Hello Tang12 here with a new novel! Hope you all enjoys it! Give me some ideas or suggestions you have!
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Caleb Thorne leaned back in his worn leather chair, the glow of the television screen casting flickering shadows across his small, cluttered apartment. The room smelled of stale coffee and burnt popcorn, the remnants of a long gaming session scattered around him.
Empty cans of energy drinks and a half eaten bag of chips sat on the table beside him, forgotten as he gripped the controller tightly, his eyes glued to the screen.
He was close. So close.
The final mission of Red Dead Redemption 2 loomed before him. Caleb had been playing for weeks, immersing himself in the sprawling world of the Van der Linde gang. He'd ridden across the plains of New Hanover, hunted in the snowy mountains of Ambarino, and even braved the swamps of Lemoyne.
He'd laughed with Lenny, shared a drink with Hosea, and watched in horror as Arthur's cough grew worse, the tuberculosis slowly claiming him. Caleb had grown attached to Arthur Morgan, the gruff but honorable outlaw who had become the heart of the story.
And now, as John Marston stood on that snowy mountain, facing Micah Bell, the rat who had betrayed them all, Caleb felt a surge of adrenaline.
"Come on, John," Caleb muttered under his breath, leaning forward. "Finish him."
The screen flashed as John and Micah clashed in a brutal gun fight. Caleb's heart raced as he mashed the buttons, guiding John through the struggle. Finally, with well timed shots, Micah fell to the ground, lifeless. Caleb let out a triumphant shout, throwing his hands in the air.
"Yes! Finally! You got him, you son of a—"
But before he could finish his celebration, the screen flickered. The PlayStation console let out a loud beep, and an error message popped up, "System Error. Please restart your console."
Caleb froze, his joy turning to disbelief. "No. No, no, no! You've got to be kidding me!"
He scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over the mess on the floor as he rushed to the console. He pressed the power button, but nothing happened. He unplugged it and plugged it back in, his frustration mounting with each passing second.
"Come on, you piece of junk! I was this close to finishing the game!"
In a fit of rage, Caleb slammed his fist down on the console. The impact was harder than he intended, and the force of the blow sent the PlayStation skidding across the table. It teetered for a moment before falling, the power cable yanking free and sparking as it hit the floor.
Caleb barely had time to react before a jolt of electricity shot through him. His body stiffened, his vision blurring as the current surged through his veins. He tried to pull away, but his muscles refused to obey. The last thing he saw was the flickering screen of the television, the error message still glaring back at him.
Then, everything went black.
A short time passed by for him and Caleb's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was a vast, endless blue sky stretching above him. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth.
He took deep, gulping breaths, his chest rising and falling as if he'd just run a marathon. His heart pounded in his ears, and for a moment, he lay there, disoriented, trying to piece together what had happened.
"What the hell…?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. He sat up slowly, his body feeling heavy and unfamiliar. He looked down at himself, his hands trembling as he touched his chest, his arms, his face. He was alive. But something was off.
His clothes were different. Gone were the sweatpants and hoodie he'd been wearing in his apartment. Instead, he was dressed in a rough-spun shirt, a leather vest, and a pair of dusty trousers tucked into worn boots.
A wide brimmed hat lay beside him, and a bandana was loosely tied around his neck. It was an outfit straight out of Red Dead Redemption 2, something a drifter or a cowboy might wear.
"Is this… heaven?" Caleb whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a clearing, surrounded by tall trees and rolling hills. The landscape was eerily familiar, like something out of the game he'd just been playing. But it felt real. Too real.
Before he could process what was happening, a sudden loud ping echoed in his mind, and a translucent blue window materialized in front of him. Caleb flinched, instinctively swatting at it, but his hand passed right through. The window remained, displaying a simple interface with text and numbers.
Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 5/10
- Charm: 4/10
-Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
Caleb stared at the window, his mind blank for a moment. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face. "No way… Is this… a system? Like, a real system? Am I in some kind of reincarnation story?"
This was the kind of thing he'd read about in novels or seen in anime, a protagonist reborn into a new world with special abilities. And now, it was happening to him.
Caleb's grin widened as he absorbed the information on the translucent blue screen. His mind raced with possibilities, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
He was in another world or maybe the same world as Red Dead Redemption 2, but real and he had a system to guide him. This wasn't just a second chance, it was an opportunity to live the kind of life he'd only ever dreamed of.
He focused on the Handgun (Lvl 1) and Rifle (Lvl 1) skills first. The system provided a brief description: Basic proficiency with handguns and rifles. Capable of handling and firing these weapons with minimal accuracy.
Caleb smirked. It made sense. He'd never fired a gun in his past life, but he'd held a few replicas at conventions and watched enough YouTube videos to know the basics. Still, Level 1 was beginner level. He'd need to practice if he didn't want to accidentally shoot his own foot off.
Next, he turned his attention to Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2). The description read, Intermediate understanding of firearms mechanics, maintenance, and assembly. Can identify common issues and perform basic repairs.
Caleb's eyes lit up. This had to be from his old job at the firearms factory. He'd spent months assembling, maintaining, and testing guns, learning the ins and outs of how they worked. It wasn't glamorous work, but it had given him a solid foundation. Now, that knowledge was part of his skillset in this new life.
