Chapter 2: Nice meeting you, Edenarium.
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Ah- Damn. Is this for real..?
I stared upon the blue window once again and pondered onto it.
'Otherworlder'.
It clearly says there.
... Alright be as it may be, this is a prank. Right?
Let's assess the situation calmly as grown-ups should. In this way, ceaseless ranting and confusion would be obsolete, and wasted efforts will not go down into the drain.
If this were to be a prank made by the administrators of the system, then there should be a log out/assistance button somewhere in the menu. Right. I should check that first before believing in these mere words inside this suspicious looking blue window.
As I recall, opening up a menu only requires you to slowly swipe your palm down without holding either an item or a weapon.
I hope... This is a prank.
If it were to be a prank, then that would be gracious since I could normally return back to my world. But if it isn't... Well, isn't that technically telling your former world "You have died."?
I'll open up the menu then, maybe there is a log out button available. I don't care if my two hours playthrough is canceled upon logging out, just getting myself out of this predicament would be better.
After all. Getting stuck inside the VR drive isn't a laughing matter.
... There are chances that I might die by the system's disabling of senses if my HP hits 0. Alright?
Now, let's open it, shall we? With the slow descent of my hand, without any firearms or any sort of item held...
"Ping~!"
A familiar mechanical sound rang into my ears. A tall blue window appeared and replaced the 'warm' welcome window of Edenarium. The tall window then revealed the game's settings.
That was my menu opening before me. It is quite large but not to an extent it would block my vision wholly.
Though. The menu wasn't completely impeccable unlike what I saw in the tutorial level.
It lacked one prerequisite. The most important of them all.
I felt even more hopeless upon seeing the blank window at the bottom of the menu.
It was the log out button. I remember the log out button being there.
But why is it blank!?
Don't tell me-...
I have been really transported to another world!?!?!
There is definitely no way, right?
NO WAY RIGHT!?
What are the chances of being transported to another world?
1 to 100? 5 to 10? Or 1 to 1 with this machine? Nope. That 1:1 ratio only applies for a certain truck that hits people for no reason at all other than to send them to another world and grant them cliche abilities. Therefore I conclude, the chances are very slim..!
It was really unfortunate of me to be dropped in that very slim chance of getting transmigrated. Or rather, the Admins are just playing tricks on me to believe I was transported to another world.
Well, it is plausible if I think it through like this. It seems like I was the only person who dared to conquer the VR machine the moment it got unpacked in the local game center, which made the system administrators quite the jolly expressions and that's it.
If this kind of system failure is indeed the work of the Admins, I'll sue them with all of my heart, even though the reality of being able to are 0 in chances since you can't sue a big company capable of creating games for VR machine with no money but rants.
... Oh well, it's not like I hate the world for transmigrating me nor the admins playing a trick on me.
IF. I am indeed transmigrated to another world, that would be the better of my life's future since the chances of dying from starvation are pretty high next week due to me having zero budget. And if the Administrators are playing a joke on me, that would also be better since I could fulfill my two hours gameplay to the fullest with the panic of being unable to log out...
And enjoy the last moments of my gracious life before I DO die next week from starvation.
Tensions are needed for every FPS games after all. Being panicked, anxious of running out of something at all times during playthrough means the FPS game is very well-made. Unless they brought in ghosts that cannot be killed.
For now, on my screen which is my eyesight. The game is running normally, HP status presenting correctly, ammunition count in the bottom left is being shown normally including the number of clips my FAD could use before I run out. The shop button which is located at the inventory is also functioning very well.
My gun is hidden inside my inventory, I pulled it out and examined it for a while.
FAD Assault Rifle, the basics of the basic weapon for the Assault Class of this game. I was a bit surprised it wasn't your usual Scar-L or the M4A1 but rather this gun. It looked fancy but I still prefer the design of the old guns. The sound of this gun, I haven't heard of it but I hope it has some 'pluck' sound that all Assault Rifles have.
The gun is rather weightless, by I mean weightless, it weighted like a full palm-sized package of flyers.
Damn. This beauty is equipped with a red dot sight and a 40mm Grenade Launcher attachment.
... The appearance is rather tempting to shoot. It kind of tells you to pull that trigger and go all out. And the feeling of the curved shape of the trigger makes my fingers itchy.
