2 Character Creation

Gabriel looked around, but all he saw was pure white in every direction, with no end in sight. Each step he took created a ripple. He could feel the floor, the cool smooth surface beneath him. As he examined his hands, he noticed not only them but his entire body was a translucent blue. The form of his arm and fingers were there, but no skin. Just a faint blue outline.

Gabriel jumped back as a box popped up in front of him with a loud ping sound. He turned, but the box followed his sight, always in the center.

'Welcome to Godsland. Please input your in-game name.'

Gabriel hadn't played any game since Line Of War was popular in his early teenage years, but he assumed this was similar to a Gamertag. But what would his name be? He could not use his gamer tag from back then. XXLoverB01XX was not exactly appropriate.

"I wonder if I can randomize the name? I have no damn idea," Garbiel said aloud.

'Random name accepted. Welcome, Caerus. Do you confirm this will be your name?'

"Sure, sounds kind of cool, actually. Caerus it is!"

'It's pronounced Caerus. Keh-ruhs. Idiot'

"Idiot? Why you stupid little box, are you even supposed to say that to me?!"

Gabriel swiped at the box, but his hands passed through.

'This is Dr.Dolus. Given how late it is, I am conducting your character creation. Idiot.'

"I'm sorry, please don't kick me out!" Gabriel dropped to his knees.

'Shut up and look at the mirror.'

From the floor, a full body mirror rose, with ornate silver framing around its oval shape. As he gazed into it, he saw himself once more except different. His skin was smooth, and looked younger. All the fat was gone, and he even had some defined muscles all over his body. The bags under his ocean blue eyes were gone, along with his beard and hair. A naked hairless version of himself stood before him.

"Erm, how do I do this?" Gabriel said.

'Touch any part of your body on the mirror to edit. It will use your body structure as a template, and you will not be able to change your face.'

"Why not? I want to look like a movie star mixed with a model!" Gabriel cried out.

'Your brain will reject the game otherwise, and you will never be able to log back in again. So if you want to be here for a few days, go right ahead.'

"I will keep my face. Yes it makes sense," Gabriel replied.

The options were near endless as Gabriel tweaked and scrolled through all the ways to tweak his look. He didn't even realize how long he had been customizing before he settled on his final look. A loose ponytail, white with blue tips. Dark steel piercings wrapped around his ear on both sides. His face clean shaven thanks to the fact that without the fat, he had an angled jaw which he thought was quite striking.

'Character Creation Complete. Now Initiating Calibration'

The mirror descended back into the white and was replaced by varying-sized walls. The box appeared once more with a ping.

'NEW QUEST: Complete The Movement Tutorial'

"Ok, I guess I just have to climb over this stuff."

Gabriel began to run towards the first wall, each step felt light, no drag, no weight, he felt quick and with each stride, the muscles in his legs began to feel like his own. Stronger, more flexible, better than he had ever felt in his life. All the little aches and pains that he still felt when he first got put in this void began to fade away as if they had never been there. Gabriel jumped towards the first wall hands stretched out ready to vault. His knees hit the wall before his hands were anywhere near, his body lurched forward, and a jolt ran from the back of his head down his neck. It was not pain like he was used to, it was more of a pinch. The spot became warm for a brief moment and then, nothing.

'LOL you idiot.' Dr. Dolus' screen popped up once more. 'Try again.'

"Fine, ok. I got this." Gabriel slapped his cheeks.

He began to remember all the gym classes he had to do similar stuff, and how he always ended up on his ass, or face. But in just a swift movement he cleared the first wall with ease as his hip grazed across the top of the wall. Even the second higher wall, with all but one pull up Gabriel had ever done in his life, he was able to pull himself up to the ledge like he had become a parkour expert.

"This is amazing!" Gabriel shouted as he flew over a gap in one leap.

'The calibration allows us to trick the brain into forgetting how you move in real life. Its sort of a reset, and depending on how you upgrade your stats, you can be stronger, faster, smarter.'

Gabriel began to picture himself akin to a Mr.Olympia bodybuilder, muscles that popped out, abs upon abs.

After a few more minutes and runs through the obstacle course, Gabriel's body felt comfortable like it was his own once more.

'QUEST COMPLETE: Completed the movement tutorial. You can now allocate your stat points.'

"How do I do that?" Gabriel said aloud.

'All you need to do, is think "open menu" in your head.'

A box popped up with many little tabs, in the middle was a full body picture of himself. With numbers down the right side under the words. STR, DEX, INT, WIS, CON, CHA, LCK. The numbers beneath each word was set to one, with arrows on either side.

'The menu can be used via touch or thought. Its down to user preference. You can self allocate, or you can allow the system to randomize your beginning stats.'

"I have no idea what to pick, so sure. Let them randomize it, I guess." Gabriel shrugged.

'Confirmed. Stats will be randomized. Creation, and calibration is complete. You will now be logged in to Godsland. You will start at a randomly picked starter town. Please, enjoy...idiot.'

Gabriel felt a chill run through his body, followed by his stomach lurching up. The white faded into black as he began to fall. Below his feet in the black stood a small circle came to view, as it came closer bright greens and blues became visible. Then a strong wind fought against his descent as it wrapped around his skin, out of instinct he closed his eyes. His feet landed against some floor and his legs nearly gave way under his weight. The wind had dispersed and his ears became filled with chatter, noise. The clacks of boots against stone, merchants shouted their prices and deals, people chatted and laughed. The smell of meat, fresh fruit, and bread rushed over his sense of smell. He opened his eyes to wood buildings that stood two stories high, market stalls with various goods, and a horde of people all illuminated by torchlight. The night sky glowed with stars and two moons hung above, one blue like a phosphorous lit lake, the other a sunkissed red.

He was here. A whole new world.