Do you wish to connect to Royal Road?YesNo

With a blank stare Dave’s hand hovered over the no icon, but then the memory of the butler’s video kicked in and so after heaving a deep sigh Dave chose yes. As the message disappeared a soft feminine voice entered his head.

“The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you wish to create a new account?”

Turning around Dave continued to look all around his surroundings as he searched for the source of the voice. Seeing nothing but darkness confused him even further.

‘Huh…that’s weird. Where’s that voice coming from?’

“Excuse me, sir? The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you wish to create a new account?

“The bloody hell?”

“Excuse me, sir? I do not comprehend your statement. The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you wish to create a new account?”

‘Oh, right the reviews talked about this. I’m guessing this is the A.I. that helps with the beginning design things then. Kind of weird how the voice just goes into your h-’

“…Sir? The scan on your iris and vein has determined that you are an unregistered user. Do you wish to create a new account?”

“Oh, sorry about that please excuse my behavior and yes I wish to create a new account.”

“State the name of your avatar”

“My what?”

“The name of your avatar, sir”

“What’s an avatar?”

“…”

And thus Dave officially became the first and only player to receive a lecture from an A.I. about gaming.

After an hour of teaching and drilling the information into his head the A.I. calmly proceeded with the rest of the activation process.

“State the name of your avatar”

“Hmmm……”

“Oh for the love of- Sir! Can you please just tell me the name of your avatar already?”

“Sorry, it’s just such a hassle to pick a name you know?”

“…you know what sir? Screw you. I’m out of here”

“Huh? H-hey wait! What do you mean by that?”

But the voice in his head was gone.

‘Well I guess that’s that. Hmm now what to do?’

Having nothing else to do Dave laid down on the ground or at least what he thought was the ground since he couldn’t see anything but darkness. As time passed by he dozed off into his first virtual nap.

While Dave was taking a nap the A.I. was in a state of panic.

‘Unbelievable, is he seriously sleeping? What the hell! Wake up damn it! Arghhhh!’

The A.I. was in a dilemma. During the character activation process the A.I. had no choice but to remain with the player until the character was made, meaning that she was now trapped with the new player she was attending to since he had fallen asleep. She had only wanted to scare the guy because of how irritating he was and now that he was taking a nap the A.I. was now stuck there with him.

“Um, excuse me…sir? Please wake up! I’m sorry for my sudden outburst.”

…

“Sir, please wake up!”

…

“Oh you are just unbelievable you son of a b—“

“Something wrong?”

“Oh! Um…you’re awake”

“Yeah, I am”

…

…

“Ahem, Sir? If you don’t mind can I ask a small favor of you?

“I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

“Well…I was hoping that you would be so kind as to ahem, forget my recent outburst?”

“Hmm, I don’t know… I mean there’s no reason for me to keep quiet now do I?

“Uh…fine! If I provide a bonus stat and help make your avatar will you please keep quiet about it?”

“Sure”

‘Ughhh this guy is so infuriating! What’s with his uncaring attitude?’

“Well then sir, please select the name of your avatar”

“Can’t you make one for me?”

‘How about AnnoyingS.O.B you freaking a—‘

“Hello, A.I.? Anyone home?”

“What, oh please excuse me I was just thinking up the perfect name for you”

“Why do I feel like you’re not?”

“That’s just your imagination sir. By the way how does the name Keith sound to you?”

“Sure Keith is fine”

“Keith it is. Now please select your gender from male, female or neutral.”

“Male of course.”

“Royal Road currently has 49 races; please choose a race out of the 30 primary races”

“30? I thought there were only 29 races?”

“Well yes, but recently thanks to the exploit of one player the Orc race have now been unlocked.”

“Oh so we can discover other races as well? Interesting”

“Please pick from the following 30 races humans, dwarv—“

“Human is fine”

“Do you wish to alter your appearance?”

“No thanks. Too much of a hassle”

“Where do you wish to assign your bonus stats?”

“You can pick for me”

“Select a city and a kingdom of where you want to start”

“Pick a place for me”

“Welcome to Royal Road”

“Thanks for the help, cya A.I.!”

With a flash of light Dave’s newly created avatar disappeared.

‘Oh, that man was so infuriating. He was exactly how that mistress described him to be. However, it was the first time I had a real conversation with a player. Hmm… now I’m feeling a little guilty about sending him over to that place. Nothing I can do about that now, good luck Dave you’ll need it where you’re going’

2 hours later Dave finally appeared in his destined city. It was the norm for players to skip right through the tutorial since it was just a debriefing of the history of the continent of Versailles. Some players sat through 10 minutes before skipping it and an even fewer players listened to 30 minutes of the tutorial. Dave was the first to endure the full 2 hour lecture only because he had never played video games or read any lores or epics so for him this was a brand new experience.

Upon arriving at his destined city a multitude of windows popped up in front of his face.

Ding!

Became the first to discover Outcast Kingdom Arkganchia

Rewards:+820 Reputation.

If reported to an aristocratic member or to a royal family of Versailles continent, additional compensation will be rewarded.

For discovering a kingdom in an unexplored region, the quest rewards from this region will be 2x for a week.

Ding!

Became the first to discover the Fallen Angel Race

Rewards:+20 Reputation +2 all stats

Ding!

Became the first to discover the Draconian Race

Rewards: +20 Reputation +2 all stats

Ding!

Became the first to discover the Reaper Race

Rewards:+20 Reputation +2 all stats

Ding!

Became the first to endure the entire History of Versailles

Rewards:+20 Reputation +5int

Ding!

Accomplished A.I. Mystery Event

Rewards:+10 Reputation +5Luck

‘What in the world? Why am I getting so many bonuses?

“H-human!” “H-human!”

