Rebirth

I floated in an endless white void. There was no sky or ground—just an infinite blankness in every direction. For a moment, I wondered if this was a dream. Is this what death feels like? My last memory was hazy: headlights blinding me on a rainy night, a screech of tires, then... nothing. Now, here I was, weightless and alone, a disembodied consciousness adrift in silence.

A presence stirred behind me. I spun around—though I had no body, the motion felt natural—and came face to face with something. It was a featureless humanoid silhouette, the same stark white as the void except for a wide, knowing grin. Despite the lack of eyes, I felt it staring right into me. A shiver ran through my being. The figure reminded me of Fullmetal Alchemist's "Truth"—calm, eerie, and impossibly godlike.

"Welcome, Jasen," the being spoke. Its voice echoed, neither male nor female, but resonant as if composed of many tones. It knew my name. Of course it did. I had the sense that it knew everything about me.

I swallowed (or imagined I did, since I had no throat here). "Are... are you God?" I asked, my voice trembling through the emptiness.

The being's grin inched wider. "A god? Hmm, something like that." It chuckled softly, a sound that reverberated in the void. "I am what you might call a higher being. I have many names, but you can think of me as an administrator of souls. And it seems yours has arrived at my doorstep rather unexpectedly."

I grimaced, trying to steady my thoughts. If this were really like the stories... "I died, didn't I?" I murmured. Memories trickled back. It was raining, I was in the parking lot of my condo complex, then I heard a familiar voice from a woman, then it went dark." The silhouette tilted its head as if amused. "Your death was untimely and quite mundane," it agreed. "Such a shame. But perhaps not the end of your story."

Its words sent a bolt of hope through me. In countless light novels and anime, an untimely death often meant one thing: a second chance in another world. My heart (or soul?) fluttered. "You mean... I'm getting reincarnated?" I asked, hardly daring to believe it.

The being's non-face somehow conveyed a smile beyond that unnerving grin. "I'm offering you a deal, Jasen. A reincarnation, with a few adjustments, in a world of your choosing. Think of it as a rare opportunity. I don't do this for just anyone, you know." Its tone was playful, almost teasing.

My mind raced. This was it—the classic setup. But I was nervous. A part of me wondered why I deserved this chance. My life on Earth had been... ordinary. I was just a regular guy who enjoyed anime, dreamt of adventure, but never did anything remarkable. Why me? Perhaps this higher being was just bored and picked me at random. Regardless, I wasn't about to waste the opportunity.

"I accept," I said, trying to sound confident. "Though, do I get to know what world, or do I choose...?"

The being's outline flickered, and suddenly scenes flashed in the whiteness around us: I saw a bustling city beneath a towering white tower that pierced the heavens; adventurers clad in armor fighting monsters in dark tunnels; gods and goddesses smiling as they bestowed glowing blessings upon their followers. My breath caught. I recognized this place.

Orario. The Dungeon. The world of Danmachi "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?" One of my favorite light novels. The images faded back into white, and the godlike being watched me intently. "That world calls to your soul," it intoned. "A world of gods, monsters, and heroes... You will be reborn there, if you so wish."

"Yes," I blurted out, excitement surging. "I want that!" The thought of living in Danmachi's universe, of walking the streets of Orario and delving into the Dungeon—it was beyond thrilling. But I forced myself to calm down. This was also a deadly world. People—adventurers—died gruesome deaths in the Dungeon. If I was going to survive, let alone thrive, I'd need advantages. In true isekai fashion, I had a chance to negotiate some boons.

The being seemed to read my mind. "Now, now," it said slyly. "I know what you desire. You mortals usually have a wishlist ready. Go on, tell me what cheats you want. But be reasonable." Its faceless gaze bored into me. "Power in that world has a price. The more I give you, the more attention you might draw... from both mortals and gods. Keep that in mind."

I nodded vigorously. I had already thought of several things—ideas inspired by various anime and games—that could help me in Danmachi's environment. I took a metaphorical deep breath and began my request. "First, I'd like to choose my new body and race." In Danmachi, being something other than a plain human could be beneficial. "I want to be a half-elf, and about ten years old." Half- dark elve had decent longevity and affinity for magic, and starting young gave me time to grow before the main story events. Ten was young, but not too young to start training.

The being's grin remained, and it gestured as if to say go on. Encouraged, I continued, ticking off points on my fingers out of habit. "My appearance… I'd like rich brown skin, white hair, and golden eyes." I pictured it: a boy with cocoa-brown skin, hair like freshly fallen snow, and bright golden irises. It was a striking combination I'd always thought looked cool in character designs. Maybe a bit of aesthetic vanity, but hey, if I'm getting reborn, might as well look unique.

