The light of a character logging in reflects throughout the room. Burkhardt and Nova are both back.

"Welcome back" I say.

"I've decided something" says Burkhardt

"What's that?" asks DmgCtrl.

"We're not going to jump back into battle yet."

"What are you thinking?" I ask.

"We need to get you leveled up before we can take on the Terminal."

"Oh! Chu chu! Come on to the train just chu chu right in." sings DmgCtrl as he does a little jig, his helmet display showing a little train.

"How do you plan on helping me level?"

"The game doesn't give more experience for one enemy over the other. It's actually all about repetition and learning your skills."

Her comment deflates my hopes at first. In most MMO's I've played, the higher level enemies or bosses give better loot and more experience, which helps you get higher levels. Then again, it makes sense since there is no actual levels in DomeNet other than the Combat Level. Since that's based on how I build my class, it ties together.

"So if there is no levels and progression, then what's the point?" I ask.

Nova steps forward and says, "It's not just about being the highest level person on the game. It's all about being the most skilled person in the game. You unlock better skills, more abilities and in the end, that's what matters here."

"Exactly" agrees Burk. "If you take on an enemy that's CR 20, which is the highest we've seen. Generally the CR is not based on their skin being really thick, or their armor being really strong just on it's own. It's actually based off the fact that they're equipped with certain items and they are proficient with them. The same applies to us. The more proficient you are with the equipment you have, and the better the equipment, the higher your CR."

"That's pretty cool."

"Kind of. You see the game rates your proficieny with an item based on how well you can use it. So that means that the gun that you have is probably a high level item, but you haven't used it enough for the game to decide that you're proficient with it. Which is probably why you're CR is padded at two. Which simply means, you need to be in more combat." Burkhardt looks at me with her sly cat eyes and I shiver.

"What are you planning to do then? Get me into more combat and that will fix it?"

"It's not about fixing it. It's about getting you to a point where you're really comfortable using that weapon. For example, you see that sword that Damage uses?"

DmgCtrl's helmet turns into a huge grinning mouth and puts his hand over his shoulder on the hilt chuckling, "You're envious of my sword aren't you?"

"Whatever. He had that sword crafted specifically for him. So he was able to specialize it for his style of combat."

"Right. I added some lightning enhancements to it." DmgCtrl says pulling the sword around to show it to me.

"Lightning?" I ask reaching out to grab it.

He pulls it back says, "Yea! Lightning for me because I'm quick! Like the Flash!"

"Ashes, of course you did." I say shaking my head.

DmgCtrl is unphased, "Striking my enemies down with Thunder Smash!"

Nova and Burkhardt rolls their eyes in unison and I smile at their response.

"Over the top as always." I say.

"Did you expect anything else?" He replies.

Burkhardt continues, "So that weapon that he uses electrifies his enemies. Now as he gets more proficient at it I'm sure he'll unlock more abilities. For example when he reached his last proficieny level, lightning orbs would stick around on the ground after he struck. They are like little land mines that shock enemies when they step on them during combat. It makes him very efficient against droids and cyborgs."

"It's super helpful, you'll love it when you see it in action." His display changes to a huge twinkling smile.

"I'm sure it'll be great." I say.

"Nova on the other hand specializes on ranged heals. Unlike Altera and other MMOs we've played, there is no spells or magic that will just heal you, so Nova uses StimPaks. I'm pretty sure you're familiar with those."

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"Yea. Painfully so." The thought of using those horrible things still makes me shiver.

"Right. So, the stimpaks she uses are all loaded into special ammo she makes for herself. Taking all her specialization into Tech and combining it with her ammo crafting she's been able to make all sort of fun little projectiles. Since she's been using the same gun for a while she's leveled up her proficiency in with it. The system has unlocked unique abilities she can use now, based on the ammo she uses."

"Oh really? So let me get this straight, does the game already have the abilities predefined?"

"Not really. The more we play the game, the more we find that things are less predetermined and instead the more they line up to your play style."

"That's pretty cool!" I say.

"Yea, we've had lots of fun with it. Especially when Burk showed off a neat trick she could do." added DmgCtrl.

Nova jumps in excitedly, "Yea! She gets all into the combat and when the baddies get under her skin she jumps out of the mech suit and rushes them claws out like a vicious little monster!"

"Yea! Now the game turned that into a skill! So when she wants to, she can jump out of the suit and use her dash! It was crazy when she leveled it up! She can stun enemies now!"

"Wow, that's super awesome." My excitement grows as they talk about all these amazing abilities.

"It's going to be something you can look forward to." Burkhardt finishes up. "What have you been focusing on by the way?"

