The man walked the mid-winter streets, hair unkempt and face unshaved, looking like an absolute dog. Certain things he knew, whereas on others he did not. But he did know that he presented as quite the shabby fellow. At least he had on a good coat.
Even so, his derelict appearance was not too out of place for the locale, being in a similarly dilapidated area. Perhaps it was true: that oft-times those sauntering about in this neighborhood do not actually have a particular destination in mind at the time that they set out. And perhaps this was true of this man. The man heaved a heavy sigh in the midst of his slow walk, craning his neck to look upwards at the fiery sky, ablaze in red and violet, yet as cold as ice.
“The Sun as ever rises,” he uttered.
He raised the collars of his coat and stuck his glove-less hands in the side-pockets of the garb and continued to walk on.
Eventually, his peregrinations took him to some walls, high and thick like those out of some fortress in a medieval fantasy, only that they were actually there in the middle of the city. He walked along the walls. In time, he arrived near the vicinity of a massive gate.
This was a lively and bustling place, even right outside the gates. People were chatting about themselves, merchants were setting up shop on the sides of the road, and enterprising boys were flitting about the lines hawking their wares, be it newspapers, drinks, or confectionery.
Haggard as he was currently, our wanderer, when cleaned up, was the kind of handsome that would avail him to good first impressions on others. It would be hard to tell of the sort of quality akin to that of a long-time expatriate and with an intrinsic Nobility that he used to exude. In a previous day, before another rising sun.
----------------------------------------
This was another day in which the man set about wandering through the busy streets when he caught sight of a young girl, standing outside of a bakery, looking intently at the bread on sale inside. Soon enough, a stranger approached the girl.
“Hey sweetie, what are you looking at?” the stranger said.
“Ooh, those buns…” the girl replied.
“Hoh, don’t you have money to buy some buns little girl?”
“No…” the girl said in a fading voice.
“Hmm, do you want me to buy some buns for you?”
“That would be kind of you, sir,” the girl said.
“Alright then, cutie pie, follow me, and I’ll buy you some buns.”
“What? I can’t just follow a stranger!” the girl balked while eyeing the man suspiciously.
“You misunderstand. I only want to give you a job. Fair pay for fair work, girl.”
“Well… alright,” the girl said in hesitation.
The wanderer tailed the duo as the suspicious man led the girl to streets gradually getting sparser in people and activity. Until suddenly, the man covered the little girl’s mouth and hurriedly carried her into a deserted back alleyway. A dead end, with the man blocking the only way out for the girl.
“Hehehehe! Foolish girl!” The Stranger screeched.
“Mister, you deceived me!” the girl, now in tears, shouted and then continued, “What’ll you do to me?”
“Arrngh Arrngh Arrngh! Things you can only imagine!” The man cackled as he approached the shivering girl.
“I can only praise our Great Lord that he hasn’t banned my kind of fun! What fun we’re going to have, girl! Kekekekekeh!”
But it happened at the moment that the man started to unbuckle his belt.
Thwack!
The wanderer swung a wooden stick he had found by the side of the alleyway. With a loud crack, the molester’s head was knocked forward as he let out a pitiful cry.
“What the fuck!?” the molester screamed as he gathered his wits and turned around, but was instantly cowed by the man’s presence.
Even so the molester growled, “Who the hell are you to butt in on others’ private business?”
“I’m her father,” the wanderer stated.
“Faather!!” The girl rushed behind his back while crying.
“Oh shit…” the molester uttered while his complexion darkened gravely.
“Get out of my sight right now, or else,” the wanderer threatened the molester.
“Yes sir, going away right now sir! My apologies sir!” The molester groveled and then speedily ran away.
----------------------------------------
“Hicc…”
Munch Munch.
“Hicc… Uhh Uhh…”
Munch Munch.
“Hicc…”
“You can stop crying now,” the wanderer said.
“Uhh Uhh Uhh… I’ll try,” the girl said in between sobs, while hiccuping and munching on a bun.
