[ PROLOGUE: "GAME DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM" ]
Heaven? Hell? Or, perhaps, Purgatory?
Cambrian couldn't decide which is which, as from what he knows, the afterlife that he's currently stuck in isn't exactly easily describable to people.
But he'll try.
He isn't exactly in the pearly white Heaven, as the place he's in is the farthest from white---it's a place that doesn't have light, only darkness. Which isn't exactly blackness, more so what a blind would see.
He isn't exactly burning in Hell either---a surprise, really---as the place he's in doesn't have any fire or lava in it. Or even demons, unless you count him.
And finally, he isn't exactly in the neverending, soul crushing Purgatory, either. Where damned unbaptized souls---even the babies---are left to reminisce about their life, and wander around for some time.
Or perhaps he is in Purgatory after all, suffering his dues. As he couldn't speak, couldn't hear, couldn't smell, or even move a single twitch of his muscle.
From what Cambrian knows, he doesn't even have a body. Pure out-of-the-body experience, really, as he might---at the moment---be a floating white orb.
A soul.
His soul, really. Which explains why he doesn't have eyelids to close, or hands to move, or a nose to smell. Fairly sensible, albeit scary explanation; acceptable theory to be honest.
It's just that... he could still think, and monologue inside his head. Even without a brain, he could still formulate theories and explanations for his state.
Unlike the phantom feeling for his tongue, his limbs, and even heartbeat. Which he feels even though they're absent. The part where he doesn't have a brain, but could still think, can hardly be explained.
Or the part where he still retains his memories, personality, and ego. Sadly though, he always did have a poor memory, so he couldn't recall much.
Even his own appearance he couldn't remember. Though, he believes he wouldn't need to, as he is dead after all---flattened by a passing rogue truck that went sideways.
And soon, his mind would, too. If not, then he could only pray that it does. He doesn't want to suffer eternity in darkness, without touch and all whatnot.
[ SYSTEM DOWNLOADED! ]
Excuse me?
Cambrian, or Cam for short, opened his eyes (metaphorically), and watched the panel that suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, in curiosity.
Like a moth to the flame, he tried to reach out and get closer. But couldn't, as he doesn't have a body.
Dissatisfied with his predicament, he couldn't help but scowl. But still, his awe was there, as he could see hope. A way out from his undeserved, personal torment.
So he watched, reading as the text flickered in and out of existence; green light shining amongst the dim void.
[ CONGRATULATIONS PLAYER FOR BEING CHOSEN TO WIELD THE GAME DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM ]
[ APPROPRIATE STARTER PACK WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE OPENED! ]
He rejoiced, inwardly. Sadly, he couldn't do the same outwardly, for obvious reasons at that. For example, he doesn't have a body.
Finally, after a long time suffering. Stuck in place, unable to move, unable to hear, see, or feel anything. He finally has a way out.
Which only took about a day in hell.
[ MISSION UNLOCKED! ]
[ SHOP UNLOCKED! ]
[ INVENTORY UNLOCKED! ]
Recognition flashed in his eyes as the text continued changing; from System, to Starter Pack, to Mission, to Shop, and finally to Inventory. He easily recognized all of that as gaming terms, to be specific in Role Playing Games (RPG) and such others.
He could even go as far as to say that the things he is experiencing are similar to a novel's protagonist. Or a poorly written Fan Fiction, but he digress.
At the first hours of his suffering in this limbo-like place, those thoughts flagged his mind over-and-over again, only to be disappointed with nothing happening.
And now, hours or perhaps days later, it finally came to him, when he was starting to lose hope---ironic isn't it.
Yet, so hope-giving at the same time.
He waited for some time, for the System to unlock more features. But after some time, in not seeing more, he finally gave up, and instead went and checked the features that he has been given access to.
How do I---nevermind, that works!
[ MISSIONS: ]
[ STARTER MISSION: BUILD A BODY! ]
[ STARTER MISSION: BUILD A HOME! ]
[ STARTER MISSION: CREATE A GAME! ]
Cam thought about "mission" and the tab appeared, easy as one-two-three, really. And alongside it are three missions; starters. In which, he doesn't know how to complete.
Build a body? Appropriate, he doesn't have a body after all. And aside from his voice, he doesn't remember a thing about his old body, so that would be difficult.
Build a home? He doesn't know how to do that. For starters, he doesn't even know how to build an IKEA table, more so a house. But he hopes the System has a guide for that.
And lastly... create a game?
That is the most difficult out of them all, as firstly, he doesn't know how to code. He doesn't even have a proper computer---or, well, a computer at all, so that's unlikely to be done any time soon.
He eyed the System and couldn't help but sigh in disbelief, for starters, he doesn't know how to start. And that alone, was a big enough hurdle for him.
Already thinking of giving up, he sighed. Trying to forget his woes and worries, he then went and patted the System for ways to accomplish his missions.
And right then and there, when he focused on digging deeper into the first mission, another panel appeared. This time smaller and much more compact.
And also... weird?
[ PLEASE THINK OF AN AVATAR ]
An avatar? Like those blue 7ft tall aliens? Or like the avatar-avatar, master of four elements: water, fire, earth, and air?
Cam was confused for a second, but searched throughout his mind---the dictionary section---on what exactly avatar means. But then he remembered.
Oh, wait. THAT type of avatar.
