Chapter 1: Death, Rebirth and Four Months of Childhood
The actual author note is so long, I decided to put it at the end. That and, seriously, if you don't comment, I won't be able to correct my writing mistakes fast enough. Your opinion, whenever you write it, is appreciated.
Don't shy away from pointing out a typo, either.
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"Talking"
[Chanting]
{System}
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I look at the mirror, and it is there. My reflection. Aaahhh, my perfect reflection.
Pffffffft. Who am I kidding? I am not that good looking. I would judge myself average.
I am a 23-year-old man. My height is around 170cm (~ 5 Feet 6.929 Inches). Dark brown hair and eyes of the same color. It is a color so dark; it looks black under insufficient light. My muscles are a little more apparent because of a few months of lifting in the gym. Now th...
*growl*
I think it's time for dinner. Let's see what mom prepared for us.
I exit the boys' room and go down the stairs. As I go to the kitchen, I smell the sweet, sweet scent of potatoes.
MC: "Mom, is what you are making potatoes?"
I stand at the doorway to the kitchen room.
Mom: "Boiled potatoes. There is also your favorite chicken and vegetables soup. Go call for your siblings, they should be hungry by now"
MC: "You know them, mother. They stopped eating with us after they thought themselves grownups. I swear, restaurant food is gonna be their downfall one day"
I start walking out, going to inform both my younger sister and younger brother. I should also grab our youngest brother from wherever he is right now.
I go tell my younger brother, 17 years old, seems like a delinquent at first glance, though I must say, He is a good teenager compared to many others. He isn't a delinquent.
MC: "Bro, mother made dinner. Go to the kitchen"
Younger brother: "What did she make?"
He is still looking at the monitor while lazily asking that of me, I see.
MC: "Boiled Potatoes, along with Vegetables and Chicken soup"
(AN: Is the last line correct? I just assumed "since they are the names of the dishes, they should get capitalized first letters")
Younger brother: "I don't want that"
MC: "Wouldn't eat any though? You know that makes mother happy"
Younger brother: "And she knows I don't like to eat these dishes normally"
MC: "Ungrateful"
I mumble as I turn around. That brat should be grateful to have food at all. Some people don't have anything to eat for days on end.
I should be thankful too, because if he didn't have his headphones on, he would have heard that. And ooohh boy, was it gonna be a slugfest if he did.
Should I choke him?
Nah, he will end himself one of these days, what with not sleeping at night and eating fast food in large quantities.
MC: "YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL"
I scream as I sprint up the stairs, three or four steps at a time, not caring in the least about his reply to my shout.
My sisters' bedroom door faces our boys' bedroom door.
*knock*
I knock on their door, no answer. She is most likely sleeping then.
I hope she gets enough rest. She has a job from 6 and something in the morning till nearly 4 in the evening. That is a tiring work schedule.
I go down the stairs. And lo and behold, he is giving me the stink eye. I should just pop that eye.
NO. Evil thoughts begone. Mom would be sad and angry if I did that. Her heart might act up again if that happens.
I should just go and eat.
I reach the kitchen and sit at the table with my parents.
First things first, mash the potato. Only then can I start eating.
Mother: "You always eat it mashed, do you not? Staying true to character even as an adult, fufu"
(AN: is "fufu" the sound of giggles?)
You are that amused? Well, whatever makes you smile.
I want to reply, and as I open my mouth: *cough**cough*
I feel a great pain in my airway.
I choked on my meal, didn't I? I try my damnest to get them to apply emergency treatment to me, but to no avail. The chunk of mashed potato is stuck in place and refuses to move.
Little by little, I start to lose energy. Then I start to see less and less, until I blackout completely.
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I try to open my eyes, but I feel none. I don't have eyes now?
Am I dead?
???: "Yes, you are. Fret not, mama's boy. A copy of your ego and memories is inhabiting your body right now. Your mother is not gonna have any heart attacks because you died. None is in the know about your death"
Phew. Now what? would I remain here? And who might you be, good sir?
???: "You won't remain here for long. As for who I am, that is something you will know later. Now then, we shall discuss what will happen to you. I will send you to different worlds, on the cost that you entertain me. If you agree, I will give you a power and a barebone system"
Ummm, what did you mean by "barebone system"?
