Ryan's eyes snapped open, only to hear that same strange voice echoing again.
Introduction? Preparing? His thoughts scrambled. What the hell is happening?
Seconds dragged on. Though his eyes were open, he saw nothing but endless black. His body felt heavy, numb, as though it wasn't even his own. A dull headache throbbed at his temples. He tried to speak, to call out, but his mouth wouldn't respond. Panic clawed at him. Was this some kind of experiment? Had he been abducted by aliens? His imagination spiraled, but before the fear could fully take hold, the voice returned.
Preparations complete. Starting introduction.
Blinding light exploded in front of him, forcing his eyes shut. It was like someone had turned a massive spotlight directly onto his face.
Slowly, painfully, his vision adjusted.
Sensation crept back into his arms and legs, and he realized he was seated in a chair.
When he looked up, his surroundings made his skin crawl.
A table separated him from another figure sitting opposite. The room itself looked eerily like an interrogation chamber: two chairs, one table, four tight walls. No windows, no door in sight. But instead of gray concrete and harsh bulbs, everything here was pure white. The walls, the floor, the table, even the chairs. It was sterile, spotless, almost too clean. And though he couldn't see any visible lights, the entire space glowed with an unnatural brightness.
"Hello?" Ryan called hesitantly, his voice sounding thin in the empty room.
The figure across from him turned its head. At first glance, it resembled a human, but the resemblance dissolved quickly under closer inspection. The head was bald, the skin smooth and featureless. Its eyes were entirely white, lacking pupils or irises. Its chest looked oddly flat and unfinished, like a mannequin carved without detail. No hair anywhere, not even the faintest trace. And though the table blocked Ryan's full view, a sharp chill told him this being lacked… well, anything that would make it human.
Before he could process further, the figure's mouth moved.
"Greetings, human. I oversee your introduction," it said. The voice wasn't singular—it sounded like dozens of voices, male and female, layered on top of each other, speaking as one. "In this introduction, I shall explain to you the circumstances of your new reality."
Ryan blinked, trying to form words, but the entity pressed on.
"First, allow me to welcome you to this new chapter of your life. Your universe has reached the minimum threshold required to enter the multiverse, and thus, it has been initiated. Now, do you have any questions before we move on to the subjects pertaining to the tutorial?"
Ryan's mind reeled. Multiverse? Threshold? New chapter? A dozen urgent questions screamed in his head, but the one that tumbled out of his mouth was the dumbest possible.
"Who—no, what—are you?" he stammered.
"I am the entity tasked with greeting you," it replied smoothly, "and with introducing you to the circumstances of your new reality."
Ryan swallowed, his voice unsteady. "What… new reality?"
"The reality first named by the enlightened races… is called The System."
Ryan opened his mouth. "How do I see this sys—"
Before he could even finish the question, a glowing screen appeared directly in front of his eyes:
Status
Name: Ryan Thayne
Race: [Human (G) – lvl 0]
Class: N/A
Profession: N/A
Health Points (HP): 90/90
Mana Points (MP): 80/80
Stamina: 70/70
Stats
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Endurance: 7
Vitality: 9
Toughness: 7
Wisdom: 8
Intelligence: 8
Perception: 10
Willpower: 6
Free Points: 0
Titles
N/A
Well… that answers that, Ryan thought.
He stared at the screen, an odd mix of curiosity and disbelief swirling in his head. Part of him was already convinced this had to be some strange lucid dream. And if it was a dream, he figured there was no harm in playing along.
So he leaned back in his chair and started breaking it down like one of his spreadsheets.
Nine stats, all hovering between 6 and 10.
Pretty balanced overall, except for Perception at 10 and Willpower lagging behind at 6. Does that mean I've got sharp senses but a weak will? he wondered. Or is 6 not even that bad?
His race was listed as "Human," which made sense. But the "(G)" tag bothered him.
What's that supposed to mean? He was also a "level 0 human," which didn't sound flattering. No class, no profession—though Ryan snorted quietly at that. Guess financial analyst doesn't count here.
No titles either.
Health at 90, mana at 80, stamina at 70… Those must tie back to the stats, he reasoned. Vitality was the only stat at 9, which lined up neatly with his HP at 90. For mana, it had to be either Intelligence or Wisdom—both were at 8, which would explain the 80. Stamina at 70 probably came from Endurance, which sat at 7. Yeah… makes sense. Not bad deductions if I say so myself.
Curious, he tried focusing on the different fields. But most of them were laughably unhelpful. Strength was defined as "Strength." Class as "Class." He rolled his eyes. Wow. Thanks for the insight.
But when he focused on "Race," something finally changed.
Human (G) – The lowest grade of humans within the System. This type is found only in newly initiated worlds. The human race is considered one of the most balanced and adaptable species among the countless races of the multiverse, capable of walking many different paths on their journey to power.
Stat Bonuses per Level:
+1 to all stats
+1 Free Point
Ryan exhaled slowly. Lowest grade of human, huh? Figures.
boost, Ryan thought dryly. Still, the description confirmed two important things: there were other races out there, and more humans too, scattered across whatever this "multiverse" actually was.
