5 Chapter 5: A New Life
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Planet Earth.
Year: 2008.
Country of Japan.
Beyond the outskirts of Suidobashi, Tokyo.
Beyond the large and circular Tokyo Dome with several malls and apartment complexes stood a rather cozy neighborhood, which had a direct connection to the inner works of this district, through Tokyo Station.
It was a fifteen minute or so walk from Tokyo Station, making it a rather conveniently placed neighborhood. This neighborhood had everything one could ask for. Even a supermarket was within five minutes walking distance.
There were several houses lined up, each sporting a modern-day look. One particular one had a red-colored. To the left of this red-colored roof stood a purple one to the right, and a white-colored roof to the left, all appearing to be two-story houses.
In particular, inside the second floor of the red two-story house, a singular bedroom could be seen further inside. Most of the hallway was bare, and only a couple rooms were present on this second floor. Most of the first floor appeared vacated as well, but that didn't mean this house wasn't occupied.
Within the second floor bedroom, minus some work out machines, a spare desk, a single table, and a tv in the distance with a few gaming consoles equipped next to it, a sole person could be seen with their body stretched out in a lazy manner. They didn't have a shirt on. Thanks to that, one could see every inch of their upper torso, and each speck of it was defined with muscle. The frame of this person was still slim, and far from that of being a bodybuilder. Several scars could be seen present as well, some even be seen as recent. Thankfully any life-threatening injuries have been healed up.
Attached to this body was actually a childish-like face, unbecoming of what was tied to the rest of his body. His eyes were somewhat small and had a lazy look in them. He had fairly short brown hair too. His lips curved around in a weird fashion, but it wasn't like he was ugly in any form.
But this figure definitely appeared to be a boy, who was currently sleeping. The day had just begun and the sun was on the rise.
Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.
All of a sudden, next to him on his small dresser stood an alarm clock, one of the old fashioned ones. With it being Year 2008, the technology era was still in its infancy and on the rise. The internet was still fairly unknown to most of the people on Planet Earth, and internet browsing was just starting to kick off. It had only been a couple years since YouTube launched. Even Twitter had just launched not too long ago, one or two years at most.
As such, many appliances appeared to be out of date, but were still considered modern in this present day.
The incessant noise of the alarm clock continued to blare throughout the room, leaving no corner behind.
"Ugh...", A boy's voice suddenly said. "Will you shut up already?", The boy said, which appeared to have come from the figure currently sleeping on a rather comfy bed.
With a single twist of his arm, his left hand seemed to have moved in a swift manner.
Bang!
A loud and jarring sound struck the room, causing the repeating alarm clock noise to suddenly come to a halt. The boy's eyes received a jolt, as if he was hit by a small lightning strike. His heart started to thump rapidly, but his eyes were wide awake now.
"...Just what was that dream?", I began to say, uttering to myself. 'That conversation felt so surreal.', I continued to inwardly think to myself.
[That was no dream, Master.]
A voice suddenly appeared in my head, causing me to tense up my body, acting like a solid piece of ice for a good moment.
As I heard that voice sound off inside my head, I looked toward the left hand side of my bed. Everything appeared normal, aside from some stuff being out of place and a few items I didn't recognize. But the moment my eyes landed on my side drawer, I froze again.
The alarm clock that once stood on that drawer could now be seen spilling over on its sides, smashed into pieces.
Taking a moment, I had a good look downward, letting my hand form into a fist.
"This hand isn't mine..", I uttered, letting my fingers relax and curl a few times. This hand appeared a lot rougher around the edges. I could actually feel strength residing in it.
My window was left open from the night prior so I could hear the sound of the distant cicadas chirping away. The jarring noise of my alarm clock smashing into pieces likely caused some of my neighbors to wake up, but I couldn't care less presently. Instead, I hopped out of bed.
Yet the moment I did, I felt my legs fly up and outward like a bird, causing me to jump out from a landing still position several feet across the bedroom.
"Oops...", I uttered, realizing that I had jumped far longer than I had wanted to.
Ignoring this, I hurried off to the side where a long standing mirror stood, stretching upward several feet into the air. This allowed me to get a full view of myself.
