[Gathering Data...]
[Loading...]
[Syncing...]
[Finalizing...]
[Finished]
[Welcome Player]
In a white space, a white plane figure stands alone, its eyes gazing at a black screen displaying white words. Their hollow gaze stared for a couple of moments before life returned to it.
The figure jolted up as their eyes scanned around, looking at whatever was around them before looking at the screen before them.
"So it was real, guess spending my monthly allowance on this was worth it," the figure said, looking down at their hand. They flexed their five fingers for a couple of seconds, a blank look on their face as they did so.
"I know it isn't real, but it feels so real. I guess this is what makes the Deep Diver so different from other VR devices," the figure said as it focused back onto the black screen.
[Are you ready for the Tutorial]
[Yes] [No]
The figure flexed their hand once again before raising it up and pressing [Yes].
Suddenly, the white space shifted and bent. What was once empty became full. Color-painted walls, painted floors, and a painted ceiling. If one had to make a resembalance, it would be that the room had a noble look. Sleek brown wood covered all surfaces, followed by wooden cabinets filled with various weapons of different sizes.
In the middle of this room was a blue figure who sat with one knee up, right arm resting on it, and the other leg lying flat on the floor. The blue figure sat on the floor for several moments before gazing up.
[...]
The blue figure stared for several moments before smiling.
[Welcome Player! To my amazing Dojo!!!]
The blue figure suddenly jumped up and raised both arms as they shouted the words out. When their feet touched the ground, they quickly struck a cute pose, extending two fingers toward the figure.
"..."
The figure stared at the blue figure, surprise written on their face, before tilting their head.
[... hard crowd, huh]
The blue figure said as they stood straight, putting their right hand to their chin. The blue figure hummed for a bit before snapping their finger.
[Since you chose yes to the tutorial, I am going to use my high-level intelligence to guess that you wish to learn how to play the game? Am I correct!!!]
The figure stared a bit before nodding their head, though they hesitated halfway.
[Great! Now let me get the basics down!]
The blue figure said as they appeared to the right of the figure and wrapped their arm around the figure's shoulder.
[Now you are one of 100 people we have invited to participate in the Beta version of this game, so expect some bugs and also... Congrats!!! But before I go any further, let me know your name first. And before you say it, you will keep this name for the entire time you play this game]
The figure stared at the blue figure, who was tightening their hold.
"Lone"
The blue figure stared at the figure, now Lone, for several seconds before smiling once again.
[What a great name! Totally original and not stolen, or so I hope! But now that I know your name, allow me to introduce myself. The name of your magnificent host is so great and so majestic that I shall lower it so you can even comprehend its words. Call me, Z!!!]
"Z? Strange name," Lone said as they looked at Z with a strange look on their face.
[Hahahaha, you are correct. But it is my name, and I had to dumb it down so you could comprehend it. But before we go back and forth, I must focus on my job!!!]
Z quickly let go of Lone's shoulder as they walked back to the center of the dojo.
[Now, how would you like me to start this tutorial? I can take my time, get into the action, or just show you the basics and send you off]
Lone looked at Z for a bit before sitting down on the wooden floor, "Take your time, I am playing a Beta game for the first time. So I don't know if this might be the only time I will ever learn this."
[... huh... I did not expect this]
Z stared at Lone, both dumbfounded and shocked. As if this were the first time anyone had asked him this.
[I am sorry if my reaction seems odd; it's just that of all the 100 players. About 1 skipped the entire thing and went into the game, a total of 74 just asked for the basics, and the other 24 just wanted to learn the combat function. Making you the only player who actually wanted to listen to the hard sweat and tears my creators put into this game. This brings my digital heart to tears]
Z said this as he began to cry in his arms. Seeing this, Lone almost stood up but stopped when he saw Z wipe his face and just smile at him. Z then snapped his fingers.
[Well, since you want to listen to my creator's hard work, allow me to say it all without skipping any detail!!!]
Suddenly, the room changed from a dojo to a comfy little room with chandeliers, soft sofas, and some trays filled with sweets and tea. With both of them sitting on couches across from each other, trays of sweets and tea sitting on a little white table between them.
Z took a cookie and a cup of tea, biting into the cookie before taking a sip. He then looked at Lone, who was just sitting there, a bit confused.
[Don't be shy, go ahead and try some]
Hearing this, Lone grabbed a cookie and hesitated for a second before taking a bite. A sudden shock ran through his mouth as the hard crunch and chocolate chunks entered his mouth. His taste buds are tasting everything all at once.
"How? I am in VR, right? So I shouldn't be able to taste anything here... right?" Lone asked Z as he grabbed a teacup and looked at it as if it held the secrets of the universe.
