Chapter 3

Character Creation! Not My Place! Dungeon Crawler!

'Game save?' The frozen landscape as far as the eyes could see faded from existence. She stood floating above the bizarre scene. Before she could question the absurdity of the things she saw her perception shifted.

Each scene was fantastical. The only similarity between them was the same person; she assumed he was a 'Sun Elf' or High elf, a race that was resigned to myth and speculation.

His robes may have changed, his weapon of choice may have been different, his battle tactics or the party he kept, but his eyes was constant, deep black orbs with flower petal like pupils, they were beautiful and alien all at the same time.

She awaited the the abrupt shift of perception that she had no control over. The feeling was one of unease. When the feeling didn't come as it usually did, she opened her mouth to corral her magic and escape. As soon as he drew a minuscule amount of mana her body froze her vision grew blurry, her body tensed.

She was jerked, not the seamless ease of arcane mean; this was more like a her soul was being handle by an ageless hand.

With considerable force she was jerked backwards. Even the frozen landscape didn't effect her physically, not this time, it felt as if her physical body was effected, the breath was knocked from her.

The speed she traveled sickened her as she passed through the void. She stopped suddenly as she was expelled into a grey world. A silver ocean was beneath her, a mountain was present oddly in the middle and a waterfall flowed, mixing with the odd silver water. She gasped.

Her perception shifted. She brought back to the cavern that took them weeks to unearth. She stood up on shaky legs and turn to see the wizards look of fear and Allistor descending from his perch and running toward her. He legs wobbled and she tumble forward, darkness was met before she fact planted into the moist ground.

******* Allistor & Party

Allistor hastily mumbled a chant. His hand l glowed a teal color as the spell formed.

Restoration!

His now illuminated hands hovered over her slumped body. From his previous observation he discovered that she was exhausted from exertion of mana. Restoration spell wouldn't recover mana but it will start to hastened the physical side effects of exerting the arcane muscle.

Opening the sack slung to his side. He took out a clear bottle, the bottle had a slight glow to it.

[Potion of minor mana. +Restores 25 points of mana.]

Removing the brown stopper. He tilted her head back and poured the contents down her throat.

Resting her gently back on the ground. He looked toward the wizards, it didn't immediacy register to him why they were looking crazily behind him.

"Quickly, prepare are departure, this foray is over, we make haste back to the city."

He pointed at a wizard who still had his enlarge eyes staring off into the distance.

The wizard turned around and ran toward the gap in entrance to the cavern. He motioned toward the second.

“Wizard! Send word to the Lord. Tell him we are heading home earlier then expected. And we suffered complications.....” The last word trailed off as the third final wizard raised a shaky hand and pointed behind him.

He whirled around hands out front. If it wasn't for the lady sleeping peacefully he would have fail backwards and screamed for his life.

"Gods above!” He stammered.

The mythril was floating above ground. His spell was canceled, it should have fail back into the crevice it was removed from.

The wizard pulled a scroll out from his large sleeve. A scroll was went up into flames as a small bird flew from the party toward the exit.

"Done! Magus Allistor!" The wizards replied shakily; bringing the mage back to the present.

"Great...... Um.... let's leave quickly, this is getting strange. The lady is injured regardless, mission is hereby over."

Two armored knights entered the cavern. The Grip their hilts when they laid eyes on the silver object hovering above ground. They eyes the casters. They stared before Allistor spoke up.

"You have seen nothing! Lady Sandra want this discovery for her on purposes. I'm aware you all work for the lord and only doing your duty and following orders protecting the lady, but this dungeon is untapped and we wouldn't won't people coming here....”

"Yes Magus..." they replied in unison. They understood all to well. Leaking the location was death to them and family, telling the lord of this would be met by immediate death by his very hand. Nobles, spy on one another all the time; the messenger usually pay the price of his head spinning afterwards.

They nodded they helmed heads. And moved toward the lady.

"How goes the departed he asked. Not turning from the soldiers as the gently placed their shield together, interlocking them. The lady was placed on the leather underside. They lifter her easily and waited orders.

He snapped his fingers at a wizard scribbling things inside a well earned book. An stalactite fell from above skewing the book and alarming the wizard.

"Fool! Don't you dare write anything of this place. The lady has made it clear she will see this through the end."

They bowed at the waist. "As you say Magus!"

"Hurry, we need to leave and seal the entrance. I doubt there is another entrance to enter."

They marched through the entrance. The soldiers carrying the lady in the middle. A globe of light illuminated there departure. The cavern that was lightened slip back into darkness, the hum and crackling of the earth left behind.

[uncommon] Dungeon, Aged: Ancient. Level: 10-20.]

