[Welcome, Player 626, to Reincarnated Online]
[Current Page: Character Creation Forum]
"Only 625 before me?" he muttered, blinking at the screen. "That's not a lot."
The number felt underwhelming. He expected more, thousands, at least. But the empty player count only confirmed what he already suspected. This wasn't some viral hit or studio-backed phenomenon. No, it was something he stumbled across by sheer accident in the dusty corner of a thrift shop.
He hadn't even planned on buying a game that day. Yet, somehow, the shopkeeper had convinced him to take the capsule home.
"Vintage VRMMORPG experience!" the old man had said, eyes gleaming strangely. "Only ten bucks!"
Ten bucks. Hardly a loss, he'd thought. Worth a try.
Now here he was, standing in an endless white void like someone had forgotten to load the rest of the world. Minimalistic didn't begin to describe it.
[Calculating Player 626's Karma Value…]
[Current Karma: 10,000,000]
His eyes widened.
"That's a big-ass number."
He squinted at the screen. "Is that like my lifetime good deeds or something?"
The game didn't answer. Not that he expected it to.
Still, something about that number felt… important.
[RACE SELECTION]
---
• Human – Versatile and ambitious, humans are the most adaptable of all races. Devoid of divine lineage or innate magic, they thrive through sheer willpower, cunning, and innovation. From empire builders to rogue mercenaries, humans shape the world through determination.
Traits: Balanced stats, faster experience gain, flexible profession choices.
Bonus: +5% to all professions, 1 extra talent slot at early levels.
Karma Cost: 100,000
---
• Elf – Ageless and elegant, born of the First Song, elves are stewards of ancient forests and wielders of arcane grace. They value harmony, tradition, and natural balance.
Traits: Enhanced agility, innate magical affinity, increased perception.
Bonus: +10% to Nature and Arcane abilities.
Karma Cost: 1,000,000
---
• Dwarf – Stout warriors and master artisans, dwarves dwell in mountain strongholds. Loyal to kin and driven by honour, they're unmatched in smithing and subterranean warfare.
Traits: Increased strength and endurance, superior crafting.
Bonus: +15% resistance to physical ailments, improved gear durability.
Karma Cost: 500,000
---
• Thaloran – Children of the Deep Waters, amphibious beings marked by bioluminescent skin and oceanic heritage. They command the sea and move like whispers beneath waves.
Traits: Amphibious movement, water affinity, aquatic breathing.
Bonus: +50% water movement speed, innate mist/moisture control.
Karma Cost: 1,000,000
---
• Aetherial – The Skyborn, winged humanoids from floating isles above the clouds. Graceful, reclusive, and swift, they wield the wind like a blade and live in harmony with the skies.
Traits: Natural flight, enhanced agility and high-altitude perception.
Bonus: +15% evasion in flight, +20% movement in open air, access to wind techniques.
Karma Cost: 1,000,000
---
• Demi-Kin – Hybrids of mortals and spirits, blessed or cursed with unique traits. Often shunned, always powerful. No two are exactly alike.
Traits: Variable depends on lineage.
Bonus: 1 customizable racial trait, +10% hybrid skill synergy.
Karma Cost: 2,000,000
---
"Why the hell is everything so expensive?!"
Still, with 10 million karma at his disposal, he wasn't in any real danger of going broke. It just felt steep. The prices weren't exactly newbie-friendly.
"Alright then… Human. Let's go with that."
It wasn't just the affordability that sold him. The versatility, the familiarity, it felt like the safest pick.
A race he could relate to. A race he already understood.
What better to start a game that has no recorded information than with a character you know you've got the control hands down?
[Race Selected: Human]
-100,000 Karma
[Remaining Karma: 9,900,000]
"Nice," he grinned.
Until the next screen popped up.
---
[Select Human Sub-Race]
1. Valorians (Highlanders) – Rugged survivors from frostbitten mountains. Tough as nails.
Bonus: Endurance boost, cold resistance, improved melee proficiency.
Karma Cost: 400,000
2. Almarites (Arcane-Blooded) – Descendants of mage-kings. Born for magic.
Bonus: +10% mana efficiency, magic resistance, starter spells unlocked.
Karma Cost: 1,000,000
3. Sunari (Desert Nomads) – Swift and tenacious, these sun-scorched wanderers thrive where others perish.
Bonus: Fire resistance, stamina regen in heat, bonus taming/survival.
Karma Cost: 300,000
4. Duskborn (Shadow-Touched) – Children of eclipses. Mysterious. Feared. Powerful.
Bonus: HP regen in darkness, increased stealth, access to shadow powers.
Karma Cost: 2,000,000
5. Meridians (Plainsfolk & Seafarers) – Explorers and merchants of open land and sea. Flexible, fast, and widespread.
Bonus: +5% EXP gain, fast travel, trade/diplomacy bonus.
Karma Cost: 100,000
6. Varrgardians (The Ironborn) – Fearless raiders from storm-wracked coasts. Glory-hunters.
Traits: Strength and fortitude; axe and polearm bonuses.
Bonuses: +10% damage under 50% HP, +15% cold resistance, +5% sailing/naval combat speed.
Karma Cost: 5,000,000
7. Veylun (Coreborn from the Fracture) – Beings of Force, not mana. Timeless, near-immortal, and incredibly rare.
Traits: Force-bound, evolve over time, immune to ageing/mind control.
Bonus: +20% magic resistance, +10% Force regeneration, access to "Force Arts."
Karma Cost: 9,000,000
---
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He stared at the screen. Some prices were manageable. Others looked like a scam on paper. And yet...
"The pricier they are… the crazier the benefits." He rubbed his chin. "Huh."
The sub-race system wasn't just a gimmick. This game had depth. Real roleplay options. Not just cosmetics and flavour text, but actual gameplay-impacting decisions from the start.
"I take back everything I said," he declared. "This opening is fire!"
The sheer range of choices, the way the lore bled into mechanics, it felt handcrafted. Like someone really cared when building this game.
"Why the hell haven't I heard of this before?"
He frowned. No buzz. No online chatter. No trailers, no Reddit theories, no controversy. Just a dusty capsule from a no-name shop. Forgotten. Buried.
That felt… wrong.
This was easily the most detailed character setup he'd ever seen. Especially for humans. Most games slapped on a 'balanced' label and moved on. But here? The human race expanded, offering so much more.
It made him pause.
He chose Human for simplicity. Familiarity. But now, with all these powerful sub-race branches...
He wasn't so sure anymore.