1 Charles Storm, the Benevolent
(Word Count: 2075)
----{Start}----
-OH MY GOD! Charles has been put into a triangle choke, is this the end of the 12th title defence streak?- The announcer shouts practically losing his breath.
On the monitor, the screen could see two people fighting in the octagon of a famous MMA stage. Both opponents were banged into the side of the cage and were desperately trying to gain an inch over each other, unrelenting.
The opponent, Will, was on top perfectly shifting his weight every time Charles would try to re-adjust.
-Wait the tap isn't being given so easily!-another caster exclaims seeing the short pause. The crowd looking on with held breaths waited for a tap or flimsy hand falling.
But it never came…
The man who was on the receiving end of the choke suddenly got some free space and escaped making the crowd go wild!
With Charles' opponent still of the floor due to his depleting stamina and slow response, the rest of the match was a washout by the newly escaped fighter. As he got up you could now easily see his features unlike previously. A man with distinct brown skin colour had brown hair, a very fit build for his weight class and height and blue eyes.
"After winning a few more title defences he shot himself up to the talks of the Goat status before Charles eventually retired undefeated 34-0-0."
The narrating YouTuber says.
"Chat not gonna lie, this strokes my ego a little. But that fight with Will was honestly one of my best moments, don't take him lightly he's an amazing fighter" I say looking down at the video title. "But still massive respect to all my opponents, again. Most of them to my knowledge hopefully didn't mean all of the smack they say. It's just to get paper views but what can you do.
Talking smack was never something I liked. If I say something negative it creates unnecessary pressure on top of what I already had. Plus it isn't something I'd do."
[Charles Storm - the Benevolent | Documentary 2023]
Taking my eyes off one monitor, I lock on to another monitor to a familiar game.
Genshin Impact.
On the screen was a team of my new F2P account for a series. It had C1 Hu Tao, C5 Xingqiu, C1 Yelan and C2 Zhongli.
'This game has been with me through my ups and downs...'
The initial attention I got from my successful debut fights and using that to garner a following with gaming boosted my stock.
I mean imagine a few hours before a match you see you're opponent streaming online. The number of mind games with that by itself is truly amazing.
You'd think your opponent wouldn't take you seriously but they take it more as an insult to themselves.
Proof of this working is the nicknames nerd and gamer being stuck to me by other fighters to "intimidate me" before a fight.
As a matter of fact, I understand their mindsets. I take advantage of this by "slipping" some words to provide false information.
I have the exact same mindset.
I'm to the point of being obsessed with information by going through all the footage, shows, interviews and press conferences. Just to find any sort of weakness they have.
Watching all the recent and debut matches of an up-and-coming matchup isn't too out of the ordinary.
If you aren't obsessed with winning and dismantling your opponents, then you aren't in the fighting circle in the first place.
Or your coach does it for you…
Training is vital after all.
'Surely the amount of money I've spent on Genshin is 45k minimum.' I chuckle to myself. It counts as a business expense as well which is hilarious enough.
Since getting that first Genshin Impact sponsor after streaming a multitude of other story-centred games, life has been going well.
I was never a competitive multiplayer type of guy. While I like competitions like MMA, video games have a certain charm with stories.
Something like Undertale gave me chills the first time I played it.
Rather just immerse myself in a story. Never saw the appeal of spending hours a day losing my mind in "competitive matches".
Just play a story game and relax they say.
Unless you lose 50/50 in the Gacha game they say.
It is now a few weeks after retirement and it's time to get back to streaming.
"I should go for C6 Ayaka." I randomly murmur getting many reactions from chat.
"These days Charles spends his time training the art of a spear, specifically a Halberd with some Axe slashes on the side. He now takes streaming as a full-time job mainly playing Genshin impact and story-centred video games." The YouTuber says rapping up the video making me nod.
"Training a spear was something I started a while ago but stopped due to taking MMA seriously.
Right now though with the halberd, I'm also interested in making an esports team."
Looking at chat my eyes gleam in amusement seeing all the replies. I mean these motherf*ckers are so funny and at times I can't help but laugh.
I love these dudes but chat can be so double-sided at times. It was funny remembering them trying to cancel this YouTube channel, Midas once.
[Hokimane: Make an all-girl esports team]
[Zorois118: Swords are better lmao, don't know why you like a knife on a stick so much]
[VirginWizard28: @Hokimane stop being a twat]
[JustinCole: What game is the esports team gonna be for? I recommend Rocket League!]
[Hokimane: @VirginWizard28 get a girl, oh wait you can't. Your name is just for coping ]
[VirginWizard28: @Hokimane Sounds like a toddler is trying to make a comeback :/ lol]
[HuTaoMainsUnite: Spears are underrated fr though. But axes are a bit interesting]
[SomeoneOddOut: @Zorois118 Big stick beats small stick, stop being delusional. There's a reason why swords are mainly known as fantasy weapons, before guns we stuck to pikes and spears]
[NeuvilletteStepOnMe: Midas! Furina has been confirmed for the next update in Fontaine!]
Reading some of the comments in live chat, my eyes glimmered on the Furina update specifically. I'm not sure if he's lying or not but I'll search it up later.
