In a dark and desolate space, I finally open my eyes feeling the immense chilliness of my surroundings. I couldn't even put to words how it felt as I tried to look around and perceive just where I am and I could've gotten here since the last thing I could remember was me closing my eyes to sleep in my small bed.

While I was trying to think of where I could possibly be, memories of my past started flashing through, it was like watching an old movie based on some important and minor moments of my life.

I was raised by two caring but strict parents that had somewhat high expectations of how I would turn out and my three younger sisters. We lived a pretty good life and never had many financial problems as my father was a quite successful businessman and my mother worked at the ministry of finances, so things went relatively smoothly for us.

Growing up the environment around me was good and I could dedicate my time to studying, but I didn't as I found it very boring and preferred to read novels, manga, or watch anime and cartoons. If I was studying it was definitely because someone made me, but even so, my marks weren't too terrible and I could pass on fine.

Most people around me called me smart, but I never saw myself as such but didn't want to get scolded for being pessimistic so, I would usually not complain and just thank people for the compliment. 

My studies aside, I had a pretty standard life, even though my father wasn't present for most of my childhood as he would often be too busy to even look at me, but eventually, he started to be present about when I was a pre-teen, so our relationship was not too bad. With my mother, on the other hand, we were very close and I am very thankful for everything she had ever done for me, as she was the one to teach me most of what I had to understand about myself and my body while growing up. Even so 'The talk' was still handled by my father.

About my sister, we had always been on acceptably good terms, and even though we had many fights we all love each other deep inside.

As I thought of my family, some memories surged up in my mind. How I never learned to ride a bicycle, my seft-taught swimming, my inability to float, my hate for exercise, how I got bullied as a child, my hate for eating fish and seafood... A lot of things came to mind one after too many to even name.

All of this passing by in mere seconds, I could see my first part-time job at a food joint and how horrible it was and almost let a tear out as I remembered how poorly treated I was for minimum wage. This was followed by a bunch of other part times I had taken since my family moved houses quite often because of my parents.

I was just there thinking about some things as I contemplated my 19 years of life at a speed I didn't think was possible.

My eyes closed as I took a deep breath and opened them again remembering what I could be experiencing, not wanting to accept it.

Someone who never even had a real job, just a university student going through his first year. I didn't even have a girlfriend...

The situation made me feel sad, as the possibility of death grew more evident. I couldn't believe it and didn't want to, this was absurd as I was perfectly fine when I went to sleep!!!

I was frustrated and even though I understood that one could die at any moment of their life, I still felt robbed of my life... I never got to confront my father about his negligence of our family, I never got to truly make my mother proud by becoming someone, I never got to admit to any of my sisters that even though they were very annoying I still loved them, I never got to thank what little I had of friends for being there for me when I needed...

All of this just felt cheat! I was not given a chance to live my life and it ended short-lived or at least it seemed to be the case.

Having no idea of how much time passed I finally gave in to the idea that this cold and dark place was the land of the dead, as tears left my eyes.

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!" My screams resounded and echoed throughout the whole place. My frustration was slowly overcome by sadness for a long time.

Eventually, I had faced the idea and just wanted another chance at any cost.

"Even things go terrible for me, I want to at least complete my life... Please!! I'll do anything!" But as one would expect my pleas fell on deaf ears and nothing changed.

Time kept passing and I somewhat got used to just floating around without being able to do anything accepting it to be my fate as well as how the rest of my existence would go down.

That's when something out of my expectations happened.

[Welcome to the Garos Universe System, you have been chosen to be reincarnated into a new world. Please select your class.]

A floating screen just appeared in front of me and I heard a robotic voice announcing its words in my head. 

I was very surprised as I had completely lost hope of ever leaving this place but apparently, there was a way, even so, I was focused on achieving something else.

"Can't I just go back to my old world?"

[The laws of the multi-verse do not allow soul to reincarnate in the same world in the same family or time period. If you were to be reincarnated on earth, it would have to be at least 50 years into the future or the past. There are some exceptions, but none would apply to your case in particular.] The voice explained with the same tone, as my hopes that had just been renowned just died instantly after.

[In addition to that, you have been chosen to reincarnate into a specific world known as Ignus.] It added while I was still trying to digest both the factual reality of my death and the fact I could never go back.

"Is there any way I can go back to Earth?" I asked since I wouldn't lose all hope if there was a chance.

[No. Even though it is possible to travel to different worlds for powerful beings, once one has died with some exceptions which again do not apply to you, will not be permitted to enter a world where they have died. Also in Earth's case in specific, it's a world outside of any system, so it would be impossible to go there, even if you hadn't died there.] the more it spoke, the worse my expression got as I realized my chances of ever going back are none existent.

"I understand..." I say disheartened.

[Now, please select the class you would have to have in your new world.] The voice did not seem to care about how I was feeling as it continued with the same bland tone.

This time knowing I don't have much of a choice since I don't want to stay here forever, I decide to pay attention to what it's saying.

"A class? As in rogue, warrior, mage, or is it something different?" Even though I think know what it wants from me, I still ask just to make sure.

[Indeed, that would be it. There are many classes available please choose from the list.] As it said so, I could see a new screen appeared right in front of me with multiple options on it.

[Class List:

Warrior

Mage

Archer

Rogue

Sorcerer 

Witch 

Paladin

Knight 

Swordsman

Blacksmith

Alchemist 

Barbarian

Fighter

Monk

...]

The list was very long and it went on for longer than I thought, but I decided to look at every single one of the classes to chose the one I want the most. 

As someone who had played a few RPGs and read enough novels, I was familiar or at least had an idea of what each class was about, and none of them completely satisfied me, as I was starting to think I would have to settle for a class I didn't necessarily want but knew was good, that was until I ultimately found a class that was all I wanted or at least it seemed to be.

For someone who doesn't know how this new world works, it would be hard to know which classes are good.

Having found what I believe is the class I want I finally decide to ask.

"Can I know more about the classes? Choosing from the name only sounds dangerous." I voiced my worry as this was quite obviously a bad idea.

[You will not be given any more information, you will have to learn more about it once you are reincarnated. No individual would get to choose their class in normal circumstances, so what you are experiencing is already a great privilege.] The voice answered letting me know, I don't have the right to any info.

Understanding that insisting would lead to nothing, I decide to go with my gut feeling and choose the class I have been eyeing.

[You have chosen the Skill board user class. Are you sure this is your choice? Y/N

Note: You will not be allowed to change your class later.]

"Yes, I'm sure." I respond deciding that I'll risk it.

[You have acquired the Skill board user class. As a unique class only one individual can have it at a time. No one other than yourself will have it.]

[As part of the Skill board user class, you must now select 3 Paths that will work as the foundation for your subclasses.]

A unique class that only I have... That's great! At least I hope it is, but it can't be bad if it's unique.

Also, what's this about paths?

"Hum... What exactly is a path supposed to be?" I ask as I am legitimately confused by it.

[A paths are similar to oaths or maybe even quotes. They are phrases that will define what kind of subclass you will receive. They are only available for unique classes.]