unable to control his mouth or correct the story.
Perhaps it was a failsafe, but he couldn't fathom why such a thing would be necessary.
The mystery behind Reality Bender deepened.
The woman folded her arms beneath her chest and stared at him in silence, tapping her slender fingers on her pale skin.
"You're from another world, or a different reality, as you say."
"Correct. I assumed that you were the Goddess responsible for bringing me here."
She grinned mischievously. "Is that so? I look like a Goddess to you?"
"Yeah, a lousy one that only causes problems."
"Humph!" she harrumphed.
Ari flashed a wry grin.
She unfolded her arms. "Being summoned from another world is not that extraordinary," she said. "However, you would not have entered the Upper Garden unless..."
Ari blinked, and she stood with her voluptuous body pressed against his.
"You said that you came from another reality, yes?"
She brought her face close, then smiled seductively as his eyes widened.
Her smile quickly turned to a pout, then her brows furrowed.
"You look disappointed," she said in surprise.
Her actions startled him initially; however, due to his condition...he could only lament.
'This really is the worst!'
"Well, you see..."
As he began explaining his predicament, the woman frowned, then tapped his chest with her hands.
'So, you've noticed?'
Before he had time to process anything, she proceeded to inspect his naked body thoroughly.
"No dinner, just straight to business, huh?"
She giggled. "That confirms it then," she said, taking half a step back.
"Confirms what exactly?"
"That you are a Modifier."
"Right... And what am I modifying exactly?"
She grinned. "This world's story."
'What the hell does that mean?'
Ari frowned.
"You have observed the stories of many worlds in your realm, correct?"
'Is she talking about webcomics, novels, and anime?'
"I have…"
"How often have you reached a point of dissatisfaction with the direction or progression of those stories?"
Several webcomics and anime crossed his mind. He became increasingly frustrated with the protagonist's choices or the plot's development.
"On occasion."
The woman nodded. "You had an idea of what you wanted to happen instead, or what you would do if you had the opportunity, correct?"
He nodded.
"That has now become your job, to make the story better, more entertaining."
"For whom?"
She smiled. "Isn't that obvious?" she asked. "The ones observing this world."
Reality Bender's parting words came to mind immediately.
'Is this why she selected me?'
It was irritating that he had to find this out from someone other than the one who sent him there, but there was nothing he could do about it.
With all that said, if his role was to modify the story, what about this woman?
He had to know.
"What about you? Are you an Observer or a Modifier?"
She smiled mischievously. "What do you think?"
"If I were to guess…neither?"
Her eyes widened briefly, then she flashed a grin.
"Am I correct?"
She continued smiling, making her intentions clear.
Ari sighed. "Fine. Will you answer a different question, though?"
She nodded energetically.
"How do I appear to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"How do I look? I don't exactly fit into this world now, do I?"
"Oh, that? You look strange, dull and lifeless. I knew that you were a Modifier from the moment I saw you," she said with a straight face.
'Seriously? Has she been teasing me this entire time? Whatever.'
"What about you? You look, well, remarkable. Why do you look different?"
"You flatter me."
She touched her cheeks with an innocent smile.
'She's really enjoying this, isn't she?'
She hugged her body sensually.
"You think I'm remarkable, Ari?" she asked, moving her shoulders back and forth, causing her well-endowed chest to sway.
'Are you expecting a reaction? Well, I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not a virgin protagonist.'
"Without question."
"Do you know what would be more remarkable, though? If you answered my question."
He flashed a wry grin.
She puffed her cheeks and turned her head to the side in a huff
'I can play this game too.'
"It's only fair. I don't even know your name."
"Salandrias," she said in a low voice, her face still turned away.
Ari laughed.
"Happy to make your acquaintance, Salandrias. I would shake your hand, but I feel as though it would be meaningless at this point."
He extended his arms, then opened and closed his hands.
"Yes, we should change that," she said, turning towards him.
"How do we do that?"
"By synchronising with this world."
'Oh? So that's why. Then, that means...'
A wave of anticipation and excitement swept through his body; however, he did not allow himself to get carried away by his imagination.
It's best not to make assumptions, so he asked her.
"Would you care to elaborate?"
She placed her hand on his cheek.
"Right now, you are a partial existence in this…reality. Therefore, you cannot fully interact with this world nor its inhabitants. By synchronising, you will be integrated into this realm, allowing you to take a new form and experience this world to the fullest," she said, caressing his face.
'As I suspected. I'm going to obtain an avatar!'
"Once the synchronisation process is complete, you can increase your power through a tailored system, but let's leave that for later," she said, taking a step back.
'A tailored system… Come to think of it, Reality Bender did not confirm whether she granted me access to my Transcender Origins character's abilities.'
Just the thought of such a possibility filled him with a rush of excitement.
"I assume that you did the same. This is not your true form?"
Salandrias grinned wryly. "You truly have no shame, asking a lady such impolite questions."
Ari shrugged.
She simply smiled while coiling a lock of her hair around her finger.
"…Will I be able to select my new form?"
"Modifiers can assume whichever form they choose."
'Any form? Well then, there is only one choice.'
"Do you have something in mind?" she asked curiously.
"I do."
The ultimate avatar was his custom character in the VR Action RPG, Transcender Origins (TO). As the name suggests, players become an unstoppable Transcender who eventually gains the power to kill gods.
Considered the pinnacle of Full Dive VR for its combat, mechanics, and story, the game also has an enormous amount of customisation.
As far as God slayers go, Ari considered his character to be rather handsome.
"Then let's take a look, shall we?"
"Pardon?"
She placed her hands on his cheeks, then stared into his eyes with a penetrating gaze, her own eyes glowing golden.
[What do you desire? Tell me honestly.]
He heard the sound of her voice, but her lips did not part.
Before he had a chance to question what was happening, scenes of him on Earth flashed in his mind.
In particular, scenes of Ari playing Trancender Origins, his intimate moments with women, and him reading a variety of web comics, many of which required censorship.