The wanderer and the girl were sitting on a bench in a park, and beside the girl was a bag full of buns.
“Mister… hicc… why didn’t you hand over the man to the guards?” the girl asked.
“It’s a big bother. Normally, I would have killed the guy or beaten him up badly. But doing that would have been another big bother.”
“Uhh Uhh… why?”
“Cause you were there, and cause I’m a stranger here,” the man said.
“Well, I don’t know about any of that, but thank you Sir.”
“You’re welcome. You better head back now, or your mom will be worried,” he said as he stood up.
“Yes, sir,” the girl replied.
She stood up and smiled at the man and then ran off into the distance. The wanderer stood still on the spot as he watched the minuscule figure fade away from his sight. For a brief moment, the man doled out a peculiar expression in silence. However, the short silence was broken by the footsteps of someone approaching.
“Ah, Sir Unbound! As expected of a Noble Rank, even though a wanderer! Pray tell good sir, did you know that I was watching the whole affair?” A big and well-dressed man asked as he stood in front of the wanderer.
The wanderer was no small fellow, but this man was at least a head taller. He had cropped gray hair and sported a well-trimmed gray beard. The striations in his rippling muscles, where uncovered by clothing, could be seen as he moved.
“No, I did not know. But I expected that someone would be watching me,” the wanderer said.
“Yes, of course, that is to be expected. Allow me to introduce myself Sir Hwal. I am Heavy Wall - Mark de Powers, a knight in the service of Lord Radgur, Ruler of New Paragon,” the man introduced himself.
Any wandering players unaffiliated with a domain were bound to garner attention wherever they went, but especially in a place like New Paragon, where there was a critical lack of high-quality Player manpower. On top of this, the player Unbound was of the Noble rank, and really one couldn’t get any higher in terms of social status.
“Unbound – Hwal Soulcore.”
“Come, sir! I know a fine teahouse, let me entertain you there,” Mark said.
“Gladly, Sir Mark,” Hwal responded, expressionless.
----------------------------------------
“I find it fascinating, Sir Hwal. For a young and powerful Nobleman to be intermingling with commoners! I wouldn’t be surprised if next you’ll tell me that you frequent pubs or even adventurer’s guilds!” Mark exclaimed.
The two of Mark and Hwal were seated inside a spacious and cultured establishment. The magically powered ventilation and air conditioning system ensured that it was warm and crisp within. The Chairs and tables were a fine polished mahogany and the interior decorations were of the affluently luxurious yet tastefully refined sort. To their side was a well-maintained and planned out garden with miniature pond and waterfall. The two had already been conversing for a fair while.
Hwal, gazing at the garden, sipped some tea and gracefully let down the celadon teacup. Who knew how aware he was of how out of place he looked like in this place.
“One learns a lot of things when wandering through the wilderness, Sir Mark. One has to put down a lot of things but in exchange one is granted an opportunity to study oneself and the world. And during the dark night of the soul, what is a tavern or an inn or a guild but merely another stage?” Hwal said.
Mark replied, “I see. I believe that I understand. You are of the conviction that if one cannot play on the grandest stage, one must play on whatever stage that they can find – no matter the tradition or the honor.”
“Conviction… that’s too strong a word. One has to fill their stomach, lay down their head under a roof, and maintain their equipment. One has to do that somehow. I don’t deny the Supremacy Principle, but it doesn’t guide me either,” Hwal said.
“Ah, yes, but of course. You, Sir Hwal, are ‘that’ Soulcore after all?” Mark asked.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Indeed. Maybe I’m actually lucky, since a more traditional Noble family may have expunged their sons for what I did. But that happened a long time ago, and it wasn’t something well known outside the domain. Considering that we’re basically halfway across on the other side of the world, I’m surprised that you know of and remember such a thing.”
“I try to keep up with the times Sir Hwal, and I was no different back then. I may be intruding, but why were you exiled? I never found out the reason.” Mark questioned intrudingly with a smile.