Z just chuckled at his actions.
[My creators were very dedicated. Though they were a small team, they had more passion than any well-funded, well-staffed company. They didn't want to create a game just for money; they wanted to create a game for the players to enjoy. So whenever they faced a problem, they didn't skip it as if it were a question on the final exam, but instead tried every possible way to solve it until they finally cracked the code. Heh, code, get it]
Z chuckled at his own joke as he took another sip from his teacup. He then gazed up and saw the look of disgust on Lone's face.
[Tea's not up to your taste? Would you prefer coffee? Maybe wine or even a cold canned beer?]
"Do you have juice?"
[Yes]
Z said as he snapped his finger, the teacup in Lone's hand switched from a teacup into a box of apple juice. Lone looked at it, eyes squinted for a bit, before shrugging his shoulder and grabbing the plastic straw taped to the back.
[Alright, where to start? Hmmm... Oh, I know. Allow me to introduce you to the beginning, to when the game was made. The game was made by a man Linn Quiero. He was quite an adventurous person and was very outgoing. He traveled with what little money he had would go on trips and paint things around him. It would be in one of these trips that an idea would hit him, and he would gather some friends to help him create the game you are in. Dark Lane! A game as free as the wind and as living as the grass that fills its lands]
Z said as he raised his hands up high, spilling some of the hot tea onto his body. Making him jump up and swipe the tea off his blue body.
[I shouldn't be telling you this, but since you are the only one willing to listen to me, think of this as a hidden bonus. The game is separated into Three Chapters. The first and second chapters are already ready to play, but the third one is not. It is actually why this is in Beta right now, so they can see how you guys like the game and can go back to change some things]
Lone listened as he took a sip from the apple juice.
[Now the first chapter is the one you will all be playing. If you play the second one, it's something I don't even know. But what I do know is that in the first Chapter you will be playing in a world filled with swords, armor, and magic. Though the magic in this world is not called magic but instead is called Arcana. Before you ask why, allow me to explain. Magic is the field of the unknown, while Arcana is the field of what is known]
Lone nodded his head as he grabbed a chocolate-covered cookie and took a bite out of it. Nodding even though he had no clue what Z was talking about.
[Now, what is Arcana, you might be asking? Well, it is basically the superpower of this world. Those who can use Arcana are called Wielders and can be identified by the tattoo on their body. Whether the tattoo has any meaning, I can't say for now, since the creators themselves don't even know. They haven't really written that part of the lore yet, but in time will!]
Z took a deep breath as they grabbed a handful of cookies and ate.
[Munch* Munch* Munch* Now, Wielders can use Arcana by using the abilities their tattoo, or Mark, grants them. Now, what decides this ability is quite simple: how the person reacts to a simple question. What is this question? I won't spoil the surprise just yet]
Z said this with a wry smile for Lone.
[But why would people need things such as this? Simple, the world is fucked up. Beasts filled with Arcana roam the forests, humans who pray to Gods that aren't the Original Nine hide in the alleys, creatures with scales and wings that fly above the stars above, allowing them to breathe their horrendous breath down, and worst of all are the Twisted. Beings who appeared at the end of the Vermillion and Eterniues war. How they came to be and what they are, only the strongest in the world know. Thankfully, these beings rarely appear, so the only thing you have to worry about is the Beasts and humans.
Z then snapped his finger as the room changed back to the dojo, with both of them standing up once again. Lone stumbled a bit before regaining his balance.
[Sorry if I rambled for too long, my creators filled me with many data blocks and questions. But I never got to use them until you came. Now, any questions?]
Lone stood still for a couple of seconds before opening his mouth, "Yeah, what is the name of the world?"
[... strange, but also, Great question!!! The name of the world is Noctarine! The name doesn't mean anything, as my creators just thought it sounded nice. Any other questions?]
"How do people in the world awaken their Arcana, and will I need to do the same thing?"
[Fine question! The people in the world awaken their Arcana in one of two ways. The first is by complete chance or maybe by fate? It can happen randomly, but it mostly happens when the person is at their most emotional state, such as fear, joy, wrath, contempt, or even absence. The second way is by having another Wielder push some Arcana into their body, allowing their body to slowly get used to Arcana and become a Wielder. But if they do one of these two ways, the result remains the same. They still must answer the question given to them, and only then can they become Wielders. Now, if you have to do this to become a Wielder, you thankfully don't. Since once you are officaly in the game you are already a Wielder with some starting items to help you. Any other questions?]
Lone digested Z's words for a bit before shaking their head. Seeing this, Z smiled as they snapped their finger as rows of weapons floated before them.
[Great, now that we got that out of the way. Let us get into the second part of the Tutorial, Combat!]