Familiar of Storms (Gamer SI/Familiar of Zero)

[nomorehero29]

Congratulations, Jakob Allens. Your last kindhearted action in this world has granted you designation as a candidate for Designation: [GAMER].
I... Gently blink as I look at the thing in front of me. Clutching at the right side of my chest where I know that car caved in my ribcage. I struggle to remember the very last thing I did before it struck me..

"W.... What?"

Oh dear me. Seems I've forgotten the drowsiness of death lingers on in human souls. Tell me, how many fingers am I projecting?

"Not that!" I brush away at the screen, eyes focusing as I suddenly see the scene below me.... The all too familiar scene I had subconsciously blanked upon:

My death. My death at the hands of being too good of a person. I can only look on in horror at the blood splatter that used to be inside my body, with said body having been sent flying across the street, crashing into a nearby Street Pole. My loser of an older brother and extremely stoic little sister, Travis and Mary, were seemingly called as they were some of my contacts, and spot my body. I roll my eyes.... What, gonna say something fitting for my eulogy? Exposing the porn files I know you know?

Steal the last remaining few bucks I had from the only good thing that happened all year?

Go ahead. I can't be damned to care anymore. I'm dead.

"..... Brother?" I hear Mary speak in a tone I have never heard her spoke in. Grief.

"No.... No, no no. Y-You were supposed to.... Hey, c'mon man!!" My Brother, who seem to have gained a crumb of a soul, rushes over toy broken body, trying to shake me awake. "Dammit, you just got a scholarship, in spite of everything..... NO!!!"
I .... Blink in utter surprise at the amount of emotion I didn't know they could muster. I turn to the strange being, eyes wide.
Finally registering in that head of yours?
".... I'm.... I'm dead. Oh good God, I'm dead."
Died saving a young child. You should know, your name is gonna be passed down to that kid's son. So at least the memory of you will be preserved in some way.

I grit my teeth at this. I... Died. I died after the greatest day in my life, because I just had to be a good person. I should've turned my head ... I shouldn't have even gotten involved in-
Oh what's the use.... I can't even muster a fraction of the aggression I need to be fake angry. Sighing, I slump my shoulders. "So I take it this is the part I go to hell or somethin', 'cause of my Reputation?"
Actually.... I have something else in mind.
"Oh? And what is that? Soul torture? Feeding some ritual?"
Quite the defeatist, aren't you? No. I'm actually here with a.... Hefty proposition. You see, I am someone that wishes to see how a Human, like yourself, would fare as a Hero. You see, people like you, who die with so much potential, are such wastes of space in the [HOLY LAND].
"What, heaven's crowded or somethin'? Thought that it had space for everyone on earth."
Everyone on Earth at the time of the MIDDLE AGES. You Apes- OOP. Sorry. My bad. Can't say that about you all anymore. You.... Mortals, are all breeding and making more of you than we can expand both planes.
"Wait, even hell's full?"
..... Do I really have to say why?
"Fair."
Well. The fact of the matter is: Both sides of the road are packed, and the big guy upstairs doesn't want more of you trying to file in. So.... He made the [GAME] I, your newly assigned {Moderator}, hello, shall be letting you play for a second chance at life!
"Second... Chance?" I say with skepticality as I eye my.... Vastly broken body. "Pretty sure I'm dead as a butchered pig, pal. Just with more crushed lungs and punctured heart via bone splinters."
Oh heavens, it is. No real chance at you coming back.

"Then I'm n-"

What I meant is a second chance in another world.

"Another..... World? What like those pervy Animoos my brother watches?" I am absolutely and utterly not looking forward to that....

W..... Wait, you... Ooooooooh, this is going to be fun.

I can hear a shit-eating chuckle as he finishes that sentence. I got a baaaaad feeling about this.....

But! First off! We need to give you a "Load-Out!"

".... Like in Call of Duty?" I cross my arms. Sure, I don't watch much stuff like my brother but, I got a decent knowledge of a few things so.... I think I can manage. Video Games and animated stick fights are more my forte.

Basic bitch taste, but yes! But more along the lines of an RPG, if you believe that much. But I'm sooooooo tired of the Overpowered Mystical Sword User, Overpowered Gunslinger, Overpowered Golem-Maker.... And so on, so forth.....

"Sounds.... Lame." I speak up, hands in soul pockets whilst ignoring that tidbit of an insult.

IT IS! Which is why I'm glad to hear you don't know much of those Japanese animations. Soooooooooo..... I get to see someone make themselves a life in another world without IMMEDIATELY breaking it like an egg with the only challenge being the end game stuff!

..... So what this guy, or what sounds like a dude, wants to see is a badass story. I guess if he's offering up a second life, I can't turn it down.

"Sure. I'm in."

