For most of my life, as far as I can remember, I've always been a bit different.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't some distant outcast without friends or anything, but I definitely had very specific things about me that didn't really seem normal, or at least not normal to me.

For instance…I can't get burned.

At least not by a regular fire, that is. I first found this out when I was around 12, when I happened to be leaning back on a stove that I didn't realize was turned on.

It was an electric stove, so there wasn't any fire but the problem was that I couldn't feel the supposed heat that was coming from the stove.

Technically I felt some level of warmth, but not enough to alarm me that the stove was on.

It wasn't until the sleeve of my shirt actually caught on fire that I realized the stove was on.

My hand was on the stovetop for a while, and I felt nothing. Honestly at the time I thought it was kind of cool.

Though, of course, my parents did not find it all that cool. The doctors, firefighters, and everyone involved said it was a miracle I didn't suffer any severe burns to my hand.

Anyway, since that time, I've experimented a little here and there with candles, lighters and whatnot, and never once have I been burned or even felt any discomfort.

I've been scared to really try some intense flames, but yeah, that's one thing.

Something else, and probably the oddest thing…is the fact that I feel…wrong? Yes, that's it, I feel wrong.

Like I am not supposed to exist in the way that I currently exist. It's all a bit muddled, but for my entire life, I've always just felt wrong.

I've even seen doctors about it once or twice, but they all hit me with the same old political therapist talk.

Just random stuff about finding hobbies, or it's perfectly normal, or whatever else they could come up. Either way I don't really remember since none of it ever stuck.

But that was many years ago, during my middle school years. Now, I'm a sophomore at university with no real direction in life or any real passion. Just kind of existing and riding this train called life in all my wrongness.

Another somewhat weird thing for me was my ability to remain calm; nothing in life ever seemed to really phase me.

Even when my parents died, I stayed calm. I was definitely heartbroken, deeply torn, and struck with grief, but calm, nonetheless.

Pretty weird.

Well, that was pretty much my life until it happened. The damn apocalypse.

It was a normal day, with nothing out of the ordinary happening on campus, and I was chilling in my dorm room between classes.

Was just getting ready to go get something to eat when the next thing I knew, there were words popping up in my line of sight.

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Welcome to the Multiverse.

Which brings me to my current situation. I am a 5'9 black guy from America, standing in a weird all-white room, face to face with a man.

A man who was covered in some type of metallic skin? Or was that armor? I don't know, either way, this is all a bit weird.

The weirdest thing of all, though? Is that I still feel calm? For some reason, I am still strangely calm. I think almost anyone else would be freaking out at least a little bit in this situation, but me?

Just…calm.

Normal me, I guess.

Even when the being in front of me finally started speaking, I was still calm. Maybe it was because he sounded like a regular person.

Not sure.

Then the straight metallic man started talking.

"You're an interesting case. Roughly 98.7% of the intelligent species on this Planet are currently experiencing some level of mental incapacitation, while most others are barely keeping themselves together, yet you are surprisingly calm.

"Still it is to be noted that ten minutes were allotted for the intelligent species of this Planet to come to terms with this situation. Though I suppose you are one of the ones who do not need that time.

"Of course, you may still choose to make use of the remaining seven minutes as you please. What is your choice?"

"I don't need the seven minutes."

I thought about it for a bit, but I couldn't think of a reason not to continue with whatever was going on, so onwards it is.

"Excellent. Now for introductions, please refrain from asking questions at this time."

The strange metallic man paused to make sure I understood and continued after I gave him a faint nod to show my understanding.

"You are currently in a space where the intelligent species of a newly integrated Planet are introduced to a few basic things before being sent into their Tutorial, where they would then have to overcome whatever challenges present within.

"This Tutorial is designed to get you accustomed to the Multiverse and the type of things you can expect in the world once the Tutorial is over.

"The Planet you are from will also be going through rather sweeping changes as it grows and expands from being exposed to an infinitely purer and more powerful form of 'energy.'

"This process will be completed by the time the Tutorial is over.

"Now…something that you will come to know soon enough is that in this new world, strength is everything. Laws and rules are determined by the strongest fist.

"You will need to decide for yourself if you want the power to dictate your own actions or be placed under the protection of those with power.

"For now while you are in this Tutorial, the initial choice has been made for you.

"You will be given a weapon as a means to both defend yourself, and attack others. Though it will be up to you to choose what path you wish to tread down.

"Which brings us to one of our final topics. Elemental Affinities. I will not go into detail about what they are but know that barring a rather extremely rare few, no affinity will inherently make you stronger.

"It is up to you to use it to grow. Not everyone will possess one but remember that the path of Elemental affinities is only one path of many.

"But for you and all the others entering this Tutorial, it is the only path that will be freely checked for as part of your integration. Now place your hand on the Elemental Orb."

Before I could even ask where this so-called orb was, a small pristine sphere popped up right in front of me. I observed it for a moment before shrugging and placing my hand on top.

I definitely expected absolutely nothing to happen, because since when did I control an element but...it seems this new reality has a few surprises for me.

It only took a few moments of my hand resting on the sphere before a very small black flame showed up.

Yes, I believe that's a flame. I wonder why it's black. I looked up at the metallic man to ask for clarification, and I was surprised to see that he was sweating...? Huh…didn't think he could sweat.

He looked more shocked than I thought someone covered in sleek metal could possibly be. Then he even began muttering to himself.

"Im...imposs...impossible..."

Meanwhile, the flame in the sphere continued to slowly grow in size; weird… what's going on? I didn't even get to dwell on my thoughts for too long before space itself seemed to crack and a massive tear that looked like it lead to a dark void was formed.

Another strange metallic man stepped through the tear. Though this one was very tall, and for some reason, he gave off a powerful aura. I don't know how I can feel that, but that's just the feeling I'm getting.

After he fully stepped through, his eyes widened once he saw the sphere, and then he did something very weird.

He bowed and placed his right hand diagonally across his chest. Then he said a few words that were even weirder than his behavior.

"I humbly greet the Young Infernal."

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