“Damn, it’s always the good ones that die first,” Alex groaned as he finished another chapter from his newest escape from reality. He’d been binging the book for the last week and become pretty attached to the characters, so this one had hit him hard. As he debated whether he was ready for the next chapter or not, his phone let out a small chime. Glancing at the spot on his bed he’d dropped it, Alex saw it was Amy and knew the decision had been made for him.
Rolling out of bed, he grabbed the clothes he’d left on the nearby recliner and changed. Alex had made sure to shower early so he could read before leaving, or better yet just keep reading if he managed to cancel, but the group hadn’t let him. Alex knew Amy specifically would come to his dorm and drag him out herself. After putting on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie Alex grabbed his skateboard and shoulder bag. Making sure to check his pockets for the four essentials, phone, headphones, wallet, and keys, before leaving. It was March and his phone said the temperature was around sixty, but the wind chill lowered it by ten degrees forcing Alex to run back inside to grab a jacket.
The campus was relatively empty as he cruised, through Alex cursed his bad luck when he saw, friends of Haley, his ex-girlfriend. His recent breakup had been his friends’ excuse to go out drinking, but Alex knew they were just a bunch of burgeoning alcoholics. After another look at the pair, he confirmed he hadn’t been noticed and decided to keep it that way. Making a quick kick turn he headed for a nearby building.
Emily and Riley were technically his friends too, they’d all met almost a year ago when Alex’s relationship was still new, but he’d heard how breakups went. Even if no one was forced to pick a side like in movies, Alex thought it was in his best interest to avoid the situation for now. Coming to a stop he caught his board as he opened the door to the game room. It had been donated to the school by some billionaire alumni who’d struck it big in the gaming industry. What was probably a big tax write-off to him, had been Alex’s favorite thing about the school. He, and half the campus had spent countless nights playing and relaxing in the nine-story building, though tonight it was comparably quiet. Midterms were approaching after all, and you had to still be in the school if you wanted to use the game room. The thought made Alex remember his physics test in three days, and he was not looking forward to it. He loved the subject, but it appeared to be a one-sided affair; at least he was almost finished.
Downloading a few books onto his phone so he could study on his way to work tomorrow, Alex exited the building and hopped back on his board headed for the campus gates. It took him another ten minutes to arrive at the address his friends had posted in the group chat. The place’s awning had the familiar Korean lettering that suggested Korean BBQ, but the inside screamed bar, and that meant Amy would be trying to kill everyone. Alex had been so convinced he'd find a way out of going he hadn't bothered to look it up. Mentally promising himself that he wouldn’t get drunk, Alex made his way into the restaurant. After a brief chat with the hostess, he was led to the table full of familiar faces, smile faltering as his fears were instantly confirmed. Alex was on time, just barely, but it was true, that meant the group of six should have just been seated. Instead, it looked like they’d already finished their first round.
“Xander,” Kevin called as he was the first to notice him, then soon there were a chorus of “wow you’re actually here”, and “I didn’t think you come”.
Alex’s smile returned as he greeted all his friends, he hadn’t wanted to come, but he was glad he did. Dropping the grin, he put on an outraged expression. “I’m insulted by the lack of faith you had in me,” Alex said in a faux British accent. “My own friends!” An overexaggerated gasp followed, before he continued speaking. “Alas it might be time for me to go.” Turning on one heel he barely got his foot off the ground before he was pulled into the booth by Travis; the action accompanied by a group laugh.
“You’re so melodramatic, I think theater was your calling not science.” Amy grinned at him as she spoke from across the table, and Alex put on a hurt look, accent still present.
“For my tutor to say such words of me. Oh! I must be a failure of a student.” Closing his eyes, Alex placed a hand on his forehead, palm out. When he opened them, Amy nodded, a solemn look on her face.
“It is true gakusei, but luckily I have prepared you a potion of intelligence.”