???: "I meant a system that only tells you about what you can do, buffs and debuffs applied to you and gives an infinite inventory. Note that the inventory will only store things. It will not stop time inside, as things still could go bad over time"
Isn't that bad? But depending on the power accompanying the system, I might agree to this deal.
???: "The power is something you will need to accomplish your task. It removes growth limits and halts any outside help from any system in whatever world you go to. All I am telling you is that it is one of your dreams, although with a drawback"
All my dreams were fantasies that getting one of will satisfy me. I agree.
???: "Good. As gratitude for agreeing so fast, I will tell you some details. The world you go to first is related to the word "Bell" and the letter C. As for your power, it is draconic in nature. Its drawback is pain. It causes you pain to use it"
Going extreme, aren't we? Wait a minute. The word "Bell" and the letter C, Bell C... Nope. I don't want to go where a bloody yandere lives.
???: "Ha. The choice is not yours. And a last thing. The power and the system will arrive after a while, not immediately like you may have hoped"
I don't have a choice and will not have my power immediately? OOOOIII, AT LEAST DIVERT HER ATTENTION FROM ME, YOU HEAR ME?!
???: "Now off you go"
*crack*
Am I looking at a rift right now? Yep, that's totally a rift right there.
I am gonna persist until he agrees though.
AT LEAST PUT ME WHERE SHE DOESN'T REACH.
???: "Aa aa, that is also part of my entertainment"
Ugh, why does he have to push me inside the rift like this?
*zoom* (SFX of the rift closing)
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(Somewhere else)
This is dark. And my eyelids are stuck together.
Wait a minute. I feel some liquid around me, my eyelids are stuck shut and I can't move freely.
Urrggh, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhahaaaaah.
I don't want to be conscious when the pain of being squeezed/borne hits.
Wooaah, my head is being pushed into some form of tight hole right now.
Why was I not sent here a few hours later?
Now that I think about it, it surprisingly isn't as painful as I thought it is. Maybe my nerves are numbed temporarily?
If I had to compare it with a car hitting me, then the car is more painful. I shudder at the memories of the two instances of cars hitting me.
I just hope I am a natural case. If my nerves were unnaturally numb, I don't know how well I may be able to mix with other children later.
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(Around the 2nd hour)
This takes long, doesn't it.
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(Around the 4th hour)
It has been uncomfortable long enough. when does it end?
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(Around the 6th hour)
I swear if I ever find that asshole, I am gonna kill him for this.
IT STARTED DRIVING ME INTO MADNESS FROM SHEER UNCOMFORTABLENESS.
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(Around the 10th hour)
WHEN IS IT GONNA EEEEEEEEENNNNNNNND?
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(Around the 16th hour)
I give up. Just make this end. End my suffering.
Being in pain would have been easier to stomach than this feeling.
Imagine a drop of water falling on the same spot on your forehead.
It always takes the same time for the next to fall.
It drives one crazier than pain does.
Did I reach the stage of acceptance?
But why did I have to be awake all this time?
I don't care anymore.
I will just wait it ou....
Brrhhrrhr.
What is this cold feeling upon my forehead?! AM I FINALLY ESCAPING THIS HELL?!
Ugh, light.
FINALLY, IT IS ABOUT TO END.
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(an hour and a half later)
I should scream and cry myself.
I don't want someone to touch me unnecessarily, even though it is a required hit to confirm a baby's health.
MC: "WA, WAAAAHHH *HIC*" (AN: I don't have to imitate all of that here, do I?)
They are taking their hand away. Good.
I will keep on crying for a while until it tires me out.
Nurse/Midwife: "He is a healthy baby boy. What would be his beautiful name?"
It is English, huh? Oh, yeah. It was called Koine. Only that their spoken language was Japanese in the anime, because, well, anime. Their written language's alphabet looked like warped English letters, I will go decipher that again, joy.
I guess it's gonna be fun fumbling my words around like a child again.
I decided to open my eyes to see around me.
Oh, they were right. A baby's eyes aren't developed enough for that yet.
