"The best way to win is to avoid a fight"

- System U.P.S.

The world began to spin, smearing the lights around into solid rings. As they grew denser, they gave the impression that I was not falling anywhere at all. Am I falling? And what were those lights?

There were more and more questions in my head. At some point, the essence of what was happening was lost, and then a clear awareness of oneself. I just lay there, watching the wide rings before my eyes.

Rings...? I blinked. One, another. There was something uncomfortably shining in his eyes. I sighed, rolling over onto my side. Maybe get some more sleep...

Hello player 67665.

You are in a game controlled by the U.P.S. system. To get to know the world and its rules, you are entitled to a personal consultant. Activation of communication with him will occur only after your consent.

- No, - I muttered, brushing away through the slumber from someone's importunate voice. - I want to sleep.

Player 67665, please get up from the ground, you are lying on an anthill. Sleeping in such a place can adversely affect your health.

For some time what was said did not reach me: what other anthill? What it is? I want to sleep, not...

An image of a small mound appeared in my head, completely covered with swarming black dots.

- Fuck! he yelled, jumping up and tearing his eyes.

Jumping away, I clumsily stumbled over something and fell face down into the grass. A bright flash of pain pierced my head, and I screamed, clutching the bridge of my nose.

Player 67665, congratulations, you hit your nose. Please note that after the transfer, your body coordination is impaired and you should move with increased caution. Since this is your first injury in the game, we are ready to compensate you in the form of Minor Healing. After two seconds, the pain will go away.

Please accept the request to activate the connection with your personal consultant.

Without understanding anything, I looked around, trying to see who was talking to me in such a polite and metallic tone. But there were only trees, bushes and ... not a single anthill!

- You fucked me! I yelled into the void.

We apologize to you for our innocent prank. You must understand that sleep will only delay your development in our wonderful game. The first hours after the transfer, you will suffer from drowsiness and weakness, but as soon as you feel hungry, the negative effect will pass.

Please reply to your personal consultant, he will inform you further...

- Can you speak normally, clown?! What the hell are consultants?! Where am I and where are you?!

To contact a personal advisor, say "Yes".

I realized that it was useless to argue. Although I wanted to answer something malicious, I judged sensibly: apparently, something like a robot, a program, is talking to me. If I want to be rude, then I need to communicate with a live operator. This information was in my head from somewhere, even though I couldn't remember... Nothing at all...?

- Yes ... - sighed.

Activation of communication with the Consultant.

Please do not answer out loud again, the conversation is in your head and the Counselor cannot hear your verbal responses.

3...2...1.

- So, brat, listen here. My name is Ivan, and you are my last companion for today, writing which I am on vacation. Perceptive?

This voice sounded more like a human voice than the previous one, although the manner of speech and words were rather strange in places. But - finally a living interlocutor.

- No, it's you, fuck, listen here! - I started. - Judging by your bazaar, you don't know how to speak human, but I'll try! I don't know who the fuck you are and what I forgot in the woods, but you bitch will regret it very soon. If you don’t want it to be more painful, I advise you to come here right now and personally explain everything to me! Do you understand me, Ivan?

There was a strange sound at the other end of the wire. Something clicked. A noisy breath, whistling and prolonged. Ivan was silent for a while, then exhaled again. And spoke:

- Trochy forgetting, razumyu. I can't hear you, answer mani mentally. And start with Ivan. Then I will hear.

With a tired sigh, I sank down on the grass and buried my face in it. Cool. A little damp. So good...

Do these idiots really think I'm going to believe this nonsense? Answer mentally? I don’t know how, but I clearly knew that no one else can read minds. But for fun, you can try. I formulated the simplest idea in my head:

- Ivan, you're a faggot.

- Wonderful. You learn quickly, usually snot lie down and yell for a long time. But I can’t hear, for mene tse yak ... Fish on land open their mouths, - Ivan exhaled again indicatively. - Do not rush. Now you're angry, but that's okay. Ring out, after the transfer, people feel bad. Give Sobi two minutes to lie down, come to your senses. Breathe.

Something uncomfortably went cold inside of me. Do they hear my thoughts? Did they implant something in my head?.. But what? It happens? Such nonsense in the head, it starts to crack every time I try to think ...

- Don't stress. Toby is important, I know. This is fine. Don't think about anything, listen to my voice, - exhale again. I suddenly realized that Ivan was smoking. - Yes I smoke. Good, what do you remember take. Inodi different with the brains of writing transfer. I see that your face is not ours. Japanese? Chinese? It doesn't matter, don't think about it. Now there is no memory in tebe. When transferring, you forget everything. Recall will not work. There are two memories in your skull. I'll show you the latest. You will understand a lot.

I did not have time to answer. I immediately had a cramp. Before my eyes flashed, a bright light blinded, but after a couple of seconds the picture began to appear. Quite another.

