The shiver that had run down my spine hadn’t fully dissipated when Guenda led us toward the life-sized replicas of the three beasts I was about to meet. The observation tower cast long, ominous shadows over those statues, which I was now beginning to examine in detail.
Before stepping into the biosphere, I wanted to understand what awaited me inside.
“Now you can take a good look at the three MonMonster we raise here and that you’ll have to face,” Guenda explained with her usual calm and methodical tone. “BuBull, HeHedgehog, and TuTurtle.”
I found myself staring at the statues, trying to maintain a detached attitude. But the truth? Those things were enormous. The massive and armored figure of BuBull, in the center, looked ready to crush me under the weight of its mighty hooves. HeHedgehog, with its spiked armor, appeared just as threatening, despite its smaller size. TuTurtle, the largest of the three, boasted a shell so sturdy that it seemed capable of withstanding any attack.
“There they are,” I whispered, trying not to sound too impressed.
“They don’t look so bad, right?” Roy commented in my head, in a tone of false calm. “I won’t tell you which one I chose, so I don’t influence you.”
Honestly, I was so caught up in my thoughts that I completely ignored Roy’s comments at that moment. I couldn’t wait to face these beasts head-on.
Guenda interrupted us, beginning her detailed explanation. “BuBull, as you can see, is a very powerful MonMonster. Its main strength lies in its physical power and its ability to charge enemies with devastating force. However, its lack of agility is a weakness to keep in mind during battle.”
Roy wasted no time jumping in. “Yeah, it’s a bit slow. So, you might want to try wearing it down from a distance. But, obviously, if it catches you… well, goodbye Ekla.” He chuckled.
I mentally grimaced, imagining myself flattened under one of those mighty hooves. “Great strategy, Roy. The old ‘wear and dodge’ method.”
Guenda pressed on without hesitation. “HeHedgehog, on the other hand, is a MonMonster specialized in long-range attacks. It uses its spikes to strike enemies from afar with lethal precision. Although it’s not the largest MonMonster, its piercing attacks can pose a challenge to any opponent.”
Roy promptly added, “Also, its spikes not only allow it to attack from a distance but serve as an excellent defense for anyone trying to engage in close combat.”
I nodded, beginning to think about possible strategies.
Guenda finally moved on to TuTurtle. “TuTurtle is the ultimate defender. Armored and equipped with psychic abilities, it can repel both physical and mental attacks. It’s also the least aggressive of the three, making it a good choice for beginners.”
I looked at the statue of TuTurtle, feeling a slight sense of relief at Guenda’s description. It seemed like a safe choice, but Roy didn’t waste time telling me what I was already thinking.
“Yeah, it’s the one for beginners,” Roy commented. “But you don’t like taking the easy route, do you?”
I smiled, nodding internally. “No, Roy. I don’t like things easy.”
As we moved closer to the statues, I began considering which of the three MonMonster I should choose. BuBull was impressive, with its brute strength that could make a difference in many situations, but its lack of agility was concerning. HeHedgehog, with its long-range attacks, could be a thorn in the side of many opponents, but it seemed fragile. TuTurtle, on the other hand, was a safe choice, a reliable companion I could count on in tough situations, but… I couldn’t shake the feeling that it lacked something special.
“So,” I asked Roy mentally, “which would you recommend?”
Roy thought for a moment. “Well, it all depends on how you want to play. BuBull is raw power. If you like the idea of throwing yourself into the fray, it’s perfect. HeHedgehog is more tactical, striking from a distance and staying out of trouble. TuTurtle… well, it’s the tank. Great for defense, but maybe a bit boring.”
I stopped in front of the HeHedgehog statue, staring at it. Its spikes, carved in marble, hinted at a tactical advantage. “Distance, huh?”
Roy chuckled.
I smiled, but the thought of having to choose was starting to weigh on me. The choice of my companion would be crucial, not only for the capture but for everything that lay ahead. I could go for strength, tactics, or defense. Each option had its pros and cons, but I knew that in the end, I’d have to make a decision based on what felt right for me.
“Guenda,” I asked out loud, “when I face them, I’ll be on my own, right?”
“Exactly,” she replied calmly. “It will be a test of strength and skill. Your ability to control the MonMonster will be crucial. Only one of them can become your companion, and you’ll have to prove yourself worthy of this bond.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility on me. Roy’s internship depended on these two hours of gameplay. Suddenly, I remembered our time limit. “Roy, what time is it? How long have we been playing?”