All I am seeing is a blurry blend of color. Some things that are, on assumption, within a range of 8-12 inches are visibly clear enough.
???: "Nephelont, his name will be Nephelont. Grow up strong, our son"
That voice was a little masculine? It still holds to some of its childish softness.
Don't tell me my father is a teenager?!! That will be painful, maybe.
Hopefully he is not an adventurer.
Oh, he is getting his face in a distance I can see clearly in.
Ummm, big UMMMM. Isn't that pure white hair and red eyes?! That's the rabbit himself alright.
Oh. Oh no. OH HELL NO.
I WILL MURDER HIM WHEN I SEE HIS PHYSICAL FORM. I SWEAR IN EVERY DIETY'S NAME THAT I WILL ONCE I GET THE CHANCE IF IT IS WHAT I THINK IT IS.
And isn't that a name I heard him say? What was it?
The word I thought I recognized has similar sound to the name "Ais".
Ais: "My son"
As she is taking me in her arms, I will look towards the direction of my new mother's, admittedly soothing, voice. Dazzling gold, dazzling gold is what I am seeing.
Bell: "He resemples both of us, does he not?"
Ais: "Umm"
She is still not much of a talker, I guess.
Well then, I hope to enjoy this new life of mine.
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(1 month old)
I am not enjoying this life.
No good sight. No respect of privacy. A body that demands so much sleep.
At least my parents are affectionate, in their own, unique ways.
Anyway, my vision is better, but still not good enough for distant objects.
The eyes and their muscles are not responding to every little command I give them.
I better work on control.
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(2 months old)
I started to coordinate my eye-to-hand movement, not to any great success.
Muscle memory is an annoying thing. It is stored in the body, not the mind.
In a new body, you still need to rediscover how to move again.
My vision is a little bit more developed now. Although, I only can see to what I assume to be a meter (~ 3 feet and 3.37 inches) ... oh, it is called a meder here.
Oh, right.
My parents are out right now. I should scream for Hestia to pamper me with my secret drink, sweetened water.
Nephelont: "WAAAAAHH"
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(3 months old)
My vision is enough to see across the room I am passing my time mostly in.
I could almost curl my fingers around something, if I am lucky enough to get my hands around it.
After a thorough crawling, I reached an assumption.
The room's size would be around 30 square meders (~ 322 square feet and 132.1 square inches).
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(4 months old)
They started putting me alone on the floor this morning.
Yeah baby, I can move freely again, albeit in a crawl.
Okay, plan commencing.
My father and mother are both in the dungeon right now, these rabbits.
Anyway. Hestia is in front of me, I can hint for her to give me a Falna and hide it.
Nobody knows. Perfect plan.
Here goes nothing.
I am crawling her way.
Nephelont: "Gaa gaa"
I am trying my best to sound cute, okay?
Hestia: "Aww, our cute prince is coming towards mommy Hestia to play"
She is turning her attention to me with a goofy face, good.
I lay on the ground in front of her and then I am trying my best to imitate writing, then moving my hand to my best try at a gesture towards my back.
Hestia: "Are you trying to say something, my sweeting?"
She is smiling like if I am playing around. I should deal with that.
Nephelont: *nod*
What will you say now?
Hestia: *shocked* "Eeh, that is not possible for an infant your age"
She looks shocked now. Good.
Being in shock can be caused by understanding something mind blowing.
Hestia: "Do you understand what I am saying?"
Nephelont: *nod*
Hestia: "Should I treat you like if you were an adult now?"
Nephelont: *nod*
Hestia: "Okay. Writing and you pointing to your back, and this abnormal intelligence for a child"
Oh, crap. I am still not caught, am I?
Hestia: "Do you know what a Falna is?"
Nephelont: *nod*
Hestia: *stare* "Weird"
Oh. Nobody mentioned Falna and how it works in front of me before, it just didn't happen.
Hestia: "You will tell me how you knew later, once you can actually talk. So, the gestures were you trying to get me to apply my Falna to your back?"
Nephelont: *nod*
Hestia: "You should wait for your parents then. We need to discuss it with them first because of your age"
Nephelont: *"are you serious" stare*
You deserve a stare.
