"SO, how's the game?" curious na tanong sa akin ni David habang kumakain ng vanilla caramel ice cream. He is an Australian hunk with a golden blonde wavy shag hair na hanggang leeg, green eyes like emerald, and cream skin tone. Maraming napapagawi ang tingin sa aming puwesto dahil sa kagwapuhan niya.
"It's cool, just like Medieval Period. The game's environmental setting is fantasy with unearthly races. You need to kill a lot of freaking monsters just to be strong. The pain is only 30% but it still hurts a lot and what else..." I pretended to think. "The food sucks!"
Ang ngiti sa mukha ng lalaki ay napalitan ng halakhak. "Awesome, right!" wika niya on a gay tune. Kumuha siya ng napkin at mahinhing pinunasan ang bibig. Ang mga babaeng nakamasid sa amin kanina ay mabilis na binawi ang mga tingin at nagbulungan na tila nanghihinayang.
Nakangiting pinagmasdan ko ang binata sa aking harapan. Come to think of it, David is always there for me. He's like my devoted follower, my sidekick, and my loyal assistant. A snail na laging nakakapit sa akin, like a satellite sa kanyang moon. But it's that part of him that's so unbearably adorable, I can't push him away.
"David."
"Yeees, darling?" ani niya.
"About your Dcap... I won't let you take it back." I looked at him seriously.
"Don't worry, the Dcap recognized only one owner. Even if I take it back, it will be useless." He slightly smiled but the bitterness at the corner of his mouth couldn't be wiped off. "Besides, you already knew the reason why I didn't want to give it to you in the first place."
Si David ang tunay na nagmamay-ari ng Dream Capsule na gamit ko sa laro. Kahit mariin niyang tinutulan ang paglalaro ko ng Utopia, ibinigay pa rin niya ang Dcap sa akin, because I pleaded for it and used a threat like hindi ko na siya kakausapin for a year which is his weakness.
"David, paano ka nga ulit nagkaroon ng Dcap?"
Now that I think about it, paano kaya siya nagkaroon ng isang Dream Capsule? Well, financially stable siya at mayroon ding influence, but never ko pa siyang nakitaan ng interest pagdating sa online games. Si David ay isa sa mga world-renowned medical research contributor para sa sakit na cancer. Maliban doon, una siya sa listahan ng mga pinakamagagaling na neurologist sa buong United Nations.
Isang mayabang na ngisi ang pinakawalan niya. "Well, I don't want to brag, but since you already asked, I guess I don't have a choice," he said while folding his arms. "Isa lang naman ako sa mga designer ng Dream Capsule. Because you know, your bestfriend is expert in the field of neuroscience and mind-machine interface. I can have two or more Dcap if I really wanted too, libre lang," nagmamalaking sabi niya habang nag-i-slang managalog.
Seeing David's eager eyes filled with anticipation and the "Praise me! Praise me!" look on his face, I could only do what he wished, "You really are amazing!"
"I know right?!" kinikilig na sabi niya at nag-continue sa pagkain ng ice cream. "By the way, have you seen him?"
"Not yet," umiiling kong sagot.
"Are you even sure he's playing Utopia?"
Nilabas ko ang puting papel mula sa aking bag at pinatong ko sa table. Mababasa ro'n ang "Find Me!"
This was taken from my mailbox. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagpadala nito. Sa loob ng malaking envelope makikita ang puting papel na ito at isang game cartridge ng larong Utopia. That is why nang malaman kong may Dcap si David ay dali-dali kong hiningi iyon.
Napabuntong-hininga si David. "You know you will never get the idea of playing that damn game if it wasn't for this letter."
"If it wasn't for this letter, I wouldn't get any chance of finding him! Five years, David! I've been restlessly searching for five years!" There was a sudden pain in my heart. Paano kung hindi ko matagpuan ang hinahanap ko sa loob ng laro? Pero, malaki man o maliit ang posibilidad, hindi ko iyon palalagpasin.
"Let's just go to London, we really need to cur-"
"I'm not going," I answered bluntly.
"Jean..."
Silence filled the air.
"So, while I was playing the game..." I changed the topic. "I encountered some random guy who is good at martial arts especially Gongfu."
"Oh my God! Gongfu?" gulantang niyang tanong.
Nilahad ko sa aking kaibigan ang lahat ng nangyari sa amin ng Elf, from the fountain up to facing Goldivah. Ang kaninang malungkot na mukha ni David ay napalitan ng curiosity at enthusiasm.
"I'm home," bungad ko habang sumasara ang automatic door sa aking likuran.
