On the table before me, a slender and sleek device stood upright, resembling a fusion of a phone and pen. With a simple touch on its surface, it sprang to life, projecting a holographic display that gracefully danced in the air. This device was known as the "Tablet."
The reason why it was called a tablet, despite its pen-like design, was that the holographic projection from the lens of this pen-like device resembled a flat slab of stone used for inscriptions. It used to be called the Hologram Pen, but over time, many people started referring to it as a tablet, and it eventually became the official name for the new models, as the model I used right now was called Neo Tablet.
Only the world government had the right to produce the tablet, and some organizations that worked under the world government from other planets in the solar system also had that right.
Crafted with portability in mind, the tablet was designed to offer the utmost convenience, allowing me to effortlessly carry it wherever I go.
Enhanced with cutting-edge SPU technology (Supreme Processing Unit), it possessed the capability to render immersive games, although a separate headset was required for the full-dive VR experience.
Damn it, this reminds me of when I almost starved myself for an entire month just to buy the VR headset.
It took me a span of two years to diligently save up enough funds to acquire the VR headset since it was 10 times more expensive than the tablet, however my tablet had seamlessly integrated itself into my daily routine. From reading novels and conducting research to managing my music project and gaming, this device has become an indispensable companion, catering to a wide range of my everyday needs.
On the screen I noticed the time was [4:04 AM], therefore, I still had 4 hours more before school began.
As I reached out to touch the holographic display, an astonishing sensation coursed through my finger, creating a surreal experience. Although my finger passed through the screen, it felt as if I had immersed my hand in water without getting wet. With a swipe, I navigated through various apps until I chanced upon a distinctive blue net icon, This particular app was designed for browsing websites that I selected.
Upon opening the app, I was greeted by a previously opened tab displaying the results of a personality test that my friend had recommended. It revealed that my personality type is ISTP 9w8. I didn't believe in such a personality test to begin with so I just clicked on the plus icon next to this tab, and a new browser displayed before me.
I used it to type word by word to search for the current top 100 rankers in the widely popular game, "The World of Dawn" (TWOD), specifically on the Singa Sanctuary continent server.
The list revealed the names and in-game aliases of the top-ranked players from both the AR and VR versions:
[ 1. Rith Bora, In-Game Exclusive title: (Fallen Apostle)
2. Sokun Thai, In-Game Exclusive title (Kind Reaper)
3. Rangar Vanguang, In-Game Exclusive title: (Beast of the East)
4. Name is classified
5. Name is classified ]
Observing the list, it appeared that the rankings among the top 10 rankers in the Singa Sanctuary continent remained unchanged, which brought me a sense of relief. If the rankings were in constant flux, it could potentially lead to skyrocketing prices for certain in-game items. Since the in-game currency could be used in real life as well, this could greatly benefit those who invested heavily in the game, commonly referred to as "whales." However, for regular rankers like myself, it would pose a challenge to acquire essential items for dungeons and raids, creating a disadvantageous situation.
After all, most of my income came from grinding TWOD. I played this game to support myself so that in the future, I could attend a law school, graduated, and work my way up to become a judge.
Once the top-ranked player in the TWOD Singa Sanctuary's server achieves the highest rank, they are granted access to the Celestial Castle within one realm in TWOD, a repository of mythical, fabled, and legendary weapons and items. However, if their rank is usurped by another player, there is no guarantee that these items will remain securely stored within the castle and could be used to cause chaos.
This uncertainty surrounding the shifting of the top 10 rankings instills fear among many rankers, as the potential access to such valuable treasures becomes a looming concern, it was like having a cheat in a game where fairness was already concerned.
Thankfully, Fallen Apostle, Rith, the top-ranked player in the TWOD Singa Sanctuary server, demonstrated a rational approach. Rather than haphazardly utilizing the items and weapons from the Celestial Castle, Rith chose to employ them for the protection and defense of the castle itself, ensuring its safety against potential invaders.
Furthermore, Rith refrained from exploiting these resources to launch attacks on other servers, displaying a sense of responsibility and restraint which gained him popularity, unlike other powerful rankers who had accessed the other celestial castle in another server.
I tapped on the cross-shaped icon located at the top right corner of the holographic display, exiting the current interface.
With a renewed sense of curiosity, I resumed navigating through the user interface in search of the TWOD icon, which depicted a tree, surrounding it were four stars. As soon as I clicked on the icon, a notification promptly appeared, prompting me to connect my VR headset for an immersive experience.
Designed with portability in mind, the VR headset resembles lightweight glasses that completely conceal the eyes. The temple arms were adjustable and extend to the back of my head.
Equipped with built-in SPU, capable of handling demanding systems and games on its own. Notably, the headset possessed the remarkable ability to scan the user's brain map, discerning their unique brain patterns and facilitating a seamless transition into a full-dive experience. This immersive state resembled a restful nap, without any harmful effects on the brain.