Roy took a moment to check and answered calmly, “It’s still 10:13 PM. We’ve got more than an hour and a half.”
“Wow. I thought way more time had passed. I was starting to worry.” I responded, letting out a big sigh of relief. I hate making decisions under too much pressure.
The statues stood there, motionless, like sleeping giants waiting to be awakened. I moved closer to each of them, examining them carefully, trying to imagine what it would be like to fight alongside them.
“Let the choosing begin,” I murmured to myself, as my heart started to beat faster.
Guenda approached slowly, maintaining her almost superhuman calm. "Ekla, the time has come. You need to enter the biosphere," she said, pointing toward a large opening in the wall ahead of us. I could see a steep staircase that seemed to descend straight into the dome. "Inside, you'll find the MonMonster, ready to be challenged."
"Don't worry, buddy. It'll be fine. These MonMonster are just a little... bigger than the statues you’ve seen." Roy quipped.
I smiled, but it was more of a nervous grin than a confident one. “Great.”
Guenda didn’t waste time and led us, one step at a time, toward the entrance of the biosphere. "Remember, Ekla, brute strength alone won’t determine your victory. You’ll need to be smart, exploit the MonMonster’s weaknesses, and, above all, stay calm."
I advanced silently. Guenda stopped at the entrance.
The doors opened before me with a soft hiss, and the first thing I felt was a slight pressure in my ears, like I had suddenly descended underwater. The air inside the biosphere was different, thicker, almost tangible. The doors closed behind me shortly after I entered.
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Each step I took felt heavier, as if gravity had been altered in this place. I glanced at the walls, which seemed to be made of some kind of translucent glass. I could see shapes and lights beyond, but nothing clear—just shadows dancing in the void.
"Weird," I muttered. "It feels like another dimension."
Roy made a sound of approval. "Yeah, they’ve definitely ramped up the immersion here. You hear that hum too, right? It’s designed to make you feel... isolated. Like it?"
"Like it?" I responded with sarcasm. "I feel like I’ve been put under a glass bell, and you know how much I love confined spaces."
The hum was indeed becoming more noticeable. It seemed to come from all directions, a continuous vibration that permeated the thick, humid air of the biosphere. It wasn’t annoying, just unsettling. It made me think that something was about to happen.
As I continued walking, I heard sounds. They weren’t distinct yet, but I could sense something was nearby. Muffled noises, like heavy breathing, or maybe slow footsteps. I couldn’t see anything yet, but I knew the MonMonster were there, hidden in the haze that shrouded the environment.
"Roy?" I called out mentally. "You didn’t abandon me, did you?"
"I’m here, relax. I’m trying to figure out what kind of setting this is too. The biosphere changes for each player, and I haven’t seen this version yet. I’m scanning the surroundings as well. I’ll let you know if I spot anything."
I stopped for a moment, trying to sense any movement in the forest.
"Everything okay?" Roy asked in my head.
"All good, don’t worry. I’m just trying to—" I was abruptly interrupted by a high-pitched, intermittent sound. My heart skipped a beat. It was the Omnigron on my wrist, beeping and vibrating like crazy, making me jump.
"What the hell is this thing doing?! Might as well paint a target on my head," I exclaimed, reaching for the bracelet to silence it. At my touch, it stopped vibrating and projected a hologram of Guenda. "Relax, it’s just me," she intervened in her usual calm tone. Her pink glasses sparkled as her transparent figure floated lightly in the air. "The Omnigron is simply syncing with your profile. Are you ready to see your stats?"
"Finally, some numbers to chew on. Show me!" I replied, trying to keep my tone light to hide my nervousness.
The Omnigron’s interface opened, projecting a series of holograms in front of me. Bright lights danced in the air, and every stat seemed alive, floating. Guenda began explaining with her usual mechanical precision.
"These are your base stats. Every MonMaster has eight fundamental parameters that influence their performance in combat and exploration. These are: HP, Stamina, Mana, Strength, Endurance, Mind, Aura, and Agility."
As she listed the stats, each category lit up in a different color. A slight thrill of excitement ran through me. Despite the tense atmosphere, it was fascinating to see everything I had at my disposal to shape my character.
These are your base stats:
* Name: Ekla
HP: 200
Mana: 100
Stamina: 100
Strength: Poor
Endurance: Poor
Mind: Poor
Aura: Poor
Agility: Poor
"HP represents your health points—if they reach zero, you lose consciousness. Stamina reflects how many enhanced physical attacks or special moves you can perform, while Mana controls the number of magical abilities you can use. Strength determines the power of your physical attacks, while Endurance allows you to resist physical damage. Mind governs the potency of your mental and magical abilities, Aura enables you to resist mental and magical damage, and Agility determines your speed and dexterity in movement and combat."
