'What was that voice? I don't see anything....'
I shift from one foot to another, glancing around nervously. I didn't even register what that voice said for a moment, bewildered by the fact that sound could even travel in a world without any air. There is no medium for it to travel using.
Did the sound come from within myself then? Inside my head? A second voice? That.....seems outlandish, but I'm willing to bet that it is plausible. Even so, that's not even the strangest part.
'What exactly is this....Mulligan? Apparently I have become a player of it. From the number, there is most definitely more than 40 million players...."
That's too fantastical. Am I inside some sort of novel or TV show? As I was pondering this, the voice spoke again— undoubtedly from inside my head.
[Player 40,345,678! Check the screen infront of you to see your current status, blessing and curse. You can also view your avatar and equip items to strengthen yourself!]
Huh? What is this? A game? Who even created this absurd thing.....am I having hallucinations? What's a blessing and curse? For some reason, I have an ominous feeling about this. It seems way too good to be true. A second chance through a battle royal? Do I even have a chance of winning it?
There is only one way to find out.
Eventually, I turned my gaze forward and as the voice said, there was a screen infront of me. Said screen was holographic and floating just a few meters away from me. How magical.....this definitely isn't modern technology, that's for sure.
The holographic screen was about 16 inches along, about the same size of a MacBook back on earth. At the center was my avatar, standing still, with an expressionless face. It looked exactly like me— long raven hair, grey eyes, ordinary facial features and porcelain skin, that was both dry and malnourished. This was my first time seeing a mirror of myself in awhile. As a homeless man, I didn't really care about how I looked, but I do feel slightly self-conscious at the moment.
'How curious.'
I reach out tentatively and let my index finger brush against the holographic screen. Indeed, as expected, the avatar moved. I was able to examine myself, by using my finger like a mouse. It was honestly amazing and I felt like a little child again, who just received a new toy for Christmas. Eventually, I stopped letting myself be distracted and turned my gaze towards what's below— there were things written below my avatar. I read them in my mind.
Name: —
'Huh? No name?'
Just as I thought that, the holographic screen changed slightly and a keyboard appeared. I immediately realized I have to write it my name. It doesn't have to be my real name too, it seems. Kind of like a username, but really.....im not creative enough to come up with an interesting username.
'Morgan Mornet.'
That was my name.
Name: Morgan Mornet.
Player: 40,345,678.
Status: Alive (Severely malnourished)
Equipment: [None]
No equipment.....and I'm alive? I thought I died. Hmm, so this really does mean that after death, there is some battle royal for a second chance in life? There is no doubt about it. That seems to be the case now. Truly. It's a shame I don't have any equipment. Honestly, im not even confident if I can even survive, but I will have to try. Who knows?
Let me read the rest....
Blessing: [Knight Of Madness]
Blessing Description: [You are a Knight Of Madness, filled with fury and wrath towards the world. Unleash it to deal devastating damage to foes.]
What...? What is this "blessing"? That description sounds ominous. Hmm, from what I have gathered, is a blessing a supernatural power? Something each and every participate of The Mulligan receives for the battle royal? Interesting....
Let's see the attributes.
Blessing attributes: [Fury Counter] [The Zone] [Probability Pryer]
Fury Counter: [The angrier you become, the stronger you grow. Additionally, you can store your Fury and unleash it at will in a single attack.]
Counter: [0/1000]
This one.....really suits my tastes. Huh, it's almost similar to how I used to act back when I first became homeless. I really was a spiteful fellow. Was this "Knight Of Madness" the same? Is one given a blessing depending on their personality? That's interesting....
The Zone: [You are capable of achieving a state of clarity between insanity and sanity. Your physical attributes increase by 15 levels in this state, while also enhancing the Probability Pryer attribute and stores Fury for Fury Counter rapidly.]
Sounds intense. Im quite excited to try this out, but this screen isn't really specifying how exactly im supposed to reach this state. Does it happen naturally? Hold on, isn't this similar to "The Flow" state? Can't everyone reach that state of mind? Ah, forget it.....I'll understand later. Hopefully.
