The heavy pattering of rain resounding against my window keeps the fear clawing at my heart from tipping me over into my breaking point, yet it does nothing to stop the tears of frustration that grip the very same organ; the more I wipe my eyes, the more tears stream down my face like an endless loop.
It's pathetic, really. I've spent most of my life without the need for tears, but this place has managed to break me in a way that no one else really has.
I have been a resident of this "world" for a decent stretch of time, but even still the dark fog that covers my mind taunts me incessantly, refusing to leave me no matter how much I beg for release.
Constant creaking from the fan at the center of my room has faded into the cacophony of noise within this desolate apartment doing nothing but highlighting the untold amount of unease I constantly feel when it comes to my future, and the walls feel as if they are whispering to me causing my head to spin.
All of this creates a stark contrast to the whispers, which have tried their best to comfort me since my whole world came crashing down. An exercise in futility, but one I have no choice but to welcome.
Why, out of all the people in the world, did it have to be me? I cannot fathom why I'd be cursed to such an extent. Trapped in an unknown world, forced to live with the fact that I may never see my home world again-may never find what I've been striving towards my whole life.
What was it all for…?
Being here for an extensive period of time doesn't make this any easier. Even now, it's hard not to freak out. Everything's so similar, and I'm not sure if that makes it worse or not.
My apartment hasn't changed one bit; even down to the stain on my work desk from the time when I spilled a can of peach crush and didn't notice until hours later.
The real changes though...they showed themselves when I tried to look outside my window.
There is nothing else here.
The only thing that exists is my apartment in this endless void. My only comforts are the small ass Roku TV that plays anything and everything I can think of and a laptop that seems to have infinite wi-fi with zero restrictions. At least I have plenty of food and beverages; they've replaced themselves every time they've run out.
That alone lets me know just how long I've been here. In the beginning I spent the longest time rationing everything out only to laugh at the insanity of it all when I watched everything magically reappear back in their places.
But no matter what I do, and no matter how much time passes, I always end up thinking about the past. Reminiscing and drowning myself in stories has been one of the only ways I've managed to keep myself sane, and I'm not even sure if it's really worked all that well if I'm being honest.
My living situation before all of this was very good given my circumstances. I ended high school a few years early and went straight into law where I became a criminal defense lawyer. I even graduated from law school and started my own law firm, but I didn't even get to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I also moved into this small apartment just a little while back; the funds to do so I got from my part-time job during college. I worked enough throughout my short time in high school to get multiple scholarships, so much so that I got a full ride through college without even needing my dad's financial help.
Just thinking about this pisses me off, because I worked my ass off to get here in my old world, and now I can't enjoy the fruits of my labor with my loved ones.
Stop.
Being angry won't change anything. I've got to consider the possibilities of this place-there's no way that I can't get back. I may not be able to open the door, but I've learned a lot from my little Roku TV, and some of it's completely world shattering.
The multiverse is real, and I come from a reality that's an offshoot of something called DC, also known by its other name, detective comics. A vast multiverse filled with complex wonders and horrors. Heroes, Villains, Gods, Demons, Utopia's and Catastrophes? DC has it all and more. In fact, I was born and raised in Central City, home of The Flash.
That's where I come from, and apparently, I was no one. My name was never once mentioned throughout countless forms of media. There is no striving towards a future that was taken from me or even keeping myself from going down a dark path; my life was so unimportant that I never even showed up, or worse, I just didn't exist in the first place.
The part that really pisses me off is the fact that my sister has so much more importance than me in just about every universe simply due to being the wife of a hero.
I guess I shouldn't complain too much; I never turned into some corny cape who got humiliated at every turn.
From what I've gathered, It's not like Central City is a horrible place to live in. In fact, it's one of the best places to live in most iterations of the DC continuity. Sure it has its moments, but it's no Metropolis, and it damn sure isn't the hellhole that is Gotham City.
Decent housing conditions, base level psychopaths, and a whole lot less crime and or city-wide destruction level events. It's like the perfect middle ground among anywhere you could possibly be dropped in until you think about it a bit more.
While the Flash may deal with less city-wide destruction events in good old CC, you can end up going from street level crime to a multiverse level threat just as much, and possibly even more, as you can in good old Gotham and Metropolis.
Now considering all of that…I still wholeheartedly believe that it was one of the best places I could've ended up in given my birth universe.
I've even gone so far as to do as much research as I can in my time inhabiting this new world of mine. Up to the point of my situation, everything had shaped up to be just like one of the shows I watched in my time here.
Specifically, the CW version of the flash.
There was no word of Superman, Wonder Woman, or any of the main DC heroes, but everyone knows about the whispers of a masked green figure in Starling City. For most, Batman is only known as a myth, one far less believed than "The Hood".
