[Bloodborne Summoning System]
[The system allows the user to, in a way, 'level up'.]
'Isn't this too generic? Like, I had more expectations from the name…'
[There are many, many things that I am capable of, but I chose to start with the simplest, as it will be easier for a creature like yourself to understand.]
My fists clenched. 'Did this dog shit just call me a creature?'
Completely ignoring my feelings, the system responded, much faster this time—like an AI chatbot reply.
[Stat improvements: Every day, the host will receive a Daily Quest—every week, a Weekly. Completing them will result in the reward of five stat points for daily, and forty for weekly. Also, XP depending on the difficulty of the quest.]
My pupils shook a bit. "Will they be the same, the quests? Like doing something like pushups, squats, and sit-ups!?" I asked through a trembling mouth.
If I can just keep leveling up in some corner of the world, I can be the strongest in no time!
[No. Each quest is unique and meant to challenge you deeply, and… break you :D]
My eyes dimmed. Br–break? That sounds kinda evil. But eh… I guess I did say I wanted a challenge. Can't complain too much… hehe.
[I like host's coping capabilities.]
My face froze mid-laugh.
[By the way, these points can be used to improve the stats host wishes freely. Like strength, endurance, etc. You have full control over your 'Build' and the direction he wants to take.]
Like a game! My breathing became rapid, my lips curling into an almost erotic grin. That's what I like to hear!
Wait—does this mean this world's a magical one?
[Host literally just regenerated…]
My mind instantly went into fantasization mode as, with a swing of my sword, I split continents as the harem of beautiful women jumped and cheered for me, their head-sized tits bouncing with them.
…Right! I'm not dumb. I just had some things on my mind—and the pain. You know…
I froze at the red screen's violent glow, as if judging me intensely.
[Now, let's get to the complicated parts of the almighty me. Pay attention!]
I just dead-stared. 'Why is this thing not just a simple robot meant to make me stronger?'
The bottom part of the red screen glowed as a horizontally giant golden tree animated itself—branch by branch, each of them spreading neatly with golden circles on certain points. It looked otherworldly beautiful on the dark red screen, surrounded by darkness.
[The circles represent echoes and their specific trials you ought to face. Echoes are the souls of fallen heroes from other worlds who are filled with regrets and desires. The souls that desperately want a second chance. (Somewhat like host, but they are not weak—pretty strong even, I would say ;)]
'Whoaaa! Now that's actually creative!' I swear I felt the system smiling smugly through the screen.
I coughed a little, straightening my back. 'Other worlds…? If they are heroes, even if fallen—they have to be strong, right? What if they kill me? Is loyalty guaranteed? And what do you mean trials?!'
So many questions… This thing probably wanted me to figure it out when I unlocked one.
But how?
Then, I noticed the small circles closest to the main branch had some kind of number on them—zero. Echo will probably be unlocked when I reach a hundred at that… 'How to increase it?'
[By earning XP through taking others' or completing quests. Level-ups also provide huge amounts of XP. If the host earns ten XP, it will increase by one percent.]
'Taking others'...?'
[Like killing monsters! Or, anyone could work. The stronger they are, the more XP they give.]
I nodded. At least it's giving me freedom. I really hate systems that make main characters slaves. Honestly, those were just lazy writers creating a plot device! I cursed them a few times to cool my head.
The system went completely mute. Even after waiting a few seconds, it didn't tell me more. Nothing about the world, or any quests…
'Hey, at least tell me what those trials are! Then I'll know if I should prepare for them or something. That's just fair.'
There was a tense silence, as if the cursed thing was edging me, but eventually, it moved.
[Primordial Trials: Think of them as levels, or boss fights. They are the deepest regrets of the echoes, like a kingdom they couldn't save. A foe they couldn't defeat. A person who died because of them. Possibilities are endless. You will live as that echo, with the same resources they had, but you will need to change the outcome to a positive one. Positive not from your perspective, but that echo's.]
[Each Trial rewards echoes some of their powers, depending on the difficulty of the trial. But the best part is, the host will get 5x of that! All the modified versions of strange, overpowered abilities from completely different worlds.]
My body instinctively leaned forward with a childlike excitement in my eyes.
This was just gacha!!
This also meant they didn't have any of their powers when they were first summoned. Way better, to be honest. Otherwise, I could never feel safe enough.
As if recognizing my happy mood, the system glowed.
[Once entered, the host cannot leave without completing the task. The host will be able to make checkpoints, and 'respawn' even if dead, and can retry infinitely until success—or… be trapped in the trial forever. Also, you will feel the same emotions and possess some of the echoes' memories. This might actually completely destroy your individual self.]
'...'
My smile was gone, all that was left was a blank, pale face.
'Wasn't this way too difficult?'
Their regrets won't be as simple as not confessing to someone.
An-And… I could become someone I am not…
My hands clenched hard enough for blood to pour out. This was the most fear I had felt since my transmigration.
Fuu… haa!
I took a deep breath, trying to hold my about-to-explode heart.
I can't enter. If that's the case… if I lose myself, I won't enter it. I strengthened my heart. If this was a magical world, I'd find another way to get stronger. I don't need a cheat, at least not at that cost.
[Now… don't be too hasty, host. That's only the case if you stay long enough in that world. If you pass the trial in one or two tries, you should be fine.]
'...' My face grew thoughtful.
I need to level up. A lot. Only then can I even think of entering it…
Or the other option is getting stuck in a giant war against the demon king, watching everything I cared about die, over and over again—failing, failing, failing, then barely succeeding, only to fail even more miserably, and start from the beginning.
'No, no, I can't think like this!'
Even though my surroundings smelt like piss, blood, shit, and vomit, I inhaled the thick air.
The air was real, the stench was disgusting, the heavy, suffocating feeling in my lungs was real, the thirst was real.
Now, in this world, I finally had a chance. A chance that I never got in my past life. I can't waste it!
I promised I would do whatever was required to live my dream life.
My face hardened. 'I am done living for the future, for hopes that the situation will get better, for things to eventually figure themselves out… Now my actions will decide my future. Maybe I'll fail in one of the trials. Or maybe I'll just starve to death in this shithole I'm tied in. But… it's all in the future! It hasn't happened yet.' I felt my mind explode with intense vibration.
'I don't care about the negative possibility. I genuinely don't. Because what if it all actually worked out? I got stronger? I understood these people and earned their trust? Then, eventually became so important that my existence won't be insignificant like before?'
'If this happens… I will be the hope of my future. Not prayers to God, not daydreams, not expectations on people… I!'
'And there will not be a single person who will be able to tell me otherwise!'
My jaw tightened. I didn't feel the pain any longer. The smell didn't feel as suffocating. The dryness in my throat was still there, but it didn't control me anymore.
The fear of the unknown too, vanished.
The only thing that was left in my mind was…
Excitement.
Being edgy always helped me cope.
'Status open!'
I shouted in my mind.
First, who am I? Then, where am I? Then, what should I do? I need to answer these, to take action.
After just a second, an entirely new interface appeared—it looked like an RPG stat description in a game.