Chapter 1: Game Becomes Reality
Everything changed that day. Without notice, aliens suddenly invaded Earth, bringing great catastrophe with them. Like Gods, they annihilated approximately seventy percent of the human race. Humans miraculously ‘melted’ away that day, leaving behind only their clothes and other belongings. Governments collapsed and chaos ran rampant. With absolute tyranny, the aliens tore apart the norm and imposed several peculiar laws:
1. From today forth, Zen shall become the currency of Earth. It shall be used to buy the daily necessities of humans.
2. Zen shall be obtained from the total sum of a human’s avatar in Pandemonium Online. A human shall be entitled to five percent of his total Zen inside the game, enabling him to use the money at the real world.
3. All real life necessities shall be brought from the Zen Shops in the real world.
4. All players shall start with three heart stones inside the game. A heart stone shall be consumed upon death. Once all heart stones have been consumed, death inside the game shall equate to death in real life.
5. All humans are required to play a minimum of thirty-five hours inside the game per week. Each hour in real life shall equate to seven hours inside the game. Failure to comply shall equate to a loss of a heart stone.
6. All humans shall enter an ethereal state upon entering the game. Metabolism shall recede to a ninth of the original upon entering the game. All humans in ethereal state shall be rendered immune from all physical attacks.
7. All the laws imposed are final and absolute.
I continued to stare at the slightly crumpled piece of paper as I reread the rules out loud. It had already been two weeks but even now, I still found it hard to believe that it was real. The day when the aliens took over Earth was still vivid in my memories. It was a one-sided massacre. I was lucky that I was asleep that time. It seemed that all humans that strongly rejected the existences of the invaders had their bodies ‘melt’ away from existence. I saw the videos of the phenomenon, and believe me, it was a gruesome sight. I shook my head twice as I tried to dismiss such memories.
I looked towards the clock that hanged on my apartment’s wall. It was almost twelve in the afternoon, and once the hand hits twelve, the game shall be officially opened.
According to the alien’s declaration, Pandemonium Online shall dictate our very existence. The moment the game opened, it shall become the factor that would dictate human hierarchy. The age of science and innovation had ended. It was now the age of gaming... or so the aliens had declared.
True to their promise, Zen Shops began to erupt literally from the ground. Some people tried to enter, and to their surprise, various products were sold inside. Zen Shops were smaller than normal markets, but it had the ability to ‘summon’ the goods that humans wanted to buy. Unfortunately, humans had yet to earn their first Zen. After the invasion, food had become a scarce. It had become almost a luxury. Everyone was left with no choice but wait for Pandemonium Online to be release. Everyone knew that they needed to earn as much Zen as possible inside the game and take it back to the real world with them.
Honestly, I was a bit welcoming with the idea of living life as a game. I had no family left after my grandfather passed away five years ago. I was twenty-three now, and my only friend died from cancer five months ago. I cried a river that time but deep inside, I knew that life had to go on. I had no real vision on what my life should be, but I disliked the idea of dying. Some people might not understand what I was trying to say, but I guess it would be like: “As long as you’re alive, life goes on. Along the way, you’ll eventually find your purpose for living.” Somewhere along those lines.
A bit of philosophical I must say, but such thoughts pushed me forward despite the nightmarish reality I was living in. After the aliens invaded, rape and slavery became rampant, and cases of suicide sky-rocketed. I guess that was to be expected, after all, law and order had crumbled down. Human nature was that of a beast. It was a fact that would never change. Only the shackles called values, religion, and law were what kept us from ravaging everything we found.
I saw that the clock’s hand was close to reaching the twelfth mark. I grabbed a bottle of water on my right and gulped everything down in one go. I planned on staying an entire day inside the game the moment it opened. I had played numerous games before, and I knew that becoming a pioneer was an indispensable edge.
The clock finally hit the ominous mark. A notification icon popped up before me.
[tr]
Welcome to Pandemonium Online!
Would you like to enter the game?