'C6 Furina no questions nee-' Before this thought could finish a sudden pain went through the right side of my head making me collapse in the middle of the stream.
"Ahh!" I scream out holding my head in pain.
The chat could only watch in horror or pleasure depending on them, a man spazzing out right now.Shit, the pain was the exact place my last opponent got a clean hook on. A hit right the to top left near my right temple.
With my body freaking out evident by the sudden flinches to say your head is f*cked up.
My vision started to fade as soon, as everything I worked hard for would be sidelined.
...
"Ugh… where am I."
In front of me as my vision returned was a sight to behold. My mind felt a certain clarity and clearness as I looked at the screen directly in my face.
[𓆩Ⱥɍȼħꝋꞥ Ꞩɏꞩⱦēᵯ𓆪]
[𓆩Ꞩⱦⱥɍⱦ𓆪]
In the background was a sleeping boy using a tree to lie down with a peaceful expression.
'A bards outfit, petite guy… Who could that be?' I offhandedly thought to myself not prioritising the kid's identity much.
I needed to know where we were as this situation was pretty weird.
But before that, a sudden thought struck me like a bolt.
'Hold on a god damn minute, that's f*cking Venti.'
With that new revelation ingrained in my mind, I realised that I didn't have a "body". It really felt awkward only being able to look forward.
Taking the information that affected me mentally, I confirmed that this was a little too real to be fake.
So much for a clear mind.
'If this was all a dream I may as well make the most of it.' I contemplate feeling a little hazy. My emotions weren't too complicated at this point but most definitely salty.
Everything I worked for is gone huh.
'I suppose needing to be an orphan to reincarnate was a criterion.' I joke to myself trying to make light of the situation.
The background seemed to be deep in a forest with the sunshine barely seeping in creating a beautiful scene.
'Start.' I thought trying to activate the screen.
To my delight, this ended up working and a signature noise hit my non-existent ear. The same noise you could hear in the settings menu in Genshin was occurring.
[Loading...]
[1...]
[2...]
[3...]
[Generator online!]
Seeing the loading screen finish as soon as it started, I curiously at the screen wondering what would be next.
[Teyvat the land of the Seven Archons has been left and not properly ruled over. All of the Archons have relinquished their connections to Celestia and have been neglecting their duty to some extent. You have been given the opportunity despite the heavenly restrictions to harness a Gnosis without any backlashes. Their initial purpose is to provide protection, with overwhelming power!]
[Warning! It's only the potential to harness a Gnosis and take one, not given one by the system]
'Interesting, so that's the situation I've found myself in.'
My thoughts taking a pause start to let the ridiculous situation sink in. With me procrastinating a little bit I realised a great amount of time passed, with the daylight over Venti becoming nightlight.
The obvious answer here is Venti as Monstadt figuratively is the safest with multiple "clans" there willing to support me if they find out. A simple lie like "Barbatos passed down his powers and memories" would suffice. Getting someone like Diluc's dad to support me or the Gunnhildr (Jean's clan) who are fanatics who would do anything to let their country flourish would instantly help me.
Their saying is "For Monstadt, as always" for Celestia's sake. Considering how Jean turned out I've got no problem with that.
Venti would also be in fact the easiest to take the Gnosis from besides Nahida maybe?
I mean there's a whole ass church that would gladly help.
Probably...
'As long as I don't express any motives to rule over them like Raiden Shogun they won't mind me doing my own little thing supporting them. They pride themselves in no tax-. I mean freedom after all!' I thought starting to think of some situations in my head.
There's no need to complicate it, just show divine energy with maybe Dvalin depending on the timeline.
Wait the timeline shit.
'What's the timeline I'll be put there?' I asked to system not sure if would respond.
[25 years before the traveller wakes up. You will be teleported to the safest place close to the Gnosis without being hurt, caught or in mortal danger with a tracker] It simply shows in a blue pop-up screen.
Now that makes my options more clear...
Inazuma is off-limits because of needing to beat Raiden which is not possible off the bat. Not even sure how strong or how long it would take to rival her in strength.
Fontaine is also a no-no. Big scary Neuvillette would probably f*ck me up hard. Childe knows a little about getting thrashed by a dragon a little bit.
Snezhnaya has too much power like the Fatui Harbingers and Lady Tsaritsa herself.
Natlan is the f*cking land of war, I'm good. We still don't got any information on it as it's a new region that's not out.
Sumeru, Liyue and Monstadt are my only options so far.
'While Sumera might be fine, helping them flourish with a curse down there is asking for everything to collapse. Trying to stop the curse from Khaenri'ah is not my job after all, Dainsleaf can handle that himself thank you!' I was a bit nervous about "managing" a country.
Liyue and Monstadt are probably my top two as I could make infinite money with Liyue.
But they worship "Morax" to an obsessed degree. Even if Zhongli wanted to give me his position there's some kind of contract agreed with him and Lady Tsaritsa of unknown time, so just yoinking a Gnosis out of a sleeping Venti is the smartest decision.
'Alright, I've made up my mind!'
[Choose An Option]
[Warning! This will choose what element your race will be! Example: Dendro Hydra and Pyro Spirit]
[Hydro]
[Electro]
[Anemo]
[Dendro]
[Geo]
[Cryo]
[Pyro]
----{End}----
