1 Chapter 1: Prologue

{Good day, fine gents and ladies of the internet. Today, I present to you another story of my own.

I hope you like it as my other audience does.

Enjoy!}

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What is death? To put it simply, it is the end of a journey. The summit of the mountain. The bottom of the ocean. The entity who comes for all. And as soon as you are born, death will find a way to claim your soul. No matter how young or old, comforting or heartbreaking it is. Death is the end, no matter how hard you struggle, fight, and so on.

But why do we fear it? Even though we know it is a part of life, we still fear it. Perhaps it is because we do not see what happens next. No one knows because they would have to die and remember it all. And even then, they would still have to tell the whole experience to someone.

And so, the whole truth has never been uncovered. Instead, we covered it up with lies and deception. We make tales of what would happen should we pass away. Become astral entities that haunt buildings and objects. Be judged for all the choices you make in life, to receive either heaven or hell. Be taken to a never-ending battlefield where the outcome is the same.

Or… be reborn. Reborn anew with no memories intact of your previous life. Become a new person entirely and live another life different or similar to your own.

But we will never know for sure. For who would be lucky enough to have died and also been reborn whilst also keeping your memories?

Well, that would be me.

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I do not know my name. My memories are slightly hazy but I remember the life I have. Well, had.

I was… a college student. I was out minding my own business, reading peacefully in a cafe I frequented until…

What did happen? I remember a loud blaring of a horn behind me and when I looked, a bright light filled my vision and everything went black for a moment.

And now I'm here. Within an endless black abyss with nothing to see or do. I can think and look around but that's all I can do. I can't feel my body or have any sense of feeling at all.

Wait? Does this mean what I think it means? Did I… die?

… Huh, I thought I'd be freaked out now that it happened, I suppose it isn't anymore. I barely felt anything at all and my death was swift. Still can't forgive the one who got me here in the first place but I can't do anything about it.

So, I died. Heh, wonder if I have any lingering regrets now that I'm here. Perhaps I'll turn into a ghost and haunt whoever I choose. Let's see… I regret not finishing college for my parents, and leaving behind my family and friends, all my worldly possessions, and, uh…

Yeah, I have nothing else to say. It's pretty much a generic regret that I know so it probably doesn't hold much weight on me. Maybe a little about my parents but that's to be expected since their child has just died before them.

But anyway… what should I do now? Shouldn't there be an indication of where I would go next? Like the gates of heaven or hell?

"I believe there is no need for that."

A voice from behind made me turn and suddenly, the scenery changed. The inky black abyss suddenly turned into something else. Filled with clouds and the stretching sky. The voice turned out to be an old man, well the typical look of an old man. Wrinkles, beard, and shut eyes. Think of the most generic image of an old man and this is what you get.

"Hoo, I may look old but I can still outlive you youngsters for several more years!"

Did that old man read my mind?

"That's right. Now, let's start this shall we?" The old man got comfortable in his seat. Wait, seat? When did that chair come here? Was he always sitting in it?

And… am I also sitting on this chair?

What's going on? The old man gave a small chuckle breaking me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sure you know what happened to you, right?" Well duh, I died. I think. I honestly can't chalk this up to a dream as it feels way too odd for it to be one.

The old man nodded while stroking his beard.

"That saves me the time to explain. Now, you are within the realms between the living and the dead. Normally, you'd go to hell and have your sentence for all the sins you incurred in your lifetime and then go to heaven to be reborn on earth as a baby, forgetting everything about your previous life and starting anew."

"But, you are a bit special. You weren't supposed to die so soon. That small mistake would likely throw your earth into a catastrophic wasteland where everyone died instantly."

… Okay then. Oh jeez, I know I was contempt for dying but to hear that my death could have led to the apocalypse was not easy to hear.

The old man noticed my thoughts and a sudden calmness took over me.

"Apologies, I'm a bit grumpy about it. I was supposed to relax and let everyone take hold of it but this happened.

