Reincarnated With A Difficulty Modifier (Re: Modifier)

Chapter 1 - Normal mode unlocked

Warmth and cold. Both and once. My body feels like it's on fire, being electrocuted and dunked in ice all at the same time. I can hear the sirens of emergency responders. Their voices are muffled and drowned by the ringing in my ears. My eyes see a faint blinking of colours, is my face covered by a thick fabric?
I can tell that I'm dying.
It feels unfair. I never got a real chance at life. Everything was either so easy I'd glide through or so hard I had to give up. School, love, work, hobbies. I either excelled or failed miserably. Being called a genius and a loser back to back for years on end took its toll. Lately I've just been trying to live, no aim except make it through the day. Even cooking and dressing. Everything, and I mean everything, was constantly swinging between smooth sailing or climbing a mountain. It would change day by day and it's exhausting.
The lights are fading. Even breathing is hard to do.
Am I still breathing? No I don't think so.
And it all fades to nothingness.

"Kay?"

"Kay..."

"Kay. Open your eyes."

A soft light breaks through the void. I open my eyes and before me stands a being that is also a constellation. Stars forming a body of absolute beauty.

"Kay. I am Libra, one of the twelve constellations. You cannot speak for you have no form at this moment. But I can sense your thoughts. I am going to ask you a very simple yet profound question.
As the constellation of balance, I have judged your passing unfair and am offering you a second chance. In a world, created by me and the other constellations, a threat looms. We cannot tell when or where this threat will appear but we know it's coming. I do not ask you to solve this problem or thwart this threat. What I ask is that you live in this world, a full life of your own making. This world has magic and wonders beyond your imagination and I will grant you my blessing of balance, a power to let you always have a fair chance.
Do you want to live again? In the world of Sammantis?"

This has to be one of those death moment hallucinations they mention in hospital dramas and horror movies. But I would love to go.

"Wonderful, Fair well Kay."

One by one, the stars that make the form of Libra fade away until only one remains. It grows in intensity and size until it surrounds me and blinds me.

I can feel the warmth of sunlight on my face and the singing birds trill softly in the air. The wind brings a sweet scent with it and whips my hair around.
As I open my eyes I am met with a sight I could never expect. Amber brown trees with leaves the colour of butter. Flowers in all ranges of sepia tones. Even the grass is a soft yellow. I spin around and come face to face with a horse!

"Excuse me, but might I kindly ask you to make way?"

A fast-spoken voice comes from behind the horse and as I step aside I see a wagon, a cart more like with a small person sitting in it. There is no doubt in my mind that this person is a gnome. I have read enough books and played enough games to know that.
I step to the side of the road to let them pass. It's really hard not to stare.

"Where you headed wanderer, I could offer a lift."

Where am I headed? Where am I?

"That would be lovely, I find myself a tad lost. Would you mind telling me where we are?"

The gnome smiles at me and sighs in an understanding way, like someone who has been in a similar place.

"It's easy to lose your sense of direction here. With all the yellows and hills. You're in the Golden Grove friend, just north of the Butterfields. I'm headed west to Kambol and you're more than welcome to hop up."

The gnome pats the seat next to him and scoots over to make room.

"Thank you!"

Stepping toward the cart I realize for the first time that I am wearing strange clothed. Rough robes and a heft backpack. Around my neck hangs a chain that goes in under my robe and I can feel something heavy and metallic on my hands. Large gauntlets dress my hands and forearms. Fitted so well that I retain most finger dexteritt but also feel the sturdy metal.

"Now friend, I know we just met but you seem a travelled fellow and I don't want to ask for any coin. But if we run into trouble on the road, can I count on you?"

The gnome eyes me up and down and just as I am to sit I feel something push at my back. I reach over and pull a bow off my shoulder.
Where did all of this come from?

"I'll do what I can." I say somewhat too distracted than I'd liked. "I'm Kay."

"And the call me Peter."

The gnome commands the horse to move and it does.
I can't look away from the bow. While holding it in my hand there's almost like a mirage over it. Words start to form like they were reflected on a liquid surface. They clear up a bit and eventually, as I focus, I can read them.

[Bow, Shortbow.
Range: 60ft
Aim: +5
Damage: 1 - 6
Special: Deals an additional 1 - 10 damage on a critical hit.]

I have to blink a couple of times to make sure this is real. Obviously I have read stories like this and played games. Is this really happening?
Peter seems to throw a worried glance now and then but isn't talking to me at the moment.
There is a slider of sorts next at the bottom of this information. With indicators showing it can go one time either to the left or to the right.
Rather than having reach up and touch the air, the slider reacts to my thoughts and ticks to the left. The information shifts slightly.

[Bow, Shortbow.
Range: 80ft
Aim: +6
Damage: 1 - 6
Special: Deals an additional 1 - 10 damage on a critical hit.]

And if I slide it to the right.

[Bow, Shortbow.
Range: 40ft
Aim: +4
Damage: 2 - 6
Special: Deals an additional 2 - 10 damage on a critical hit.]

The numbers change. By sliding to the left the left it would be easier to hit, but sliding to the right increases the damage.
Almost as if dumbstruck by this I turn to Peter with a gasp.
As he looks up at me with a startle I see numbers forming around him and he too has a difficulty modifier.