Suddenly, a new screen popped up, notifying me that I had three bonus points to distribute as I wished across the stats. I noticed that HP, Stamina, and Mana couldn’t be increased.
Roy chimed in. "Those three can’t be changed at this stage. They’ll automatically adjust once you assign your points to the other stats, which, as you can see, range from ‘Poor’ for very low values to ‘Excellent’ for very high ones."
I began testing the system and quickly noticed that Strength and Agility both increased stamina, while Endurance and Aura boosted HP. Even Strength added a small HP bonus. It was a complex system of combinations and bonuses, difficult to calculate on the fly, and I didn’t have the time to figure it out. An idea sprouted in my mind right then.
Roy, noticing me fiddling with the stats, chimed in. "It’s pretty intricate. I’d suggest not overdoing it with drastic changes—maintain a good balance. We’ll need all these skills."
I smiled to myself but didn’t comment. I already had a clear idea of how I wanted to play this. "Sure, sure, balance. But you know what, Roy? I don’t really believe in mediocre characters. We’ve only got about an hour, so I’m going to try something unconventional. It’ll be useful for your testing, right?"
Roy groaned in my head. "Please tell me you’re not doing that thing you pulled off at the world championships."
"Wow, are you sure you can’t read my mind?" I replied, chuckling as I began redistributing my stats. "You can call me the fastest man alive."
The interface reacted instantly to my commands, and with each touch on a stat, the numbers changed. I put all the bonus points into Agility. My HP, Stamina, and Mana adjusted accordingly based on that choice.
* Name: Ekla
HP: 200
Mana: 100
Stamina: 250
Strength: Poor
Endurance: Poor
Mind: Poor
Aura: Poor
Agility: Great
"Trust me, Roy, it’s all instinct," I said, not even waiting for his response as I saved my changes.
Roy, with a hint of concern in his voice, replied, "Okay. I trust you. I’ll probably be the only one submitting a report with a character like this. Maybe if we hit some bugs, I might even get noticed." His tone perked up with a glimmer of hope.
"Exactly, that’s the spirit," I said, brimming with cockiness.
Guenda suddenly caught my gaze. "Such an unbalanced stat allocation carries risks. I recommend reconsidering your distribution," she urged.
"Thanks for the advice, Guenda, but I trust my gut," I replied, confident in replicating my victory from two years ago in a game with similar mechanics to MonMonster Catch.
Despite the warnings, I was firm in my decision. The thought of moving faster than any other character in the game was just too tempting. It wasn’t just about strategy—it was about fun. I felt like I was bending the rules, a little act of rebellion against traditional game mechanics.
Roy sighed. "Alright, alright. It’ll be fine." He seemed to be reassuring himself more than me.
I felt a strange sensation ripple through my digital body as the stat changes took effect. Suddenly, everything felt lighter. Every movement was smoother, as if I had become one with the wind itself. Even the ground beneath me seemed to respond to my newfound agility, adjusting to my steps.
"Wow," I said, dashing forward and back to test my new speed. "I feel like I’m flying!"
"Let’s hope you don’t crash into a wall," Roy commented sarcastically.
"Kidding aside," he continued, "what’s the plan? What build are you going for?"
"I don’t want to sweat too much," I boasted. "If I can run and dodge, I don’t need to be strong or tough. My MonMonster will do the heavy lifting. I just need to survive. We just have to clear the first area and then we’re out of here."
Roy sighed again. "Got it. The faster you are, the quicker we finish."
Guenda’s holographic version intervened to finalize the process: "You have completed your stat customization. You are now ready to face the challenges of Hexamia. Remember, every choice you make will have consequences. As you level up, you’ll have the chance to further enhance your stats. But I’ll explain more about that later."
When she finished speaking, all the floating interfaces disappeared back into the Omnigron in a flash. A small glowing blue arrow appeared beneath my feet, pointing the way forward.
Feeling more powerful, agile, and absolutely ready for whatever awaited me, I gave a confident nod toward the sky. "Perfect. Now I’m ready."
"Let’s go pay a visit to some big beasts," Roy chimed in, riding the wave of excitement.
I tightened the Quantum Pack on my back and began walking toward the forest, following the blue arrow at my feet.