Warmth. Darkness. Boredom. These things are with me in the endless void that sucked me in like a black hole. I was hypnotized by it and clung to it fiercely. But, I was quickly bored by it.

Do you ever wonder how you would die? I did multiple times. Not to be a party pooper, but really I always thought I would die because of an incurable illness or to one of the crazy girls I pumped and dumped. Not the bright outlook on my life, but hey, I was always a little bit weird and a playboy. My family and friends never fail to let their opinions on that matter... Not that they were ever malicious towards me.

I had just turned 27. That's right, 27. I still lived with my parents. It wasn't so bad, but it could get annoying when I wanted to go out to a bar or something.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I was about to head off to work at the local bank branch when I got the call from my brother. We were both working there. His shift ended later than mine, so he told me he'd pick me up after we talked.

Now I was quite an average fellow (ignoring my womanizing, scheming, crazy mother, and mayhem on to others), a twenty-seven-year-old university grad student with many diplomas whose mother forced him to get against his will. Lover of gaming, reading, women (real, trans), fighting, survival shows and some anime. Just your typical foreign Black legal American with many different language skills, but unfortunately, none of those was helpful in this endless void.

So, believe me, it was quite a surprise to be so damn lucky to have an entire scaffolding about ten-story tall fall on you. But, like, are you kidding me? Maybe I wasn't the best person out there in life, but to die like that? No way. I mean, sure, I wouldn't mind being a vegetable and not having to worry about anything, but dying suddenly without any warning? Come on, man, that isn't warm-hearted!

I either pissed off some higher being, or all the girls that I pumped and dumped cursed me. There was still so much I wanted to do, and now it is the end. I feel like I should be at least depressed about that, but hey, no more crazy mother and her insane method of forcing my brothers and me to do stuff against our will. Thank god! Now, if only someone would bring me some food and water! Or at least a tv and some girls.

Man, it's so boring in this place. I wish somethin--

[Congratulations, you died]

"No shit!" I said sarcastically.

What was your first clue? The endless void? I don't know why I'm being a sarcastic ass to a blue, a bit transparent, square that is floating like a rock in space in front of me. I mean, I got the 'congratulated me' part, but why is it about me dying!? You don't congratulate someone for dying; that's just rude, my dude.

[You have been selected for a special mission]

"Oh, well, that is exciting news," I replied sarcastically.

[No, due to your unfortunate death. The One Above decided to give you a gift.]

"The One Above? Do you mean God? Unfortunate death? I got crushed to the death, jackass! Gift? What do you mean? An explanation would be nice."

[Sigh... You see, you were not meant to die that day. Unfortunately, you died due to a small mistake on The One Above side. So to apologize for this inconvenience, you will be granted a gift. Or don't I get paid either way.]

"A gift?" I said, confused.

[Yes. This is a quest that The One Above has sent for you. It is a very important quest. Be the Strongest!]

"A quest, for me? Why am I getting a quest? I'm dead, right?" I stopped to think, and it wasn't important anything to get out of this void. "Alright, so what is the gift you are talking about... well, writing."

[You will be sent to another universe with a unique ability you are quite familiar with. There you will be able to live your life as you want.]

"Live my life as I want? Are you serious? And why do I need a unique ability for that?"

[Look, I have a job to do, so just pick something, alright]

"Damn, and here I thought that a blue square couldn't get annoyed. Alright fucker, let's get started." I say with a smart-ass tone.

[Good, now please choose your evolution path]

[-Feline

-Draconic

-Snakelike

-Creature of the Sea

-Canine

-Wormlike]

Uhh, what? Evolution path? What kind of universe would need me to choose something like that. Oh, wait! It's probably one of those weird Japanese things. I didn't even know Japan made their own games or whatever.

Well, I have no clue, but I always loved dragons, so draconic it is.

[Draconic evolution path has been chosen.

Do you want to start a tutorial?

Reward:

- Vergence in the Abyss Perk

- 100 EXP

- 5 stat points

Yes/No?]> Yes

Holy shit! Is that what I think it is? Did you just give me the gamer ability? Alright, I may still be mad about dying, but come on, who wouldn't want to have a chance like this. Now, if I could only get the information of what universe I will be sent to.

Without wasting any more time, I clicked Yes. Maybe the tutorial will shine some light.

[You have been granted the ability to live your life like a game.]

"How cool! I can live my life as a game!" I shouted in happiness. "This is awesome!" I clapped my non-existent hands. "I've always wanted to play a game where I can live my life in real life and in a virtual world simultaneously."

[Now that you are done, let me continue.

Skills can be gained using many ways. For example, reading a skill book, experimenting, or repeating a certain action. Still, you need to remember that not every skill can be learned if you don't have high enough stats for it.

To continue, say or think 'Status']

"Status"

Damn right that I know a handful of people who would pay for ability like that. My sister would be one of them... shit, now that I think of it, my family will soon find out that I died. Fuck. I will miss them and would probably feel bad about this whole ordeal if it wasn't; I was already a stone-cold beer-drinking guy.

Well, I already had enough time to think about what I lost and moved on erstwhile when I started counting orange sodas on the wall. Now I should finish this tutorial if I don't want to piss off.. whoever you are, more.

[For making a great decision and not pissing me off, you're MAG increased by 1.

Now hurry up.]

"You wanna fight!" I replied sarcastically.