“I married a commoner,” Hwal said.
“Ha ha ha, exactly in line with the very splitting image I have of you, Sir Hwal,” Mark said while somewhat surprisingly not intruding further upon Hwal’s private matters by prying about what he was doing travelling alone for such a long period of time.
“Well, I’ll take it as an honor that the famed Heavy Wall is interested in me,” Hwal said.
“Oh, you know of me?” Mark’s eyebrows rose as he asked.
“Though I was young, I watched with rapt attention as you blazed your unbeaten streak in the Grand League. That was a pity though to fall in the semis of The Tournament.”
“Ha ha ha, interesting! Enough scorn to last two lifetimes, Sir Hwal, because of that. But even with all that past glory I couldn’t possibly compare to the Heritage borne by a Soulcore,” Mark laughed, but suddenly changed his expression and asked, “Anyhow, do you know why I am here Sir Hwal?”
“I assume so,” Hwal nodded.
“Yes, I recommended you for service to the Lord, and with his approval come here to offer you a position as a knight retainer. You must already know about Lord Radgur, and your being here means you have a mind to serve him. What do you say?”
“I must refuse. I only thought it rude to decline your company, Sir Mark,” Hwal said.
“That is unsurprising, actually, Sir Hwal. But how about I pardon your current lack of tact with a crossing of swords?” de Powers continued, “in a sparring match, of course.”
“That offer I’ll accept,” Hwal’s lips curled up slightly.
“Great! There’s a barracks and training grounds not far from here. We’ll spar there,” Mark said and then rose from his seat.
----------------------------------------
There was a crowd of soldiers surrounding the Sparring platform, after hearing the news that Knight Captain Heavy Wall and a Knight candidate were about to duel. In another time, maybe even another place, the area may have been loud and raucous as bets were placed and haphazard analyses were made. But not here. The soldiers were lined and in form, silent heavy statues bearing witness to a sacred ritual.
“Well, ready to start?” Mark asked.
A holographic window projected itself in front of Soulcore and it read:
[Heavy Wall – Mark de Powers requests a non-lethal duel set to win at opponent 25% Max HP]
“Ready,” Hwal said as he accepted the duel.
As soon as Mark de Powers willed for his Equipment Set in the first slot to be equipped, he became fully armed and armored. His body was protected in a set of full fantasy-styled plate armor, made of a metallic matte blue; his face was covered by a Great Helm of matching color.
In his left hand he held an oversized heater shield, painted in a quarterly division with his coat of arms, and in his right hand he held a fantastical greatsword which other men likely could barely lift with both hands. Heavy Wall, majestic blue cape draped down his back, was a fearsome sight to behold.
Hwal on the other hand, had on a mix of medieval-style leather and steel armor parts. A dusty and hardened leather cuirass with worn metal pauldrons and couters, utility belt and tasset, leather pants with metal greaves, and of course a sheathed sword hanging on his side.
Hwal drew his sword from the scabbard and held it with his right hand. The only difference was that a nondescript wooden oval shield appeared on his left.
As the two stood gazing at each other, Hwal gauged Mark by willing to see the opponent’s basic public status. A holographic screen visible only to Hwal projected the following information:
[Player: Heavy Wall
Name: Mark de Powers
Rank: Noble
Class: Guardian
System: Earth Standard
World Ranking: 368
Affiliation: Domain of New Paragon
Membership: Knight Captain
Title(s): Grand League Undefeated Champion
Tournament Semifinalist
Stalwart Defender
…
Level: 416]
Mark, likewise, rechecked Hwal’s basic status:
[Player: Unbound
Name: Hwal Soulcore
Rank: Noble
Class: Knight + Ranger
System: Gamer Heritage (Bilineal)
World Ranking: 2
Affiliation: N/A
Membership: N/A
Title(s): Survivalist
Lone Ranger
Talented
…
Level: ???]
