Chapter 2: A Gamer

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*

[We welcome you]

A low-pitched voice echoed inside my mind.

Not realizing what had just happened, my mind became groggy. It was foggy, unclear, and remained pitch black. I could not see, nor did my eyes perceive my surroundings. It was as if I was in the abyss.

"Where is this...?", I questioned, unsure of my present surroundings. The last thing I could remember was...

However, it was then I realized that wasn't my voice. It was my own mind that thought that. I tried to recall what happened, but I couldn't think clearly before a foreign voice struck my mind. It sounded mechanical. One thing was clear, it wasn't my voice.

[Ding! A new host has been selected to become The Gamer. Now initiating the soul integration process. Gamer Naoto may experience pain during the installation.]

'Huh? What do you mean by that---?', I tried to think. That thought was interrupted a second time by the same voice.

[The installation process cannot be stopped. Now beginning in three...two...one...]

I became distracted by this sudden countdown.

'What do you mean by soul integration---?', I tried to think. My thoughts began to stir wildly. Now that I think about it, I can't feel anything. I couldn't feel my own body anymore. It was as if it was gone. Something caused me to lose consciousness. And when I tried to "wake up", I realized I was in this pitch-black darkness. Is this the recess of my mind?

Before I could think of an answer, the same voice sounded thrice, interrupting me yet again. Don't tell me...

[Ding! Installation is now in progress. 10%...20%...30%...]

Hearing this, my mind paused. I think I realized what had happened. It was that sudden prompt right after the clear data appeared for Trails Into Reverie. Did this happen after I pressed yes while trying to create that save file? I tried to think of any other possibility, but I came up blank. It was almost as if...it was installing a program?

Well, whatever this installation was, it was now in progress. Half-expecting something to happen, my doubts were right. My mind entered a groggy state again, causing me to groan. I tried to groan, anyways, but no voice escaped from my lips. Seriously, am I even in my body? I didn't expect to suddenly receive a headache.

But what came after intrigued me.

A blue...status bar?

This can't be possible---!

[Ding! Installation has reached 40%...50%...60%]

'Ugh...', I tried to say. Or think. I don't know anymore. I felt a headache coming. It wasn't bad at first, but now the pounding slowly grew bigger. Bigger. And bigger. I don't know what migraines feel like, but is this what it feels like?

This throbbing pain is most unpleasant...

I tried to distract my thoughts thanks to this ever-increasing headache, but it wasn't working. I wanted to clutch my head, but I had no arms I could reach out with. My body wasn't here. My mind was clad in darkness. Yet these fleeting distractions didn't stop the blue progress bar that was now completely visible inside my own head. Man, it was so weird seeing this.

[Ding! Soul integration process has reached 70%.]

Sure enough, this message was visible. Once I saw this message, I felt a massive pulse strike against my head. Or mind. I don't know anymore. It was as if my head was beginning to split apart.

'Ahhhhh!', I let out a yell. But nothing escaped from my lips, seeing as I had none. My mindscape stirred in chaos. I wanted to grab a hold of something to bear this new pain, but I couldn't.

[Weak.]

'H-Huh?', I tried to respond back, still experiencing a pain inside my head. Trying to find any distraction I could to make it vanish, I unexpectedly heard a voice echo in the back of my mind. I thought I was going crazy for a second, but the voice spoke again. My mind turned clear once I heard this voice clearer this time.

[You are weak.]

'This...', I tried to think, not expecting to hear this voice twice.

[You are wallowing in pain already with such a mere headache? Pathetic.]

'You call this a mere headache!?', I tried to retort, ignoring this pain. Albeit temporarily, it did relieve a sliver of it, because this voice is a new distraction.

[At least you are aware you are not alone.]

'Wha...?', I responded, being caught off-guard by what this voice said. Well, it was clear that this voice belonged to someone. But who? There really was another voice echoing inside my mind...

Who...?

[Who I am is not important. Has the Vermillion Blood dwindled so much in just a mere couple of lifetimes? Such a disappointment.]

Hearing this voice speak again, only further questions arose. What did they mean by Vermillion Blood...?

I tried to wait for an answer while thinking that, but the voice outright ignored my question. They spoke out something else entirely.

[Steel your resolve. The next wave is coming.]

Contrary to before, this voice sounded more firm. But right after it said that, the voice stilled, becoming quiet. Replacing it was the mechanical voice I kept hearing. It's hard keeping up multiple voices, you know? Surely, I'm not going crazy, right?

[Ding! Soul integration is progressing...80%...90%..]

Recall the migraine-like headache I've been feeling? My thoughts stirred again. It wasn't just one wave this time. It was multiple, each stacking up against the last. No, it was as if my whole head started to split apart. If I had a body, it would surely spread throughout it. I wanted to let out a powerful yell. At the same time, my entire mindscape started shaking.

