Apart from the unexpected case of Alois, the process of assigning classes to the players proceeded smoothly. Every player in Vella City and throughout Genesis Frontier received their classes—everyone except Alois, for reasons unknown.
Feeling suffocated by the curious and judgmental glances from other players, Alois quietly slipped away while James was busy talking. He found solace under a solitary tree, far from the bustling crowd, and sank into a deep depression. Thoughts of his late parents, whose hard-earned money he felt he had squandered, haunted him. Despite three years since their passing, the pain of their loss was still raw.
"Now what? I've wasted so much of my parents' money. What would they think if they were alive?" he murmured. The grief was palpable in his voice, his heart aching with unresolved sorrow. His mind fixated on the status effect that plagued him: [Slave].
After a moment of self-pity, he slapped his cheeks with determination. "It hasn't even been an hour since I entered Genesis Frontier, and I'm already giving up?" he reminded himself, recalling the inspiring words that had appeared before he entered the game.
[ Genesis Frontier has launched! Embark on an epic journey and forge your own destiny. ]
[ Will you rise to break the shackles of your predetermined fate, challenging the very fabric of destiny itself? Or will you succumb to its powerful grip, becoming a mere pawn in its grand design? Your choices will shape the future. The frontier awaits your courage, strategy, and resolve. Embrace your power, rally your allies, and write your legend in the annals of Genesis Frontier. The adventure begins now. ]
Taking a deep breath, he declared, "I will definitely break these shackles of fate and write my own destiny."
Alois began analyzing the information he had gathered since entering the game. "All players were forced to become slaves; it's impossible to get through the forest. Everyone received normal-tier classes and automatically leveled up from 0 to 1." He continued, "Each player got two skills. One was the compulsory skill [Inspect], which lets them get detailed information about someone or something. The other skill varied by class: Warriors got [Slash], Apprentice Mages got [Fireball], Archers got [Quick Shot], and Rogues got [Stealth]."
As he pondered more, it dawned on him that the players, despite their classes, weren't much better off than he was. "They can't possibly hope to kill Level 10 monsters in the forest with such basic skills. They'll be dead before they even realize it. There must be more to this than these damn NPCs are letting us know," he concluded.
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Some players noticed Alois muttering to himself under the tree. One female player, Kim Ji-hye, a wealthy and arrogant figure, mocked him loudly, "Hey guys, should we give him a swing so he can sit on it in depression like a certain anime character?" Her group laughed, but Alois ignored them, coldly observing the players and NPCs. "Apart from a few, all of them can be used and .... sacrificed," he whispered to himself.
An hour after the game had started, and with everyone having received their classes, Commander Hadrick addressed the crowd. "I am sure you all are extremely happy after getting your classes," he began, eyeing them like a predator. "But there is no free food in the world. Now, I will give you your first orders."
He continued, "Since all of you visitors are basically immortal, you will act as baits in the forest so the new recruits can kill the beasts and gain levels." A game notification appeared for all players, including Alois.
[ Quest ]
• Title : First Order
• Description : The commander of Vella City has ordered all players to assist the new recruits in killing monsters. Your task is to divert the monsters and make it easier for the new recruits to level up.
• Objectives :
1. Report to Commander Hadrick at the city gates.
2. Divert the attention of 10 monsters (0/10).
3. Return to Commander Hadrick for your reward.
• Rewards : 10 copper coins
• Penalty for Failure : If any new recruits die, the commander will personally punish the player.
• Note : Disobedience will result in immediate execution.
The players were stunned and outraged upon receiving their first quest. "What the fuck is going on with this game?" they exclaimed in disbelief. "Isn't it enough to make us slaves? Now we have to be bait for the monsters? We're just going to keep dying and never get anywhere."
One player, visibly shaken and angry, stepped forward. "You're just a damn NPC. I, Lord Henry, will not accept this. I will show you my power!" His voice cracked with frustration. Before he could finish, a soldier swiftly approached and decapitated him with a clean swing of his sword. Blood sprayed in a ghastly arc, pooling around his lifeless body. The sight was horrific, and some of the blood splattered onto nearby players, causing them to recoil in fear. This was their first encounter with death in such a visceral and real manner.
Commander Hadrick, unfazed by the bloody spectacle, spat on the corpse and addressed the remaining players with cold disdain. "You are mere slaves in this city. Your only role is to follow instructions."
He then shifted his demeanor, smiling as though the brutal execution had never occurred. "You have one hour to prepare. You'll be grouped with veterans who will guide you to the forest. You must complete your tasks effectively. Otherwise, you know the consequences."
Alois, who had been watching with a detached demeanor, felt a chill. He had anticipated that their situation would only deteriorate, and the reality was proving worse than he'd imagined.
The players were then divided into groups of five. Alois was assigned to the last group, considered the weakest among them. His group consisted of four other players, all American: Jason, Lyra, Isolde, and Evan. The four looked at Alois with disdain. Jason sneered, "Great, we're stuck with the weakest player. We only have four people who can lure monsters."
Alois, ignoring the comment, kept his focus on the unfolding events. He knew that surviving this would require more than just following orders-it would demand strategy and resilience.
With a sense of foreboding, the nearly 200 groups began to march toward different city gates, each preparing to face the dangers of the forest.