What stood in place wasn't the body I had previously known.
I currently saw a body full of muscle, yet still having a childish face to it. Several scars could be seen present over my body as well. I reached my arm upward toward my cheek and started to tug on it a little bit, letting my lips stretch outward. Feeling the slight pain that accompanied it, I finally realized what position I was now in.
"That really wasn't a dream...", I uttered, letting the realization dawn on me. "I seriously had that engaging conversation with God, didn't I? This person before me is totally Baki Hanma!", I yelled out, still in shock at the appearance I currently had.
[It is as you say, Master. I'm glad you have come to your senses.]
The same voice resounded inside my head a second time. This time my thoughts were much clearer.
"You must be the system that was assigned to me by God then.", I uttered. After calming down a bit, this voice did seem rather familiar.
[Indeed, Master. I have not been assigned a name yet. I am what you call a System. Here to provide you support so you can get adjusted to your new life. I will warn you now, Master, that I do not have functions that can help you progress your growth, like initiating missions, or having a Shop, or handing out rewards. My role is to help detail any and all progress you have made through your own efforts. I can also help you recall memories and provide guidance based on it, considering we have traveled into the past.]
"I see. That would make it rather boring and too self-reliant on you. I like to strive and make my own efforts to achieve results. Especially since I've transferred into the body of a martial artist, I feel that would be cheating, heh.", I continued to utter.
[Precisely. Skills that get presented to you will be created by you, and so on. Each level up you will be able to choose what stat you want to distribute it too as well. No stat will be left out. As you accidentally smashed your alarm clock, I will present you with today's date. It is presently 6:00AM, April 1st of the Year 2008.]
"April 1st...With it being Japan, that means today's the first day of school, considering I'm sixteen years old again.", I responded, curving my lips into a smile. I really was set to start high school over again, huh?
[You still have fifty minutes before you need to head to your destination, Sainan High School. To what I have been informed, some areas have been shuffled around in Tokyo to make it more convenient. We are in the outskirts of Suidobashi, with Tokyo Dome being several minutes away by the subway. Sainan High School is currently a ten minute walk from your house., Master.]
"Got it. That means I have an hour to prepare myself for the first day of class, but how exactly is that going to go?", I uttered to myself.
I proceeded to have another look at the mirror.
Sure enough, my previous life's body was no longer there. The black haired, slim-body man who had just become an adult had faded away. I really was looking at Baki Hanma in the mirror...
Which meant that I was presently Baki Hanma.
And that meant Yujiro Hanma was now my father.
I hope that bastard doesn't come knocking any time soon...
Learning martial arts is definitely going to be a journey.
Thinking that, I slapped my cheeks a couple times with vigor, making me come to accept what had taken place. My cheeks turned a rosy red by doing that, but this was now my new life that I will live now.
As Baki Hanma.
My lips curved up into a smile, but thanks to the weird curves of my lips, it looked weird to see in front of the mirror.
"Alright, it's the first day of class, and God even brought my house over as a parting gift. Didn't he say to check my inventory too?", I uttered, wondering to myself.
"Well, I can check it in a bit. It's 6AM now. I'll go turn the bath on. That's one thing about being Japanese, no matter what house you visit, they always come equipped with a super nice bath.", I happily said.
[...]
"Oh right. And since you don't have a name, I ought to give you one.", I continued to utter.
Thinking it would take some time to think of a name for the system given to me by God, I made an immediate beeline toward the door. Perhaps it was because I was now Baki, my feet felt as if they were flying through the white clouds. My thoughts were suddenly distracted by another large bang.
Bang!
I found myself in the main hallway of the second floor, not realizing how much speed I had put into my legs.
Turning around. I saw a human-sized hole in front of my door, causing me to blankly stare at it.
"That's something I need to get used to...", I inwardly retorted, realizing I had run right through my door. My new body just blasted right through it.
Thinking that, I took a more careful approach and made my way toward the bathroom on the second floor. It was one of the main rooms and didn't connect to another room. Even the tub was big enough to hold three or four people, making it quite spacious for one person.
Pssshhh...
With the sound of hot water turning on, the tub was filled with hot water.