Probability Pryer: [You are capable of witnessing the probability of outcomes before they happen.]
This one is a little mild, but at the same time quite overpowered. Huh, what does this have to do with Madness, wrath and fury? Not that I'm complaining though. [The Zone] also enhances this attribute, perhaps being able to see probability of outcomes minutes or even hours before when in that state.
Hmm, now for the physical attributes....
Physical attributes: —
Power: [1/1000
Speed: [3/1000]
Stamina: [1/1000]
Agility: [6/1000]
Flexibility: [4/1000]
Balance: [6/1000]
Accuracy: [1/1000]
Pitiful. Well, what did I expect? I'm short, thin and lack experience. Atleast [The Zone] attributes adds 15 levels. I have to be content with that. It also seems like we thousand is the limit, or is it? Maybe I'll find out once I reach the limit of what I can achieve physically.
Now....The curse. Let's see what this is. I looked down and begin reading the rest of what the holographic screen had to offer. As I did, my eyes turned wide.
Curses: [Deserted Soul] [Frenzied Madman]
Deserted Soul: [You are unable to maintain a relationship built on mutual trust and respect. All those whom you cherish and cherish you in return is destined to abandon you.]
'W–what...? That is cruel....'
No, actually, is it though? I have been abandoned by everyone I loved and cherished already. It makes sense that would end up as my curse. At the same time, the curse doesn't seem to be a direct weakness to my power either. Isn't that a good thing? Atleast, it seems that way. Let me check the second curse....
Frenzied Madman: [You are constantly on the verge of Madness, existing in a state between sanity and insanity. You risk losing yourself forever, the less in control of you're mind you become.]
Huh....isn't this similar to [The Zone]? It seems there are risks involved for using such powerful attributes, after all! Dammit, I knew it was too good to be true! Regardless, it isn't that bad. As long as I maintain my sense of self, i should be fine and I don't need friends anyway! What's the point in making allies in a solo battle royal?
I continue reading the rest.
Blessing Potential: Celestial.
Blessing Mastery: Apprentice.
Celestial? Isn't that something divine? Does this mean that my blessing has potential to become divine? A Celestial? That's....
I feel excitement grip my heart. For the first time in years, I feel hopeful about the future.
It seems my mastery is still in need of improvement, however. That's to be expected. This is just the beginning, after all. In the future, I'll be able to grow stronger and stronger. Maybe I do really stand a chance of winning The Mulligan....
No! Don't get arrogant. Who's to say that I'm the only way with Celestial Potential? There is over 40 million players in the Mulligan. 40 million unique Blessing and Curses and I have to be the last one standing. It won't be easy. No matter how lucky I am.
Titles: —
Achievements: [0/1000]
So, I can also get Titles and Achievements. Like in an actual game. That's awesome, if you forget about the fact that I'm betting my own life on this, of course! What's up with the creator of this game being obsessed with the number thousand? Is it really the limit of the amount of achievements in the game? I doubt it.
Seeing nothing else below the achievements Counter, I glance at what's directly above my avatar. It was the Player Counter.
Player Counter: 119,403,209
Kill count: 0.
'T–that many players?!'
I was stunned. How am I gonna be able to kill them all? Well, they didn't specify I have to kill them all. No, wait....if that is how many players that is currently participating, just how big will the arena itself be? This definitely isn't normal. Just what is The Mulligan?
Then, I suddenly hear the familier voice in my head once more.
[Players! The five minutes of preparation is over! Let the games begin!]
Suddenly, the darkness stirred and the ground began to shake beneath me. I wasn't sure of what was happening, but I was filled with terror. With nothing to hold onto, I immediately fell on my knees to the ground as the shaking grew more and more violent. Then I....
Blinked.
The shaking stopped. I was suddenly able to feel oxygen entering my lungs again, the soft breeze, the brightness of the sun illuminating the sky and the hardness of the rock I was sitting on.
"Where....am i?"
I look around in bewildered. My eyes opening wide at the realization of where I was.
I was inside a lush jungle.