Chapter 3:The Solo Player
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-stocks of the game has been immediately sold out-
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-hundreds of thousands are anticipating-
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-Amaron Online-
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And with that the TV was cut while leaving it's static resounding in the room.
Pushing his glasses up his nose, he then picks up a mug of coffee and takes a sip.
Enjoying the peaceful atmsophere, he closed his eyes.
The man in the prime of his life had sharp features making him quite handsome for his age. His hair held up with gel gave him a nonchalant image while what he wore, which were black-rimmed reading glasses, a suit with a necktie, and jet-black leather shoes gave him an astmosphere of a professional.
Being one of the administrators of the game, he was just happy that the game was selling.
Looking back at it, his eyebrow twitched when he remembered how much it took to make the game. Creating the systems, the codes and especially the AI.
Weeks of sleepless nights coupled with deadlines left him and his colleagues glued to their screens.
Making the game from scratch and from there, a long process of trial and error and finally debugging it.
Even if they did work through shifts, the entire process got them wondering whether or not they could finish.
Although pressured by deadlines, they wanted to make this game as perfect as possible. Even though the game is out now, they still think they could make a few adjustments here and there.
It was long and gruelling. But seeing many people anticipating the game made their skin crawl with excitement. Will they like it? Will they think it's good enough? Questions like these made them anxious and thrilled at the same time. Because when they ask themselves these questions, they could think of so many things they could do to improve it. They would often talk about future updates, hosting events, and even playing the game themselves.
Taking another sip of coffee, he was reminded again of being free from the hectic schedule and can finally enjoy their masterpiece. Though he wasn't the best player around, he's decent. But with Amaron Online, he thought he would want to fool around a bit.
“Joseeph!” Hearing a woman's voice, he stood up.
Walking out the door, he went for the stairs. Whilst taking the steps he heard the voice again.
“Joseeeph!” The voice called out merrily.
“I'm already coming.” Joseph replied.
As they're eyes met, the woman smiled.
“Dinner's ready.”
“And Pepper?” Joseph inquired.
“She's alreaady finished...” The woman gave a small smile. “She's pretty excited for today.”
Joseph smiled back.
The woman's name is Bella. Also one of his colleagues who worked on Amaron Online and Joseph's wife. Still retaining her beauty even through the course of the years, her blonde hair which is now braided hung over her shoulder.
Joseph chuckled as he remembered when they were still working on Amaron Online. He remembered when everybody just dropped and abandoned the word 'hygiene'. They all wore the same clothes everyday, not one person didn't have eyebags and anyone you talk to would have disheveled hair.
Guessing what was on his mind, Bella pouted and glared at him.
Noticing the look she was giving him, he smiled awkwardly and thought back to what she said last.
“W-Well, today is a very special day for us...”
Letting out a sigh, Bella replied. “Well I guess it is. And I'm in a good mood because of it. Now come. Dinner's getting cold.” She said walking back into the dining room.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, he followed.
Entering the dining room, he saw mouth-watering dishes on the table. Feasting his eyes before feeding his belly, his stomach growled in protest.
Hearing that, Bella chuckled and motioned him to sit.
Taking their seats, they began to eat. While enjoying they're meal they began to talk.
“So... about the game-”
“Sorry dear, but I'm not gonna change my mind.” Joseph said thoroughly.
Hearing this, Bella smiled sadly.
“Are you sure?”
“I'm sure. I wouldn't want to slow you guys down now do I?”
“But you won't slow us down... even Pepper's looking forward to it.”
“Haha, I'm sure she does.”
“Then-”
“But I'm still going solo.”
Sighing once again, Bella resumed eating.
Seeing this, Joseph tried to cheer her up.
“Maybe in the future?”
“You better.” Bella smiled.
Having the atmosphere lighten a bit, they quickly finish their food and cleaned up.
Going back to their room, they check the time.
9:35
Setting up their bed and their VR machines, they lie down and wait 'til it's 10:00.
While waiting, they start up a conversation about what they would do in the game.
“So it's like a literal tank build?” Joseph asked.
“I guess you could say that? Well what I mean to say is that I would want to deal a ton of damge whilst not taking any. Something like that.” Bella explained.
“But that's going to be quite hard, huh?”
“I guess so. What about you? What are you going to do?”
Pondering what to say, he replied.
“Something even harder.” Joseph smiled.
And at that moment, a cellphone rang. Hearing this, Joseph sat up and picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
-Ah, Joseph. About that item you asked about-
Hearing this, he grinned.
“Yeah, about that. Just tell me how to get it.”
Listening to her husband talking with their colleague, Bella asked unamused.
“You're up to something again aren't you?”
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
To her question Joseph just gave her a wry smile.
After a while, Joseph finished up his conversation, put the phone down, and turned to Bella.
“Well it seems I won't be going solo for now.”
