Online games, the biggest trend of the 2040s, are already popular and accessible to nearly 70% of the world's population. And I, of course, am no different and have access to the most famous current activity. However, there are some caveats to that statement. Despite being included in that percentage, I am restricted to games that can be played on "toasters." Nevertheless, I am extremely skilled at a game called Tibia, having played since I was 7 years old, making it 10 years of active participation in the community.
However, today, on January 7, 2047, what was speculated to be the grand 50th-anniversary celebration of the game — An event full of old items that can be grinded again — turned out to be the day I decided to write my suicide note. An announcement that the servers would officially shut down in a week appeared on the screen. For me, whose life revolved around school and Tibia, it felt like a countdown to the end of my life.
My computer had been inherited from my older brother, who inherited it from our father, and probably at some point, it belonged to my grandfather. In short, it's terrible. With the news of the end of my only game, I was destined to give up the gaming world — or so I thought —. My best online friend, whose in-game nickname was "SlimeDestroyer69," made me a somewhat unusual proposition.
"SlimeDestroyer69: Hey! How are you with the news of the server shutdown? Sad, huh?" - The message ended with several crying emojis.
"Khan: I don't even know what to say yet. I guess it's finally time to leave video games and enter adulthood."
"SlimeDestroyer69: Come on, you're wasting your talent for grinding! I've never seen someone kill so many scorpions to earn money and an exclusive item that only changes aesthetics!"
"Khan: Yeah, too bad it's worthless. Only memories remain."
"SlimeDestroyer69: Look, I have a proposal. I know you're addicted to games. I can get you a new PC, and in return, you play the beginning of Dungeon Gates World in my guild. What do you think?"
But what?! Is he serious? Give me a new PC to play? I always knew he was well off since he kept putting cash into games, but a PC for a player?!
"Khan: Are you kidding? Hahaha. Why would you want to spend so much?"
"SlimeDestroyer69: Apparently, you're not up to date on the new games. DGW (Dungeon Gates World) is the sequel to the biggest MMORPG. All the ORGS will migrate to it, and I was thinking of forming one too. You would be an excellent addition :) ."
Addition? Does he think I'm some kind of product? Not that I haven't considered selling my body to buy a new PC a few times...
"Khan: Well, if you're serious, of course, I accept."
"SlimeDestroyer69: Done then! I'll send it to your house!"
Wait, does he have my address?
"Khan: Don't you want my address?"
"SlimeDestroyer69: Not necessary. I know a lot of things!"
SlimeDestroyer69 Offline
Damn, what an absurd conversation I just had. Is he really going to send me a PC, or is he just messing with me? Anyway, I better start applying for jobs. It's not like I'm going to become a pro player or anything.
Khan turns off the PC
The next day…
I started to notice now that Hajime (SlimeDestroyer69) commented on it. Everyone in my class is talking about the worldwide release of DGW. Apparently, there are even school tournaments for this game. I just have no idea how it works. I ended up getting so upset that I took a shower and cried myself to sleep, not necessarily in that order.
Right at the classroom door, I already spotted a "trouble," a classmate of mine named Ritsu. He's been trying to get me to switch games since I can remember, and he'll surely be more insufferable than usual now that he found out my game is going extinct.
— Hey, Katsu! I saw that your little game is finally going to end. Will you finally quit that old man's game and play a real one?
— Hi there! Yeah, I don't know if I'll start another game, to be honest.
And even if I knew, you wouldn't be the first to know, you conceited rich kid.
— Come on, stop that. Weren't you a high rank in that little game of yours? Who knows, maybe you have talent despite not having played anything more complex! — The kid laughs and pats me on the back.
— You know that Tibia was much more complex than any game you played, right?
— Says that but lost the 1v1 to me, who had never played before Tibia before. — He says, sticking his tongue out.
Damn! He knows that my PC froze during that 1v1. He never played a game with me again; I would destroy that blond bowl-head of his...
— Go on, you know it froze that time.
