Novalyn had humble beginnings.
Parents who struggled each week to put food on the table (who never failed to look at their child in derision for her bigger stature).
She was never enough to a family that spent too much on things they didn't need and less on things that their family needed to survive.
She was always blamed for the downfalls of the family, as if it were her fault she got her grandmother's genes for a bigger body. As if she was the one spending on frivolous things (even though she was the most thrifty of the family, making her own clothes without patterns, sewing by hand).
Despite her parents distate for her, Novalyn grew into a woman who wanted no other like her to feel cheap or unworthy.
So she started small, making flattering clothes for fellow friends that had more body.
She wanted her friends to feel the confidence she never had instilled in her. She wanted them to feel beautiful even if they didn't fit 'normal' societies standards.
This grew into her own brand, then her own website and then one day her own company. Making women feel beautiful in a society that spent every day trying to teach them they weren't if they didn't fit in a specific mold.
Novalyn had never bought into the manga or Asian novel stories that said someone worked themselves to death...at least until she did herself.
When she woke she was floating in space, galaxies swirled around her raining sparkling stars down around her and above her stood a group of beings with numerous animal features.
"Novalyn you have been chosen." They spoke with one voice. "You have lived your life selflessly, building up others in a world bent on breaking them. We have seen great potential in you."
A woman with dragon like horns and scales down her arms stepped forward waving a hand over the space before her. A hologram of a world appeared before them, looking much like the diagrams of Pangea.
"Long ago, our race sought to explore the stars settling on new planets in new dimensions. One such world is what inspired many a story on your Earth, the Beastworld. Our population started with the equal amount of females and males, but when a dimension traveler infiltrated our world they left decimation behind when they returned for their old dimension. The lands fractured." With a wave of the clawed hand, the hologram world shifted still one mass but fragmented long cracks running through each continent. "The males survived but the females were left with a very limited population. It was at this time the rulers of our race changed the genetics of the remaining population to protect the remaining females. A female could bond to multiple males, but a male could only be bonded to one female all his life."
A man with long gold hair and leopard ears stepped forward, "These bonds were treated respectfully at first, but with each generation the females grew more and more entitled. Females would break bonds not for their safety but for trivial things. Unknowing that with each unfair broken bond future generations would suffer."
Another man with a crocodile tail and long neon green hair spoke, "Our bonds are sacred things, the closest to soulmates we have. It doesn't just affect a male, but splinters the soul of a female who unjustly breaks the bond."
Novalyn's eyes widened in surprise, thinking back to all the manhuas and novels she read with selfish females. Then she remembered something they said before.
"Does this mean some of the characters from the stories I read actually exist?"
The dragon lady nodded regally, "Some of them exist in some shape or form, not always the same tribe they were in the stories or hold the same name."
"And the dimension travelers?"
"Warnings we allowed to slip through time. Some like the infamous Bai Qingqing will arrive in the Beastworld and cause havoc. The Beastworld will not survive another splintering with the current populous as it is." The dragon lady's eyes narrowed into slits, "She must be kept from bonding with powerful males. If she returns to her Earth the chasms will widen and the Beastworld could very well be destroyed."
"Are 5 stripes all it takes to make a dimensional jump?"
The beings shook their heads and the leopard eared male spoke, "The number of stripes are limitless. The levels are harder to access with each higher one. It takes a level 100 to make a dimensional jump. Unlike the stories, a dimension hopper can no longer easily return to their world they must be bonded to at least one level 100 beastman to do so."
The crocodile man spoke up, "The Beastworld is still connected by way of our operation systems. Level 50 and higher automatically unlock access to this network. Level 100s rarely stay in the Beastworld but instead rejoin our race in traveling outer space."
The dragon lady spoke up, "Before the first devestation females had a beast form as well. This is where your role comes into play." She waved her hand over the planet hologram and it changed to a carousel of mythical beasts. "You will be given a Level 50 beast form. Your selection is limited to beasts that represent prosperity, as this will be your mission. You will bring prosperity to the Beastworld."
Novalyn made a checklist in her mind.
System [✓]
Reborn Status [✓]
Possible Superpowers [...]
Novalyn moved forward and swiped through the beast form options she was given.
Dragon, typical.
Unicorn, too dainty.
Phoenix, seen it before in fanfictions.
Koi Mermaid, unique but not something she saw herself being.
She kept swiping past Dragon Turtle, White Tiger, Pixiu, until she settled on one she'd never seen before in fanfiction or original novel.
The Qilin. Represents good fortune, harmony and prosperity.
She selected in and perused the abilities that would come along with the form.
Appearance: A dragon head with deer-like antlers, scaled deer-like body and tail. Physically very strong, durable and agile.
Titles: Guardian of Peace & Balance, Peace Bringer
Abilities: Teleportation, Air/Water Walking, Essence Reader, Dream Walking, Telekinesis, Elemental Control, Fire/Ice Breathing, Divine Fertility
Skills:
- Divine Judgment Energy Surge: Any opponents caught in the surge will be judged depending on deeds and evil %, their penance or punishment up to Qilin
- Blessing & Luck Bestowal
- Serenity Voice: Can calm wild beasts and agitated beings with their voice
- Monetary Manipulation: Can create, duplicate, extract ect any form of currency (does not work on system points)
- Healing Touch: Works on self and others
Novalyn didn't need to doublecheck if she wanted any of the others, she knew her decision immediately.
"Your permanent beast form has been selected. We will update you with missions via the system network. You can earn points by completed them and buy items from our intergalactic store. Prepare to be transferred to your new world, Novalyn."