I was just finishing work, getting ready to leave the office when my office phone ringed
"What is it?"
"Miss, Mister Redvolt from the arms company is here"
"let him in"
I sighed, wondering what could possibly require my attention at this hour. The office was quiet, the soft hum of computers the only sound as most of my colleagues had already left for the day. I stood up, straightened my jacket, and prepared to meet Mr. Redvolt.
The door opened, and in walked a tall man with sharp features, his presence commanding the room. His suit was impeccably tailored, exuding both wealth and power. His eyes, however, held a cold, calculating glint.
"Good evening, Miss Harrington," he said smoothly, extending his hand.
"Good evening, Mr. Redvolt," I replied, shaking his hand. "What brings you here so late?"
He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm here on a matter of some urgency. May we sit?"
I nodded, gesturing to the chairs in front of my desk. We both took our seats, and I noticed his briefcase, a sleek, black leather piece that seemed to radiate importance.
"As you know," he began, placing the briefcase on the desk, "Redvolt Arms has been a leader in defense technology for decades. However, recent developments have presented both opportunities and... threats that we need to address immediately."
Industrial espionage," he said bluntly. "We have reason to believe that sensitive information about our latest project has been leaked. This project is crucial, not just for our company, but for national security."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you want from us?"
"Discretion and expertise," he replied, his tone grave. "We need someone to investigate this leak, someone outside our usual channels. Your firm has a reputation for handling such matters with the utmost confidentiality and effectiveness."
I leaned back in my chair, considering his request. The exterior of our company, Harrington Consulting, was known for hig0h-stakes problem-solving and private investigations. Few knew the true extent of our services: a network of assassins, spies, and operatives capable of handling any task that required utmost secrecy and precision.
"You understand what you're asking," I said, my voice calm but firm. "This isn't just a matter of discretion. We're talking about potential exposure to some very dangerous elements."
He nodded, his expression unchanging. "I'm fully aware. That's why I'm here."
I studied him for a moment, assessing his resolve. "Very well. We'll take the case. But know this, Mr. Redvolt—once we start, there's no turning back."
"I understand," he said, standing up. "Thank you, Miss Harrington. I trust you'll keep me informed of your progress."
Suddenly, a mechanical voice, cold and distant like something out of a sci-fi movie, echoed through the room. "Universal announcement: The universe has reached its maximum expansion capacity for this level. Upgrading will commence in 07:59:55."
The words reverberated in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. I glanced at Mr. Redvolt, who seemed as startled as I was. "What the hell was that?" he asked, his calm facade finally cracking.
"I have no idea," I replied, my mind racing. "But it sounds like we have less than eight hours to figure it out."
I'm sorry, Mr. Redvolt, but it appears I have to prioritize another urgent matter. Please inform my assistant, Marie, to come in on your way out. She'll assist you further.
The mechanical voice still echoed in my mind, and the urgency of the situation pressed on me. As Mr. Redvolt left, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts whirling in my head. Moments later, Marie walked in, her usual calm demeanor a welcome sight.
"Marie, did you hear that announcement?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She nodded, her eyes wide with confusion. "Yes, I did. What does it mean? It sounded... surreal."
"I'm not sure," I admitted, standing up and pacing the room. "I want you to inform the entire staff that they can go home for now. But, Marie," I added, turning to her with a serious expression, "why don't we drink something to pass the time."
Marie nodded again, this time with determination. "Of course, Miss Harrington. Let me take care of the staff first."
As she left to relay the message, I glanced at the clock, counting down the minutes we had left. The soft hum of the computers was the only sound as the office gradually emptied. It felt eerily silent, a stark contrast to the usual bustling environment.
Marie returned swiftly, closing the door behind her. "Everyone's been informed and has left," she reported. "
Before I could respond, I noticed a small window in the bottom right corner of my vision. It seemed to hover, translucent and unobtrusive, yet clearly present. I focused on it, and to my surprise, it shifted color and position with my thoughts. Marie looked at me curiously, and I realized she must be seeing something similar.
"Do you see that?" I asked, pointing to the corner of my vision.
Marie nodded, her expression mirroring my bewilderment. "Yes, it's like a HUD or something. I can change its color and position just by thinking about it."
I shook my head, trying to make sense of this new development. "This is getting stranger by the minute. Let's get a to drink."
We made our way to my penthouse on the highest floor, the silence of the empty office adding to the surreal atmosphere. As we poured ourselves some wine, we tried to make light conversation, but our minds were clearly preoccupied with the bizarre situation.
