I leave my capsule sore and with a headache. The soreness was more phantom pains that my mind was making from the high levels of physical exertion I did.

I walk over to the kitchen and find my dad there.

"Oh son, good you’re finally up. How far did you get with the tutorial?" He asked me.

"Reached the psionic manipulation training. Was able to levitate the dime." I said.

"It´s the smallest coin right? Well not really surprised, dwarves aren't the most talented in Psionic abilities. The tutorial is making you train with the character body already." He said.

"Are they that untalented with psi?" I asked dad.

"Dwarves can only levitate stuff. Maybe those with Talent can learn Basic psionic Support skills, i think. Here look these are some race ." He says and shows me the laptop screen.

On it were all the advantages and disadvantages as well as the race traits released by Virtual Works.

Race Advantages/ DisadvantagesRaceRacial TraitsAdvantagesDisadvantagesHumanEnvironmental AdaptabilityCan live and survive in almost every type of environment.

Can learn nearly all skills or jobStarts out with weak physical body and Psionic abilities. Starts with no resistancesElfInnate Psi production

Natural Psionic ManipulationLarge Psi capacity, can easily master Psionic based abilities. Increased growth rate in Mentality and Willpower.Very Weak physical strength and body.

Weak to physical attacks.

Low health capacity.DwarfNight Vision

Natural Mechanic and TinkerLarge Health Capacity.

Greater ease in learning crafting based skills and jobs.

Increased growth rate in strength and dexterity.No Psionic resistance unless technology is used to counter.

Has half the capacity of psi when compared to a human or Ogre of the same Mentality and Willpower.

Has poor talent for using Psi/Psionic abilities outside of the body.OgreBerserkers Instincts

Natural warriorAverage in both HP and Psi capacity, similar to humans.

Increased growth rate for learning weapon mastery.No resistance towards Mental attacks unless technology is used to counter.AndroidPhotographic Memory

Innate ProgrammerStrength is easy to increase simply by upgrading the body.

Able to learn at a very rapid pace due to possessing a computerized mind.Starts out as basic weak model android with small memory bank and utility functions.

Race has no natural Healing processes and needs regular maintenance.

Only after installing specific parts will this race have access to Psi and Psionic abilities.ToskCold Blooded

Natural ArmorRace that can adapt into any arid or humid environment.

Possess natural armor that is as strong as scaled plate armor and resistant to Low caliber projectiles.

Some variants even have natural poison glands.All variants are weak to cold and will seek the sunlight or a warm location most of the time. Can’t go to frozen planets or planets without atmosphere without protective gear against cold.Half BreedDepends on ParentDepends on Parent. Gains disadvantages only to a lesser degree.Depends on Parent. Gains traits, advantages only to a lesser degree

"So dwarves really have no talent with Psi huh?" I mutter after seeing that. "So what's your race dad?" I asked.

"Dwarf/Ogre half breed. Also commonly called the giant dwarf." He says with a grin.

"So you mixed a fighter that learns how to use weapons easier with a midget with a strong body. Your psi capacity and talent is less now isn’t it?" I asked.

"Yep, sadly I actually have the dwarfs full weakness to psionic attacks because the Ogre mental attack is a branch of psionic. But the advantage is that I get a higher health pool and the dwarfs stronger bones and muscles." He said with a big grin.

I then imagine a huge dwarf in combat and what appears in my mind's big ass viking trashing dozens of people like a tank.

It sent a shiver down my spine to think of a person like that.

"Still, why does it hurt so much to try and push Psi out. Why do I actually need to shove it out in the first place?" I asked him.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly, but my guess would be that it follows the martial arts exits through acupuncture points or something similar. I reached Psi manipulation as well and I noticed several dozen of these exits on my hands and feet but they are pretty much closed and are painful to open so I guess it’s something you need to "open" before you can get more freedom to work with Psi." Dad says.

"So in other words just keep bombarding them until they open. Easy enough." I say with a nod and go to the stove and grab a plate.

It was midnight but we were wide awake. We had a month and we pretty much figured we would be doing a lot of tutorial training until then.