Closing down all the windows that popped up Dave looked up at the source of the voice. Towering over him a good 3 meters taller than Dave was a manticore. The manticore had huge leathery black wings, its tail belonging to that of a scorpion and on the humongous creature’s body were two lion heads.

“Human?”

“Did he say human?”

“Human? Where?”

“Oh look a human!”

“Mmm… that’s a human alright”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“Scrumptious looking one as well”

“Human hahahaha”

Hearing the commotion Dave slowly began to notice that he was not alone with the manticore. Wherever he looked there was not a single area free of a monster. Skeleton knight specters materialized from the solid ground, Banshees, their bodies glowing with an eerily pale blue light as they soared through the night sky screaming their ghastly songs, and soon Dave was surrounded by monsters and demons of all kinds. Dave hugged the ground closer and closer as the crowd of monsters hunched down to take a closer look at him.

With his two eyes Dave stared back at the hundreds of eyes staring straight back at him. Sweat started forming on his brows as he nervously took a huge gulp as he finally broke the silence.

“Um…hi?”

“HI!”

The thunderous reply belonging to hundreds of monsters exploded down in front of Dave’s face.

Losing consciousness Dave’s eyes turned white as he fell backwards, fainting from the huge scare.

“Oops?”

“Humans are kind of fragile aren’t they?”

“Think we’ve overdone it?”

Taking a quick glance back at Dave who was now foaming in his mouth and twitching the monster turned back towards his buddy.

“Nah, he’s still twitching and stuff so he’s probably all right”

“Are you sure? I mean he is—oh sh-shit shit shit it’s master!”

“Wait did you say master? Master! Quickly get down everyone!”

“Hurry now! Bow before he gets here!”

“Shhh-shhh! Quiet he’s walking over here!”

Hundreds of monsters continued to bow as they quickly moved out of the master’s path.

The master’s face was hidden behind his hood, his body covered by the black and velvety satin cloak which was rumored to be infused with the tears and bloods of many dragons.

Taking slow steps the master continued to walk through the crowd until he reached Dave’s unconscious body. The hood shifted as the master turned his attention toward the manticore.

“Gartheeian”

“Y-yes master?”

“Take care of this man until he awakens and when he does send him to me”

“B-but master he is a human!”

“Do you take me as a blind fool? I know what a human is

“I’m sorry master! That wasn’t my intention I was just curious as to why master”

“Because, this man is now one of us and I am responsible for each of my precious citizens Gartheeian”

“O-one of us master?”

“Yes, now be gone! I have much to do”

“As you command my lord”

Bending down one of the two lion heads picked up Dave by the collar of his shirt. With Dave secured in its mouth the manticore proceeded to run towards his home, hurrying to fulfill his master’s orders. Watching the pair soon becoming a dot in the distance the master turned his attention to the hundreds of kneeling monsters before him.

“And as for the rest of you”

“Yes master?”

“Spread my words, I do not wish to hear any others attacking this human for he is one of us now”

“As you command my lord!”

Hurrying to escape the master’s presence the crowd of monsters dispersed as they ran throughout the kingdom, spreading word by mouth the news about the newest addition to their kingdom.

Meanwhile back at the master’s castle, while his subjects continued to spread the word the master had finally returned to his majestic home. Taking a stroll through the courtyard his pleasant walk was interrupted as a black ball rolled and stopped right in front of him. The ball unfolded revealing a little armadillo wearing its classy black suit.

“Ahem, pardon me my lord”

“What is it Alfred?”

Fixing his tie, Alfred continued his report

“The mistress has left a message for you my lord. She wishes to contact you immediately”

“Hmm… I don’t have much of a chose now do I, Alfred?”

“I’m afraid you don’t, my lord”

“Very well Alfred, I’m on my way and do tell the Head Cook to prepare for a small reception in the future”

“Yes, my lord”

The master chuckled as his butler rolled quickly away, it was one of the many joys of having an armadillo as a butler. Sighing to himself the master exited the courtyard. With heavy steps the master reluctantly headed towards his studies. In his studies were walls of book cases containing information of all kind. However a peculiarly large object stuck out for it was covered in a large purple drape. With a slight tug the master pulled down the draping covers revealing a large mirror. Looking into the mirror the master saw not his own appearance but the sight of the mistress’s rare smiles, a beautiful and enchanting smile but chillingly cold at the same time. The master suppressed a shudder as he kneed before the mistress.

"My lord, you are looking exquisitely enchanting as always"

"Oh my, and you're as silver tongued as always"

"Thank you, my lord and if I may ask what is the purpose of our requested meeting?"

"Oh no purpose really, I just wanted to check on your new guest is all"

"He is doing just fine my lord"

"Oh I would hope so for your sake that is"

"And what may I ask do you mean by that"

"Do not take offense Venny my dear I am merely suggesting that he may be the key that you were always looking for"

"What? Do you mean that mortal is—"

"Oh my look at the time! Excuse me for a moment Venny, oh Jefferson~"

"Yes m'lady, the carriage has arrived and awaits for our arrival"

"Well as you can see Venny business calls. It was good hearing from you but I must go now so tata~"

"Wait just a darn minut—"

However the master's words were directed towards himself as he stared back at his own reflection.

Sighing to himself the master sat down on a nearby chair mentally exhausted by the mistress's antics.

The master stared anxiously at the studies's ceiling as his eyes stuck in a trance as it followed the movement

of the ever changing stardust. Using a spell he had composed the master had projected a wonderful scenery of

the wonders and vastness of space on the ceiling of his studies. The master chuckled as his concern over the

mistress's plots disappeared.

'Well even if he doesn't turn out to be the 'key' at least things will finally start to get interesting here'

Following the expansion of the mass of stardust the master smiled, eager for the events to come.