1 Virtual World that Transcends Reality
Gaia Project, that's the name that is currently a hot topic of discussion by everyone around the world. A game that goes beyond its predecessor types such as PC, Console, and Mobile. Now is the new era of video games. An era known as Alternative-Reality or AR for short.
I'm just a young man from a developing country, Regracia. There are lots of people who really like playing video games but don't have enough money to buy the equipment needed to play them.
Especially the must-have game capsule to play Gaia Project. But at least I have enough money to rent one for a month.
To be honest, if other people play this game to gain new experience and have fun, my goal playing this game is to make money. It is impossible to sell accounts that are owned because everyone will be scanned using their irises and fingerprint. But I can sell the valuable information or items at a high price.
When I got into the game capsule, I felt so comfortable after I lay my body inside the game capsule. This game capsule has high security so there is no need to worry about the safety of my body while I play even for 24 hours. Of course playing for such long time is not healthy.
Without waiting any longer, I immediately closed the game capsule door, closed my eyes and said the magic sentence.
"Login to Gaia Project!"
Instantly my consciousness shifted and I appeared in an all-white room.
In front of me, someone was already standing as if she had been waiting for my presence for a long time.
[Hello, Player #0006071998. My name is Artificia, I will be your guide in your way to the new world.]
I didn't expect to be greeted by an oriental girl with long black hair. From her self-introduction, it seems she is some kind of AI (Artificial Intelligence) that was prepared by the developer to make it easier for players in their first experience playing this game.
[Please enter your name and don't use any forbidden words.]
In front of me, a virtual screen with its keyboard appeared. Directing my hand to the keyboard. I started typing the name I always use in every video game I played.
[Are you sure your name is Crimson Clover?]
"Yes" I answered.
[Congratulation for having such wonderful name, Crimson Clover. Now I'm going to explain some things that form the basis of the Gaia Project.]
[To avoid deception using appearance and gender, you will play this game with your true form in the real world.]
[Each player will have the same stats at the start of 100 point across all stats evenly. Every action in the game will have an impact both on yourself and others.]
[Everything that happens in the game is not the responsibility of the developer and the company. Everyone has freedom of action so every action that occurs in the game is the responsibility of the player himself.]
[Finally the developer and company do not interfere in the affairs of the game because every part of the game is taken care of automatically by the supercomputer, Mach.]
[If you agree with the terms that have been said, select the yes button and if you refuse select the no button. If you refuse then you will automatically exit this game and will not be able to play it again forever.]
I didn't expect the no choice have such big impact but only fools would choose no. without hesitation I immediately pressed the yes button in front of me.
[Congratulation on being part of the Gaia Project. In this game there are thousands of different job options in various types. You can find out more details later.]
[First before you officially play the game, you must choose one of the five beginner kingdoms.]
[You will randomly spawn in one of the cities in the kingdom you choose.]
Five different maps with explanations appeared before me in the form of a virtual screen.
[Gallum, the kingdom of warriors. A kingdom where the strong are highly respected and the weak have no rights.]
[Arcanium, the kingdom of magic. A sacred paradise for wizards and witches. Hell for any people that can't use magic.]
[Inzerno, a kingdom that closed itself off from the outside world. There are many rumors circulating that this kingdom has been taken over by dangerous criminals.]
[Amberia, the kingdom of smiths and artists. A kingdom famous for its beauty and wealth.]
[Talios, the kingdom that became the main headquarters of the saints. Only those who believe in the 12 Gods are accepted into this kingdom.]
After I finished reading all the information about the 5 kingdoms. I got a lot of useful information. Each kingdom represented a profession and my instincts told me that I should choose a kingdom according to the job I wanted.
This is an easy choice for me. I want to become a wizard and use the so called magic. Then my choice has clearly fallen on the second kingdom, Arcanium.
When I had made up my mind, a white light engulfed my body and when I opened up my eyes, I was already in a town called, Blight.
Honestly, I was very surprised by the scenery around me. Everything looks so real. Even the air I breathe feels so refreshing.
Not only me, several people also started to appear one by one. Like me, they were also amazed by what they see and feel.
"This is the so called Alternative-Reality game? Damn, this is so real."
"Yeah, there is no differences between this world and reality."
"Wow! I even have a dick."
"Of course you have it you dumb. Don't you hear that our avatar is the reflection of our reality?"
"Hey, you are a western right? How can you understand my country language?"
"This must be the legendary translator system. When we were here, all language that we know is change to this world language."
"Blabla~"
For us, our sudden appearance is very normal. But that doesn't seem to be the case with the npc living in this town. When they saw a bunch of strangers appear and talking to each other, they look surprised. Some of them looked scared and thought we were invaders while some other people walking toward us and asked what is our purpose coming to their town.
Seeing the robes they wore with the emblems stamped on their uniforms, I understood that these npc's were the town police force or something like that.
I saw a player chuckle in awe and say to the person next to him, "Wow, isn't this extraordinary? They look so real like real humans."
I understood that the player said such thing like that out of amazement. But it seemed the npc in front of him took the player's words as an insult.
I didn't even get to see the fast movement of the npc as he easily knocked down the player in front of him and handcuffed the player using a magic spell.
"They all spoke strangely and suspiciously. Arrest them all for interrogation!"
The other npc's immediately moved and shocked the players who still didn't realize why the npc's in front of them were being so aggressive.
"Damn it! So this is what it means that every actions in the game will have an impact not only on ourself but also on other people?"
Seeing more and more players being arrested in the early minutes they played the game. I clenched my fists and speak aloud.
"Wait! I apologize for their attitude of not realizing their words offended you. But you must know that we have no malicious intent. You can even see that we are not a threat to you guys."
My words instantly made them stop. The policeman who previously gave the arrest order also started to take a closer look at all of us before saying, "Indeed. Even though your numbers are numerous, your strength is extremely weak. Hey, you, if you can explain why all of you came here then I'll cancel the arrest warrant"
All the player's eyes immediately turned to me but my own eyes were drawn to the virtual screen that appeared in front of me. A screen that only I seem to be able to see.
[Quest triggered!]
[Quest Name : Give me your explanation!]
[Quest Type : Side quest.]
[Quest Rating : F.]
[Quest Information : Give explanation to Blight's magic knights about the player appearance.]
[Quest Reward : Cancelation of the arrest warrant and special quest from the captain of the magic knights.]
[Failure Punishment : Get arrested and become an experimental material for the wizards and witches.]
[Do you want to take this mission?]
Is this what is called hope in despair?
I didn't expect that my courage to speak up resulted in a quest for me.
"Sure."
My words were the answer to the quest given to me but the npc seemed to think that my words just now were a form of cooperation.