He internally faced palmed himself and did what he was told. Trying his best to remember key figures and known mascots. Though in the end, he couldn't concretely remember them.
All except one. A terror that he has been trying so hard to forget, and sadly, failing at that---the closest figure he could think of, and a brainrot. A fuckin' Teletubby---the green one.
And when he thought of IT once, he couldn't forget about it. Infuriatingly, but also, nice in some way; as through this, he'll get an Avatar.
Even though inside he's trying his hardest not to laugh at the absurdity.
And surprisingly, under his gaze. His appearance slowly started to change, as he could feel his "body" starting to gain mass.
And after what felt like eternity, he could finally move his "body" again. Even though he knows he isn't in his body anymore.
"This better not be perma---!" He glanced down at his new body, noticing the fact that he looks like he's inside a costume.
A green, teletubby costume. In which case, due to his somewhat limited imagination, plus the magic of the System, he surely is in.
But then he remembered the voice that sounded out of his mouth. Gone was the deep, sloggish tone of his, replaced instead by a high-pitched voice that is foreign.
"My voice! I sound exactly like a god-damned teletubby!" Bewildered, he continued, "I don't want to sound like this, forever!"
Amused, but somewhat scared that it might be a permanent fix, he tried to find a way to change his predicament. Frantically searching a way out through the System.
Though he quite likes the fact that he now has a voice and body again, but call him picky, as he doesn't want his Avatar to be the green teletubby of all things.
He was merely testing out the powers of the all-mighty machination in his head, and now, he had just proved it.
"Yessss!" About to celebrate further, he was cut short by the System.
[ PLAYER HAS SUCCESSFULLY CHOSEN AN AVATAR, CANNOT BE CHANGED UNLESS CERTAIN SKILLS HAS BEEN UNLOCKED ]
His eyes widened in disbelief, and even before he could notice it, he yelled out a big, fat, shrilled, "Noooooo!" out loud. Despair and shame imbedded deep inside the defeated no.
He couldn't believe that he'll be forced by the System to be a Teletubby. Appearance wise, it's kinda funny...
But also, voice wise? That's a step too far, he might accidentally forget his original voice if he stayed too long in the said body. So inwardly, he's in a rush; wanting to change his voice, and also, appearance if possible.
The System did say he'll need to unlock certain skills, and it seems unlikely to lie to him.
Frustated, but somewhat satisfied in having a body to move again. Cam tried his best to get used to his new body, even though he isn't used to not having fingers.
It's not like he doesn't actually has fingers, he does. He has green fingers, and aside for his thumb which is separate, the four others are welded together---unseperable.
Aside for that, he couldn't blink. Luckily, he doesn't feel any urge to do so, or he might have gone even more insane; and likely cried while drifting in the void of space.
Focusing his attention back to the System, he tried using his comically large hand, plus his focus, to manage and use the features of the System, turning to the next Mission on hand.
[ PLEASE THINK OF A PLACE ]
The White House would be great, or the top-floor, most luxurious room of an hotel. Either could work, really, it's just a shame that Cam can't keenly focus, and visualize such place, as he isn't familiar with either.
He also wanted to visualize other places, like for example, fictional places: Hogwarts, Stark Tower, or even The Justice League's Watchtower. Alas, he simply can't.
He instead went and relied on the classics, on the true to life places that he has been. His family apartment, his school, and even... his old family home that was burnt down years ago.
That... that could work, wouldn't it?
He thought, as in compared to other places. The one that he has the most fond memories of is his grandparents' old house. Perhaps because of the fact that he was raised there, which made it even more memorable for him.
He did just that, and after some time. Magic happened. "It works!"
Though annoyed by "his" voice. He ignored that part, as he was more focused on the home that is slowly materializing right in front of his eyes, being built bit by bit.
First it was the flooring, then come the walls, then the roof. Which then spread out, until finally, it was completed.
"It really did work!" Aside for the lack of furniture, it really is his home. Though, blank at the moment, it is still his home---one re-created from memory alone. "This is my home."
Cam walked around the place, placing his hand on each surface. Reminiscing about the times he would do idiotic things on each place, like for example, rolling around or jumping.
Aside for the lack of greenery, furniture, paintings, and such. Everything was perfect, even down to the painfully, obnoxious white, somewhat bright paint on the walls.
Though lacking in other aspects. He prays that he would be able to solve that in the future through the help of the System.
And to whatever hell he would need to experience to do so. From what he heard, he would need to develop games, or, create them; that part to him, still unknown.
So in wanting to fix that, he then sat on one corner of the room that he's in---his old bedroom. And finally, though of the last and final Mission on hand.
But when he did, instead of instructions, the System gave him a roulette wheel. Which had him confused at first. "What in the?"
[ ROULETTE OF GAMES! ]
[ NORMAL GAMES ] (60%)
[ UNCOMMON GAMES ] (30%)
[ RARE GAMES ] (9%)
[ EPIC GAMES ] (1%)
[ LEGENDARY GAMES ] (0%)
[ ---------- ] [ ---------- ] [ ---------- ] [ ---------- ]
[ FUN FACT: "Cambrian B. Abbott, or Cam for short, is a normal every day college undergraduate. He lost his parents when he was young and has been living under his grandparents ever since. And now, he died, crushed "accidentally" by a truck." ]
[ 06/14/2026 ]
[ 06/15/2026 ]