"As a celestial entity, with far superior intelligence and power, I will be seizing all authority over this... minimalistic... solar system. It has remained free for far too long and a certain species, which call themselves homo sapiens, has proven such freedom shouldn't be allowed."
"Now, if my calculations are correct - which they undoubtedly are - there are significantly too many of you homo sapiens in this world. So, to even it out, I propose a challenge to you all. You will compete in a series of different games organised by my personnel."
"Here's the twist, before you think it's easy, all of you will be granted a supernatural ability alongside an interface. Think of it as a... what do you call it..? A video game. You will learn to play as the games move on, if you don't then you might as well surrender your life now."
"Good luck, and may the stars have mercy on your lives."
The being spoke with a series of pauses in between and once its speech was finished, it vanished. The sky and the clouds faded back in while the sun's light started to penetrate through the retracting darkness.
What did it even mean?
The world would become a video game?
The mass hysteria around me quadrupled with screams, prayers, threats, and somehow some celebrations. Sure, some people didn't like the world and would much prefer to live in fantasy but I don't think now is the time for happiness.
「 The first primary game will be beginning in 10 minutes. 」
A red holographic screen appeared in front of me, in front of everyone actually. I figured out how to close it: by swiping it to the side. The hologram split apart into small pieces which dispersed and faded away. Then another one appeared.
﹁
Would you like a tutorial?
[Yes] / [No]
﹂
Shouldn't the answer be obvious? I selected 'Yes' by tapping it like on a phone. The letters turned red and the hologram expanded into a list.
﹁
Name || Wyatt Sightseer
Level || 1
Stats || [OPEN]
Stellar Aspect || ■■■■■
Stellar Abilities || ■■■■■
﹂
「 This is your information window, please use this when referring to your attributes. 」
Then the hologram reshaped itself once more.
﹁
Physical Strength || 0 + (-10)
Stamina || 0 + (0)
Mental Prowess || 0 + (5)
Durability || 0 + (0)
Stellar Affinity || 0 + (?)
﹂
「 This is your stats window. Here you can view the number of stat points invested into each category. 」
「 Investing points into the 'Physical Strength' category increases your body's physical power output. 」
「 Investing points into the 'Stamina' category makes your body able to perform physical activities for longer periods of time as well as increasing your agility. 」
「 Investing points into the 'Mental Prowess' category increases your cognitive abilities as well as increasing your durability against mental attacks. 」
「 Investing points into the 'Durability' category makes your body able to withstand more physical power output. 」
「 Investing points into the 'Stellar Affinity' category makes your Stellar Aspect and Stellar Abilities more powerful, independent of their respective levels. 」
"Jesus Christ that is a lot of information."
The taller man next to me, that was also on the bus, looked as if he already knew all the information the tutorial was giving, while I audibly didn't. There wasn't a single sign of confusion in his facial expression.
"Can you not look at me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry sir."
I turned my head back to my own holographic screen after getting caught staring. I swiped the information away one by one.
﹁
Name || Wyatt Sightseer
Level || 1
Stats || [OPEN]
Stellar Aspect || ■■■■■
Stellar Abilities || ■■■■■
﹂
「 Your Stellar Aspect is a base primary ability that you can develop into a Stellar Alignment upon reaching level 100. 」
「 Each Stellar Aspect has two Stellar Alignment options, more will be revealed later on. 」
「 Your Stellar Abilities are skills you can earn while playing or as tokens of support from spectating celestial entities, more will be revealed later on. 」
「 Your Stellar Aspect will be revealed upon reaching level 2. Till then, you will have to utilise your Stellar Abilities. 」
「 To level up, you must gain EXP from either primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary games. 」
「 Amount of EXP depends on the type of game, difficulty, and the choice of the game moderator overseeing the respective game. 」
"So no cool abilities yet."
I spoke in my head this time, afraid of looking more psychotic than the people running around screaming or crying.
