Time slipped by, and now it was almost time for the launch. It was 6:50 p.m.—just ten minutes to go. I had finished everything necessary for the day and prepared to sleep while playing, even though it felt way too early.
I lay down, and the capsule closed around me. Everything went black again, and I reappeared in my lobby—the same grassy field as before. I opened the menu with a thought, and there it was: the game I'd been waiting for. I selected it, and a massive countdown timer filled the screen, showing the last five minutes.
The screen also displayed gameplay footage from beta testers, and I was stunned. The scenery was so realistic it felt like watching real life. I was so engrossed that the timer suddenly hit the last 10 seconds.
10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1.
WELCOME PLAYER.
I was transported to a bustling newbie village without any fanfare. No class. No skills. Nothing. Just me and my character, exactly as I had created it before. All around me, other players appeared, looking just as confused as I was. The time in game was just in the right corner of my vision, visible only if I concentrated on it. It was 7pm in game and 7pm in real life, since both were displayed.
A notification popped up in the menu—a holographic screen visible only to me unless I chose to share it.
"Welcome players, to the game: Morpheus Online. The developer's team wishes you good luck."
That was it. No instructions. Just a brief message and a "good luck."
Curious, I opened my stats menu.
│ STATUS WINDOW │
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│ Name: Luke
│ Level: 1
│ Class: None
│ Rank: Commoner
│ Money: 100 Copper
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│ Health (HP): 100 / 100
│ Mana (MP): 10 / 10
│ Stamina (STA): 70 / 70
│ Attack (ATK): 8
│ Defense (DEF): 5
───────────────
│ Strength (STR): 8
│ Agility (AGI): 12
│ Endurance (END): 7
│ Intelligence (INT): 10
│ Dexterity (DEX): 11
│ Charisma (CHA): 8
│ Perception (PER): 9
│ Willpower (WIL): 11
───────────
│ Skills: None
│ Titles: None
──────────────────
│ Equipped Weapons: None
│ Equipped Armor: None
│ Equipped Accessories: None
────────────────────
Everyone starts with 100 health, which increases by 50 with each level. Mana (MP) is tied to intelligence, and stamina (STA) is based on endurance. The rest of the stats seemed self-explanatory, but I'd heard a rumor that your real-life physique and abilities could affect your in-game stats too.
I spent so long staring at my stats that I didn't realize I was just standing in the middle of the crowded square. The sun was already starting to set, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets.
Looking around, I took in the village. It had a medieval charm: simple wooden buildings, narrow dirt paths, and a protective stone wall encircling the area. A fortress loomed in the distance, giving the impression that the village was well-guarded, but it still felt like a small, minor settlement.
Eventually, I found an inn and stepped inside. The smell of freshly cooked food hit me immediately, along with the hum of voices and the clatter of utensils. I approached the front desk, where a middle-aged woman greeted me.
She stared at me expectantly. "Um… how may I help you? Are you just going to stand there?"
"Oh, sorry! I'd like a room for the night, please."
"We have a few rooms left. For tonight only?"
"Yes, that's fine."
"That'll be 8 copper," she said.
I paid, and she handed me a key. Room 98. The top floor.
Climbing the wooden stairs, I noticed my stamina bar slowly dropping. By the time I reached the fifth floor, it was already down to 60. Thankfully, it began refilling as soon as I stopped moving.
I unlocked the wooden door and stepped into a simple room. The bed was firm but passable, and the wooden walls gave the space a cozy, rustic feel. Through the small window, I had a perfect view of the entire village below.
Even at this late hour, I could see other players wandering around or heading out beyond the walls to fight. The visibility out there wasn't great, so I decided to wait. It was 10pm here now and 8:30pm outside. For now, I'd sleep—for real this time.
This medieval city, with its simplicity and charm, was surprisingly pleasant. I didn't really explore it much today but I still have time tomorrow.
"Good night," I said softly to myself as I drifted off.