My eyes snapped open, and I took in my unfamiliar surroundings. I was lying in a vast cavern illuminated by a steady, eerie glow. Hundreds of figures stood motionless around me, all wearing the same blank expression. My skin was prickling with fear- I was awake, yet this surreal scene felt like something out of a dream.
A blinding light suddenly illuminated the darkness and a force like a powerful magnet began to draw me, as well as the beings around me, towards it. Its glow almost hurt to look at, and I willed myself to resist its pull. But I soon noticed that the more I resisted, the stronger the pull seemed to become.
I watched in horror as one of the beings finally reached the orb and vanished in a cloud of ash in mere moments.
I gritted my teeth and attempted to wiggle away from the looming orb. To my surprise, I managed to somewhat move. I released a breath of relief but my joy was short-lived. Before I knew it, one of the shadowy beings collided with me, our limbs became tangled, and I fought desperately to get free. We were locked in a chaotic dance that seemed to last forever. Pain engulfed my mind and cracking noises could be heard until finally, I managed to push the figure away, only to have my consciousness slip away as we collided with the orb.
----------------------------------------
I jolted awake with a start, my heart racing as a bright, luminescent screen hovered in front of me, casting an eerie bluish light on my face.
System notifications
Prove yourself worthy, reach level 5 to complete the tutorial
The screen blinked out of view, leaving me alone to take in my surroundings.
The deep black sky above was scattered with stars, like tiny pinpricks of light in a vast canvas of darkness. A blistering wind blew fiercely, stirring up clouds of hot dust and ashes that seared my skin as it passed by. My feet sunk into the soft black sand with each step, finding purchase on the hard rock formations that jutted out from beneath it like spikes, and rivers of molten lava snaked their way through the landscape, creating walls of fire that glowed in the night and threw off tremendous heat.
Everywhere I looked I was met with an unforgiving landscape and while I was still trying to get my bearings, the shimmering screen of light again appeared before me.
System notifications
Chose your path:
Warrior | Archer | Thief | Mage
Looking over each one seemed to trigger something that I could only describe as rediscovering a distant memory. I saw a Swordsman swinging his blade with immense strength cleaving through an army that seemed moments away from routing, an Archer felling a hideous behemoth with a single arrow of light, a Thief emerging from the shadows cast by a throne before plunging his dagger into its unsuspecting owner and a Mage overlooking an unending horde being ravaged by mist while sitting atop his tower.
What were these images? And why were they so vivid? My heart raced as I tried to figure out the best course of action.
Warrior
[https://i.imgur.com/ZLbV6rO.png]
Items: Sword
+4 Attribute points to Vigor (VIG)
+2 Attribute points to Control (CTR)
+4 Focus Points in One-Handed
+4 Focus Points in Brawn
+4 Focus Points in Toughness
Archer
[https://i.imgur.com/g3JouDM.png]
Item: Bow, +20 arrows
+3 Attribute Points to Control (CTR)
+1 Attribute Points to Vigor (VIG)
+2 Attribute Points to Intelligence (INT)
+6 Focus Points in Bow
+2 Focus Points in Brawn
+4 Focus Points in Arcana
Thief
[https://i.imgur.com/LyHE47U.png]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Item: Dagger
+3 Attribute points to Vigor (VIG)
+1 Attribute points to Control (CTR)
+2 Attribute points to Intelligence ( INT )
+6 Focus Points in Charm
+4 Focus Points in Brawn
+2 Focus points in Arcana
Mage
[https://i.imgur.com/TzQFHoa.png]
Item: Gem
+5 Attribute points to Intelligence (INT)
+1 Attribute points to Control (CTR)
+7 Focus Points in Arcana
+4 Focus Points in Mind
Unsure of which option would be the best or if I should even pick one right now I tried to think this one further.
I could certainly choose one now, or I could wait until I had a better understanding of which option would be the most beneficial for my survival in this place. But if I got into trouble while exploring, maybe knowing what I was capable of might be the better option.
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine and as I turned I saw a hulking figure in the distance, coming towards me with purpose. Its steps were heavy and sure, and each one seemed to bring the beast closer and closer, uncaring of anything in its path it simply smashed through without showing any sign of stopping or slowing down for that matter. As it drew closer, I could make out its size and shape, a gigantic animal with powerful muscles beneath its scales. It snarled menacingly, showing gleaming white fangs, and its eyes burned with animalistic hunger.
I shook off my paralysis and bolted, my feet pounding against the hard-packed black sand. My breath rasped and my legs screamed, but I pushed on, gritting my teeth until ahead of me, I could see some boulders with cracks wide enough for me to fit through.
I prayed for the crevices to be monster free and deep enough that the thing following me would give up its pursuit, and jumped in doing my best to ignore the scraping of my skin against the rough surface, racing as far as I could in the dark before coming up against a dead end. Chest heaving, I stopped and let out a nervous laugh.
I had either managed to buy some time or picked an if possible even more gruesome death.
The ground beneath me trembled as dark clouds of sand kicked up from the ground and filled the air, making it increasingly difficult to breathe, my only relief was the screens of light blinking into reality in front of me, bringing with them the chance to select a path.
Plans of pelting the beast with arrows or conjured rocks ( or whatever the mage path would give me ) while staying inside were quickly discarded since the very ceiling seemed a few moments away from dropping on me, as was the idea of rushing the behemoth with a dagger. Going out with a sword while screaming didn't sound that much better but at least I would have a decent weapon to put between me and that thing, and while there likely was a smarter way to get to do things... at the moment this was the best I could come up with.
I focused on the word [Warrior] and soon another screen appeared before me.
Status
Level: 0
Experience: 0 / 30
Attribute points: 0
Focus points: 0
VIG [4] Brawn Toughness Charm [https://i.imgur.com/MrZzOaE.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/XCqErYm.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/c05x6wM.png] 0
CTR [2] One Handed Polearms Bow [https://i.imgur.com/RUAKhjm.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/dLqg2IA.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/JM7Yu2N.png] 0
INT [0] Arcana Mind Leadership [https://i.imgur.com/vPArjgE.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/tMc2NmF.png] 0 [https://i.imgur.com/MhmhVIL.png] 0
Strangely enough, I didn't feel any different but waiting and trying to investigate further would probably only reward me with a rock to the head.
I cast a glance over my status one last time and then sprang into action, moving towards the exit and picking up the sword that had just materialized on the ground. I had to carry it vertically due to lack of space, but that was the last thing on my mind while small stones and sand fell on me from above and I dashed towards the giant vertical-slitted eye blocking the entrance.