Our protagonist, one Kevin "Kev" Miller, was having a decidedly un-epic Tuesday. He was late for his Intro to Existential Philosophy class – a course he'd only signed up for because it fulfilled a humanities credit and the professor had a reputation for lenient grading. Clutching a lukewarm coffee and a half-eaten bagel, he dashed across Elm Street, completely engrossed in a particularly spicy Reddit thread about whether pineapple belonged on pizza (for the record, Kev was a firm "absolutely not" in that debate).
That's when it happened. Not a philosophical epiphany, sadly. Instead, it was the roaring engine and the blinding headlights of a rogue delivery truck – apparently also late for something. Kev's last coherent thought, amidst the cacophony of screeching tires and the bagel tragically flying through the air, was a muttered, "Oh, for… not like this."
Then came the darkness. A profound, all-encompassing nothingness that smelled faintly of ozone and regret.
Except, it wasn't truly nothingness. A faint hum resonated around him, a whisper that slowly coalesced into… words? Numbers?
[System Initiating…]
[Soul Signature Identified: Kevin Miller.]
[Processing Reincarnation Sequence…]
[Warning: Unexpected Environmental Destination Detected.]
Kev, or whatever was left of his consciousness, felt a strange sensation of… expanding. Of becoming… less defined. The faint smell of ozone intensified, replaced by a dry, dusty aroma. He could no longer feel his limbs, his skin. Instead, there was a sense of vastness, yet also of being utterly confined.
Then, the "words" returned, clearer this time.
[Welcome to the World of Aethelgard!]
[You have been reincarnated as: Minor Desert Oasis (Uncommon).]
[Congratulations! You have gained the Trait: Aqueous Form.]
Kev's mental equivalent of an eyebrow shot up. A pond? Seriously? After debating the merits of Nietzsche with sleep-deprived philosophy majors, his grand isekai adventure involved… algae?
[Initial Stats Loaded:]
[Water Capacity: 100 Liters.]
[Purity Level: Slightly Murky.]
[Mana Reserves: 5.]
[Skills: [Absorb Moisture (Passive)], [Minor Healing (Locked)].]
Kev mentally groaned. This was going to be a long existence.