CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4

I became aware of my surroundings when a crisp noise filled my ears. But, I did not open my eyes. Actually, I don’t know but I can’t open my eyes right now. I was also doing my breathing slowly and I seemed to be submerged in water. I don't even know if it's water or what. For as thick liquid—so sticky to the skin—covers the whole of my body now.

I tried to move but it was too crowded in where I was now. It’s very narrow that I can’t even move my hands. I was stucked inside something I couldn't fathom. What was this all about again? And where am I? My thoughts came into halt when a realization hit me. Wait… not everything that happened to me was a dream, wasn't it?

I died in a burning hospital, hearing a voice in my mind. Then, the next thing happened was being picked up by the avatar of death, Death, himself... but a goddess named Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, interrupted our crossing into the world of the dead and fought Death to get me. And while they were fighting each other, a voice spoke in my head again explaining me stuffs about magical skills. It told me about itself that it was the manifestation of my special appraisal skill, Virtual Assistant. I called this voice Mr. Assistant and asked it to give me popcorn, sofa, and even anti-superspeed eyeglasses using a skill called Limited Horizon. That was amazing, huh! The voice also explained to me that the goddess of wisdom gave me a temporary physical body.

The battle between these two strong beings continued. Eventually, Sophia won the battle through seducing Death and she gave me a very important mission in the world she created in exchange for my resurrection. Am I correct? Those are all ridiculous. They can’t be happened. I just shook my head mentally.

Maybe, I was just overimagining things again lately. Maybe it was all a dream and I was just carried away by the animés I watched and mangas I read these past few days. But why those events seemed to be true? Wait… am I really a dead meat now?

I was startled when a familiar male voice sounded like a programmed robot segued in my mind. “Yes! Everything you have mentioned was real.”

Oh my gosh! So those were all true. I wasn’t dreaming or imagining then. I was pleased with Mr. Assistant’s confirmation. I was thrilled out of a sudden and I was so excited to open my eyes now and see the world Sophia was talking about. But on second thought, what kind of world will I enter? How I wish I will be teleported to a magical world like what I have watched on isekai fantasy animés when I was still on Earth. That thought sparked a bliss of excitement in me. I tried opening my eyes, but, I still can’t. Eh??? What’s really the matter?

“Anyway, Mr. Assistant, do you know anything about what is happening right now to me? Do you know where am I as of the moment?” I asked. An image of a computer screen suddenly showed up in my mind.

“Nothing! As of now, Mr. Assistant’s appraisal skill is not working. Do you want me to still analyze the situation? ”

“Yes, exactly! That’s what I want you to do. Please try analyzing the current situation for me. I want to know what is happening to me now and where am I exactly,” I replied.

“Roger! Starting analysis. Please wait for a moment… ”

“Sure… sure. Take your time.” Few seconds had just passed and my virtual assistant got a report already.

“Error. Analysis failed. Restarting analysis… Error. Analysis failed. Restarting analysis… Error. Analysis failed. Restarting analysis…”

Ehhh? So it was right when it told that Appraisal skill was not working at the moment.

“… Analysis failed. Restarting analysis—”

“Stop already, Mr. Assistant. Don’t bother anymore,” I ordered. I stopped what my virtual assistant was doing because I was dizzy seeing so many error words in my mind.

Anyway, curiosity hits me so hard. What was going on? Hmmm… this is driving me crazy. Nevertheless, I feel secured here. And it’s warm, huh.

“Roger!”

“I’ll just wait to see what happens to me next. It seems that I can’t do anything but to wait. Nonetheless, I feel safe here so I have nothing to worry about.”

“Copy that, Master!”

A few minutes had also passed by before I heard another crisp noise again. It sounded like a broken bone or something that was torn apart. I was suddenly startled when the noise was followed by an even louder noise. Then suddenly, I seemed to fall from a high place. I just felt pain in my ass and hips. Ugh, what was that. It really hurts.

Wait, I can move now. And there’s a sudden light striking through my eyes. I put my hands on my eyes and removed the sticky liquid on them. Slowly, I opened my eyes and was dumbfounded by what I have just witnessed. I squinted my eyes several times while my mouth was gaping because of bewilderment.

