System 3.0 will be implemented in t-minus 30 seconds.
“Not again,” Kyto shouted in frustration.
The last main System upgrade had caused everyone so much pain that it was nearly unbearable. They had been happily discussing their Dungeon success and were just approaching the gates to New Talisia. The brakes on the vehicles in front carrying the guard force stationed at the mine came on. Sniffer slowed and came to a stop behind them as the countdown continued.
4
3
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1
System upgrade in progress – please await for the reboot
There was no pain, and the companions all looked at each other with relief.
“Thank fuck,” Sniffer said as he started to move the truck forward now the others had continued.
Upgrade complete – Reboot in 5 seconds.
5
4
3
2
1
Rather than every living sentient being losing consciousness with the upgrade completion, this time, they all lost their vision. The truck jolted, throwing everyone forward. Sniffer had slammed the brakes on as his sight failed.
“What happened? I can’t see,” Lars said.
“Nor me,” Brandon added.
“This fucking System needs to leave us alone.” Sniffer cursed and thumped the vehicle’s steering wheel in frustration.
Panic ensued among the companions for several moments before their vision slowly began to return.
“That was worse than the last upgrade, and I know how Tabs feels now,” Kyto said. When Kyto initially added Tabs to the party and changed the display settings, she went temporarily blind until the display transferred.
They all had a new icon flashing on their ocular displays. “What is this?” Tiddles said, focussing on his updated display.
Welcome to System 3.0
The Age of Enlightened.
System Upgrade Notes:
Codex 2.0 - Improvements include further supporting details related to the new Age.
Display – Functionality and modification of the Hud.
Maps – The Cartographer’s dream: you can save your journey wherever you walk.
Portals – World portal functionality has been added. Only the Enlightened are permitted to use portals.
Tiddles began to look through the new additions to the display. “Did everyone get the same message with the upgrade?”
“Mine just mentions display improvements,” Brandon responded.
“Oh. Mine has quite a few additions.”
“So does mine,” Kyto said.
Stolen story; please report.
“What does yours say?” Sniffer asked.
Tiddles relayed the information his display had shown him. Kyto agreed he had the same.
“Portals are being added. That could either be beneficial or a big issue.” Brandon replied.
“Why an issue?” Tiddles asked.
“We do not know how many Enlightened there are, and it may mean that if they can use portals, they can suddenly appear,” he replied.
“You would have to find one first,” Sniffer added.
The companions continued the short distance to New Talisia. On arriving at the gates, the town was in a state of panic.
“Glad you are back, TJ,” Ashton said as he met them at the gate. “We need all the guards at the barracks now.”
“What on earth is going on?” TJ asked from the truck’s cab.
“A bright orange floating circle has appeared in the town square.”
“What?”
“Exactly! A bright orange circle has appeared in the town square. The whole town is trying to gather near it and look at it.”
“OK. I think I know what it may be. Hang on. Kyto.” TJ called.
Kyto climbed from the truck he had been in and walked up to the lead truck where TJ and Ashton were.
“You mentioned that portal thing was orange, right?” TJ asked.
“Yes. Why?” Kyto asked, confused.
“Ashton says one has appeared in the town square, by the barracks.”
“What?” Kyto replied in shock.
“Yeah. It is causing chaos. We need the extra guard to control the crowds forming,” Ashton said.
“And I thought we would have got a few minutes peace!” Kyto replied.
The vehicles drove into the town and slowly pushed through the swelling streets as more and more came out to view the orange light that had appeared. They pulled up by the barracks, the guards dismounting and immediately supporting the others, trying to keep the masses back. Reece was stood with Miss Agnos by the barracks entrance.
“I am guessing this has something to do with you?” Reece said to Kyto as he approached him.
“It’s not exactly me, but it is the System. We found one inside the Dungeon, but it did not have power going to it,” he replied.
“Power?”
“Yes. We had to trigger it with a power crystal. There is much to explain about what we found in the Dungeon.”
Reece was nearly shouting to be heard over the crowds that had gathered. “We must get control of this situation. I do not want anyone going near it.”
“Let me go and see it. See if I get any details from it,” Kyto replied.
The other companions were now standing, looking at the giant orange portal in the square. The guard had formed a large circle around the portal, preventing any of the townsfolk from approaching it. It was like the dungeon portal they had used but had a slightly different colour to it and was considerably larger.
“So where do you think it goes?” Sniffer said.
“No idea until one of us goes through,” Kyto replied.
“No time like the present,” Tiddles said.
“Wait!” Kyto called.
“What?”
“We cannot just walk straight through it,” Kyto said.
“Why?” Tiddles asked.
“Not yet, at least. We need time to sort things out here first.”
The companions walked towards the portal, and Kyto and Tiddles’s displays triggered as they did.
Portal of Discovery – This portal can be used to travel to a new area of the world. Warning - this portal will collapse in twenty-four hours. If you have not entered the portal by then, the second quest chain fails, and a new incursion phase will commence.
23 hours, 43 minutes, 56 seconds until portal closure.
“What second quest?” Tiddles said.
“Good question.”
Their displays triggered again.
Quest Update
Your second chain is available now that you have successfully completed the Incursion quest chain.
Party Quest – Party Up – tier 1-3
“Great! There we go,” Tiddles said.
“The update said that only Enlightened can use the portals, though, so whatever happens, it is only going to be the two of us that can go through,” Kyto added.
“Good point,” Tiddles said.
“What has happened?” Sniffer asked.
“A new quest chain. We have twenty-four hours to enter the portal, or it fails, and we suffer a new incursion,” Tiddles replied.
“Shit,” Sniffer replied.
“It is a higher tier as well,” Kyto added.
“What do you mean tier?” Brandon asked.
“The final monster we fought in the Dungeon was a tier two. This quest says it is a tier two or three quest.”
“How on earth are you going to be able to take on more of those Groblex?” Sniffer said.
“With great difficulty,” Kyto replied.
“The Vilorse was a tier three that attacked me,” Tiddles added, shuddering at the thought of the necrotic toxin.
“Everything we fought in the Dungeon was tier one apart from the Groblex as the final boss,” Kyto said. “I am just checking all the Codex updates. There is a lot of new information to go through.”
“We know the portal will be here for twenty-four hours; well, a little less than now, so at least we have some time before we need to go through,” Tiddles said.
“I need to see Tabs before I go anywhere,” Kyto said.
“We all need a rest,” Brandon said.
The companions stood silently, looking at the portal and its bright orange glow. Their excitement and enthusiasm from their success had been quashed as quickly as it had arrived.
“I am going back to the house,” Kyto said as he turned and started to walk from the portal.
“Wait for me,” Tiddles said.
Reece walked over to TJ as Kyto and Tiddles started to walk off. “Where are they going?” he asked sternly.
“To see their families,” TJ replied.
“Am I right in thinking I heard the beast talk?” Miss Agnos said as she walked over.
“Yes. I better update you on what I know. Lars, can you join us, please?” TJ said.
“Sure,” Lars replied.
Reece and Miss Agnos’s mouths fell open in shock.