The surface of this gun alone is seducing my mind...
Shit, I must resist. I don't know if I could get additional ammunition from the shop inside the inventory. If I were to lose all of my 'limited' clips in a single day, then how would I survive in this world? Or how would I even get through the Administrator's prank? I won't dare to waste even a single bullet from this gun! Unless it is required to do so.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Not to mention, this game or world might have monsters that are much worse than symbiotic zombies.
Alright, let's get a move on.
My sidearm QSZ-92 looks pretty solid, although it isn't like the other games where the pistols/sidearms have infinite ammunition, it has damn a lot of starting clips. 17 Clips to be precise, while my main arm only has 2 clips worth of 30 bullets each in one clip.
These 10 clips are enough to be used until the day I am required to use my main arm. And until then, I am using this.
It seems like I am not delivered to the site with grenades and other gadgets. Quite the shame I am not able to hold onto grenades, haah. I would only wish the inventory shop sells all of the things inside the game. I holstered my pistol into my side pistol holster, to the place where it should be, and examined my surroundings.
It's...
I am overwhelmed by the expanse of this dessert. Just by looking at the distant horizons, I feel at loss.
North, East, West, and South- There's nothing there all except wastelands.
Not a trace of humanity, not a trace of beasts nor insects. Hell, not even a trace of a leaf is found!
And not to mention the shells that are usually found around deserts!
... Am I lost..?
Ahhh, please I hope not! I don't like to be alone in these kinds of the environment... It's hot and desolate.
I have long been sweating like hell. My whole body is drenched in sweat and it is sticky as hell!
Feeling this sticky feeling while wearing full Russian battle armor, I couldn't help but feel a cold spine. I mean, who wouldn't? You can't swipe your sweat off your body for Pete's sake! But it looks like I am not slightly irritated from it, only whenever I thought of my under places, I only get irritated for a short while.
Maybe, this is another function of the game too? I should ignore these sweaty sticky feeling.
Hm..? Hang on, I just noticed this.
There's a certain avatar buff icon underneath my HP status.
Wait. Isn't this..? Me, who is being curious as a cat, I tapped onto the buff icon and revealed its details before my eyesight.
I must say, this is some aftermath character creation function right here. Out of all FPS games, this game only has this function, since it is quite needless for true FPS players to care about their character's appearances unless they are some sort of artists or people that care about aesthetics.
[3 Days left] Temporary Avatar Looks: Female Avatar
- The user's appearance will temporarily reveal 'User-created Avatar' until the specific time or date reaches 0. Once the temporary avatar is lifted, the user will return to its original appearance until tampered with the console commands. The original appearance is heavily dependent on the user's reality.
- The buff could be set permanent by confirming parameters in the Character menu. To do this, navigate to User's Dogtag > Appearance > Confirm Appearance and pay the required fee. Permanent appearance does not lock the functionality of Appearance Customization. The same process goes the same for recreating new User-created Avatars.
"The Unlimited number of Appearance Customization is our game's only specialty! No useless microtransactions!" - Lead Developer, Tazu.
Alright, let's assess this window. It comes with a short introduction and a process of some sort... Making temporary into permanent? Hmm...
It is quite splendid- no. It is too splendid that it kept me hanging for a meanwhile. After all, who wouldn't get stiffened trying to understand the statement 'The original appearance is heavily dependent on the user's reality'? Those words alone had me reeling inside my head, by what does the person who is behind this function trying to tell me? Is it trying to tell the people who have received this buff or what-ever this was supposed to meant to be that after the timer reaches 0, you will become to what you looked before?
It sounds plausible, but it still remains vague and all. It seems like I would wait for this buff to be lifted, which is three days... I wonder if this meant game time or real time..? Nah, most importantly.
I could create an infinite number of appearances. As said by the Lead developer 'Tazu'. It is their game's specialty!
How marvelous! Even though I don't mainly care about aesthetics. This is enough to get me riled up.
I wouldn't mind playing this game for hours, even if it meant my pocket getting a number of debts.
Ahh, I wish I am transmigrated instead of being pranked- Alright, onto the next function.
My dog tag seems to be responsive as well. This Dog tag shows all of the user's information, as I recall, and this also acts as your ID in passing through your 'base' facility which is a thing in the game.
