"Lloyd Barnes", shouted a man standing on a podium in front of a large assembly of students. Hearing his name, Lloyd stood up and walked to the podium. Standing beside the man and in front of a floating blue stone slab, Lloyd felt a rush of hope and excitement.
'To whatever celestial being is governing this world, please give me something good', was Lloyd's thought as he placed his hand on the slab.
Placing his hand on the slab, he felt a warm stream of energy flow into him. He felt something that was buried deep inside him unlock. As he stood there reminiscing, the instructor beside him shouted, "Lloyd Barnes, F-rank talent, Life transfer", bringing back to reality. He looked at the instructor's face which was full of pity for him.
He then slowly walked off the stage back to his seat. F-ranked talents where as rare as S-ranked talents in this world. They basically appeared once a decade or so. But his talent also was the worst one ever recorded in history as it transfers one's life force to another person upon use. As he reached his seat, his best friend Dez, a tall and lean guy said," Don't worry Lloyd, I can help you level up with my A-rank blazing knight talent."
Hearing this Lloyd gave a wry smile and said," Dez, I know you want to help me but I'm not sure your parents would be happy with that. I can just live like a normal citizen with no worries. My grades got me covered.
Dez knew this but couldn't just watch his friend just live a life of pity.
" Don't worry bro, I'll get my parents to agree no mater what", said Dez with a determined face.
They then sat in silence for the rest of the awakening ceremony.
After the ceremony Lloyd left for the orphanage where he stayed. He was 18 and was required to leave. As he was packing, he began to think about which job he could do. With his talent he could become a doctor at the cost of his life, but with his grades he could continue college with a student loan. He sighed thinking of other possibilities, as they all ended with him either in debt or dead. This world really is cruel.
After packing he went to the caretaker of the orphanage, a kind middle aged lady who looked too alluring for her age. She basically cried when Lloyd told her that he had to go that day.
"Lloyd, why don't you stay? We can still provide for you"
"Sorry Aunt Ginny, there's no way the government would allow me to stay here. You know those people are stingy especially when it comes to giving out money for free", Lloyd responded as tears rolled down both of their cheeks.
Ginny not wanting to give up said," But you can work here for a while then move out when you find a job."
"Aunt Ginny, do you not remember what happened to Tesd, you wouldn't want me in the same situation would you?"
Hearing that she quickly shook her head saying, "No ,no, I wasn't thinking straight don't mind me."
"Aunt Ginny, I'll have to find somewhere to stay before the sun sets, I've saved up quite a bit over the years so don't worry. I have enough to last till I find work."
"Okay, i believe you," Ginny said still crying, "but you have to give me weekly reports about your life starting tomorrow, okay!"
"I got you Aunt Ginny"
Once Lloyd left her alone, she cried even more saying to her self, "I have done my best my lady, now I can only leave him to fate"
After that, Lloyd left the orphanage and, standing in front of the orphanage gate began thinking, 'Where the hell would I stay now? Oh yeah I have to see Old John before I ... you know what, I'll just stay with him'
He then Hailed a taxi to a small rundown home in the city suburbs intending to ask Old John if he could stay there.
A few 20 minutes later, in front of Old John's run down house, Lloyd was thinking about how he would ask the old man if he could stay for a while when he heard something fragile hitting the ground in the house.
After entering, Lloyd saw Old John vomiting blood. He rushed towards Old John and asked, "Old John, what happened? I told you to stop eating random things from wherever you get them!"
Old John tried talking but he kept choking. Lloyd, remembering his talent mumbled, 'Just a little bit wouldn't hurt, at least my talent is not totally useful" and began transferring his vitality to John.
A blue light, also glowing in Lloyd's eyes, moved from Lloyd's body to John's. Once the green light touched John, his body stiffened for a few seconds and blood started pouring out from every pore in his body making Lloyd panic and instantly transfer all his life force to John, making the blue light thicker and move faster, all for John to just ended up vomiting even more, and this time it was actual blood.
As John was vomiting, Lloyd , who had transferred all his vitality, died saying," I'm sure he'll be able to do something great unlike me."
As soon as Lloyd s eyes closed, John began glowing and floating. The Earth around him began to rumble, causing panic in the surrounding areas, and a beam of white light shot up into the sky.
Somewhere in deep space an eye opened up, looking towards source of the white light and a voice echoed saying," Finally the destiny of heaven's final chosen has began. Hmmm, it also seems your fate is uncertain. Hahahaha." The voice laughed saying, " This is going to be interesting" as the eye closed.
At another place, Lloyd was looking around thinking, 'Where the hell am I?'
A voice echoed in the space saying," Don't worry, you're not alone."
John then appeared behind Lloyd who was searching for the source of the voice.
Lloyd, upon seeing it was John, was ecstatic for a few seconds before getting sad again.
"So we're both dead huh?" Lloyd asked to which John gave him a look of pity.
Clearing his throat John said," Oh no I'm not dead it's only you who's dead.
A dumfounded Lloyd jokingly asked, " Oh so you're like a god or something and you're here to reincarnate me or something? Yeah bullshit! "
"..."
Seeing John not answer Lloyd was shocked as it was actually true.
"Wait, so if you were like an actual god, why were you living in a run down building way back on earth?
"Well, at that time I was not a god realm but at the Transcendent realm. I was badly injured and could only exert apprentice rank strength, I know how that sounds but yes that's what happened."
"Wait," Lloyd said," I have one more question."
"Go on."
"How can a Transcendent be injured as badly as you said you were?"
"Well after I was injured my arch nemesis placed the Gluttonous curse on me which drained all my power till I was left with apprentice rank strength."
"Another question"
" Last question Lloyd, we don't have much time left. "
" So how did you become a god? As we don't have any way to become gods as far as I know. "
" Oh that part is easy, it was through you or should I say your talent. "
Lloyd gave John a look that said be serious
"Let me explain. For starters your talent was X rank not F and yes it was still Life transfer, but you could also transfer the life force of others who are near death not only yours and last but not the least who ever you transfer life to will get a boost in strength especially if it your life. So you boosted me from Transcendent to Godhood.
John could clearly see that Lloyd didn't fully believe him so he ended there