Having ceased my cathartic, yet ultimately fruitless wailing, I eventually turn my gaze back to the System prompt. For the record, I still feel stupid, but I have more pressing things to deal with than my negative IQ.

  What's my reward, Oh Glowing Box?

  I'm preparing myself for disappointment, but maybe I'll be lucky, and I'll get a tutorial on how to progress from here on out?

  I find it a little odd she didn't use my name, but being called a hero gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling, so I'll let it go.

  Reading the Gods' intended fate for me, I find myself shaken - I-I'm a person, not a factory line! I don't want to sit here, being a personal armory for everyone who walks in here! My dream is to be a Hero, and I have no intentions to give it up!

  This... is a lot. The whole lot of Gods, quite frankly, sound like jerks, and I don't really want to be their personal toy box. That said, I need to get stronger to do anything with my grievances.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  And that leads me to my first challenge. Looking at her heart-shaped sigil, I wonder out loud, "How do I control my mana?"

  I think I've worked it out. When I "exhale," I release mana from my body, which is why I was barely making progress back before I realized I'm a mana vacuum. And, following my logic, if I breathe at the sigil...

  Like a key to a lock, the mana and the sigil click together, and, with a flash of light, the quest is finished. Not another moment passes before my full System blooms open, taking up my whole field of vision. Overwhelming lights abound, in glaring intensity, and just as I wish it would calm down, most of the screens flee my field of view, leaving just one; my Status:

  Reading this over, more than a few things catch my eye, and not in a good way. Firstly, what does it mean my name's lost? My name is ?●■□?●, like in the stories...

  A moment passes, and I realize I'm zoning out. My core is stated as damaged, which I have no doubt is a problem. But how would I fix it? Find a blacksmith?

  Do I have any abilities? A box slides back into view, showcasing my Skills. It seems the System now responds to my questions, which is helpful.

  Standard Dungeon stuff, it seems. Expanding territory and making monsters. I'll be using these soon, I'm quite sure.

  Traits next, please! The Skill box is replaced by a new one, and I start feeling a little giddy, browsing through menus using my mind! My situation isn't ideal, but this is exciting!

  So my System is pink because of Strawberry? Honestly, I'm not surprised, considering that she seems to have claimed the colour. Mana Transpiration is by far my highest leveled.. anything, really. But that's good, in my books. I have no interest in dying again.

  I while away some time getting acquainted with my various menus, before eventually, I rip the bandage off, asking for, "Quests."