"So, I want to play that game that's been out for like 3 months, and Muho has been guarding it like a hawk. Then, when I finally get out of the house and access our shared Modules, it says that only one account can use it at once. Do you think you can circumvent it...?"
Lucky☆Shark tapped their Repressor Pin and brought out an object from the contents of their Storage Module. The Grade of the Repressor Pin that LS owned was Sigma, which was pretty high quality. The base Repressor Pin without any upgrades was Alpha Grade, with a small module load limit...using a Storage Module would be useless unless someone wanted to carry around a toothbrush or something.
The object that LS retrieved was the size of a head, with the shape of a pot for planting, wheels, and a dome overtop. All of it was a series of alloys...which was to say that it was mostly metal. However, the contents within and the strap used to lug it around were different.
Inside it was a mini bonsai tree that flickered and shifted constantly. Prisms of light seemed to flutter around it, and the overall shape was hazy and appeared to be composed of multiple radio waves. It jittered as Lucky☆Shark put their hand inside, returning with a twig in its grasp.
This was a Babylon Bonsai, a portable "digital forge" created by the suppression and compression of a Babylon Sapling.
The Seed of Babylon was the genesis of widespread technological innovation after the Carbuncles had destroyed the predated society. The Discharge and the Strange Energy alike destroyed every form of communication and energy, sinking the world back into the Dark Ages.
If it weren't for that marvel with unknown origins, that would be it. But instead, Strangers stumbled upon a subdimension accidentally, discovering what could only be described as a metaphysical manifestation of a bizarre phenomenon.
A massive seed pod with a bloomed tree in its center, the partially open pod surrounded by smaller saplings in the enormous tree's own image. The color of it wasn't natural at all, seemingly being a mesh of colors both seeable and unperceivable.
The central body could not be touched, but it could be analyzed. The prolific study didn't yield much, only offering the idea that it was a mesh of colliding waves, frequencies, and energies that were given shape.
Through the varied uses of the Seed of Babylon's body, of which the surrounding saplings were also a part of...many things were accomplished. The internet returned in a new form, and magical engineering was conceptualized and eventually implemented...the world had quickly transformed into an advanced society that dwarfed any logs of Blue Pangea's past.
Yes, ais, database systems, unique energy sources that powered the grid, even the regenerating and proliferating body of the Seed of Babylon could be integrated into all aspects of common and rare technology.
Those that were able to tend to the Babylon Pieces and use them to further innovate, perform maintenance, and expertly work with them with the help of Babylon Bonsais were known as Digital Botanists. Unfortunately, the knowledge required to use the Babylon Bonsais wasn't easy for most people to learn...
And among even this sectioned group of people, Lucky☆Shark was a savant.
Forming an "o" and "k" with one hand, they got to work. The twig fluctuated and glimmered as waves of digital fragments diverted from its form.
Edna held the door to a capsule open and retrieved the Enigmatic Entertainment Console. Taking it out from the jack, she made sure that it was at least plugged into the shared account input.
Lucky☆Shark made a thankful gesture before shooing Edna out of the room. She was a little irritated at this but simply left the room with a shrug and went to the kitchen instead.
"Soft and Tangy: Cola!"
These were the words wrapped around the can of soda she clutched in her hands. Loitering around and leaning on the counter, she looked at all the little Gearspirits tidying the room with a sigh.
"Well, it's LS's house, anyway. I'll have to say goodbye to this place for a while when I head to Lagoon L'Azure...I wonder what the people in my class will be like?"
Maybe she'd be able to make friends this year? She was often too enthralled in her own hobbies, preferring to engage in them rather than socialize.
.....
Time passed as she casually sipped soda through a straw inserted into the can. Then, grumbling as Gearspirits whizzed about, she placed the drained container into one of their grasps and pulled out her phone.
The Repressor Pin on her shoulder glowed, causing a glare to appear underneath the fabric.
Edna read the message and smiled. Then, moving back to the room with the two capsule machines, she noticed that LS had already left. She shrugged, expecting to offer them something to drink at the very least.
Though LS going away all of a sudden wasn't uncommon at all, really. They were always quite busy, and Edna appreciated them taking the time out of their schedule to respond to her requests, no matter how banal they might be at times.
Sitting down on the suspended chair that extended into a flat slab, she donned the headset and pivoted to the startup file for Everything is Bury for the second time today.
======*======
...E N I G M A T I C
...E N T E R T A I N M E N T
Presents.
The Loaded Game is: EiB (ver .98alpha)
E V E R Y T H I N G is B U R Y
...Loaded Account No:2.
======*======
Edna wasn't surprised that it worked this time. Instead, she smirked to herself, confident that LS could do pretty much anything when it came to electronics. She wondered what she could get them in return...?
Panels converged as she was thrust into the processes of the game, obscuring all of her senses as it melded her into a new world.
...
It wasn't long before she was brought to the main menu. Looking down at her body, she seemed to be a flickering silhouette without color. There were three arches with gates engraved with different words, one in the center and two on either side.
"Settings."
"Beginning."
"Support."
The rusty chain-fenced gates each had a keyhole, and Edna discovered there were three keys on her waist. Taking the centermost one, she went towards the middle key and opened the gate.