Dad tells me what he has been able to figure out and when I tell him about the 0G tutorial he bursts out laughing. Though when he tells me about his experience I ended up rolling on the ground.

The Giant Dwarf seems to have a height ranging from 180 to 210 cm. Dad wanted to be a tank went with max height and you can guess the result. I did the same but it was in an attempt to match my own height but I didn’t go half dwarf because I wanted all the benefits for the crafting.

After we end the midnight snack we jump back into the tutorials.

Since I now knew what I had to look for I tried to find the Psi-exits.

Making the Psi move inside my body was easy but finding the exits were difficult. Most of the body was sealed tight but I did find all the exits on my body.

There were fourteen on each hand, one on each finger digit, and 18 on each foot, 10 on the fingers, 4 on the heel and the rest on the palm of the feet just after the curve on the foot but before the toes.

I felt it would be important to unlock even a few of these so I sat down and focusing on my right hand I aimed at the top five digits and bombarded them.

Have you ever felt what getting burned is like? Now imagine that heat feeling almost liquid and its passing through your fingers. That's how hot it felt the pain.

I had to stop three times before what I thought were the sounds of pops coming from my hand as if I had dislocated something.

The moment after the pops the flow of psi out of my body became much easier but I noticed I began to lose psi so I stopped the flow.

For releasing 5 Psi exits at once you have gained 3 Mentality and Willpower.

My hand was twitching from the previous pain i felt but it had successfully released the five exits.

I took my hand to the dime and tried to lift it and it smoothly levitated.

I managed to levitate all the coins but when I go to the heavy one dollar coin it became really hard.

"Let’s go one by one from now on." I mutter.

I wanted all the exits opened and to be able to l to lift all these things before moving on.

And so I focused on the thumb and started to move the psi but I found a problem. The exit was leaking psi. This annoyed me and to fix it I gathered some at the exit and try to block it as best I could.

With this I began an excruciatingly difficult process of holding Psi inside while pushing it through the second exit.

After 2 hours it was done and the exit had finally been torn open.

For releasing all the right thumb Psi exits you have gained 1 Mentality and Willpower.

Seeing me get Mentality and Willpower for doing this encouraged me. It meant my max psi capacity would grow as well.

I move to the next finger and nearly started crying as I block the exit and start pushing through the two exits below it.

It took me 6 pain-filled hours and stopping 7 times, because the pain was getting too much, for me to finally open the second finger. I gained 2 more of each mental stats.

I left the tutorial after that.

It had been 11 hours in the tutorial but that went down to about 3 hours in real life but even so I was hungry and needed to eat and rest.

My head was pounding and I could still felt the pains in my thumb and index finger to the point that I couldn’t move them.

Instead of going back into the game I went to sleep. Just thinking about having to do all this again with the left hand and my feet almost made me cry.

I woke up at 7 am and ate breakfast. Having a high metabolism can be good and bad but who cares.

A bit reluctantly I return to the game in order to start on the middle finger. Opening the top exit on each finger was the most moronic idea. The difficulty of controlling psi outside of my body while pushing out more through the exits is excruciating.

Even with more exits opened and my increased stats it still took me 4 hours to open the exits. It was getting easier but it didn’t make the pain any less...painful.

After 8 more hours I finally unsealed my entire right hand. The total of points I get for unsealing the entire hand was 12 points, thumb = 1 point and 2 points for each other finger. This included the 3 points from before. Completely unsealing the exits on my hand granted me an extra 3 dexterity as well as 2 Mentality and Willpower.

Now i could levitate with a weight of 100g now.

Seeing how much i could lift i thought this was the minimum required for mechanics due to mostly needing to work with small part but, even though it hurts like hell, decide to unblock all the exits. Maybe dwarves have little talent because they don’t unseal all the exits. I can understand if it for this reason because the pain that you feel from opening these shitty exits hurts like hell.

Before I got started on my left hand I search through my right one for more exits but couldn’t fine any. The message for unsealing the entire hand had also confirmed that.

Since it was like that I focused on the thumb of the left hand and gritting my teeth I started bombarding both exits.