As the countdown reached the six-hour mark, another announcement echoed through the room, the mechanical voice returning with the same cold detachment. "Universal announcement: Upgrade progress is now at 25%. Remaining time: 06:00:00. A part of the pre tutorial is now available to you"
Marie and I exchanged a glance, noticing a new tab labeled "pre-tutorial" had appeared in our view. Opening it, I read the prompt: "Please choose your starting race: [Undead], [Spirit], [Demon], [Dark Elf (not advised)], [Human (not advised)], [Fey]."
"Looks like we have to choose our starting race," I remarked, scanning through the options.
Marie nodded thoughtfully, her brow furrowing slightly. "I don't have Undead, Fey or Spirit as choices," she said, tapping on her own screen. "Instead, I have a few others."
Curious, I glanced over at Marie's screen. "What are your options then?"
She read out her list, "I have [Human (not advised)], [Dark Elf (not advised)], [Orc (not advised)], [Goblin (not advised)], and [Demon]."
I nodded, processing the differences. "So you have more traditional options available, plus the Demon."
"Yeah," Marie agreed. With a shared understanding of our available choices, we tapped on the information icons next to each race to learn more about their strengths and characteristics.
**Dark Elf (not advised)**: Agile and attuned to the shadows, but their reputation for dark magic and isolation may complicate social interactions.
**Human (not advised)**: Versatile and adaptable, but lacking distinctive traits compared to other races.
**Blood Iron Orcs (not advised)**: Strong and fierce, with a natural affinity for blood magic, but prone to aggression.
**Hob Goblin (not advised)**: Similar to normal orcs, but slightly more intelligent, smaller in stature, and less prone to aggression.
**Demon**: Powerful and intimidating, with innate magical abilities and a natural affinity for darkness and manipulation. As there is no specific demon race mentioned, you will be a Demon Queen.(It is possible for other races to become a Demon later on, just like they could become undead.)
**Undead**: Resilient and immune to conventional ailments, but often misunderstood and feared. As there is no specific undead race mentioned, you will be an Undead Queen.
**Spirit**: An entity where an object, like a sword, or an element, like fire, gains consciousness. Since there is no specific spirit race mentioned, you will be a Spirit Queen. These spirits can vary widely in appearance and abilities, reflecting the nature of the object or element they inhabit. They are often ethereal and possess powers related to their origin.
**Fey**: Similar to elves, but smaller in stature, more mischievous, and possessing a stronger connection to nature and magic. They are known for their playful and trickster nature, often causing harmless trouble for their own amusement.
Marie and I took our time considering the implications of each choice, sipping our wine as we mulled over the details.
As the alcohol began to take effect, our conversation grew more whimsical and lighthearted. Marie giggled, swirling her glass. "You know what, Yue? How cool would it be to be a queen? A Demon Queen, all powerful and beautiful, like a succubus or something. Just imagine it!"
I laughed, the idea tickling my intoxicated mind. "Oh, absolutely! You'd make a stunning Demon Queen, Marie. And me... I could be a Vampire Queen! All dark and mysterious, with fangs and everything."
Marie clinked her glass against mine, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes! A beautiful, seductive succubus Demon Queen, and you as the enchanting Vampire Queen. We'd rule over everyone with our charm and power."
I nodded enthusiastically, the wine loosening my usual restraint. "We'd have so much fun, and we'd look amazing doing it."
Marie leaned back, a dreamy expression on her face. "I can just see it now. Wings, horns, and that irresistible allure. I'd be unstoppable!"
"And I'd have the whole immortality thing going on," I added, my voice filled with playful excitement. "Commanding the undead, living in a grand castle, and being totally untouchable."
"I guess we know what we're choosing," I said, raising my glass with a mischievous smile.
"To being queens," Marie toasted, her cheeks flushed from the wine.
"To being queens," I echoed, giggling.
As Marie confirmed her choice, I noticed that the Demon option had grayed out. It dawned on me that some choices could only be made once. As Marie confirmed her choice, I hurried to select mine, not wanting anyone else to snatch it before me.
fter I confirmed my choice, I was surprised to see a new window open, informing us that the next function would be available in 48 minutes, when the countdown reached 5 hours.
Marie and I exchanged a puzzled glance, the unexpected delay adding to our anticipation. "What do you think will happen next?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and excitement.
Marie shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "I have no idea. Maybe we'll gain more abilities or insights into our chosen races."
I nodded, pondering the possibilities. "I wonder if this delay is part of the tutorial or if there's something more to it."
As we waited, the digital clock on the interface continued to count down. The atmosphere in the penthouse seemed to shift subtly, as if the very air was charged with anticipation. We refilled our wine glasses, the wine now serving to ease our nerves rather than add to our merriment.
"Cheers to whatever comes next," Marie said, raising her glass once more.
"Cheers," I replied, clinking my glass against hers.
With each passing minute, the tension in the room grew palpable. Finally, as the countdown reached the designated time, a soft chime sounded, and a message appeared on our screens: "Upgrade function ready. Please proceed."