Although a Player’s level alone was not the absolute standard of measurement for power, it could still serve as a useful guide. Even in a world where the Game System had no level cap, Unbound possessed an extraordinary level.
True enough, the higher one’s level rose, the harder it became to level up further. But Noble Players usually had long lifespans with pristine health, and while Unbound could have been disappointed at Heavy Wall, Hwal never showed it – from the time he was keeping an eye on Mark up until now.
“You may have the first move, Sir Mark,” Hwal said.
Mark dashed in towards Hwal and swung his sword downwards. A gust formed as Mark started off and a heavy whoosh could be heard as he attacked. But Hwal took the attack head on with his shield, and continued to block the ensuing slices, slashes, and jabs. Sparks flew whenever sword and shield collided and the clang of metal on metal rang out.
“Rrragh!” Suddenly, with a yell, Mark used a Shield Charge to rush into Hwal’s body. Hwal easily sidestepped to avoid the attack. Mark then swung his shield around for a Shield Bash but Hwal evaded the attack by backflipping out.
Mark promptly dashed in again with an overhead swing with the sword to try and take advantage of Hwal’s movement, but he countered with an inhuman feat of strength and agility by twisting around and blocking with his sword.
Their swords crossed, but the clash did not last long as Hwal pushed back Mark with superior brute force.
The two once again stood eyeing one another. Neither player appeared injured or even flustered.
Mark smiled and said, “I’ll have to actually use my sword, Blue Thunder. How appropriate. Truly, Sir Hwal, you are an interesting man. Tell me, what is the name of yours?”
Hwal lifted his left side and the shield and said, “This is Quiver.”
He then twirled the sword around and said, “And this is Arrow.”
“Since my sword was made to move, I see no point in staying it any further, Sir Hwal,” Mark said.
Mark tossed aside his shield and leapt up into the air. Grasping the greatsword with both hands he pulled back his weapon overhead and unleashed a gigantic swing, buzzing and sizzling with jolting blue electric sparks, while yelling, “Let me see you take on my Overbearing Slash!”
Hwal simply countered with a regular looking cross-slash, to which a great burst of air threw back Mark violently. The sparks on his greatsword had also dissipated.
“I have lost,” Mark coughed up blood while gathering himself and standing back up.
A holographic projection appeared:
[Victory to Unbound – Hwal Soulcore via forfeiture.
Loss to Heavy Wall – Mark de Powers
Duel Results Recorded]
“Many knights, Sir Unbound, would say that the betterment of oneself to attain Superiority is the point. In death do we dance, and through death there is honor, as it is said. But an interesting match with an interesting opponent. For the likes of us. That is the life, is it not, Sir Hwal Soulcore?” Mark, back in his regular attire, said with an outstretched hand.
Hwal grasped and shook hands with Mark and said, “We’ll see each other again.”
“Good,” Mark said.
----------------------------------------
New Paragon, by and large, was a big domain. The name also stood for the populous walled capital city of the domain. It was situated in what would have been the Eastern Standard Time Zone of old North America. But Earth was geographically a veritably different place now, with new continents and land masses, alongside existing landforms extending their measurable area. Land was also lost as certain areas became submerged.
On the whole however, there was much more land than ever before than during the Age of Advancing Decline, so named in effacement after the Anno Domini designation. That was not the end of the changes however, nay, nowhere near the end.
On 20XX A.D. aka The Year of Rectification – 0000 Game System
The End of the World transpired.
One man revealed himself to the world.
He claimed himself to be the representative of the supreme and the divine here on Earth. This being worked miracles and used all manner of superpowers; his explanation for being able to do so was that these abilities were bestowed upon him when he became the representative of God. And that the authority handed to him in the world was tantamount to the very full paramount of the Divine. In short, the representative claimed he could do everything that God could.
This divine incarnate brought about a game-system into existence, theoretically enabling people to level up, gain skills, and ascend beyond regular human means.
