What I sought was calm. Calm to cope up with the chaos, which had started. My mind was in shambles. Half of my thoughts were to slaughter all that stand in my way, and carve a blood path to the top while the other half preached peace and stability. Strength to save and protect my loved ones. It was the eternal Angel-Devil conflict. The devil in me wanted, no, craved power, while the angelic me sued peace and prosperity. I never expected myself to suffer from this. I prided myself for my decisiveness. No hint of hesitation while deciding was something I was proud of, but here I stood with a head full of uncertainty.

Finally I decided to move on. One step at a time, rest will be dealt when required. What I needed now was not self-doubts, but a plan.  A plan to proceed ahead.  A plan to survive. If the world was turning into a playground, I wanted to be the biggest and the meanest bully of the town. So I started preparing THE GREAT PLAN!!

An experience player doesn't just barges in. He plans his every move and tries to execute it with care. In short a great player is also a great strategist...or well a pawn of a great strategist.

I rushed back home and started my preparations. Firstly, what I needed was not strength but information. Information was currency in its truest sense. It would never lose its value. In hands of a master, information had brought several empires and kingdoms to its knees. With information I could make my game plan. I could make my own ‘Guide to Monster Killing ‘and ‘Surviving in the Wilds’ version. 

Jumping on the couch, I ordered Stephen the home AI to bring forth all information on Game of Life and Athena Corporation. 6 holographic screens projected themselves as I started picking out information and organize my report.

Surprisingly, there was almost negligible information on the Event. Most of it was about riots and protests which had started because of this. I sighed, and could, only wonder on human folly. Instead of working together they are busy blaming each other. Finding no useful information on net, I move towards their web site.

And amazingly their site was full of valuable information. Skimming most of it, I move toward the Monster Forum. Currently, what I lacked was information regarding these Monsters. I had no idea about their weaknesses nor their strengths. I was a blank book on this matter, which I planned to resolve soon.

And HOLY SHIT! What I find is… incredible? Amazing?

These so called monsters are no robots or drones. They are basically genetically engineered and evolved animals. These creatures can be called as variants of current flora and fauna. Goblins, the most common leveling monsters. They are actually evolved chimpanzees and monkeys. Similarly dragons, hydras, imoogi, etc are genetically engineered variants of various reptiles along with Dinosaur DNA. Various mixtures of DNAs result in variants among these high level Reptiles. Along with that serums, forced breeding, forced adaptation along with treatment such as Gamma ray treatment, have resulted in branching of this species line. What started with dragons branched into variant dragons, hydras, wyverns, imoogis etc.

Similarly, experiments with primate DNA led to birth of orcs, goblins, ogre, dwarves and elves.  These experiments were kept in a controlled habitat until they adapted and assimilated themselves with their environment. Dwarves were engineered to be great miners and mountain dwellers. Elves turn out to be nature lovers. Genetic engineering also led to improvement and evolution of The DNA. What started as a strand of helix actually evolved into a better version of itself. This led to their increase strength, longevity and intelligence.

I could only gasp with shock. When did they manage to move so far ahead? Last I remembered were experiments with Ligers and descendents of Dolly the Sheep.  And how are they even able to do this? Where are they getting the funds and the support from? How did they hide all this from public eyes? .How could they create something so grand, so vast and so terrifying without alerting the authorities? I had so many questions but no answers… and a hunch that this all was not as simple as the scientist-AI duo made it sound.

With my head full of questions, I left the site. I decided to later review all this once again. As for other information, I promised myself to check it later on .I had started with doubts and questions and now I had even more questions. Something about all this felt completely off. But I couldn't do anything about it.

It  was out of my hands. The only thing I could do was survive. Which incredibly I was great at.

Now what I needed was money. A t this stage of the game, money had little value. You couldn't find great gears or potions, which would be worth your money. But as the game progresses more equipments, information, and quests will be available for sale. So it's better to start preparations right now. And as most of the world will be in chaos right now, it's a good chance to benefit from the conflict. Better to be at the top of the rat race than at the bottom...kukukukuuu

And I had the just the thing for this. It was no original idea or something, but actually was quite popular among the businessmen. Simply known as ‘Hoarding.’ I will hoard the required goods and later sell it for higher price. 

HAHHHAHHHAHHAAAhhhaahhha…I am great. I will simply monopolize the whole city. And I will be RICH!

The only thing was, I am still not sure whether this is a big hoax or the actual truth. No one sane enough, would ever spend their money buying nonsense essentials, just based on a video. Same with me. But if it turns out to be the truth, then? 

AGhhhh… So confusing, ‘to buy or to not buy?’ God this is harder than my trignometry paper.

WHAT TO DO??

Eureka!!! I decided to follow the great secret method left by countless experts, to decide in such similar situations. Fishing out a coin, I tossed. If its heads then I will buy, if not then I will not.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

And it’s a( Drum roll) TAILS!!  So I won’t be buying anything… but if it turns out to be the truth? Then I will be struck penniless…

Finally after an entire hour or so, of my conflict, I decided to just proceed and buy. At most I will be poorer by 30000 UC, and the city dogs will be fatter. But just in case, it turns out to be the truth, I WILL BE FUCKING INSANELY RICH! Ahem…at least compared to others.

