SWNOVELXO Chapter 1: A Second Chance
Somewhere in the bustling heart of the city, Max Young strolled aimlessly through the crowded streets, his gaze fixed on the screen of his phone. The video he was watching was about the animal kingdom, a subject that always fascinated him. "Did you know that a monkey can solve puzzles faster than some humans?" Max muttered to himself, his voice carrying a tone of awe. "Monkeys are incredible. They're smart, resourceful, and… just so cool. Man, I've loved animals ever since I was a kid." He chuckled, fondly recalling the countless hours he'd spent watching nature documentaries growing up.
The city buzzed with life around him, but Max's attention remained glued to his phone as he absorbed facts about exotic creatures. The streets were chaotic—horns blaring, people shouting—but he was in his own little world.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A chorus of startled voices broke his concentration.
"Watch out!" someone yelled.
"Move!" another voice screamed.
Max looked up, confused, just in time to see a flying bicycle hurtling straight toward him. The rider, a frantic figure in goggles, shouted, "Hey, look out, buddy!"
Max froze, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. The bicycle slammed into him with a force that sent him flying backward into the street. Pain shot through his body as he skidded to a halt, the world spinning around him. Dazed, the last thing Max saw was the blinding glare of car headlights speeding toward him.
"Oh no… this is it," he thought, panic washing over him.
Max opened his eyes to an otherworldly sight. He was no longer lying on the cold asphalt but floating in a white, clouded expanse. The air was serene and still, filled with a faint golden glow. Ahead of him, two men sat at a table, casually sipping tea and playing a board game.
Max blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Uh… hello?" he called out hesitantly.
The two men looked up, their faces lighting up with smiles.
"Ah, you're here," one of them said, his voice calm and welcoming. He was an older man with a long white beard, dressed in flowing robes. "Welcome to heaven, my boy."
Max froze, his heart pounding. "W-what?" he stammered, his voice cracking. "Heaven? You mean… I'm dead?"
He grabbed his hair in disbelief, pacing in frantic circles. "No, no, no! This can't be happening. I was just walking, watching a video about… monkeys! Monkeys, of all things! And now I'm dead?"
"Calm down, my boy," the bearded man said, gesturing for Max to take a deep breath. "It's all right. Everything will make sense soon."
Max stopped, inhaling and exhaling deeply to steady himself. "Okay," he said, his voice trembling. "Who… who are you guys?"
The man with the beard smiled. "I am the God of Worlds. I create and oversee all the realms of existence."
The second man, who was younger and had a wild mane of hair, chimed in. "And I am the God of Animals. I nurture and guide all creatures, big and small."
Max stared at them, his mind racing. "Gods? You mean… like actual gods?"
The God of Worlds nodded. "Indeed. And you, Max Young, have been given a rare opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Max repeated, frowning. "For what?"
"A second chance," the God of Animals said, leaning forward with a grin. "Another life, in a new world."
Max's eyes widened. "Wait… are you saying I'll be reincarnated?"
"Precisely," the God of Worlds said. "But before we send you off, you must choose your abilities and skills."
With a wave of his hand, a deck of glowing cards appeared on the table. Each card displayed a different magic skill or unique ability, shimmering with energy.
"Go on," the God of Animals urged. "Pick the ones that call to you."
Max stepped forward, his initial hesitation giving way to excitement. He scanned the cards, his eyes lighting up as he saw abilities like "Beast Whisperer," "Summon Animal Companions," and "Nature's Blessing."
"This one… and this one… oh, definitely this one!" Max said, grabbing card after card. As he chose, the cards dissolved into light and absorbed into his body, filling him with a warm, empowering sensation.
When he was done, he turned to the gods, grinning from ear to ear. "I picked Beast Tamer as my class. I've always loved animals, so it just feels right."
The God of Animals beamed. "A fine choice, my boy. You'll do great things with that power."
The God of Worlds nodded. "Then it's settled. May your second life be filled with purpose and adventure."
With a wave of their hands, the gods bid him farewell.
"Good luck, Max," the God of Animals said warmly.
"Make the most of your new life," the God of Worlds added.
Before Max could respond, the world around him dissolved into a swirl of light. He felt a rushing sensation, like being pulled through a tunnel at incredible speed.
When the sensation stopped, Max found himself standing in a vast, open field. The grass was impossibly green, stretching out as far as the eye could see. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the sky above was a brilliant blue.
Max took a deep breath, his heart swelling with a mix of awe and excitement. "Wow… so this is my second life," he murmured. A grin spread across his face. "Let's make it count."
Max stood amidst the vast fields of green grass, his eyes widening in awe at the sheer beauty surrounding him. The gentle sway of the grass in the breeze, the chirping of distant birds, and the serene blue sky stretching endlessly above filled him with a strange mix of wonder and disbelief.
"This… this is amazing," Max muttered, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. "I've never seen anything like this before. It's like something straight out of a dream."
As he gazed at the far horizon, where rolling hills met the sky, his thoughts swirled. "So, this is my new life? Not bad, not bad at all. I can get used to this."
Suddenly, a faint chime broke the tranquility. Max flinched as a glowing screen materialized in front of his face.
"Whoa!" he yelped, stumbling back a step. "What the…?!" His hands instinctively waved in front of him, as if to push it away, but the screen stayed put, hovering in mid-air.
It was a status screen, glowing faintly with golden light. Rows of text and numbers were neatly displayed, showing details about him. His name, age, species, class… everything was there.
