Chapter 32 Inside Of A Game
Chapter 32 Inside Of A Game
As I felt the headset consume me everything was pitch dark black. My breath echoed inside the sealed world, the only sound besides a faint hum somewhere near my ears.
Then, a flicker of light pierced the darkness, blooming into a holographic screen. [Would you like to create a character?]
a soft voice said. I tried to find the "yes" button, my fingers searching the empty air before I remembered the power of spoken words.
"Yes," I said, my voice sounding unfamiliarly bold in the silence.
[Character Customization process loading... Loading Complete.]
For the first 20 minutes of the game, I spent making my character. She had no resemblance to what I looked like but I felt strangely connected to this woman. Pale skin, violet eyes with electric blue pupils, long dark violet hair – none of it me, yet somehow, all me. Dressed in the default armour and breastplate, she looked ready to poke an eye out with her oversized breast.
Maybe I spent too much time customizing someone who wasn't even me, I thought, but the process had been oddly satisfying.
[Please Enter Your Desire Username] the voice chirped again.
Hmm, maybe Val… Nah, too boring. this one should do...
Click! Click! Click!
Ding!
[Confirming username: Val.Nessa444... Username check complete!]
[Would you like to go through the tutorial?]
Oh? I assume this is where the game shows me how to play, I guess it wouldn't hurt to go through a tutorial I hope this won't take long.
"Sure"
[Transporting Character...]
SWANG
The world swirled back into existence, replaced by the emerald glow of an alien forest. Towering ferns brushed against my metallic armour as I took in the scenery.
Unfamiliar noises thrummed – buzzing unseen insects, rustling leaves whispering secrets on the unseen wind.
DING!
[Character Class Selection]
[Class 1: Knight Class: Knights are valiant warriors specializing in close-quarter combat. They serve as the frontline defenders, using their shields and swords to protect allies and mitigate damage. Knights excel in maintaining aggro and drawing the attention of enemies away from more vulnerable party members.]
[Class 2: Mage Class: Mages harness the power of magical forces, unleashing devastating spells to decimate enemies from a distance. Masters of elemental magic, Mages can cast spells of fire, ice, lightning, and many more! While physically frail, their ability to control the battlefield with powerful AoE (Area of Effect) spells makes them indispensable in group encounters.
[Class 3: Healer Class: Healers are the heart of any adventuring party, dedicated to mending wounds and restoring vitality. Armed with potent healing spells, they ensure the survival of their allies in the heat of battle. [Class 4: Brusier Class: Bruisers are versatile warriors who blend elements of offence and defence. With a focus on dealing with damage while maintaining survivability, they can adapt to various combat situations. Bruisers excel in disrupting enemy formations, engaging in sustained combat, and delivering powerful blows.
[Class 5: Tank Class: Tanks are the indomitable fortresses of the party, absorbing damage and protecting their allies. Clad in resilient armour, they specialize in drawing enemy aggression and mitigating incoming attacks. [Class 6: Ranged Class: Ranged classes excel in attacking enemies from a safe distance, avoiding direct confrontation. Skilled marksmen and archers, deliver precise and deadly strikes with bows, crossbows, or magical projectiles. [Not Recommended for beginners] [Class 7: Assasin Class: Assassins are masters of stealth and precision, specializing in eliminating targets swiftly and silently. Armed with deadly daggers or concealed weapons, they excel in ambush tactics and infiltration. Assassins are agile and elusive, capable of bypassing enemy defences and delivering critical strikes.]
Looking at these classes I think it's only right I go to the knight class since it's the only thing close to using a sword but the assassin class doesn't look bad either.
"I'd like to go with Class 1: Knight Class" [Selection Confirmed... The tutorial will begin in 10 seconds]
The holographic world began loading once again and I found myself positioned elsewhere at the edge of the dense forest.
{----------}
[Items Received]
Standard Blade (Common)
5 Health Potions (Common)
Ability: Empowered Slash (Upon activating this ability, receive a 10% attack increase on the next slash) (Uncommon)
{----------}
[Tutorial Quest: Slay the goblin camp!]
[Rewards: 100 xp, 50 CP (Crown Points)]
The notifications around me started popping up like wildfire, items that were stored in my inventory appeared out of nowhere, and now I have a quest to kill a goblin camp? this game really is confusing...
As I navigated through my inventory, it was challenging, especially when equipping this standard blade of mine. When it finally landed right in my hands, it was replaced by a clunky longsword that felt more like Jan's style than mine.
Using a longsword is fine with me, as long as it's not larger than my body. When I tried lifting it, the weight wasn't too bad and I could hold it up quite firmly. Compared to the weapons at the academy, the sword felt quite light.
But I do have to take into account that this isn't real life; it's virtual reality.
