Another morning. Same streets, same people. The wind whistled through the trees, and their branches creaked, as if mocking him. He stopped walking and looked up-birds flew, clouds drifting slowly, beautiful yet fleeting, stirring thoughts in his head.
"What a world… beautiful, isn't it?"
The breeze made the trees sway gently. Footsteps tap-tap on the pavement. Cars vroomed past. He walked through it all, aware and mostly invisible to the world, too tired to care.
Returning to his apartment, Gamz stumbled slightly, noticing the murmurs from his neighbors through the hall. He looked down, shyness and anxiety weighing on him, aware that people were talking behind his back.
"Gamz? How are you?" asked one neighbor.
"Gamz? Are you alright? You seem tired from work," in a worried voice said another.
Gamz looked down, mumbling, "A-ahh… y-yes… I'm fine… just tired." He faintly smiled before rushing to his door. Footsteps thud-thud on the floor, and the door slammed shut behind him.
"I wonder if he's alright…" one neighbor murmured, glancing toward Gamz's door, fingers nervously fidgeting with the railing.
"He's always like that," another said, arms crossed, brow furrowed. "He suffers from severe anxiety."
Gamz collapsed into his room, breathing heavily. He threw his bag onto the floor with a thud and sank onto his bed. Tears slid down his cheeks as he covered his eyes with his arm, fear and fatigue weighing him down.
All day… tired from work. At least I escaped another scolding from my boss, he thought, letting out a small, bitter giggle. I've traveled… loved every bit of nature. So many things happened… but still…
He swallowed hard, the words lingering in his mind, feeling hollow. Empty.
As he fell into a deep sleep, a faint voice called his name…
"Gamz? Gamz! Gamz!!!"
His eyes fluttered open, staring at the ceiling. He scanned his surroundings, familiar and peaceful, yet something tugged at his attention.
"Heyy!! Yoohoo! Gamz?" She swayed her hands teasingly in front of his eyes.
Gamz jolted, slowly turning his head to the right.
Elize…? he murmured faintly.
"Yes, yes, that's me. By the way… are you okay? Why are you staring at me like that?" she giggled.
"Nothing… what time is it?" he replied, calm and gentle.
"Huhhh??? You don't know what time it is? You dummy! You said you were going to take a nap and ended up sleeping for two hours!" Elize's voice sounded irritated, though playful.
Elize happily pinched both of his cheeks while laughing.
"Nothing… what time is it?" she asked, making a funny face, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Come on! Get out of bed, time for dinner!"
Gamz shouted loudly from her cheeky attack.
"RAHHH! You dare! Pinch my nose!?"
In retaliation, Gamz quickly grabbed her nose and pinched it as hard as he could, laughing evilly.
"Caught it!"
"You dumass brother!!! Ow ow ow!" Elize yelled, flailing her hands.
"What, gonna cry now? You started it, and it's absolutely my win, of course!" Gamz teased.
Elize let go of her right hand and grabbed his hair.
"No!!! Ow ow ow! My nose! My nose!" she screamed, pain mixing with laughter.
"Grabbing my hair now, huh? That's unfair!!" Gamz shouted back, also wincing from the tug.
Footsteps echoed in the room, followed by a sharp smack on both Gamz and Elize.
"You two, stop fighting… What did I tell you, Elize?" Mhei said, her tone angry but softened with a hint of gentleness. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, exuding both authority and patience.
Both of them froze, halting their playful bickering.
"Call your brother, mom's finished cooking. It's time for dinner," Elize said, smirking, crossing her arms, and tilting her head, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Gamz slid out of the blanket, settling into a cross-legged position, rubbing his cheeks. He glanced at Elize, noting her familiar smirk.
"Sister Mhei… always same irritated face lol," he thought with a faint, amused smile.
Irritated Mhei turned sharply toward him, eyebrows furrowed.
Ehey, what's up, sis? Dinner time? Gamz rubbed the back of his head, trying to look casual, grinning sheepishly.
Mhei sighed, rolling her eyes. "It's cooked, and it's time for dinner. Come on." She turned and walked out, shaking her head.
Elize followed behind, bouncing slightly on her toes with a playful grin, while Gamz dragged himself up, still rubbing his cheeks, and trailed after them.
Walking toward the dining table, Gamz's eyes wandered over his familiar surroundings. Every room, every item held memories, flashes of the past raced through his mind.
The aroma drifted into his nose, the unmistakable, comforting scent of his mother's cooking, stirring long-forgotten memories.
He glanced at her again, taking in her beautiful smile and joyful expression, warmth spreading through him.
"Oh! There you all are… hm," she said, her gaze landing on Gamz and Elize, noticing their red noses and ears.
"What happened to you two? Already having fun?" she giggled, a playful sparkle in her eyes.
"Okay, time to eat my very delicious food! Today's special, chicken and egg with creamy shrimp soup!" Her voice radiated joy, filling the room with warmth.
