A bright flash of light appears before Whiskey, showing what appears to be a tear in the world.
No, not a tear in like the ground, or in the wall. A physical tear in the air revealing a void.
Then, a blue screen appears as well, blocking the view of the tear.
Welcome Card Player Whiskey
You have been chosen to take part in my game. Within this game, there are 54 total players, each one of them has been given a card from my deck (Yes we are using Jokers) by some special circumstance. You are the 12th chosen player, please await for more specfics after the others are selected.
'What?' Whiskey thinks to himself as he looks around.
Finding that everywhere is clear, he looks back only to see the screen and the tear have vanished, leaving behind a softly glowing black orb.
The orb, around half the side of his head, seems to be covering something from view.
"Is this some type of bullshit prank?" Whiskey calls out, to really make sure there is no one else. Of course, he doesn't shout too loudly as he is next to dead bodies covered in blood.
Hearing nothing, he turns back to the orb, seeing it hasn't changed.
Sighing in annoyance, he lifts himself off the ground and tries to walk off. However, the orb moves in front of him. And when Whiskey tries to walk past it, it moves in front of him again, but never moving back.
Then, trying to walk through it, it reveals itself to be as sturdy as a brick wall.
'So going around it is out, going through it is out. What the fuck, do I really have to wait for this bullshit to be done?' Whiskey angrily thinks.
Sighing, he goes back over to the wall and pulls out his cigarette, only realizing he dropped it when the screen first appeared.
Pulling out another one as he leans against the wall, he lights it and waits.
Thankfully, the wait wasn't too long.
Thank you for waiting, Whiskey
As all players have been selected, more information can be revealed. To begin with, your card is the Black and White Joker, which means you will not have a set starting point, but will possess a unique skill. Aces are the strongest at the start and Twos are the weakest at the start, but all will grow very quickly until they die. Due to your checkered past, you have been granted a Legendary title in addition to any you may already possess. Now, please remain still as you are about to be removed from your world and placed in another dimension.
'Huh? Black and White Joker, Title, Dimension?' Whiskey repeats in his head.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON, EXPLAIN THIS SHIT YOU BITCH!!" He screeches at the top of his lungs at the sky.
Realizing his mistake for shouting, he takes off running, but is clotheslined by the black orb.
Or what was the black orb, as it now shows a slowly turning playing card. The back of it looks like something that would be seen on a tarot card is how mysterious it appears, with small lines creating a circle around what seems like an hour glass. Then as it continues to rotate, the face side of the card where there would usually be the jester riding a bike, it shows a blank white face with the words 'Black and White'.
'This is a playing card?' Whiskey thinks in denial. He reaches out to pick up the card since it seems like it'll keep blocking him if he doesn't.
However, as he touches the card, the words change. Instead, it shows his face, but one half of his portait is all white with a black background, and the other half is black with a white background. All the contours are perfect, everything is exaclty as he appears today, though the last picture he ever took was for his middle school graduation.
"How the fuck did they get this? It's not a mirror right?" After confirming it wasn't he tried to think of anytime someone could've taken a picture of him.
Only to be interrupted from searching his memories by the sounds of footsteps hitting the pavament outside the alleyway.
'Shit, forgot the bodies,' Whiskey thinks as he pockets the card and looks for a way out of the deadend.
Seeing nothing on ground level, he looks up the walls and sees some windows. Pocketing the card, he rushes over to that section of the alley and leaps, grabbing the first window sill. He pulls himself up, and proceeds to keep leaping up the next three window ledges until he's at the roof.
Now, he's running along the densely packed rooftops trying to make it far enough away from the crime scene that it can't be traced back to him.
Teleport commensing...
'FUCK!" Whiskey shouts, completely forgetting about the card. Stopping himself as much as possible, he almost reaches a complete stop, but...
A flash appears, and then a tear in the world is closed again, leaving behind the ring and pinky finger of Whiskey's left hand.
Feeling the teleport take place, his body feels like it's tearing itself apart. If he had remained still, it would've been like a gentle tube that all it would feel like is sliding.
Since he was moving, his body now crashes along the edge of the tube and the result? Well, his body is suffering more pain that someone with the least pain resistance ever recorded in human history having to suffer from a master torturer for a year.
Closing his eyes, thinking it will help him focus past the pain, he tries to fight through it. He won't succumb to the pain, He's done too much in his life to be worth the death of a measly teleport. No, the only way Whiskey feels he can die is on the battlefield, nothing else will let his soul rest.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The pain lasts what could be years for all Whiskey knew, but he doesn't lose consciousness. He keeps pushing from somewhere deep inside his mind, eveyone is helping him stay awake. Butcher, Ryan, System, and all the others.
***
Finally, after one last mental push, the pain starts to recede. And with it, the shouting in his mind also stops, releasing Whiskey from the torment and confusion.
Shaking his head to remove the last wisps of disorientation, he picks his head up off the ground and looks around.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing but darkness everywhere. Even what he is laying on in a collapsed heap doesn't have any difference from the rest of this place. For all he knew, he could have just landed on a floating plate the size of his body. Then he notices the other people, doing a quick head count there is 53 others, and all are staring at him. Strangely, he could make out each of their features though there is no discernible light source which makes everyone look like a part of some animated wallpaper in one of those rich kids bedroom.
'Why the fuck is everyone staring at me? Is it cause they're so much taller than me?' Whiskey thinks, 'Oh wait, I seem to be the only one on the damn floor. Fuck.'
Lifting himself up, he looks around at everyone still staring at him, "What the fuck you want, need a minute to take it all in?"
"Assholes," he mutters under his breath afterwards, until he brushes his shirt with his right hand and feels all the blood.
