Another day, another dollar, as they say...


    I thought as I left my dead-end job as a cashier at a gas station. Things get better; at least that''s what they say.


    I walked up to my car, gray and beat up. "At least I have a day off tomorrow."


    I searched for the keys in my pocket, digging through only to feel nothing. "You''ve got to be kidding me." I turned back around.


    I walked back inside, my manager, Josh, giving me the same scrutinizing look.


    "What are you back in here for?" He asked, his voice the same old grouchiness.


    "Back for my keys, you pig." I said, already pissed off by today. I mean, I told the woman we were out of bug spray! What the hell do you mean, "Can I check in the back?" Stupid!


    "The hell did you call me?!" He yelled as I reached to grab my keys.


    I heard the door slide open. "Sir, I''m not on du—" I paused.


    Huh?


    I wasn''t crazy, right? I was staring down the barrel of a gun, a standard Glock 17.


    I immediately raised my hands in the air, but all I heard was a bang before everything went black.


    Did... Did I just die?


    No... Haha. This has to be some sort of dream... No!


    [System Initializing...]


    [Greetings, Mark Martini.]


    What the hell is this? This has to be some sort of joke...


    [This is no joke. You have been granted sympathies by an unknown entity, and they have given you a second chance to make your life right.]


    Entity? What''s even going on?!


    [Processing question...]


    [You are being given a chance at life, Mark.]


    [Will you take it?]


    [YES] [NO]


    I stared at the two options on the bright green screen in front of me. It seemed almost holographic, like I could put my hand through it.


    This is like one of those stories, right? I''m the chosen one, get a bunch of hot babes, real strong, save the world? Of course!


    I tapped yes.


    [Processing information...]


    [PICK ONE ROUTE.]


    A list then appeared in front of me. Before it showed the supposed routes, it showed me something else.


    [Life Choices: Routes designated based off how you lived life.]


    [Philosophies: Routes designated based off your philosophical nature and ideals.]


    [Evolution: Routes granted based off evolutionary standpoints.]


    [Choices: Routes granted based off the choices you make in your next life.]


    [Destined Routes: Routes that were meant to be.]


    I stared at the list, rubbing my chin as I tapped Destined Routes.


    [Gathering route choices...]


    [Route of Greed: Coin is your life, and all you want is more. You have a sly personality and a silver tongue, able to get away with most things.]


    [Route of The Worldbreaker: Existence itself rejects you. Your powers are immense, but using them caused your soul and mind to become unstable.]


    [Route of Sin: You are vile, a terrible person. However, what does all that matter when you have all the power at your fingertips?]


    [Route of Darkness: You are hated by all, and only those of The Dark will accept you as you are. The darkness is at your fingertips.]


    That... That''s all? These are all very vague...


    I stared at the list, checking to see if I could go back, but I couldn''t. I sighed, covering my face as I examined the options.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "I don''t want to live my life like a pig... So greed is off the table... But the rest sounds... bad." I rubbed my chin, examining the display with rigor.


    "I guess Worldbreaker. How bad could it be?"


    I tapped Route of the Worldbreaker, the display disappearing.


    [Your soul will be transferred to a random body that has recently passed.]


    [Race type: Undead.]


    [Subrace type: Vampire]


    Then everything went black again, before my eyes snapped open.


    I gasped for air immediately, but it was hard to breathe. My clothes, well... This body''s clothes were disheveled and stained with blood.


    Is that a fucking knife?!


    I yelled in my mind, Looks like a robbery gone wrong, I guess.


    Gah! This shit hurts!


    I tried to stand, albeit weakly. "What kind of reincarnation is this...?" I looked down at my hands.


    They too were covered in blood. I had a darker pigmentation than my previous body. Brown skin.


    Slowly, I moved through this dark and disgusting alleyway. The knife was still lodged in my chest.


    [Blood amount sufficient. Please remove object to heal.]


    I looked at the display; it''s once vibrant green, now a deep red.


    I narrowed my eyes and took a deep breath, but even that hurt. I grabbed the knife by the handle and yelled, taking out the knife.


