1 It's not the End?
Reincarnation.
A fantastical notion that many believed to exist, but at the same time many did not believe in.
I did not believe in rebirth either.
Suddenly, I felt a burst of sharp pain. Could it be…? Is this death? Perhaps, I'm in soul form now?
For a long time I felt sensations in my fingers, moreover, it felt real. Why, after all this time, why am I still conscious? I immediately sat up. Surveying my surroundings, I stared out blankly, at a complete loss.
Where is this place? Didn't I already die after that big mistake?
I felt as if I were in a dream—having a sort of illusory sensation. I began feeling my back; entire hand felt wet and sticky. However, I saw that my palm wasn't covered in blood but rather sweat.
What's going on?
Didn't I lose a lot of blood? He vaguely recalled his blood being red. It was just like red wine, except with a scarlet tint; it was the colour of his life gradually fading away.
At that moment, a screen popped up in my retina.
「 You have acquired the qualifications of a player. You have now arrived at Floor 1. 」
Isn't this 10 years ago when I arrived in the tower, a different world where something occurred outside the bounds of an ordinary routine.
How do I determine what is real, and what is a dream?
I… What's going on here? Am I myself from ten years in the past, or am I myself from ten years in the future? I scratched my hair in great bewilderment.
As I'm being consumed by confusion, I surveyed my surroundings with a hint of doubt. There were just too many questions left unanswered.
"Wh, what is this place?"
"Don't ask me. I, I don't know either."
"I… is there anyone else here? What is this place… and why are there swords and weapons here?"
"Excuse me! Is anyone there? Excuse me!"
Just as I suspected, there were many people around me. The atmosphere here was eerie. Maybe it was because the surroundings were similar to a scene from a horror movie, but all the people here were terrified.
However my focus wasn't on these people.
I'm still alive… I stretched my right hand forward. I gazed at its tenderness and slight immaturity before noticing the sickly pale skin tone.
Although I suddenly felt it was a pity that the sword and all the equipment I gathered and possessed in my lifetime had disappeared.
[Players, you have been invited and have all been chosen as warriors that will challenge the 'Tower of Trials'.]
"Damn it! We're not warriors!"
"Stop joking around and come out, you jerks!"
"I, I'm going to call the police. I, I'm going to call the police."
The people around me panicked. Just like what I experienced before. Remaining in silence, a transparent panel appears in my vision.
[Status Window]
「 Name: Cyruz
Class: None
Titles: None
Health: 15 / 15
Mana: 2 / 2
Strength: 1 Stamina: 1
Agility: 1 Intelligence: 1 」
Is it possible? Have I really returned to that time?
I can start all over again from the beginning?
Cyruz's current emotional state was hard to describe; pleasant surprise and nervous apprehension interweaved with each other as his emotions swayed all over the place. He was anxious that everything occurring now was simply a dream.
Rays of sunlight were scalding as they released their scorching heat onto his skin. The sensation clearly informed him that at present, he truly wasn't dreaming.
It wasn't that Cyruz became too miserable in the past. He became one of the top rankers that took the lead however, by that time it was already too late. He had simply missed too many opportunities.
Cyruz was sixteen years old this year. However, he possessed the mentality of his twenty-six-year-old self. Everything would once again start anew. From henceforth, a new chapter in his life would open up. Using his prior experiences, he could clearly and distinctly recall many items and hidden pieces that became known after 10 years. If he started all over again, it wouldn't be too difficult for him to procure some results.
I'm going to start all over again! I'll do it right this time! Cyruz was tempted to scream these words at the top of his lungs, venting out all of the indescribable emotions he had held within his heart.
「 Please pay attention. At the starting point, you will find essential items you will need - water, food and the weapons you will be using from now on. The weapons are ranked as such - normal, rare, epic, legendary. The weapons provided are below normal. 」
In the Tower of Trials, the quality of basically all items are divided into 4 which are normal, rare, epic, legendary.
As the system stated, few items emerges. Scattered in his surroundings, there were many foods, many plastic bottles full of water and other supplies.
Followed by the appearance of bow and arrow, sword and shield, spear and mace - they were all weapons often used in the Middle Ages and they were lined up. A majority of the weapons were either chipped or old, but they looked sharp.
"Stop playing around! Damn it!"
"P, please let me out. Please!"
Cyruz heard many voices full of complains. Even without looking at them, he was aware that they were all terrified of the unknown. Unlike him whose feelings were hard to describe at that moment. He felt both regret, sadness, and joy.
It was as if everything before him was just a dream. Nonetheless, the chirping of insects and the cold wind blown from the air conditioner told him otherwise, that everything was real.
「 With these weapons, you will be able to protect yourselves. For your information, the goal of the tutorial is survival and attack. In a few seconds, monsters will appear. They will target you and you will have to fight against them. 」
When people saw the word 'survival', they suddenly came back to their senses. People started screaming less and less as they focused on the panel that everyone saw in this place.
「 You are all chosen players. You arrived here from different places with different characteristics. This place maximizes those characteristics and helps you grow. Please say 'status window,' and you will understand. 」
Cyruz didn't say the phrase 'status window.' He was already aware about it and everyone will start with a value of 1 in all of their stats that were shown.
However unlike him, someone mumbled.
"Status window."
"Status window? Oh? What's this?"
"Kyah!"
He saw a woman screaming towards the sky and people looking at something invisible with surprised looks. Cyruz could understand their reactions. The screen that suddenly appeared makes them feel like they were in a game.
「 The status window is an indicator that displays your condition. Based on your efforts, your stats will either go up or down. 」
Although the people around were scared and the atmosphere was chaotic, the system message continued regardless they cried, raged or even despaired.
「 The tutorial has finished. The trial will begin soon. Please be careful of the monster's attack. 」
With that, Cyruz heard a growl of a beast. He began to see terrified people while others geared up as if they were determined to at least protect themselves.
Stepping forward, Cyruz picked a knife. An ordinary knife that simply looked like a kitchen knife.
There's no special reason why. He just judged that the knife is the easiest weapon he could use with his current physical abilities.
Not really putting into his mind about the screams, Cyruz revealed a slight grin.
"Now then, let's start from the beginning. Shall we?"
There's no trace of fear in his eyes. Only eagerness could be seen in his expression. He just wondered, how different would he be compared to his past life.
