All beings in creation possess a spiritual power. Those capable of summoning spirits are known as summoners. But what happens when, instead of being the summoner, you are the summoned? Just like mortals, gods can also summon individuals from their essence with ease.
"Where am I?" I asked aloud. My vision was failing, the abrupt shift from absolute darkness to blinding light disoriented my senses. It would take a moment for my eyes to adjust to the environment's lighting.
When I could finally see clearly, the first thing I noticed was the majestic scene surrounding me. I was standing on a massive platform, held up by imposing stone pillars. In the center, a fountain of crystal-clear water reflected the light of a huge light blue sphere floating above, emanating a soft energy.
I looked at myself, and a strange sensation ran through me. I had no visible injuries, which was already surprising in itself, but what really puzzled me was my own body. I raised my hands and examined them closely. My skin felt smooth, but there was something strange about it, an almost artificial texture. Also, my hair was longer, my limbs seemed more flexible and lighter. Something was wrong.
My clothes were different as well: a black shirt under a corn-colored blouse with brown details, dark leggings, a tight leather short with a belt, long stockings, and brown boots. It looked like an outfit from an MMORPG.
Just as I was trying to process the situation, a bright flash filled the environment. A group of figures clad in white robes with two pairs of feathered wings appeared out of nowhere. Their sudden presence caused a murmur among the people I hadn't noticed until then.
The winged beings were between 1.70 and 2 meters tall. Their faces were hidden beneath hoods that obscured their features, though their garments, adorned with black and gold details, gave them a solemn presence.
One of them stepped forward, removing his hood and revealing a youthful face, between 20 and 25 years old. His skin was pale, his expression serene, and his golden eyes glowed with a celestial light, with star-shaped pupils. His dark brown hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. He was over two meters tall, or at least that's what it seemed from my position.
"Now you are safe, my children!" he exclaimed with a powerful voice that resonated throughout the place.
Silence fell. Some dropped to their knees, while others looked at them with pity or confusion.
"I present myself, I am Archangel Zesael, servant of the goddess Reyhan," he continued. "You have been summoned to this world in various ways. Some by invitation and others, to whom a second chance at life has been granted. Think of it as an act of goodwill, a blessing. Be grateful."
Hearing this, a fleeting memory invaded my mind: the suffocating heat, the smoke filling my lungs, my skin burning...
"It's better not to think about it!" I whispered, hugging myself.
Zesael continued:
"Our deity Reyhan has summoned you to prove your worth and bring peace to Urwelt, a world where magic and fantasy are real. To assist you on your journey, you have been granted a blessing and an RPG system that will allow you to track your progress. You will also receive two random items and a random race change. Races are classified into ranks: inferior, normal, rare, unusual, epic, ancient, legendary, unique, hybrid, spectral, primal, disaster, and divine. If you're lucky, you may even become a minor angel. I wish you fortune."
A murmur of excitement spread through the crowd. The possibility of gaining special abilities and powerful artifacts was a dream come true for anyone who had played a role-playing game.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he added with a charming smile that made several girls blush. "Along with the blessing, you will also receive a random item, which could range from a simple piece of clothing to a legendary weapon."
The cries of joy were immediate.
"Tch, savages," I muttered under my breath. Though, deep down, I was also interested. After all, in my old world, I was a gamer, and collecting rare items was my favorite pastime.
Zesael snapped his fingers, and immediately, white orbs with a silhouette of a hand in a light blue outline floated in front of each of us.
"Place your hands on the orbs to receive your rewards," he ordered.
I obeyed and placed my palm on the glowing surface. In that instant, a translucent screen appeared in front of me.
[CONNECTING TO RPG SYSTEM]
□□□□□□□□□□ 7%
■■□□□□□□□□ 30%
■■■■□□□□□□ 45%
■■■■■■□□□□ 60%
■■■■■■■■□□ 80%
[ERROR] [ERROR]
Suddenly, an intense pain shot through my body.
Something had gone wrong.
The pain was unbearable, as if thousands of burning needles were piercing every cell of my body. I collapsed to my knees, feeling my bones creaking and my skin trembling under an invisible pressure. My vision blurred, and the sounds around me became a distant echo.
"What's happening to her?!" someone exclaimed from the crowd.
