It's hard to believe that a hot shower after days in real life doesn't feel as good as getting drenched in the game. Well, the pulsing headache and the ringing ears don't help, and they start as soon as the headset comes off.
The Girl warned that this would happen, and she was right. She told me to take frequent breaks early on, but she had no idea how much I fucked it up. There's nobody to blame for that but myself. Without wasting those ten credits, this would be all in the past.
Anyway, my legs and arms are sore too. It's weird, considering I spent the last two days in bed, running around with the avatar in the game. It's not like they're asleep though, they feel strained as they do after a tough workout.
As if all the movements within the system also strain my real muscles, is that possible? The character took quite a beating, running around all day, and swung the sword without a break.
The system doesn't simulate sore muscles. Or it might be because of all the healing potions, that it's better with the controller on. My body feels them in real life though, and even the hot water does little to help.
A massage chair.
There is one in the arcade, and it's free to use. It's a beat-up old model, but it's decent. Sometimes there are endless lines in front of it, though people would be busy elsewhere at night. They have a club at the other end of the complex.
This body has some needs that the system made me forget, like moving my limbs, eating, and showering. There are no cravings though, the two packs of cigarettes are still there, at least what's left of them.
Early on it worried me that they wouldn't last, now it's sickening to look at the packages. The controller has the weirdest effects on people, I can't be the only one. The Aspirant also experienced these firsthand.
Anne Lee, huh?
She must hate me for that stupid slip of the tongue, and she has every right to. Unless that apology gets sorted out soon, she will make my life miserable once she becomes my handler. Of course, it won't happen in the middle of the night.
It's past eleven, and the water is getting cold. This happens when you let your thoughts wander around for too long. Well, it was about time to take a decent shower after half a week, it's a new low even for me.
Still, with this insane pressure on me from the missions, there was no chance for any breaks until now. Settling on the escalation project and farming plague rats, things changed. There are about twelve hours left to finish the government's mission, and I only need three.
Two if there is some light zombie hunting while waiting for the respawn. It should be safer to move out at night, who else would be up and playing this late? Let's hope the Textile Worker guy does, or my armor will take ages to be ready.
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That extra damage it blocks makes a huge difference, even with these weak enemies. The vest is lighter, but neither restricts the movements, so why not take the higher defense? At least since I practiced with the sword, the zombies shouldn't touch me so it won't matter.
And if there are skeletons?
Screw them, they are always a pain to deal with, and those bows were worthless. There should be enough mobs to hunt even after avoiding them. But not now. First, let's take a real break and return to the headset once the rats respawn.
That massage chair is calling for me. A walk there and back should help air out my head too. And to avoid falling asleep while playing, let's buy a drink. It's fifteen minutes to the arcade on foot, it's perfect. Their shop is open even at night.
The phone shows the cops paid me two credits and some change in the last two days. Baldie didn't lie about that. The food they send is great too and lasts all day. The longer I am in this program, the harder complaining becomes.
Other than fucking it up by my stupidity.
It's fine, the goal is in sight already. I'm sure Baldie will call me for a report afterward, and if the Girl is there too, she'll get her proper apology. Stop getting distracted, Arnim, and worry about things in their own time.
Even after dressing up, there is still a good half hour until the mobs in CineMraft respawn. And the system will survive without me there exactly at midnight. That fifteen minutes to the arcade and five minutes in the massage chair is a realistic goal.
Buy an energy drink from that credit, and I'll be back better and stronger for the finish line. Clearing a house takes exactly three minutes as that's how long the immunity lasts. I use that time to the fullest by swapping the weapon loadout around.
Starting with the short and light blade of the dagger makes life so much easier. Despite the fog and everything, it breezed through the first two rooms in about a minute. It didn't waste a single rat tail in the kitchen and attic.
With half the immunity remaining, there was some sword practice in the basement too. Leaving it for the latter half of the job didn't put me under that much pressure, and I only lost four rat tails. Yeah, this will work, and the walk does help to air my head out.
My ears ring a little less once the arcade's lights appear. Deep Dive or not, getting locked up inside the big red container didn't do me any favors. Something to keep in mind for the future. It makes no sense to avoid jail if I imprison myself in their program.
The shop's open and they have a buy one get one free deal on the cheapest energy drinks. They are all beyond their official shelf life, but it can't make them any less healthy anyway. For one credit they will keep me awake long enough to finish that quest.
"Thank you for your patronage." This cashier must be new, he handed me the drinks before beeping my phone. And what's with this polite bullshit? He freaks me out. This is still the slums, you know? Well, whatever, he gave me what I wanted.
And now tho crown my little evening walk: the massage chair is empty as expected. They blast loud techno in the club, drawing in many people from the Container Park. It's the only place that asks for an ID though. They can't risk the feds shutting them down.
And well, it's not my Jazz anyway. They can have their machine music while I enjoy the beat-up massager at the other end of the arcade. Oh God, this makes a whole world of difference. Even my headache starts to melt away.
The only downside is that my eyelids became heavy. It's a good thing I have these energy drinks to help with that. Okay, make that five minutes ten. This mission is a huge success.
Let's hope the one within the system will go like this too.