The void around us rippled, briefly forming a funhouse mirror. I caught a glimpse of a small figure—my envisioned self reflected back: a lean half-elf child, mocha skin contrasting with messy white hair and vivid amber-gold eyes. He—I—looked exotic and oddly charming. I smiled, satisfied.

"Interesting choices," the higher being mused. "A child human, half-elf with an unusual appearance. Is that your final form?"

"Yes," I confirmed, then hastily added, "But that's just the body. I have some, um, abilities in mind as well." I straightened up, clearing my throat. This was the big part—the cheat skills and blessings. "I'd like to be… well, genetically blessed, you could say. Things that will help me grow strong."

The being's grin turned into a sharp-edged crescent. "Oh? Do elaborate." I detected amusement and a hint of challenge in its voice.

I raised one finger. "Firstly, rapid muscle development. Even as a kid, I want to be able to train and build up strength quickly. My body should respond to training at an accelerated rate, so I won't be stuck weak just because I'm young." In Danmachi, natural talent and training mattered even before getting a Falna (the gods' blessing). If I could get a head start physically, I'd be better prepared when I eventually received a Falna from some Familia.

"Granted," intoned the being, and I felt a brief warmth wash over the phantom shape of my soul. "Your muscles will grow efficiently. But remember, you'll still have to do the training. No pain, no gain, as they say."

"Of course," I replied, then held up a second finger. "High resistant. I want protection to supernatural charm or seduction effects for example." I thought of Freya, and Ishtar the goddess's of beauty in Danmachi who could charm almost anyone at a glance. If I was going to exist in the same city as those walking bewitchments, I needed protection. "That includes poison, charm, potions, spells—anything that would hijack my emotions or loyalty. I don't want to be anyone's puppet."

The being actually chuckled, a sound like chiming bells. "Worried about having your heart stolen, or stab in the back hmm? Very well. You'll have a heart that only obeys itself. No charm shall sway your mind or soul."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. That was a big relief. Freya's charm was terrifying in the series; being immune might very well put me on her radar, but at least I wouldn't be a drooling slave if she turned her gaze on me.

I continued, ticking off more. "Divine Luck," I said next. "Like, an abnormal amount of good luck. Call it Fate's blessing or whatever." It felt greedy to ask, but luck could mean the difference between life and gruesome death in the Dungeon. A bit of fortune on my side—finding just enough loot, encountering fewer ambushes, meeting helpful allies—could go a long way.

The being gave an approving hum. "Fortune favors the bold. I shall weave luck into your thread of fate. But do not grow complacent—luck can be fickle if abused."

I nodded eagerly. "Understood. Next: Mind's Eye. By that, I mean an ability to sense things—the truth of things. Like detecting lies and gauging someone's strength or intent at a glance." This was a bit of a catch-all ability I'd thought of. It would be like having a sixth sense. I imagined being able to tell if someone meant me harm, or if they were insanely stronger than me, or even if a statement was a lie. In a world full of trickster gods and deceptive monsters, that insight would be invaluable.

The higher being's featureless face leaned closer, as if examining me. I felt pressure, like a mental weight for a moment, then it eased. "I have awakened a third eye within you," it pronounced. "In time, you'll learn to interpret what it shows you. Lies will ring hollow to your ears, and the aura of others will whisper their strength to your mind. At first, it will be subtle—perhaps a gut feeling. As you grow, so too will the clarity of this Mind's Eye."

A grin tugged at my own lips. This was shaping up nicely. "Thank you," I said, excitement creeping into my voice. "I have a few more, if that's okay..."

The being waved a hand grandly. "Go on, I'm enjoying this. It's like watching a kid pile toppings on an ice cream. Just remember: the more you add, the heavier the burden of power." Its tone was light, but I caught the serious undercurrent. I knew I was asking for a lot. I braced myself and pressed on.

"Immunity to disease and poison," I listed next. "I don't want to fall ill from some plague or get taken out by poison. Basically, a super strong immune system." Given the medieval setting of Danmachi, disease might not be a huge plot element, but it couldn't hurt. And poison was a real threat—there were monsters, like Purple Moths, that could poison adventurers, not to mention venomous daggers wielded by Evilus members in the lore.

The being nodded. "Consider your body cleansed of impurity. No sickness will fetter you, no toxin fell you... aside from the most extreme magical curses, perhaps. But mundane illness and most poisons shall find no purchase in your veins."

