Part 1: The White Void
The last thing Ren remembered was the sound of a truck horn, the screeching of tires, and the crushing realization that he had forgotten to clear his browser history.
Now, there was nothing. No sound, no pain, just an endless, blinding white space.
"Am I dead?" Ren asked, his voice echoing strangely. "I didn't even get to unbox the Limited Edition 1/7 scale Demon General figure that arrived this morning..."
"Ah, yes. About that," a voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere.
Ren looked around. Sitting on a floating tatami mat in the middle of the void was an old man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses. He was sipping a coconut drink.
"Yo," the old man said, raising a hand.
"Yo?" Ren twitched. "Are you God?"
"Technically, yes. Specifically, I am the Administrator of Sector 404. And I have some bad news, kid. I dropped my controller."
Ren stared at him blankly. "Your... controller?"
"Yeah. I was playing Universe Simulator, and I slipped. Caused a quantum fluctuation. Long story short, a truck hit you. It wasn't your time to die. My bad."
Ren stood there, processing the information. He was a 30-year-old salaryman who spent all his money on anime figures and gacha games. He had read enough light novels to know exactly what this was.
"So," Ren adjusted his imaginary tie. "This is an Isekai scenario."
The God choked on his coconut drink. "You adapt fast."
Part 2: The Compensation Package
The God cleared his throat. "Since this was my mistake, I can't send you back. Your body is... well, let's just say it's flat. But, I can send you to a new world. And as an apology, I'll give you the standard 'Hero Package'."
The God snapped his fingers. A blue holographic screen appeared in front of Ren.
[System Installed]
[Skills Acquired: Appraisal (Lv. 1), Inventory (Infinite), Status Window]
"This allows you to see the stats of items and people, store things in a sub-space, and track your growth," the God explained.
"Standard stuff, right?"
Ren nodded. "It's the starter kit. But knowing these tropes, since you killed me by accident, I get a special cheat skill or a wish, right?"
The God sweat-dropped. "You really know your stuff. Yes. One wish. Anything you want. Super strength? Ultimate magic? A harem of elves?"
Ren didn't hesitate. He didn't want to be a hero who worked hard. He wanted to be comfortable. But most of all, he was heartbroken about leaving his apartment behind.
"I want my collection," Ren said seriously.
"Your... collection?"
"My apartment," Ren clarified. "Every action figure, every trading card, every prop replica, every game cartridge. I spent ten years and my entire life savings collecting them. I want them in my Inventory. And..."
Ren's eyes gleamed with a gamer's intensity.
"I want the ability to make them real."
Part 3: The Collector's Wish
The God rubbed his chin, looking at Ren over his sunglasses. "You want to summon toys?"
"They aren't toys!" Ren shouted, losing his cool for the first time. "They are collectibles! Imagine, God-san. I have a card of a Level 99 Swordsman. I have a figure of a Starship Battleship. I want to summon them to fight for me."
The God grinned. "Interesting. A Summoner Class, but based on your personal treasury. Very well. I will grant this."
The God snapped his fingers again. A golden light engulfed Ren.
[Unique Skill Generated: The Otaku Collection]
[Effect: The user can summon items and entities from his previous life's collection stored in the Inventory.]
"However," the God warned, his tone turning serious. "I cannot let you summon a planet-destroying robot at Level 1. That would break the balance. You will need Mana to summon them. Stronger figures require more Mana. If you try to summon something too strong, you will die from mana exhaustion. Understood?"
"Fair enough," Ren nodded. "Grinding levels is part of the fun."
Part 4: The Destination
"Now, off you go," the God waved his hand. "I'm sending you to Asura Terra."
Ren froze. "Wait. Asura... Terra? That
sounds ominous."
"It is," the God replied cheerfully. "It's a world where strength is everything. There are Monster Emperors, Demon Lords, and beasts the size of mountains. Humans are... well, they are mostly food or slaves. It's a Survival Difficulty: Hell."
"Wait! Send me to a romantic comedy world!" Ren screamed.
"Too late! Good luck! Try not to die immediately!"
The white void began to crack. Ren felt a sensation like being pulled through a straw. His consciousness faded, twisting and turning, compressing into a new form.
He expected to wake up in a bed. Or maybe a forest. He expected to look like himself, maybe a bit younger and handsomer.
He was wrong.
Part 5: A Rude Awakening.
Drip. Drip.
The smell hit him first. It smelled like rotting meat and wet dog.
Ren opened his eyes. It was dark. He was lying on cold, hard stone. The air was humid and suffocating.
"Ugh... my head," Ren groaned.
But the voice that came out wasn't his. It was a high-pitched, raspy squeak. "Gya... gya?"
He tried to stand up, but his center of gravity was off. He felt short. incredibly short.
Ren looked at his hands.
They were not human hands. They were small. They were green. They had dirty, sharp black claws.
"No..." Ren whispered internally.
He looked down at his body. A protruding belly, skinny ribs, and green skin. He was wearing nothing but a dirty rag around his waist.
[Ding!]
A blue screen popped up in his vision, illuminating the damp cave wall.
[Status Window]
Name: Ren
Race: Goblin (Runt)
Rank: F (Weakest)
Level: 1
HP: 5/5
MP (Mana): 10/10
Strength: 2 | Agility: 4 | Intelligence: 25 (High for race)
Unique Skill: The Otaku Collection
Ren stared at the screen. He looked at his green hands again.
"I'm not a hero," Ren screamed in his mind.
"I'm a mob character! I'm a Level 1 Goblin!"
From deeper inside the cave, a guttural growl echoed. Something big was moving in the shadows. Ren froze. He had just arrived in Hell, and he was the bottom of the food chain.
End of Chapter 1
Summary of Assets:
* Current Mana: 10
* Current Location: Unknown Cave
* Current Threat: Unknown monster approaching.