In the dark cover of night and in the middle of nowhere, two mysterious individuals, one tall and slender, the other short and stocky, emerged like ghostly phantoms. They stood in a desolate clearing surrounded by towering trees and exuded an uncanny aura.
A peculiar glow emanated from their decaying robes, casting an otherworldly glow. With synchronized movements, they faced each other, their masked faces intense and powerful. A gust of wind swept through, causing their cloaks to billow dramatically, as whispers and cryptic messages filled the air.
"The pathetic fools from Omicron dare to venture through these forsaken lanes," sneered the stocky figure. "Little do they realize the grave danger that lurks within the shadows of the night."
"Their ignorance shall seal their fate," hissed the slender figure, a wicked smile curling upon their lips. "Our purpose is clear: seize one of their wretched kids and eradicate the rest. Their foolishness has gifted us a golden opportunity. Let us not squander it with incompetence."
"Listen up," hissed the stocky figure, his voice dripping with malice. "Before we proceed, we must delve into the depths of our dark scheme. We shall first fabricate a masterful illusion of engine malfunction, luring them into our clutches..."
A wicked smirk decorated the face of the slender figure, interrupting with sinister delight. "And then, my dear companions," he sneered, "I shall invoke the inferno. Consuming them in a blaze of torment, reduced to nothing more than charred remnants of their pitiful existence."
"But not before I invoke a protection spell the one of them." reminded the stocky figure.
As they exchanged cryptic words, the headlight of a limo could be seen coming from a distance.
___
The bodyguard drove a bunch of teenagers busking away in the limo without noticing anything out of place.
The inside of the limousine was transformed into a pulsating party on wheels. Disco lights spin and flash, casting vibrant hues of red, blue, and green upon the excited faces of six teenagers. A DJ booth is set up at one end, where a young DJ - Zenith - in a black leather jacket stood, expertly blending heavy metal and acid house songs.
The beat dropped, and the heavy guitar riffs of a Metallica track fill the atmosphere, intertwining seamlessly with the pounding bassline of a thumping acid house anthem. The energy in the limousine surges as some of the teenagers cheered and headbanged, completely absorbed in the euphoria of the moment.
Stiletto, the curly-haired teenager wearing a Slayer t-shirt, jumped to his feet, throwing his hands in the air. He screams fervently above the music. "Yeah! Let's rock this joint!"
The limo sped down the city streets as the bodyguard constantly nodded to the beats... "The liveliest kids I have ever transported." He thought to himself.
Molotov, a punk-rock girl with bright red bangs, turns to Cypher, the guy in the hooded attire.
"Hey script-kiddo, didn't I tell you this would be off the hook?" Molotov asks excitedly, "even the bodyguard is busking."
"You were right, Molly! Zenith is totally killing it!" Cypher grinned.
Zenith sensed his colleagues enthusiasm and cranked up the volume. The limousine vibrated with the thunderous sound as he seamlessly blended another two songs together. The intoxicating mix of distorted guitars and thumping electronic beats filled every corner of the vehicle.
Bayonette, Stiletto's twin sister, with black lace gloves, stood by Zenith's makeshift booth and raised her voice above the music. "This is insane! Best night ever!"
The limousine cruised past the dark desolate street, not catching the slightest attention even with the infectious beats that spilled out through the open windows. This was because there was no attention to be caught in the first place. The road used to be a shortcut from Las Geiger to Neo Culpa but had been abandoned for years due to the rise in the number of unfortunate incidents that occur on it.
In the midst of this euphoric madness, the new girl slumps into the plush seat, closing his eyes.
"This is my kind of bliss." She whispered contentedly
As the night continues, the limousine becomes a cocoon of music and joy. The teenagers dance, laugh, and lose themselves in the exhilarating experience.
Vaelin heard what she said since she sat next to him.
"Seems like I'm the lone mourner, burdened by the departure from my sacred dwelling," Vaelin whispered, his spirits still weighed down. "Do none of them have kinfolk they were compelled to abandon?"
He fidgeted with his cellphone while stolen glances hint at his desire to start a conversation.
"Um, hey... I was, um, wondering if..." Vaelin stammered, watching her sit without sparing him a glance.
After a split moment, she opened her elegant eyes, turning her head slightly toward Vaelin. "What's up?" she asked disinterestedly.
"I'm Vaelin. What's your name?"
She smirked, amused by his introverted nature. Raising an eyebrow, she replied
"Just Grimshire."
Vaelin's heart skipped a beat, but he remains determined to make a connection.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Grim-shire." Leaning nearer, Vaelin spoke, taken aback by the peculiarity of her name.
Grimshire glanced at him, noticing the accent. 'What an accent!' She thought, her curiosity piqued.
She glanced back at the booming environment in the limo. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."
Vaelin grins, appreciating even the little acknowledgment he receives.
Zenith orchestrated the soundtrack of their unforgettable night, blending contrasting genres in a masterpiece of hedonistic delight. The energy built and built, becoming a driving force.
___
Unbeknownst to those busking in the limo, an impending disaster lurked around the corner.
"There they approach," a chilling voice hissed, "My spell has been woven, cursing the engine bay with an anomaly."
"Prepare yourself," the hulking silhouette growled, shutting their eyes and extending their hands towards the oncoming limousine. "Arcane defense technique 23 - HALLOWED SANCTUARY."
