I opened my eyes slowly.
'What? How am I alive?'
Kazumi is my name.
I looked around silently.
And I suspect I'm in a layer of hell.
'Where the hell is this?'
It was void wherever I looked.
I suddenly remembered what happened.
'Right before I died I heard messages. Oh wait! Messages! System window!'
I naturally moved my arm.
Nothing happened.
I felt confusion in the first time in a while and decided to look around more.
'Wait a second. Do I even have a body?'
I quickly realized something was off and then I got a message.
[Multiple constellations that will remain unknown are enjoying themselves]
"Sorry about that."
Then I heard a woman's voice.
And my consciousness was cut off.
********
When I opened my eyes again I saw a reception desk.
"Huh? Where am I now?"
[Welcome newly born constellation!]
[To the star castle!]
'This is not a castle!'
That was my first thought, I was shocked that it called itself a castle.
If I were to explain what this place was I would say it's a video game hub or a big futuristic city.
I saw many people walking everywhere.
'Are they constellations?'
None looked fully human. There were many elves with colour changing hair, and a person with scales yawning.
A majority of them had S rank equipment at the very minimum.
'Are they from different worlds?'
I looked towards where everyone was walking to and from.
I saw seven big buildings and many smaller ones. With hundreds of people entering and leaving each one.
'They look like sky scrappers! Where the f-'
"Can I help you with anything?"
My thought process stopped before I could doubt this place's continuity and I looked towards the voice.
"Yes? Do you know where we are? Is this hell?"
The one who called me was a woman standing behind the reception desk.
'Hmm she's not weak but doesn't seem too strong.'
I accidently examined the receptionists power without thinking about it.
I sighed internally. Old habits die hard.
I "walked" towards the desk and the woman gave me a tablet with something written on it.
I didn't feel any weight in my steps. Like I was a ghost or spirit.
"You're an honest one. I'll tell you the basics."
I nodded looking at the tablet. Wait, honest?
[The system has been synced with the palace tablet]
"First, if you open your system window you will see that you have two stats, and that all your skills have been sealed."
[Now beginning tutorial]
"System window."
constellation (Tier 5): Kazumi
Active title: [Weapon master(Legendary)]
Active constellation title: [Weapon master(Rare)]
Class: Weapon master(Legendary)
Stats: [STR: SSS-] [VIT: SS+] [AGI: S+] [INT: SS]
Constellation stats: [STR: E-7] [VIT: F+ 4] [AGI: G+8] [INT: F 4]
Authority: [Slash that purifies the world(SSS+)] [Slash that protects people(SSS)]
Skills: [Slash that purifies(none)] [Slash that protects people(none)], [Temporarily locked] 35 more...
Passive skills: [Temporarily locked] Weapon mastery(SSS), god's footwork(SSS+), 58 more...
Equipment: Broken constellation's sword(S-)
Coins: 100
'My stats are weird, and now there are coins... I have to repair the sword.'
It was broken. How do I repair the sword?
I looked at my stats for a while and looked at the woman.
"Your skills are sealed because it could cause trouble for us, if a constellation decides to fight another constellation it would bother the higher ups. Your stats are separated into your original stats, and constellation stats. Please continue the tutorial to see the details."
I looked at the system window, ignoring the woman's awfully robotic response.
[Here are the stat changes]
Below S = none
S = G
SS = F
SSS = E
EX = D
[You will also see a number next to your stats]
[STR: E-7] [VIT: F+ 4] [AGI: G+8] [INT: F 4]
When those numbers reach 10 the grade of your stats increase
I nodded to myself and looked at the woman again.
"Coins can be used in different locations for different things."
She pointed towards the biggest building and continued.
"That's a hotel for new constellations to get used to this place."
She waved goodbye and disappeared.
'What a strange place. It reminds me of a big city.'
[You have obtained a map!]
Current registered locations: Reception, Cafe, Cosmetics store, Hotel, Stream room, Battle room and trading hall.
'Oh, this is just like from earth. Did they copy it? Or was it that earth came after this place?'
I was reminded of my childhood memories. Back then I often played video games.
[The basic tutorial is finished!]
[You will now be visible to other constellations!]
[It is heavily recommended to get a physical body!]
'Oh, that's why I felt weightless, I am indeed a ghost.'
I noticed after a little while that there was no sound.
'I can be seen.'
