In what could be said to be an empty field, a young man with pink hair, purple eyes, dark skin, and sharp features awoke.
His eyes trembled before slowly opening, he looked around to see a vast emptiness, as only the sky and the grass could be found around him.
(Where am I?… I had a dream, a weird dream… One that would never end, every time I tried to wake up, I would be there, in a new fragment of the same fractured mirror…) He blinked multiple times, even rubbing his eyes as he stood there looking at the horizon, in every direction he could think of but there was nothing to it.
He walked forward each step felt as though he had a boulder strapped to his back, bending him and pushing him down, closer to the ground, unable to stand fully on his own.
Right there, watching it unfold were eyes he could not see, going back and forth like an old clock, tick-tack, in a precise rhythm, a pattern that would lull, pull in the attention, and distract the mind.
"Urgh…" He fell onto the grass, it was as if his whole body had not moved for times untold, leaving him to atrophy and weaken beyond even basic movement.
It was pitiful, there were no answers, only more questions.
Such a situation could only possibly be a dream, but how would he wake up? There was no right answer for him, every method he tried led to a new dream, in the end, it seemed the reflection in the mirror was endless.
There was an attempt, he pushed himself, and yet his body refused to stand, it was not like before, his will alone could not carry him through, he was too weak otherwise.
"What now?… Can I go any further? I tried my best and yet… I'm still here. Right where I started." Those words escaped him, and he could only sigh allowing himself to stay on the floor.
Just resting, letting the moment be, something he had not done in so long, there was no memory of when he had last done it.
Such an act was left behind with a past long forgotten, no more to be said about it.
Only to finally close his eyes.
Upon doing so, he felt a silk warmth on his face, and hair, brushing with gentle dedication caressing him like never before he had been, even in his long-lost life.
(It's so nice, so good… It's a hand… Who would care for me this way? None I knew would do this… So why? How?… Is it another trick to push, to keep going?) He wanted to rest, to stop once and for all, but this gentle hand kept him there, he wished to let go, but this touch brought such comfort.
Fingers tracing the outline of his cheek, hair, and lips, gently and slowly appreciating him.
"You're comically weak. It's funny." A serene voice reached him, speaking in the repetition of meaning, there was interest in it.
Eyes were once more widened, as he turned to see the source of something, for the first time in eternity.
There she was, a young woman with long straight blue hair, dark skin, sharp features, and purple eyes.
She wore a purple top with a diamond cut right in the middle of her cleavage, accompanied by detached long sleeves like gloves fitting to her arms, from her hand to a big bellow her shoulders.
Under that in a move that seemed to counter logic and just under her toned abs, she wrote string black underwear with the straps visible on her waist, a light blue skirt, and heeled sandals with a purple strap.
"Huh?!…" He jumped back startled by the sudden closeness, not because of her clothes or looks, no.
None of that was the issue, what pushed him was the pose she was in, crouching down legs wide open with her skirt just barely covering what was under any showing off her thighs.
Like most men, would have, he looked for a few seconds before turning his face, followed by his body, he was no longer facing her, giving her his back.
Her head tilted to the side as she watched him squirm away, gazing, before turning around, all while blushing, and it caused her to raise an eyebrow before her once neutral unbothered expression broke into a giggle.
It was light, inconsequential even.
"You're an odd one, then again, you're young." She commented, her serenity being back, there was something almost unnerving in such precise calm.
There was a pause of silence, maybe even consideration after she spoke, the air was but a mere breeze, and the scent of dirt-filled grass hummed around.
Between them and this moment, there was nothing, it should have made it easy, simply, but that was not the case. Not for him at least.
"I stopped being young a long time ago… So… I died? Or is this a dream?" He asked crossing his arms, still refusing to turn around to look at her.
If someone saw this they might attribute it to naive youthfulness, maybe a respectful demeanor, but neither of them appropriately described this young man, it wasn't about them or her, it was about him, not a matter of morality, respect, honor, dignity, sin or any of those other reasons people choose.
Sometimes, to care is all you need to be able to lose something.