I extended my hand to grasp the VR glasses and placed them gently over my eyes. As I did so, the screen within the glasses faded to black, and my surroundings transformed into darkness.
Suddenly, a notification appeared before me, displaying the message, [Your brain is being scanned.] Subsequently, a series of blue lights swiftly traversed across my face, emanating from a small aperture within the glasses.
In that moment, another blue text appeared before me.
[Private system: To ensure user safety, the system actively monitored brain activity, promptly alerting the user in case of any irregularities. In extreme cases, the system would forcibly awaken the player from the full-dive experience.]
This was the integrated brain scanning device, meticulously embedded throughout the structure of the headset.
After a brief pause, another notification materialized before me, taking the form of a blue screen. It informed me that the mapping of my brain pattern had been successfully completed, resulting in the identification of my virtual avatar.
The notification revealed my avatar's name as [Einsamer01] and revealed my avatar's current location as [The floating city of Eternia within the Western Dimension, Midgard.]
Subsequently, a gentle blue light emanated from the glasses, accompanied by the soothing voice of a female AI. The AI advised me to relax and cautioned me to take necessary precautions before immersing myself fully. It emphasized the importance of avoiding crowded places to ensure an uninterrupted and undisturbed full-dive experience.
Simultaneously, I verbally expressed my agreement to proceed, and in response, a lengthy list of game regulations materialized. The rules assured me that the risk involved was negligible, but it stipulated that I must play the VR game exclusively within the confines of my bedroom or a private space devoid of disturbances.
This precaution was necessary as the full-dive experience would render my physical body vulnerable in real life.
Clicking the "Next" button repeatedly, I was greeted by a visually captivating animation on the screen, featuring a majestic tree encircled by four stars. This served as the game's start screen. Subsequently, the instructions prompted me to click the word "Transmigrate" to proceed, which would synchronize the headset's frequency with my brain, inducing a state of relaxation and immersion akin to entering a dream.
Using only the power of my thoughts, I effortlessly maneuvered the cursor, directing it to click on the word [Transmigration]. As I did so, a captivating symphony of 432 and 528 Hz frequencies filled the air, accompanied by a gentle light that bathed my eyes. My vision faded into darkness, yet my consciousness remained acutely aware.
During my initial foray into the VR realm, the thought of being trapped in eternal darkness filled me with terror. However, such apprehension had now transformed into a sense of familiarity. Suddenly, the expansive emptiness around me began to expand, reminiscent of a colossal cosmic explosion.
Countless stars burst forth from a solitary point, either passing through me or carrying me along at the speed of light.
My mind journeyed towards an immense cosmic tree within a dimension it hosted on one of its branches.
In the blink of an eye, I found myself standing amidst a vibrant world, teeming with fantastical beings traversing its enchanting landscapes. In the vast expanse of the sky, which appeared like a dynamic and animated painting, I felt a sense of detachment from the familiar world I knew on Tellus.
Majestic-like dragons known as Sky-scale gracefully soared, their wings and body ever-changing colors to match their surroundings, outstretched in flight.
Meanwhile, a colossal elephant-like creature roamed the street, providing a unique mode of transportation for travelers with its miniature houses adorning its back, offering an imaginative means for travelers to journey across the enchanting world of the western dimension of TWOD.
This friendly and gigantic creature was known as Angud, translated to the Iron-back creature.
A bell-like sound resonated, accompanied by a notification that warmly greeted me to [The World of Dawn], [The last fortress for mortals against the mysteries of cosmos.]
[Private System: The languages of the alien races in "The World of Dawn" are being translated in real-time. Every conversation you have with an NPC will be translated to English to match the speaker's original voice and volume.]
In the World of Dawn, every race spoke a different language, with some communicating through sounds and energies around them. Consequently, the system had to translate their languages in real-time for us humans to comprehend.
I currently found myself on the 10th floor of the Tower of Eternia. Within the Tower of Eternia where players first log in came into, engaging in player-versus-player combat and player killing was strictly forbidden in this tower unless an individual possesses a high rank that grants them the ability to commit such acts.
However, even in such cases, the system authorities will mark them as offenders and add them to a hunting list for violating the rules either in the VR worlds or real-life prison sentences for misdemeanors.
The city of Eternia was a place where fantasy and science fiction intertwined in a stunning display of wonder.
At its heart stood a giant floating tower, Tower of Eternia reaches dizzying heights, its silhouette spire striking against the Azure canvas, an upper dimension above Midgard.
Constructed from shimmering magical white stone, it glimmers with a radiance that seems to emanate from within.
The tower's spiraling shape is decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes from ancient legends and lore.
Eternia was a city bathed in perpetual vibrant light, for its sky knows no darkness.
Instead of the usual presence of a sun or a moon, the heavens above were an ever-changing kaleidoscope of hues.
Radiant purples blend with fiery oranges, shimmering greens, and celestial blues, creating a breathtaking spectacle that captivates the senses.
The central focus of Eternia was the colossal spiraling floating tower that I am currently located in, a marvel of architecture and magic.