Upon the calling of the menu, a blue window replaced the inventory window right before me.
Name: Levin Ganther Sex: (Temporary) Female, (Originally) Male. Clan: --- War Points: 5,000 WP. Premium Points: ∞ Clan Points: 0 Rank: Cadet Trainee Experience: 50% Missions Accomplished: 4 User Name: AAA Character's Appearance [3 Days]
Alright... Nothin's a prob-
HMMM???
HMMMMMMMM!?!?!
HANG ON. Is this for real?
PREMIUM POINTS!
Why is it on the infinity?
Do you mean like I have an unlimited amount of these... Premium Points~!?
As I recall, every good weaponry, vehicles, and Base facilities are bought with Premium Points in which only registered members of the VR machine could receive through microtransactions. And since I am not a registered member, I don't have an inch of it. Well, these weapons could also be bought with War Points in which both registered and unregistered members could attain through battling, with tenfold of its original amount of course.
With these unlimited number of Premium Points, I doubt about unable to survive these wastelands! I could survive here for weeks even~!
Alright, let's wrap all the system examination. I need to get out of this wasteland first if I need to get rid of this sweaty feeling gathering inside my armor. With no direction in mind, I settled for the north which was the place where the Boeing Globemaster fell and started traversing the sandy dunes.
My adventure inside a 'pranked system' or in the other world begins!
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Meanwhile, in another place where sandy dunes are non-existent. In this tall tree of which one would consider 'World Tree' lied an Elegant castle made out of the most elaborate materials ever imagined. A man stood in front of grand double doors, knocked gently and leaned over to listen to the other side.
"May I ask, who is it knocking on this one's grandiose doors?"
"It is but your lowly and humble servant, Dorsus, my queen."
The doors slid open slowly, revealing two knights who stood guard near the doors, seeing the sight of these knights. The person who knocked, Dorsus could not help but swallow hard. After all, these knights are like angels of the Heavenly Kingdom.
They couldn't be seen anywhere else other than inside the castle of their kingdom.
"Uh- My queen. About these Knights-." Dorsus questioned before he knelt before a curtain.
"Do not heed onto unnecessary details, dear servant. These Orpheus Knights of mine are just but a summoned creatures ordered by our King to defend his weakened wife." The person behind the curtain spoke with a cold tone. "Get to the point, dear servant. I am tired and would like to have a heartful rest."
"Right." Dorsus calmed himself down. "The summoning has failed, my queen. An unprecedented calamity has usurped the mana of both of our mages and the Primordial Star Stone."
"Failed..? By your words 'Primordial Star Stone' and Summoning, I must ask this dear servant, which of the summoning that required a Primordial Star Stone failed? Is it the Orpheus Knights summoning or... The Forbidden Otherworld calling?"
"Unfortunately, It is the latter, my queen."
"... How, how're the mages..?" She said and immediately, her breathing was heavy. "Is my son who partook in the summoning... Hurt..?"
"None of them was terribly hurt but they were badly knocked over and would require a year's worth of rest, my queen. First Mage Prince Eugen is not an exception to the calamity, though be at rest, my queen. He wasn't that harmed, unlike the other mages who protected him with their meek bodies from the disaster."
"That's a piece of relieving news." The queen heaved a sigh that calmed her breathing pace. "Dear servant, Dorsus, I would like to know what might have caused the calamity. Surely, the Primordial Star Stone is not that kind of catalyst that would detonate upon receiving mana, unlike all low-class Star Stones."
"What happened there..?"
Dorsus gripped his hands before he spoke.
"A certain court mage, who is part of the summoning and belonged to the Noble household of Hanrito, who managed to tell me about a certain silhouette appearing out of the Primordial Star Stone before she lost to the battle of consciousness and fell into a coma."
"A certain silhouette? Tell this one more about this!"
"It is an armored person with a weird black attire, my queen. I was told that this person might be the cause of the disruption of the summoning and thus concluded might be part of the Demon race who would do anything just to make our lives a living hell. Captain of the Knights, Lynn and his trusty legion are now on the run in search of this armored person."
"Though, it may be weird to ask you this, my queen."
"Go on."
"... What's a Demon Race doing in the Monster World Layer..?"