After an intense battle, her companion Lucian had fallen asleep, but at that moment, after the arrival of the message from the god who sent her there, Ebony didn't know how to react.
The blonde frowned deeply as she decided whether to shout a curse or flip off the god who had sent her to that world, but then a sound interrupted the moment.
From the sky, a thunderous roar gave way to the fall of a shooting star, its color white with small purple sparkles.
But halfway through, the celestial body suddenly twisted and ended up crashing just a few meters away from the blonde, causing an explosion.
The crater it left behind was red-hot from the heat, but at its center was a magical creature shaped like a ball of fire. The flames were white, and standing out within them were two black eyes that looked like beans.
Ebony recognized the fireball from her judgment in the afterlife. For a second, the creature looked at her, then, hopping along by forming tiny little feet, it approached the blonde.
"This… Umm… Hello?"
The creature was as chubby as a ping-pong ball. It looked so cute that Ebony couldn't help but pet it. Strangely enough, the flames that formed its body didn't burn her at all.
But the creature frowned and, with a jump, slapped her, forming a hand out of its flames.
"What the hell, woman, I'm not a fucking plushie, I'm a goddamn star, respect me!"
"S-sorry, it's just that you looked so…" The fireball stared at her as if waiting for her to mess up so it could hit her again. "…Majestic… that I couldn't help touching you, sorry."
For a second, the creature rolled its eyes and then, without further explanation, pulled out a sphere made of white crystal. It shone intensely, and at its center was another thin crystal. The overall shape resembled a pearl.
The protagonist didn't know whether to pick it up, since it had shiny saliva from the same rodent that brought the gift, but then another system message arrived.
[---------------------------------]
This is a Reset Pearl. If you eat it, you will be able to reset your Stats. This will allow you to customize your Incarnation according to your desires, but remember it can only be used once. I hope this makes you stop complaining about your luck and actually do something good with your life.
[---------------------------------]
Ebony finished reading the message, and when she looked back down at her feet where the sphere had been, the messenger had disappeared without a trace, except for the crater.
The girl thought about what to do with the grape-sized sphere. First, she considered keeping it. Then she thought about selling it at an auction. Surely some rich guy or even a king would want to change their attributes. But then one last message arrived.
[---------------------------------]
P.S.: The gift will disappear if you don't eat it within the next 5 minutes, and congratulations on your marriage, with absolutely no affection, The Fox.
[---------------------------------]
"Son of a bitch! If it's my gift, I should be able to decide what to do with the bastard!" the girl shouted furiously as she immediately grabbed the sphere and, after a moment of hesitation because of the messenger's drool, decided to put it in her mouth.
Despite being solid crystal when she held it in her hand, inside her mouth it was different. It deformed like a gummy candy, the taste was sweet and pleasant, until she finally swallowed it.
Her body began to heat up, her hair started to levitate along with nearby rocks. She could feel a pure and primitive magic flowing through her body.
There was no pain, nor fear. It felt peaceful, a feeling she had needed long before she had died.
Then a system message appeared.
[---------------------------------]
You have successfully consumed a Reset Stone.
Stats are values that show the state of your Incarnation, so any of them may change for better or worse over the years. However, now that your system contains a reset stone, you can customize your Incarnation considering the points you already have. Consider the following ranking system:
[S = 81-200]
[A = 41-80] ; [B = 21-40]
[C = 11-20] ; [D = 6-10] ; [E = 3-5]
[F = 1-2]
[---------------------------------]
Ebony carefully observed the ranking. There were no differences compared to what she knew from the original game, except for the S class, which hadn't existed in her time.
[---------------------------------]
Total unassigned points: 43
Stats:
- - Strength: (Unassigned)
- - Magic: (Unassigned)
- - Spirituality: (Unassigned)
- - Intelligence: (Unassigned)
- - Endurance: (Unassigned)
- - Vitality: (Unassigned)
[---------------------------------]
The blonde thought with one hand on her chin, covering her mouth. It was a habit she had picked up since childhood.
"(Even if I change my Attributes to be more like a Carry, like I'm used to, it won't really make a difference if my magic is still stuck as a Healer…)"
Ebony turned her head for a moment to look at the unconscious elf and the lackey with his bandaged hands.
"(And even if I wanted to learn how to manage this trait, something is wrong with it… I can't freely heal whoever I choose… That complicates everything, but if this magic stone exists, maybe there's a way to change my trait too)"
Then she began tapping on the system screen, which had the appearance of parchment, until she finished customizing her points.
"(For now, the important thing is surviving, and for that I need to stop depending on defective healing)"
[---------------------------------]
Total unassigned points: 0
Stats:
- - Strength: (9) D
- - Magic: (4) E
- - Spirituality: (3) E
- - Intelligence: (10) D
- - Endurance: (8) D
- - Vitality: (11) C
Your Stats have been successfully changed. Have a nice day.
[---------------------------------]
The parchment suddenly disappeared, and Ebony didn't feel any changes in her body, so she decided to test it with the elf.
She picked up Lucian's body and slung it over one shoulder. Not feeling much weight, she decided to carry the unconscious lackey over her other shoulder as well.
With a confident smile, Ebony followed the course of the river toward some town while carrying both bodies.
She didn't know what her new life would be like, but for her, the possibilities in a world full of magic were exciting.
.
.
.
After changing her Stats to improve her strength and endurance, Ebony managed to carry her companions for several hours until she ended up camping by the riverbank.
And after lighting an improvised campfire using a branch she managed to spin until it formed a flame, the blonde remembered those camping nights she spent as a child with her father in her previous life.
"(I hate to admit it, but I guess that old man was right… Knowing these things gets you out of more than one tight spot)"
After some time, with the night already advanced, she decided to approach her companions to change their bandages, which were already soaked with blood.
However, in the distance, she heard a thunderous sound, similar to thunder, but the sky was clear, which only increased the girl's concern.
At that moment, a sound interrupted everything. The footsteps were heavy, and the sound of its breathing was violent. From among the bushes and trees, a bear emerged, walking on all fours, the same size as a grizzly from her world.
Its fur was white, its eyes yellow, and embedded in its back were pale yellow crystals. That massive creature was a Thunder Bear, deadly during its mating season and docile like a puppy the rest of the year.
Upon seeing it, Ebony froze in place, trying to guess whether the bear was a danger or just passing through.
"(Please be docile, please be docile)"
The bear frowned and bared its teeth as it rose onto its hind legs, sparks of electricity bursting from its eyes while its crystals glowed intensely.
"(It had to be… It's that time…)"