In other news, Harrison Wells was planning to unveil his particle accelerator just before I'd been sent here, and I've also been to Jitters, a coffee shop that the main cast frequents throughout the entirety of the 9 season long show. Something else to consider is the fact that I'm literally Iris West's older brother, so yeah, that's a thing.
After all the media I consumed, I realized that I needed to study the multiverse far more than I have. No stone was left untouched.
If someone like Oliver Queen can survive in a world like that, then I know damn well that I can do so as well while even going so far as to thrive, and I don't care how egotistical that may sound.
He may have ended up working hard eventually, but I've been working my ass off all my life. I am smarter than him, more determined, and willing to go beyond something as trivial as "morals".
Through hell or high water, I will prosper.
While I'm trying to make my way back, I have another question that needs to be answered. What even happened to me? It's incredibly difficult for me to think about, no matter how much I try to recall it. My memories of that night…they're hazy beyond belief. The only thing I can remember is a feeling. An overwhelming sense of shock, but it wasn't exactly negative.
I can't explain it in a way that exemplifies it well enough. There was…amusement in the midst of the confusion. Whatever it may or may not have been, it's all I can recall from that night.
Are you done?
What in the world…?
Floating in the air in front of me right now is a slightly translucent black screen that's somehow glistening, but the words are a deep blood red. It's eerie and ominous as hell.
I have to be hallucinating, but I don't want to believe that this has gotten to me so badly that my mind would resort to that.
Not wanting to believe that I've lost my mind, I decide to humor whatever horror my brain's conjured up for me.
"Yeah…I'm done."
Good.
For future reference, responding in your head shall suffice.
Good to know, I think? What's going on here?
Congratulations on your death, Vincent. While you may not have been very noteworthy, you still have the privilege of becoming the one and only host to the Gamer System.
What…what do you mean by my death? Everything was perfectly fine; I was perfectly fine. My body was as healthy as can be, and all I did was let myself doze off on the couch after deciding to re-watch Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
Your friend Jacob had come over to have a deep talk with you. One that involved his insecurities and other such nonsense.
Instead he walked in on his girlfriend of 4 years naked under the covers with the man he considered to be his best friend.
I totally forgot about that part, but I can fill in the blanks pretty easily myself. Seeing as we live in America and Jacob has always had a habit of keeping his protection on him, I can imagine that he probably riddled us both with bullets the moment he laid eyes on us.
Can't say I'm surprised; simply due to the fact that he's got a butt-load of mental issues and trauma that I don't have enough knowledge on nor care enough about to ever really pay attention to them all.
Now I'll be real with you for a moment. This wasn't exactly on my list of the best way to go, but the circumstances are somewhat funny enough for me to honestly just let it go.
His girlfriend wasn't all that special either if I'm being honest; she was an extremely manipulative girl that he had met by chance at the tail end of high-school. I wish her personality was as beautiful as she was, but then again if it was there's a chance that I wouldn't be here in the first place.
Now, I know that I may not have room to speak, but in my defense I was bored. It's not my fault that being bored just so happens to make me more morally ambiguous than usual.
Idly scratching my beard, I start to wonder why I don't particularly care about the fact that I died, but I can't seem to find a concrete reason. For all intents and purposes, I think that I find it hard to care much after being cooped up in this apartment for who knows how long.
Now that you've come to your conclusions, would you like to begin character creation?
[Yes][No]
For some odd reason no is grayed out, but I'm not all that worried about it.
I wouldn't have pressed no anyways, but yes, I am ready.
Great! First off, here's a little package to start your journey.
Perks and skills gained…
[Gamers Mind] - Perk
Allows for the player to view messages from the system.
Protects memories and thoughts of the system as well as the player's past life, but does not grant mental immunities beyond that.
- Further functions to be discovered.
[Gamers Body] - Perk
While still grounded to the rules of your reality for the most part, the player may now live life as if it was a game. You shall function normally except for the fact that you now have the ability to see your stats and grow at an increased level alongside gaining the perks of system interaction. Bloodline abilities, secret magics, and even godhood are achievable through this perk.
- Grants unlimited potential.
- Further functions to be discovered.
[Observe] - Ability
Provides information on a target upon use.
Grows with the user.
Wow. This is…this is amazing, but how is any of this going to matter if I can't leave this place? If you haven't noticed, I'm stuck in an endless void with no one but you to entertain me.
Your query is noted, and shall be addressed at this very moment.
Choose your tutorial universe.