I swiftly accessed the virtual supermarket through Holo. The virtual supermarket was actually a 3D representation of the actual city’s supermarket. Instead of going to the market in this bitter frozen tundra, people favored ordering it through apps. The drones would then deliver it later. It sounds quite complicated, but actually it was a scaled down version of E- COMMERCE sites.

Starting the first phase of “MISSION SUPER RICH” (Well the other choice was naming it Richie Rich, this sounded less childish…)

Moving towards the instant food aisle, I filled my cart with packets of instant noodles, Instant soup, ramen, ready to eat curry et cetera. I quickly move towards the next aisle, and fill my already overflowing cart, with frozen meats. Sausages, cutlets, fillets, minced, just name it. One good thing about Antarctica is you rarely have to worry about food getting spoilt. So you always have 24*7 cold coffee services. The beer is always chilled, and the water is always frozen. I don’t know whether to cry or laugh at my luck?

Finally, I end my shopping spree with several dozen protein bars and candies. Candies…the next best thing after Elves!! (IF YOU FUCKING HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY ELF OBSESSION AND CANDY LOVE…JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF MY MIND)

Hahhaa…now I just need to wait for the game to start. Actually more than 4 hours had already passed since the video, so only more two hours to wait . Now moving on to MISSION EQUIPMENTS.

First is clothing. I grab a rucksack from the attic, and start stuffing it with sweaters, jeans , socks, and extra pairs of great, soft Undies! YES UNDIES! I have always observed, whenever you start an adventure sooner or later you always find yourselves wet! And then a boy or girl comes bouncing around, sees you and shouts pervert while trying to either skewer you or chop you ( depends whether it is the spear or the sword) So cliché…

So to never find myself in that position, I always keep an extra pair. Mostly it’s to protect the family jewels from free viewing, of course you can pay and have a look…( NO I AM NOT A PERVERT, ITS CALLED BUSINESS)

*Cough* Back to the topic…AND FORGET WHATEVER IS SAID EARLIER.

Now what are left were safety equipments and a great weapon. First, the weapon. I go towards the garage, where my father keeps all his tools. Actually, one great thing about having Historians and Researchers, as your parents, is a house full of weapons. Swords hanging on the wall, armor plates standing high and mighty beside vases, spears standing in umbrella stands, knife lying in the drawer…

The only problem is THE FUCKING WEAPON ITSELF! Sword so gaudy, that Lady Gaga would have felt ashamed. Spears so long that you can’t hold them straight. If not this, then they will be so freaking heavy that you will die just holding them up. And for god sake, if you actually find something useful, you will discover its BLOODY BLUNT!

So the best alternative, just go and find a knife or two from kitchen. OR, of course you can be a genius like me and decide to head out to the garage to tinker with goods, which your father always said to stay away from.

One thing which struck me was, ‘weapons.’ She said we could only have one weapon which was not from the game. So what if I make something up during the game? Would it be counted as a game weapon or not? I guess I will need to try it once.

One hour had already gone by. The game would be starting soon, and I couldn’t wait to con help my countrymen. As for the weapons, I had already decided those. First was a hammer. Yup, I am going all THOR; well, just ignore the lack of sparkly thunder and lightning. I can simply bash the people who stop me, smash the monsters on the way and whack all the moles sniffing around…I know it doesn’t sound  great but, hell! It’s difficult to come up with some great tag line.

Next item- NAILS!!! Or should I call them caltrops now?

And finallyyyyyy (DRUM ROLL)… fork and knife! Believe me, they fucking hurt. Just try stabbing yourself with a knife or fork…YOU WILL DIE SCREAMING. Joking, at most you will need a band aid or two.

As for armor. Well, KNEEL BEFORE ME PLEBS, FOR I INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEWEST GENERATION OF ARMOR.EPITOME OF EFFICIENCY AND GREATNESS!!PLATE ARMOR!!! Quite literally…

I just hammered two steel dining plates. Punched few holes around its border and sewed it to the sweater, which I was going to wear. For more safety, I took two rice plates, flattened them and sewed it to the sides. So now you have the best armor I could make. It reminded me of all the cartoons I would watch. A Wok on the head, plates on the body and knifes as armor. Hell! I must look like a cosplay artist now…

*Sigh* just few more minutes, then everybody will be busy trying to stay alive, than laugh at me.

5…

4…

3…

2…

1….

0..

EH? Shouldn’t they announce something by now…

*BEEP FROM THE HOLO*

“WELCOME TO THE GAME OF LIFE”. 

----------------

Well i am still not all golden and sunshine...but well enough.Next chapter tomorrow night.The weapon will be replaced later, it's just a substitute.

And thanks for patiently waiting for d chapters, despite my absence.

Love you guys ( not in that way...)

And ciao

Ps how do I add the tables? Those blue ones...not the excel ones