After a grueling 2 hours both exits popped open and another 2 points of both mental stats were added. The pain was obviously less since I didn’t need to hold the psi inside making it easier on me as it was apparent by the amount of time it took.

Following that I spent the next 10 hours going finger by finger and unblocking all but the pinky before I had to go out for lunch but I returned quickly and finished it up.

I got another 9 points in both mental stats for unsealing my left hand. It seems unlocking five digits at once was a worthy accomplishment since I didn't get the extra points 3 points.

As of now, I was able to levitate things up to 2 kilos.

It was clear sign that, for dwarves, talent only came with blood sweat and tears. No, dwarven stubbornness was their talent. If one of them actually wanted they could unlock all the openings. It would just take a while.

I then remove my boots and focus on toes.

I pushed down and it began again. The main difference was the time. It took one and half hours to open the exit on the first toe and it followed the same pattern for the other toes. The four exits on the sole of the foot came next and it took 3 hours to pop all four together and the last four on the heel another 3 hours.

After another break I finally ended this hell by unlocking the other foot.

Each one gave 12 points. 1 point for each finger, 2 for the sole and heel and 3 points for unsealing the whole feet.

In total, by willingly living through these torturous days of hell I gained 47 Mentality and Willpower, 4 agility from the feet, and 6 dexterity for the hands.

I would say that living through this hell really payed off. I wonder if elves have to face the same hell. Maybe it’s even worse since dad mentioned he noticed 20 exits but i only found 14 and 18. That means they, who have the highest psi potential have much more than us.

Anyway, I was able to lift a 20kg box now and though I was shaking while doing so.

I could finally rest so I did just that. I exited the game and fell on the couch with my hands and feet throbbing.

Noland PoV

Going through the psi manipulation tutorial is hell. I released only half the exits in my hands before I was satisfied. Having a dwarfs talent in psi control was a real downer but it would help with simple things later. Having enough exits opened would allow me basic abilities like pyrokinesis and telekinesis.

I’ll learn basic psi abilities for survival uses but I'm no elf and don't want to be since pure magic races aren’t to my taste.

Leaving the tutorial to rest up before I head into combat training I find Noah sleeping on the couch. His body was sweaty and his hands were twitching from time to time probably from pain from doing the same thing I had just finished doing.

Unlocking them all would be to hard even if the benefits were great but I guess he will reach his limit and stop, I taught him better than to try and break your limits when you currently can't.

I start to make a large dinner for us since we probably burned a lot of energy through our mental tasks. You would be surprised how the body reacts to training ingame.

Soon enough Noah was up once the smell spread and we started to share information.

He said he finished his psi manipulation and it made me happy to see him doing his best.

"I think the mechanics tutorial is next so I will be learning some machine building. A gun building tutorial also seems to be included." He says.

"I have combat training. Since I choose the fighting skill set I will be working on getting that leveled up." I tell him.

"Dad! Got any info on the skill leveling process?" Noah asked.

"If I'm not mistaking, its on the site. It says the skills level up like our own levels and don´t seem to cap but they become extremely hard to level up later on." I tell him.

He pulls out his laptop and checks.

"Yeah, that’s about right. The skills seem to be graded by rarity on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being a super rare or powerful skill which probably comes with tons of conditions." He says.

"The System is more complex than most other games. It will be interesting to watch when the game releases." I say as I finish cooking and go to grab a plate.

"It says here you can only level up the skills you gained from the selection as well as the mining skill we will get later on to level 5 during the tutorial." He says.

"Seems fair, or people would spam the tutorial and start the game at a really high level." He says.

"We are kind of cheating you know. Not many people have the pre-order of the game and wont properly train their stats before entering you know." Noah says.

"I've taught enough people for them to not be stupid enough to skip a VR game tutorial." I tell him.

I don't really know how many people I have taught but I know it’s a really large number.

Noah closes the laptop and comes to grab his own food before we split up and return to the tutorials.

Noah PoV

Now that the infernal psionic hell was over I start the next tutorial.

Entering the VR capsule I find the place set up for the next tutorial. There were lots of basic modern day weapons and als futuristic pistol and some machine arms and so on.