I exhaled in relief. Good. That meant I wouldn't have to worry about catching a fatal cold or being paralyzed by a stray dagger—at least not for long.

Finally, I came to the more exotic requests. My heartbeat (if I had one here) thundered as I spoke the next wish: "I want something I call Elder Blood from the Witcher series"

The being's head tilted

The faceless being was silent for a long moment. I worried I'd finally overstepped. When it spoke, its tone was contemplative. "You seek the spark of the Elder blood a ancient Elven power... Very ambitious especially since it's never been seen in that world." A pause, then a chuckle. "But I like it. I shall plant the seed of this Elder Blood within your being. It will slumber quietly at first. As you experience trials and triumphs, as your soul matures, that blood will stir. Bit by bit, you may discover new facets of power—perhaps an affinity for powerful magic, or a wellspring of mana, or something even I cannot predict. A part of this will be your journey to discover."

I felt almost dizzy with gratitude. This was a big one—like having a personal growth system beyond the Falna. "Thank you," I said earnestly, my voice echoing. "I promise I won't waste it."

"And finally?" the being prompted knowingly, "One more thing you desire, isn't there?" I grinned sheepishly. Of course it knew. "Yes. My last request: the ability to use Haki."

At that, the being actually barked a laugh—rich and echoing. "Oh my... You truly are a little otaku, aren't you?" Its grin was positively Cheshire-like. "Haki, as in the concept from One Piece? Observation, Armament, Conqueror's—the power of willpower itself?"

I blushed, but nodded. "That's the one. I know it's from a different world idea, but... If possible, I'd like the potential to use something analogous to Haki. Perhaps it can be integrated into Danmachi's power system somehow. Like a skill or magic that I can develop over time."

The being tapped its chin thoughtfully, as if it actually had a chin. "Haki, hmm. A force of will that can sense others, armor the body, even dominate the weak-willed. In a world of heroes and gods, it's not entirely out of place. However..." It wagged a finger at me, "as you said, it should develop gradually. I won't just drop you in able to knock out Minotaurs with a glare. Instead, I'll grant you the seed of Haki. In dire moments, you might surprise yourself—perhaps sensing an attack before it lands, or your skin hardening instinctively to blunt a blow. But to truly master these powers, you will need to train relentlessly, just as certain pirate did."

A thrill shot through me at the thought. "Understood. I'll train. I'll work hard for it all." I realized I was grinning ear to ear. I probably looked like a lunatic listing off superpowers in front of a god, but I didn't care. I felt alive—or as alive as a dead soul in a void could feel. This higher being had effectively given me a custom character creation session and an amazing starting kit.

The silhouette clapped its hands once, and I felt a gentle breeze swirl around me. "Then it's settled. A half- dark elf, half-human child with chosen features, endowed with rapid growth, charm immunity, divine luck, a Mind's Eye for truth, immunity to ailments, the latent Elder Blood, and the nascent ability to wield Haki. Quite the list." The being's tone was amused but also somewhat proud, as if it were crafting an interesting piece for a game.

"Normally," it continued, "souls reincarnate without memories. But I'll allow you to retain yours—after all, it'd be a waste for you not to remember why you wanted all this, hmm? Consider it a bonus."

I hadn't even thought to ask about memory retention—this was a huge relief. I bowed my head. "Thank you. Really, thank you. I... I won't let you down." A surge of emotion welled in my chest. I truly was getting a second life, one that felt like it leapt right out of my wildest fantasies. Jasen from Earth might have died, but Cain Dawnstar—the name I decided my new self would carry—was about to be born.

As if sensing my resolve, the being nodded. "Cain Dawnstar. A fitting name for your new dawn." It raised an arm, and behind it a door of pure light materialized. The door swung open, revealing swirling colors. I could just barely make out an image beyond it: cobblestone streets and medieval buildings under a brilliant sky—the city of Orario, I hoped.

"Step through when you're ready," the being said softly. "May your new life be grand, Cain. Entertain me with your journey, will you? I'll be watching." That eerie grin curled in the void, but there was a hint of genuine warmth in the parting words.

My heart pounded with anticipation. I drifted toward the doorway of light. Just before crossing, I turned back to the godlike figure and offered a deep bow. "I won't forget this. Thank you... for everything." "Farewell, Cain Dawnstar. Embrace your fate."

With that, I stepped through the brilliant threshold. A flash of light consumed me—blinding, then black.