Now, I can't send you back to your home as that would disrupt the balance there. And I also can't send you to hell or heaven since it would also disrupt the balance there.

So here is what I'll do. I will send you away from your planet to another one."

An isekai? I'm going to isekai'd to another world? That sounds so cool.

"Indeed. I am familiar with the concept. Including that, I have also given you a couple of gifts to help you adjust to that world. Consider it as an apology for what happened to you.

If you hadn't died, you would have become a successful person in life and died peacefully. Now you will go to another world where you will likely never see your loved ones again."

Ah, yeah… As much as I want to move on from that, I still hold them dear in my heart. But I'll try to move on. I won't forget their love and their efforts.

"I see… if that is all, I must get back. There is still a lot of work to be done. Take care, young soul."

After he said, his body glowed a bright light that made me cover my eyes. When I looked again, I was back in the void once more. And suddenly, the pop-up appeared.

[Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of the Gamer System!]

[Registering User…]

Oh, man. He is actually giving this to me?! The Gamer System?! That old man gave me something so broken that I can actually attain godhood without much effort.

The main genre that took the Fanfiction community by storm when it first appeared. From its humble origins, it turned into the most well-known topic discussed. Not only does it have the power to summon items from over universes but it also allows the user to grow beyond the limit and continue to grow transcendental.

[User has been registered to System.]

[Initiating download…]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Download complete.]

[Gamer System running at optimal power.]

[System Check: Clear. No abnormalities found.]

[System running in the most recent update.]

[Gamer System is now ready.]

[Would you like to start?]

[Y/N]

Yes! Absolutely yes!

[Welcome to the Gamer System. Please continue the process to fully integrate yourself.]

[Type in your name.]

[ _ ]

My name huh? To be honest, I'm kinda shit at names and I always stick to the mundane stuff instead of ones that hold more profound meaning in them. Fuck… uh, help?

[Producing sample names…]

[Adina - Delicate]

[Constance - Unchanging]

[Bea - Joy]

[Hazel - Victory]

[Esther - Star]

Hmm… Some pretty good names. Why are some of them feminine? I was male when I died, right? I think I'll go for-

Hold on a moment. I have a choice now. In the manner in which my new life will be dictated. Picking the male option sounds good since I lived that life before and knew what to expect. But do I really want that in my new life?

… No. I want to try to become something different. Instead of the usual mold of male protagonists, why can't I become a female? There's no rule stating that every gamer chooses to become male, it's what the system or themselves decide on.

I want to become something different. Someone different. I like female protagonists because I firmly believe that females can kick ass as much as a man can. The video game franchise certainly cemented the fact with the ability to choose a different gender in some games. The most recent that comes to mind is the protagonist from HZD, Aloy.

What a badass hunter. Smart and strong with a loving personality and bold personality. Unafraid to help and danger. To me, she was what every female protagonist should be and while the male protagonists are great in their own rights, there is just someone right about playing as the female.

So why the hell not should I become a female? It's a new life given to me and I can damn well do what I please.

[Name picked: Esther Marie]

[Do you like your new name?]

[WARNING: The new name implies the user is female. Do you accept conditions?]

[Y/N]

Yes. The black box disappeared and a new one appeared.

[Name has been selected. Displaying {Status}]

{Status}

Name: Esther Marie

Level: 1 {Exp: 0.00%}

Titles: None

___

HP: 100/100 {Regen: 10 Per Minute}

MP: 100/100 {Regen: 5 Per Minute}

___

Strength: 10

Intelligence: 10

Agility: 10

Sense: 10

Luck: 10

{Skill Points: 0}

___

{Inventory}

[None…]

So… I did it. I became a female. A 'he' turned into a 'she'. I don't… feel any different. Maybe it's because I'm just a soul now and my body will adjust. Or something like that.