"Wel...-ome home, Ma-a... a lil -elp here?" agaw-buhay na bigkas ni Momo. Walang awa kasi siyang kinakagat ng isa sa dalawa kong alagang siberian huskies.
"Sunshine, ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na hindi chewing toy si Momo? Isa ka pa, Midnight!" mariin kong sabi sa aking mga aso at dali-daling kinuha ang naglalagkit sa laway na katawan ng android doll bago pa ito tuluyang magkalasog-lasog. "Wala kayong awa, puro tahi na nga ang katawan ni Momo."
Pagpasok ng kwarto ay agad kong ibinaba ang aking handbag sa mini table at dumiretso sa shower room para maligo. Too tired to choose sa hundred bottons ng aking jacuzzi, I just pressed some random botton at isang warm bubbly water ang nagpa-relax sa aking katawan. Pagtapos kumuha ng warm milk sa kusina, dumiretso ako sa Dcap, preparing myself for the next round inside Utopia.
♠♠♠
Dizziness, drowsiness, and extreme headache, tipikal na symptoms ng hangover ang naramdaman ko nang magising sa game. Oh! I was drunk the last time. Uso rin pala ang hangover dito.
WARNING!
Nightingale harvests bad reputation and becomes 'Infamous'. Caution is advised.
"Infamous?!" Isang mahabang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko. Parang alam ko na kung bakit. Naalala ko ang mga ginulpi kong tatlong bastos sa Tavern. "Momo, please explain the reputation section."
"Yes, Mama! Utopia's information and guide number three, REPUTATION."
"The Utopia Expeditionary Forces make sure everyone abides the Utopian Law. Whether you are on their good or bad side is reflected through your reputation. Adventurers, who live a peaceful life, gathering resources, and helping to make the lands safer by clearing them of dangerous creatures and natives, will become model citizens. Adventurers with positive actions will be given a title from Reputable, Virtuous, Noble, to Glorious. Players with a positive reputation will be rewarded by the Utopia King. Adventurers who decide to ignore the King's Law and attack, murder, and loot as they please, will be condemned to the life of a criminal. Negative reputation will be given a title from Infamous, Villainous, Nefarious, to Dreaded. Players with Nefarious and Dreaded title can't access to town markets and will be hunt down by the Expeditionary Forces. Please take note that your behavior and actions in The Outlands will not affect your reputation value and level, as the Utopia Expeditionary Forces are not present outside of the Cities and Towns and cannot enforce the law."
So bawal atakihin ang mga player sa loob ng town or cities pero puwede sa labas ng vicinity? I will keep that in mind.
Tinungo ko ang central town ng Kal-Shushu ng may hangover, I need to get my poison book sa Head Alchemist at mag re-supply bago ako ulit magpa-level. Although dizzy at nabigla sa pangit kong reputation, excited na akong magamit ang mga skill ng Assassin. Habang naglalakad, binabasa ko ang assassin journal kung saan makikita ang lahat ng impormasyon at skill nito.
ASSASSIN DUAL WEAPON SKILL
BACK STRIKE - The lightning-quick assassin vanishes in a smoke screen and reappears behind the enemy.
MURDER - Exploits weakness in opponent's defenses when using Backstrike to inflict double damage.
UNFORGIVING CHAIN - For a short time, every basic melee attacks you executes in rapid succession increases the chance to score a critical hit. Activating any other talent cancels the effect, but Explosive Strike can exploit the chain for extra damage.
EXPLOSIVE STRIKE - Completes the combo built up by Unforgiving Chain. Every basic melee attack that you completed immediately prior to using Explosive Strike increases the damage inflicted by breaking the chain.
DOUBLE DEATH - Slashes at a target with both weapons, dealing an automatic critical hit with each blade.
ASSASSIN BOW SKILL
PINNING SHOT - Looses an arrow that immobilizes a target for a short time.
ARROW OF SLAYING - Generates an automatic blind hit if this shot finds its target, although high-level targets may be able to ignore the effect.
BURSTING ARROW - This arrow explodes on impact showering the area in shrapnel and flame.
DANCING ARROWS - Unleashes an entire quiver into the air. For a short time after, the arrows rain down on enemy ranks.]
[DEATH SHOT - This arrow carries such force that it tears through every enemy along its deadly path.
ASSASSIN PASSIVE SKILL
SPY ON ENEMY - Revealing the enemy's information.
ASSASSINATE - Ultimate attack when you combine Murder, Unforgiving Chain, and Double Death.
I traded the 100 spider eggs to Master Sandal poison book and sell my 13 extra spider eggs for silvers.