Recently discovered by Lady Sandra Everbloom and party. Location: Withering forest

The mythril vein that was surprisingly shaped liked an arrowhead, hovered in the now silent dungeon. A white mist leaked from the uppermost section. A black line zipped ovally around the elevated section, where it went the mist thickened, it congregated on the ground and spread outward in the entrance room, soon the whole earthen floor was white with rolling mist.

********Void(Murk)

Where Lady Sandra experienced sporadic glimpses of his memories of him during times when he was awake. He experienced her preparation and trip to this so called dungeon.

Unlike Sandra not having control he was able to pause each glimpse of her memories. He became so comfortable, he materialized a chair. It was crude but it will do. From watching her train he had a understanding of the world use of magic. A smile plastered his face as he thought back to the games and how similarities were there.

Tring!

Alteration Tome Obtained!

[Rare. Arcane Weaving I. 19%] Learned

Mana cost: 10/sec

Weaving magic into reality like spinster weaves thread, your astute hands can weave the very arcane like common threads.

Now situated in his arcane weaved chair. He laughed as she begged and even went so far as send a formal petition to her father, they made her wait like most lords to bring her grievances to the Lord of the land.

Her father denied her then and the council followed suit, no doubt not wanting to anger their employer. Third daughter of a Duke. He snickered. In fantasy stories the third child always the most gifted or the villain, he pondered that thought.

Thus, the third daughter of Duke Everbloom finally got her wish. With the help of her brother the next in line to rule the dukedom.

He watch them train as they trekked toward their destination. 'So, I'm inside of a dungeon, at least I'm not some shitty dungeon heart.'

Notifications popped up every time they activated a skill, received or taken damage. He notice the red, blue and green bar in her vision, so that's her HP, MP and stamina.

He paused it when he watch her party get ambushed by a pack of dire wolves. He was shocked; not in a bad way but in a exciting way, he had a few dire wolves as pets in one game.

He wondered if he could bring his stuff over. First he needed a body or a host, since he understood he was a apparition, her words not his. He was to him, a living person as he always been. Regardless, he usually stayed in game and slept in the void, that's when he get tired after the years wound down.

When he saw how they gained experience from each kill, he adjusted himself in his cushioned chair as he looked upon the scene. 'To think this world is like the video games I long ago completed' unfortunately he beat all the games he had available, he even beat game plus afterwards his first completion.

Now how do I get a body? Before I could answer myself or further though a screen appeared before. It was titles character Creation. Now, if I had a body I'm sure I'll be smiling. Or whatever the facial feature is for excitement.

{Character Creation}

A outline took up most of my vision. It was a humanoid silhouette; arms and legs outstretched. I increased the height, I was now 6'2. I kept the body width the same, lean, athletic figure.

My hair was a deep black, it took me a long time to get my hair like that, it was a quest that involved a siren and a witch. Still I lengthened it, giving me a more roguish look. My eyes were the same as it was in game.

I had contracted vampirism, willingly I must add. See 'Sun Elfs' are blessed by the very Sun that harms Vampires. Usually, a High elf is immune to diseases and such but you play a game long enough you found workarounds.

Behold, the Vampire that absorbs the very bane of his kin, sunlight.. So my eyes, and fangs were quite pronounced, I wonder if they have that in this world. In game I couldn't infect others, maybe it different here.

'Will all my abilities, skills and items come with me? If I keep my toon and make it my body, maybe I can get a major leg up in this place'

Game avatar completed. Please continue. A monotone voice spoke inside my head. 'That's odd'

'So what's next?' I asked myself, hoping the voice will guide me

Tutorial enabled. Synchronizing......20%

I waited for the percentage to reach 100%. While I was waiting I floated around my body, I suppose this will do

My character was a High elven male. Noticeably, a sun elf. I was surprised that the mages knew of my character. From what I gathered high elves or loss or rare. Ha! I'll love to stand out for once in a new world.

.........100%

Life cradle activated.

"Greetings, young master! I'am the A.I of the pod"

"Pod?" I asked. Unconcerned about the thing claiming to be an A.I. I had a few that dubbed as support characters for my toon.

"Yes, young master you are currently resting inside the cradle, the cradle of life to be exact."

"What is this cradle... I'm resting in?"

"Sorry, I cannot say. The administrator, has restricted your access." He paused, briefly. " Yes, you have user clearance."

"So I am a user? Correct!"

"Yes, young master!" He replied. 'Why does his voice sounds familiar?'

"What is the differences in restrictions?" I asked, still trying to place the familiar voice.

"User only affords you survival privileges!" He said in a monotone voice. 'Wait, I know that voice. Damn, my memory!'