Basic Mechanics course beginning.

This course consists of dismantling, building and repairing modern day weapons and weaponry found in The Nebula.

So it was this kind of mechanics course. It will probably get more complex in the game were we have to fix ships and so on.

I move to the first gun on the list. It was a standard police pistol.

This gun has been damage. Dismantle it and identify all the damaged parts.

Taking the gun by the handle I turn it and pull the top part back. Well i tried to at least. It was already apparent that something like the bullet had gotten stuck inside the gun chamber and it malfunctioned.

I didn’t exactly know how guns worked besides from what I saw in movies, so it took a while before I figured out how to remove the magazine. I then looked inside and like I had guessed there was a bullet stuck halfway into the chamber.

I used psi and pulled at it before finally getting it out. I then pulled the top part back and the bullet capsule stuck there jumped out.

I then pushed the top part forward and began dismantling the gun. After a bit I found several small parts that had cracks and were damaged.

Identifying them I removed the parts from the gun and saw as they instantly glowed green as they were repaired.

Seeing how the parts were fixed I put them back together and fit the magazine in the correct spot and took aim and shot.

The bullet fired perfectly and the gun vanished from my hand.

"Seems fixing the gun and it vanishes means i succeeded." I mutter.

For the next Task i only got the Parts and the AI told me to build the gun from scratch but I did have the schematics for it.

Using the plans I slowly assembled the weapon part by part until I ended up with a magnum.

Sadly it didn’t fire since I built some parts wrong. The AI didn’t let it fire so I wouldn’t get injured.

On the blueprints the parts I attached incorrectly showed up in red so I dismantled the gun and fixed those spots. In the end it shot normally.

It continued like this and after 20 guns and I got plans to make a normal fan motor. The result...

you have gained new skillsDismantlingRarity1Level 1A skill used by Mechanics to take apart machines and weapons to see/use the parts inside.

Makes dismantling machines, items and guns 0.5% easier.Basic Machine ConstructionRarity1Level 1A skill used by Mechanics build machines

Makes building machines 0.5% easier.Mechanic (mastery)Rarity1.5Level 1A mandatory skill for those who want to be Mechanics. This skill encases all the knowledge you possess of any form of Mechanics whether it’s building guns, equipment or even ships.

Skill improves ability to do all mechanic operations by 0.5%.

This skill stacks with other mechanic based skills improving the general performance.

Seeing as I got the skills I was rather happy since what i gained were some basic Mechanic skills.

From there I walked over to the robotic arms and other machines but those were too difficult.

After some time I returned to the guns after having given up on the complex stuff.

I found a table with lots of Scrap parts.

These parts are for training the skill Scrap Weapon making. This part of the Tutorial will train you in how to identify old but usable parts found in the junk so that you can build a functioning weapon.

As the AI finished speaking I happily start getting busy.

I used a basic laser pistol schematics. The tutorial provides basic model blueprints so might as well train with them.

There were bins with broken weapons so taking those apart also granted me extra parts and the weapon I needed.

Taking it all apart I held it in the air with Telekinesis completely open to my eyes while I searched for more parts.

After some hours of working on this thing I finally make a functioning laser pistol… only for it to not work.

“Hey the blueprint says the enter damn thing is functioning properly! Whats wrong!” I shout at the AI.

The weapon was built properly and would definitely function but you lack the fundamental programmer skills to code the weapon properly so that all the parts work together properly.

This AI was bullshitting with me! I just know it she really wants me to be pissed off.

“Then can you fix the codes so I can test if it works?” I asked.

Nope! This is your tutorial so…

Good luck! Teehee. ;D

…

I’ll want to kill her! FUCK! Why does she have to be an AI instead of a real person!

I grab the gun in my rage and head to a PC that was in the corner. It had several cables attached which were supposed to go into the gun. I look at the instruction and put the wires into the correct spot.

Laser pistol linked up. Codes properly fixed.

GOOD JOB!!

…

BANG BANG!!

I fired the gun twice at the pc in my rage making it blow up but it simply vanished and appeared again with words on the screen.

