[Calculation of rewards complete. Distribution of rewards initiated.]
"Haha," Asaru sarcastically laughed.
"Using rewards to change the topic huh? Quite the shrewd system we have here," he said, exasperated. "Fine. Let's see what kind of rewards I'll get from this death game I went through."
[You have acquired the Skill: Blade Battle Arts]
[You have acquired the Skill: Overdrive]
[You have acquired the Skill Rune: Shadow Arcane]
"Skills and an item, huh?"
[All rewards have been distributed. Beginning Status Update…]
"So now that I've received my rewards, this Status Update or whatever it is… Guess I'm about to find out what's it all about."
At that moment, he felt drowsy. His legs became weak, and he fell on one knee, holding his head with a discomforted and painful expression.
It was evident from his reaction that the effects of this update were taking an enormous toll on his body and mind, especially considering all the hardships he went through up to this point within the Tutorial Dungeon.
A few moments later, his condition improved as a new system window popped up.
[Status Update complete.]
"Damn. Now that was one horrible experience. I've never felt this bad in my entire life," he grumbled as he rose back on his feet.
"Now let's check out what change this update brought."
A new window popped up, surprising Asaru as to the content it displayed
[No matter the difficulties, you are one who faces challenges and finds solution using your wits and insight.]
"What the-?"
[You have overcome all obstacles and continued to push forward even within the deepest depths of despair.]
[With your sword, reflecting your indomitable will and resilience, you cut down all that stands in your way.]
[Your soul polished and as deadly as your blade, burns with the desire of strength for your own survival.]
[You have acquired a Class. Your new class is Spellblade.]
[You have acquired the Unique Trait:Spriggan.]
"A class and a unique trait? As always, I can never know if this place and everything that happens within it is a dream or reality," Asaru pondered deeply, before his attention was directed towards a new pop-up window.
'BEEP! BEEP!'
"Hmm?"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Name: Asaru Takayoshi]
[Age: 16]
[Class: Spellblade]
[Unique Trait: Spriggan]
[HP: 1500/1500]
[Skills]
[Skill: Blade Battle Arts]
[Skill: Overdrive]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A new status window, huh? But what happened to all my stats? Where did all my AP go? Seriously, what's happening here?"
Asaru questioned as he didn't know what kind of development his current predicament was and what it entailed.
"Oh well, let's just see what all these updates do."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Class: Spellblade]
A class unique to swordsmen which allows them to exert more power using a sword. It focus any power possessed by the user and releases it by a single point of the blade.
Notice: Chances of getting this class depends on amount of Achievement Points accumulated by the user.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"A sword-oriented class huh? Guess that's explains what happened to my AP," Asaru thought observing the info on his new stats.
"Next, my trait."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Unique Trait: Spriggan]
Your body and soul have evolved further than initial status.
Effects:
-Strengthening of all senses.
-Strengthening of all physical abilities.
-Resistance to all status ailments.
-Rapid recovery.
Notice: Chances of getting this trait depends on stats possessed by the user.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So, my stats meshed into my trait, huh? This keeps getting weirder and weirder," Asaru exasperated as this new system structure kept getting further and further away from the systems he knew.
With a sigh, "Now what about my new skills."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Skill: Blade Battle Arts]
Active Effect: Strengthens the user's main sword techniques with significant attack power.
Notice: Strength of techniques vary depending on the proficiency of the user.
Passive Effect: Enhances the user's swordsmanship and dexterity, allowing higher mastery and performance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"At the very least this one seems useful, but… why do I get a bad feeling from this?" expressed Asaru with concern as the only thing he hoped for was for this nightmare he had experienced to simply end.
"Next…" Asaru started.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Skill: Overdrive]
Allows the user to exert more power than they originally have and surpass their limits.
Notice: Activates only under certain conditions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"…Overdrive. Activates only under certain conditions. What the heck?!" expressed Asaru with a confused expression. "That's way too vague!"
"Jeez~" he rubbed his temple. "Just what kind of weird game system is this."
"In any case, my last reward…"
A new window popped up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Skill Rune: Shadow Arcane]
Grants the Skill: Shadow Arcane, which allows the user to control and manipulate shadows at will, allowing diversity in uses and effects.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So, this thing will give me a new skill, huh?" he said holding a stone with a purple glowing rune on it after it had appeared the same way as the sword.
"Now that I think about it, the Shadow could also materialize things out of thin air. Maybe it was because of this skill?"
After breaking it, another new window popped up.
[You have acquired Skill: Shadow Arcane.]
"So now that I've gotten my rewards, is it finally over?" he asked, unsure of what would follow after this.
It wasn't long before a new system window appeared but with a message even more cryptic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Please choose an alias.]
[______________]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What? An alias? What for?" he retorted, his frustration evident.
"Whatever," he groaned.
"An alias, right?" he pondered for an instant.
"There was a nickname I used to use when I played RPGs," he muttered before giving a name.
"Ace."
[Ace]
He didn't have to wait long before something else happened.
[An alias has been chosen.]
[Creating memory backup from Subject: Asaru Takayoshi]
[…]
[Memory Backup created.]
[All memories of Subject will now be erased.]
"Wait, wha-?!" Asaru was interrupted as he felt another feeling of drowsiness but stronger than his previous one, making him fall unconscious. "Fuck… it… all…"
[Initiating System Reset]
[…]
[System Reset complete.]
---
---
---
With the beeping sound of machines nearby, fingers twitched as their owner's eyes slowly opened.
"H-he's waking! Quick, somebody call the doctor!" said a woman's voice as he woke up, his blurry vision settling on the ceiling as it became clearer.
It was Asaru, lying on a hospital bed with an oxygen mask etched on his face and electrodes on his body which sent his vitals to the nearby screens.
The doctor arrived, first removing Asaru's mask and then examining him while also questioning him in an attempt to check his mental state.
"No dilated eyes," said the doctor. "Look at me. Do you remember who you are young man? Do you know what your name is?"
"A-Asaru… Takayoshi," replied Asaru, his voice barely a whisper.
"How old are you?"
"16"
"Your parents' name?"
"Rihan… and Mio… Takayoshi."
Confirm his memory, the doctor proceeded to making an evaluation.
"Good. Doesn't seem like he suffered any brain damage or memory loss."
"Do you remember what happened to you?" the doctor asked.
"Uuuuh?" Asaru pondered.
"I took the bus and then, and... then… " his voice trailed off upon the final memory hit him hard—a flash of screeching tires, the sudden impact, then darkness. His heart pounded as he grappled with the dawning realization.
"I was in an accident."
"That's right. You were in a bus accident, and you got severely injured. You were unconscious for three days," the doctor explained.
"Three days? That's not right. I… I… Wha-what was I… I feel like a forgot something but… what was it?" his thoughts trailed off as he fell asleep.
"Doctor!" the nurse called out.
"Not to worry. He simply fell asleep. It's really a miracle that there were no casualties considering the damage."
With those words, the doctor stood up and went to check on other patients within the hospital.
---
---
---
[Initiating System Reboot]
[…]
[System Reboot complete.]
[Retrieving Backup Data from System Memory]
[…]
[Backup retrieval complete]
[Designation of Avatar: Ace as new subject initiated]
[…]
[Designation complete.]
[Character Synchronization of new subject with Backup Data Model: Asaru Takayoshi initiated.]
[…]
[Character Synchronization complete.]
[Initiating Main Scenario.]