It hovers majestically above the city, its pinnacle always pointing towards the mesmerizing sky above known as the Azure Canvas.
Connected to the tower were several islands, each a unique blend of science fiction and fantasy setting.
These islands, suspended in the air, were linked together by gigantic magical bridges that span across the vast expanse of Eternia.
The floating city of Eternia itself was a bustling metropolis where civilizations from diverse backgrounds and races coexist.
Streets were lined with fantastical architecture, showcasing a fusion of sleek, futuristic structures and ornate, magical edifices.
Airships glide through the sky, propelled by a combination of advanced technology and arcane energy, while floating platforms and teleportation portals offer convenient modes of transportation.
At this moment, I found myself standing at the Summoning Rift, a section of the tower where a colossal circular apparatus rests beneath my feet.
This remarkable device combines elements of arcane, advanced technology, and magic. Its purpose was to enable the consciousness of real-world users to manifest and immerse themselves within TWOD, where their very essence took on tangible form.
Simultaneously, I discovered a crowd of rankers who had already logged in alongside me, inundating the expansive Summoning Rift. Stretching across a vast expanse of five hundred meters in all directions, the rift buzzed with activity.
From the left and right, clusters of blue particles manifested into humanoid forms, finalizing the process of teleporting rankers from the real world into their virtual avatars.
My avatar wore a striking transparent blue armor known as "The Battle Armor."
This legendary armor, aptly named, possessed distinct architectural designs, attributes, and skills that were exclusive to each individual ranker.
However, acquiring The Battle Armor required achieving a gold rank as well as complete the exclusive quest known as "Pure heart" once you failed this quest, there was no reentry.
I could also upgrade my armor once I achieved Platinum, Diamond, Obsidian, or High rank.
As I delved deeper into understanding the potential of my archetype, my chances of upgrading my skills and advancing to a higher rank increased. However, it was important to note that not all skills were capable of being upgraded. It was commonly acknowledged that what may be the highest potential for one archetype could be the lowest potential for another.
Nevertheless, even with the seemingly weakest archetype known as Peasant, I possessed a skill called "Jack of all trades" which granted me the opportunity to compete on equal footing against other rankers.
Observing my surroundings, I noticed that most players were still wearing ordinary fabric robes with a magical barrier, lacking the powerful battle armor, nonetheless I also spotted many solo rankers wore a battle armor, some even wore a golden particles armor.
However, many people glanced in my direction, intrigued by my early acquisition of battle armor at such a young age.
They were probably envies of me due to my youthful appearance and wondered how I had obtained such remarkable armor at my age which of course at that time I was well prepare to took on the challenge of "Pure heart".
However, they were oblivious to my archetype, which happened to be one of the weakest options available. The Peasant archetype presented a challenging starting point with difficult attributes.
To make any progress, I had to dedicate five years of my life to the game, treating it as my sole pursuit.
Only then could I unlock offensive and exclusive skills capable of dealing damage.
During the first three years of grinding in the Desolate realm, I managed to obtain an exclusive skill called "Pseudo weapon." This granted me with the capability to utilize various weapon from different foundation archetypes.
On top of that I had an exclusive skills that I was born with known as "The jack of all trades" allowed me to use low tiers skills from all foundation archetypes, although I couldn't level up any of them.
Which at first glance seems like a cheat but it wasn't.
Stepping out of the summoning rift, I strolled towards what appeared to be a market area filled with rankers roaming. Yes, even within the tower, there existed a bustling marketplace.
The sheer size of the tower was awe-inspiring, capable of accommodating an entire city and boasting its own self-sustaining ecology.
The tower's vastness encompassed diverse environments, including jungles, parks, lakes, and even a miniature ocean located on the 20th floor.
On a bustling paved road, crowded with people, I unexpectedly encountered a remarkable sight—a massive elephant-like creature carrying a miniature house on its back, it still amazed me no matter how many times I saw this creature.
As I glanced around, I noticed a tall humanoid alien with a vibrant green complexion. The alien had four arms and was accompanied by a group of companions.
Among them was an elf woman with short blonde hair, clad in leather armor, and carrying a sword on her back.
Another member of the group was a man who appeared to be a Hoja, a humanoid dwarf-like creature with a body resembling a tree.
Although these people were non-player characters (NPCs) in a game, they possessed the same level of intelligence and emotional expression as humans.
It appeared that they were seeking someone to go on a quest with them. Despite being NPCs, mistreating them would be illegal, as in the world of Dawn, they are recognized as citizens with the same rights as players.
In the world of Dawn, players were restricted to choosing only the human race, as the option to play as other races was unavailable for unknown reasons.
However, despite this limitation, players had the ability to evolve their human avatar into mythical beings such as half-elves, Horas, Hoja, orcs, etc... if they so desired.
It was a personal choice for players to undertake such transformations, but transitioning to another race did not necessarily mean advantages, as certain exclusive skills could only be obtained by remaining as a human.