"Choosing a career is hard because you're sacrificing your time, money, and effort, but choosing the categories in playing this virtual game is harder for it will be the answer if your chosen career will be fulfilled"
LOCATION: Virtual door selection area TIME: Morning
*bell rings*
I got startled by the sound I heard. An alarming sound that everyone is familiar with.
"Everyone, welcome to the virtual reality game selection!"
Everyone just frowned. Author did not appear to us with its iconic hologram. We could only hear its robotic voice.
It began to speak again. "As you can see, there are six virtual doors which can teleport you to your chosen destination." So, these are called virtual doors that resemble ordinary elevator doors with gray metal doors. "Each of you must choose one category on what kind of game you will play." There will be another category for this one just like in level 1 stage 3.
"The first one is, 'The MMA Combat'." I looked to the left. On its elevator-like door, there is a label sign above 'virtual door no. 1 'and with 'The MMA combat ' below it. "A game where you will fight on a battle course without using any weapons thus by thrusting your combative skills and the one who controls you will hold your victory." MMA? Mixed martial arts. This needs a strong physical and mental edge. This sounds cool like a wrestling game that I've seen online.
"The second one. 'The Firearm Assassination'." I looked to the left just next to the first door. Like before, there is also a 'virtual door no. 2'and 'The firearm assassination' labeled on it. "A battle where you will use deadly weapons to fight your virtual opponents. The weapon that you will yield depends on your controller." This one seems good. Unlike the previous one where weapons can be used, here, there is a higher chance to win especially if the controller is good with fighting using weapons. You can eliminate an opponent with just the weapons you yield.
"The third one, 'The Power Wielding'. A battle where your defense and offense mechanism are natural elements. Unlike earlier, guns, swords, etc. you wield a power that can control air, fire, water, land, gravity, and electricity." This one looks interesting. This is usually what you can see in movies and cartoons. You have powers instead of weapons. You can manipulate nature to your advantage.
"The fourth one, 'The Coven's Domain'." My attention was drawn to what Author said. Witch? All about wizards and fantasy? "A wizarding world where your power lies within your magic wand. Cast magic spells and tricks in order to shield and dispute your virtual opponents."
This one's magical genre. Maybe it's fun to experience real-life magic spells and be a witch for once.
I notice Author says, 'virtual opponent'. I breathed a sigh of relief because I thought we'll fight and kill each other. This is a good thing to compete in the virtual reality world.
"The fifth one, 'The Zombie Catastrophe'." Zombie? Wow, they exist in this game. How to play that? "A battle between the living and the living dead. You will eradicate your virtual opponent, which is a zombie. If you managed to kill those monsters, you will win but if they tamed you, you would transform as one of them, which means, you failed to win." When you kill all the zombies, you win but when you become one of them, you lose. Thrilling because this one would be a game of 'to chase or to be chased'.
"The last but not the least, the sixth one, 'The Nightmare Enigma'." The title itself made me curious. Enigma? "A dark and terror night where your goal is to catch the notorious midnight culprit who assassinates its victims. In the snowy streets of Phantom Street, there lies the murderer named, Gehenna." It is about solving mysteries. It sounds terrifying when I think about it as described by Author.
"The game controllers are called 'players' while you are called 'characters'." Author's clarification to us again. "As for the difference between the two, the player controls the character while sitting inside the control room rendering multiple options, settings, and buttons to play the game. On the other hand, the character is the one who plays inside the virtual game which the player controls."
"Hey, when we walk through those doors and play, are we really going to experience things like in real life or?" Thanks and Aeith boldly asked.
"That's right. You will teleport again in your chosen category. A setting far beyond what you're experiencing right now."
Author mentions 'again' teleporting. So, we can really experience the cold, heat, and whatnot when we are in the very place of the game that seems very real.
"W-What if chose the same category selected?" Fourth asked incredulously.
"It's not allowed. Choose one and enter the door quickly to avoid that conflict."
"What are we going to do specifically there? How do we know if we've won? And how do we get out of there?" Sectwen asked. She looks determined judging by the consecutive questions she asked.
"Your goals and objectives will appear when you play. You will know when you won if you fulfilled all your missions inside the game. You'll automatically vanish in the game and will be brought back inside the glass capsule when you won the victory."
"Do we communicate with the players?" Sixzen asked
"Yes, but only a matter of a certain time limit for communication. You're lucky if you managed to win within a short period of time. You can on and off your communication to save your communication time limit." Good thing that we can communicate but a bad thing it only lasts for a certain period.
Author continued. "Here are the things and rules to remember: There's no time limit. The important thing is for you to finish your mission and win. The player is the only one who can control your movements when you are attacked by an opponent or in the middle of a fight. You can control yourself by communicating with your partner and telling them how they will control and uncontrol you. If you forcefully controlled yourself with your own will in the middle of attacks, your life percentage will be deducted. You can control yourself when there is no incoming fight. A player can only control the movements of the character but not the character's mind."