'AHHHHH!', I replied. I let out an ear-curdling scream, striking against all around my mind. It then became inaudible, causing an eerie silence to spread. It was as if my mind had been torn apart.

It continued to tear. Tearing down to the fibers of my being. What is this pain...?

Is it that 'Soul integration' thing the mechanical voice keeps saying? It keeps growing worse and worse. Don't tell me, is this supposed to be my soul...?

[That is correct. It is good you can tell what is happening.], The other firm voice said after staying quiet for a few moments.

Is this mechanical voice...integrating with my soul? My very being?

What is my soul integrating with...?

[Enough avoiding it. You should know by now.]

The moment the voice said that, time seemed to have suddenly stopped. Does time even exist here in my mindscape? Or my soul, whatever this construct is? Yet, as if dousing me with a cold shower, my mind became clear.

No...

I knew. I knew very well what this voice was referring to. It's been speaking to me since the very beginning.

You are...

[Ding! Soul integration process has reached 100%. Installation complete.] The mechanical voice said, interrupting the other voice.

[We welcome you, Gamer Naoto, to the Gamer System. The thought transference is complete. I welcome you, my son.]

...!

That was the last time the other voice had spoken. It completely vanished, out of this space completely. Whatever hidden pressure it was releasing departed without a trace.

That voice felt so distant, yet strangely familiar...

It was as if I had always known that voice. Or perhaps, it was better to say this soul knew of it.

Unfortunately, this voice is completely gone now. And the pain went with it. My thoughts were growing clearer and clearer.

It was then the mechanical voice said something, realizing I wasn't alone still. Right, there was this voice too...

[The launch of the Gamer System has been successfully completed, and is now integrated with Gamer Naoto's soul.]

[Ding! You have one unread message.]

Following that, the pain has completely subsided now. My mind is now crystal clear. I don't know if I've ever had such clear thoughts before. It's almost scary.

As I thought that, several prompts began to appear in my mind, startling me. But it didn't cause any pain. One prompt came after another, squeezing the space around my mind altogether. What is all this supposed to be?

I wanted to shake it aside, but seeing these windows remain still and clear, it looks like it was all too real to call this a joke.

That can only mean one thing.

This is the Gamer System. It's not like I wasn't aware of what this system pertained to. On top of being an avid Trails fan, I dabbled into anime, manga and even light novels. This wasn't the only series I enjoyed. There was a popular manga out there that used this very same system.

It was called The Gamer.

Its protagonist was a simple nobody, until his life was thrown upside down, making his entire surroundings into that of a game. And with that, came all the effects you would typically see in a game. A status window and such. I could even see one of these windows display myself in full-body mode, showing my current stats and everything.

These blue holo-panel screens floating around were proof of that.

I saw four present windows that I could see clearly. The rest of them were garbled, and I couldn't see much information on them. Perhaps they're locked, only allowing me to see these four?

I saw the classic ones. [Status Window]. [Inventory]. [Equipment]. And [Crafts/Skills].

Each window covered different aspects of games. It looks like this one in particular was geared toward the Trails series. Otherwise, why would it even list Crafts? That was unique to Trails.

The question is, how do I go about maneuvering these windows? Do I just think it?

Sure enough, it reacted to my thoughts. The other windows and blurred windows vanished, only to leave behind one window. My [Status] window I take it. Ignoring the full-body thing, I started reviewing the information displayed on it. You're seriously joking...

I don't care whether or not this is a dream, or if I'm heading off into a second life or something. Just seeing this window alone is crazy. It really is turning my life into a game!

It really is an rpg-like status window!

But this structure...It isn't your normal one. Wait, I recognize this. It was as if the Status Window was adjusted to The Trails series!

Unfortunately, before I could finish perusing my newly acquired info, I heard the mechanical voice speak again.

[Ding! The soul integration process has been completed. The Gamer System is now bound to Gamer Naoto. Gamer Naoto's reincarnation will begin shortly.]

'Wait, what did it mean by reincarnation!? Is my soul going somewhere...?', I thought. I wanted to yell back at this system. I wasn't done yet with what was shown to me. Sadly, it cut me off and never responded to my worry. I was simply greeted with another prompt.

Hearing this final prompt echoing in my mind was the last thing I heard. The remaining blue window vanished from sight, leaving my mind an empty darkness. Everything turned silent, and my consciousness began to wane...

[Ding! Reincarnation will begin in three...two...one...]

Not again...!

Yet little did I know at the time, I would find myself in an unfamiliar land, waiting to be explored to my heart's content...

The Continent of Zemuria awaits!