Hestia: "Hey, don't you give me that stare, little Nephe"
Granny Hestia, it is time for my ultimate technique.
Nephelont: "WAAAAAAHH, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH"
I will be screaming as sharp, and as loud, as childishly possible. How long can you handle it?
Hestia: "Stop it, my ears hurt"
No.
Nephelont: "WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH"
Hestia: "Okay, I give up. I still want my ears, you meanie"
Okay, I am stopping. Did you reconsider?
Hestia: "Are you sure you want to get the Falna?"
Is my crying that effective?! She is covering her ears.
How many more times does she need to confirm this?
Nephelont: *nod*
Hestia: "Haaaaah. I hope this does not backfire at us. And whatever happens after you get your Falna, never go to the Dungeon until you are 7 years old, at the least. That is my condition"
Are you serious? I wanted to try it as soon as possible, and you come and tell me to wait until 7?
I will try to bypass it using a nod. Maybe it wouldn't get detected?
I believe.
Nephelont: *firm gaze* *nod*
Hestia: "Hmm, okay. I will go get something that will help me write it on your back. Stay put and don't do anything dangerous while I am gone, okay?"
Nephelont: *nod*
*click* *screech*
There she goes.
*screech* *click*
I guess there is nothing sharp or small enough in this room.
Understandable. Otherwise, a normal child may hurt themselves.
*click* *screech*
There she comes.
*screech* *click*
*grab*
Woah. She is grabbing me from my armpits.
Nephelont: *childish giggles*
Oops.
Hestia: "Nephelont, it seems no matter how much smarter you seem to be, you are still a child. How cute. Fu fu fu"
Kill me. KILL ME AND STOP POKING MY CHEEK.
This embarrassment is too much for a former adult like me.
Not to mention her smug face and teasing tone.
She is gonna keep teasing me about this later, isn't she?
*plop*
I am on my belly now. She should be starting any minute.
Hestia: "Let's...
*click* *screech*
...begin"
And a nightmarish situation presents itself.
Both of my parents are entering the room.
Everyone froze.
Hestia because she got caught giving their 4 months old a Falna.
My parents froze in bewilderment, looking at Hestia.
And I froze from sheer paranoia. How would they treat me after this?
Bell: *eyes blink with a wry expression* "Begin what?!"
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Your opinions are appreciated.
Now, for the note.
I first and for most, I apologize.
I gave a promise of at least 2 chapters a month and couldn't keep it. I mean, Webnovel went "No Facebook account will be able to login", but I am to blame for not taking similar situations into account.
I am still promising to finish this story, and the 1500 minimum word count too. But never take any set schedule for granted. 2 chapters a month if no hic-ups or exams happen. This becomes valid starting next year, since my exams are approaching, and I don't know if I will have the time.
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Enough with the boring talk.
Here are the changes:
The system is gonna have a minimal role to play in most of this fanfic. It will be explained next chapter.
Most of the abilities are remove as they are excessive.
Some worlds were removed from the list, see the auxiliary chapter, and some others were added. With your feedback on the list, I might change three specific worlds.
The second world crossing changed from One Piece to Elden Ring. Zorayas is a waifu.
Also, DaoistQzjaGd and Time_Dragonlord, I am still considering the worlds you suggested.
As I neither watched High School Dxd nor played Final Fantasy, I will be viewing them during my writing and will give my final answer later, once I am certain I can write about them.
Previously, I gave too much room for a swarm of women. Now, only to are gonna get him. They are set in stone, no changes possible.
The story changed names because of a little thing. You see, I was trying to import dragon breathes from Elden Ring, when I saw the Description of the Rotten Breath incantation.
It states: "Those extraordinary individuals who perpetuate Dragon Communion are called the dragon-hearted."
The way Nephelont gets power is the same in essence, but still has differences.
And yes, Falna is not gonna increase his parameters.
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For those interested, you could adapt the previous idea from the auxiliary chapters. It will be posted there. Just remember to change the mc' name. Good luck with it.
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I hope that this story became more interesting after the rewrite.
And as was said before, your opinions matter to me. I would try my best to reply if you commented.
Best wishes,
Draconic_Terror.