"Somebody is speaking."

"Somebody is thinking. "

Gamer notice/prompt


A black void was everywhere, surrounding me.

"Is this what death supposed to be like? It's kind of boring honestly." I mused as I was floating aimlessly in what appears to be the void. "Hello is anyone there?"

I tried to speak out but nothing came out from my lips. I couldn't produce any sound. I shrugged my shoulders and went back to stare at the surrounding darkness. I did this for a while before something occurred to me. I was calm. Indeed, I was far too calm to be natural.

There was no apprehension, anger, sadness, boredom or any emotion at all, just a calm acceptance of my situation. Even the revelation of this unnatural phenomenon had only sparked the tiniest flicker of worry before it too was swept away by the calmness.

I spent what must have been hours as I attempted to force myself to feel anything. It was only partially successful. I could feel the emotion but it seemed to be dulled by whatever was happening to me.

My self-reflection had no sooner finished than a blue screen appeared before me.

[Would you like to play a game?]

[Yes][No]

I blink once, twice and then a final time at this glowing screen after it suddenly appeared in front of me.

"A game? What kind of game?" I couldn't help asking. In all honesty, I didn't expect a response yet a smaller screen appears right underneath the first one. It surprised me before I regained my calm again.

[The best kind of game — LIFE...]

I snort at the response. "Life isn't a game."

Even though I dismissed the response, I couldn't help wondering what was going to happen once I made my choice. If I picked 'Yes' would I live again freely or dance to the tune of an unknown cosmic entity, forced to obey the whims of a master I knew nothing of?

Thinking more about the response, I decide it will probably be a mixture of both. What if I picked 'No'? Would I go on to whatever the afterlife thereafter . . . or was this strange place the afterlife? If it was the latter, this was my only chance to escape this place.

I dawdled but I had made my decision. Whatever I faced after accepting it would probably be better than an eternity in this place.

With a slight hesitation and a healthy dose of fear, I chose [Yes].

The screen disappeared and light flooded my sight, blinding me for a moment. After a while, I was able to slowly gather myself and take in my surroundings.

The surrounding walls and ceilings were made out of wood and I saw wooden bars surrounding me along with several other sleeping babies in similar cribs. It hit me right at once. I glanced down and saw my small hands and tiny body. I had become a baby again! I couldn't even get mad for the unnatural calmness still was still presiding in my head.

Then, another box appeared before me.

[Welcome to the Game of Life. Let's start with the tutorial, shall we? Think or say 'next' to proceed.]

Not wanting an adult — if there was one, I presumed — to come in and hear me talking, I followed the instruction silently.

[Good job you're not a complete moron. Congratulations!]

I felt a tinge of anger before it was smothered again. This was really starting to get annoying. However, I was helpless. There was nothing I could do.

You have been blessed with the ability to live your new life as a video game. Think or say 'Stats' to continue.

I followed the instruction silently since I couldn't do anything else.

Asmodias Lustburg

General Information:

- Race: Wizard

- Title(s): [Gamer] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked]

- Level: 1 - 0% to next level

- HP: 10

- MP: 140

Statistic Attributes:

[Strength: 0.1] [Agility: 0.1] [Mind: 1.4] [Magic: 1]

Miscellaneous:

[Stat Points: 5]

These are your status. Each level you will receive 5 points. Each statistic attribute at one point is equal to best athletes at the top condition and it can also be levelled by manual activities related to the attributes such as physical exercise to increase your Strength and what not. A word of caution: just because you're a gamer doesn't mean other people are. You can use the 5 points now or you can continue the tutorial.

I considered it for a moment before I decided to save the points for later. I didn't have clue how often I could level up or how high my level could go, potentially making these free attribute points extremely valuable down the line and besides I could always increase them manually later.

You got 0.1 for Mind for making an intelligent decision.

I had to gape at the screen.

"Really it was this easy? Wait if I hadn't saved the points would it have still rewarded me or not?"

I shook off the unwanted thoughts and check my 'Status Window'. The 'Mind' had become 1.5. My MP became 150, meaning that the total MP is likely Mind x Magic x 10.

I finally realized that 'Mind' was only affecting 'MP' recovery rate. I hoped that my health could regenerate as well, following the videogame logic, but that was something for later experimentation.

My next thought hit me with all the force of a sledgehammer. This was basically the same power the protagonist of Manhwa Korean Comic: The Gamer, Han Jee-Han, had! Of course, it wasn't the exact copy but the fact was undeniable. As much as I wanted to figure it out, I decided to finish the tutorial first.