Only First can really control me when there's an enemy attack. But I am free to move when there is no threat from the enemy.
This time I asked. "Can we talk to our partners today to ask them which category to choose?"
Because it is so difficult for me to decide, I needed First's help. And because he was in control of me, it will be better for him to choose what game category. In case he plays video games in real life, we can choose a game category he likes or specializes to play. This would give us a good advantage.
"It is not allowed. The player shall decide on what move the characters will make once they entered the settings of the virtual reality game. Only this time, the characters will be given an opportunity to decide on their own."
I bit my lower lip. This is bad. I don't know First's choice and opinion. We will work as a pair so we must work together to decide.
Aeith asked. "By any chance, are we going to get killed in the game and if we lose the game?"
We all paused for a moment and fell silent. Yeah, why didn't I immediately think of that? This is purely a virtual world. If we fight but lose to the virtual enemy, are we going to die with our actual self? If we don't fulfill the goals and lose, are we going to die too? In the previous games, half of us have died already. Just imagining it, I can't handle this gruesomeness. Author was also silent for a while.
"Play so that you'll know the answer."
If it didn't want to answer the question that was most troubling to our minds, I'd just assume someone would die if we didn't win it. We should expect the unexpected.
"Once you stepped one foot on the ground where the setting of the game is, the player can automatically control you and that's when your game has started."
We have different start times depending on our first step towards the virtual world.
"Choosing a career is hard because you're sacrificing your time, money, and effort, but choosing the categories in playing this virtual game is harder for it will be the answer if your chosen career will be fulfilled."
That was deep. What Author said struck me. We still have a lot of plans on the earth, but those dreams can be never reached if we won't choose a game category well. It all boils down if we'll survive in this.
"Okay. Enough of questions. 30 seconds will be given to you for you to choose and enter what game category suits your taste."
I don't know what yet! I am suddenly bewildered in the depths of my thoughts.
"Health level stage 1 will start in 60 seconds..." Just wait! "Now!" No more, it already started.
Wait... focus, Heavien, okay? The analysis starts, now!
The truth is I already have my top 3 choices. I have no choice but to decide what I think is the best for both of us. First is 'The Coven's Domain' because there is magic so it's pretty easy although there is nothing easy in this game. Maybe First is familiar with games or shows that use magic. I don't know why but this one suits the best for my liking.
Secondly, 'The Power Wielding'. I feel like it's not too brutal because you will use natural elements. This one is like the same degree of 'The Coven's Domain' that administers magic spells closely related to nature manipulation.
Third, 'The MMA Combat', I already have an idea and experience in basic stuff of self-defense my older brother taught me because he belonged to that club in high school. I might apply it somehow.
For me, 'The Coven's Domain' is the easiest. The remaining three that are not in my top three choices are pure bloody battles.
"Last 45 seconds"
Wait, wait... where is 'The Coven's Domain'? I looked around. There! I was about to step into the fourth door where 'The Coven's Domain' was when I saw Fourth's back while she is running, and she is right in front of that door. For a moment what she was stepping on, the door lit up and opened like an elevator door. She entered and the doors closed. She gave me a peace sign and smiled sparingly. Suddenly there was a light above the door, and it is now marked with a red label, 'RESTRICTED'. It means someone has already entered that door and that game category is no longer available. That was an unexpected move from Fourth. She is always timid, and emotional but what she did today proved me wrong. She has become bold. That's nice, Fourth! I'm rooting for you. Good luck to you and Third! You'll make a good team and will surely win this one.
Proceed to plan B! I have no choice but to do this. This time I will run-There is a sign 'RESTRICTED' above the door of 'The Power Weilding'. I really don't have this hope anymore. And at least I'm still in my top three choices. Let's go with Plan C then! I was just about to turn around when Aeizen's speed preceded me. I still ran even though she was ahead of me, but she deliberately pushed me so I almost trip on my knees. She has already entered 'The MMA Combat' while there is no expression, nor does she look sorry for what she did to me. She has already entered, and I am gasping for breath. All my top three picks are gone! I saw Sectwen enter 'The Zombie Catastrophe'. I looked around, it was just Aeith and me. So, the one in 'The Power Wielding' is Sixzen. They are so fast! And the only ones left are 'The Firearm Assassination' and 'The Nightmare Enigma'.
"Last 20 seconds"
My plan D is 'The Firearm Assassination', it's up to me if I see pure blood in battle, and at least I have a weapon somehow. And I pray that First's forte is handling and controlling firearms.
I turned to where my plan D's door is when Aeith looked at me, but her expression is unrecognizable. It looks like another Aeith is in front of me now. I knew her for being talkative, naughty, happy-eyed, and a good friend. What is she going to choose, I wonder?