I could barely hear. A deafening hum filled my ears as my blood boiled. The orb in front of me crackled with erratic energy, its light fluctuating as if it were about to explode.
"Stop the connection! Something's wrong!" Zesael shouted urgently.
But it was too late.
An indescribable force enveloped me, and in an instant, everything went black.
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
I woke up in an unknown space. There was no ground or sky, just an infinite void of dark colors and golden flashes. I felt a presence… something was watching me.
"Interesting…" a deep, ethereal voice resonated in my mind. "I didn't expect to find a soul like yours."
I tried to speak, but my throat was dry.
"Your connection to the system has failed. It wasn't meant for you… and yet, here you are."
A flash illuminated the void, and a figure appeared before me. It was neither an angel nor a demon. It was something older, something my mind couldn't fully comprehend.
"You are different. And that… pleases me."
The entity extended a hand toward me, and in my chest, I felt an unknown energy expanding. My skin burned with a crimson glow.
"You have been marked. The curse and the blessing are now one within you."
My fingers trembled as I tried to look at my reflection in the void. My skin, once normal, now had dark streaks running through it like veins of ink. My eyes glowed with an unnatural light.
"Wake up… and survive."
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Gasping, I opened my eyes. I was back on the platform, but something had changed. I felt the gazes on me. Some stepped back in fear, others whispered among themselves.
"...She… isn't normal." — Her aura... it's not that of an ordinary summoned one.
Zesael stared at me intently, his frown deepening. His usually solemn demeanor now seemed more rigid, tense, as if he were assessing an unknown threat. He said nothing at first, just let the silence hang in the air until other angels began to move.
One of them stepped forward, his spear shining with sacred light. "We shouldn't take any risks. Something's off with her."
Another joined in, drawing his weapon with an unyielding glare of judgment. "The system has made a mistake. Her presence is an anomaly. We must purify her."
The word "purify" rang out like a death sentence. My body tensed, and the instinct to flee hit me hard. But there was no way out.
Zesael raised a hand, stopping them. "Don't act hastily. Her aura is unusual, but not necessarily hostile. We must first understand what she is."
The angels hesitated, exchanging doubtful glances.
"Understand?" one said incredulously. "We cannot allow an anomaly in the sacred process."
Zesael slightly turned his head, giving him a sideways glance. "Do you doubt the judgment of the goddess?" His voice was calm, but sharp as a drawn sword.
That seemed to silence any immediate resistance. Though tension still hung in the air, the angels held their positions, but did not lower their weapons.
I, on the other hand, could barely process what was happening. Something in me had changed, and they noticed. But what did that really mean? What had they done to me?
But then, something else happened.
Around me, the summoned began to form alliances quickly, each trying to secure a favorable position in this new world. Some had already begun testing their abilities, releasing small bursts of fire, wind, or light.
I bit my lip. I had no idea what abilities I possessed. The error in my system connection still troubled me. Had I received any blessing? Or had they left me without one?
I decided to distance myself from the crowd. The less attention I drew, the better. But before I could take another step, a metallic sound rang through the air, followed by an imposing presence.
"Silence!" Zesael's voice thundered, and everyone froze in an instant. The archangel looked at us with severity, but when his gaze fell on me, I noticed a hint of… doubt. I didn't like it.
"From this moment on, you will be classified according to your talents and abilities. You will be assigned an initial region according to your aptitudes. Those who obtained a higher-ranked race will receive special guidance." Zesael gestured with his hand, and several columns of light manifested around us. "Touch the light that corresponds to your classification, and you will be transported to your destination."
I looked around. Each of the summoned had a column of energy in front of them, each one a different color: blue, gold, green, red… but in front of me, nothing. Absolutely nothing.
My heart raced.
"What the hell is happening to me?"
Before I could process it, a message popped up in my vision:
[ERROR: Class and Race Assignment Not Found]
[ERROR: Starting Point Unavailable]
[Recalculating Location…]
Then, out of nowhere, the ground beneath my feet vanished.
A jolt in my stomach, the sensation of freefall—and then… darkness.
The last thing I saw was Zesael's expression, watching me with the same doubt as before. But this time, something else flickered in his gaze.
Interest?
[Skill: Analysis E - Granted]
[Skill: Fire Magic - Granted]
[Skill: Survival - Granted]
[Skill: Language Comprehension - Granted]