    I gasped for air, falling forward as I felt the wound closing. It felt weird. Strangely enough, it didn''t hurt anymore either.


    I stood up, dusting what I could get off. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my skull.


    Ow! What is this?!


    Memories. I saw memories of this body and their life. It was a male by the name of Star Black.


    A man who ran from home at the age of fourteen, living off the land by himself. He did some shady stuff, fell into the wrong crowds, and got hooked on drugs by the time he was eighteen.


    It was really bad. He tried to overdose before, but it failed. Strapped for cash, he tried to rob somebody, which I assume is what led to this predicament.


    Then, a name flashed to mind. Jade Carmine. It was a woman this guy was supposed to be meeting in a few days. Wonder what it was about?


    I still took time to gather my bearings, my clothes a mess, but I still had some little money. Credits, yes, that''s what it was. I had 45 credits.


    That would only be enough to spend a single night at an inn. Well, damnit. This won''t be good.


    I step out of the alleyway, and the new world beholds me. A world filled with steam, iron, gears, machines, and engines. A steampunk world.


    There were pipes lining buildings, and smiths working hard at their shops as others advertised weapons.


    I really am in another world...


    I know my previous life sucked, but this one actually seemed ten times worse. This guy didn''t even have a job!


    At least I was comfortable in the solace of my own apartment playing video games!


    I tried to dig through memories about this world and how it worked, but they were fogged, as if intentionally blocked out.


    "Very funny." I said sarcastically as I took off the plain white button-up shirt I had on, revealing my rather slim frame.


    "He looks awfully feminine..." I said, feeling long hair reach to my waist.


    I run to the nearest reflective surface, which just so happens to be a puddle on the wet ground. It looked like it rained recently.


    My eyes were a deep crimson, with the pupils being narrowed like a cat''s. A rather feminine face and long black hair. How''s this a boy?


    I looked up at the sky. I couldn''t tell if it were smoke or clouds I was looking at. Then I saw a patch of orange. I took a sigh of relief, realizing it was just clouds.


    Alright. Before I meet this Jade woman, I have to plan stuff out. I have no idea what my powers are, how this world works, and all that stuff.


    [Notice: Due to you being a vampire, the sunlight is harmful to you. Consider yourself lucky it''s cloudy.]


    "So direct sunlight hurts... Good to know." I said, heading to an inn. The sign was hanging loosely off a singular metal chain. The name Tormick''s Inn printed on it.


    I step inside, the place being awfully run down and dilapidated. "Ouch..." I mumbled, looking around the place.


    Floorboards were broken, and pieces of furniture were missing. It reeked of alcohol and mildew. This wasn''t the best place.


    "Welcome to the inn. Want a room or not?" A man with a gruff and rather drunken-sounding voice asked.


    He had a big nose, fair skin, and seemed to be balding. He was on the bigger side, which didn''t surprise me for some reason. He reminded me of my boss.


    "Uh, yeah, one room, please." I said, realizing just how tall he was. Given his stature, I was around 5''2. This is terrible.


    "Forty-five creds." He said, holding out an expectant hand.


    "For this rundown place? That''s a ripoff! Ten." I said, crossing my arms.


    [Vampiric Charm activated... Target is charmed.]


    The man''s eyes became glossed over, nodding. "Of course..." His voice monotone.


    I wasn''t expecting it, but I wasn''t complaining. I handed him ten credits, and he handed me my room key.


    I grin, taking it upstairs and heading into my room. Which actually looked more clean and well-furnished than downstairs.


    It had two metal pipes sticking through the floor and ceiling. I could feel the heat coming from them.


    Ahead of me to my right sat a bed, the bedsheets and blanket neatly tucked into the frame.


    Next to the bed was a small nightstand to the right. It had a lamp and a singular drawer.


    The wood seemed to resemble the oakwood back on Earth. To the left of the bed, a window stood, giving a not-so-nice view of the city street. After all, this was only the second floor.


    I just sighed, lying in bed. "Hopefully this is just some terrible dream."


    I said, finally shutting my eyes.