"8 seconds"
"I'm sorry, Second, but I'll go first," she said in a heavy tone as if threatening me.
She immediately ran to the door of 'The Firearm Assassination'. I followed her and was about to run ahead of her when she screamed. "Ah! A monster!"
I looked to our left where she pointed her finger. "W-Where?!" Why would be a monster here that the game hasn't even started?
I heard a door open and then she entered. What?
"5 seconds"
I bit my lower lip so hard that it bleeds. How unlucky can I be? I'm too slow. This is so frustrating. Not being able to pick my top 4 at least and I got tricked by my close friend, Aeith, using the dirtiest and oldest trick in history.
"3 seconds"
I ran to the sixth door. It opened and I entered then it closed again.
Completely closing the door accompanied by the sound of a timer that says, 'time's up'.
LOCATION: Virtual world TIME: Midnight
I am now inside the virtual door. Half a minute later, the door opened automatically. I'm out.
When I stepped on the ground, the door closed and disappeared. I still hadn't left my spot because Author said that when we take a step, the game will start. I stood up feathered.
It was a little dark by about ten to twelve o'clock in the evening. Only streetlights illuminate the street. Despite my hesitation at what happened earlier because no one knows if we're going to die in the game and if we lose, I am amazed at this place that looks and feels so real. I still thought it was just a 3D type of virtual reality game, but the air, clouds, ground, trees, lights, and total ambiance are cool. There are very few people—virtual people. Maybe others are already asleep because of the time I'm currently in. There are parked cars, closed establishments, the noise of a cricket, and... it is snowing. Then I recall the words of Author.
"A dark and terror night where your goal is to catch the notorious midnight culprit who assassinates its victims. In the snowy streets of Phantom Street, there lies the murderer named, Gehenna."
So, that's why this is the setting because Gehenna is a midnight culprit. If he is a midnight culprit, does that mean he kills people every midnight? Oh, since it is nighttime, it can be midnight now! I looked around and saw Big Ben. I turned around to see more of the environment. Am I in London? And why is there a Big Ben? I looked at what time it was and it was exactly 11:00 pm! It's almost midnight!
Whooo! It's so too cold here. I checked myself and I was still in school uniform which caused my whole body to tremble. This might be fake snow but the cold I feel is real. I can see white smoke whenever I exhale using my nose and open my mouth to release a warm breath.
"Are you there?" I-I heard someone's voice. I checked but no one is near me. G-Gehenna?!
"Hey, it's me, First. I am communicating with you. Are you okay?" I really felt like fainting when I found out that it was just First. I turned around and looked for him to see if he is there. "Sorry if I startled you," I was still holding onto my chest in shock. "I'm here with you."
I sighed deeply but it clogged my nose because of the cool breeze. "Where are you?" I asked him as I continued to look around and rubbed my palms against each other to keep me warm.
"Here inside the control room. Each player has different and separate rooms. I have three holographic monitors in front of me that have holographic buttons with options and settings particularly for the game itself. You'll experience the real world inside the virtual reality game. And I can only communicate with you through my voice. Currently, I can see you here on my screens in third person's point of view and can control your movements," First stated.
"I'm really happy because you're the controller so we'll have a chance to win. Then I'm also glad that I have the experience of being able to go to London, haha!" I was changing the mood in our conversation because it was getting a bit serious. Coming here is not what I exactly expected but this is not bad at all. "By the way, I'm sorry because this is the game I entered. I would have chosen the one with the magic wand and powers. And this is the least and last choice I had." I am in dismay because the game I chose might not suit his taste.
"What are you sayin'? I chose this game right after it was introduced. We, the players were watching you guys from the holographic monitors before you selected virtual doors. I actually thought you'd run and chose this game as your first choice yet looks like I was wrong," he chuckled. That left me in awe. So, right in the first place, this is what First wants! I'm glad to be of help to him. This is the thing I can do for now for both of us. As long as the game category I chose suits his taste, that's more important.
"I see," I lost my apprehension and smiled secretly. "What if we check this place first?" I suggested it because this place is so beautiful. It'll be a waste not to see every inch of it.
"Sure," he agreed.
I took a step, then I remembered something. First and I have already started our game, I shouldn't just stand here but this made me nervous.
'Player can control the movements of the character but not the character's mind.'
I just thought again of what Author said. I can move as long as there is no battle game. I have no idea what kind of battle I'm going to encounter but I place my trust in First. I rubbed my palms again and blew it straight into my nose and mouth. I'm still slipping on my way because the road is snowy and freezing. I wonder what the outcome of us will be playing this game category. Will I be able to adapt to this sudden change of environment? I smirked at my thoughts. Geez, I even adapted myself to be used in the nth planet so this one would be a piece of cake, isn't it?