status menu, huh? Very RPG-like, I wonder who designed it.’

[The Status is an observable standard of measurement created through the collective observation of all things that make up the universe.]

‘...This voice again.’

“And who are you?”

[The System.]

‘That robotic voice does not sound organic at all.’

[The System is a part of the Host.]

‘A part? A parasite?’

[The System is not a parasite.]

It would appear that whatever I was hearing could read my thoughts.

‘So you’re not a god?’

[The gods do not exist on this plane of existence.]

‘Plane of existence? Like heaven and hell?’

[The System does not know.]

‘So you’re not omnipotent, I see…’

[The System only has information that ensures the Host’s survival.]

This sounded like a scam.

‘And what would you gain in doing that?’

[The System is dependent on the Host’s survival.]

So it’s a parasite and a liar, I see how it is.

‘And what can you give me that will ensure my survival?’

[Merit Points.]

‘Merit?’

[Merit Points can be used in the System’s Shop function.]

I recalled a voice mentioning something about points before.

‘I have three thousand merit points, don’t I?’

[Yes.]

‘Show me the shop.’

[Opening Crouching Dragon Shop]

~~~~~~~~~~

Shop:

Techniques:

Draconic Thrust (Rare) - 100 MP

Draconic Swordsmanship (Rare) - 100 MP

Draconic Sense (Epic) - 1,000 MP

...

Unique Skill:

Dragon Hearted (Epic) - 1,000 MP

...

Books (Refreshes Monthly):

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Rare) - 1,000 MP

500 Ways to Not Die in War (Rare) - 1,000 MP

How to Outsmart Sherlock Holmes (Epic) - 1,000 MP

~~~~~~~~~~

‘This is a game, isn’t it?’

[The System has adapted in a way that would be familiar and best facilitate the Host’s growth.]

‘So it’s a game-like thing. I see how it is…’

It would appear that after death, you get sucked into your favorite video game genre.

[The Host should not treat his life as a game.]

‘I’ve died once, why can’t I do it again?’

[The Host no longer possesses the ability to reincarnate.]

‘So I used to be able to reincarnate?’

[When the Host contracted with the System, your ability to reincarnate was consumed.]

A contract?

‘I don’t recall any contract.’

[The Host wanted to retain memories after death which requires a break from the mortal cycle.]

That did sound like something I’d want.

‘Isn’t there any leveling system?’

[The Host’s strength is too mediocre to calculate the exact stats of.]

‘So I can gain experience by killing things?’

[The System warns the Host to not treat life like a game.]

‘Then how do I level up?’

[Don’t treat it like a game.]

‘...’

That’s kind of stupid.

‘So where am I?’

[The Host’s physical body is currently unconscious but will resume after a couple of minutes.]

‘I meant, what is this place?’

I looked, but at nothing particular. There was nothing good to look at in the first place. The giant spinny wheel thingy disappeared some time ago which left me alone in this abyss. It was similar to closing your eyes in the dark except you could somehow see your body.

[This is the plane where the Host’s soul exists.]

Soul? And something about a plane again. This system spat a lot of jargon I did not understand.

I pulled my attention away from the void for one moment only to be met with a bluish transparent rectangle with “Shop” written at the top. I glanced through the words but there were no traces of English to be found. I could understand the big fat “Shop” at the top though.

‘What language is this?’

[The Host should be able to understand the Argon language.]

I took another glance but nothing came to mind. It was only when I focused harder was my brain capable of processing the intent behind those symbols. A language I had never heard of, and definitely never learned—was this some fantastical language of another world?

My reading capabilities were lacking quite a bit, but after a minute or so, I finished reading all that was in the window.

‘Is this all that’s in the shop?’

[Techniques and Skills come with every evolution.]

‘Evolution as in?’

[The Host should not concern himself with such things for now.]

‘Then what’s the rarity order?’

[Further clarification is necessary to explain “rarity order.”]

‘I mean the “Rare” and the “Epic” attached to all the things in the Shop.’

[That is the simplified version of the Order of Existence for the Host’s comprehension.]

‘What’s the order?’

[From least to greatest: Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, Godly. Anything past that will most likely not be anything the Host will encounter for now.]

‘So I can buy stuff, right?’

[Yes.]

While there were very few things being sold in the shop, I wasn’t one to complain. The fact that these Rare techniques cost only 10 Merit Points was worrying though. It either meant Merit Points were hard to get, or Rare things were relatively easy to come by despite being “rare.” If I did some quick maths, I would have 800 points left over if I buy all the things that are not books. In the first place, why did it sell books?

‘Why do you sell books?’

[Books contain a wealth of knowledge.]

Another useless answer.

Either way, I wasn’t sure if I should save the Merit Points or spend them. I’ll probably end up buying that Unique Skill since there’s only one of them and it was Epic tier, so it was something good, right?

‘Are there descriptions for these techniques and that skill?’

[The Host’s Blurred Eyes is not capable of appraising the intangible that has yet to manifest itself.]

Blurred Eyes? Wasn’t that one of the skills on my status?