[Marvel]
[DC]
[Naruto]
[Dragon Ball]
[Life is Strange]
[Telltale Walking Dead Game Series]
[Harry Potter]
[Mandela Catalogue]
[My Hero Academia]
[Percy Jackson]
[Star Wars]
[inFamous]
[Doom]
[Outlast]
Yes! This might just be my favorite feature of the system yet!
I don't need to worry about how I'm going to get back anymore! This changes everything. If I play my cards right I can do that and so much more.
With the opportunities these worlds can bring me…godhood is genuinely within reach. For the first time in a long while, I can feel excitement blooming from within me.
Looking at these choices, I realize that the system might be pushing me towards [Life is Strange]. Every other universe is either filled with horrific conditions or beings that outclass me so much that I could accidentally be erased on a random Tuesday.
To give a short rundown of its story, Life is Strange is one of those choice based games where you make decisions that will affect you throughout the story. The twist for this one is that in a mostly mundane world the main character, Max Caulfield, has the ability to rewind time. In addition to this the first use of her ability creates an extremely powerful temporal disruption.
If I could mold her into someone more suited for my goals then I could have a pretty powerful subordinate. Just thinking about it solidifies my decision even further.
After the completion of your first world you may bring one companion with you throughout your travels. This number can grow under certain circumstances.
With that new piece of information in mind, I mentally click on it and watch as another window once again pops up.
[Rolling for your start…]
You will be in the same school and the same age as Max Caulfield.
You will be just another no-name student.
Wait what!? I don't want to go back to being a teenager!
That is what you rolled. You'll just have to grow again.
You know what? Fine. Not like I have a choice anyways. Just continue.
Very well.
[Rolling for starter power…]
Ability acquired:
[Pyrokinesis (Beginner)] - Ability
You have somewhat of a grasp on the ability to generate and control fire at will. Stamina drain scales to the magnitude the ability is used.
Perk unlocked:
[Fire immunity (Major)] - Perk
Your body is resistant to most fires below the Mythical rank.
Yes! This is exactly what I needed. Using this I can get through the entire story-line without really needing help from anyone if I play my cards right and happen to not die, and if I do good enough I can possibly get strong enough to go take less of a detour on my way back home.
Due to being the first ever player of the Gamer System, you're given a starter skill.
Oh? Well don't keep me waiting, hit me!
[Rolling for skill…]
Skill acquired:
[Gentle Fist Taijutsu (Beginner)] - Proficiency Skill
You have begun the path of the Hyuga, turning your body into a storm of precision and unrelenting force.
Due to this being a gift and the player not currently being in possession of the byakugan, you'll instead be given knowledge of pressure points proportional to the level of the skill.
In the very same moment that I finished reading the prompt, a sudden influx of knowledge bloomed within my mind. Now I can say from past experience that before this I knew what pressure points were to an extent, but even this rudimentary knowledge I've been given makes me feel as if I've just been enlightened. I can definitely get used to this.
That's great! Now it's time for you to start your journey.
Just as I read the system's message, the front door to the apartment gains an eerie golden glow behind it.
I walk up slowly, taking in every single detail of this place before I go. Maybe it's a response caused by anxiety, but despite that I manage to keep my stride steady. My hand grasps the doorknob, and I realize that it's been so long since I've even tried to open the door that it's gone cold.
With one last deep breath, I twist it and push the door open while stepping into the light.
- 1 Day Later -
|Vincent West|
{Health: 100%}
{Stamina: 97%}
{Rank: Mortal}
{Strength: D}
{Constitution: D+}
{Dexterity: C+}
{Intelligence: B}
{Wisdom: C-}
{Charisma: B+}
{Luck: A-}
After living an entire life where the only consistent thing I've been told is just how ahead of everyone else I am, this is what I have to show for myself. Above average in some ways, and below it in most. According to the system, C is the baseline for my rank.
It's sickening to me, just the thought of being this…lowly. That being said, I've gotta get home, and I don't want my mood to get worse.
Brainstorming can wait until later.
If at any point in time someone were to read my mind, they'd see a swirl of chaotic thoughts and emotions with few of them being positive in any way. I can't pinpoint the exact cause for this storm; it's not as if I'm particularly unfortunate if you ignore my previous living situation.
I sigh to myself as I walk along the somewhat busy sidewalks of Arcadia Bay on my way "home". It's a beautiful night; the stars are shining brilliantly and the air is crisp and clear. My mind on the other hand…it lacks the serene qualities of my surroundings. And I'm gonna be completely honest with myself when I say this, but I'm not really sure how I feel as of right now.
I am tired, frustrated, and just overall glad to be done with regular life as a whole. The apartment, figuring out what happened to me, and then getting sent here with the potential for power beyond my wildest imagination; It's given me a slight shift in perspective.