My skills may be sealed but I had enough experience to feel hundreds of constellations looking at me.
I had no weapons to defend myself with and I didn't know what could happen.
"Hey! You seem to be a newbie!"
I turned towards the voice, being on guard.
It was a big man with red hair. He was at least 20cm taller than me.
'He's strong. If he gets the jump on me I lose 99 out of 100 times.'
Even though he seemed stronger than me I still thought I could win right now. My instincts told me that.
"Yes, do you have business with me?"
He was too friendly.
"Jeez, relax a little. Anyway want a tour of the place? I'm pretty used to this place."
I thought about it for a while.
'I guess I can take the risk. Now that I think about it. Where is the fighting goddess?'
She's been absent ever since I became a constellation.
I nodded silently while contemplating why I haven't heard from her.
"You're in good hands. I have experience in touring newbies."
'How many constellations are born per year?'
I followed behind the man while he talked.
"First, you start with one hundred coins, right?"
I looked at him and answered.
"Yes, is that a lot?"
The man laughed out loud.
"Hahaha! Unfortunately it isn't, but I can show you how to get rich!"
I felt a strange premotion and stopped.
'I can't fight him right now, my skills are sealed. In pure physical ability he'll overpower me.'
The man turned around and looked confused.
'I'll have to be careful. I should always trust my gut.'
"Nothing, I just thought about what happened before I became a constellation."
The big man nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, it's like that in the beginning, but you can visit your world again through an avatar. My name is Alius. What's your name?"
'Avatar, like a physical body?'
There were a few instances of avatars appearing but that stopped quickly after the corruption appeared.
"My name is Kazumi.... where are we going?"
Alius pointed towards one of the buildings.
"That's where the cosmetics store is. You can buy clothes, replica armor and even replica weapons of famous constellations."
I was amazed by the fact that he said famous constellations.
"Wow, so they have celebrities too?"
'May as well act more naive than I am.'
"Yeah. The strong are always renowned wherever they go."
When we entered the store there were many constellations trying clothes and swinging around weapons.
'Replicas huh. Oh, that's what those weapons were.'
All the replica weapons were at least S rank based on my standards but here they were simply replicas.
Alius, noticing my expression, nodded.
"Yeah I've seen that expression hundreds of times. You'll have to get used to these new standards quickly, because you'll see many replicas in the future."
"Are there security measures to prevent stealing?"
Alius laughed and answered.
"Of course! All the items are imbued with a detection magic scroll. That's probably why they're so darn expensive."
'How much do they cost though?'
I decided to ask because I was curious.
"How much do they cost?"
Alius sighed lightly and told me, very secretly.
"About.... twenty thousand coins.... minimum."
'That's extremely expensive!? Is it?'
I didn't know the value of coins, but I felt it would at the very least take multiple days to get that amount of money.
Alius seemed to enjoy my expression and asked me a question.
"Haha! Anyway next is the playroom! Do you know what video games are?"
'Oh, they have video games?'
I nodded while exiting the store.
"Yeah! My world had them!"
I was curious, but decided to act more excited than I was.
"Good, then this can be explained easily. Did your world also have internet cafes?"
I nodded again being curious.
"The concept is similar, you can feel, smell and taste everything as if it's real within another world without moving an inch. Although those things cost quite a lot of coins."
The front of the building had a neon sign saying "Playroom".
We entered the playroom and went to the reception.
"Can we tour this place? This guy's new here."
The receptionist shook his head.
"Unfortunately we can't allow that. As you already know the first time free pass doesn't work for multiple people, or people that have already been here."
I looked at the receptionist silently.
'He doesn't seem too strong. Maybe low S rank.'
"Hey, you know me right? Can you make an exception just this once?"
The receptionist shook his head.
Alius asked again, over and over.
'A constellation...'
Alius was pleading with the receptionist at this point.
'He's a constellation.....?'
*Ring Ring! Ring Ring!*
It was the sound of a telephone.
*Click!*
'Oh, I haven't seen that in a few years.'
"Huh? Oh, yeah! That can be done!"
The receptionist turned towards me.
"Someone has bought you an annual pass. On behalf of the buyer, their information will not be revealed."
I looked dumbfounded at the receptionist.
"What? Who would do that?"
I actually had an idea of who it could be.
'Thanks.'
Alius looked shocked with his mouth wide open.
"Whoa, I didn't realize you had a bigshot as a support."