That's all I needed to hear.

Suddenly.... Around me, the world goes dark.

".... H.... Hello?"

But... A robotic voice chimes in.

Welcome, User no. 1,7,984,821. Selecting three starting Templates from User's Memory.

I feel my mind immediately crack like an egg, as then various images and heroes I've seen and watched come out of my head. I can see the vast majority of the Comic Book Characters I know immediately fly into the void, as I sit there with a splitting headache. I rub my skull, feeling every single inch of memory of every character from an animated show or video game.

Then..... Three doors, each with iconography of what they represent. And I recognize each one of them.

Select your Template.

First, it is the first ever video game character I enjoyed playing as besides FPS dudes. A Legendary Swordsman from beyond the grave. A Skeleton with a tendency to get his ass into random situations.

Sir Daniel Fortesque, the badass skeleton swordsman with an undead fortitude. I chuckle, remembering the shenanigans and various abilities I know the guy has. Useful, situational, and a few are downright busted (in terms of the game).

Then, the second door. It's from an underrated gem of a movie back on Cable TV I saw over a friend's house. I know it all too well, as he was my first (and only) cosplay.

Duncan Roseblatt. The Firebreather. Half Human, Half Dragon, all kickass upsides of the Beast without none of the downsides. I can see it now, manifesting wings and flying, with immense heat coming from my mouth, blasting foes away with immense flame breaths.
He'd have been my choice. My story would be something somewhat funny but... A tad bit stale. But.... The third door....
I had made the choice with my heart.
A pair of metallic hands and feet, with lightning and thunder all around it. Combos and swift hits, combined with lightning shocks and plasma bursts.
Oxob. The RHG Gladiator.
Without missing a beat, I grab the door handle. I see the other two fade away into dust, as I smile and throw open the door.
"Hello.... Old Friend."
Template Selected.... Strange choice.
As the robot chimes in with their observation, I see the image of the fighter's back.... As I only blink. He turns to me, eying me over his shoulder whilst I ready for what's to come, my hands readied for what little possible combat I can pitifully give him. But as he turns, his body becomes more and more like mine, and he starts walking towards me.... Till he comes right into my body.
Beginning Template integration.
I scream, as both of my hands and feet become fully metallic, and lightning courses through my veins. The energy and Nanobots inside my veins, as the meat in my hands and feet are utterly gone.
I.... Had fused with one of my favorite Web Heroes.
Gained Defensive Skill!
Shock Shield: By punching your fists together or on the ground, Manifest a Shield made of condensed electric Energy for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 30 secs. Can use 3 Stacks of 'Electro' to use again.
Gained Passive Skill!
Charge: Amp up your Electric abilities with each hit from your fists, gaining electric momentum in and throughout your body. On a Critical Hit, gain up to your max Electro immediately.
Max stacks of Electro: 8
Stacks now: 0
Gained Offense Skill!
Plasma Bullet: Send a Punch of pure plasma at your opponent. Can send up to 5 at once. Cooldown: 2 secs. Amp: For a Stack of Electro, your Bullets can detonate upon an opponent.
I fall back on my ass, panting as his memories- My memories- are now .... In my head. I rub my temple.... As memories of his fighting style and victories flood my nervous system
Perks Inherited:
Nigh Pinnacle of Brawlers: After countless ages, Oxob became a Legend in the Rock Hard Gladiator Tournaments, standing at the near top with other legends.
{{Increase all Damage of Hand to Hand three fold.}}
Soul of Lightning: Imbued with the power to wield Electricity and Plasma, Oxob honed it to be his own.
[Start with Full Lightning Mastery and access to Plasma Mastery]
Hm..... Not a bad choice, all things considered.... But your chosen template is among the only ones that isn't capable of utilizing the MP System. Unfortunate. Thankfully the Cooldown System is more than a fit for it.
"Well.... I can make it work." I clench my fist, smirking. But it seems the system either rolled its eyes with a smirk.... Or just didn't take my boast seriously.
You'll also be starting with a random flaw, since you're starting with a full Mastery of Lightning.

"Bring it." I grin.... As a slot machine almost appears right in front of me. After hearing a lever pull, I hear it go and go.... With it landing on one I can't even fathom.....

[Unrelenting Spirit]
Born to fight.... To die in a fight. Even if you're on death's door, you will fight or compete when you're challenged by someone, no matter what.

..... Oh ... Oooooh shit. This could be bad. I rub the back of my head, almost utterly deflated by this flaw. It is utterly something a smart person would abuse. At least it gives me a Fighting Spirit worthwhile of a Gladiator.

"So.... Where am I goin', Boss-Bot?"

As I ask, the floor below me begins to glow... And voice only chimed in with-

To a World of Mages and Swords.
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