THE RANDOM WORD CHALLENGE

Chapter 3

After I finished my little day-dreaming session, I started to focus again. I wanted to close the message that I had open to see the next one, and the message window closed, leaving the other two. I was surprised by how easy it was to do and how convenient it was not to have to talk the commands. This navigation system was going to be very useful in the future.

It would have been awkward to have to talk out every command I needed to use. That would have been doubly awkward in a crowded room, but I pushed that thought aside now. I focused on the new window, and I started to read the next message, narrowing my eyes.

RULES AND CONDITIONS

Anything goes. Each chosen must compete till the last team is standing.

Woah, that is intense. So this is some two-way royal rumble in random land. The thought makes me chuckle, and I closed that alert. I couldn’t help feeling excited, my previous life had been just one thing after another, and this was my chance for payback.

I hoped some of the players responsible or involved with my past injustices would be here. I wanted to get even with them and the one who planned it all. That window closed, and I looked at the last one left in my display.

SAFE AREA

This 6x20 Area is a player safe zone. There are other zones, but they are rare and inside dungeon areas only. Each player only has access to his or her location. While in this zone, you are invisible to dangers in the world.

As I closed the last alert, I sighed. That should have been the first alert or the second, but not the final one. At least now, I could concentrate on what I was doing, but what was I supposed to be doing?

I decided opening my inventory was the best place to start. It was a simple gridded screen with five blocks that appeared in that pulsing blue color. Three slots had items, and I selected the Elena Fairy.

The image fell off the grid and hit the ground, making a white cloud of smoke. Small coughing sounds were coming from the cloud that swallowed me. I tried to wave my little hands to clear the smoke, but it filled the alley, making me start to cough.

“Jeez, do they need to be so dramatic?” said a small female voice.

Soon the smoke cleared, and I could put a face to the voice. I was pretty surprised, and I’m sure my little kid face barely hid my excitement at seeing the small female fairy.

“You’re Elena?” I asked excitedly.

“The one and only! Welcome to the new world. My job is to help you along the way with understanding this new place. I will also be your pack!”

As Elena finished, a backpack five times her size appeared on her back from a cloud of smoke. This accessory made the cute fairy look ridiculous, but the weight didn’t seem to bother her. I also noticed that my transparent inventory grid had gained fifteen more slots.

“So, do I have stats or a character sheet?” I ask, thinking about games I had the chance to play in my previous life.

“Oh, yes! You can open it to see your stats and skills. There is also a MAGIC book to show you the spells you have learned. Just think what you want to open, and it will appear.”

Well, this seems pretty basic so far. I closed my INVENTORY and tried to open my equipment, but nothing happened. The grid closed, but no new screen appeared, so instead of asking, I ran through a list of names until I stumbled onto AVATAR, and another screen of me appeared. This mirror-image was my first time getting a look at my new self.

My avatar’s hair had mud in it, but I could see dirty blonde strands through the dirt. I was not very impressed with the look as small kids go. The sack I wore was in the chest slot, and the string was in the belt slot. Both had low durability, but they were above half.

“Well, I didn’t start with much.”

“Elena tried to tell you that it would be all random, but cheer up! Destiny is on your side this time, and you’re going to beat Fate this time! With Elena’s help, it will be no problem!”

“What do you mean, you told me? Are you one of the goddesses from before?”

“Yup, that’s me! I look different normally, but my true name is Seraphina, the goddess of Transmigration. Though in this world, we appear different.”

“So, do you know my name?”

“Woah Woah, Woah, Elena can’t tell you that. Unless you can remember, only the gods know those, and I’m not a god right now, just your partner! Let’s look at your stats. Maybe there is a surprise waiting there for you,” Elena spoke hopefully, but she looked a bit apprehensive.

“True, let’s see if I have some unique passive talent or a cool skill. Maybe my stats are jacked!” I scrolled down past my view of the dirty child I was and looked at my stats.

I hear Elena let out a sigh beside me, and I started to scan the page. As I reviewed everything, my heart fell from my chest to my feet. Well, so much for that dream, and what the hell was that name?

LEVEL: 1

HP: 10/10

MANA: 5/5

NAME: Ragmuffin

AGE: 7

CLASS: Street Urchin

STATUS: Hungry

WEALTH: Non-existent

HOME: Do not have one

STRENGTH: 1

CONSTITUTION: 1 (+5)

COMBAT: 0

SPEED: 1

???: 0

MANA: 0 (+0)

???: 0

???: 0

ABILITIES

SKILLS:

Dammit, what kind of cruel joke is this? I was just broke and beat down my entire previous life, and now I was looking at a blank sheet. No Skills or Abilities, no boosts, nothing. Were there going to be people waiting at every turn like last time? Was this just going to be an elaborate repeat of my past life?

“Cheer up. Elena thinks this is all for a reason. Don’t be sad. Destiny gave you her blessing, and it’s one of the most powerful ones you could get. So don’t give up yet. Destiny has a funny way of guiding you to the exact places you need to be at the right time.”

“I guess so. I was hoping for too much and got those dreams snatched,” I laugh as I stand back up.

To hell with Fate, I will make it to the top, and I won’t let anything beat me down this time. Not even this ridiculous name, it felt like Fate’s last grab to do something to bother me.

I lived my last life as a poor and defeated soul. I’ll find you one day, Destiny. Until then, I, Ragmuffin, shall make my way in this new, disjointed world.

Poor Man Reborn: As Poor Kid