"No, you didn't. Dying was a long past, you are reincarnating. Your road is longer than most, no, any other. You've come too far, get up, and keep moving." These words carried no strong feelings, and yet they were comforting.
Not because of how they were said, or by whom, but rather due to why they were said.
Blinking time and time again, he sighed at those words.
"You're cruel… I worked hard enough, why would I listen to a girl who didn't bother introducing herself?" He asked not moving a muscle to get on. Simply staying right where he is.
Am ending, that's what it seemed to be for him, no more work, why bother, if he had come this far, why go further? Was it not enough that he pushed far beyond any other, what more could be asked of him?
"Well, it's not so simple. Besides, if you truly want to meet me, then keep going. I'll introduce myself then." She said to him with a light smile curling up.
There was no movement.
Her words had failed to ignite the flames.
"I'm not that desperate." He responded as if this was a matter of absolutely no interest to him.
That was it, there wasn't much else to it.
As the breeze continued to pass carrying the same scent of grass and dirt, there was a small shift as if it got warmer.
"Then!… if you came it out, and find me. I'll be your girlfriend and date you." She said her voice slowly but surely fading, getting lower.
The calm from before was broken into a more hurried tone.
"… Count me in!" He immediately pushed himself up and began running off, his will fully fired up.
"…. S-She… SH-… She'll…. b-… Be… waiting…" As if in a call with a bad connection, she began fading away.
Everything faded behind him, it was soon all gone as if it were never there.
The dream broke, and finally, he woke up.
The great sky of freedom;
The pure black void of death;
The endless meadow of reflection;
And now;
The pure white room of reincarnation.
Moving from one to another, unsure of what even was happening at all, he reached the point at which answers rest, maybe not all of them, but some was better than none in this case.
The white spread beyond everything, never-ending, just like the darkness of the void, yet there was a comfort to this place.
{It seems we meet, young or maybe I should say, old soul.} A voice reached him, right in his mind, almost as if his very thoughts were talking to him.
"Who are you?" He asked tired of trying to figure it out.
{The answer is quite simple. I am the one in charge of reincarnation for this world, a celestial being, one on the divine side. A God, though my rank is only that of a Deity. Call me Ciena.} The voice responded with a calm serene tone, one not unfamiliar.
"… Did you guide me here?" He asked curious.
{Yes, and no. I am not the girl you met before, but I did interfere to help you when she found you. So you were talking to me, yes.} Ciena responded.
"… Wait… So the girlfriend promise?" He asked disheartened.
{… Apologies, It seemed unlikely you would listen otherwise. Though you will have to face her once we are done here.} Ciena replied her voice carrying a tinge of guilt.
"… I see… What now?" His eyes had gone empty, and he could only stand there as he asked.
Not even paying much attention to what else was being said to him.
It was a letter lethal stab to the heart, as he could not believe his hopes were destroyed as quickly as they were built.
{You will be reincarnated, and since your soul was able to cross nearly the entire path of reincarnation on your own, only needing a push at the very end, you gained the right to the full selection of benefits before you reincarnate.} Ciena explained.
Then to make her point evident, a floating screen board boasting a golden hue appeared in front of him, full of options.
[Reincarnation Test Of Will Reward Board(Full)]
[•Abilities section
-Skill list;
-Magic list;
-Technique list;
-Particularity list;
-Superpower list;
-Traits list;
-Tolerance list;
•Powerset Section
-Bloodline list;
-Physique list;
-Talent list;
-Affinity list;
-Inheritance list;
-Heritage list;
•Reincarnation Section
-Transmigration target list;
-World Selection list;
-Reincarnation customization Option(Does not include other reward board items);
•Item Section
-Weapon list;
-Armor list;
-Accessory list;
•Perk Section
-Difficulty Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Patron Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Mind Control Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Symbiote Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Lewd(Hentai/Lust) Options((Does not include other reward board items);
-Misc Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Isekai Options(Does not include other reward board items);
-Vehicle list;
-Personal dimension(Pocket dimension/dungeon) Options;
-World Modification Options;
-Generic Perk Options;
-Specific Perk Options;
•Companion Options
Summon Companion(Up to Luck)]
The list full of options on options.