Now that I got this whole sword prep out of the way my eyes glued back on the quest screen, I plunged into the forest, in silence moving in like a tangible weight.
Tap, tap, tap,
my boots echoed on the dusty trail, every rustle of leaves amplifying the emptiness. Was this the entire game?
An unsettling thought. Walking down the dirt trail of this forest there was considerably no life around me so it made me question if this was purposely made to creep new players out.
Then, a wisp of smoke snagged my attention. It curled like a mischievous finger from behind a thicket.
I remained stealthily as I edged closer, eyes peeled for the closest goblin. Through the foliage, I glimpsed a gaggle of them huddled around a campfire, chattering away like overcaffeinated gremlins.
They were blissfully unaware of my presence, lost in their goblin world. so I think it's best If I just end this quickly.
I gripped the hilt of my Standard Blade and focused on the goblins closest to me which were the ones sitting by the campfire.
In one swift motion, I swung my blade and lightning sparked as its energy enveloped my sword, activating Chain Reaction.
As the blade cut through the air, a series of lightning erupted, striking the initial goblin. the lightning arced to the next goblin in line. The interconnected chain of energy continued, a mesmerizing dance of electric currents that leapt from one goblin to another.
[2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] GYAK!!!!!!
The goblins, caught in the web of lightning, convulsed with each successive strike. The energy surged through their bodies, chaining together in a relentless assault.
[2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] [2.5 dmg!] But the problem was I was only doing 2.5 damage to their 100 hp I wondered if it was because my damage in real life doesn't apply here. or I needed to hit them with my sword since it deals 10 damage per hit to their 100 hp. how sad...
As the current of lightning dealt countless damage to the goblins I ran straight towards them to finish the job.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
As the lightning chain had no more targets to deal with I slashed all the goblins into bits as their holographic bodies faded into small blue particles.
{----------}
[Tutorial Quest Completed:]
[Rewards Earned]
Goblin Marauder's Ear (Common Crafting Material)
100 Experience Points
50 Crown Points
{----------}
[You will now be teleported to the player lounge shortly...]
After Valencia was teleported shortly into the player's lobby the scene that she saw uncovered her love for gaming.
[Crown Falls Main City: Eternity Falls]
[Location: Eternities Plaza]
Many NPCs and players roamed the city of Eternity Falls; this place alone had 1/4 of its player base.
As those who started their journey and those who had come back from a long one lived in Eternity Falls, this place was a medieval world with a mix of almost everything.
Towers of polished marble scraped the sky, their windows reflecting the holographic neon that pulsed through the streets.
In front of Valencia, a holographic map of this game's world formed in front of her eyes.
[Crownfall's Map]
[For new players and returners here are the following points of interest you should visit - Developers] n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
[Auction house - Located North of Central Townhall.]
[Martin's Weaponry - Located on the East Side of Central Town Hall]
[Verk the Merchant - Located South Side of Central Townhall]
[Merchant Markets Located West Side of Central Townhall]
[Your current location: Crown Fall Spawnpoint]
The crowd around her was a living tapestry of players. Short, tall, stacked with armour, or decked in flowing robes, everyone looked like they'd stepped out of their wildest fantasy.
A hulking Orc warrior with an axe larger than Valencia herself bumped shoulders with her, then winked and boomed, "Welcome to the game, newbie! May your loot be plentiful and your deaths be few!" Yeah, she realized it's different from the grocery store back home.
Valencia looked around the place for a bit and came to a sudden stop after hearing a conversation drift by.
"That raid was brutal! Can you believe 'Ran' cleared it in six minutes flat? We barely scraped through in thirty-two!" Her ears perked up. Ran, who's that?
"Ran is one of the fastest-growing players in Crown after all; he even beat level 30 guards when he was only level 2!"
"I can't think of any other pro who's equal to him as of now."
Overhearing the conversation, Valencia remembered why she was here in the first place, and it was to train, so she pulled up one of the help UI screens.
NWANG
[For Quest to level up, farm, or to do the main storylines for the game's progression there's an area up in the north where you'll discover the main quest givers in the town called the Town of Beginnings]
_________
Author's Notes:
- The game Crown Fall allows players to manifest their IRL abilities in their virtual game which was a genius design made by a certain character...
- Valencia's ability chain reaction: it's a unique ability to initiate a sequence of interconnected and devastating attacks of lightning. Each strike sets off a reaction, allowing her to overwhelm multiple opponents at once with a flurry of precise and powerful blows.
- Information on Valencia's ability, Chain Attacks: This skill enhances Valencia's combat attacks by enabling her to seamlessly string together a series of attacks with one target or more if it's a single target the damage will multiply by 2x, if there is more than one opponent Valencia's chain of attacks will create a fluid and continuous slashes until the targets perish.