Hearing this, she widened her eyes and beamed. “Really?!” Hugging him, she exclaimed.
After which, she said...
“But you better tell me what you're up to.”
Hesitating, he vaguely answered.
“Well, there's a kind of item I wanted so...” Joseph scratched his cheek.
“Isn't that a bit like cheating?”
“Well... you know? Hahaha...”
Being the developers, of course they would know more about the game than the players. But that only applies to the game's mechanics.
When making the game, they made a setting of a world with monsters and villages and let it advance for a few thousand years to get it where it is now. With kingdoms, heroes and dungeons not even the developers expected. Though they do admit that they did a bit of interfering here and there but more than half of the world is still a mystery to them.
What their colleague did was check the current database of the game to find said certain item.
And doing that, is HARD. Looking for something amongst the unbelievable amount of code of the game is really, really, really hard.
Why you say do they not look at the game itself rather than the code? Well, where's the fun in that!
But since they do have a bit of an advantage, they decided to impose a few disadvantages on themselves. Disadvantages like receiving less experience and lower drop rate. This cancels out their know-hows about the game because this makes it so that just knowing will only get you so far.
“Fair enough.” Bella said, shrugging her shoulders.
Checking the time again, it's already a few minutes past 10:00 so they immediately logged in.
As darkness stole Joseph's vision, he was greeted by a woman. She had brown shoulder-length hair and wore a white dress that gave a small mystical feeling.
“Hello there.” She smiled. “Would you mind telling me your name?”
Pondering for a while whether to use his real name or not, he decided to just go with it.
“Joseph.”
“Would you like to make changes to your appearance?”
“No-” Joseph paused, then continued. “...Well, there is one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Could you maybe, uh, make me a bit younger?” Joseph said then scratched his cheek.
The woman chuckled. “How old would you like to be?”
“Around the mid-twenties would be good.”
After that, Joseph felt a change. At the same time, a mirror image of him appeared.
Albeit a bit shorter, he certainly became younger.
Wouldn't want to be looked at differently by the kids now would we...
He thought to himself. Or rather, making an excuse to himself.
“Anything else?”
“Nothing else.”
“Alright, you may now use this time to get used to your body, distribute stat points, and obtain some skills.”
Doing as she said, I distribute my stat points. 15 to Attack, 10 to Magic Resist, 15 to Magic Penetration, 5 to Mana and 5 to Mana Regen.
After which, I chose my skills.
[Staff lvl.1] [FireMagic lvl.1] [AttackBoost lvl.1] [MagicResistBoost lvl.1] [MagicPenetration lvl.1]
Smiling, Joseph told her he was done.
“Good. You will now be given, 1000 copper coins and a backpack for your inventory.”
Appearing before him is a backpack and a notificaton. Nodding to this, the woman then said...
“You are now ready to travel the lands of Amaron! Goodluck.”
White filled his vision, and is quickly replaced by a scene crowded with people.
Looking around, he immediately spots Bella and jogs to her.
“Bella!”
“...? Oh, Joseph! ...Joseph?” Bella looked at the now twenty-ish year old Joseph.
“Bella?”
“Why didn't I think of that...” Bella whispered something to herself.
“Are you alright?”
“Hm? Ah, yes yes. I'm... alright.”
Not knowing what's wrong, he shrugged it off.
“Well anyways, where's Pepper?”
At that moment, a female voice reached their ears.
“Mom! Dad!” The girl shouted happily as she approached them.
In response the two smiled at her.
The girl's name is Pepper. 16 years of age and has black hair with natural streaks of blonde here and there which made her look exotic. What she was wearing though was her 'beginner armor' but did little to no effect to her appearance.
As pepper looked at both her parents, she turned towards Joseph.
“...?” Pepper tilted her head.
“Uh, Pepper?”
“Who are you?”
Recieving a bullet from out of nowhere, he staggered.
“I-It's me, your father.”
“But dad looks MUCH older than that. And he wears glasses.”
Recieving two more bullets from out of nowhere, he explained.
“During character creation... you can change your appearance...”
“Ohhh. Okay, now I get it.” She said, not really caring anymore. “Well anyways! Let's make a party.”
Saying so, she sent them invitations.
Bella accepted and Joseph, though still frowning, accepted it as well.
“Alright!” Pepper said nodding. “Next is... Ah! Let's go get our equipment.” She said as she ran off to one of the stores.
Seeing this Joseph sighed and followed together with Bella.
“Say... do I really look all that different?” Joseph asked.
“Dunno.” She smiled mischievously. “Now let's go. If we don't hurry up, we might lose her.”
Sighing once again, he picked up his pace.
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Author's Note - Ooookay. Hope you enjoyed as tried hard to make this at least a tinsy bit funny.
I hope you thought so.
And if you find any mistakes. Please inform me so I may improve. :D