[!] Logged in...
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[!] Welcome back, player: [Blue]
I recalled the memory—whenever I played a game, the loading times were long enough for me to head to the kitchen, grab some snacks, and brew a cup of coffee. But now, it only took a few seconds before I was back in a world I had long since left behind.
"How long has it been?" I wondered.
Alian Online. Who would have predicted that the game I played in high school would spark a paradigm shift in the world? What started as a simple mobile game, transitioning to cross-platform play, has now become a leader in VR technology, fundamentally altering modern society.
"I’ve been playing since its official release. I stopped for about five years, maybe three years in, then returned for a few months. Now, I can’t quite recall how long it’s been."
But here it is... a true VR game, just like in the anime.
The expanse of the sky, alive with honey-colored shades, created an unforgettable atmosphere. The wind gusts danced around me, nudging me and bringing back memories of my first gaming experience, but…
"This is too much—what the hell?!"
The wind howled fiercely, and I, lost in thought, was jolted back to the reality of my situation.
I barely had time to reflect further. Just as I lost my grip, I was inches away from a sudden end to this brief life. It felt like revealing my feelings to someone I'd admired from afar—my heart raced as I clung tightly to the platform with every limb I could manage.
And here I found myself, atop a horn-like structure proudly jutting out from the mountainside. It was tall—really tall, reaching high above the ground. I could literally see the wispy clouds spread out below me.
"What kind of messed-up spawn point is this?" I muttered, wishing I could scratch my head in confusion.
Typically, when a player logs in for the first time, they are either thrown into the game's intro or starting town, so why was I stranded in this godforsaken place? Just as I was about to unleash a string of curses at the dev, a sudden realization dawned on me—"Ah, right, I remember challenging this horn before logging out," I mumbled to myself.
Left with no other options, as my hands and feet seemed powerless, there was only one way forward—I had to descend from this perilous height. "Haha, you've got to be kidding me," I let out a bitter laugh, struggling to resist the force of the unusual wind swirling around me.
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Now, what was my plan of action? Fly? Was there some sort of flying magic in this game? "There is nothing like that!" I exclaimed in frustration.
Because fall damage was a concern, I couldn't help but worry. Plunging from such a height would lead to instant death, just minutes after logging in after all these years? It felt utterly absurd.
"Well, if there's no other way," I muttered, resigned to my fate. I had decided on my course of action.
And so, I began my descent.
"Damn it, the developers even added fatigue..." I huffed and puffed
It took quite a while of which I’ve lost count; to crawl down from this skyscraper-like thorn, defying gravity like a determined koala. My arms and legs ached, and my breathing came in ragged gasps. It was high time for me to stop. The platform was no longer a comforting pillow-like object that I could cling to—it had surpassed the width limit of my embrace.
In that case, perhaps I could try walking on the top part, right? It seemed like a reasonable idea at the time, so I dared to take a step. Almost immediately, I regretted it. The wind up here was still fierce, and if I hadn't found something to hold onto, I would've been swept away.
"At least it's better than being a koala for a lifetime," I said, trying to keep positive. With one free hand, I summoned the status window. And there it was, my character's personal stats:
Blue, Lv.265
STR 0 (+...)
AGI 0 (+...)
INT 455 (+...)
DEX 270 (+...)
VIT 0 (+...)
Don't laugh at me, this is just how the game works, well at least that's how it once used to be. I'm not sure about nowadays, though. Alian Online is a cross-platform game, so even in this VR version I’m still using the same account I used since the alpha test.
My stats were conventional at that time. As I stopped playing for a few years and returned a lot things had changed, but I didn't do much to keep up with the updates. I'm quite sure now everyone's playstyle has become quite diverse, and I might be ridiculed for still adhering to this outdated method of allocating stats.
No matter what, I am a mage; INT significantly increases magic damage while DEX speeds up casting speed. I am all into magic DPS, you see.
For instance, in a high-difficulty raid, I am placed in the backline. My main task is to deliver the highest possible magic damage, but the reality is not always smooth sailing. My comrades would complain about the length of time it takes for me to cast a skill, while the tanks grumble about how the enemy's aggro is drawn towards me as I chant my spells.
On numerous occasions, our formation crumbles as enemies relentlessly attack me, who unfortunately possesses HP almost as thin as a puppy's patience. And that is the backdrop of the story behind why I am nicknamed the Death-prone Mage.
Okay, let's return to my current situation and figure out how to escape this predicament. Lost in thoughts, I opened my inventory window.
...
...
…
I felt disappointed as I reflected on my past idiocy.
Almost half of my inventory was filled with red-colored bottles, all of which were HP Potions. I scrolled through the sea of items until I found it—a very useful item—The Teleportation Feather.
As my excitement surged I didn’t waste any time to pressed its icon and use it, still—