"Haha, I didn't know either."
It seemed my constellation was quite incredible.
"Oh, I almost forgot, you got a one month pass."
The receptionist looke- correction, he glared at Alius. There seemed to be a bit of malice between them.
"Wh-"
"Hey wanna continue the tour or should we stay here?"
I asked because Alius looked stunned.
Alius quickly recovered and shook his head.
"Let's continue and go here tomorrow."
I nodded and walked out.
"Huff, what a day. Anyway next stop is the stream corner.
'What a day? It's barely been 20 minutes?'
We walked up to a building that reminded me of a theater.
'This feels weird.'
It didn't feel like a place for constellations.
"In here you can watch other worlds through channels, free of charge."
'Huh? Channels? Channels...'
I was reminded of the early days of when I closed my first gate.
'The channel number...'
Specifically, the channel number.
'What was it again? I need to remember....'
"Huh? Are you there?"
Alius asked, waving his hand in front of my face. Did I phase out?
"Yeah, let's see what's inside."
Inside were many screens displaying different worlds and people fighting monsters.
'Oh, they're not half bad. But rough around the edges.'
Alius noticed my gaze and said.
"They're pretty popular for being rookies. They have quite the potential. They're in an earth world."
I looked at Alius with a confused expression. What now?
"Right, there are different types of worlds. Please open your system window."
I did as he said and there was an explanation.
[World types]
There are theoretically infinite world types but here are the top 5 based on popularity in no particular order!
Tower fantasy:
A world invaded by a tower with 100 floors! On the floors challenges awaits and at the top lies whatever you can imagine!
Murim
A world ruled by martial arts! Even though they're not technologically advanced they're not to be underestimated!
World of swords and magic
A world ruled by magic, swords and magical creatures!
Earth
A technologically advanced world originally without magic!?
Reality game
A world where a video game from their world becomes reality! This invites mixed worlds which are all wildly different!
'Strange, it's like looking at a list of genres. Wait, does this even involve worlds? Isn't this just a list of genres?'
Alius nodded to himself.
"Let's go to the silent room."
"The silent room?"
I asked confused.
"It's a place for low rank constellations to awaken and increase their rank"
I nodded.
"What rank are you?"
We walked towards the silent room while chatting.
"Five, unfortunately due to circumstances I haven't been able to attempt awakening."
'Awakening... I wonder what he means.'
We arrived quickly, and we entered the silent room's reception.
A woman was sleeping silently on the desk.
'What the? Who is this person? Is she even a person?'
She was exuding nothing. No strength, no skill, no nothing. Maybe she was leagues above me. A constellation.
"You can order a room for about five years before you have to renew."
Alius pointed towards a hallway.
The hallway was dark and I couldn't see the end of it.
"Wow."
Alius nodded while sighing heavily like an old man.
"Okay, last stop. The battle room."
'He looks annoyed? No, conflicted maybe?'
I nodded and followed him silently.
When we arrived, Alius started explaining how it worked.
"As the name implies, it's a place where you can fight other constellations risk free. You can also enter tournaments. That said, do you wanna go for a round?"
I looked at him silently.
"How do you enter?"
Alius, smiling, answered like a business man explaining a company's benefits.
"Haha, it's simple, just put in one hundred coins in this thing and I'll do the same. Don't worry, I'll give it back."
'He's acting strangely,'
He walked up to a box.
[The simple pvp box]
Minimum coins required: 100
You can fight with all your skills and stats from your previous world.
Maximum number of participants: 4
There are also many different modes!
The winner takes it all!
I nodded and agreed.
I looked at the game modes slowly.
[Rank restriction game modes (From F to S)]
[King of the hill]
[Commander]
[Power scaling (ranked)]
[Turn based fight]
'Only limited rank game modes is suitable. It's the most fitting for me right now.'
As a newly born constellation, it was the only chance I had to win.
"Alright let's test our skill in the all D rank stats game mode instead."
I suggested.
"Huh? Uh, that's a good idea!"
He paused a little and readily agreed.
[You have entered the waiting line of the simple pvp box(rank restriction: D rank only)]
[You cannot leave once you have entered!]
[1/4 players]
Then two guys in martial arts clothes appeared.
They honestly looked like actors more than actual people.
"Haha, you really got him good."
They were talking to Alius.
'Oh, that's what it was.'
The source of my suspicion.