In the dim light of his cramped studio apartment, Marcus leaned back in his chair, his eyes glued to the flickering screen of his computer. His hand hovered over the mouse, poised to click the buy now button. His heart thumped in his chest, a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for. The full dive MMORPG, "Chronicles of the Fallen Kingdom," had just released its newest class: Necromancer. The price tag was steep, but the allure was too strong. He had read the forums, seen the hype, and knew that if he could master this class, he could make enough gold to pay off his rent and maybe, just maybe, get ahead in the real world.
Marcus took a deep breath and clicked. The screen flashed, confirming his purchase. A cold shiver ran down his spine as the game downloaded. The digital world was about to swallow him whole, offering a chance at a new life, a new identity. He had always been a loner in real life, but in games, he could be someone powerful. Someone who mattered.
The final bar on the download progress filled with a satisfying ding, and the installation wizard popped up. Marcus followed the prompts, his mind racing with the possibilities. He had chosen to start in the human city of Valoria, a sprawling metropolis known for its vibrant markets and grand architecture. It was also known for its intolerance of necromancers, but that was a problem for later. For now, he was just a noob, eager to escape his mundane existence.
As the game loaded, Marcus took a sip of his lukewarm coffee and rubbed his eyes. He had been up all night, his anticipation growing with each passing hour. The login screen displayed a grim reaper holding a glowing hourglass, the sands of time slipping away. He typed in his new username, "BoneWeaver," and selected the Necromancer class. His stomach fluttered as the screen transitioned to the character creation menu.
"Choose your race, BoneWeaver," the game's silky-smooth voice coaxed. Marcus knew that the choice was almost irrelevant. Necromancers were feared and shunned by all but their own kind. But he had always liked the look of the humans. They were versatile, and their cities had the best shops and quests. Plus, he had a soft spot for the underdogs. He clicked on the human icon, and a figure appeared before him, shrouded in darkness. With a flick of his cursor, he selected the male option.
The face that emerged from the shadows was stark and angular, with deep-set eyes that seemed to see into his soul. The game prompted him to choose his starting stats: strength, agility, intelligence, wisdom, and charisma. Marcus allocated his first five points into intelligence, knowing that mana would be his lifeblood as a Necromancer. The game world was unforgiving, and he would need every advantage he could get.
He was about to allocate the next point when he heard a knock at the door. It was probably his landlord, Mrs. Jenkins, coming to remind him about the rent. He had hoped to avoid her today, but reality had a way of intruding on his plans. With a sigh, he pushed back his chair and shuffled over to the peephole. Through the fish-eye lens, he saw a young woman with auburn hair and a hopeful smile. She held a clipboard in one hand and a stack of papers in the other.
Marcus's stomach twisted. He had never seen her before. What could she want? He took another deep breath, steeled himself, and opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked, his voice tentative.
The woman looked surprised, then quickly composed herself. "Hi there! I'm Rachel from the game's support team. We noticed you've just bought the Necromancer class. Would you be interested in participating in a quick survey about your experience so far?"
Marcus blinked. This was not what he had expected. "Uh, sure," he mumbled, opening the door wider. Rachel stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and professionalism.
"Just have a seat," he offered, pointing at the only other chair, which was buried under a mountain of dirty laundry. Rachel raised an eyebrow but managed a polite smile as she cleared the space and sat down. Marcus took his seat back at the computer, his heart racing. This was not the epic start to his gaming career that he had envisioned.
Her eyes fell on the game's login screen. "I see you're about to begin your journey. I'm sure you've heard the rumors about Necromancers being weak to holy attacks," Rachel said, her voice filled with the same enthusiasm one might reserve for a game show announcement. "It's true. But don't let that discourage you. They can summon an impressive number of undead minions to overwhelm their enemies."
Marcus nodded, his mind racing. He had read about the class's vulnerabilities, but he had a plan. He would focus on leveling up his undead army as quickly as possible, turning his weakness into a strength through sheer numbers. The exchange rate of 10 gold to 1 dollar loomed in the back of his mind, each gold piece a potential step closer to financial stability.
"So, how does it feel to be a part of the most hated class in the game?" Rachel asked with a wink. Marcus couldn't help but chuckle nervously. "I guess we'll find out," he replied, clicking the final button to complete his character creation. The screen went black before plunging him into the world of Chronicles of the Fallen Kingdom.
The game's opening cinematic played out, a tale of ancient battles and forgotten lands. Marcus watched with rapt attention as the camera panned over vast landscapes, showing him the sprawling city of Valoria in all its glory. When the movie ended, he found himself standing in a grimy alleyway, surrounded by the lifeless forms of the city's poor. A sense of urgency settled in his gut. He had to start grinding for gold immediately.
He picked up a rusty dagger from a nearby corpse, feeling a twinge of guilt at the sight of the sad, desolate scene. But this was the game, and survival was key. With a grim determination, he stepped out into the bustling streets, his eyes scanning for any signs of low-level monsters he could defeat and raise as his first minions.
The people of Valoria looked at him with fear and disgust. He was used to the stares, the whispers, and the occasional thrown stone. Being a Necromancer meant always being on the fringe of society, even in a virtual world. But he didn't care. He had a goal, and he would not be deterred. Marcus set off into the wilderness, eager to put his newfound skills to the test.
The first few battles were tough. His mana depleted quickly, and the undead he raised were weak and barely held their own against the copper-yielding beasts. But with each victory, he gained experience points and a little more gold. He allocated his stats meticulously, balancing his need for mana and the strength to survive. And with each level up, his connection to the undead grew stronger.
As the sun set in the game world, casting long shadows across the city, Marcus felt a strange kinship with the creatures he had brought back from the dead. They were outcasts, just like him. And together, they would rise above the scorn of the living. His thoughts were interrupted by a notification. He had earned enough gold to upgrade his living conditions. A small victory, but it fueled his resolve.
Marcus looked down at Rachel's survey on his desk, still untouched. He made a mental note to fill it out later. For now, he had a city to conquer and a fortune to amass. The BoneWeaver had arrived, and nothing would stand in his way.