Chapter 0: The Choice

  It was an ordinary day. Cars vrooming, smoke brewing.

  It was all accompanied by the people walking and talking. Sometimes with their phones or whatnot.

  But me? I wasn't that fortunate to be on their level. Just wasn't it...

  I looked down to see my ragged clothes and tanned skin, I only have myself to blame for it.

  Walking down the alleyway, I stretched out my arms and did some basic exercise. My body was athletic until I was quarantined without any training gear.

  I deeply sigh with regret and sadness.

  I was going to be a runner, a track star. All of it went down the drain after a simple test. I didn't even know that I was being drugged with performance enhancers, or was I being framed?

  I contemplate my situation while sitting on a cardboard box. It was filled with trash bags, it didn't erase the softness though.

  Eventually, I fell asleep as the Moon overtook the Sun.

  I was woken up by the sounds of rustling.

  "Is it another raccoon? Not again"

  I grunted as I brought my body up. I grabbed a nearby stick and swung it around.

  "Good stick"

  I stepped closer to the rustling trash when I heard the voice of a kid.

  "I finally found it!"

  I saw the kid hold up a necklace with both of his hands.

  It looked like a locket necklace. Did the kid lose it or something? But the moonlight wasn't bright enough for me to look at the picture.

  I took a sigh of relief as I walked back to my sleeping spot— with the stick in hand— Just in case.

  ~~~~~

  A new day rose and I stretched my body again, scratching my back and looking at the broken mirror. I tried to style my hair using the shattered reflection as a guide, and I think I did a good job.

  I then started my daily routine which consisted of running around town and restocking my water supply.

  Then at noon, I ate my lunch— it was just Bread and Water— and finally, at dawn, I went to all the bakeries and tried to negotiate with them.

  I usually get 1-3 pieces of baked goods in each bakery, but it seems like lady luck isn't with me today. I look at the single piece of bread in my hand, whilst running back to my alley.

  Humming while jogging, is a great combo. But two misfortunes? It wasn't a good combo.

  I look at the thrashed camp. My cardboard box was taken, and the mirror was also taken. Even my bottles of water were gone.

  *Sigh*

  With this much sighing, I think I'll run out of breath soon.

  I took my midnight supper and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I had a water bottle on me so I emptied that as well. Thankfully, the bread was from that fancy bakery, Maybe it was the bakery that made the other bakeries close down. I looked down as I caught my breath after drinking.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  I sat down my back against the wall. I didn't have anything to do except remember and reminisce.

  [ Congratulations, You have been chosen to pick between two options! ]

  A weird prompt popped up in front of me. It wasn't bright, but it exuded a type of radiance. It beckoned me to pick a choice, but I wondered—

  "Why?"

  [ You have been chosen because of your L????????o????????n????????g??????i????n????????g???????? ]

  [ Please choose between the two options! ]

  ( Unleash The Fantasy )

  ( Travel Into Fantasy )

  "My what?"

  The prompt gave me an answer, but I can't see it. Was it supposed to be my emotion? It seemed like it.

  But then, I look at the options. It was vague, was it asking me to choose between unleashing something or leaving the world? But thinking about it now.

  I hovered my finger over the First Option.

  How bad was the Fantasy?

  Is it the apocalypse?

  I didn't know, nor do I need to know. I sigh again as I contemplate the two choices. Then I heard a noise, It sounded like a whirring of something.

  I peeked the corner and saw nothing. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and sat back down.

  [ Please choose between the two options! ]

  ( Unleash The Fantasy )

  ( Travel Into Fantasy )

  I decided to pick an option. The option where I would cling onto and enjoy it.

  I pressed the Second Option and a new screen popped up.

  [ The Second Option was selected, Enjoy your trip! ]

  [ Name of User has low presence ]

  [ Deletion of Name has been issued ]

  [ Q???????????u???????e??????????? shall be deleted ]

  "What?"

  My name has been deleted?

  [ User History has low presence ]

  [ Your L?????????e???g????????????a?????????????????c???????????????y?????????????? has been deleted ]

  "Argh!"

  I grunted as my head felt like it was short-circuiting like my memories were being pulled out.

  [ Unprecedented History has value ]

  [ Conversion has been applied ]

  The pain stopped, and I remembered running. Only running, I want to run... To be free.

  [ Portal is materializing ]

  [ Step into the Portal ]

  I looked in front of me and I heard the same whirring sound from before, then sparks started to emit out of thin air, drawing a circle and opening a blurred color.

  It was red, not a bad one. But the one of comfort.

  I stepped in and everything went dark.

  Before I grew unconscious, I saw one final screen.

  [ Your Lineage has insignificance ]

  [ Your H?????????u??????m??????a????????n?????????i??????????????t?????????y?????????????? will be replaced anew ]

  I felt my body change, morphing slowly and painfully.

  It wasn't that bad anymore, it was just a bit of an inconvenience now.

  I steadily levitated in this space. It was comfortable, it was warm, and caring. It made me fall into a deep slumber without any resistance.

  ~~~~~

  Waking up from what seemed like a deep hibernation, I looked around and everything was blurry— with a tint of red. But in front was a screen I was oh so familiar with.

  [ You have successfully Entered Fantasy ]

  [ Your status is partially completed ]

  I tried to open my mouth but liquid rushed inside of it... It tasted sweet.

  Began to gulp down this sweet water, and found out I was encased in some kind of hard shell.

  I formed a fist and tried to punch it, only to not feel the shell.

  "What?"

  I look at my body, only to see the ground. I circled only to hear a clack. I clenched my teeth and found out it originated from myself.

  I had mandibles???

  I was flabbergasted, why did I turn into a bug?!

  My exclamation turned into a screech. I bit hard on the shell and I was able to crack it open.

  [ Your Lineage and Kinfolk have been replaced ]

  [ Kinfolk: Insectiant Nymph ]

  I cried inwardly after seeing the screen.

  "*Screech*"

  I wasn't even able to speak normally...