Thankfully, the woman who'd dropped a bombshell out of nowhere was able to 'recreate' his room.
She introduced herself with just one word:
'Gaia'.
Then continued on to explain to him many things in an orderly fashion. From the beginning to end.
Adam fell into silence…
It was only after regaining his senses, he spoke:
"So I'm not dead?"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you."
"So why can't you just send me back?" Gaia held her head, realising none of her words were heard.
"Climbing up is easier than descending. Even if you were immortal, your existence would be erased."
"I don't get it."
"Think of it like gravity. If you throw something upwards, it will encounter resistance. So then…"
"Fine. Throwing something down wouldn't be good. So how did I get past that 'resistance'?"
"Dumb luck."
"What…?" He gave her a glare, but she wasn't the least bit intimated. Instead, she elaborated on it:
"Someone from a Lower Realm broke open the gate to the Divine Realm for a brief moment. It was in that moment that you subconsciously desired to get away from your world. Thus, you crossed over."
"You said 'a Lower Realm', so it wasn't mine?"
"Pretty much."
"But I didn't really want to 'ascend' to another world. Wait, then what was that game earlier?"
"A preview of where you can go. That, and it was me playing a trick on your memories to get help."
"For that 'Villainess' girl?"
"Call her what you wish, but she is important."
"Important, how?"
"She's… a daughter of mine." Adam's narrow eyes widened when he heard her ridiculous statement.
"But you're a planet though…?"
"I can descend to a Lower Realm whenever I wish."
"Is this how you look?"
He expected her to nod, but…
"No. My current appearance is based off your preference." His mouth twitched at her response.
Then quickly changed the subject:
"Did she choose to come here too?"
"…It was a good opportunity, so I used the opening to reincarnate my daughter closer to where I am."
"So you didn't ask for her permission." It almost seemed like she was too used to doing it like this.
Did planetary wills all act like this?
Regardless, Adam wasn't in any position to criticise her. He was instead worried of his own livelihood:
"If the world is anything like that game, then…"
"Yes. You are an unsuitable 'Ascender'."
"…" He felt great pressure on his shoulders after realising the 'Genre' of the world he was going to.
Gaia, Aka The World itself, was populated by those who were either powerful or had the potential for it.
Just like in an Eastern Fantasy, those who chose to ascend to the Divine Realm were physically strong.
They had spent their entire lives attaining strength through training or study. It was a bit violent…
So how would a normal person like him fare there?
"I could reincarnate you too, if that's what you want." Of course, this was a tempting offer to have.
If he started over from the beginning, he wouldn't have to worry about having not learned any 'Combat Skills' in his youth. If he was reincarnated with his memories, he might even gain 'Spell Slots'.
"You as you are may just be an Earthling, but I can turn you into a Gaia Human as a reward for helping my daughter survive. As one, you could choose any Class type of your choice and be born wealthy."
She was showering him with sweet suggestions.
Being a Gaia Human meant he'd be born with the advantages of a resident of the Divine Realm.
He'd have 'Magic Pathways' and an affinity for the five elements. Even having a Class of his choice.
What better offer could he possibly get?
However…
"Does that mean I'd have to start off as an infant and… you know…" He made an ugly face at her.
"All infants have to go through childhood. I could seal your memories, but you'll eventually still re-"
"Then I'll be staying as an Earthling." He said with strong resolution that she couldn't understand.
"Why…?"
"Can't you understand how embarrassing that is for me? Plus, having new parents would be weird."
"I can make you an orphan."
"And how would that help?!" Adam sighed. She didn't seem to fully understand his predicament.
A grown man like him didn't even imagine what it would be like to go through being a child again.
On top of that, he wasn't much of an actor.
His parents would definitely throw him away for being strange. That's just how humans worked.
"But I still have to reward you for helping me. With this, you shouldn't be too powerless inside me."
"Don't say it like that…" He facepalmed. Having a woman of his tastes say that was just so… wrong.
It was better to check his options, so he asked:
"What can I get instead of reincarnation? Can't you just give me a cheat skill that keep me safe?"
"If only if it was that easy…" Once she waved her hand towards him, a blue screen popped up.
[Name: Adam Graham
Job: Office Administrator
Personal Skills: Cooking (Common), Cleaning (Common), Land Management (Common), Lie Detection (Common), Social Barrier (Rare), Sinister Taunt (Rare), Mental Resistance (Rare)
Growth Characteristic: Studious Opportunist/ Antisocial Outcast/ Unsavoury Capitalist/ Game Completionist
Unique Skill: None
Intrinsic Skill: Administrative Experience (Common), Management Experience (Common), Modern Education (Common)
Imaginary Attribute: None
Magic Affinity: None
Gift Slot: Unawakened/Untrained
Power Tier= E (Common)
Agility Tier= E (Rare)
Speed Tier= F (Common)
Defence Tier= F (Common)
Combat Prowess= F (None Combatant)]
"…Was there a Job like this in that game?" Rather accepting of reality, Adam commented on it.
"All Earthlings come with their own 'Jobs'. I'm not the one who employed you as such a thing."
"Then this screen means my 'Job' literally?"
"Whatever job you had before coming here would be reflected on your stats. Though it's usually more like 'Martial Artist' or 'Sorcerer'… Jobs like yours are on the rarer side." She faintly shrugged at him.
It was then he realised that it seemed a little different from the status screens from 'that game'.
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"What the heck does it mean my 'Growth Characteristic' is being an Antisocial Outcast?! I'll have you know, people DO talk to me." The look on her face seemed to ask how THAT was offensive.
