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"Vrrm."
A mechanical hum echoed through the void.
Pale blue text materialized before Kael.
---
Detected: Attribute Selection (Intermediate).
Use: Yes / No
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"Yes."
He didn't hesitate.
Five icons appeared instantly, each distinct in design.
The first was a green beetle silhouette, radiating stubborn vitality.
Beside it, a crystalline snowflake drifted in the void, cold mist curling around it.
At the center hovered a shifting dark haze—smoke and flame intertwined, constantly changing form.
Next came a rounded droplet of deep blue water, calm yet edged with a subtle sharpness.
The final icon was a pure white feather, light and graceful.
"Bug. Ice. Ghost. Water. Flying."
He recognized them immediately.
Conflict stirred in his eyes.
"Which one…"
If he followed his instincts, the last three appealed to him most.
With Deoxys' Speed DNA granting such a massive Agility boost, he was already leaning toward a nimble species for this life.
Flying-type would pair beautifully with that freedom, mobility, and dominance of the skies.
On the other hand, Origin Pulse was a Water-type. Even though the system removed restrictions, being naturally Water-type would make the move more intuitive—more synergistic.
Then there was Ghost.
Ghost had always held a special place in his mind, rivaling Dragon in fascination.
Near-limitless lifespan.
Unpredictable methods of attack.
Even weaker Ghost-types had an easier time surviving early stages.
He had lived as a half-Ghost before.
He knew firsthand how unfairly advantageous the typing could be.
"But do I really want to repeat that?"
He had nearly infinite lives ahead.
Countless worlds waiting.
Part of him wanted something different each time.
Variety kept the journey meaningful.
His previous life had already been steeped in Ghost energy.
Even if it was optimal, he felt faint resistance toward repeating it.
Still…
From a pure optimization standpoint, Ghost meshed best with his current loadout.
He frowned.
"This is ridiculous…"
For a moment, he looked like any ordinary person stuck with decision paralysis in a shopping mall.
Then—
"Forget it."
Frustration peaked.
He shut his eyes.
Without overthinking, he thrust his hand forward and tapped blindly in the direction of the three icons.
"Ding!"
The interface vanished.
In its place, a massive silver-blue vortex formed, swirling like a rotating galaxy. A grand, cosmic presence filled the white expanse of reincarnation space.
Kael exhaled deeply.
Decision made.
No more overanalyzing.
Expectation flickered in his eyes as his translucent soul drifted forward.
The vortex swallowed him.
His form compressed into a speck of light—
And disappeared.
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Darkness.
Pain.
An overwhelming sensation of swelling pressure flooded his mind. It felt like riding fifty roller coasters back to back ears ringing, vision spinning, stomach twisting.
"…This is awful…"
A black-haired teenage boy struggled upright in bed, arms trembling as he forced himself to sit.
It was still night.
Only faint starlight slipped through the window.
He leaned against the headboard, breathing unevenly, reaching blindly along the wall.
Click.
Light flooded the room.
The sudden brightness revealed sweat soaking through his pajamas. Damp strands of black hair clung to his forehead.
His pale fingers dug into the bedsheets as pain wracked his body. His slender frame curled instinctively, consciousness wavering.
Time dragged painfully slow.
Only when dawn's first light crept over the horizon did the splitting agony in his skull begin to fade.
"Haa… haa…"
He sat at the edge of the bed, breathing hard.
"What… was that?"
The sensation had been close to death.
He swallowed, unease lingering in his chest.
"I seriously need to fix my sleep schedule. If I keep staying up like this…"
Shaking his head, he stood and walked toward the bathroom.
He needed a shower.
The sweat felt suffocating.
Click.
He locked the bathroom door and faced the mirror.
Gripping the hem of his shirt, he pulled upward—
Then froze.
His reflection stared back.
His pupils shrank.
His face went pale.
"…No way."
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
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