Cold baths were a thing for martial artists, but I wanted my body to destress from coming to realize who I am now. Cold baths helped stimulate the flow of blood in one's body, making one become more alert and reduce pain. I don't need that now.
Plop.
Taking my clothes off, which mostly consisted of a white gi pants, a figure clad in muscle stepped into the bath. I knew not to jump into it, considering what could happen.
I didn't want a water leak, haha!
April 1st.
6:15AM.
"Phew...", I exhaled, letting out a large puff of hot air from my lips, letting my two arms slump beside the tub. Water splashed as I submerged my body into it.
"Baths really are great. I can feel the stress leaving already.", I happily said to myself. I took the time to look at my arms and hands again. "Being in the body of a martial artist really is something huh? I feel bursts of energy surging within me...", I said, continuing to marvel at this newfound body of mine.
[It would seem you have calmed down quite a bit now, Master.]
Hearing a voice sound off inside my head.
"Yeah. I've come to accept that this is my life now. It will hold many unknowns considering this isn't just the World of Baki, but I still have some time to myself. I'm quite looking forward to starting school again.", I responded. "And as much as I would like to address you as System, we need to decide a name...", I started to say, wondering for a good moment or two.
[A name is not required, but I am called RDX-69 at times. You were the 69th soul to select the randomizer initiative. As it was previously stated, not many have selected it, and it was still in its testing phase.]
I heard the system's explanation, causing me to nod my head.
"Saying RDX-69 will be a mouthful every time I say it, so how about the name Aura?", I decided after staying silent for another moment.
[Very well. You can call me Aura from here on, Master.]
"Haha, it's nice to meet you, Aura. While we're at it, can you show me my status again? I also looked through the skills granted to me earlier, can you rearrange them so the stat boosting ones come first? I recall there were a few.", I asked Aura.
[Understood Master. I will also give you a reminder to check your inventory. You have an unused item in it.] Aura's voice echoed in my head.
[Status Window]
Name: Baki Hanma
Age: 16
Title: N/A
Occupation: Student
HP: 100
Ki: 10
Level: 1
EXP: 0/100
STR: 1
END: 1
CHA: 1
TEQ: 1
WIS: 1
LUC: 1
SPD: 1
[Energies]
Cursed Energy: Locked
Mana: Locked
Ki: Unlocked
[Skills]
==========
[Ogre's Chains] - Curse
- Loses 3 STR per STR Gain. Loses 50% EXP per EXP Gain.
[Baki's Blessing]
- Gain 3 STR per STR Gain. Any STR Gain is further increased by 3 points.
- Experience Gain is boosted by 50%
[Perfect Comprehension]
- Gain 3 WIS per WIS Gain.
[Adaptable Body] (Upgradable)
- Gain 2 END per END Gain. Gain 10 additional HP per Level.
[Baki's Aura] (Upgradable)
- Gain 3 CHA per CHA Gain.
- Gain 5 Additional Ki per Level
======
[Perfect Host]
[Curse Reversal]
[Basic Martial Arts Mastery]
[Basic Martial Arts]
Grappling: 100%
Karate: 0%
Taekwondo: 0%
Muay Thai: 0%
Chinese Kenpo: 0%
Kendo: 0%
Jiu-Jitsu: 0%
Judo: 0%
Aikido: 0%
Inventory: Unlocked
[Ding! Due to Grappling reaching 100% mastery from past experience and from [Baki's Blessing] Title: Adept Grappler has been granted]
Hearing a sudden notification sound off inside my head, I raised my eyebrows. Yet I couldn't even react further before I heard another one.
[Ding! Curse Reversal has activated. Cursed Skill - Ogre's Chains has been reversed. Ogre's Chains (Blessing) has been created.]
[Ogre's Chains (Blessing)]
-Gain 3 STR per STR Gain. Gain 50% EXP per EXP Gain.
[Title: Adept Grappler]
-When equipped, 20% TEQ Gain, 20% SPD Gain. Grants user an easier time grabbing and holding an opponent.
"Damn.", I uttered with a curse. "And thanks for cleaning the screen up for me, Aura. It's a lot easier to go through now.", I continued to say with a smile.
[You are welcome, Master.] Aura's voice echoed in my head.
