(On Hold) De Novo [BL] (New Ver.)

Prologue

Death is inevitable and one will never know when it'll come. All Ivan did was cross the road, the traffic lights indicated it was now legally safe for him to cross, even looking at his both left and right before walking across the pedestrian lane yet seconds after he was lying on the cold ground, his body numb with pain and his vision blurred.

He wasn't dead yet. Not yet at least. People started crowding his body, murmuring about a drunk truck driver, and he can't help but laugh bitterly in his head. Freaking irresponsible drivers. He was pretty sure his bones were broken, he coughed blood so maybe his lungs were punctured too. Don't drive while drunk!

Bittersweet memories of his loved ones flashed in his head and he can't help but remember the movies, dramas and animes he watched where when a character is dying, they'd reminisce everything they've done in their life that causes the viewers to cry buckets. And then the character would either feel satisfied or regretful then die.

Ivan bitterly sighed, wishing he was on the satisfied side but was unfortunately on the opposite. Much regretful because his happiest day was supposed to be tomorrow yet he won't even be alive to cherish it.

To die the day before his wedding, Ivan wonders what will his parents tell him if they meet in the afterlife. What he regrets the most is leaving his fiance. Just when he finally knew who to call home, it was quickly stolen from him by death itself.

-

One second everything was ringing in his ears and then next there was nothing. He can't hear, see and feel anything. This was it. This is the end. He can feel his consciousness slipping through his fingers.

And suddenly it wasn't. There was still nothing but he can move freely without pain. Ivan opened his eyes to a bottomless sea of space and stars. Did he become an astronaut? Confused, he scanned his body only to find that he is without constant form, only a weak shimmer of light coming from what he assumes is his center.

'Just what---?!'

Is this afterlife? Is he supposed to spend eternity as a blob with a barely-there light in the middle?

[No this isn't afterlife stupid. Neither are you going to spend eternity as that. Well, I mean you will if you don't want to accept the task or something.] A male voice uttered behind, causing Ivan to turn abruptly (can blobs turn abruptly?) and face the source of it.

It was a ... star?! Stars can talk?

The immensely bright, but not blinding, "star" scoffed and moved closer to him. Only then did Ivan see that the "star" was actually a shining white humanoid looking being. They looked like a male human except their skin, hair and everything else is literally snow white and glowing. His(?) eyes didn't have iris nor pupil. It was creepy, but at the same time fascinating to look at.

Not that Ivan can talk about having normal eyes. He's a blob!

[Stop staring. It's rude. Anyway, I am System 4547713 and you are my assigned host.] The being spoke again, but Ivan was confused. He clearly heard talking but the being in front of him didn't even open his mouth! Is he one of those people who can speak with others seeing? Vel-something? But don't those people like open their mouths a little to do that? Wait did he just say he's System insertrandomnumbers? What kind of parents would even name him that! And he's his what?!

Ivan was pulled out of his train of thought when the poorly-named guy coughed(again he didn't even move!) and glared at him, [I don't need to open my mouth to speak because first of all, this form not yet complete. And second, I have formed a temporary bond with you as a system that'll allow me to speak to you telepathically.]

"You're a telepath? So cool."

[Please straighten your priorities, Host.] The system let out an exasperated sigh.

There's that term again. "Host? What do you mean? Where am I? What happened to me?"

[Hosts are can also be called transmigrators. Though of course, not all transmigrators have systems. You are in System Space, where all idle, resting, learning, and waiting hosts are placed. You won't see other hosts and systems in this place as each pair has their own 'territory'. You got hit by a truck that nearly took your life and currently, your body is in a state of a vegetable.]

"What do you mean nearly? Can I go back?"

[Nearly because if you didn't have any deep regrets before you got hit, you would be already reincarnated by now. You can go back if you reach the requirements. Souls with regrets has a very high chance of becoming fierce souls and according to past events, that'll cause chaos among all realms if not prevented. Thus, every soul with deep regrets are given a chance to go back.]

Silence. Ivan expected more explanation from the system but there was only silence.

"...and?" Ivan encouraged for the white being to continue yet he was given a slightly-tired-and-definitely-judging expression. Well, sorry if he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed!

[In short, complete the tasks, you go back to your world alive and healthy. Fail, violate rules or die before completing tasks, your soul will be obliterated.]

"Obliterated?!" He exclaimed, shock of everything that happened finally hitting him full force and the O-word made it hundred times worse.

[Yes. You shall be sent to different worlds into different identities and complete the tasks assigned to you or your soul would have no chance to be reincarnated. Don't worry, I will be there to guide you. After you level up enough, I would be able to efficiently help you.]

Ivan wonders if souls could faint because he did just that.

---

Totally different isn't it? Hopefully I'll be able to update this coming week.

Nine