While taking the biggest, most incredible dump of his life, a truck crashed into Greg’s first floor apartment.

And that was how a new crest was born.

Greg experienced blackness. A lot of blackness, which expanded into what felt like infinity. This wasn’t total blindness, though he wasn’t entirely sure if he still had something that represented a body to call sight.

Then a light emerged just a dozen or so meters before him. Not really having a choice, Greg’s…form drifted to the enormous sphere of what probably meant the afterlife.

Suddenly, he found himself in the fucking sky and below him were fires. He was a body again, his senses returned, and fuck.

“No, come on! I did nothing wrong. Why am I going to Hell?”

“Whoops, sorry about that,” a woman’s voice said. “You’re actually watching what would’ve happened if you followed your cousin that day, got involved with some bad folks, and pissed off Celestial.”

The scenery shifted and Greg was in an office, seated, dressed in the same clothes he had on before getting naked for his dump.

He looked up to see a nun sitting at a desk with a laptop, typing at what looked and sounded like the speed of sound. The young man normally would’ve found the clacking annoying, but this was a sign of actual senses, not a delusion, not blackness.

“Greggory Webber,” she said as she turned to look at him with the most bizarre colored eyes he’d ever saw in his life. Glowing gold. A second later, they shifted back to a dull gray. “Killed in a trucking accident setup by a troublesome criminal organization that we’ve hunted for some time now.” She sighed. “And you weren’t the target.”

Greg’s eyes widened. “What the hell do you mean I wasn’t the target? Are you saying I literally died for nothing?”

The nun snickered and then coughed. “You died in an interesting way.”

“I died while taking the b…” Greg leaned back in the leather seat. “Let’s pretend I didn’t say any of that. Are you God’s angel?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, and no, I’m not an angel,” the nun said, amused. She gave the young man a concerned look. “Who wouldn’t be shocked by their sudden death? Many and I mean many, never learn how they die. They lose the will to care while roaming the land of the dead.”

Greg flinched. “Well, if I’m here being told this information…”

“That’s right,” the silver-haired nun said. “You will not be going to the land of the dead. Greggory Webber, you aren’t fully human.”

“Come again?” Greg asked, confused.

“It’s probably too much to take in right now, so I’ll let you figure out things on your own,” the nun said. “For now, allow me to introduce myself. I am Julia Tanaka. Your dean, that is if you accept my offer.”

“And refusing means I go to the land of the dead,” Greg said.

“And die again before going,” Julia added, tone almost playful.

“Wait…what do you mean again?” Greg asked. “Am I alive?”

“You are, but please don’t start touching yourself,” Julia said. “It’s weird every time I see it.” Greg stared at her flatly. “So here’s my offer. Attend Omen’s Sphere Academy and learn about yourself, your hidden potential, and just how lucky we caught your soul before it went to waste in the land of the dead.” She tilted her head. “You know, you have a cousin in this realm…the Le…never mind. That’s not important. What do you say?”

“So…there’s no real way to get back to my old life?” Greg asked, though not very hopeful.

“Do you really want to?” Julia said. “If you get strong enough, learn the right abilities, yes, you can warp home. But by the time you learn all of that…”

Greg nodded to himself. “I accept your offer. By the sound of things, you’re suggesting that I’ll never want to go back.”

“But you can learn to,” Julia said. “Some go see relatives. But do know, everyone believes you’re dead. There will be consequences should magical secrets leak out to the earth. It’s a protected planet for a number of reasons.”

“I see,” Greg said. “So…what happens now?”

“Learning about the powers you possess of course,” Julia said as she offered a hand. Greg accepted, giving it a shake.

“You know, you’re one of the friendliest people I’ve met in a while,” Greg said. “Laughing at my…outgoings aside.”

Julia shrugged. “Better out than in…I mean, I am your dean. As long as you don’t give me a reason to be mean, I’ll always be here for you. I expect great things from you. And I know going to a college again may feel strange after graduating a week ago, but this isn’t a regular college. Omen’s Sphere Academy is a place to learn about magic, your powers, and for you, a place to adapt to your new settings before you’re released.”

“No catches? Just released?” Greg asked.

“You may be offered a job, but that’s not important right now,” Julia said. “The goal is to make sure you’re mentally and physically ready for this world we call, Satovia.”

“S..Satovia?” Greg said.

Julia nodded. The nun drummed her fingers across the table before speaking again. “This is going to sound weird, but I need you to will the system, bring up the menu within your mind. Speak in your thoughts, System menu. Examine what you will see as the start of an interesting journey. The list of classes should be available too.”

“I...I’ll try,” Greg said. He thought, System Menu. The man flinched when an RPG-prompt appeared before him. And within the text box, he truly saw himself.

Name: Greggory Webber

Crest: ???

Level: 5

Ultimate skill: none.

Affinity: electric, venom, forest.

Number of Free points: 0

Magic-based skills: none.

Bonus skill:

Forgotten tier skill: Rising Dragon. The longer you last in a battle, the stronger you get. Simple as that. Skill Level 1 of 10. Free points needed to increase level: 50. [Passive.]

Inventory:

Money: 200 dollars.

-Key card.

Classes:

-Basics with Magic.

-Elemental Theory.

-Magical Combat Training.

-Martial Arts Training.

“Okay, what the hell is even going on?” Greg said. He eyed the nun. “Are you treating my life as if it were a game? Because I don’t appreciate that. I—”

“Trust me, this isn’t a game,” Julia said. “You gain experience from quests, defeating foes, or really anything. Enough experience will increase a level. If you get strong enough, one day you can help us hunt down the organization responsible for ending your life.”

Greg’s eyes hardened. He still didn’t feel right about this, but if there could be common ground found when it came to this situation, it’d be tracking down and arresting the killers.

“Is it possible for me to at least get the name of the organization responsible?” Greg said.

“That much is fine,” Julia said. “They call themselves The Bright Ones. Let’s just hope for all our sakes that you won’t need to worry about such a group.”

The dean stood and stretched. “Will your system to lead you to your room. Your keycard’s in your inventory. Your classes will begin tomorrow.”

“Just like that?” Greg said. “What about—”

“Everything will be waiting for you in the dorm room,” Julia said. “Bedding, clothing, toiletries. Your keycard will be your meal pass. You have starting funds in your inventory, but everything else, well, you will earn. All shall be revealed in due time. For now, get some rest. You hadn’t actually slept for eighteen hours.”

“Eighteen hours?” Greg exclaimed. “I mean when? I mean how? When did—”

“Time dilation, between transfer and reincarnation,” Julia said. She turned. “It’s currently eight PM. If you want, I can have food delivered to you.”

“I guess that works,” Greg said. “I still have a lot of questions but keeping you here all night probably isn’t fair.”

Julia smiled. “I will be happy to answer what I can, but at a safe rate.”

The moment Greg opened the door, a dark-haired girl wearing what appeared to be a traditional Japanese-style robe fell over.

“Ow!” she said. “Bloody hell, I leave the club to see my mother and the first thing that happens to me is a free trip for the floor to meet my face.”

The young woman groaned, but she did accept Greg’s hand to stand.

“Sorry about that,” Greg said.

The girl fixed him with a flat stare then shrugged. “It’s okay. That door has it out for me.”

She continued toward the nun. Julia waved Greg off.

Seeing that a mother-daughter argument was potentially about to happen, the young man left the room.

And something somewhere, perhaps everywhere, acknowledged the start of a new adventure.

Wait a fucking minute, he had a cousin in this world? Who?