— Cry me a river!
— Anyway, I hope to see you in DGW. The inter-class of all years is pretty boring. Beating you will be more fun, at least.
Beat me, if I really get that computer, rest assured that losing won't be in the plan, especially to this jerk.
Later on…
End of class, great. If Hajime really is as magical as he claims, my mom should have received this computer, but without high expectations. Like, what are the chances of actually having a PC in my...
An enormous box in the middle of the room
What the hell?! This is my height! Is this a computer or a car? Okay, calm down; size doesn't matter, right? Maybe it's an old computer, just enormous.
Opening the box
...
OH MY GOD.
Are there two monitors?! Keyboard... Mouse... Mouse Pad... Headset... A desktop microphone? Why a headset then? Is this an unassembled gaming chair? It might end up becoming my new bed.
Wow. I didn't even know a computer could be this big. Seriously, I could use this as a wardrobe, okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but wow, what kind of thing is this?
Cell phone notification sound
"Hajime: Hey! Did you like the equipment?"
How does he have my number? So many unanswered questions, but I have a computer, so I don't care.
"Katsu: Did you send this for real? I thought it was just a simple computer."
"Hajime: As if I'm going to skimp with my young prodigy! Hahaha. Don't worry, a couple of dungeons records and I've already profited a lot from you. It will be great! Get used to it soon!"
Is he a Yakuza? Will I die if I play badly in this new game? No, no, he's taking a risk; maybe he's a maniac addicted to gambling? Or does he have a good heart? No. He's definitely a Yakuza; I'll be sleeping with the fishes if I suck at this game.
After setting up everything, I felt like I was in some kind of nightclub. I've never seen so much brightness and colorful lights in one place. For a moment, I thought even my new chair glowed with LEDs. Who was the idiot who thought this would be a good idea? Anyway, after configuring everything to make it look like a computer from a paper company, I was finally ready to play. I downloaded it, took about 20 minutes, and there was a countdown on the screen; apparently, there was still half an hour until I could enter the server. I took the opportunity to tidy up my room, threw away some trash, arranged some books on the shelves, my anime figures, and even cleaned the mirror. I saw that character customization in this new game is quite extensive; I think I'll create a character that looks a lot like me, black hair, light brown eyes. On second thought, I'm pretty normal, huh? Better just go back and create that character.
The game's initial screen is quite fantastical, the name written grandiosely, and a bright button that says "Begin your journey!" I suppose that's my only option on this first screen, so...
Click
A table and next to it my character, which I'll probably have the option to customize further. Alright, fill this in quickly, then.
Name: Katsu
Family Name: Khan
Height: 1.84 Meters
Age: 17 Race: Human
I'll honor the name of my last Tibia character by using it as the family name, but I think I'm a bit too old to use a nickname as the main name. Is it too common to put "human" as the race? Honestly, I don't want to be an Orc or a Furry. I think I'll stick to the basics.
After this screen, the class selection. I didn't read much about it, but only 4 classes? I thought they would be more creative, honestly...
WARRIOR ~ MAGE ~ PALADIN~ ARCHER
A simple selection, but alright; it was stated that the classes were subject to change during the game. There were "improvements," basically class upgrades. Despite always being a fan of mages, I wanted to differentiate; playing as a mage for 10 years made me feel a bit cowardly. I wanted to go forward and still deal damage. It's not my style to be the team's punching bag, so, warrior.
When it came time to customize the character, I felt that the game had used me as inspiration for the base character—black hair, no fringe in the eye. I think it was satisfactory, so I clicked on "start the journey."
As soon as I entered the world, a notification appeared: "Achievement Acquired! The First Warrior!" Apparently, not wasting time on character creation earned me something.
"Achievement is only for title, no reward to be attributed."
This should at least add value to the account if I ever sell it, but now that I have the character created, let's get started. A huge button that says "Enter the world," very intuitive, but anyway, no more delays; it's time to start grinding.
Click
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