I look at the delicate voice source: an incredibly detailed npc, a winged figure dressed in white vestments and pristine silver chains holding it all together. A golden halo floats atop her head. Porcein skin, barely covered, thus, majestically alluring.
"After such a long journey, I, the weary one, have finally arrived."
Her dazzling green eyes strike me in old fashion at my peculiar answer. A slim eyebrow raises as if doubting my words. With the tilt of her head, I'm able to notice a grey neckce, which is curiously connected to a chain whose trace disappears down her cleavage.
As my eyes start to lower into a more dangerous area her voice fills up the room.
"Upon tradition, I'll now make three questions," her once shy white wings spread to the sides; from them, a holy glow turns the surroundings extra clear. She doesn't show an ounce of hesitation. Therefore, extends an arm my way, a palm facing up for me to get hold of, yet remains far out of reach.
"Go ahead," my casual tone leaves my mouth without a single worry. I had taken quite the effort to make my way into this game world. To get to experience its beauty and gamepy.
"As the top ranked of the past trial, what kind of css do you wish to acquire?"
I look back into what she meant: the alpha test. It was quite shocking, me and a thousand pyers. We were randomly chosen. I was one of the lucky ones.
It had been like winning the lottery as every gamer wanted to try this one out. The 1001 pyers got to fight and survive: against each others, and of course, the real menace, the surrounding ever-growing environment.
I was the st one to die. I must admit it wasn't because of my outstanding gaming talent. In fact, the other pyers were just in a rush to progress. Because of that, they had quick and permanent deaths.
None of us had been warned about it.
Still, I admit, the trial turned out to be an exciting and deadly experience.
"The one that can grant me the most entertainment," I figured back then, the other pyers exceeded my talent in clearing speed.
This time around, they would progress slightly slower than me. I had taken my time to study the first floors: from what kind of creatures existed to what they did and where they lived. Therefore, knowledge was on my side.
A complete nerd I know.
Nonetheless, they knew how the game pyed out to a nice extension, meaning that this time around, they would bring in friends and attempt to hog all the good things before others.
That is, if the odds are on their side.
The tutorial is an immense space dividing groups of pyers. Who we get on the same floor is completely random.
Young adult me, having no friends, and since I didn't join one of the forum guilds. I was in for a fierce competition beyond the tutorial.
"Given you'll receive a second chance. What is your goal?"
I look higher, to the white marble ceiling above her, finding golden lines spreading every direction, simir to a sun found in Maia civilization temples.
Before replying, I grin, remembering clearly how disappointing it was to die. "Hopefully, to live forever."
"This order is grateful for your honesty and past commitment."
Her words throw me off bance. This entire scenario hadn't happen before but I can't lie, it turns out rather entertaining.
'She does look unique,' I think to myself, her attitude and aura easily captivate me.
However, her angelic appearance doesn't bring me any familiarity. I had been thinking about her for a while now, and throughout the tutorial and even after watching the game trailer, there hadn't been a single angel. I couldn't help but wonder about this being and the so-called order she seemed to belong.
"Last question. Do you see yourself seeking companions or becoming the ultimate lone wolf?
"I'll..." I gulp remembering how powerless my lone journey had been. "I'll try to make some allies."
"Very good," her hands stretch in opposite directions as if embracing the whole space around us. "This order has heard your heart. Given your past feat, you'll be exclusively awarded based on the answers you've provided us."
"I will?" There had been no mention of this between the closure of the alpha test and the opening of the server. What was I being awarded for exactly?
"Correct. Let us proceed into the st phase, the avatar creation. Do you wish to use the preset from the trial?"
"The creatures I found back there, will I meet them again?"
"Yes but they won't remember you."
"In that case, I wish to do some tweaks to my appearance."
After drastically changing my appearance from top to bottom, my surroundings turn dark, meaning I'm leaving the heavenly realm behind.
Notification: Upon the signed contract your mind has permanently been transferred to fantasia online. Your new life is about to start. Keep in mind the npcs you'll find are no different than you. While killing any being is possible, be aware, your choices may impact the world.
Notification: Based on your meeting in the heavenly realm, the angel of concealment has provided you with three rewards.
System: You've been granted the illusionist css. Because it has a unique grade, you will not find anyone else with it.
System: Your evolutionary path has been changed to immortality.
System: The title decaying ruler has been unlocked.