A surge of energy unleashed from his being, transforming the clearing into a display of vibrant colors and ancient symbols.
"Now!!" He signals to the slender figure as he was done with the protection spell.
"Arcane assault technique 70 - OBLIVION BEAM," the sinewy figure sneered, casting a wicked smile. A large pool of energy surged from his being, and with a thunderclap, a rainbow streak of elemental energy shot towards the limousine.
___
"Where is that streak of light coming from?" The bodyguard mused inwardly. "Is that a shooting star?"
"So, uh..." Before Vaelin could say anything else,
Suddenly, a thunderous sound shattered the joyful atmosphere, causing them to jump in surprise. As they glanced at the rearview mirror, an unsettling scene unraveled before their eyes - flames burst forth from the engine area, illuminating the dim road with a strange and eerie light.
Chaos ensued, and the confined space filled with frantic cries, filled with the odor of burning rubber and the pungent smell of smoke. However, before anyone could find a way out of the limousine, it erupted into a devastating explosion, breaking it into countless fragments.
___
"Do you dare employ such a lofty technique against a mere car with kids in it?" The stocky silhouette was rendered speechless.
"Never allow complacency to cloud your judgment in matters concerning Omicron," the slender figure hissed. "That vehicle, unbeknownst to us, boasts of durability and resilience far surpassing the regular ones. Now, let us seize him and vanish from this wretched place."
___
Blinking rapidly, Vaelin experienced heaviness and confusion as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He found himself in a dimly lit room, surrounded by ethereal hues and a ceremonial vestment. The altar he lied on transformed into a magnificent podium, adorned with intricate carvings and flickering candlelight. The figures surrounding him were in ethereal robes.
Vaelin's mind raced, unsure if these ghostly specters were real or figments of his imagination. Their cold hands touch him, sending shivers down his spine. Their whispers fill his ears with lamentation and despair.
As he begins to understand the gravity of the situation, his strength waned, and darkness engulfed his consciousness as he collapsed.
When his sense finally stirred again, he found himself lying on a bed of damp leaves in an ancient woodland, surrounded by sunlight and the scent of damp earth and decaying wood.
His memories of the ethereal beings around him had faded, leaving an indelible mark on his psyche. He questioned the nature of that nocturnal communion, unsure if he had truly witnessed ghostly spirits or if it was merely a product of his blurred vision.
As he squinted his eyes against the pockets of sunlight seeped through the cover of tall trees, something unusual popped up right before his eyes.
[CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have been granted THE SAMURAI SYSTEM."]
Vaelin stood in awe, utterly confused by the holographic interface before him. Despite blinking multiple times, the image on the screen remained unchanged. He attempted to grasp it with his hands, but all he caught was empty air. A touch to his face revealed no sign of a virtual reality headset.
He thought, wishing for the screen to disappear, and to his astonishment, it did. He wished it back, and the interface popped back in with a gaming hum. A hint of curiosity and excitement sparked within him, as his little thought experiment had worked out.
As the interface materialized in front of him, he couldn't help but fidget with anticipation, his eyes scanning the layout.
The holographic interface neatly occupied a portion of Vaelin's field of view. The main info panel remained fixed at the top, displaying his username, level, and other essential user information. Just below that, the daily quest section caught his attention.
[Main Info Panel:
---------------------------
- Essential information -
Username: Vaelin Neonblast
Age: 18
Race: Human
Level: 0/10
Rank: Beginner samurai
XP: 0/100]
With a touch of his finger, Vaelin expanded the daily quest section, revealing two quests for the day.
[Daily Quest Panel:
---------------------------
- Quest: Daily Workouts and a Balanced Diet
Reward: 10 XP
- Quest: Gain new knowledge about a samurai.
Reward: Determined by relevance of info. gained]
However, disappointment washed over him as he realized that most of the advanced panels were locked. They were tantalizingly out of reach, teasing him with their hidden potential.
Undeterred, Vaelin focused on the available quests, pointing his finger towards a checkbox to select it. Instantly, the task details appeared on the right side of the interface, giving him a glimpse into the objectives he needed to complete.
[Quest objectives:
---------------------------
- User must visit the gym for six hours of aerobics and workout sessions.
- User must seek knowledge of the ancient samurai clans, their techniques, and doctrines.]
Vaelin couldn't help but feel a surge of determination as he examined the progress tracker, which updated in real-time, showing his completed objectives, as well as the remaining tasks.
Earning experience points became Vaelin's priority as he understood their importance in leveling up. He dragged the slider on the XP allocation bar, distributing his hard-earned XP to the attributes and skills of his choice. But to his disappointment, it was also locked.
[Attributes & Skills: Locked]
A prompt chimed in his head, and the notification icon popped up. Vaelin quickly taps it open. His eyes scanned the notification, with his mind filled with anticipation. With a gentle tap, he dismissed the notification, returning to the main interface.
Rewrite this in a native American style of speech:
"I reckon I got it now," he whispered, having a sudden realization. "I reckon I'm s'posed to level up to unlock these locked panels."
"Say, what's this think anyway? It feels like a piece of my own self."
Embarking on this new virtual journey, Vaelin's curiosity was peaked. There were still locked panels and hidden quests waiting to be uncovered. But as he navigated through the holographic interface, he couldn't help but feel a sense of adventure and a determination to conquer and unlock all the possibilities that lay ahead.
***