It's me. Short black hair. A couple of curls are highlighted. I rest my hand on the cracked mirror. Narrow eyes with an almost black iris. His nose was badly broken, and his thin lips were bleeding. The knuckles were scraped off, there were traces of blood on the rings. A strange pendant hangs from the neck... No. It's a key on a chain. Covered in rust.

I cursed. Obviously a mat, but could not understand what kind of language. He loosened his tie, which was tied around his neck, obviously not for the sake of a serious look. It doesn't go well with a defiantly green, decoratively torn T-shirt.

He turned his head, continuing to examine the reflection. Everything floats before your eyes. I see a broken lobe. The earrings are no longer there. He swore again, but already somehow tired. I lean towards the sink. Makes me sick.

A stream of vomit mixed with blood. In the same place, in the sink, I saw a piece of a tooth. mine.

I was on something. There was no pain, nothing at all. Everything is like someone else's. He clearly knew that the effect would soon pass. He lit a cigarette. Inhaled the acrid smoke.

The phone rang. He picked up the phone, chuckling for some reason. And from there came a voice. He did not speak any language I knew, but I understood every word.

- I'm offering you a deal. I know that the door of your apartment will be opened soon. And I know what they want from you.

I thought about hanging up, but restrained myself. For some reason, the voice was mesmerizing.

- We both have to admit that you're at an impasse. And it wasn't your fault. It's their fault. All of them. You yourself know this clearly. You didn't have a chance to be someone good, and you screwed up. Regular result. What do you think?

Answered briefly. But he clearly agreed.

- Oh, Japanese. I haven't helped the Japanese for a long time. My deal is simple - you die. For this world, you will die. Don't get angry, you were going to jump out of the window anyway. Right? But if you agree to my proposal, I will give you a new life in return. A brand new one that you never knew. You will have a chance to make things right. Be who you want to be. Start anew in a new world, clearing your mind and soul. No more running away. Hide. You will lose your personality, the pride of the Japanese, your own philosophy. But you get a chance to be happy. And for this you do not need to do anything. Just agree, right now. And everything will end.

There was a crash from the front door. And I agreed. The last thing I saw was the bright lights of the windows in the house opposite.

I blinked. Again in the same field.

- Ivan, so they helped me?

- Yes, friend, you are in a new world. Here you have a chance to start all over again.

- What's in the second memory?

- It's still early. You are not ready. But this is the reason why you lost everything in your past life. Taper breathe. There is a bag under the tree on the right. In New there is a book.

- I hardly understand you.

- Bag. Knyga.

I looked towards the nearest tree. And it's true. In a small bag, through which a rope was threaded, lay a book. Small, quite imperceptible in weight. Without waiting for Ivan's instructions, he opened it to the first page. The yellowish paper is scribbled.

Untitled 67665.

Level 1 (0/10)

reputation: 0

Strength: 3

Agility: 5

Intelligence: 2

Perception: 5

Luck: ???

???: ???

Title: Useless

Class: Wanderer

- What is it?

- The new world where you were sent is a game. Your stats are based on how you are in life. That is, not duzhe smart, ale fast. Everyone's perception is always drunk. Luck is hidden, you never know, lucky you are not. Schaub raise the level, toby it is necessary ...

So, maybe Ivan continued to pour boiling oil of incomprehensible and, in general, unnecessary information into his ears, but he suddenly stopped.

I heard a noise, right in my head. And a distant female voice:

- Everything, Vanya, played and that's enough. Come on, go on your vacation already, I'll see you in a week.

- All right, goodbye. Hi, good luck ... - Vanya said sadly for some reason, and I winced again from the stream of strange sounds in my head.

For some time nothing was heard, and I calmly looked at what was written in the book. So these numbers are what I was in life? Too bad I remember too little to agree or argue. If everyone's perception is five at first... five is the norm? So my intellect and strength are low. That's all I could understand without Ivan.

Again there was a noise in my head, and this time I could not stand it, swearing. The girl's voice muttered something indistinct:

- So, where did I stuff the energy drink... Not here... Not here... God, this work is too tiring. Here, I found it. Phew. BUT? Ouch!

The girl fell silent. I, too, was silent, not knowing how to make it clear that I was still alive and waiting for at least some clues.

- Uh-uh ... - the girl sounded embarrassed. - Hi, 67665... I'm sorry if you heard something unnecessary, I didn't know that Vanya... Ahem, or rather, it doesn't matter. I'm your personal consultant, my name is X. Contact me X. First of all, tell me what have you already been told? I see you are holding a diary in your hands. Is everything clear with him?

- X, I thought my consultant was Ivan.

- Ivan the janitor replaced me while I was leaving. But we say no more about this. Please answer the questions so I can help you get started.

Janitor?.. Something vaguely suggested that they were not very important people. Maybe that's why he spoke to me so confusingly.