Initially, there was a lot of confusion and a lot of people did not believe what was happening. But the ensuing chaos and the eventual superhuman feats of players forced everyone to realize that the end of an era had come to start another one.
As time passed, modern countries gave way to player-created domains. This was an unavoidable fate, as the domains were governed by the Game System’s rules as compared to the comparatively more nebulous yet similarly-oppressive man-made institutions and systems of law and government.
For instance, a ruling player with the requisite accomplishments could designate for theft to be impossible within his domain, and unless another player could nullify the designation by possessing the thievery or pick-pocketing skills, theft would indeed be unable to even occur.
An entirely new world had come about.
The Representative revealed that there were other worlds and dimensions. He brought the peoples and creatures of different species unto Earth. The familiar standard of Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, Trolls, and Orcs, as well as the unfamiliar and the new. RPG (role-playing game) staples such as dungeons and instanced dungeons were in also.
He also declared that there was to be upwards social mobility – vertical progression. However such an honor would be granted only to those who gained qualification. The Primary way to gain qualification was through a Death Game called ‘The Tournament’. And players could qualify for this tournament through participation in battle leagues.
Over time, the Battle Leagues and The Tournament became a standard of measurement - an instrument of power, fame, and prestige. There were also credible and practical gains through rewards and awards such as currency, items, equipment, skills, titles, and classes.
Such as it was, the Rulers of Domains established institutions such as academies where the Lords would support the Knights’ endeavors in the leagues in exchange for their service.
Of course, part of knightly service would entail bloody battle, from petty squabbles to outright war, against other players and commoners in the employ of rival Lords. Monster subjugation was also a commonplace responsibility.
Rulers could become incalculably wealthy and powerful, and attained special abilities with which to govern their peoples, territories, and retainers.
Such, as indicated above, was a part of the general clime on Earth during the latter part of the first century of the Game System Age.
----------------------------------------
“Welcome back, dear,” a soft and gentle feminine voice with a salubrious tone rang out smoothly, whispering throughout the vicinity with a caressing sound like a melodious wind chime in a slight breeze.
The words emanated from a woman in a pure white one-piece dress, long, straight and silky fiery red hair curling around her neck and shoulders. Her hair shone lustrous bright in places, reflecting the rays of light from the sky-high sun, and in other parts her hair was darker. It gave off a natural effect such that her hair seemingly flowed freely along with her movements.
She had been admiring a patch of flowers in the garden. The flowers were a mix of petals blue and pink in full blossom as to cover all the soil in the area demarcated by a white brick enclosure stretching out in front of a line of green trimmed bushes.
The woman turned around and walked towards a round white table matched with a pair of white chairs. The slight crunching of the grass beneath her feet was accompanied by the pleasant chirping of songbirds; perhaps unusual for the time of year and the time of day.
A man replied, “This place… is too good for the likes of me.”
“Come, sit down, rest a while,” the woman said while gesturing towards a chair.
“No. I cannot. For I stand here because of failure yet again. Even in my dreams I did dread standing here, in all the peace and all the calm, reminding me, resounding louder and louder in my ears of failures past to furies lost,” the man said with closed eyes and stern face.
“Hwal...You don’t have to go through this again...”
“You say that to me every time. But I am not ready to give up. World conquest? Ascension into Godhood? I’ve forgotten about the likes of those long ago. Even the thirst for vengeance dulled once I’d achieved it,” the man said.
He continued, “I live for you, only for you, Altine. So much time has passed, but still I cannot forget you.”
“I know.”
“Can we finally be together again?”
Gasping for air and raising himself to sit upright, the man woke up from his dream. A dream that he dreamt once in a blue moon ever since the most momentous moment in his own personal history. If a moment marred by tragedy can be called momentous, that is. He glanced out the window. It was still dark outside. Sighing heavily, he lay back down on his bed.
“I guess it’s time to leave this place too,” he uttered while closing his eyes and shuffling to his side.