Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Character Creation
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Sitting at my desk, I pressed the computer's power button with my big toe.
The monitor flickered to life.
On the blank desktop sat a single executable file, all by its lonesome.
[Abandoned Continent] Last night.
Someone on SNS who'd introduced themselves as the developer had tossed this game into the feed, asking for feedback.
"An unreleased game, huh? Heart's racing already."
Breathing heavily with excitement, I launched it.
A character selection screen popped up right away.
No intro cutscene was a bit of a letdown, but whatever.
"It's not out yet, after all."
I gave the developer a pass and peered at the screen.
Two characters were already there inside the window.
A schoolgirl in uniform bawling her eyes out, and an office worker staring blankly at a shattered club.
Their appearances couldn't have been more different.
But they shared one thing in common.
Both characters were shrouded in gray.
And in front of each hovered the word [Dead] in crimson letters.
"Permadeath genre where one death ends it all? Sounds fun."
I clicked the character creation button.
No job selection. No race choice. No customization options. Just a single line appeared.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Please select your talents.] "Talents?"
I was puzzled by the unconventional setup, but only for a moment.
I started scrolling through the talent list.
And with each one, my face twisted further.
⚔ TALENT ⚔ [Nine Yin Meridians] - Genius for martial arts is maximized. - Can absorb cold energy. - Chill accumulates in the body, slowly leading to death. ⚔ TALENT ⚔ [Fighting God] - Grows stronger progressively in combat. - Dies if non-combat state lasts 30 minutes. ⚔ TALENT ⚔ [Mana Castration Syndrome] - Immune to all magic. - Cannot use magic or related equipment. "These are talents? More like penalties!"
Lifespan, survival conditions, agony...
Pick any one, and it'd turn into a speedrun nightmare.
"Who in their right mind would pick this crap...? Nah, doesn't matter."
It was just a game, right?
Die? Close the game and start over.
If it's fun, make a new character. Simple.
With that logic locked in, I grabbed the mouse.
Click-click.
The mouse clicked away without mercy.
The completed character's talent lineup looked like this.
⚔ SELECTED TALENTS ⚔ [Nine Yin Meridians] - Genius for martial arts is maximized. - Can absorb cold energy. - Chill accumulates in the body, slowly leading to death.
> [Heavenly Strong Body] - Muscles and bones are reinforced. - Shows aptitude for all martial arts. - Body can't endure the reinforced muscles and bones; cracks form from the inside out.
> [Descendant of the World Tree] - Can absorb the origin of nature. - Body gradually turns into wood. "Build name: Self-Destruct Greatest Under Heaven."
I cackled and moved the mouse again.
I wasn't satisfied yet.
⚔ TALENT ⚔ [Eyes of Calculation] - Assists with magic calculations, improving cast speed. - Brain overloads during use. - Increases chance of dementia. ⚔ TALENT ⚔ [Silent Casting] - Can cast magic without incantation. - 90% success rate; failure causes backlash and self-damage. "Can't pass up the magic."
I cackled again and hit the character creation button.
That was the moment.
A warning window flashed on screen.
⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️ [Penalties from selected talents reduce lifespan by 99%.]
[Proceed anyway?]
[Y/N]
A warning that a whopping 99% of lifespan would vanish.
Too much? The thought crossed my mind, but only briefly.
"If I die, just make a new one."
I smashed YES without hesitation.
That was the moment.
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, a chill surged through my entire body.
The July swelter felt like a joke.
Did the AC kick on? As I started to turn my head...
"Cough! Cough! Hack!"
Blood sprayed with the coughs.
The blood on my palm was...
"C-c-cold...?"
Cold and heavy, like beer straight from the freezer.
As my mind went blank in the incomprehensible chaos...
Flash!
A blinding light, like a flashbang, swallowed the room whole.
And when the light finally faded...
"..."
The tiny studio apartment held no trace of life anymore.
Just the computer humming away.
And on the monitor, the newly created character stood in the character window.