[As the Gamer, you can learn and pick up skills during your life which can be shown in your Skill tab. Say or think Skills to continue.]

"Skills," I mentally called out.

[Gamer's Mind (Passive) Level Max]: Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through, allows the peaceful state of mind and immunity to any kind of mental assault.

[Gamer's Body (Passive) Level Max]: Grants a body that allows for the user to live the real world like a game. Sleeping will heal your HP, MP and negative status effect faster.

I read the first skill and the itch in the back of my head that had persisted since realizing I had an unnatural calmness went away as I found the source of it. Mentally frowning at the skill I had no choice but to accept it for now. Maybe in the future, I could find a way to turn it off or, at least, allow me to feel something besides calmness, even though I could see its potential use in dangerous situations.

[One final thing and then the tutorial will be finished. Every gamer has one and now you do too. Say or think Inventory to access your own personal hammerspace perfect for storing items or hiding a corpse.]

Twitching at the end, I complied anyway.

A blue screen with a grid-like consistency pops up before me. Nothing is in it and I can't help but wonder as to its size. I suppose I'll just have to find out later.

Dismissing it with a thought, what I assumed as the last screen for the tutorial appeared.

[Congratulations, you have completed the tutorial on your new life. Grow strong enough and one day you may travel the stars and dimensions. Take 25xp for the completion of this tutorial.]

I glanced back at my 'Status Window' to see that I was 25% of the way to level 2. Not bad for what amounted to a couple of thoughts.

Since the tutorial finished, I needed to get the fact straight. First of all, I was supposedly a 'Wizard', no? The only people that was called wizard were those with the ability to use magic. Off the top of my head would be those found in the Potterverse and, to be honest, I was not discounting the theory as impossible because what just happened to me seemed pretty impossible.

Grumbling under my breath, I moved my horribly underdeveloped body around. If I was older, more options would be available to me but at least I was still a male. I didn't think even 'Gamer's Mind' would be able to soothe my panic if I had discovered that someone had robbed my masculinity.

A sigh that didn't belong to a baby escaped my lips. If wishes were money, I'd be a rich baby. Oh well, I had a unique ability with unknown potential to help me, complaining might be too much.

With nothing left to do, I settled down to experiment with my ability. Nothing physical, it would be a quite awkward situation if someone stepped into the room and found a one-year-old doing push-ups.

Concentrating inwards, I searched something, which was not in there before.

It took a while but a bit of soul searching resulted in my first taste of magic power. I couldn't help but be in awe because such a feeling was hard to describe. It felt like water blocked by a dam, churning, swirling, awaiting the moment that I let the lid down and unleashed it like a rampaging, unhindered wave.

Then, I tried to direct it to my body, from head to toe, limb to limb.

The sound of a chiming bell broke my concentration. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by a quickly becoming familiar sight — the system notice.

Learned a Skill!

[Magic Control (Passive) LVL 1 (0.1%)]: Magic is mysterious phenomenon that defines wizards and witches. By skillfully controlling it, you stand above others.

Effect(s):

- Block Accidental Magic random activation by 1%

- Decreases the cost of the spell by 0.50%

- Increases Magic by 1 per skill's level

"A passive skill? Not, bad. The effects are very useful. "

I did a calculation in my mind: at level 100, it would decrease the cost of all techniques by 50% and increase my Magic by 100. It was good. I was delighted by the useful passive skill.

Humming contentedly at the result, I tried to create another skill.

The mage class in all game needs a Mana Restoration skill — or something similar, I supposed. I concentrate inwards again and sunk my consciousness deep into myself. Each breath more relaxed than the last as I searched for guidance. Once more, I was interrupted by a loud 'ding' sound.

Learned a Skill!

[Meditation (Passive/Active) Level 1 (0.1%)]: (Warning: cannot use this skill in middle of battle!) To know oneself: body and mind. Meditation has been used for long years to centre oneself and for a relaxation. From henceforth, you have started on the same path as those people before you.

Effect(s):

- Passive: Increase Mind and Magic by 0.1 per skill's level.

- Active: GrantsMP recovery rate by 10% per minute.

"This is excellent!"

I thought that it would only be a simple Mana Regeneration skill one could find easily in roleplaying videogame. To give a passive bonus to both 'Mind' and 'Magic' statistics was far beyond what I had expected.