"Well, that's handy," Caleb muttered to himself. "At least I won't blow myself up trying to clean a gun."
Then he noticed something else, his age. In his past life, he'd been 32, but the system listed him as 23. 9 years younger. Caleb ran a hand over his face, feeling the smoothness of his skin. No stubble, no wrinkles. He felt lighter, more energetic. A second chance at youth. He couldn't help but laugh. "Guess I'm starting over in more ways than one."
But the most intriguing skill was Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX). Caleb focused on it, and a detailed description appeared.
Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX):
This skill was acquired after death, as a result of your unique circumstances, specifically, your integration with the game console at the moment of your demise. Your memories have been preserved and organized as if stored in a high-capacity USB device, allowing you to access them with perfect clarity. This skill ensures that all knowledge, experiences, and emotions from your past life remain intact and easily retrievable.
Caleb's jaw dropped. "Wait, so I'm basically a walking hard drive of my past life? That's… insane." He paused, then grinned. "But also kind of awesome."
He focused further, and the system provided additional details about the skill levels, ranging from 0 to 5.
Skill Level System (0–5):
- Level 0: Beginner (Novice)
Possesses no prior knowledge or experience. Learns basic concepts through observation, hands-on practice, and foundational study.
-Level 1: Elementary (Basic)
Has grasped fundamental concepts and can perform simple tasks with guidance. Developing proficiency but still requires supervision for complex activities.
-Level 2: Intermediate (Competent)
Capable of performing tasks independently and efficiently. Understands core principles and adapts them to various scenarios. Actively seeking growth opportunities.
-Level 3: Advanced (Proficient)
Demonstrates high expertise, handling complex challenges with ease. Innovates within the field and supports the development of others.
-Level 4: Expert (Master)
Possesses profound knowledge and extensive hands-on experience. Recognized as an authority, excelling in problem-solving and pioneering new techniques.
-Level 5: Professional Master (Guru)
A world-class authority whose mastery shapes the very fabric of the field. Capable of revolutionary insights, mentorship at the highest level, and visionary contributions that redefine paradigms.
Caleb whistled softly. "So, I'm at Level 2 for firearms knowledge. Not bad, but I've got a long way to go if I want to be a gunslinger." He glanced at his Handgun (Lvl 1) and Rifle (Lvl 1) skills. "And I'll need to level those up fast if I don't want to end up dead in a ditch somewhere."
As he pondered his next steps, Caleb decided to check his physical attributes as well. The system provided a scale ranging from 1 to 10, with detailed descriptions for each level.
Physical Attribute Scale (1–10):
-1: Infant level
Complete lack of development, incapable of independent movement or basic functions.
-2–4: Below average
Frail, weak, or underdeveloped compared to the general population.
-5: Average adult human
The standard for an average male or female with no specialized training or conditioning.
-6–7: Above average
Indicative of individuals who actively train or possess natural talent. Comparable to amateur athletes or physically demanding laborers.
-8–9: Exceptional
Elite athletes, seasoned warriors, or individuals with extraordinary genetics.
-10: Peak human potential
A near-mythical level of physical prowess. Mastered through relentless effort, exceptional talent, or rare innate gifts.
Caleb then looked at his own attributes, and wanted to compare what he had with the description he had just read.
-Strength: 6/10
-Agility: 6/10
-Perception: 8/10
-Stamina: 5/10
-Charm: 4/10
-Luck: 5/10
"Not bad," Caleb muttered. "Strength and agility are above average, and perception is very high, must be due to all of those gaming times. Stamina's average, though, and charm… well, I guess I'm not winning any charisma awards anytime soon." He chuckled. "Luck's average too. Guess I'll have to make my own luck in this world."
He stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. He adjusted his hat and tied the bandana around his neck. "Alright, Caleb," he said to himself. "You've got a system, a second chance, and a whole lot of knowledge. Time to make the most of it."
The dry wind nipped at Caleb's face as he trudged down the dirt road, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust with every step. The sky stretched wide and endless above, painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped toward the horizon.
There was an eerie familiarity to the landscape, rolling plains dotted with scraggly trees, jagged rocks scattered like forgotten relics, and the distant silhouette of mountains standing guard over the horizon. Is this really the world of Red Dead Redemption 2? Caleb wondered, narrowing his eyes against the setting sun.
The scenery matched the Wild West aesthetic, almost perfectly so, but there was a subtle difference he couldn't quite put his finger on. The air smelled different, the wildlife moved with unfamiliar patterns, and the distant howl of a coyote seemed just a bit too haunting.
His mind raced as he followed the trail, each footstep echoing in the hollow chamber of his thoughts. If this was the world of Red Dead, he wasn't as prepared as he'd like to be.
Sure, his "Past Life Memory" skill gave him an almost USB like recall of everything he'd experienced in his previous life, but that didn't mean he was an expert on this world. He'd played through the main story, completed a bunch of character specific side missions like the strangers, and dabbled in a few activities here and there. But lore? The rich, hidden layers tucked behind random NPC interactions, obscure side quests, or the deep geography of the map? Not his forte.
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Name: Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 5/10
- Charm: 4/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)