I'd try playing as the female cast whenever I was given the option. There have been so many male main characters that I just grow tired of seeing the muscle-headed leader. Why can't females do the same? They're just as capable, if not more, of becoming a badass in their own right. Sure, I would like a love interest in the female characters but isn't it more fun to have a mix and match? I am interested in both genders and show respect for each of them. I could care less about racial differences, opinions, and whatnot. So long as they're good and great, I couldn't give a shit.

Of course, I'd have to make sure the person is actually good or not. Don't wanna stick my dick in crazy, amiright?

A quick check on my stats and I realized that I was missing a few stats. Namely constitution, wisdom, and charisma. What's up with that? How am I gonna increase my reduction to damage, increase my regen, etc.?

It did say that the system was running at the current update. Was there a vote that removed those features from the system? If so, then why?

Hmm… don't think I'll get those answers anytime soon. I don't know much about this power since it's always different for everyone else. There were some reads about the main character having a sort of flawed system in their world. Giving out 5 lives. Limited inventory. An actual guide that isn't freakin' Navi.

Guess I'll find out if it ever did or not.

Anyways, what's next?

[User has 3 Gifts in Inventory]

[Would you like to open them?]

Oh yeah, that old man did say something like that. Well, what better way than now? Alright, open them up, please.

[Opening 1st Gift: Haki (One Piece)]

[You have unlocked: Haki]

Oh hell yeah! This is why the Gamer System is so cool! It can pluck any skill or item from any verse and I can use it as easily as a skill. And in this case, it picked the overtly powerful ability from the One Piece universe.

Haki!

If I can train it enough, I can fucking split clouds and earth with my own strength! Do I have all 3 Colors? Do I have Conquerors Haki? I want to know!

Wonder what the next gift is?

[Opening 2nd Gift: Omega-1 Nanite (Generator Rex)]

[You have obtained item: Omega-1 Nanite]

Woah, it even knows the old cartoon from my childhood. Generator Rex was so good.

The Omega-1 Nanite allowed Rex to not only communicate with machines, odd but ok, but also craft mechanized weapons at a moment's notice. Sure they break easily but they don't harm Rex and he can always build them back with enough time and nanites stored in him.

I wonder what the system will do about that. Will my MP bar be used instead for substituting nanites?

OK, for the last gift. I know how this works in the Gacha system. There will always be one bad egg in a carton full of them. It's undeniable and universal. I am destined to get a bad one, no matter what.

Come on then, give it to me!

[Opening 3rd Gift: Blueprints (NieR: Automata)

[You have obtained item: Blueprints (Pod: Tactical Support Units)]

Alright, I suppose. They are useful but why blueprints? Does this mean I have to build them from scratch? Doable, I suppose.

So Pods, huh? In the game, they were the ones that allowed long-range attacks and the usage of special skills.

Not only can they shoot infinite bullets, I hope, but they also have a wide array of plug-in chips that can control the battlefield like spears and shields. You can also have them shoot lasers or missiles.

Heh, this is a pretty good start-up. I can't wait to see the new world I'll be born in. If I can combine the potency of Haki with the imagination of the Omega Nanite then I can no longer worry about weapons or hitting ghosts.

[All systems are good to go]

[User is ready for world migration…]

[Beginning Soul transfer…]

[Preparing host body…]

[Pre-selected world: Confirmed]

[1st Gift and 2nd Gift is successfully transferred into the host's body]

[Remaining Gift are stored in the inventory]

[Beginning transfer in 5…]

[4…]

[3…]

[2…]

[1…]

[Enjoy your journey, Gamer!]

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Warm. I feel a bit warm, but also cold. That's odd, I couldn't feel anything back at the abyss so why now? In fact, I can feel something. The energy I thought would never come again.

I opened my eyes for what felt like the first time in days and I was greeted with a ceiling. A ceiling that I was not familiar with. Looking around, I'm sleeping in a pretty shabby wooden house. It's pretty bare bones with some vines creeping in from the cracks on the walls.

I don't know this house. Where am I? I got up from the floor I was sleeping on and found the door. Opening it, I stood before a great forest with trees as far as I could see.

My first day in a new world has begun.