[Yes/No]
“Yes,” I mumbled as I pressed the translucent button. Immediately, my body floated up a couple of inches into the air, and I saw it assume a luminous azure color. The view of my dirty and unkempt apartment blurred, and before I knew it, I found myself inside a room enveloped in nothing but pure white. A figure cladded in pure silver was standing before me. I could not discern the face underneath the hood, but I was somehow certain that it was female. I walked towards her.
“Welcome Ainz Walker. You shall be granted the freedom to choose your starting kingdom. The race shall be set to default. You shall start as a human,” the figure said. She raised a hand and a list suddenly popped up before me. My eyes widened when I saw the number of available kingdoms possible.
“789 kingdoms....” My voice trailed off. I looked at her and slightly tilted my head. My eyes swivelled from top to bottom as I read the descriptions. “This is too many. Just how large is this world?”
The figure’s voice was indifferent. “Around forty times the size of Earth. You are free to take as much time as possible in choosing the starting kingdom.” She remained standing before me like a statue.
I knew that choosing the right kingdom would determine my fate. I rubbed my chin as I silently read the contents. An image of the kingdom accompanied the descriptions.
[tr]
Harel Kingdom
A kingdom born from war. It is surrounded by the Ulsha Mountain Range where the Blood Drakes reside. It is currently ruled by King Harel VII. A recent truce between the Humans and Elves made it possible for the two species to coexist. The drakes are currently in millennium hibernation, making the Ulsha Mountain Range a relatively peaceful area.
Specialty: Leather, Black Yas Wine, Mil Deer Horns
Dominant Races: Humans, Elves, Drakes
“This won’t do,” I mumbled. I scrolled the window further down.
Yqas Kingdom
A recently formed kingdom. Twenty years ago, King Yqas Monaster stopped the tyrannical rule of the Bernian Witch. After months of warfare and with the help of the Kel Race, the rebels eventually emerged victorious.
Specialty: Jal Ore
Dominant Races: Humans, Kel, Ourim
Xante Kingdom
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A kingdom ruled absolutely by only humans. Other races are persecuted and enslaved in its territory.
Specialty: Wine, Wheat
Dominant Races: Humans
I kept reading each and every kingdom, and by the time I had noticed it, I was at the bottom most part of the list. I read the description of the last kingdom and then began storming my mind. After awhile, I looked up towards the figure and said, “I choose... Kanaan Kingdom.”
The Kingdom of Kanaan was a kingdom that was established a little over three years ago based on the description. It was a fairly small kingdom, and judging by the imagery that accompanied the list, it had only two major cities. The humans on earth would have most likely chosen the larger kingdoms. Surely, competition for quest would be greater in such a setting. I would rather avoid that. Furthermore, the impact of my contributions would sure to be greater if it was done in a smaller kingdom. Larger kingdoms would surely have more established warriors, making the contributions of a beginner like I seemed mediocre.
“You have chosen Kanaan Kingdom. Is that final?” the figure asked.
I replied with a question. “The Race seems to be fixed. Humans are the only option. How about my class?”
“That is for you to find out. No tutorials,” it coldly replied. “You have chosen Kanaan Kingdom. Is that final?”
Damn. The figure was quite the stubborn one. Somehow, I felt that it would not budge no matter how much I pester it. I heaved a sigh and said, “Kanaan Kingdom. That is final.”
“Very well.” For the first time, although concealed with a silver cloak, I saw the figure smile. Underneath the hood was a goddess that made my jaw drop in astonishment. I had never seen such a beautiful woman before. A blinding flash of light shrouded my eyes.