His father and all his three siblings are feeling an overwhelming sense of joy. This happiness stems from the incredible cooking done by their mother. The delicious flavors and aromas fill their home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The alarm rang sharply. Gamz stirred, arm reaching blindly for his phone. He yawned, finally grasping it and switching it on. The screen flickered, casting light across his tired face.
"It's 4:36 AM… 7 hours and 24 minutes have passed," he murmured.
He pushed himself out of bed and walked to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face to wake up.
Back in the kitchen, he filled a pot with water, the early morning quiet surrounding him, preparing to cook his ramen noodles.
Gamz stripped off his clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket.
He walked over to his closet, rifling through the shelves and hangers before selecting fresh clothes for the day. Gamz grabbed his fresh clothes and placed them on the bed before heading to the shower.
While showering, countless thoughts raced through his mind, as they did every single day.
"Another day has passed… nothing ever seems to change. It's been a while since I've slept this long, especially after leaving work so early." The dripping water echoed across his body and throughout the bathroom.
"What am I even thinking? Is this what they call shower thoughts? Hm…" Gamz chuckled softly. "More like… sadder thoughts…"
The water pounded louder, and Gamz started laughing, but quickly realized how corny it sounded.
"Shit… still corny-ass shit, my goodness," he muttered, shaking his head under the spray.
After finishing his shower, Gamz towel-dried himself and made his bed, straightening the sheets and fluffing the pillows.
He tidied his room, picking up stray items and putting them in place.
Once the space was neat, he prepared his ramen noodles, the steam rising as he ate quietly, savoring the small comfort.
Finally, he grabbed his things and headed out, the early morning light filtering through the windows and casting long shadows across the streets.
Gamz walked through the quiet streets, his footsteps echoing lightly on the pavement. The distant hum of traffic, chirping birds, and occasional rustle of leaves filled the early morning air. He adjusted his bag over his shoulder, thinking about the day ahead.
Another day at the call center awaited him phones ringing endlessly, customers complaints, and the constant pressure to meet targets. The thought made him sigh softly, but he kept walking, nodding at familiar faces and passing small shops opening for the day.
The cubicles, the lights, the sound of keyboards clacking, and the soft buzz of phones were waiting for him, just like every morning. Yet somehow, despite knowing what awaited, he moved forward, trudging toward the routine he had no choice but to follow.
Gamz slumped in his chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. He looked up at the ceiling, taking a deep, shaky breath, before pushing himself up and heading to the restroom.
At the sink, he washed his face, but the sleepiness and fatigue clung stubbornly, and neither the coffee he had drunk nor the food he ate seemed to give him any energy.
Then, glancing into the mirror, he froze. Both of his nostrils were bleeding, the blood dripping onto his clothes.
He felt his muscles weakening, both legs shaking violently. He collapsed to the floor, trying to sit up, but his exhausted body refused to obey.
His chest tightened, each breath growing harder and harder, as if he couldn't get any oxygen. He coughed up blood, the metallic taste sharp on his tongue, and his eyes began to tear blood.
Thoughts raced through his mind, hands shaking, heart pounding faster and faster.
"Seems… this is my limit…"
All this time, he already knows he was exhausted. "I… I can't go on anymore…"
Heartbeats thundered in his ears. "No…-" he coughed violently.
"No, no, no! This can't be happening! I was almost there! What about my money?! The money I earned through blood, pain, suffering?! And… especially my… VIRGINITY!!!"
Regret swirled through him, thoughts crashing over him. "I should've done it first… instead of working and working every single day… I should've enjoyed...my life."
Sorrow made him shiver violently, trembling down to his spine. His mind whispered a chilling question: "Again… what is death?"
As his body faltered and his vision darkened, Gamz's mind began to go blank. His breaths grew shallow, and in the fading moments, memories of his life flashed before him.
From a young age, he had explored the world in his own ways. Watching porn, masturbating but eventually changed, focusing on studying harder, touching grass, feeling the breeze, cooking, planting seeds, mostly religious and building his confidence. He had achieved much, becoming a well-rounded human being.
He excelled in sports basketball, volleyball, badminton and although he had yet to learn some skills, he was a quick learner and a good listener.
He had only drunk alcohol once at age twelve, never again. Smoking was never a hobby, and he had always been mindful of his surroundings. He was guided by a wise mentor, considered like a brother by his friends.
Gamz had never been picky about people. He was observant, carefully distinguishing good from bad influences, understanding the heroes and villains story.
But through it all, his past always lingered behind him, ready to shake his confidence, replaying moments that gnawed at his mind. The deeper he thought, the more his mind tried to predict what would come next, spiraling into endless analysis.
Even as his past watched him, he looked back at himself, fully aware of his strengths and flaws. That awareness, in a way, being an observant person see through everyone's story or back else into his mind all things but when it comes to confrontation, he could never fully express or explain it to anyone
His mind was sharp, but even sharpness faltered at times: memories were fading or damaged, and he found himself forgetting small details. He had high emotional intelligence, offering advice easily, even though he had never been in a relationship.
