Asperia Online: A Dragon Reincarnation LITRPG

Prologue

My voice came out as a guttural growl as I tried my best to maneuver through the forest, however obstructed by the trees as I was, it was a tormenting pace, not at all eased by the sounds of barking dogs, heavy thumping of footsteps, and energetic clamor of a charging mob echoing from behind.

I had smashed my face into a tree as I was unused to the movements of my own legs, and was promptly sent tumbling downhill, rolling agonizingly and unable to help the constant sharp pin-pricks of pain that hit from the feeling of crashing upon sticks and stones.

At this point, I would have taken harsh, belittling words over the granite and twigs, which were somewhat accurate in the expression, and certainly did not lack the ability to break bones.

The pale moon hung brilliantly overhead, and instantly, there was a loud, charging howl, one that would have me believe it was that of a mythical, half-man, half-wolf, except I would never allow myself to believe in such superstitions. Despite the absurdity of my own scenario, in my heart, I had never been born as a superstitious person, nor had I ever claimed to be a religious person. I could not count the numerous times I had poked fun at my friends for falling prey to the endless chain messages and threats that instructed they shared a story or would otherwise become haunted. Similarly, I had lost count of the numerous times I had crashed at home on a Sunday, my fingers rapidly tapping against either a controller or keyboard, as my friend and roommate would give me the stink-eye as he departed for Church. On the few occasions that he had convinced me to go along, a handheld would be my companion, followed closely by six or seven of my best game cartridges or devices, and it was a feat of willpower to ignore the disbelieving looks and mutters.

Perhaps, this was some form of divine retribution for my misdeeds. I considered it nothing more than an act of punishment for the completely impossible scenario I had currently embroiled myself in.

“There it is!”

“Get it! Slay the creature!”

For only a trickster deity could be responsible for me asking such the question:

How does one fall asleep in the middle of class and wake up as a dragon?

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Never before in my life had I been happier that I had fallen off a cliff and into a waterfall. Amending that, never had I been glad to fall off a waterfall and drift off to god-knows-where. I coughed and spluttered, water coming out of my lungs as I had eventually found myself washed up ashore, my lungs, for the most part taking in deep, tired heavy breaths, in and out.

I stared at my form, finding it oddly irritating, and yet epic at the same time. Long, plain, gray leather wings outstretched from my arms, reaching about five foot each in length. My feet were still straight and bipedal, but they were now curved, dark and scaly, likewise had the top of my form changed to a broad, plain gray scale, going all the way up unto that manner till my neck.

Oddly and inexplicably, my head was still human, as I caught a glimpse of my wet black hair and blue eyes through my reflection in the water.

I wouldn’t blame the townspeople for having chased me, both confused and terrified as to what I was supposed to be, before a mob had rounded up with pitchforks in no time, and decided to kill the ‘thing’.

I wouldn’t blame them, but that did not mean I was not pissed at them. Not a single second had been wasted when they had seen me, and amidst the screams and screeches, none of them had even allowed me a second to explain myself before they started attacking.

Ting-Ting!

My eyes snapped open as I heard the sound, and I glanced around my immediate surroundings and found seemingly no one, until, a speck of silver light appeared just outside the edges of my vision, and it came forth, growing larger and larger until it eventually manifested as a tiny, sprite-like creature, with large dragonfly-like wings, a flowing scarlet gown, purple hair, and purple eyes.

“What the hell?”

Never in my life had those three words sounded so articulate to my own ears.

Ting-Ting!

“Hello! I’m Ting! Your very own personal sprite and guide to your new life here in the world of Asperia! I am here to instruct you and facilitate you through your reincarnation process in order to ensure your optimum satisfaction –”

“Woah, woah – hold the phone. Reincarnation? New life? What in the world are you talking about?”

The manner in which she clasped her hands and her eyes seem to light up seemed to go brilliantly. “Ah, you must not be aware. The world of Asperia takes in people who have died from their different worlds, thanks to the great magic of the All-Sage.”

I was not at all happy with this progression.

“People who have died?”

“People like you.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “You’re insane. I’m not dead. I am right here.”

“Yes! You are here, in a new body and in new surroundings, questioning me, a magical sprite!”

Had it not been the fact that her eyes looked so innocent, I would have truly believed that she was being sarcastic with me. However, she didn’t even look like someone who was capable of understanding sarcasm, so I let it slide.

“I was in Professor Damascus’ Philosophy class… I remember him droning off about Aristotle and Plato and I put my head on the table to sleep… how in the world did I die?”

“To find out, you need to meet the All-Sage. He knows everything, sees everything, past, present, future –”

“All right, all right. Where do I meet this guy?”

“The All-Sage resides at his temple in Astra.”

I rolled my eyes. “And where exactly is this Astra?”

“I… I do not know. The only thing I am knowledgeable about is how to complete your reincarnation process.”

I sighed. This was getting more and more convoluted by the second. I needed to figure out what was going on and get back home to a large slice of pizza, some beer and sit down in front of my PC where things made sense.

“Fine, fine. Complete the process and let’s get this over with.”

Reincarnation Process Initializing…

My eyes went wide as a floating diagonal box appeared with the words neatly written on it. My eyes twitched as I looked at the font.

“What is this?”

“It is the signal that your reincarnation process is starting –”

“Not that,” I interrupted her sharply, “I meant that – why in the world is it written in Comic Sans?”

She gave me a blank, misunderstanding look that made it clear that she did not for even a brief second know what I was talking about.

“The font – uh, handwriting style – why is it like that?”

“… Should that really be what bothers you? Not the magic box but the style in which things on it are written?”