"Well. I've mainly been using my bow and pistol when I'm in combat, but I really haven't seen much combat other than some thugs that attacked me on the way here." I reply.

"What else do you have in your inventory?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Your virtual inventory. What else do you have stored away." DmgCtrl probes.

"I don't actually have one."

"What!?" DmgCtrl replies.

Nova and Burkhardt turn to each other other with puzzled looks.]

"Yea. It's kinda weird. I never got one and even when I'm logged in here I don't have a virtual inventory."

"That's really weird." DmgCtrl says hand on his chin, "Think it has something to do with your class?"

"I don't know. I really don't know anything about Citizen. It's kind of a strange thing."

"Sounds like it." DmgCtrl finishes.

There is a long silence before Burkhardt chimes in, "We'll learn more about it as we go."

"Yea, for sure. What should we do now?" I ask.

"We're going back to Vroma."

The trip back is shorter this time since I spend most of it talking with DmgCtrl about what they'd been up to while I wasn't with them. It's fun to hear how Burkhardt learned to use her special 'Dash' ability. Turns out, they were fighting a massive centipede that was way too difficult for them. In typical Burkhardt style, she refused to back down. With both Nova and DmgCtrl almost out of HP, she lashed out in frustration and dove at the massive beast claws out and slashed at it's head.

I'm pretty sure the system had nothing to do with the shock the monster had when a tiny cat rushed out at it. Either way, it registered the attack as a special ability.

Once we are in Vroma, I took in the sights again. The transport is still in the center of the walled off city and this time around I took the time to appreciate the difference between Vroma and Hajima. Vroma is more like a bazaar turned city in the middle of the desert, filled with vendors and a constant flow of players and NPCs. Where as Hajima is a big city as far as I could see.

The first place we go to once we land is the Medical Center near the transport station to get me registered in case I die. After that we head out toward the edge of the city.

The walls that protect Vroma provide an obvious demarcation between the 'wilds' outside and the city itself. As we get closer to the wall, I can see training grounds where people are attempting to increase their proficiency with various items. Some are using melee weapons to attack dummies. Others are using thrown weapons or even their fists. A little further up, there is a shooting range with various weapon types.

Seeing all these people together starts giving me the vibes of the Altera Online barracks where players would learn new abilities or hone their skills. It's exciting to feel the game come to life. It's a whole new vibe when I'm with the group.

As we approach the wall, I ask about leveling zones and enemy combat ratings. Burkhardt gets frustrated since she just gave a long explanation about CRs and how they are calculated for players, but she still indulges me.

Turns out that enemies with low CR are basically either poorly equipped, or decently equipped but 'clumsy'. The higher their combat rating the more difficult it would be for us to take them, something about the enemies picking me out of the group and taking me out first since they'd be more proficient at their craft and definitely a lot smarter.

The whole thing makes me more excited to fight strong enemies sooner, and really leaves me wondering how I managed to survive against Tei and her gang.

We get out of the city and just outside I see small droids bouncing around like mountain goats. At first it's really cute to see them basically frolicking around like animals, but the fact that they are essentially small camera boxes on two mechanical legs is weird.

Burkhardt points to the group and say, "Pick one out with your pistol and aggro it. They don't mob when you attack, so you'll be able to pick them off one by one."

For a moment I consider the bow, but then remember the massive explosion in the alley and figure that's probably not the best idea. So instead I pull out my pistol and take aim. To the right of the group is a slightly larger droid watching them so I decide to go for that one.

[You hit a Frolick Droid Wrangler for 3 points of energy damage]

The bolt knocks the droid to the side, but it manages to stay standing and turns on me. The large circular lens at the center of its boxy body starts glowing red and a small antenna above it also lights up. Along with the antenna of 3 other frolicking droids. I gulp and turn to Burkhardt who shrugs and nods to the group.

Burkhardt: Didn't think you'd attack their leader and pull the group, but don't worry they're just CR 1. You've got this.

DmgCtrl: Like old times buddy. Just think of it like leveling an alt!

Nova: I'll back you up if things get really out of control, don't worry.

Burkhardt: He'll rez in town if things really go sideways anyway, no need for you to use up Recovery shots.

Their conversation is reassuring and yet terrifying. I've yet to die in the game and I'm not really looking forward to it.

Burkhardt: You said you'd been in combat before, so don't worry too much, just take inventory of your gear.

Carrots: Thanks.

Just like that, I'm in combat with my friends as backup. Not quite like old times, but close enough. I grin at the advancing droids and check my ammo count. I'm fully stocked with twelve pistol rounds, three bow cartridges fully charged and the bone blade Beatrice made for me.

Time to level up!