"Ah, good quality spider eggs." "The head Alchemist nodded and smile with satisfaction.
Congratulation!
Nightingale has learned Barter Skill!
[Barter skill – can make business deals with npc.]
"Barter?" I was shocked after receiving the notification.
"Barter is one of the hundred hidden traits you can learn inside Utopia, Mama." said Momo my Great Encyclopedia of Utopia. "If Mama wants, Momo can teach Mama how to get all the hidden traits!"
"One at a time Momo. The game is just starting." I said while reading the poison book. After I finished reading the book, it trembled in my hands then disappeared into a flash of white light.
Congratulation!
Nightingale has learned Basic Poison Skill!
"Young assassin, do you want to continue collecting ingredients for this Old Elf?"
I looked at the Head Alchemist. I think hindi napapansin ng mga NPC si Momo. "Ofcourse." I replied and smile. One of my weaknesses is old people. Ang hirap tanggihan ng mga senior citizen!
"Great! I'm working on my new potion and need a lot of Argiope's scales. Can you bring some for me?"
"Sure," but before anything else kaylangan kong bumili ng potions at ingredients na gagamitin ko para sa aking basic poison.
After sa Alchimist shop nagpunta naman ako sa weapon shop upang bumili ng wooden arrows. Sa labas ng shop nakita ko ang isang batang lalaking NPC na nakaupo sa gilid. Wala siyang tigil sa pag-iyak. That's odd? Hindi ko nakita ang batang ito kahapon. This must be a new quest.
I looked at the kid with pity but ignore him. Marami namang players na gumagawa ng town quest, sooner or later mayroong tutulong sa batang ito. I could also do some town quest, makatutulong ito para mabawi ang aking negative reputation. But, hindi ko kailangang maging model citizen, ang kailangan ko ngayon ay agarang pagle-level up. So, I set aside the idea and left the town para magpa-level up.
♠♠♠
Sa taas ng Mt. Peak, fourty minutes away from Kal-Shushu, ang pugad ng mga Argiope. Ang Argiope ay kamukha ng isang centipede na kasing laki ng isang fully grown crocodile. mayroon itong red thick skin, sharp teeth, and can spit poison. It's a level twenty-eight mob with three thousand nine hundred HP and two hundred to three hundred attack power.
Although, malaki at mataas ang damage na nagagawa ng Argiope, mabagal naman silang gumalaw. In addition, hindi sila aggressive tulad ng ibang high level mob's kaya puwede ko silang i-trap at patayin isa-isa or what players called 'PULLING'.
I set up my ten wooden traps in a line order. I released my silver arrow coated with my very own homemade poison at tinamaan ang isa sa kumpol ng mga Argiope sa ulo.
I lured it into my trap, nang ma-trigger nito ang aking trap ay naparalisa ito at inatake ako ng posion spit na madali ko namang naiwasan. Tumalon ako nang mataas at nag-backflip sa ere with my daggers sa magkabilang kamay. I used a back strike and, in a snap, napunta ako sa likurang parte ng Argiope.
"Murder!" sigaw ko at sinaksak ang weak point nito ng paulit-ulit hanggang sa malagutan.
I saw my level meter rise to ten percent with just one Argiope. Not bad!
Ang mga potion ay madaling naubos sa pagga-grind ko. Well, with a fragile body like mine, two to three hits lang sigurado na ang katapusan ko. So, one hit pa lang lumalaklak na ako ng health pots. Sobrang sakit 'pag tinamaan ka ng poison spit ng Argiope, para itong acid na tumutunaw sa iyong balat. Mabuti na lang, ang herbs na drop mula rito ay malaki ang naitutulong. Itinatapal lang sa sugat ang herbs at ito'y dahan-dahan ng gumagaling, kahit papaano'y binabawasan din nito ang sakit.
In reality, ang pain felt ay dumadaan muna sa nerve tissues sa katawan bago makapunta sa utak. Dahil sa process na iyon, ang pain ay nagdi-dissipated at nababawasan na bago pa makarating sa brain. But here, it's different. Without the extra interference of the physical body, the pain can be transmitted directly to your brain and delivered one hundred percent without loss. Kaya kahit binabaan ng laro ang pain felt ng thirty percent, ang totoong nararamdaman ng isang player ay maaaring fourty percent to fifty percent pa rin.
Another four hours of my killing-resting routine bago ko nakumpleto ang 50pcs na agriope's scales at mag-retire for the day. Level twenty na ako at marami na namang loots sa aking inventory na kailangang ibenta. Tanghali na rin at kanina pa ako nagugutom, need ko ng makabalik sa town.