‘Can I see the description of Blurred Eyes?’

[Appraising Blurred Eyes (Epic).]

~~~~~~~~~~

Blurred Eyes (Epic):

You are not blind, bravo!

Can only appraise yourself. Can see basic mana particles.

~~~~~~~~~~

‘Mana? So there’s magic?’

[Yes.]

That explains a lot. If there’s magic, then there are bound to be old white guys with long ass beards who happen to be wizards. That would mean I reincarnated into some medieval Lord of The Rings world. I’m going to need all the skills and techniques I can get if I’m ever going to fight some monsters. That would be pretty sick to become a real life monster hunter.

‘Buy all the techniques and the skill.’

[2,200 Merit Points will be consumed, are you sure?]

‘Yes.’

[Techniques; received: Draconic Thrust (Rare), Draconic Swordsmanship (Rare), Draconic Sense (Epic).]

[System-type skill; received: Dragon Hearted (Epic).]

“...”

That’s strange.

‘Is that it?’

[Is what, it?]

‘Nevermind.’

I was half-expecting some plethora of knowledge to blast my brain to pieces like the kind of knowledge insertion in The Matrix where that guy masters a bunch of martial arts at once. I guess that’s not how it works, huh? There also didn’t seem to be much of a change within my body which was pretty suspicious, but I doubt it was a scam. Even if it was, I didn’t know what Merit Points were—it was the same thing as handing money to a monkey.

‘Can I appraise them now?’

[The Host’s Blurred Eyes is not capable of appraising techniques.]

‘Then appraise the skill.’

[Appraising Dragon Hearted (Epic).]

~~~~~~~~~~

Dragon Hearted (Epic):

Your heart functions like that of a dragon’s.

Innate knowledge of cultivating the foundations of magic. A greater sensitivity to mana in the body.

~~~~~~~~~~

Functions like a dragon? I didn’t feel anything different.

[The Host is regaining consciousness.]

A shock ran down my spine again as confusion overwhelmed my synapses.

As if I had been laying on the ground the whole time, the black surroundings started escaping as tints of blue burst from the sky, filling everything. It was a true psychedelic experience.

Eventually, I regained my sense of balance as I found myself laid down on some grass.

“Daniel! Are you alright?!”

Some damned kid screamed right next to my ears, adding on to the massive headache that just so happened to occur at the same time.

Flashes of images and memories that were not mine ejected into my body. I could see myself perform some sword dance, and another time, launching a fist from my pelvis that exploded something into the air. All these actions were done in that same black space I had been trapped in. I could feel both the movements and examine from the side as an independent observer. It was like seeing myself in the first person and third person at the same time. And all the while, I was pulling some shenanigans with a sword—a sword that was an outline made of white. Its body was hollow, with the same black energy as its surroundings.

After a couple more seconds of the addled pain with the kid’s screaming, I was finally able to muster up the vigor to shove the kid’s face away. Harshly at that. He deserved it.

Getting up, there was a sort of adrenaline that spiked my brain’s activity; all the smallest tidbits failed to escape me. The scurrying ants that made up a millionth the size of a blade of grass were clearer than a drop of water to me. My heart was pumping erratically, but each distinct beat could somehow be heard from my ears—heard—not felt. The beats were crisper than checking a pulse, but it was also kind of annoying to hear my heart beat every half a second.

“Daniel, are you okay?”

Despite being knocked to the ground with that push, the kid was still worried about me.

“Who…”

I stopped myself there. Things would be pretty bad if it was found out that I reincarnated into someone else’s body—well, I suppose it’s called transmigration, but… Either way, it’s a bad idea to expose myself now. Who knows if I will be burned alive as a witch. Medieval times are pretty harsh whether it was a fantasy or not.

“Daniel! Daniel! Do you remember me? What’s my name?”

Your name? Are these supposed to be the normal questions to ask when someone has been unconscious?

“You don’t remember?” The kid pursed his lips. “I- uhh.”

I looked at him… Her? Her? Ehhhhhhh, I still don’t feel bad for pushing her.

“I… I think I hit you too hard.”

Hit? Am I a masochist in this life?

“Why did you hit me?”

“Eh? I’m sorry!” The kid knelt down and dropped hi—her head.

“You don’t need to do that, uhh…”

“So you don’t remember anything?” She suddenly shot upwards to meet right in front of my face. It did not look like she knew what personal space was.

“So you really don’t remember anything…”

A brief moment of contemplation came across here which added a bit of unnecessary wisdom to her childish face.

“Daniel, close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“It will help you remember if you close your eyes very very tightly so that you don’t see anything.”

‘I call bullshit’

But of course, It wasn’t pleasant to curse in front of a child; especially in the body of a child. Now that I think of it actually, I do recall kids cursing as young as six. But starting beef in childhood is kind of stupid.

As I was about to follow that order, I hit against something heavy with my bare feet.

I looked down to find an unusual specimen to be handled by children, that is, a wooden sword. It looked like the real thing too. At least based off of the indent it made on the ground, it was definitely not to be swung around like a toy—

*Bonk