So I'm dead, so what?

  I hope that's not a copyright issue. I couldn't help it. Her voice keeps reminding me of that one VA whose name I still can't remember.

  "So uh, to whom do I owe this pleasure, m'lady."

  I can almost feel a fedora materialize on my head. I didn't know what to say though. I've always been nervous around people, but this isn't even a person. It's a real, honest to God, Goddess.

  "Please, try not to feel nervous around me. I'm here to help you during your transition to another world."

  Oh, okay.

  Wait a minute. That's a lot to unpack. First off, I'm pretty sure she can read my mind, or at least my emotions. Second.

  "Another world? Am I being reincarnated into a fantasy world or something?"

  "I wouldn't call it a fantasy world. It's very real to the people who live there, but yes. You have been chosen to be sent off to live in a world of magic, demons, and dragons."

  Awesome. Wait, did she say chosen?

  "Oh, I get it. So you're the one who sent "Truck-kun" after me."

  "I don't know what that is or what you mean by it. By the way, I have a question to ask you, but I don't want to be rude."

  I guess I was wrong. I thought for sure that she was the one trying to hit me with a truck to bring me here. Maybe I'm just stupid. I almost walked into traffic, after all. Aside from that though, I wonder what she wants to ask me.

  "Don't worry about being rude, if you have a question then ask it."

  "Ok then. Why aren't you sad about having died? Do you have any regrets?"

  "No, not particularly, except one." My life was boring and empty. I had nothing going for me. There is nothing I care about, except for one thing.

  "Oh, and what is that? If you don't mind telling me."

  "Cody… I don't have anyone to take care of my dog now that I'm gone."

  Cody, my spoiled princess of a dog, is the only thing in the world I care about. Well, that and breaking games for fun and kicking ass. If I'm being sent to another world though, I might be able to have just as much fun, or even more. I can't replace her though.

  "Oh, I see. That is indeed sad. I'm sorry that you, and your beloved best friend, are now separate. You may rejoice in knowing that there are many friends awaiting you in your next life."

  What's she playing at? Why is she trying to console me like that? Maybe she's used to getting people that freak out really bad whenever they end up here. What a sweet Goddess. I'm starting to understand why it feels like my soul itself is being soothed whenever she speaks to me. Speaking of which.

  "In this new world of skills and spells you are sure to find many things to entertain you. There are also many humans and demi-humans that you can befriend."

  "Ok. Cool beans. What kind of world is this exactly, a game-like world perhaps?"

  "Uh, you can say that, I suppose. This world has many unique features that differ from your own."

  While we were talking, my mind started to wander, and I looked around the room. Once I look more closely, I can see that those lights that surround this weird space are more like glyphs of some kind. They're always spinning, some slow, some fast, all moving around the space we're in. Is this fate? A game exploiter being reincarnated into a game-like world. Game Exploiter in Another World. It's got a nice ring to it, I'm excited.

  Also, I didn't even realize that I'm sitting in a fancy chair. I can't even feel it, like I'm hovering instead of sitting. I can't feel anything except the soul soothing waves of her very presence, washing over me with every word she says. I'm still in sheer awe at the sight of the pale, yet colorful, appearance of Miss.... umm. Wait.

  "What's your name... uh, if you don't mind me asking?"

  "Oh, no! I'm so sorry. My name is Adelika the Goddess of Reincarnation. It seems, I forgot to tell you earlier."

  "Miss And-i'll-like-ya? What a cute name."

  Just then, all those red colored swirls just beneath her skin rushed to her cheeks. Oh dear lord. That's adorable. Not sure if she blushed from my stupid joke, or her messing up her Godly duties or whatever, but I'm here for it regardless. So that's how a Goddess blushes.

  "You will be reincarnated into the world of Arth."

  Hilarious. That's just Earth without the (E). She seems to be getting back on track. I wonder why she was so flustered earlier.

  "You will also be given some skills to choose from, so you can start your new life with ease."

  Sweetness.

  "You will have 10 points with which you may select your starting skills. There are also weapons and spells to choose from as well."

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Even sweeter. I've played a few games like that before, and watched some anime with a similar premise. This should be a breeze with my experience.

  "A menu will appear in front of you. You may use it to select the options that best suit you."

  Just as she said, a floating game-like menu popped into existence right in front of me. There are three rows of options; skills, spells, and weapons. I briefly look through the spells and weapons menu, thinking that I probably won't pick any of them, but I still want to see what they're like.

  There's a few interesting things like the Demonflame spell, and a weapon called The Mountain God's Wrath. They both seem powerful, but they cost 4 and 5 points respectively. I won't be getting those. I'm pretty sure I can either buy or craft weapons/items that are just as strong. That's how this usually works in stories. As for the cool spell, I couldn't care less. This appears to be the type of world where you can keep upgrading your own spells to absurd heights, so I don't need it. The way these spells look screams upgrade tree. In my experience, getting powerful skills at the beginning of a game is more useful than spells in the long run.

  So, I turn my attention to the skills list. I was only going over the other menus to make sure there was nothing game breaking in them. I didn't see anything right away, but I'll go back later to double check. I always double check, just in case.