Throughout my life I have tried time and time again to distract myself from the way I feel; even going as far as to drown myself in menial pursuits, but I've come to the conclusion that it's a futile effort.
Despite every attempt I've made to gain at least a little happiness and excitement, it's never worked for long. I can't stand it. This sensation of powerlessness and defeat; it's just not the type of life I want to live.
For as long as I can remember I've been told how gifted I am. My intelligence was coveted, my ability to pick up skills and grow my strength was revered by those who've witnessed it, and I even managed to bring my already impressive quirk to further heights.
My future is guaranteed, and my potential is endless. Realistically I have damn near every tool I need to be happy, yet said happiness still manages to slip through the cracks all the same. I lack stimulation and new experiences.
I may just be going through a dramatic train of thought, but good lord, I feel like boredom may very well be the death of me.
Dad and Iris would never be able to understand. They have an extremely strict moral compass, and Barry's even worse than they are.
Despite my words, I have a somewhat decent idea of what could possibly give me what I so heavily desire. The problem is that society wouldn't exactly approve of the…activities that would bring me out of this "slump".
No matter how many advantages I may have, I don't possess the abilities to just indulge myself without caring for the consequences they may bring. For now, at least.
This "System" grants me a pathway towards what I've been desiring for my entire life. To understand what it means to be fulfilled and for my emotions to prosper being simple negativity.
I understand fully that by the world's standards I'm not a good person. I get that. These thoughts and dreams of mine aren't something I'm particularly proud of, but I'll be damned if I feel bad about the way I feel just because someone else thinks that it's wrong.
I haven't been diagnosed with anything, and I've been careful to hide most of the hints towards my true thoughts. Sometimes though…the temptation gets too strong. I try to hold myself back, but it's not my fault that the perfect opportunities continue to present themselves before me.
I haven't done anything truly crazy though, I swear! Just a little manipulation here, a couple of ruined lives there, maybe even a fight or two, and I've got a good little adrenaline rush going.
That rush, the way that I can feel my blood pumping throughout my body and my neurons firing as my mind scrambles to figure out my next move; It's like a shock that I never want to end.
Fortunately or unfortunately it was never anything bad enough to warrant a pro hero having to clean up a mess, but at the same time I'm not too sure if I'm equipped enough to deal with that. I'm a lot of things, but I would rather not get myself in an unfix-able situation due to biting off more than I can chew.
I sigh deeply once again as I take a turn into a nearby alleyway. Normally I'd take the long route home on purpose for the sake of enjoying the atmosphere, but all of this talk has me wanting to go back to my dorm and practice with my powers.
The alleyway is quite closed-off from the rest of the world, and it's dirty as hell. There's a closed small town sushi shop to my right and a house big enough to encompass the other side of the alleyway on my right. The ground is littered with trash and there's a tarnished Superman comic lying just beside a dumpster outside the sushi shop.
I stop for a moment to analyze the poster. It's poetic, in a way. It looks like it was once a nice little piece of artwork, but it seems as though it's been here so long that it's lost the cleanliness it once had.
To live as Superman must be both the best and worst thing to ever happen to somebody.
Being one of the most popular heroes to ever live on most versions of earth means that even the smallest fraction of a hint towards your downfall will be recorded. People can worship someone all they want; they'd somehow still find a way to turn on them in the end.
Even so, I want to try the whole hero thing out. I don't care about my vices, and I don't care if that makes me a hypocrite. Whether I like it or not, I will always have my darker desires. Despite that, I also love being admired. It invigorates me.
If Homelander could do just fine for years, and I know for a fact that I'm better than him mentally, then I know I'll be just fine.
Even though I'm thinking these things to myself, this world isn't one I'd actually spend time being a hero in. It may be egotistical of me to say this, but it simply isn't high enough on any sort of radar for me to believe that it's worth it.
Shaking myself out of my stupor, I get to the end of the alleyway and head back to Blackwell Academy. I really should be on my way; tomorrow is Monday, my first day in the school as well as the day I'll begin putting my plans in place.
Most worlds you drop into at the beginning of your journey will provide you with a quest to give you a path of progression and growth. Due to this being your tutorial, your quest is a little different.
[Initiating Quest System…]
World Quest Generated!
[World's Most Charismatic Man?]
Objectives:
- Stop your crazy photography teacher -
- Prevent the destruction of Arcadia Bay -
Bonus Objective:
- Have Max Caulfield fall in love with you -
Rewards:
| Random Skill | Large Random Stat Boost | |Epic Ability|
Bonus Reward:
| Random Ability | |Legendary Perk|
I already planned to have her enamored with me, but now the system's just giving me freebies at this point.
Man, I think I'm beginning to really love being me.