Chapter 1
The new fantasy VRMMO role playing game, Kalethia, just came out this morning. I woke up extra early to snag a copy right when the store opened. After returning home, I began reading the game manual after the game started downloading.
A quick glance at the table of contents showed multiple classes varying from standard combat classes, fighter, rogue, mage, etc. to less combat oriented, leatherworker, blacksmith, tailor, etc. It also showed a short section on hidden classes, these needed certain achievements or certain combinations of classes to unlock.
Once I started reading the actual manual, I realized why there were so many classes, you could pick a primary and a secondary class, each with their own subclass. You could keep learning new classes as well, just having to start them from level 1 and spend gold to gain more than the two starting classes.
After reading through the classes, I decided to start with rogue as my primary class and mage for my secondary. The Rogue class would give me a Sneak ability to decrease my chance of being detected and an ability called Ambush to cause extra damage to an enemy that doesn’t know where I am. The Mage class started with a choice of 2 spells and the Absorb Mana ability so that I could recharge my mana. I was hoping that I could unlock a spellcasting-rogue type hybrid that could teleport around striking from the shadows.
As I was getting to the different species in the game, the game had finished downloading. Well, I guess it’ll make choosing a species easier if I can see how it’ll look in the game. So, I turned on the VR helmet, strapped myself in and launched the game.
The first thing I see is pure whiteness, that’s suddenly speckled with orange streaks. Then before I can tell what it is, I’m flying up over the clouds gazing at an orange sunset. I stay there fixated on the beautiful sunset when I hear a voice come from just out of eyesight, “Greetings! Welcome to Kalethia!”
I turn to see an androgynous android wearing simple robes slightly bowing to me. I bow back, or at least try to, but it seems I’m just a floating ball of light. And, I can see myself, hmmmm, that’s not strange at all. Sensing my discomfort the android spoke up again, “No need to worry, what you see now is your tether to Kalethia from beyond. You’re first step will be to select the proper vessel you desire.”
He waved and a row of different humanoid species, with more or less my face, sprang into existence. This already seems like it’s going to be a strange game. There were your typical fantasy species, humans, elves, dwarfs, and gnomes, and then some more obscure ones, demons, celestials, beastfolk, and androids.
None of the typical species appealed to me as I’ve played as all of them multiple times in different games and I wanted something different. Demons seemed fun at first, but I didn’t want to have to deal with NPCs distrusting me right off the bat for my looks. Celestials are too angelic and goodly for my tastes, that left beastman or android as my choices. Androids were something I hadn't seen too much in other games, and I might be able to get custom parts later in the game to enhance my body!
“I’d like an android body, please.” I finally confirmed after thinking it over.
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The android’s body had dark blue skin with sky blue circuitry patterns covering its body and face. It looked mostly like a human with toned muscles and a bald head. Its eyes were also cybernetic, having a metallic blue plate around the eye, and they were an unnatural orange color with crosshairs for pupils.
Then, without warning, the android body sprinted at me at full speed. I couldn’t even blink before my new spirit body was smacked into the android body. When I opened my eyes I was staring out of my new android eyes at a sea of orange clouds all around me.
After a few moments of getting used to my new body, the robed android said, “Wise choice of vessel, Beyonder. Your next choice is to pick two classes. Please select your primary class.” I swear I almost saw a smirk on their face as they spoke.
“I wish to follow the path of the Rogue.” I said with a slight bow.
“Very well, I shall grant you the necessary abilities and equipment to begin your journey.” As the android finished replying with his own bow, I was surrounded by a glowing light that faded as quickly as it came. I looked down at myself and I was now wearing a set of leather armor and a dark hooded cloak over my head. The armor consisted of a chestplate, a pair of bracers, and a pair of boots. I also had a pair of daggers and four throwing knives on a bandolier coming down from my left shoulder.
The new abilities flashed by as notifications. Sneak - Reduces chance of being detected by 10%. Increases by 1% every level. Ambush - Req: Undetected by enemy - Deal 50% increased damage. Increases by 5% every level. They weren’t much to look at now, but they were sure to be deadly together once I got near triple-digit levels. Not to mention that I’d have even more skills and abilities by then.
“Now please select your secondary class to aid you on your path.”
I had already decided before I started the game, “I also wish to learn the ways of the Mage.”
“Interesting, most Beyonders have chosen profession type classes for their secondary classes. But of course, I shall grant you the necessary abilities and tools to find the knowledge you seek.” As with the Rogue class, a bright glow surrounded me but lingered a little while longer on my hands. I turned over my hands and discovered small orange crystals embedded in my palms. They still had a faint glowing light floating inside them but not bright enough to give off any light beyond the crystal itself.
Again the android began to notice my confusion as I stared at my hands, “Those crystals help to absorb, refine, expel and manipulate the mana that permeates Kalethia and her inhabitants. They will surely be invaluable in your path to understanding.” It seemed to make sense that Mages would have to have something that let them cast spells while other classes couldn’t. But did it have to be crystals in my hands?
Before I could think about the crystals anymore I was distracted by the notifications from my new ability and a choice. Absorb Mana - Regenerate 10 mp/min. Increases by 1 mp/min per level. Choose 2 spells: Icebolt, Firebolt, Magelight, Shield, Sprint, or Entangle. I read through the descriptions for a few minutes before deciding on Sprint - 10 mp/sec - Increases speed by 25%. Affects movement, casting, attack and reaction speed. Increases by 1% per level and Entangle - 40 mp - Stops enemy’s movement with mana tendrils for 30 sec. Damage will cancel the effect early. Affects an additional creature every 10 levels and increases duration by 10 sec every 5 levels. Sprint would hopefully let me be able to Ambush at least two enemies before they knew where I was. And Entangle would help me survive the fight once I did get caught, which is likely inevitable.
The android patiently waited for me to finish my decision before finally saying, “Now that the preparations for your journey through Kalethia are complete. Please choose your name, and your adventure will begin.”
I chose to go with the name I’d gone by in most of the games I had played since I was a kid, “Radzid.”
There was definitely a smile on the android’s face now as they waved and said, “Good luck!”
Before they finished speaking, whatever I had been standing on fell from beneath me and I began to plummet towards the ground. This is where my adventure begins, falling through the clouds with no way to stop the fall. This might be a shorter adventure than I thought, hah.