Name: Gazei

Race: Dragon Egg

Condition: Normal

Lv: 5/5

Evolution Stage: Draconic 0 (100%)

Title: 【Dragon Queen's Son: Lv 1】【Dragon King's Son: Lv 1】【Reincarnted Human: Lv 1】(Titles are obtained like achievements of completing certain things or doing something unique. Like being born or being at the right place at the right time. They can grow and change if the individual achieves a greater level of the title or if they have each sacred skill and have the corresponding skill.

HP: 5/5 (HP or Hit Points governs the amount of damage an individual can take before the stat reaches 0. If the stat reaches 0, the individual will die)

MP: 1000/1000 (MP or Magic Points governs skill use. Each skill to be activated uses a certain amount of MP, which once the stat reaches 0, no skill can be used)

Attack: 0 (is the values show of individual's ability to deal physical damage. Increase size, muscles, and stamina pool.

Defence: 5 (is the value of an individual's ability to take physical damage. Gain 20 HP per point in Defense and is the size of your mana pool.)

Magic: 10 (Magic or Magical Power is the value of an individual's magic ability. Magical power also serves as magical resistance to abnormal conditions}

Agility: 0 (the value of an individual's movement speed. The higher the stat is, the faster an individual can move even if they have a large body.)

Rank: F

Special Skills: (Tend to be specific to an individual. They tend to come and go as the race changes.)

【Gamer: Lv-】【Sin of Pride: Lv 1】【Vergence in the Abyss】

Resistance Skills: (These are given when the individual experiences what the skill resists such as being exposed to fire or ice attack.)

【Fire Resistance: Lv 1】

Normal Skills: Attack moves, spells, and other supplementary and are typically gained by performing the action first; sometimes, the action needs to be performed multiple times before gaining a skill.

【Dragon Breath: Lv 1】【Dragon (Status) View: Lv 1】

My stats are nothing special, but that is expected because I am still in an egg. So I quickly did the math and figured out how my MP was so damn big.

[For figuring out how the system works, your MAG and DEF gained 1 point.]

That was quick, but I was still surprised that you didn't give it to me sooner!

But I will forgive you this time. Now skipping to the end. 'Evolution Stage'.

[Due to beginning your new life as a Monster, you unlocked access to the Evolution path (Your permanent path: Draconic). You can treat it as your second level. You gain progress toward the next stage as you level up, train, complete missions, and fight different enemies. Eating helps.

Upon reaching 100% of your current stage, you can evolve. You do this by spending the accumulated Evolution points on different upgrades to your Dragon form. Due to your Draconic path, most of those upgrades will be associated with Dragons. (Eastern, Western, and others) And what you have eaten. The more you eat, the more traits you gain from what you eat.

For example, you will be able to gain better natural armour and additional limbs, change how you look or even add special abilities that you will be able to use in your Dragon form. You can also speed up your growth, but size can be gained naturally by levelling up.

You gain 1 Evolution point per 2 levels.]

"Damn! I need to get some food and fast!" So I thought to myself, when I hatch.

[The main part of the tutorial is finished. Do you have any questions? I might not be as merciful to answer them later.]

"Yeah, I have two questions. First, what will my Dragon form look like at the beginning, and where I will be born?"

[You will find out after your deployment in Ather.]

Alright, and when that will happen?

[Now.]

What are you tal- Well shit. Fuck you, Game.

A chilly breeze swept by the lonely and dark sea of Ashen trees. Centuries went by without the boorish disturbance of any predators in this forest. The trees grew long and healthy. The youngest tree was at least a century years old. The flourishing of the branches and leaves obscured the sky from the grey-skinned ground. Underneath the ancient trees' visage, the difference between day and night was incredibly faint. As such, creatures of the night lurked perpetually in their own leisure without caring for night or day. Amidst the crawlers of darkness that were scuttling about, an egg the size of a human's head lay lonely in the cradle roots, sprouting from the various ancient trees.

Nearby the egg, a creature emerged from a log long fallen to the ground. It had the appearance of a rat, but it could also be said to be a lizard. Regardless, the most striking feature of the creature was its pair of blood-red-eyes that seemed to be focused on the egg. The red-eye animal was confused as the egg had not been where it was when the creature had gone to sleep some time ago. The creature knew not of how long its slumber spanned. It only woke up when its belly cried for sustenance or when its sense of perseverance dictated it to find a mate.

The red-eyed creature approached the egg slowly. It was baffled and cautious, but its curiosity was the dominant trait. It minded every step it took as it crossed over the roots. It cast its gaze around, ensuring it wasn't some trap laid by its predators. Satisfying with its own inspection, the creature moved closer and closer to the egg. Gradually, it reached the egg. Its first instinct was to smell the egg. However, the scent that emanated from the egg was too much to ignore.

No, it wasn't like that of a normal egg; there was something strange about the scent. Something that made the creature feel a little dizzy like it had just drunk a few glasses of strong liquor mixed with cheap wine. The beast was unable to resist the urge to touch the egg. Slowly it raised one hand to the egg's shell. Just before it touched it, it recoiled. There was something odd about the egg's surface. Not like it had a texture, but like there was something on top of the egg. But it couldn't see anything. The creature's senses had failed to detect something.

Just when it had given up on trying to identify what the strange object was, it felt warm against its fingers.

The creature froze. It felt like the egg had suddenly grown hotter.

Its mind went blank as the creature watched the egg explode.

The last thing the creature saw was a single crack on the egg with one eye staring back at it before dying.