She walked forward and entered a narrowing corridor. The further she went, the eerier it felt...and the less space she had to navigate.
Anxiously, she looked over her shoulder. There was no exit.
(Um...I guess the only way to go is forward, right? They should probably warn people about this...)
Traveling in the dim space, the smell of rust engulfed her nasal cavities. Her skin that she couldn't see crawled and tingled, and she felt a presence behind her shoulder.
Everything went black, but the presence didn't disappear. Instead, it leaned closer...speaking into her ears.
[Would you like to tell me about yourself?]
With a voice low and guttural, it spoke. The air crackled in its company, the void squirming and shivering.
Edna's voice choked in her throat, and she was unable to speak even despite the best of her efforts.
[...There is no need to be afraid. I'm merely asking if you want to create your vessel.]
Silence.
The figure shrugged, placing its hand upon her back. Edna felt a strange coldness seep into her skin...before unbearable pain.
[Deadman's Stigma, complete. Good luck.]
The figure wasn't really bothered by the young woman's response; used to it. It was unlikely that she would even remember it anyway.
......
Images flashed before Edna's eyes so fast that she could not recall them. The only prompts that could see were the system's personal messages.
[Burial Force has been determined.]
[Detected the state of the body. The vessel possesses flesh. Wellness determiner has been set to 'Health.']
[Starting area and race have been determined. Please fill out the relevant details upon successful entry.]
And with that, the noisy light expanded into the world around her, this time much duller. Edna closed her eyes.
......
The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was a table with words etched into it.
"Ugh, my head..."
Edna mumbled to herself unconsciously as she rubbed her hair. There were strangely solid textures upon it, and as she looked down, she saw she was wearing a robe.
They looked strange, almost ceremonial. There were a lot of adornments that appeared lavish and elaborate, but upon closer inspection, they were simply beautiful and little else.
The words on the table came into focus while she was examining her body. She glanced over the words, focusing on the text emitting hazy vapors.
They read:
"Open your status by thinking about it, then decide upon a name. You will not be able to move until you do so."
(...What kind of...ah!)
Looking up in annoyance, she saw that there were several other...creatures...sitting at the table. Six of the seven chairs were filled, 4 of which were sat by decrepit-looking skeletons.
"...Huh. Are you guys playing too?"
Edna asked but received no response. Finally, when she wanted to get up, she found that her legs were firmly set in place...
"Guess I'll have to cooperate..."
=================
[Basic Overview]
====+====
Name: JJJE
Race: Lonely Wraith
Alignment: Justiciar, Desperado, Malicious, or N/A
Titles:
Trait List:
Wellness Determiners:
Health: 200/200
Energy Determiners:
Mortisim: 200/200
Additional Stats: (Special or Race Feature)
System: SYS-949
Overall Level: 1
====+====
[Race Details]
====+====
Race: Lonely Wraith
Qualifications:
N/A
Natural Boons:
Social
Natural Banes:
Memory Magic
====+====
=====================
She quickly filled in her name and glanced over the details of her status. As she did, a vaguely gray light emitted from the newly appeared insignia on the center of her middle trapezius.
[Burial Force: Cigarette Tryst has been activated for a quick tutorial]
A panel of light appeared before her as the smoke seeped into the skeletons. Then, as their bones creaked, they arose, their empty eye sockets focused on her.
[...Those with the power of a Tryst Burial Force are able to make connections with compatible creatures, as well as summon a few. That's it for the Burial Force tutorial. Please figure out the rest of the game on your own or from fellow Participants.]
"...Uh...? Wait, come back here! It's so irresponsible to just give me a half explanation...I guess I'll just ask Muho when he gets back. Still frustrating though."
Edna tapped the table and got up while the skeletons followed her with craning necks. One stood at the side nearest her, over a foot taller in height than its apparent master. She shrugged in response, not afraid of them in particular but simply startled upon seeing them so suddenly.
She surveyed the last seat on the table. No traces of anything or anyone...why was that?
Edna pursed her lips and looked at the rest of the skeletons. They were aimless and dull, not doing anything in particular except milling about in a limited area around her. Only one stood still, their bony arms at their sides.
"You. You look better than the rest, so I'll spoil you first, okay? Your name will be...ah! Cornelius, but I'll just call you Cor. Anyways..."
Trailing off, she observed the immediate area around her.
The sky was overcast, though the bits that were unhidden were a sharp yet dim yellow. The ground, however, was gray and consisted of sand...it seemed she was in a concavity in the place as the ground subtly ascended at the ends.
In the far distance, there were gray spiraling dunes. The place appeared desolate and lifeless, with no plant or animal in sight.
"Huh. I guess I got unlucky with where I started? I should probably find a way out of this place..."
Her eyes slid back to the chair that had no skeleton placed atop it. Nevertheless, she felt it was overtly conspicuous and reflected over the few hints she could glean from the information she had.
Maybe it was telling her to summon something else? She doubted these skeletons were capable. They looked frailer than she felt right now, which was saying something...
As she thought that, haze escaped from her Deadman's Stigma and formed a circle in the air. A sickening sensation stung her limbs as she lost her balance, brought to her knees as her hands met the sand.
Softly crushing the gritty particles, she kept one eye open as she gasped for breath.