I was in a thick forest of bamboos. I looked around and was even more dumbfounded when I realized that I came from inside a bamboo. I emerged from it. It split in two which caused me to get out of there. That's why it was crowded earlier because I was stucked inside a bamboo. Woah! I just laughed because of that thought. So silly… and absurd.

I was about to stand up but I almost got slipped because of the thick white liquid on my feet. My eyes widened as I saw something I couldn't believe. My whole body was covered with slime earlier.

W-wait… do I see it right? I was even more surprised to see my chest and… the genitals of my body. I have no veil now so I can clearly see the changes that took place in my physical being.

I looked at my hands and then lowered my gaze to that part again. I blinked a few times because I couldn’t believe it. It’s no longer a clam, a flower or whatever they called it on Earth but it was already a one long and hard brown hotdog. Hotdog? What the fudge! I was comparing a hard d*ck to a hotdog. And… oh… that devil was throbbing! What was this feeling? It felt like I am in a cloud nine.

Wait, what am I going to do with it now? How to calm it down? I pinched this part to make sure I wasn't dreaming but sh*t, it hurts. How long can it be? How many inches so?

“That is approximately 8.5 inches lo—”

“S-stop it, Mr. Assistant. I’m not asking you to evaluate it!” I exclaimed, stammering.

“Copy that, Master.”

Amazing! Really amazing. And before I knew, I was smiling ear-to-ear. This was the dream I was dreaming. And it came true. It felt surreal but it’s really true. I dreamt of becoming a real man and now, I was reincarnated as a guy—a teenage guy to be exact. And the idea of ​​it made me ecstatic. I should have thanked Sophia for this blessing. My moments of rejoicing came to a halt when my virtual assistant spoke again.

“Report: To continue, please enter your name and your age," it prompted and then images appeared in my mind. There are two hologram-like boxes in my sight and it looked like these are where my name and age should be filled out.

“Okay. Give me a second. Can you please analyze this body’s age first?” I commanded.

“Copy that. Starting analysis… analysis completed…The physical body you have acquired is approximately 18 years of age,” it answered. Oh, is that so. Cool!

“Okay, I see. From now on, I am… hmmm… wait I have to think of a good name—something that my parents and ancestors deprived from me,” I said and laughed by the last line I have uttered.

Hmmm... What should I name myself? I like the one that starts with the letter ‘R’. Rayver? Rayven? Rai? Rain? Raisin? Ugh! It’s hard to think a good name that will fit this goo-looking body. Aha! I know it. Reign. Reign Thunderstorm. That sounds nice.

“Mr. Assistant, I have already came up with my name. From now on, I am Reign Thunderstorm, 18 years of age!” I happily exclaimed out of excitement.

There were letters on the computer screen quickly filling in the form. “Copy that! Registration successful. You are now officially registered in the system as Reign Thunderstorm.”

Just hearing that masculine name brought me so much pleasure. I wanted to scream and jump now but I remembered I was still naked. I need to get dressed because someone might see me here if I don’t.

“Mr. Assistant, please give me… hmmm… just wait. I will think of a nice dress that will suit me. A white long-sleeve, a red robe with a hood, a pair of brown leather boots, a pair of black pants, and a pair of black leather gauntlets. Please produce them through activating my skill Limited Horizon,” I ordered. Then, I closed my eyes to imagine the materials I needed to.

“Copy that. Requested items are possible to produce. The creation will proceed. This may take 10 seconds,” the voice replied to me. I smiled.

At first I saw bubbles in my mind until gradually things formed. And then ten seconds later, I was wearing everything I asked for. I was very happy with the outcome because just like before, Mr. Assistant really created what were in my imagination. This skill is very convenient and super handy.

“Thanks, Mr. Assistant. You really are the best,” I said happily as I closed and opened my palms repeatedly, testing the elasticity of the gauntlets it gave me. Awesome!

Now, I am going to explore my surroundings and see where should I start… in this endless bamboo forest. Ugh, I can't see nothing but bamboos. Bamboos here, and bamboos there.

“Report: You are in the forbidden bamboo forest of gods, existing on the magical world of Artesia.” That made my mouth went agape. What? I was stepping on the forbidden forest of gods? I am reincarnated into a magical world. That was so awesome!

“Affirmative!”