Suddenly, before I knew it, I found myself in front of a large fountain. The area was bustling with merchants, and the erratic eruptions from the fountain made it resemble a geyser. To my left, I saw a large castle that towered around fifty meters in height. Beyond it were walls that surrounded everything from all directions. Further from that, a large mountain range that spanned everything the eyes could see was seen. Its top was covered with snow, and the tip was shrouded by clouds. The sound of horses neighing was heard as I further scrutinized my surroundings. The ground was brick-like, and it was neatly paved. The houses resembled those of the medieval era: most were made by combinations of rocks and woods. I sniffed the air and felt the scent of freshly baked bread. The realness of the game was absurd. It seemed so real that I was able to feel even the slightest touch of the soothing wind.
“Shit... this is awesome...,” I said in disbelief. I pinched my cheeks and I felt pain bolt through my body. I licked the side of my mouth and tasted the slightly salty taste of my own saliva. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I mumbled, “Status Screen!”
A ghost-like window suddenly appeared before me.
Ainz WalkerRace:HumanLevel:1Title:NoneHealth:100/100Mana20/20Strength5Agility5Vitality5Dexterity5Intelligence5Luck5Endurance5Unallocated Points0Heart Stones: 3Heart stones are transferrable between players.
“Hmmm....” I mulled over things as I stared at my status window. As expected, my statuses were at the bottom most level. The one that bothered me the most was the heart stone. According to the status window, it was possible to transfer it from a player to another. It indicated one thing: player kill. Without doubt, player kills would become a rampant event in this game. It was not an exaggeration to say that heart stones were synonymous to life. Once completely consumed, a player would die if he died inside the game. Right now, it was without doubt the most important item in Pandemonium Online. People would surely coerce others to give them their heart stones. Damn... I should find a way to protect myself.
I noticed the small pouch strapped on my waist. I opened it and found ten copper coins. The word “Zen” was imprinted on it. Beside the pouch was a small skin flask that was the size of a fist. Was that not too small? I smirked at the thought. Furthermore, it seemed that I was not given the proper ‘starting equipments.’ My garb was a plain white shirt and a faded trouser. Though on the other hand, I should probably be thankful that my boots and gloves were made of leather. I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw a bronze dagger strapped at my leg. At least, I have something to defend myself with.
“They should have given me some bread at the start,” I grumbled. At the corner of my eyes, I spotted a stall that sold some food. The one manning the counter was an old lady with numerous freckles on her face. Her dress tightly fitted her stubby body. “How much?” I asked as I pointed at one of the displayed items.
“Five coppers—each. No discount!” the lady replied. I almost puked blood when I heard the price. My starting Zen was only ten coppers!
I lightly ruffled my hair as I pulled out all ten copper coins from my pouch. I bought two breads at once. It was all or nothing. Before the sun sets, I should find a way to procure Zens. I asked the lady, “Where’s the gate located? Are there monsters here? There should be some way for me to earn Zens from them, right?”
The lady raised a brow. “Heyheyhey. Slow down. Too many questions.” She made a chet sound and pouted her lips towards the west. “There. That’s where the gate towards the outskirt’s located. You’re asking stupid questions. Everyone knows that you can earn Zens by selling the parts of the monsters you’ve killed. Another way is to ask the Adventurer’s guild for quests.” She scrutinized my gear from head to toe. “Nah. Don’t do the last part I mentioned. It’s for the skilled only. Even the lowest quests from the Adventurer’s Guild involve dangerous monsters.”
“Where’s the Adventurer’s Guild located?”
The lady scowled, “Stupid brat. You’ll die if you go on a quest from that group. Better hunt those weaker monsters in the outskirts first if you’re in need of Zens. I’ve seen guys like you before, and they always end up dying before they knew it.”
“Yes. I’ll do that, but could you please tell me where the Guild’s located?” I asked in a polite tone. I almost wanted to heave a sigh as I listened to the old lady’s grumblings.
“See that castle?” She pointed towards the structure at my rear. “Just take the eastern road from that one. Eventually, you’ll arrive at the Adventurer’s Guild.”
I made a light bow and said my thanks. Before I left, I heard the words, “kids these days!” come out of the old lady’s mouth. My lips formed into a light curl as I savoured the new world I would live in from now on. I guess such life was not too bad after all.