Sure enough, my 'Status Window' had been updated. However, before I could try to create more skills, the door to the room was opened and an elderly woman with shoulder-length blond hair and a maternity gown walked in. Following behind her was a teenager with casual attire; consisted of T-shirt and Capri jeans. I must say, the young woman was a looker with her brunette hair and soft brown eyes.

Apparently, this set off some kind of signal to the other babies in the room as they all started fussing about or wailing loudly.

Moving with an efficiency that spoke of long practice, the woman traveled from bed to bed; changed diapers; feed and helped the children to burp; before handed them off to the young brunette woman. The young woman then left the room with the now fed and changed baby and returned without them. Eventually, the older woman reached me. At that moment, I realized that I had soiled myself sometime before my consciousness woke up.

"Mental note to myself, situational awareness is an important thing, don't forget it!"

After the embarrassing treatment by the older lady, I was handed off to the younger one and brought to what must be a playpen of some sort. One thing I had noticed about the two ladies was that as far as I was concerned they were talking English and I was in Yorkshire — England.

After I eavesdropped on the ladies, I got two skills. They were:

[Language Comprehension (Passive) level N/A (N/A)]: The ability to speak and understand languages.

Learned language(s):

- English: 100%

[Snooping (Active) Level 1 (0.1%)]: Information is very important. Snoop everything around you if must!

Effect(s):

- Active: Listen to the words spoken in 1 m radius around you clearly

The younger woman had set me down in the playroom. Glancing around my new eco-system, I see half a dozen babies anywhere from a couple months old to around 2 years old. They were walking, crawling or just sitting around as they banged their rubber toy on the floor or to other children in their arm reach.

I decided to keep to myself, ignoring the children around my age that have made a clique group and played together. I started sorting everything in my head.

I guessed that I was in the Potterverse.

I must state that at no time did I ever consider trying to replay canon events — if this place was even a canon in the first place. I like to believe that I have an understanding of the butterfly effect; just being here was the equivalent of a tsunami if the effect was to be believed.

This was not me being egotistic or anything but I was not in the story and therefore any actions I took would change the timeline, either I liked it or not.

That was, of course, assuming that this dimension was actually the canon one and not a different verse within the multiverse.

Ding!

You got0.1 for Mind for thinking logically.

See! Even the system had agreed with me.

I mentally dismissed the prompt and continued to think about my long-term goals.

The system said that if I grew strong enough, I could travel dimensions but first I have to survive this place. So, the toughest person in this place in terms of ascending order would be Lord Voldemort and then his Death Eater. The amount of inbreeds lunatic wizards and witches that were just running around to kill anyone they disliked because the less pure the blood in one's arteries was, quite frankly, ridiculous. Regardless of the fact, they were all just stepping stones to some of the things in the 'omniverse' and if I ever wanted to live longer in not only in the near boundless multiverse but the limitless omniverse too I needed to be able to surpass them easily.

Ding!

Quest Alert!

Eating Death Eater

Duration: No time limit

The Potterverse contains some crazy people. Do you want to have an easy life? You need to deal with this inbreed lunatics. Kill Lord Voldemort and destroy Death Eater organization.

Rewards: 10,000Exp, ?

Penalty: N/A

[Accept] [Decline]

It was crazy and I should have felt horrible for planning to kill other people. However, all I could see were the rewards.

As of this moment, I was horribly weak and I had no clue where I was in regards to the timeline. I have to get used to this new body and get stronger as quickly as possible but I was limited to skills that could be easily hidden from view.

I resisted the urge to glance around; confident that I wouldn't be able to see them even if I did look, but maybe. . .

Ding!

Learned a Skill!

[Magic Detection (Passive/Active) Level 1 (0.1%)]: Your senses expand and you can feel the unnatural phenomenon all around you. To actively scan you must remain still for 60 seconds and costs 10 Pts from Willpower.

Effect(s):

- Passive Range: 1 meter

- Active Range: 5 meters

Great! That was all the skills that I could think of off the top of my head that was not totally noticeable except for the active 'Magic Detection' which I would stay away from for now. I didn't know if it was like sonar or if it was an inkling feeling in the back of my mind but I'd hold off for now.

With that done, I started wobbling —running, I planned to do— around while trying to increase my 'Stats'. Sure I fell down a few times and one of the ladies watching over us helped me up again but at the end of the day, it was worth it.

Ding!

You got0.2 for Strength; 0.1 for Agility; 1 Level for Magic Detection.

