The pounding of footsteps through the mud, and the pouring rain. It was the only sounds filling his ears as he sprinted forwards, running for his life.
How could it have come to this?
Ryuji shook his head, continuing forwards into the dark, feet pounding against the soaked dirt as he ran through the ruins covered in thick brush and bramble.
In his past life, he was an office worker- just your average wage-slave in japan- and then, one day, without so much as a warning, whilst walking home from a long shift in the pouring rain-
He had been struck with lightning. By the time EMT's arrived, it was too late.
Ryuji woke up with a start, cold sweat pouring down his face, heart pounding in his chest. He was in a bed that wasnt his own- and a body that he wasnt familiar with. The only information he had about this place was his "Character Sheet," as it was labeled.
Ryuji Yarikawa
Male
18
5'11"
Half-Elf.
Vitality: 10
Endurance: 12
Soul: 2
Intelligence: 10
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 10
Arcane: 10
Fracture: 3
Summary: Average physicality. Fractured.
SKILLS:
-
-
-
1 Skill Point Avalable.
What was his name before this? It was... Araki? Amanai? He couldnt remember- his memories were a foggy haze. For now, he was stuck as Ryuji- and more importantly, he was stuck here- where ever "here" was. Ryuji ran a hand through his long, silky, wavy, and curly black hair, glancing around the room. Despite being far less modern than what he was used to, it was... Comforting. A place he had known all of his life- Of Ryuji's life.
Ryuji's auburn eyes drifted back to the "Character Sheet," opening the menu labeled Skills. A small, deflated sigh escaped him as he saw his skills- or lack thereof.
"... One skill point, huh?" Ryuji mumbled to himself, the menu opening a pop-up. Instead of the expected skill-tree or list to buy from, Ryuji was presented with somethig else-
"You're kidding me, a slot machine?" Ryuji asked with annoyance and very mild amusement.
The Slot Menu read as such:
"Spin the Wheel Of Fate, and earn a Skill to start your journey!"
"One spin: 1 Skill Point."
Ryuji gave a defeated sigh, shaking his head. And then, with resignation, he pressed the button labeled "SPIN" and watched the names flicker by in rapid motion.
Immortality, animal control, construction, fire manipulation... Those were the few that caught his eye as it spun- and then, a small click was heard- and the wheel came to a stop, sprouting small fireworks and visual effects in its own menu for him.
"Strength," Ryuji read, rubbing his eyes and glancing skeptically at the skill again. Was that it? Just a flat increase to strength? It was better than some other skills, sure, but...
Ryuji shook his head, opening the description of the skill.
Strength:
The ability to continue on no matter what.
+ 5 Strength (level 1)
+ 5 Endurance (level 5)
+ 10% Strength (level 10)
+ 20% Vitality, Soul, and Endurance (level 25)
(Hidden Bonus)
(Hidden Bonus)
(Hidden Bonus)
(Bonus Unlocked: Unwavering)
+ 1 Strength, +10 Endurance (Requirements: Fracture: 1)
Ryuji glanced back at the bonus. He had seen "Fracture" level twice now- but what did it mean? Would this system even tell him? He shook his head, mentally closing the system- and it followed his thoughts, dissappearing and leaving him in the dark room. Then, he promptly returned to sleep- but a newfound weightlessness washed over his body.
Ryuji promptly awoke just before the sun rose, remembering the events of the night prior- for now, he thought for a moment, his priority would be truly understanding the new person he had to become.
Ryuji's feet softly padded against the wooden flooring, as he made his was over to a bookshelf, plucking one of the leather-bound tomes at random. It's cover was etched with strange symbols he didn't recognise- yet he understood them clearly.
"Ecology of The Zhuming Forests: Volume 1." Zhuming Forests? He had never heard that name before- and yet, he distinctly knew it was the land he stood upon- his home. Ryuji thumbed through the pages of the book, his red-brown eyes flickering across the pages- spiders, snakes, insects, birds, trees- all things you would find in a normal ecology book- and then, there was a section that stood out to him.
"Fractured Creatures."
There it was again. Fracture. Just like his stat menu. He scanned the pages with greater interest this time.
Monsters. It was all monsters like a fantasy novel, or a game. Zombies, ghouls, just about every average creature you could think of. He turned the page, confused by it's contents, before-
Knock, knock, knock.
"Hey, Thola, you gonna stay in bed all day again?" A feminine voice asked through his door. His body responded on instinct.
"O-of course not, koko," he stammered, confused by his own words. Yuriko- his sister. He saw her face in his head, and could imagine her standing on the other side of the door, her usual annoyed expression on her face. Similar hair to his own, only longer, and a more brunette color- and eyes to match her hair.
"Good. Get up- we leave in five." And with that, presumably, she was gone. Ryuji moved to his wardrobe, staring for a moment- the outfits were odd, the clothing made to coil around the body in ways that Ryuji barely understood- but he managed, finishing with a thick cloak to wrap around himself, looking over at the small mirror in the room.
His outfit was nice- but he looked like a mess, long hair falling down to his middle-back. With a sigh, Ryuji began braiding his hair on the sides and top, before pulling it all back into a pony-tail of sorts, a few strands falling in front of his face.
It would have to work for now. Ryuji stepped forwards, opening the door, and finding himself in the living room- it was a quaint, almost cabin-like room- but it was home, and that was good enough for him.
His sister's thinner but still muscular frame leaned against the wall, cocking an eyebrow at Ryuji. "Braids? Thats new. Come on, we're leaving," she said, pushing off the wall, past Ryuji, giving him a playful smack to the shoulder. They stepped out the front door, revealing the porch, and the forest that their house lied within- and then, Ryuji paused after stepping off of the porch.
Why was he falling?
Ryuji landed hard on the ground, a resounding thud echoing from his landing- but he was fine, slowly extending his legs to stand upright once more. A snicker echoed from the mid-point of the ladder, as his sister dropped he rest of the distance.
"Forget how to use a ladder, Thola? Or just too lazy?" She asked, bouncing up to her feet, shrugging her cloak onto her shoulders. Yuriko moved with a casual grace- much like she always did. And then, after some more banter, the two were off to the nearest city- And were blissfully unaware of the storm that would follow.