'The maddening challenge begins anew,' colours return to my surroundings: first into a blurry state, then to a normal visualization of familiar background.
Admin: Hello everyone! Welcome to fantasia online. Simirly to the alpha phase, all of you will be starting with the tutorial. Exclusively to this phase, if you die, you'll respawn on the beginning after one measly hour penalty without losing any experience. The first to clear the tutorial, shall be awarded with a very special reward. For those who are new: to beat this phase, you'll have to complete all the floors. Every time a boss is defeated or the conditions are clear, a portal to the next floor will surge. Furthermore, to help the newbies and reduce the gap compared to the veterans, a blue arrow beneath you, will appear to guide each pyer to the unlocked exit. This method will enable everyone to keep up with the same content and have a chance to be the first to clear the tutorial. And... don't forget! Dying will send you to another part of the floor you're in! Good luck!
"Floor zero!" A tear almost falls from my eye. I missed this game too much. The vividness of this world which intertwines with the beating of my heart forces my blood to jolt furiously.
With a rapid movement, willing to adhere to the amusement of pying—of living here, words flow carefree.
"Pyer status," a screen appears before me. It floats alongside as I walk forward, out of this empty room, surrounded by grey stone and thin dark green veins that stretch everywhere.
Pyer Status:
Name:
Race:
Title:
Css: Illusionist | Grade: Unique | Level 0 | Points: 0/100
Parameters: Level 0 | Exp: 0/100
HP: 30/30 | MP: 5/5 | Sta: 10/10
"How very interesting," my words are a mere reflection of the provided content by this world creators.
I had heard of traits before: it was rare to find one since they are able to influence how my race can turn out to be.
The title, however, I focus on it, curious about its effects.
System: You have the ability to randomly cause the effect of rot on something you touch. The target will painfully decay for ten seconds losing 1% max health per second. Current cooldown is 24 hours. As you increase its proficiency, the characteristics may vary.
"What?" I find myself speechless, even going as far as to halt my march.
"It's a good thing I didn't bring out the weapon box," I tilt my head confused. "Would it have any effect?"
With an exciting and smooth horizontal slide with my right hand, the inventory list comes before me.
"One health potion and a weapon box."
I find myself willing to gamble my luck and items away. My hands go through the screen allowing me to pull both things out.
"Guess it didn't trigger."
I focus on each one, getting a small window of information to pop.
Item: Health Potion
Level: 1
Effect: Heals 50 hp over five seconds. Cannot treat the pyer wounds during combat.
Durability: 1/1
Item: Weapon Box
Level: 1
Effect: Upon opening, you'll receive one random common weapon.
Durability 1/1
Knowing what could possibly be ahead, I spend the box, causing an animation of me opening the lid, of a small white light to follow. And once the effect fades, in my right hand remains a fading glow. Slowly, it dims, turning into a tiny kitchen knife.
Item: Knife
Level: 1
Attack: 3~5
Durability: 20/20
"A trash weapon," I grin, not expecting otherwise from something given for free. Still, the potion turns out to be good. Enough to keep me going after a fight or two depending on what enemy I go up against. A little wasteful even as my 30 health points is lower than what it can provide for.
"For now..." I resume my march through the long hall.
"Help me!" A scream resounds a bit further making me walk a tad faster.
'It might be a trap,' I think to myself hoping for it to be a newbie rather than an alpha pyer.
"This is?" My eyes widen at the sight of a lecherous dark slime assaulting the poor body of what appears to be a fresh pyer. The creature tentacles have her legs on a tight embrace, disabling any chance of escaping. Another one has her waist and bust on hold, jiggling carefree, up and down, contorting her chest in circles. Her moans come as she breathes hard, cheeks red. In this world, the sensations can be more vivid than one may have experienced back in Earth. Her eyes a bit teary making me believe she doesn't know what she signed up for.
'She's really cute.'
It gets me a little embarrassed and hard down there, I can't help it. I lose the track of time and motion for a moment leaving her in a discomfortable tight position which doesn't improve over time. Not only does her health bar drops lower but so does her body resistance to the movements that turn her on. Her long bck hair reaches down her waistline waving gently. In her hands, she's barely holding onto a sword. Sadly though, her waving cks strength and skill. But even if she had both, at this level, it would still be useless. Then her reddish eyes focus on mine as if begging for help, forcing me to act.
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