Chapter 2 The Game: Getting Started (Part 1)

Wrestling myself free from the void that had claimed me, my vision was met with beautiful cursive writing. Welcome To The Game. Almost my entire vision was filled with these imposing words.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, I was finally back, back into The Game. With practiced ease I gestured and swiped away the gold and blue screen covering my vision, having a short view over an expanse of white space only comprehensible by the beautiful flowing carpet of clouds covering the floor. However the view was swiftly concealed from sight again, a new screen popped arrogantly into existence. Raising my eyebrow in irritation I spoke with practiced authority that comes from deep seated experience.

“System shrink user interface by 70% and raise transparency of background colouring by 65%”

Awaiting the response a pleasant chime rings in my ear.

“Examining authority...Accepted, raising transparency and shrinking interface by users designated peramiters”

“Ding, would the user now like to start the tutorial?”

Laughing lightly at the new and improved screen I stated “No”. My reasoning, simple, the designers of this game had inputted several easter eggs into the game to helps their close friends and colleages. I mean who in their right mind would brush aside tutorial to a new reality that would affect not only their lives for the next 22 years but also their lives upon their return to earth! Smiling at the next screen that dinged it’s way into existence...

“User has been registered as an experienced player, updating user authority, adding additional greater talent point to player...removing starter restrictions, upgrading player gear and expanding revealed starter location map.”

“Hahahaha” I laughed manically to myself, those 12 years of slaving and serving in the information guild wasn’t for nothing! Looking at the benefits fits acquired, there where a few that helped the player get a head start at the beginning like removing the starter restrictions and revealing starter location map.

The restriction removal allows a user it gain a class unrestricted before or after level 10 and a player can leave a starter zone before level 10. This coupled with a detailed map of the surroundings, if used correctly, can push a player to the top of the early game competition.

However the best two benefits are the greater talent point and surprisingly enough the upgraded player gear.

The upgraded player gear entitles slightly better beginner gear but more importantly a limitless water bottle that can produce 40L of water a day. Don’t underestimate limitless water, especially in a game that is designed to teach you how to survive!!!

Brushing aside the screen I waited with bated intisepation for the next screen, character creation!

“Ding, the system has registered your comprehension of the previous information, would you now like to start your character creation?”

With a slight curve of the lips I stated “Yes”, yes to a new beginning, yes to a new hope and yes to a new future!

“Ding, unlike conventional games this system utilises realistic data to calculate your basic stats, appearance, abilities and comprehension with only slight modifications available to your character. All other modifications to the player must happen in game with a multitude of mutations, modifications and adaptions available. Also all other stats must be self discovers or integrated into the player during the game to add them into the table. However beware not all changes may happen according to the players will!”

“Please review your base stats and designate your improvements.”

Type Tier 0-10 Grade-Lower Middle Upper Average Human

Improvements

Minor-2

Greater-2

Physical-Body 0 Lower Middle 1 Minor Mental-Ability 0 Lower Middle 1 Minor Regeneration-(Racial limit-X2 points required) 0 Upper Lower Use 2 Greater Magical Capacity-(Racial inability) Na Na Na Mutation??? ? ? ? Adaption??? ? ? ?

Brushing aside the informative screen a table popped up with basic stats.

After review the information I new and applying the upgrades the system dinged in affirmation and disappeared.

“Ding congratulations user for being the first player to reach tier 1 in a stat, for reaching tier 1 additional information regarding tier 1 regeneration will become available to you. Additionally for being the first to have a tier 1 stat you have gained the unranked ability, regenerative blood.”

Feeling a tingle of pleasure run up my spine at the unexpected benefit I tap on regenerative blood for more information and after a second of consideration I figured I might as well refresh my mind on the benefits of tier 1 regeneration.

“Ding, regenerative blood-A very rare ability that requires no resource other than time to recharge between each use. Regenerative blood stores excess lifeforce within the blood of the user allowing them to rapidly regenerate from life threatening wounds within an extremely short time, it is a percentage based ability that scales, like most abilities with the level of the user.

Regenerative Blood- Cooldown 24hrs. Cost-NA

Restoration-25% of the users maximum health-(does not impact poison or diseases)- up to life threatening wounds.

Tier 1-Lower-Regeneration-Grants superior regenerative abilities to the user, allowing wounds and lesser wounds to heal within 12-24hours. Also speeding up the recover for all energy types that place a strain on the body.”

Finally getting to the end of that tedious info dump, I call up one last screen before confirm my choices.

“Ding, congratulations for finalising your stats please select your name and race.”

Race Type Description Tier Insert Name Human-Subtypes-Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern

Biological Social Physical

A hardy race know for its endurance and survival despite is low tier. 0 Crescent Locked ? ? ? Na Locked ? ? ? Na

Expanding the subtypes tab I filtered through the descriptions and picked one.

“Ding”

Subtype Description Eastern An Asian subtype that benefits from tropical climates and can eat from a larger variety of food due to their inherent low disease resistance. They possess slightly smaller bodies but enjoy slightly better eye sight than other subtypes Western The Western subtype enjoys increased body mass and benefits from a dry climate. They can survive with less water than their other subtypes Northern The Northern subtype is unaffected by high altitudes and thin air. They benefit greatly from hilly and mountainous climates. Southern The Southern subtype is gifted from birth with incredible resistance to the cold. Allowing them to comfortably exist in sub-zero temperatures. However they suffer greatly in other climates. They are gifted in dexterity and make great craftsman.

Finally setting on an Eastern subtype I finalise my character and prepare to enter a whole new world.

“Ding, character finalised, generating, randomising spawn point...... 3, 2, 1”

The room faded to white and my eyes started hurting, very slowly the piecing pain in my eyes started to clear up several seconds later.

Swaying my head from side to side, I was overwhelmed yet again at the beauty of this place, swaying tall and proud trees

surround me, only offset by the unique undergrowth. It came in all sizes, bushy plants possessing wicked spikes, tall and long evergreen ferns defined by their sharp hooks at the end of each leave, hidden ground lilies ready to curl up and suffocate any unsuspecting small creature and these are just nameing a few. Suddenly 2 pleasant chimes rang in my ears.

“Ding”

Welcome to the World of Aurào, a beautiful world still in its early stages of development. The natives of the land currently battle monstrous forces of nature and mana mutated abomination. Numerous strange and dangerous beings, areas and deseases litter the land due to the fluctuations in mana density.

Currently still in its primitive state Aurào will continue to be developed by the natives and players of this land over the next 22 as they battle mysterious phenomena and enemies. Good luck survivors may you survive and prosper.

Congratulations player, you have been registered as a “special player” within the system due to the pod you have logged in on. Due to your situation you have been bestowed the unique ability “Stabilised Mutagenic DNA”. Please click on the skill to see the description!

Skill: Stabilised Mutagenic DNA

No longer are you bound by the shackles DNA, nor by your inability to direct mutations...

Effects-Greatly increased mutation chance and the ability to vaguely direct your mutations (affected by variables)