Minutes has passed by before his co-workers finally noticed him, slumped lifelessly on the floor. Panic rippled through the office, their voices shaking as they frantically dialed for help.
Every second dragged agonizingly slow. Hearts pounded in unison, voices muttering desperate prayers. The ambulance sirens wailed in the distance, rushing to take his lifeless body to the hospital but it was all too late.
Darkness swallowed him completely. Memories of his life victory and lost, regrets,suffering moments of fleeting joy flashed through his mind like a storm of fragments.
[SYSTEM]
Gamz Cohen has died.
Moments passed. The darkness slowly shifted, dim at first, then growing into a soft, bright light that pierced the black void. It was not harsh, but gentle, almost beckoning, tugging at the edges of his awareness.
Soft winds brushed against the swaying trees, ruffling the leaves gently. Birds chirped loudly, filling the air with their lively, melodic calls.
[SYSTEM]
Loading...
Loading..
Loading.
[SYSTEM]
Welcome wanderer to the new world.
[SYSTEM]
Activating loud alarm in 3… 2… 1… *BZZZT*
[SYSTEM]
Wake up! *BZZT* *BZZT*...
Groaning, he hurled his body into motion, arms and legs swaying as he struggled to wake. Hearing the alarm jolting him awake. Memories raced through his mind, and his eyes snapped open then alarms stops.
[SYSTEM]
New strange wanderer as waken up...
Instead of reacting with shock at what he saw, he grinned at the sight before him.
"Is this real?, nah why am I asking that question... first of all...- Open Status"
[STATUS]
[MAIN]
Name: Shanz Aelric
Age: 9
Class: None
Sub-Class: LOCKED
Level: 5
Health: 150 / 150
Mana: 100 / 100
Stamina: 100 / 100
[BODY ASPECTS]
- Vitality (Health Growth): BASE 150
- Focus (Mana Growth): BASE 100
- Endurance (Stamina Growth): BASE 100
- Recovery Rate: BASE 1.0x
[MAIN POINTS]
- Skill Points: 0
- Class Points: 0
- Ascended Points: 0
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 1
Luck: ???
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS]
- Unspent Stat Points: 0
- Potential Ascension: LOCKED
[TITLES]
- None
- None
[UNIQUE TRAITS]
- None
- None
He showed no outward reaction, his face calm and still—but inside, a bubbling joy spread through every edge of his being, almost making him giggle.
"Well, well, well… what do we have here?" he murmured. "So I go by Shanz Aelric, huh? And age… nine?"
His eyes lingered on the status screen, freezing for a moment when the number sank in. Instead of shock, a grin stretched wider across his face. Slowly, he rose and sat with his knees drawn up, clasping his hands over his lips in a pensive pose, eyes glinting with quiet amusement.
"Ha—hah—ha! This is wild! Crazy!" Shanz burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. "Age nine? I'm really lucky! This is gonna be one hell of a journey—I can progress, explore… this whole world!"
He couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed in full, pure enjoyment, his chest rising with every burst of satisfaction.
"Eheh—ehem." He cleared his throat, trying to reel himself back in. "Speaking of the world… gotta check my surroundings."
Shanz shook off the last of his giggles and finally looked around. Tall, green trees surrounded him, their branches thick with leaves. Grass stretched out beneath him in every direction, swaying with the gentle breeze.
"Seems I really am… in the woods."
Once again, Shanz burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the quiet woods. But after a moment, his smile slowly faded, his expression sharpening.
"Alright, alright…" he muttered, settling himself. "Back to scanning—what am I, and what exactly am I capable of?, status open"
[STATUS]
[MAIN]
Name: Shanz Aelric
Age: 9
Class: None
Sub-Class: LOCKED
Level: 5
Health: 150 / 150
Mana: 100 / 100
Stamina: 100 / 100
[BODY ASPECTS]
- Vitality (Health Growth): BASE 150
- Focus (Mana Growth): BASE 100
- Endurance (Stamina Growth): BASE 100
- Recovery Rate: BASE 1.0x
[MAIN POINTS]
- Skill Points: 0
- Class Points: 0
- Ascended Points: 0
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength: 1
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 1
Charisma: 1
Luck: ???
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS]
- Unspent Stat Points: 0
- Potential Ascension: LOCKED
[TITLES]
- None
- None
[UNIQUE TRAITS]
- None
- None
"Hm, interesting… Classes, huh?" Shanz tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he skimmed through the details. "I wonder what kind of classes this world has… and even sub-classes? That's nice—I don't wanna be stuck with just one path anyway."
His eyes moved further down the screen. "Body Aspects? Now that's unique… Ascension Points? Potential Ascension?" He tapped his chin, lips quirking into a grin. "Sounds a lot like awakening to me. Attributes, yeah, that's the usual. Luck's just a question mark… guess I'll have to test that later. Titles, unique traits… and that's about it, huh? Well…"
With that, Shanz stood up, stretching out his limbs. He bent his legs, twisted his torso, then cracked his knuckles, shoulders, and neck one by one, loosening his body as though preparing for what was to come.