Not that bad considering all the time spent with the matrons babying us to death.

The matron put us all to bed yet I instinctively knew that I could choose to sleep for any amount of time or just not to sleep at all.

I thought that this was the biggest sign of how things had changed besides the enforced calm. It also opened up more options to train at night when everyone else was asleep. I was aggravated that I didn't gain any points in 'Mind' or 'Magic' statistics but I was working more on cardio than any spiritual gain. I supposed that's fair.

After that, I spent the night in meditation because why waste the time if you have it and the fact that I didn't know if the matrons would check during the night so no physical workouts to avoid undue suspicion?

Ding!

You got 0.1 for Mind from making a plan to avoid suspicion... You sneaky little bugger, you...

I felt like my power was trolling me . . . but a free stat point, so, who cares?

Settling down in my crib, I reached for my meditative state and spend the rest of the night, minus a few interruptions when the matron checked in or a baby got fussy during the night.

8 hours later, I felt like giving the finger to the screen.

Ding!

You got 1 Level for Meditation

That was seriously pathetic.

Why did it take so long to level up?

I contemplated about it and came to a realization. It was levelling up so slowly because I wasn't fully using it. Meditation could restore my MP, but with a full MP, it wasn't doing that. The door opened and the old lady entered the room again.

As she went about her business I had another horrible realization. I hadn't used the bathroom since I had woken yesterday. If I wanted to not stand out too much I would have to do the unspeakable. I would have to sacrifice something important for the greater good! I must soil myself to keep the illusion of normalcy around me. A deep, dark depression stole over me momentarily before the calm swept it away.

I steeled myself and did the deed. I swore never to speak of it to anyone in the future.


Months passed and I fell into a routine all the while my frustration with my prison mounted with each passing day. Yes, logically I knew it kept me relatively safe from the outside world but I had hit a plateau on what I could do while the ever watchful eyes of the matrons looked on me.

I had eavesdropped on conversations to know that I was in some place in England in 1981. Now was in early August. It meant that Dog Lord Voldy-short had just been vanquished by the Boy-Who-Didn't-Die-Yet.

After three months, these were my current 'Stats':

Asmodias Lustburg

General Information:

- Race: Wizard

- Title(s): [Gamer] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked]

- Level: 1 - 25% to next level

- HP: 10

- MP: 99

Statistics Attribute:

[Strength: 0.8][Agility: 1.5] [Mind: 3.6 (2.1+1.5)] [Magic: 27.5 (1+1.5+25)]

Miscellaneous:

[Free Attribute Points: 5]

My Meditation skill had increased to level 15 while Magic Detection was at level 10 and Magic Control had hit a plateau at level 25. Oh, I had also acquired a new skill. It was:

[Running (Active) Level 10 (56%)]: Dash like the Flash!

Effect(s):

- Active: Increase AGI by 2x

All in all, it was pretty awesome for a one year old but horrible in terms of time-spent to rewards ratio. Regardless of the fact, the orphanage was unduly restricting me and my amazing genius mind. No really look at the stats —3.6 Mind.

My Statistics gain had also gone down from lack of a proper exercise regimen.

Running was good and all but the room is tiny and the matrons have started to discourage me from running because apparently 'I was disrupting' the other children.

I wished I couldn't stand out too much so the matrons would ignore what I was doing . . . Wait, stand out! That is it! I was obviously going to be a wizard, but no one says I could have Ninja sub-class, no? Sneaking or concealing my presence would help me.

That was obviously a skill, but how to acquire it? After contemplating for a while, I walked over to one of the darker corners of the room and imagined myself blending into the background unseen by all.

Ding!

Learned a Skill!

[Stealth (Active) Level 1 (0.1%)]: There's no one says you can't become a ninja just because you're born as a wizard! A master can emerge from hiding, kill, and fade away like a ghost.

Effect(s):

- Active: 1% increase being unnoticed when hiding your presence.

Now you see me, now you don't.

I noticed that one of the matrons, the young one, was looking at me with a funny look while I crouched in the corner. I decided that the skill needed a lot of work.


Footnote:

- Chapter was fixed at August19th, 2018

- The pairing for Potterverse arc will be MC/Harem; Holly Potter (Fem-Harry), Lyra Malfoy (Fem-Draco), Narcissa Malfoy, Su Li, Patil twins, Cho Chang, Delacour sisters, Bellatrix LeStrange, vampire OC.

- This chapter followed the script of Root of Darkness by Amorphis760.