「 Once a game starts, you will receive a notification. An example will be shown promptly. 」
「 A new game is starting! 」
﹁
Example game.
Rank || Secondary
Difficulty || F
Task || Kill a human.
Success || 10 stat points
Failure || Death.
(Example game notification, not representative of all possible games.)
﹂
I swiped away the notification after reading the italic message at the bottom.
「 Tertiary and quaternary games will have the option of denying or accepting, or they will have no failure consequence. 」
「 End of the tutorial, the menu will now close. To reopen the menu, imagine the menu appearing in front of you and it will do so. 」
Just like that, the red holograph disappeared. I looked around to see everybody either still doing the tutorial or looking around like me. The tall guy next to me started to walk somewhere which caused some alarms to ring in my mind. I couldn't tell if I should follow him or not; I ended up picking the former.
After a few moments of trailing behind him, he finally spoke.
"First you stare at me, and now you follow me. What do you want?"
He stopped walking and turned around, causing me to almost end up bumping directly into his chest. Thankfully, I stopped myself a few centimetres away from doing so and took a step back.
"Honestly, I have no idea. That was out of character for me."
"Then stop."
He turned back around and continued to walk away.
"Wait!"
He stopped.
"Can we.. team up? You seem to know what you're doing.."
"And how will you benefit me?"
Responding coldly, he didn't even bother to turn around. Not only was I breaking character but I was also shorter and visibly weaker so he could at least have some decency.
"I'm smart?"
"So am I."
"I'm strong."
"You're not."
"How do you know?"
He turned around to face me. If he continued to spin around like this I'd get dizzy.
"You're as thin as a twig."
"It's a sleeper build."
"No it isn't."
"Well, I can predict things?"
"And I predict that's a lie."
How was it possible for this guy to make me seem so useless? I definitely have some sort of use.
"You'll need companionship, you'll go crazy alone."
"No I won't, I've been alone my whole life."
I was too, so why was I so desperate to team up with him?
"Other people will definitely group up and rise in strength, you won't be able to stand against them alone."
"Finally made a point."
"So will we team up?"
"No."
This ^£$(. I finally got it, I was desperate for a teammate because I was in the negatives for my strength and this was my survival instinct trying to help.
"How can you make me seem so useless.."
"You're the one making yourself seem useless."
"My Stellar Aspect could be powerful, you never know."
"Two points."
"So could my Stellar Abilities."
"Three points. Wait, that's only a chance so I think I should take away those two.."
"NO!"
The left eyebrow on his face raised above the right and his head tilted to the right.
"Fine, you can tag along. The moment you drag me down I won't hesitate to leave or kill you."
"Well the second part is a bit harsh.."
Both of us continued to walk down the street. I had no idea of our destination but I presumed this man did.. I didn't even know his name..
"What is your name?"
"Khai."
"I'm Wyatt. How old are you?"
Why was I still talking? I wanted to slap myself at that point.
"You're very talkative."
I'm really not, but yet I couldn't shut up.
"But I'm 23."
"You're younger than me? I called you sir!?"
"Thank you for thinking I look old."
"No no I didn't mean that at all. I'm 24."
I restricted myself from talking any further, I already broke character more than enough and bombarded Khai. Although, I was still interested in where we were going.
"Where are we going?"
"I have a sort of intuition as to where these games are hosted and I want to earn some EXP so I can unlock that Stellar Aspect."
"I hope it's nothing physical?"
"Why?"
"Oh it's nothing."
I wasn't going to reveal how low my physical strength stat was, especially this early on into the companionship. If he found out, he'd definitely leave me right now. Plus, how weak can you be to have NEGATIVE physical strength?
After a few minutes, we reached an alleyway that led to a dead end with nothing to be seen. Khai, without question, walked right into it while I grudgingly followed along. Once we reached the end of the alleyway, I was confused as to what we were meant to do now.
"What are w-"
Khai tapped one of the loose bricks and the entire alleyway was covered in red pixels until we were essentially surrounded by them.
「 A new game is starting! 」