“Zen.” The name I go by in real life and in all my games. I really like it. I came up with it since I grew up on the street. The only memento I have of my parents is a necklace from my parents.

I don’t know where I am from or how I survived in the slums all this time. However I do remember the accident my parents and me were involved. Don’t remember their names or how they looked like, since I was only three years old when it happened. I am currently 21 years old graduated from the regular schools with almost a failing grade in all my classes. I guess I was kind of a lucky guy.

I grew up on the streets and shelter homes for the homeless. It’s currently the new year of 521SL. Why SL? Well they started counting years again from 0SL when they launched the first mission to colonize mars.

The shelter home I was raised at was filled with older men and women and absolutely no kids. The other shelter homes had a few there and here. During my stay there they all became my family. To an even greater extent they put their money together and went to buy me a simple laptop where I could enjoy different 2D games. I especially like RPG games. To my surprise they even bought me a small solar panel that could recharge my laptop during the day when I was in school. Basic education was made to be free for everyone. I only went there for the free breakfast and lunch that they provided. Well I also did attend class from time to time.

The entire city that we stayed at was exceptionally poor. One could even say it was the slums for the entire world. Over 21000 people lived in this city. However this city was never reconstructed after the WW3 fortunately there were no radioactive materials that were used during the war. So I guess we were lucky.

Back to the topic of what’s so important about this day. As it happens today is the day that I have saved enough money to get myself a virtual reality machine of my own. They aren’t that expensive, to be exact the machine itself is only $100 dollars. However growing in the slums and shelter homes where one rarely sees even a dollar. One could say I was lucky that I was able to accumulate such amount and not have it discovered by the other money hungry people in the slums. As for food, the school provided most of it. At the shelter home I was able to use the fallen rocks and boulders to make myself a private room.

So the shelter I stayed at was an abandoned warehouse that was covered and patched up by the older men to shield us from the rain and wind. The let me build my own room, which was right in the center of the warehouse. No one minded since they all knew that it would help support the warehouses roof that gave way to heavy down poor from the rain. Everyone had a makeshift room however mine was the only one that had 4 walls made of stone, bricks, boulders and rocks.

Ahg….. I’m getting off topic again. Ok so I am now standing in front of T.I.E. One might think that I am talking about a tie, which I am not. I don’t know what it stands for however I do know it is the world biggest and known company that is even launching ships back and forth between mars and earth as we speak. It is a company that came up and invented Virtual Reality processing. At first its initial use was to send astronauts to farther places in the universe and while being in cryogenic sleep they could connect to the virtual reality and through that keep in contact with earth and relatives as well as family.

The interesting part is that the company is still somehow able to hold the intellectual property rights for the invention. So it came up with only 2 virtual realities. One is called the Business Virtual World which was made public around 20 years ago and before that it was extremely expensive so only business executives where able to use it for business to have meeting across the 3 world that where now colonized and were terraforming. The second virtual reality came to be made public about 1 year ago. Without any fees of any sort other than you only had to buy the equipment.

Agh…. Again getting of topic.

As I walked in T.I.E., I was greeted by a young lady who immediately as if seeing where my focus was at asked me. “Are you here to buy the virtual reality machine?

Zen: Yes. I am Miss.

Sales Lady: My name is Lea. As it would have it we have just received the new upgraded version from T.I.E.. It has been a while since anyone has bought a new machine from us since most of the people either have it or just come only for upgrades. The company is also tossing out the old models starting tomorrow. Even though the machines have no correlation with the game play they went from wearing a helmet type to having a watch that wraps around your wrist and as you can see in front of you the watches that I am talking about. From these devices you can enter both of the virtual realities.

Zen: There is a problem miss. I came to buy the model that costs $100 dollars and as I can clearly read the tag it says it’s $1000.

Lea: Hmmmmm. Let me talk to the manager. Perhaps we still have one of those older models.

As I was so anxious and quite dirty compared to this place being so clean. I almost did not move from my spot not wanting to dirty and give the cleaning people more work, by dirtying up the place.

15 minutes later…

Lea: Here is my manager who wants to talk to you.

Manager: I am truly sorry sir we do not have the older models. We are replacing the older models with the new models free of cost. So this is what I am able to do for you and only you. I will make the transaction as if you bough the older model today, however as a friend I did you a favor and upgraded the older model you had to the newer one a day before. They are already in use in other places of the world and even on the other world so you are the first that will have it and no one will know. How does that sound young man?

As my hands that where clasping each other relaxed for a bit. I composed myself and asked. “So how much will I have to pay?”

Manager: Older models cost $100 dollars so only that much.

Zen: Deal.

Manager: Then Lea will finish up with the registration.

Lea: What was your name again young man?

Zen: Call me Zen.

Lea: Zen will you follow me please.

As I followed her we entered a long corridor. It was almost like a long corridor of changing rooms. We entered one of the rooms and in it I saw a shower and a the other part of the room was a huge machine.

