Here's Chapter 1 – The Last Smile based on your plan:
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Chapter 1 – The Last Smile
The sky was dull grey. Rain hadn't fallen yet, but the air was thick with that strange stillness just before a storm. Elric stood at the edge of the crosswalk, hood up, bag slung over his shoulder, and a half-eaten sandwich in his hand.
Just another average day.
He wasn't anyone special. No genius. No athlete. Just a sickly young man who had spent most of his short life in hospitals and second-hand bookstores. But he smiled a lot—especially when he saw people laughing. That made him feel alive, even if his own life was quiet.
Then he saw her.
A little girl, no older than five, standing in the middle of the road, frozen like a deer in headlights. A delivery truck was barreling down the street.
Too fast.
Too close.
No one moved.
Except Elric.
He didn't think. He just ran.
The world blurred. His legs burned. His lungs screamed. He tossed aside his sandwich. His bag hit the ground. He reached the girl just in time—pushing her out of the way with everything he had.
The truck hit him instead.
A sharp pain. Then… nothing.
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When Elric opened his eyes, there was no pain. No road. No truck. No sounds of traffic or honking cars. Just…
White.
An endless, glowing field of white.
He blinked.
"…Am I dead?"
His voice echoed like it had nowhere else to go. The air was warm, weightless. Peaceful in a weird, creepy way.
Then he saw them—figures forming out of the light. One by one, they approached. Not with halos or trumpets or grim reaper scythes, but in weird, familiar forms. Some wore robes. One had bunny slippers. Another was reading a book upside-down.
Gods.
Actual gods.
And they were… arguing?
"I told you not to pick from Earth's urban zone again!" one shouted.
"He died saving a child," said another, arms crossed. "I like him already."
"Should we… bring him in for tea first?" a calm one asked.
Elric stood there, mouth slightly open. "Uhh… hi?"
All heads turned toward him.
"Oh, he's awake. Look at that!" said the god in bunny slippers.
"Congratulations," said a deep, melodic voice. "You've died."
"...Thanks?"
They chuckled.
"Don't worry," said the one with glowing golden hair. "Your story isn't over yet. You did something kind in your final moments. That means you qualify for... a second life."
Elric blinked. "Wait, what?"
The gods grinned.
"Welcome to the
Here's Chapter 2 – The Gods' Offer:
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Chapter 2 – The Gods' Offer
Elric stood barefoot on clouds that weren't really clouds, surrounded by gods who looked like they belonged in an anime convention more than a divine courtroom. A long table had appeared from nowhere, filled with sweets, glowing tea, and… was that a sheep plushie?
"You seriously died by truck?" said a god with a smug grin and a sword-shaped lollipop in his mouth. "That's, like, cliché death number one in your world."
"Still braver than you, Sheep God," teased another, a woman dressed in gentle green robes with soft brown eyes. "He saved a child."
The Sheep God grumbled something and tossed a cookie at her.
Elric just stood there, stunned. "Okay, wait. What is this place? Are you… actually gods?"
The goddess in green smiled warmly. "We are fragments of greater divinities. Guardians of different laws. Each of us represents something… unique."
A tall, dark-skinned man leaned forward. His eyes glowed with gold, and his voice was like thunder wrapped in velvet. "You were chosen because of your final act. You had a weak body, yet you ran without hesitation to save someone else. That's rare."
"So… what happens now?" Elric asked, still trying to catch up.
The Sheep God sat up straight and tapped the table. "We're sending you to another world. Think of it as… reincarnation. A fresh start."
Elric blinked. "What kind of world?"
"Dangerous," said the thunder-god. "Ravaged by war. Magic runs wild. Beasts, ancient races, and… others."
"Cool," Elric said. Then paused. "Wait, not cool."
The gods laughed.
"But don't worry," the green-robed goddess said gently. "We won't send you empty-handed. You get to choose one major gift from each of us."
"Elric," said a sharp, cold voice from the back. A woman stepped forward, dressed in black and violet robes, her aura shrouded in faint wisps of skull-shaped mist. "I am the Goddess of Undeath and Memory. If you wish, I can give you the [Necromancer] Class."
Elric blinked. "Wait. Like, summon skeletons and zombies?"
She smirked. "And bind souls to your will."
"I'm writing that down in my mental notebook," he muttered.
The green-robed goddess stepped forward. "I am the Goddess of Life and Herds. My gift is the [Shepherd] Class. It offers peace… protection… and the ability to summon and bond with sacred beasts."
Then came the others:
The God of War and Fire: Offering the [Battle Monk] class, full of fiery martial arts and berserk rage.
The God of Knowledge and Stars: Offering the [Runeseeker] class, built around ancient glyphs and puzzle-like magic.
The Goddess of Shadows and Secrets: Offering the [Phantom Trickster] class, perfect for stealth, illusion, and "liberating" purses.
The God of Machines and Souls: Offering the [Machina Binder] class, which fuses magic with constructs and mechanical beasts.
Elric stared at them, overwhelmed.
"Choose later," the Sheep God said, yawning. "When you awaken in the new world, your heart will guide the class that best fits you."
"And one more thing," the thunder-god said, his eyes serious now. "You won't remember this place. Or us. Not at first. Your powers will awaken slowly as you grow."