It was too much, Alex instantly broke character as he looked at the drink that hadn’t been in front of him a moment ago, a loud curse escaping his lips. He’d been “Iced.” Well at least Amy’s equivalent of it. It was her signature drink, the official title was still up for debate, with the final two candidates being Dragonshot and Dragonshit.
It was quarter Lychee soju, quarter apple soju, quarter dragon fruit soju, ten percent tonic, and a teaspoon of bitters. Then there was the shot, or as Amy preferred, shit. That was the worst part; the “shit” could be anything. Mike had gotten stuck with Absinthe once. Lucky for him, it didn’t stay down long enough to do much real damage.
“That’s not how it works! I have to find the drink,” Alex cried, a series of boos erupting around him.
“You did find it,” Jayla said, not looking up from the grill. “You sat right in front of it.”
“Oh! I see what’s happening here. Fine, but I’ll remember this. What’s the shit?”
Amy grinned mischievously, brown eyes almost slits. “Nothing too bad.” Instead of telling him she took the shot glass full of clear liquid and dropped it in.
‘Tequila,’ Alex thought to himself as the smell hit his nose. Rather than do the dumbest thing he could think of by drinking it on an empty stomach, he asked Jayla if she had finished anything, and she filled his plate. Mike was the one actually in charge of cooking, but he was lazy and Jayla, his girlfriend, was much better at it anyway. Everyone was upset that Alex hadn’t gotten himself blackout drunk in the first three minutes of being there, but no one objected to him eating. Ten minutes later he downed the dragonshot.
“Definitely Tequila,” Alex rasped through the burn traveling down his throat.
Everyone cheered as he put the glass down, making sure not to look up for too long lest they be next on the “shit list”. Luckily the food had done its job, the evil alchemist’s concoction only managing to get him buzzed. The group continued to talk, drink, eat, and just altogether enjoy each other’s company as the night passed. It was their third time discussing the sore subject that was Haley when Alex had enough.
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“Look I get what you're saying, just give me a minute I need to cool off.”
“Hey man, I’ll come with,” Travis said trying to get around Keith and Amy. Alex grinned at him. They had been best friends since elementary school, and he knew the man was just trying to help.
“Nah it’s cool man. Plus, you don’t have a board.”
Picking up said object Alex made his way through the restaurant, hoping to get out before anyone could catch up to him. The street was clear, so he put his board down and crossed. Alex’s balance was hindered by the amount of alcohol he’d consumed but after nearly ten years of practice, he could manage the simple task easy enough. He really did just want some air and would go back; after he made a phone call. Leaning against the wall of a now closed shop Alex took out his phone. It was doing that thing where the screen was dirty, and the fingerprint wouldn’t scan correctly so he decided to just put his passcode in. Failing the prompt, he remembered his earlier promise and questioned why he’d drank so much, but the answer was clear. Amy had a bottle opening party trick and had been trying to show off to Keith. He was a relatively new member to the group and everyone but him knew Amy had a crush.
‘Speak of the devil,’ Alex thought to himself as he saw Keith exit the restaurant. The man seemed nice enough, if not a bit aggressive in his earnestness. Not wanting to have that conversation, Alex rounded the corner into the alley. It was dark and smelled faintly of urine but after using his flashlight to quickly check that it was clear, he moved further in. Three, five, four, nine, two, two. Alex’s phone opened, and his heartbeat sped up. He’d forgotten for a moment that his home screen was a picture of them together, it made his resolve waiver.
Haley and Alex had dated for a little over a year, and even though they were still in college, to some degree he’d seen them getting married. At the very least he hadn’t imagined this. His friends said it was his overactive imagination. They’d hung out enough for the group to get a sense of the relationship and almost all of them swore he was in love with the idea he’d built up in his head more than the woman herself. Alex knew that couldn’t be true, she was the same in real life as in his head.
“We just need to talk,” he told himself.