Lea: It is our companies policy that everyone who makes a new account with us that would like to use either of the two realities take a shower and then step in, in to this machine like so and when ready say. “I am ready.” The machine then will scan you completely, everything from brain waves to heartbeat and cellular structure and even your DNA. There on the bench is a complimentary set of clothes and a robe that you may take with you, when you are done with the scan.

As she left, I undressed and took a shower that seemed to be the longest shower of my life. It was mainly because I didn’t want to leave. What brought me back to reality was the sound in the speaker that said the water would turn off in 5 minutes. I finished enjoying the amazing shower that I rarely got to take.

To sum it up I had to stand in the machine for about 20 minutes until it was complete. Put on the new complementary clothes while taking my other clothes and stepped out side. The sales lady as if waiting for me on the chair near the door. Stood up, she her self seemed to be half asleep by now.

Zen: How long was I in there?

Lea: 1 hour 22 minutes and 15 seconds.

My jaw dropped.

Lea: I bet you were enjoying the shower weren’t you?

Zen: Yea. I don’t have one a home so it was a really good experience.

Lea: Well here it is your watch and just before we finish this transaction. Please put on the watch and come to the machine and place your hand in the holder and it will synchronize you with the watch. I must tell you that with this watch system can only be used by you and if you lose it or it breaks we will replace it free of charge. It will not work with anyone else since it will synchronize with you to the last fiber of your being.

After another 5 minutes I was done and heading home rapidly to try out the new game.

When I got back home many of the older people in my homeless shelter were waiting for my return since everyone knew where I went. When I came back home. Their eyes were wide open when they saw I had only a bag with my clothes. “Where is it?” one of them asked.

I looked up and grinned as I showed them the watch. “What we thought you went to buy that virtual reality machine and all you got is a stupid watch where one can find in almost all of the garbages?”

Zen: No no. This is the new and improved virtual reality machine.

Everyone’s jaw dropped even further than before. “Go on then boy it is your birthday. You can play for a week and we’ll supply your food for that duration of the time only, so don’t forget to come out and eat.” Said a grandpa I considered to be the closest thing to a family. His name is Jo. So I call him Grandpa Jo.

I hurried in to my room and was struck by another fact. I didn’t know how to start it up. Fiddling with it for about 2 hours, even searching online on my laptop I could not find how to start the watch.

Zen: Damn that game watch.

As soon as I said the word game, a voice in my head rang out. Would you like to start the Virtual Game?

Zen: Yes. Hurayyyy

As I said that, I felt as if I fell asleep in the real world within seconds. To only realize I was standing on top of a mountain that was flat with a desk and a chair. I was standing around for quite some time while I was enjoying the scenery. After sitting down behind the desk a screen mid air popped up. “Character Creation.”

It seemed to recognize that it was my first account ever and so it prompted that. I first chose my name that I always use. Zen. Just Zen.

I had read many times about this game to learn that you can practically do anything you wanted. The first 60 hours of game play. You were under a noob protection that meant no one could kill you. However it also meant you could not kill anything-even monsters. It also meant that you could not be affected by any damaging ailments. Poison, fever, infection, and even could not drown, however you could only do what your low stats would allow. This also meant that if something ate you big you would have to go through its digestive system until you were spat out the other side. I definitely don’t want to try that out. The interesting thing that was said on the forums was that the location of the appearance of the desk for the individuals was constantly in a different place.

Right after creating the character and what I chose to be, is a human, with the look of my original body. The desk disappeared and I was still sitting on the chair and around me appeared a total of 15 basic items I could choose from them only 5 items. It had items such as a basic ax, sword, dagger and so on. Another window popped up in front of me and said pick your items carefully.

Before I could decide what I wanted. I lay down and even at one point wanted to see if I could step off the peak of the mountain. Only to find out that there was an invisible wall around the place I was at. Well either way I already knew what I wanted to do and that was to build something that would pass the test of time in this game. I have read that there were wars and such. However I wanted to build something that could even withstand those wars. Well I will see what I need later. For now the basic instrument I need to start building such structure was definitely the following tools. Ax, carving knife, flint stones, pot, and a bag.

As I finished the rest of the items disappeared and 3 pedestals appeared. Before proceeding I wanted to see if I could see my stats windows. Since I played many games I pretty much thought it would be similar.

“Status Window” I called out.

Notification!!!

You may only see your stats/skills prior to reaching level 20, through the means of getting a status ring, which you may purchase at any Inn.

Well seems I’ll have to find an Inn at some point or just go blind until I reach level 20.

As I approached the pedestal I noticed it had 3 destinations. 3 Random villages where selected none of them a city. Then I noticed another fact that the place I stood at all of a sudden had an unknown breeze blowing through. I again approached the edge of the platform to that the invisible wall that was there before was gone. So even without looking at the options I took another step to see if I really was going to fall off.