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever awaited us. "Here goes nothing," I muttered, tapping the prompt to continue.
A new window opened, and all it displayed was an explanation on how roles worked and how we could choose or obtain them.
"The Roles," I read aloud, scanning through the text on my screen. "There are 5 different Roles: [Hunter], [Servant], [Civilian], [Gifted], and [Ruler]."
Marie leaned in closer, her interest piqued. "So, we get to choose our roles too? What do you think each one entails?"
I shrugged, tapping on the information icon next to each role to learn more.
Hunter: Dedicated to pursuing targets of opposing factions. Hunters operate independently and cannot be summoned by Rulers. They will spawn at a random location in the Tutorial.
Servant: To acquire this role, one must swear loyalty to another individual. Once committed, the Servant cannot disobey their master's commands and is exclusive to their chosen master. They cannot be summoned by another Ruler. You will not lose your previous role after acquiring this one.
Civilian: A regular individual without extraordinary abilities, summoned at the discretion of Rulers. Civilians do not participate in the tutorial unless summoned by a Ruler. If not summoned by the end of the tutorial, they return to their original location before its commencement.
Gifted: Possesses unique talents or abilities that distinguish them. Gifted individuals have a low probability to be summoned. You can have this role together with every other role except Civilian, and you will travel around the tutorial if not summoned.
Ruler: Granted control over a designated territory that can be expanded by upgrading their castle, which they possess from the start. Rulers have the authority to summon others of their race to serve under them.
Marie frowned, tapping on her screen. "I was wrong. It seems the roles, except Servant, are being allocated. We can't choose them."
After a moment of silence, Marie turned to me with a thoughtful expression. "Yue, what if I become your Servant?"
I blinked, surprised by her suggestion. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Marie began, her voice tentative yet determined, "if I swear loyalty to you as my master, then we can work together."
I considered her proposal, weighing the implications. "But you'd be bound to follow my commands. Are you sure about this?"
Marie nodded earnestly. "I trust you, Yue. And we can figure things out together. It's better than being alone in this."
I paused, touched by her trust and resolve. "Alright, Marie. If that's what you want, then I accept.
After I accepted, a window appeared in front of us. At the top, mine said "Ruler Undead Queen Yue," and Marie's said "Ruler Demon Queen Marie, Ruler Undead Queen Yue's Servant."
Marie and I exchanged a surprised glance, realizing that we both held positions of rulership in this virtual realm.
"I guess it's official now," Marie said softly, a mixture of determination and uncertainty in her voice.
"Yeah," I replied, feeling a weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "We're in this together now."
As I examined the details on the window, I noted that under "Ruler Undead Queen Yue," it listed:
Role: Ruler, Gifted
Gift: -
Race: Undead Queen
Marie peered over my shoulder, studying the information on her own screen. "It seems we both are gifted and rulers."
Time passed, and soon the countdown hit the 4-hour mark, but the almost familiar chime never came, nor did a new window.
We waited and waited. Five hours passed, but still nothing. When only one hour was left, a popup appeared saying that the upgrade was done and it would be loaded in the next hour, introducing us to the system our universe had now adapted to.
Pressing continue, I found myself on a page that explained what I could do with the system. The first option was a Status screen, which was still locked. The second option was a Shop, also locked. The third option, which wasn't labeled as "???" and wasn't locked, was the World Chat with "(Earth)" written behind it. A question mark in the top left corner indicated an introduction.
Curious, I decided to open the World Chat and read the introduction about what would happen after the countdown hit 00:00:00:
Introduction:
When the countdown hits 0, you will be teleported to a simulated universe for the upgrade to begin. During this tutorial period, you will learn how everything works. Here are the key points:
Protection from Stronger Forces: Native forces more than one grade stronger than you cannot attack you.
30-Day Protection Period: You cannot die from native forces for the first thirty days. However, if you do die from them, your progress will be reset, and you'll start over in a new location.
Duration of Tutorial: The tutorial has no fixed duration. It may take years or even decades.
End of Tutorial: Once the tutorial ends, you and everyone still living from your universe will be teleported back together with your territory.
Marie looked over my shoulder, reading along with me. "So, we have some time to get used to all of this," she said, relief evident in her voice. "And we can't die from native forces for the first thirty days. That's a bit of a relief."
"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a bit more at ease. "We just need to make the most of this time and prepare ourselves."
We spent the remaining hour fantasising about plans, exploring what we could do with the limited options available, and strategizing how best to use our initial protection period. The anticipation grew as the countdown ticked closer to zero, the unknown future awaiting us both daunting and exhilarating.
Finally, as the last seconds ticked away, Marie and I took a deep breath, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in this new, simulated universe. The screen faded to black, signaling the start of our journey into the tutorial world.