Managing to find her last call a little over a week ago, all of his friend’s names burying her number, Alex didn’t do it. The alcohol made it a few seconds before he realized he couldn’t call. Half an inch above his phone screen his thumb hovered, completely out of his control. For a moment his mind went into overdrive, the alcohol’s effects receding. Was it a stroke, or maybe he was about to have a seizure, he hoped someone would find-. Suddenly his ears popped, followed by a sharp single note whistle, as if he’d sat in silence for too long. After another moment of the nausea inducing tone there was a different sound, this one similar to a computer start up, though none he recognized.
Daaa-Doom
***
– Installed –
– User Designation… Calculating –
User setting updates available
Please read terms and interface manual
– Initializing–
– System Initialization Successful –
Welcome User Alexander Omar Hunter
***
Floored by the sudden influx of information appearing in text, audio, and directly in his mind all at once, Alex felt his grip on his phone loosen. Fortunately, even through the drunken haze, quick reflexes allowed him to kick a foot out. He hoped the screen wasn’t cracked. Bending down to pick up the dropped device a new voice, this one also feminine but less robotic, more sultry, spoke.
“Welcome Citizens of-” there was a sudden garbling of the voice, as if it was being scrambled, but it returned to normal the next second. “I am proud to personally welcome each and every one of you to the integrated systems. While you will come to learn more of the systems in the coming years, I’ve always believed people learn best when ‘thrown in headfirst’ as you say. However, this learning will not be without help, unless you choose for it to be that is, as your newly installed system will be your handy guide to understanding this new world. Congratulations, and may you progress far on your path to greatness.”
As the voice spoke, Alex had taken a seat on the alley’s pavement, unsure how much of what was happening was due to the alcohol. He’d been quickly sobering, but the brain fog was still present. With the amount of times, he’d dreamed of something like this happening, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume he’s passed out and was having an extremely lucid dream. Alex became more confident in that assertion when nothing happened for the next few minutes. Finally grabbing his phone, he put it in his bag and began making his way back to the street. Dream or not he figured he was better off with his friends.
Just before reaching the light of the streetlamp the second voice spoke again, something akin to embarrassment present. “Oh! Yes. I almost forgot, tutorial.”
Instantly information appeared in all three methods again and Alex barely managed to brace himself against the nearby wall.
“Fuck those hurts.”
***
–Tutorial Choices Activated–
Please pick from the following introductory tutorials. All tutorials will help you learn about how your Universe has changed, though some will offer more powerful paths than others. Choose Carefully.
Option 1: G- Grade
Tutorial Difficulty: Easy
Tutorial Method: Informational
Monster Rank: G
Population: Large
Rewards: Variable
… See more
Option 2: F-Grade
Tutorial Difficulty: Intermediate
Tutorial Method: Hybrid
Monster Rank: F
Population: Medium
Rewards: Variable
… See more
Option 3: E Grade
Tutorial Difficulty: Advanced
Tutorial Method: Combat
Monster Rank: F, E
Population: Low
Rewards: Variable
… See more
Option 4: Variable
Tutorial Difficulty: Insane
Tutorial Method: Hybrid
Monster Rank: Variable
Population: Solitary
Rewards: Variable
Warning: This trial will likely result in your death. Pick with caution.
… See more
Option 5: Variable
Tutorial Difficulty: Maximum
Monster Rank: Variable
Population: Scarce
Rewards: Variable
Warning: This trial will likely result in your death. Pick with caution.
… See more
***
“Monsters, grades. How are we supposed to know what any of this means? And why would anyone pick the last two options with warnings like that. They all offer the same rewards. This whole thing is just insan-” Instantly Alex shut his mouth, the brief migraine having faded enough for him to parse the information he’d been given, and the potential horror of his words. It wasn’t even the tutorial name just difficulty, but he didn’t want to risk it. Luckily, he’d managed to stop himself before this system decided he’d picked that death trap.
***
User Alexander Omar Hunter - Choice Acknowledged.
Transferring
***
All Alex could think of as the world around him faded into darkness was the last line of the trial’s description.
Warning: This trial will likely result in your death. Pick with caution.