I did start falling. To be precise I jumped the last minute to feel what it was to fly/ fall down from the peak of the mountain. As I twirled in the air I saw that the platform disappeared. All that was before me was a pointy mountain peak, the highest in the area.

When I first realized there was an invisible wall, around the platform. I could not see what was below that, even though I could clearly see that since I was so high up and that around me there were a few more peaks poking out of the clouds. I knew that I was on a mountain. Although now I could see what awaited me just below the platform that obstructed my vision.

What I saw was terrifying to a point that my blood became cold and my heart stopped beating. Not exactly like that but something similar to that, of what I saw before me. My destination was covered by snow and green forest. However 5 huge mountains surrounded it and unless I scaled them or dug through them, there was no way I was getting out. What was even worse was what was beyond those mountains and I could not see an end to that where snowy mountains more and more of them, almost as far as I could see.

I knew then that there was no point of looking for a village. Since it was to mountains and spread as far as the eye could see. Only near the horizon could you see some planes.

So it seems that I might have to survive in these plains for a while. Not too bad since I did want to explore this type of world. Either way we have lost what I see before me in the real world so guess I better make the most of my experience.

As I was falling and actually hitting the side of the mountain as I skid down a window popped up in front of me that really stood out from the rest.

Notification!!!

We have verified and are now syncing your inheritance package. Please have our condolences for your loss!

I was at a daze. Why did I receive some sort of inheritance package? I just ignored it since it made no sense, because the game in itself was only available for public only like what one or two years.

Well it seems I was pretty high and still falling crashing from rock to rock. As I hit the rock bottom another message appeared.

Notification!!!

You have arrived at your starting point for the game. This will be your respawn point until you get to a village or bigger populated area. Currently you are under NoobSter protection.

Meaning:- You will not be able to kill or die for the next 60 in game hours.- When you log off your remaining hours will be saved.

Notification!!!

- You are eligible to receive inheritance stats, inheritance items, and inheritance skill.

- You have inherited 1/20 of your parents stats combined.

- Please check your bag, since you have inherited 2 items from your Fathers and Mother’s inheritance. (Items will be one from each parent with their highest item/ equipment level. You can view the items info by saying, “identify”. All of the item/equipment requirements for the inherited items will be waived so that you may be able to use them, however if you sell them then those requirement will be reestablished.)

- You have inherited 2 skills from your father and mother. (Unfortunately you won’t know what they are until you either get to level 20 or buy a status ring. All of the class/ profession requirement for the inherited skills will be waived. Mana and Stamina consumption will still be in effect.)

I was stunned by these messages. For a big reason since I know that even though those testing periods existed, you had to be either lucky or working on the project itself to get to participate. Well I went ahead to identify the items I got. I was really, really anxious.

Both of these items I could tell what they where without even identifying them.

A pickax (one of its ends was a hammer end) and a cape (with a hood), is what I got. It might seem to me my folks were probably real Noobs. I chuckled to myself. Either way I went ahead and identified them.

As I took the pickax I said:

“Identify

Katonium Pickax LVL 100 -Indestructible-

Damage: 1000 Piercing900 Blunt*********

2000 Fire

2000 Earth

*********

Requirements: LVL. 150STR 1850AGI 750

DEX 750

Required Race: Dwarven

Additional Effects: 75% Element Immunity+500 STR

+5000 Stamina

750% Stamina Recovery

Description & Smiths Note: Made by an unknown Legendary Dwarf Smith with the Guidance of a Dragon.That being that ever receives this item.I will impart a simple fact of how to make Katonium. (Mix a melted: diamond, mithril, platinum, and titanium.)

Notification: All requirements (including race) are waived for “Zen” in using this specific Item.You can start using this item immediately.

I have played many games but even to get a hold of such unique item. It was unimaginable for me. My mouth stayed open as if it gained 1000lbs. can’t believe just what was with this item. I felt bad for making fun of the one who was a dwarf from my parents, most likely my dad. Well either way I wasn’t going to let go a heirloom of sorts from my folks, especially since the race requirement was waved and I could use this item immediately.

I was ecstatic to start my project that I immediately came up while looking at this pickax.

Then I held up the cape and also identified it.

Moon Wave Cape LVL 100 -Indestructible-

Armor: 350-50% Any Damage

Requirements: LVL. 150AGI 1850DEX 1500

Required Race: Elven

Additional Effects: 95% Element Immunity+250 AGI

+250 DEX

+5000 Mana

750% Mana Recovery

Description & Crafters Note: We are a race called Zefron. Find us if you can.

Notification: All requirements (including race) are waived for “Zen” in using this specific Item. You can start using this item immediately.

My mouth actually started to hurt from the grin I had on my face. With that thought on my mind I logged out to tell everyone the good news. Which is that the virtual machine watch actually works. All of them saw me struggling to turn it on; so all of the residents assumed it was defective or that I was scammed.

As the logging out went pretty easy. All I had to do was say log out.

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