He spent a while poking around the menu, clicking through options like he was testing out a new app. When he finally looked back at the strange humanoid figure, he raised a hand.
"Mind if I ask about the stats on the screen? Like, which ones tie into health points—or if that's even a thing?"
"No," the figure replied flatly. "You know what you need to for now."
Ryan's lips twitched. Well, that was helpful.
But he pressed on anyway.
"Alright, then. How do I get a class and profession? The status screen mentions a level, how do I level up? What does the 'G' after my race mean? And why am I here? Also, where did the others go?" His questions tumbled out one after another, and honestly, he didn't feel bad about it. This was hands down the weirdest situation of his life.
The entity finally answered, voice calm and precise:
"Your class is chosen upon entering the tutorial. This class marks the beginning of your journey and sets the course of your path. A profession becomes available through repeated practice of related tasks, or by proving competence in them. Classes are tied to Strength, while professions embody creativity, and rarely provide direct power. You may level up through many actions. The 'G' following your race indicates its rank. You are here because you entered the introduction. As for the others, if you mean your fellow earthlings they are in their own introductions now."
Ryan let out a quiet breath. Not much detail, but it was something. At least his coworkers weren't gone for good; they were probably dealing with their own tutorials right now.
"Now, on to classes," the thing announced without waiting for him to speak.
Before Ryan could object, a new screen popped up, crammed with text. He blinked, then quickly started skimming.
Warrior (Light) – Basic starting class. Specializes in fast attacks, evasion, and finesse. Faster than both the medium and heavy variants, but weaker in raw power and defense. Favors weapons like rapiers, daggers, small axes, and throwing knives.
Stat bonuses: +2 Agi, +1 End, +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Free Point.
Ryan tilted his head. So… kind of like a rogue? Daggers, throwing weapons—it sounded close enough. Not bad, but the thought of fighting face-to-face made him uneasy. He had signed up for archery lessons in college, not fencing.
Warrior (Medium) – Basic starting class. A balanced approach, trading some speed for power, and some power for speed. More durable than the light variant, but not as tough as the heavy. Can wield a wide range of weapons.
Stat bonuses: +1 Agi, +1 End, +1 Vit, +1 Str, +1 Tough, +1 Free Point.
The middle ground, Ryan thought. For people who can't decide what they want. Versatile, sure, but also… kind of bland.
Warrior (Heavy) – Basic starting class. Focuses on power and survivability, sacrificing speed and flexibility. Specializes in one-handed weapons with shields or large two-handers. Limited ranged options.
Stat bonuses: +2 Str, +1 Tough, +1 Vit, +1 End, +1 Free Point.
Ryan smirked. The beefy-boy class. Plate armor and tower shields, or maybe a shirtless Viking swinging an axe. Either way, not me.
Archer – Basic starting class. Specializes in ranged combat with bow and arrow, supported by light melee options like shortswords and daggers. Agile and flexible, focusing on speed and precision.
Stat bonuses: +2 Per, +1 Agi, +1 End, +1 Str, +1 Free Point.
Ryan's chest eased a little. Now we're talking. Of all the options, this one actually appealed to him. He might have to fight—that much was becoming clear—but if he had any choice in the matter, he'd fight from a distance. And a bow suited him a hell of a lot more than swinging an axe.
Caster – Basic starting class. Specializes in magical combat, relying on wisdom and intellect instead of brute force or agility. At this stage, the class is non-attuned, meaning it hasn't yet specialized in an element or school of magic. That makes it weaker in raw power, but versatile in scope. Casters use catalysts like staves, wands, relics, or idols to amplify their magic.
Stat bonuses: +2 Int, +1 Wis, +1 Will, +1 Per, +1 Free Point.
Ryan blinked at the description. Well, there it is. Magic is officially real. Fireballs and lightning bolts sounded undeniably badass, but when he pictured himself? He still preferred a bow in his hands over chanting spells.
Healer – Basic starting class. Specializes in mending wounds, curing ailments, and boosting their own strength or that of their allies. Like the caster, the healer starts non-attuned, meaning no divine focus or specialized healing magic yet. Weak alone, but incredibly powerful in a group.
Stat bonuses: +2 Will, +2 Wis, +1 Int, +1 Free Point.
Ryan leaned back. Ah, the healer. The "keep everyone else alive" class. Not really my style. Still, one line caught his attention—"deific powers." Did that mean gods existed here? Could someone actually become a priest, a cleric, or something along those lines? Interesting, but not tempting enough.
All the options so far were labeled "basic starting classes." Nothing flashy, no cheat-like powers, at least not for him. He did notice each class granted five stat points plus one free point per level, while his race bonus had been spread evenly. It seemed like classes pushed you toward a role, while race kept things balanced.
Ryan raised a brow at the faceless entity. "So, can you tell me anything else about these classes? Maybe some advice?"
"Your path is for you to discover," it replied evenly. "Now choose a class before we proceed."