Unity, a VR 'game' that has been sweeping the world recently has been growing in size and structure. The unknown company that had created and currently manages the game sent out another update via an anonymous source which the community created group WeAreUnity have posted on their site.
The post depicts some blurry images of an upcoming update. Experts assume that these images are pictures of potential new challenges and maybe even areas that may come up. Since the current world of the game is already an entire planet around half the size of earth, there are opinions speculating that this may be an update that finally leads us to other 'dimensions' within the game.
Various investment groups and companies have started to create their own 'Guilds' within their game. Although the game is still within its infancy state, a stabilized economy has already been created as the game currency 'Coppers, Silvers, Golds and Plats' have been standardized and have been set as a form of 'stock' due to the various trades occurring. The current value is 233.24 dollars USD for a single gold, an increase of 2 dollars and 17 cents from yesterday.
The latest VR capsule from the largest VR capsule provider, V-Reality, are currently on sale for 2,200 U.S dollars for the economy model, 5,000 for the premium and a whopping 22,000 dollars for the VIP. There have also been custom capsule creators who customize the capsules to fit the needs of a specific person.
-Reporter Zealman-
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The dawn broke as the carriage slowly approached a humongous stone tower.
Deus had tapped his forehead already to analyze the data of this mysterious building but quickly turned his data vision back off after being hit in the face by extreme amounts of condensed and compressed data that radiated out from the building.
'Whoever made this game, they put a lot of effort onto this specific building...A.I, do you see anything?'
[My current computing capabilities are not enough to fully analyze the data of this building in a short term period. Scout scanning's results show that various mysterious 'veins' of energy that resembles a very pure, condensed form of 'mana' seem to stretch out from beneath the ground from the base of the power in various directions. The tower also seems to be absorbing and using a part of this condensed mana to energize various facilities, of which I cannot yet determine their purpose for, as well as the protective shield on the outside]
Scamander woke up from his slumber, as if he sensed something as the carriage neared the tower, and spoke out in a daze. "Ah yes, this uncomfortable sensation again."
"Sensation? Uncomfortable?" I asked.
"Yes. You may not feel it yet due to the lack of your mana sense but since we crossed a certain invisible border around the tower, we are currently being scanned and watched by the tower itself." Scamander glanced at the tower that they had been approaching.
"W...Watched? Is the tower alive?" I asked in fear.
"Almost? The tower has various functions and tools to imitate certain aspects of a living organism but if in definition, it's very different from a true living creature." Scamander seemed to be searching for something in the air as he replied.
"What are you looking for?" I looked up as well, noticing the carriage had stopped around half a kilometer away from the tower.
"Our ticket inside, here he comes" Scamander smiled as he responded.
A silhouette appears in the sky, seeming as if he was floating in mid air, and descended upon us.
"Scamander! We haven't seen you in years! What brings you here!?" A loud, masculine and booming voice came out from the figure.
"Mertho, it's good to see you again. I came here to introduce a young man I've discovered. He has a real talent, mana density and purity even stronger than my own." Scamander pushed me forward as he spoke.
"AH! What a rare treat! I guess you came to determine his accurate strength and affinity first then?" The man known as Mertho had descended by the carriage at this point. He had long and red hair that was tied up loosely in the back and was wearing a black robe gilded with red silk. "Hello! I am Mertho, the head overseer of the Central Magus Tower and the third in command. A master of fire and dark magic, if you care for it of course."
"Hello, I'm Deus." I responded.
"I'll leave him in your care, I've got some old friends who seem to want to see me inside." Scamander smiled as he clapped.
Then
Whoosh!
A blinding light radiated out from Scamander as his whole being disappeared on the spot.
"Wha-" I exclaimed out in shock.
"Don't worry about him, he'll be fine. its just a form of short blink that you can learn once you become more proficient in certain elements." Mertho chuckled as he lead me through the main gate, which was bustling with many people. "You'll get used to such sights soon. Maybe even do it yourself."
"Okay...?" Still lost in confusion, I followed Mertho in.
'A.I What was that?'
[High probability of creating a 'clone' using the elements within a specific location that is rich with the said element and dispersing the original body, thus imitating a teleportation. Low probability of true teleportation through warping of space-time]
'This is not in line with the science we know...'
[No, it is not. I am still analyzing specific lines of data I've scanned whilst he performed the act. Simulation will be ready once it is fully analyzed.]
'Alright then, carry on.'
With a brief talk whilst I followed Mertho in, the inside of the tower revealed that it was not as extravagant as I imagined it to be. It had very dull and grey walls, though the lights that seemed to be floating without any form of support seemed cool. The first floor seemed to be filled with desks and boards with various missions and jobs one could take.
He took me into a small space around the center of the area stood above a glowing symbol on the ground and spoke out. "Test Room".
Then
Ssshht!
The entire world seemed to have distorted for a moment before it returned normal, only it was different. The room was no longer the large room filled with various people, boards and desks but rather a smaller room with a large orb-like structure in the center.
"This is the 4th floor's testing room, we will conduct further tests here using this apparatus which can more accurately determine your mana density, purity and your elemental affinity." Mertho walked towards the orb and placed his hand upon it. "All you need to do is try to drive your mana, even just a single wisp of it, through your palm and onto the orb."
And as he spoke, small red, black and purple 'stars' started to appear within the giant orb. "The color of the stars may determine which elements your mana is more inclined towards and the number of stars that are created determines your mana density. The denser the mana, the more stars it can create. As for purity, it is how bright the stars shine or pulse." I could see almost 50 stars appearing who each seemed to be glowing brightly but also pulsing in a strange manner.
Mertho then took his hand off and the stars quickly dispersed back into nothing. "The denser the mana, the longer you will last casting magic. As for purity, it determines the strength of your magic.
"Come, place your hand on the orb." Mertho beckoned.
I walked up to the orb and placed my hand upon its smooth surface. It was slightly warm to the touch.
Remembering the sensation of controlling mana from the simulations from last night, I started to pour my mana into the orb.