Still, she didn't back down:
"I wouldn't have labelled you that if you'd noticed your surroundings. Not only do you dislike socialising with people, you drive people away from you. That's why you have a 'Social Barrier' skill."
"Change it."
"Not happening. I have to abide by certain rules."
"Then what the heck is bringing this up supposed to do?" He lowered his gaze and raised his chin.
"Your Growth Characteristic determines your talent for learning Skills. You can change it if YOU change." He felt bitter after hearing these words. It wasn't like he hadn't tried being social before.
Things just didn't work out because of his nature.
"…Then all those Skills only represent what I've learned? Can't you give me an amazing Class?"
"Maybe if you were reborn, but those of the Lower Realm don't get any benefits from the system aside from 'Titles'. Which now reminds me: I better start with giving you the Title all Earthlings earn."
[You have earned the Title: 'Otherworlder'.]
[Overcoming the void and ascending without sufficient strength still awards you certain Skills.]
[You have now acquired the 'Potential Expansion' Intrinsic Skill. Your human limitations are no more.]
[You have acquired the 'Mana Sense' Personal Skill. It is now possible to sense magical energy.]
Despite gaining new abilities, Adam didn't seem to feel any different than before. What changed?
"Don't look like that. Potential doesn't mean you can use it without prior training." Gaia sighed.
"I don't like your attitude. Now look here you-!"
He was interrupted when she pointed at him again:
"Shut it."
[You have earned the Title: 'An Agent Of Gaia'.]
[Thanks to completing her task, you have become the first Earthling to ever be her proxy influence.]
[You have now acquired the 'Spirit Affinity' Unique Skill. Spirits of the world shall love your presence.]
[You have acquired the 'Geis Promise' Personal Skill. Promise shall restrict and empower users.]
One could tell that she was practically showering him with presents to the point if was extravagant.
"Yes, ma'am."
Bickering now would be ungrateful.
Another blue screen followed:
[You have earned the Title: 'Former Administrator'.]
[As a former administrator of the system, you have gained acknowledgement for your achievements.]
[You have now acquired the 'Inspection' Personal Skill. Nothing shall stay a mystery to your eyes.]
[You have now acquired the 'Astralisation' Personal Skill. Your body shall now longer cage your spirit.]
[Acquisition of a Legendary Rank Personal Skill has given a benefit. You now have the 'Yin' Affinity.]
[You have earned the Title: 'True Landlord'.]
[As the first true landlord to have ascended, your achievement shall be recognised by the world.]
[You have acquired the 'Territory License' Intrinsic Skill. A plot of land is now your responsibility.]
Adam was a little unsatisfied that the last Title only gave him once skill, but his disdain drove her mad.
"You don't like it? Should I take it back?"
"No no no? Please don't!" Seeing how someone like him was requesting her, she calmed a little.
"Special Rank skills like Territory License and Potential Expansion might compare to Exclusive Rank Unique Skills, but the conditions needed to obtain them are harsh. Remember that."
The unsavoury capitalist realised that there seemed more to the last skill that met the eye.
But what was it…?
He wanted to immediately make use of this skill if it had any advantages. Everything should be used.
That's why he had another request of her:
"I can guess what a 'Gift Slot' is. Since it's currently unawakened, can you do me a favour aaaannnd-"
"Awaken it for you?"
"You're the one who said it, not me."
"Are you sure about that?" The way she wasn't immediately onboard sparked some caution.
"I must be missing something."
"It's that part that says 'Untrained'."
"Alright. I'll bite… What does that mean?"
"Gifts are split into 'Combat' and 'Innate'. Martial Artists tend to fill up their Gift Slots personally."
"Which one is stronger."
"Depends…" Such a vague answer wasn't really helping efficiency here. He needed more info.
Gaia satisfied his curiosity:
"Those who awaken tend to either have amazing, useless, or cursed gifts. The first is most common."
"What about Combat Gifts?"
"They tend to depend on what technique you use to train them. Finding a good one isn't easy."
This gave him much to think about. He could either gamble on getting a good gift, or wait to train one.
"Before that, is there any other support?"
"Since you rejected my offer to reincarnate you, all I can give is two skills as a reward for helping me."
"ANY skills?"
"Any." Gaia knew what Adam was thinking, but she was fine with him making use this clear loophole.
There wasn't any reason to stop him.
Adam started to debate on what two Skills would be most useful to him out of the ones available.
He couldn't attain any Unique Skills, but the hint she gave about Special Rank skills was useful.
Meanwhile, gears were turning elsewhere.
In the Pandorica Nation, a woman with fine black hair was ousted from her family and disowned.
It was said that in the kingdom of darkness, a female Sage had returned to the Arcadia Family.
They welcomed her in open arms and had thrown out the 'witch' that had dirtied their good name.
After the shameless woman had seduced many high ranking figures, she dare cause a rebellion!
Evidence had been submitted by the returned Sage that she was undoubtedly guilty. A clearly evil girl.
A villainess who deserved execution!
Thus, the central figure for all this chaos left the kingdom with nothing but a bag of her own funds.
Thanks to the Dark Forest surrounding the small kingdom, leaving the borders equalled to suicide.
Not much of an execution, but enough to ease the citizens and prove that justice always prevailed.
That night, a woman watched over the kingdom.
From the top of a tall tree, she looked towards her former home in mixed feeling of regret and pity.
"I'm sorry, little sis… There's nothing I can do to help you. Please survive." Her beautiful face fell.
She had no choice but to leave the only sibling she ever truly loved in that wretched and ugly family.
Hopefully, things wouldn't escalate after she left…