Rebirth and Second Chances

Chapter 109: Decision Made

Talk of destiny and inevitability only increased the pressure of this decision and the repercussions of making the wrong decision more frightening. The choices before me was more daunting than anything I had ever faced, even more so than those decisions I made when reincarnating. At least when I was making those choices, my decisions only affected Caraid and I. Here, my choice would have repercussions that would decide the fate of an entire Universe.

How fucked up was that?

One person making a decision that would impact countless lives, races, and worlds.

It seemed idiotic to me that S-Prime would need to use this type of mechanic to change a Universal paradigm. What if I was a complete asshole? Granted, my Karmic balance would suggest that wasn't the case. But when you were faced with a decision that could screw over the Gods themselves, then things have gone entirely too far off the rails.

That was my biggest fear. I didn't think I was an asshole. But I was aware enough of my foibles to admit I had a bit of a 'hero' complex, and as my discussion with Gwyn had pointed out, I had real issues that dealt with my personality and character.

I was too human. Too prone to imperfection.

I thought I was better than others because I believed myself smarter. Pride in that intelligence was my greatest failing before I reincarnated. Now? With my new abilities? With Status Menus that quantified that intelligence, that allowed me to use level ups to increase that stat? I was afraid that those shortcomings of my personality were going to influence my choice.

<Time has not stopped while you ponder your choices,> Beleros reminded me. <Your decision is momentous, true. One even we would hesitate to make precipitously. But you must choose.>

<All life remains in limbo, trapped in the creation process, no longer able to move forward or grow. No longer able to choose their destiny.>

<Immutable. Countless inter-galactic races held in stasis until your choice has been made and System can move forward and begin implementing the new Universal guidelines and protocols.>

<The cycle of life of death. Birth and rebirth. Creation and destruction have been placed in abeyance until you finalize the process and allow the transition to occur,> Cyronax concluded.

<You do those trapped, no respite from their destiny. Not making your decision is also cruel. You allow those in torment, trapped on the edge between life and death to experience despair. System offers them the chance at salvation, a second chance. Or the end of suffering and a return the river of renewal and reincarnation.>

<Of course, you should be careful and deliberate in your selection,> Danu agreed. <But be aware that to not choose is a choice in itself. One where countless people may succumb to despair and insanity.>

<Time has not stopped. Only momentum. For it is not only those that seek the sweet oblivion of death that are bound, but also those attempting to draw their first breath. Babies in the process of being born, trapped in the cycle of pain during labor, as System waits to modify their souls before allowing the birth process to culminate and their lives to begin.>

I would never understand what those seeking world domination were motivated by. It was hard enough to make decisions for myself. Adding Vassals, House members, and staff only exacerbated those decisions. Making decisions for an entire populace was insane. This entire process was idiotic. S-Prime must have glitches if it thought I was the best person to usher in a new age for Earth.

Honestly, I knew I wasn't anyone special. I could only hope that S-Prime had factored in some variable that I wasn't aware of. Some hidden quality to my personality that would allow me to make choices that would give Earth and her people a decent starting point once the process was triggered.

"Will I be able to speak with you once this is done?" I asked Danu; Beleros and Cyronax by extension.

<There are no guarantees. But if it is a possibility. If we still exist as part of the Earth Pantheon of Gods after the transition. And if we retain our memories of these discussions, it is likely.>

<Our future duties and obligations are also uncertain, but in those future's, We can see, We continue. We attempt to bridge the divide and give council once more after the process has concluded, and we are successful in those efforts.>

Comforted and assured that with the knowledge that in some of those futures the Tuatha de Danaan continued to exist, I decided. Pulling up the System prompt, I hesitated for the barest second. Sweat and goosebumps enveloping my body as I forcibly and decisively selected not to claim the Planet.

I would not become King and Overlord of Earth.

I would not force those that inhabited this planet to worship the Sidhe Pantheon.

I would exercise those last remnants of the Democratic ideal and hope that free-will was still an acceptable practice and religious freedom would be written into System protocols.

I felt System scanning my memories of Earth. I was part of the collective as knowledge was assimilated. It seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time watching as I played MMORPG's. The Character Creation process and leveling systems that I most enjoyed.

The scan of memories was thorough and instant. Once finished System began the implementation and integration process.

[System Protocol 2349d activated]

[Initializing.]

[Planet Designation - Earth.]

[Implementing Status menus.]

[Indexing averages for all stats.]

[Creating level system.]

[Creating a class system.]

[Creating a skill system.]

[Creating a spell system.]

[Deity index created.]

[Assigning safety protocols - Children placed in 'safe' zones.]

[Zone and Class restriction applies until children reach the age of adulthood]

[Adulthood reached after 16 solar years.]

[Assigning Population over 70 to Childcare.]

[Restoring the optimal age of populace to 25.]

[Annexing Planetary Moon.]

[Annexing Planetary Bodies.]

[Assigning Planetary Moon Safe Zone, Level (0) Designation Child Care Caches.]

[Generating temporary merchants and child-care residential facilities.]

[Creating property, town, city, and kingdom requirements.]

[Removing poisoned and corrupted chemicals.]

[Restoring depleted planetary resources.]

[Activating spawn protocols.]

[Initiating Dungeon Protocols.]

[Initiating Seeding Protocols.]

[Finalizing Character Creation.]

[Initiating Race change options.]

[Initiating Tutorial protocols.]

[Creating Tutorial Zones, Level (1)]

[Standardizing weather patterns and temperatures.]

[Creating Zone Levels.]

[Populating Zones.]

[Analyzing Planet History.]

[Restoring Continent Atlantis.]

[Restoring Lost Civilizations.]

[Restoring Extinct animals.]

[World Announcement: System updated; Protocol parameters 2349d implemented.]