"What is this? A video game menu?" Max asked aloud, his voice tinged with both curiosity and nervousness. He read the information carefully:
Max Young Status Screen: Beast Tamer Class
Name: Max Young
Age: 25
Species: Human
Gender: Male
Level: 1
Class: Beast Tamer
Occupation: Adventurer
Nicknames: "Animal Whisperer"
Health Points (HP): 150
Magic Points (MP): 120
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Attack: 10
Speed: 14
Luck: 18
Intelligence: 20
Normal Skills:
Animal Handling: Expertise in calming, training, and bonding with animals of all kinds.
Tracking: The ability to follow trails and detect signs of movement in various terrains.
Survival: Proficiency in finding food, water, and shelter in the wild.
Herbalism: Knowledge of plants and their uses for healing, crafting, or poisons.
Climbing: Excellent skill in scaling trees, cliffs, and walls with ease.
Fishing: Adept at catching fish using traditional methods or improvising tools.
Cooking: Capable of preparing meals that restore health and energy.
Navigation: Skilled in using maps, stars, and landmarks to find direction.
First Aid: Basic medical knowledge for treating wounds and stabilizing injuries.
Foraging: The ability to locate edible plants and materials in natural environments.
Beast Observation: The ability to analyze and understand the behavior of wild creatures.
Rope Mastery: Skilled in using ropes for climbing, binding, or creating traps.
Crafting: Proficiency in creating tools, weapons, and other useful items from raw materials.
Camouflage: The ability to blend into surroundings to avoid detection.
Ability Skills:
Beast Bonding: Deepens loyalty with animals.
Command Companion: Directs tamed beasts effectively.
Beast Summon: Calls a beast ally temporarily.
Enhanced Reflexes: Boosts reaction time.
Intimidation: Instills fear in enemies.
Stealth Mastery: Moves silently.
Trap Setting: Creates effective traps.
Hunting Instinct: Improves detection of prey or threats.
Defensive Stance: Increases defense.
Quick Escape: Improves chances to flee.
Whip Mastery: Uses a whip skillfully.
Beast Fang Strike: Mimics beast-like attacks.
Agile Predator: Enhances agility and evasion.
Savage Leap: Powerful lunging attack.
Dual Wielding: Wields two beast-inspired weapons.
Magic Skills:
Fireball: Throws a ball of fire.
Lightning Strike: Calls a bolt of lightning.
Wind Gust: Pushes back enemies with wind.
Flame Wall: Creates a fiery barrier.
Thunder Clap: Stuns enemies with sound.
Tornado Summon: Summons a vortex.
Earth Shield: Forms a rock barrier.
Water Jet: Fires a water blast.
Ice Spike: Launches icy projectiles.
Arcane Blast: Releases raw magic energy.
Spirit Call: Summons spectral allies.
Light Beam: Emits a blinding light.
Shadow Cloak: Enhances stealth with shadows.
Primal Spark: Releases primal energy to scare or harm.
Nature's Whisper: Gains guidance from nature.
Unique Skills:
"Beast Whisperer": Communicates with animals.
"Tamer's Aura": Calms and tames wild creatures.
"Nature's Blessing": Enhances abilities in nature.
"Elemental Bond": Strengthens elemental magic.
"Pack Leader": Boosts allied beast power.
"Resilient Spirit": Resists fear and control.
"Primal Fury": Temporary power boost.
"Wild Harmony": Shares power with nearby animals.
"Infinite Pouch": Holds unlimited small items.
"Beast Taming": Tames wild creatures to join as allies.
Items:
Traveler's Backpack: A sturdy pack for carrying essential supplies.
Healing Potions x3: Restores health when consumed.
Food Rations: Nutritious meals for sustaining energy during long journeys.
Notebook and Pen: Used for taking notes or recording observations.
Rope: A durable rope useful for climbing or securing objects.
Compass: A navigation tool to find directions.
Torch: Provides light in dark environments.
Weapons:
Enchanted Bow: A magical bow that enhances accuracy and inflicts extra damage.
Steel Sword: A reliable weapon for close combat.
Hunting Knife: A versatile blade for utility and self-defense.
Throwing Axes x2: Balanced axes for ranged attacks.
"Beast Tamer?" Max said aloud, raising an eyebrow. "Huh… guess that makes sense. I've always been good with animals. But what's all this other stuff? HP, MP… stats? Am I seriously in some kind of RPG world?"
His initial confusion melted into a grin. "Okay, this is actually kind of cool," he admitted. "I mean, I could've ended up in a world with nothing but deserts and monsters, but this?" He gestured to the vibrant landscape around him. "This is like winning the reincarnation lottery."
Max's gaze returned to the screen. "Level 1, though?" he said, frowning slightly. "I guess I've got some work to do. And Beast Tamer… I wonder what kind of beasts I can tame. I hope there are monkeys. Oh man, if I can tame a monkey, that would be awesome."
He reached out hesitantly, his fingers brushing against the screen. To his surprise, it responded to his touch, flipping through tabs and showing even more information—skills, abilities, and items.
"Alright, let's see what I've got," Max said, his curiosity growing with each passing second. He couldn't help but smile as he navigated through the menus. "This… this might be the start of something incredible."
With a deep breath, Max closed the screen and looked back at the endless green fields. His excitement bubbled over, and he clenched his fists. "Alright, Max," he said to himself. "Time to figure out what this new world has in store for you."
He took his first step forward, ready to embrace whatever adventures lay ahead.