Darkness.
That is all I can see.
What is happening? How did I get here?
I try to speak… but no voice comes out. What's going on…?
"Initiating transformation."
What was that? Is someone there?! I can't see anything.
"Complete scan finished. Subject confirmed. Cause of death: severe blow to the head."
Dead…?
Did I die?
I don't remember anything… Help me…
"Initiating preparation."
Preparation for what? What's going to happen? What's going to happen to me…?
"Preparing new body. Please choose."
Choose… what?! Tell me where I am!
"…Please choose."
I don't understand anything. I can't move. Everything is still dark.
I feel cold… This is horrible… I don't want to feel cold!
"Cold resistance acquired."
What…? Who are you? What are you?
"Your personal assistant. Please choose the qualities of your new body."
New body…? What you said before… does that mean I died?
"..."
Answer me!!
"Please choose the qualities of your new body."
Enough! I want answers! …I wish I knew—
"Encyclopedia acquired."
Encyclopedia…? Why would I want that? Just shut up!
I'm hungry… I want to eat…
"Skill 'Devourer' acquired."
Skill…? I don't understand anything…
Ugh… my head hurts… how annoying…
"Skill 'Pain Immunity' acquired."
Pain… what…?
…Wait.
I'm starting to remember…
I… died…
No—someone killed me.
I remember now.
They didn't need me anymore… so they murdered me.
They kept hitting my head until I died…
Those damn bastards…
I hate them… I hate them so much!
"Skill 'Lord of Hatred' acquired."
Why am I getting skills…?
Tell me… do you give them to me based on what I think?
What's going to happen to me…?
Those people… humanity… they disgust me.
In my next life, I don't want to be a slave.
I want to forge my own life.
"Understood. Species selected: Shapeshifter."
Shapeshifter…?
Does that mean I'll be reborn?
"Affirmative. Preparation complete. Acquired skills: Cold Resistance, Pain Immunity, Encyclopedia, Devourer. Species: Shapeshifter. Do you wish to proceed?"
…I'll reincarnate…?
Yes… I want to continue… please…
"Understood. Initiating process. A welcome gift has been granted to the host. Good luck in your new life."
Sunlight filters through the leaves.
The wind gently sways the branches.
"Where… am I?" I said, looking around.
"You are in the Dark Forest, home to monsters like yourself," a voice suddenly replied.
"What…? Where are you? I can't see you," I asked, turning my head nervously.
"I am your personal assistant. Unlike you, I do not possess a name," the voice said.
"You're inside my head… This is confusing… Are you the same thing I heard in that dark place?"
"Correct. I function as your assistant and as the skill you selected: 'Encyclopedia.'"
"Encyclopedia? What does it do?" I asked, curious.
"'Encyclopedia' is a knowledge-based skill that allows you to obtain information about creatures, materials, and anything that is not human."
"I see… So I can ask about anything, as long as it's not a specific human?"
"Affirmative."
"That sounds useful…" I muttered.
"Hey, you said this place is home to monsters, right? Isn't it dangerous for a human?"
"Yes. However, you are not human," the voice replied.
"What do you mean I'm not human?" I asked, clearly confused.
"You selected the Shapeshifter species. Therefore, you are a monster."
"A monster?!" I shouted, rushing toward a nearby pond.
When I looked at my reflection, I saw a purple, amorphous mass.
"What the hell is that?!" I yelled.
"That is you," the voice replied calmly.
"But I'm disgusting… I look like rotten food!" I said in horror.
Then I remembered something.
"Wait… you said 'shapeshifter,' right?"
"Affirmative."
"Then I can take any form?"
"Affirmative."
"Then I want to be human!" I said immediately.
"Impossible. Insufficient DNA," the voice replied.
"DNA? What do you mean DNA?" I asked, even more confused.
"The Shapeshifter species requires the DNA of the target species in order to transform. Without DNA, transformation is impossible."
"…How much DNA do I have?" I asked nervously.
"Calculating… Result: zero."
"How do I get DNA?" I pressed.
"Normally, the species would need to obtain DNA voluntarily. However, thanks to your 'Devourer' skill, consuming any biological tissue will be sufficient to register DNA."
"I see… When you say 'biological tissue,' you mean…"
"Affirmative: skin, blood, hair. Any will suffice, as long as it comes from a living being intelligent enough to be considered a thinking entity."
"Alright… So I just have to eat, and that's it?" I asked uneasily.
"Affirmative."
"Hm… Do you know where I can find biological tissue?"
"No."
"You could try not being so robotic… By the way, do you have a name? Or a gender?" I asked.
"I do not possess a gender. You may call me whatever you wish," the voice replied.
"Alright… I'll treat you like a guy, then. I guess I'll start moving and look for something," I said, making up my mind.
And so, he began moving in a random direction, searching for any sign of life.
Thus begins the adventure of a boy who can take any form he desires.