Instruction guide to Programming Laser weapons.

Warning: codes differ depending on the type of weapon so plasma guns have their own coding.

I was breathing deeply trying to calm down while I connected the cables again.

This time the proper program appears with the guide showing me how to go about fixing and properly organizing the coding so that the weapon works better.

Yes the gun had gone back to the non working codes but my two shots were a bit quicker than the AI had estimated so I got some shots in.

After 2 hours I finished the codes and disconnected the cables and shot.

You have leveled up Scrap Weapon Creation

Laser Weapon programmingRarity1Level 1A skill used by Mechanics and Technician use to properly code a laser weapon.

Makes coding Laser based weapons 0.5% easier.

Getting the skills I get up and shout.

“Let’s move on to the next tutorial!” While grinding my teeth.

Ahh~!! But it was getting fun T-T! *sigh*

Basic Mechanic course and Basic Weapon Building Course complete.

Commencing Planetside Mining Tutorial

The scenery changed and I found myself in a large well fortified tunnel. I could see the end of the tunnel.

This tutorial will show you the methods and equipment used in planetside mining.

Most mines are within huge complex as big as as cities. Unlike fantasy games that have people with pickaxes this is the future.

As the AI says that in front of me two things materialize.

On my right was a large robot with tank like wheels instead of legs and on the other a large tank with a huge drill that reminded me of the motherload game.

On the left is a dwarf’s favorite toy, his mining robot suit. For any planet below 1.7 G these will be found on.

On the right is a standard Liberation mining tank.

Both of these are employed to mine a tremendous amount of mineral ore to be processed.

Please choose one to test out.

As she says that I narrow my eyes feeling that there was a catch. I look at her messages again and noticed something in her first message. “This tutorial will show you the methods and equipment used in planetside mining.”

“No thanks, you said I would be shown equipment used not actually mining.” I said and a grin appears.

Tsk! Note to self: Make sure to be careful of words, the can be used against me.

Serious what was up with the AI, did they break an important part of her system or was she just fucking with me.

Fine, whatever, now let’s go to space mining tutorial. This one you will have to at least get into the vessels.

With that everything flashes and I found myself seated in a small ship.

You are currently in the smallest shuttle mining craft of the Liberation known as the Betty. Don’t ask, I didn’t name it.

I chuckle hearing her say that.

“Okay what do I need to do?”

It will be coming up soon.

As she says that looking out into space I saw large asteroid. It was bare of life and anything like except bare rock.

I see several hooks shoot out and then look the ship out.

Deploying Mining drill

As she says that I see a kind of arm attachment come into view. Then two handles with the one on the right having a red button on it moved in front of me.

The two handles will help you control the arm. This arm is a basic Laser mining drill. It’s used for precision mining.

The other is the basic drill bit which you need to be careful of overheating. This one you also need to be aware of overheating but it’s slower than the other one.

Now I have targeted three spots you need to drill into 1 m into the rock to break the top layer of dirt.

As she says that I see three red targets appear and one green on. I move the handles which are separate . The left one pushing forward and back makes the arm go right and left while the right handle going back and forth making it move up and down from my view.

Moving slowly I aim the green target on the first target and press the red button making the laser fire.

A long red line of light rushed down and started drilling into the rock. Cracks started to from but it was miniscule. When I reached the desired depth which was indicated by a gauge I moved on.

On the second target the cracks seem to spread far and even connect to the first one.

The AI’s calculation is scary for sure.

On the third one rocks began to break off and when I reached the final depth the rock exposed a red rock below.

This is asteroid Iron. Normally space rocks hold mineral ore with much higher purity than planet rocks. Not only that they require less refining which makes the cost for them much cheaper to mine even though the tech for it is advanced and needing space travel. Mining this is the same as breaking the rocks but as of now you have completed the tutorial. You may freely visit any of them during the time before the game is officially launched.

Also… if you want to just talk just log into standby and I will be waiting. As you Capsule AI I can help and just so you know I will also be following you into The nebula as a personal AI just like all the AI’s in all the capsules. *wink* Take care of me.

…

I’m doomed!