  Now then, I'll start analyzing the skills menu, and make a mental note of everything that interests me.

  2 hours later.

  I can hear the Goddess squirming uncomfortably in her seat across from me. I pay her no mind though, and keep rechecking this menu while making up scenarios in my head to figure out which is the most broken skill. I've already set aside a few necessary skills that I can't go without.

  Language fluency: With this skill you can understand, speak, and write any language in the human race. (1 Point)

  Identify: Using this skill allows one to learn the names of any human, demi-human, flora, and fauna as long you make direct contact. The information gained and mana usage will increase with each level. (2 Points)

  Speaking and understanding the language is extremely important. I half expected it to be a built-in feature that came with reincarnating, but it turns out I was wrong. Identify is something everybody needs starting out with, or you'll accidentally eat something poisonous or fight something way too strong. It requires direct contact though. That's different than I expected, I'll have to be more strategic when using it in battle. The direct contact rule shouldn't affect the gathering of herbs and resources though.

  After that I'll have 7 points left, I haven't officially selected them yet of course, I don't know if there's any take backs. I think I know what my next selection will be, though. When I was perusing the spells list again something caught my eye. Something that's potentially the most broken. I never saw a bag of holding or special skill for carrying items so I double checked the spells list. I'm glad I did. I just have to ask Miss Adelika a few questions about it first.

  Pocket Dimension: A spell that creates a portal to another dimension for storage. Anything non-living can be stored inside. Max capacity is 1,000 cubic meters. The capacity, and mana cost, will increase with each level. (4 Points)

  "You know about this world and how it works, right?"

  "Hmm? Oh, yes. Sorry. What is it you need to know sir?"

  I think she was dozing off over there. That's not very God-like.

  "This spell here generates a pocket dimension for item storage, how does it work exactly?"

  "Ah yes, that one. That spell opens up a small portal near the caster, that one can drop items and objects into and out of."

  I got that much from its description. I was thinking about this spell for a while, hoping it might be different in this new world than it is in most games. After all, I'm not going to be clicking a button to pull up a list of items that my character can only use or equip. Since this is supposed to be a real world, I should be able to do a lot more with it. My assumption is that I can drop objects onto monsters from far away.

  "Yeah about that. How far away from me can I make the portal?"

  "I believe it's a few meters, sir. The range does increase a little bit each level but not by much."

  Interesting. So I can potentially drop stuff onto an opponent with a longer range than close combat weapons. This spell might be as broken as I think it is. I need to look into it a bit more.

  "Ok. And how wide can I make the diameter?"

  "Uh. I think it's a max of 5 meters. I'm not sure if it changes."

  Another point for Pocket Dimension! This is starting to sound like a superweapon. Imagine someone dropping a 5x5 meter, or more, boulder on someone's head. That'll be like getting hit by a semi-truck at full speed, and we all know what happens after that. That's worse than a heart attack.

  "Do you know if time flows normally in the pocket dimension?" In some iterations of this spell time would stop, so food items don't rot, unless it's Rouge-like or something. If that's not the case for this one, then all the better.

  "I do believe time is unmoving in that isolated space, sir. This is one of the reasons that living things cannot enter it. The God of Space that created the spell, made it so that living things will simply phase through rather than enter the portal.”

  Hmm? That answers my next question as well, and I don't think I have anymore. I'm satisfied with how OP it seems to be.

  That leaves me with only 3 points remaining. I saw plenty of useless skills and spells. Most of the skills are your bog standard stat boosting skills. Swords master this, and perfect aim that; a few of them caught my eye though.

  Experience Gain Increase: Increases all the experience gained for the owner of the skill and all party members by 10%. This includes spell and skill experience. (3 Points)

  Stat Increase Buff: Increases the amount of stats gained during each level up by 5%. This includes health, mana and stamina. (4 Points)

  Quick Learner: Increases one's ability to learn new skills and spells, making it easier to unlock new Magics and increase the user's proficiency in them. (3 Points)

  That stat increase option is the best out of the three for boosting my... uh.. character. It's too expensive though, and I'm not about to remove the two essentials or the OP Pocket Dimension spell. Hell, with the PD spell, stats shouldn't matter right? If I can drop boulders onto my enemies, it won't matter how strong I am.

  Of the 2 remaining, Quick Learner, looks to be the best for getting a strong start. I'm a game exploiter though. I'll probably be spending most of my time spamming spells to power level them anyway. It may help with that, but my intuition tells me that it's still not needed.

  "Uh. How do I gain access to new spells in this world, Miss Adelika?"

  "First you have to obtain knowledge about how the spell works. For instance, healing magic requires knowledge about how the human body works."

  Huh. So it's useless then. Perks of having a modern education. I already know how most of the world works on a basic level. I just have to learn about the differences in Arth, and how magic plays a role in it.

  "Second. You have to max out your level in a given spell in order to unlock its higher or adjacent form. I hope that helps."

  It sure does. Exp gain and quick learner would be amazing together. That's straight power leveling. I don't have enough points for both though, so I'll grab that trusty Exp Gain. That skill has never failed me before.

  "Ok, Miss. I know what I want."