"Firstly, why are you using my A.I voice I use in game? Secondly, what am I supposed to survive? Thirdly, who is this administrator?" I felt more then suspected so I mentally raised my hand. "I'm not done, Kal-El!"

"Why have I've been in this place so long?" Yeah, I named him after my favorite comic hero, my memory wasn’t entirely shot.

"The system in place decided on my parameters. Your second question, your birth planet was destroyed.” Well he sure got to the point. “I'm afraid that all I'm allowed to tell you, even if I wanted to I can't, I'm only allowed to know what you are allowed to know. The administrator is the one that placed you in the cradle. That is all I know. Once again, my apologies."

"Fourth question."

"I'am not entirely sure. Let's get out of here and allow me to investigate. But, from what I can understand, a foreign agent cause the cradle to remain in standby while it adjusted to the new world. I'm afraid your original body died a few thousand years ago. The cradle will create you a new one."

"I DIED!" I screamed. The void shook from my outburst.

"Young master, please. Be careful, you don't want to disrupt this space while your our unchained." The voice replied in my mind, he sounded afraid. Was he?'

"What? I'm a freaking ghost. Shit! I should have expected something when she call me a ancient and a apparition." My voice boomed across the expansive space.

"Young master, let's hurry. This place is not your owns I'm afraid; whatever existed here, has been awakened from the spells earlier and now by your outburst."

"Bullshit! I have mapped just about all of this black empty box, I even discovered a corner. An actual corner. Do you know how exciting that was?" My voice lowered as I told him of the excitement, not everyday you discover something new here, at least that was when I wasn't sleeping.

"I'm afraid you are mistaken; this place is immeasurable by any one calculations, I don't even attempt to quantify this locale." He said matter of fact.

"Did you not hear me? Kal, I said I discovered a corner here. If it's a corner then obviously the other one will be in the other direction, right?" I was less sure now. He is an A.I from the space 4x game I played a lot.

"Yes, I'm afraid, you are mistaken. The corner is a limitation your yourself applied. No doubt, you considered your search of this place complete, so the void, or the murk, as you call it applied your reasoning. Wait a sec."

I was startled. My vision was invaded by countless pings from notification, I recoiled backwards leaving the still figure of the High Elf.

"My apologies!" I felt the A.I shift the notification to the very corner of my vision, it was irritating feeling. Like having a itch but having to scratch later. So irritating that I turned that feature off while playing my games. Pain was okay by a unreachable itch was hell.

"What the hell Kal!" I mentally raised my fist at him.

"Sorry! You have quite a few notifications to shift through, years and years of them. I'll periodically bring them up when needed. So, don't mind them." Oh yeah, let me turn off the notification sensor. There you go, I felt your annoyance."

"Felt? Are we connected?" I asked confused.

"Yes, and no. Currently I'm still inside the Pod. This is just the tutorial connection to help you adjust and I need to be able to feel what you fell at the moment."

"Cool! No offense. But I hate tagalongs." I stated.

"None taking. Now, back to the matter at hand. Here, this will be useful.”

Abysmal Grimoire Obtained!

[?, Void sorcery II 1%] Unlocked.

Long ago before the universe existed, a being of unimaginable power uttered its very first words inside of the void. These words it spoke inside the void are said to be all powerful, the first magics, the truth of the universe. Beware! Those who look into the void tend to go mad.

[(Void Speech) Arcane Linguistic] Learned!

You are truly mad. To utter just one word of the void outside of its birth place has the possibility of disrupting the very fabric of reality.

[Spacial pocket IV 25%] Learned.

You are truly insane, so insane you choose to utilize this anathema of existence as a mere pocket to store your items...

The spells continued to appear in my image of a dark ghastly book. That seemed to absorb my every thought and attention.

"LOOK AWAY YOUNG MASTER!" The A.I which is using my game A.I voice screamed into my mind.

A screen appeared before me, my mind was reeling.

Tring!

Title obtained!

Abysmal Gazer: To glimpse the abyss you will have to open your soul to be gaze into from the denizen of old. Beware for those denizens have gazed upon you!

"What the hell! My vision shifted, the book winked out of my mindscape. Kal....."

"It seems you have amazing fortitude. From what I understand, a mere mortal shouldn't be able to glimpse to abyss in its rawest form."

"Kal-"

"We, have little time young master. The being that once resided here is bearing down on us."

"Being? I've been here alone forever."

"I'm afraid you have circumvented a small pocket of this particular being controlled area. Whatever, it is, I do not know, it's not something we can't face. Quickly, back to the character screen."

I swiped the notification of my new title away. Putting it out of my mind.

"What do I need to do?"