'Okay that's understandable hehe,' Whiskey chuckles in his head.
Then, someone points at his left hand with their mouth slightly open, causing Whiskey to look down.
Seeing his hand with two less fingers and bleeding profusely from the stubs, he sighs and just rips off some fabric from his shirt. He wraps the hand in front of everyone, not even bothering to react to pain when he already experienced the worse pain ever imaginable.
"Seems that everyone has arrived," A voice says from above the gathered people, "Well to begin, I am the goddess of Games known as Yoko. You have all been chosen by a card, as you should know."
Everyone looks up, seeing a womanly figure of unparalled beauty. Everyone stunned into silence, besides one princely looking man. And of course Whiskey wouldn't be phased by something as simple as a beatiful women.
"My heavenly beauty, why have you brought us here? Surely one such as you has other matters to attend to besides blessing us with the one chance to see you," Princely says in all his impeccable gumption and charisma.
"Ooh I picked up a flatterer this time," Yoko says while getting slightly red around her cheeks, "Well to answer your question, my cards have chosen you all to take place in this game. However, this isn't your usual game, instead you will be gambling with your lives for unimaginable power. It will all take place on my world, Nomad!!"
"Yeah alright now what the fuck is the point of this whole thing? Got a reason for taking people from their lives and sending them to a new world?" Whiskey calls out, interrupting the goddess as she just gets on a roll.
Everyone stares at him incredulously, except Princely who just glares at him with rage enough to kill.
"Forgive that... imbecile, I'm sure he is still psychotic form wherever he got covered in such blood. At least, I hope his actions won't cause you to think worse on the rest of us, as you can see, I am the King of Hearts, hopefully having some meaning to you?"
The goddess seems unfazed by Whiskey, in fact she smiles and nods at him before turning to Princely, "To answer you, yes all of you have been selected by the card that suits you best. Spades have more physcial prowess when doing any hard work meaning fighting or labour, Diamonds have more wisdom when making decisions such as for businesses or life and death, Hearts have more charm and appeal to all, and Clubs have more luck in all things, though it is almost unnoticable. Jokers however, are able to have all qualities of the suits or no qualities of the suits. Being the King of Hearts means you will undoubtedly be pursued by the many women of this world. Maybe even some gay men~." Yoko giggles to herself at that, "Now to answer you, darling with the grey eyes, no you cannot relinquish the card. You are chosen to play, so you must play. Where's the fun in leaving when it is so interesting?"
"Uh huh, sure. Now really, how do I quit this stupid.. Game?" Whiskey retorts.
"You don't!" the floating lady laughs at that, "This game was made to appease my boredom, and as I'm still bored you're stuck. But don't worry, all it takes to do what you want is strength. On Nomad, Strength creates your Freedom." She gives a charming smile looking at the rest of the people gathered.
'Oh, I think I'm going to like this,' An unbidden sinister thought springs in Whiskey's head. Though he isn't exactly mad about it.
"Now, that out of the way, I want everyone to think 'Status Screen' and see what happens."
'Might as well since I'll be fucking stuck here anyway. Status Screen.' Wiskey thinks.
Status screen Name: Whiskey (Whiskey) Level: 1, (0%) Card: B/W Joker Race: Human Class: N/A Title(s):
Mind of Many(Unique), Stat Whore(Legendary), Warrior's Child Health: 600/600 Mana: 500/500 Stamina: 1000/1000 Strength: 18 Agility: 23 Vitality: 12 Endurance: 20 Intelligence: 15 Wisdom: 10 Luck: 2 Potential: ERROR Skill(s): 5 listed (Think 'Skills' for more information)
Seeing the status screen, Whiskey's eyes slightly widened, while others seem to literally call out in shock. Among those calls, they feature;
"What the? Are my stats broken, there is nothing here!!"
"Why is my Intelligence so low! I'm not an idiot bitch!"
"Am I overpowered or what? Lowest stat at 200, I think I'll love this life! HAHA!!"
"My Luck stat is so broken, why is it so high!!"
While Whiskey, looking it over, thinks to himself, 'That level of Luck explains my life, I guess mine are realistic while others seem to be varied.'
Calling out, the Princely says, "What is this Potential stat? I've never seen this on a status screen in RPG games. Mine only says 1,000, is that good or bad?"
'I'd like to know too. Mine does say ERROR after all, but I'm not dumb enough to just say what my potential is.' -Whiskey
"Ah yes, almost forgot. Thinking 'Status Screen' and then a stat will provide more information on it. Same for all the sub-sections such as race, card, skills, and class. Now please think of Potential to find out more." Yoko replies while watching everyone's reaction.
The words 'Status Screen, Potential' go through everyone's mind revealing the same screen.
Potential
Status that lists the rate of growth in the world Nomad. 100 in this stat is considered average, while below is bad and above is great. The highest recorded Potential on Nomad is listed at 256,730.
'Still doesn't answer my question of why mine has an ERROR instead of a number,' thinks Whiskey.
"Now, as this is your new life, it would make sense to have a new race? Here is one free item to change it to any on the world." A flash appears in front of everyone, a simple camera.
Looking in, everyone see's a full-body picture of themselves and ways to edit the way they appear.. Soon everyone chooses one, including Whiskey. As the changes take place, a flash occurs around each player carrying them off to Nomad.
Except for two players, one being Whiskey, another being a once bland looking girl that now resembles a heavenly descended dryad.
"Now, to explain to my lovely Jokers the secrets of my lovely Game." Yoko says seductively with a glint in her eyes.
Now, Whiskey gulps, a little afriad of what's to come.