Elric sighed. "Figures."
"But we'll be watching," the green-robed goddess said softly.
"And maybe cheering," the Trickster Goddess added with a wink.
The world around him began to blur.
"Live well, Elric," echoed their voices, fading into stars.
And then, he fell.
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Here's Chapter 3 – Divine Sparks:
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Chapter 3 – Divine Sparks
Falling felt like floating—until it didn't.
Elric's consciousness slipped through endless darkness. No thoughts. No memories. Just a strange warmth spreading through his soul, as if something ancient and kind had wrapped around him.
Then... a spark.
Like a match in the void.
Ding.
> "Initializing Soul Transfer… Connecting Divine Blessings…"
The voice wasn't robotic. It was… warm. Playful, almost.
> "Hey there, sleepy soul. You won't remember me just yet, but I'm here. Not a machine, not a robot. Just… a friend inside your head."
Something pulsed gently inside his chest. A seed of power. It didn't explode with light—it pulsed, steady and quiet. Like a heartbeat. Like… home.
> "Six gods granted you blessings. One of those will awaken with you when the time is right. Until then, dream."
Dream he did.
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In that dream, he saw glimpses of things he didn't understand.
A staff made of bones and whispers.
A flock of silver-eyed beasts walking beside a boy with kind eyes.
A giant golem with runes carved into its chest, kneeling before a small hand.
A meadow. A war. A village in flames. A soft voice whispering, "Protect them."
The images burned into the darkness—one after the other—until they became light.
And in that light…
Elric was reborn.
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Somewhere in a crumbling world, under a blood-red moon and trees that whispered secrets, a baby cried for the first time.
A child with soft silver hair and faint markings hidden beneath his skin.
A child with ears just slightly pointed—half-elf, half-human.
A child born of destruction… into a world on the brink of war.
"Is he… is he breathing!?"
"Don't panic! He's breathing!"
A young woman sobbed, holding the baby close. Her hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes were gentle, despite the pain. Beside her, a tall, grim-looking man wrapped the baby in cloth, his eyes scanning the burning horizon.
"They found us. We have to leave the capital. Tonight."
The baby yawned, unaware of the chaos.
In his soul, the seed pulsed again.
> "Welcome back, Elric."
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Here's Chapter 5 – System Awakened:
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Chapter 5 – System Awakened
The sun had just begun to rise, casting golden light across the sleepy village of Cradlewood. Birds chirped lazily. Mist still clung to the trees. And on a hill overlooking the pastures, a small boy stood dramatically on top of a wooden barrel, pointing at a flock of sheep like a general addressing his army.
"You—fluffy one—don't pretend I didn't see you push that other sheep yesterday! You're on watch duty now!"
The sheep blinked.
Elric narrowed his eyes. "Don't test me. I have connections."
Old Wolf watched from a distance, sipping his tea and smirking. "He's either a genius or insane."
"Maybe both," Mira muttered, shaking her head.
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That Night
It was quiet.
Elric lay curled on a hay pile in the old barn, using a sheep as a pillow. The sheep didn't mind. It had accepted its fate.
And then it happened.
A whisper in the dark.
> "Elric."
His eyes opened slowly.
> "Hey, sleepyhead. Finally awake inside, huh? Thought I'd never get through that foggy head of yours."
Elric sat up, blinking. "...Who said that?"
> "Me! Your system! Not a robot, not some cold machine—just your friend. Been sleeping inside you for a few years, waiting for the right moment."
"Wait… you're real?"
> "Yep. Real as the stick you keep using as a sword. And guess what? You've officially awakened your first system menu."
A translucent screen appeared in front of him. It shimmered like moonlight and felt more like a dream than code.
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[SYSTEM MENU]
Welcome, Elric.
Linked Divine Blessing: Shepherd
Class Status: Unawakened (Locked)
Title: None
Pack Count: 0
System Friend Level: 1 (Getting to know you!)
Skill Slot: Locked
Summon Feature: Locked
System Shop: [OPEN]
System Points: 5 (Don't spend them all on candy!)
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"Wait, what's with the 'Friend Level' thing?" Elric asked.
> "Told you. I'm not some cold program. You and me? We're a team. I'm not just giving orders—I'm growing with you. Help you stay alive, laugh a little, maybe become legendary."
Elric grinned. "Legendary, huh?"
> "Yup. But let's start smaller. Your first task… try herding sheep without getting chased by them again."
"Rude."
> "Accurate."
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The next morning, Elric woke with a spark in his chest. He ran outside, climbed onto his favorite barrel again, and raised his arms to the sheep.
"Alright, team! Today we train for greatness! No more headbutting each other, and you—yes, you fluffy doom ball—stop pooping on the training ground!"
Old Wolf raised a brow from afar. "...He's talking to sheep again."
Mira sighed. "He says they listen better than the kids."
"Honestly? I believe him."
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From that day, something changed in Elric. The village still saw a strange, playful boy with a big heart and bigger imagination.
But inside, Elric knew the truth.
He had a system.
He had a friend.
And he had a class locked behind fate itself—the Shepherd.
The kind that led flocks…
And maybe one day, armies.