Paxton stared at the screen, his smile widening as he read through it.
NAME; Paxton Zen
STATUS; Novice
CHARACTER SLOTS AVAILABLE; THREE
1st SLOT.
CHARACTER GRADE; Heroic
CHARACTER NAME; Sound Catcher
CHARACTER LEVEL; Level 5 (1400/3000)
CHARACTER SPECIALTY; Brawler
CHARACTER SPECIE; Vocaloid
CHARACTER PROPERTIES; Sound
CHARACTER CLASS;
NEXT CHARACTER UPGRADE; Level 40
PIXEL ENERGY LEVEL; 850
PIXEL REGENERATION RATE; 5/mins.
STRENGTH; 65 SPEED; 190
AGILITY; 55
VITALITY; 75
STAMINA; 55
ENDURANCE; 85
CREDIT COINS; 105,000
CHARACTER SKILL SETS
TWO COMMON SKILLS;
-LINGUISTICS(passive)
-ACOUSTIC(active)
THREE BRONZE SKILLS;
-AMPLIFIER(active)
-ECHO(active)
-SPEEDSTER(passive)
CHARACTER PROPS
ARMOUR
CLOTHES
WEAPONS
PETS
ACCESSORIES
[OBTAIN PROPS FROM THE SHOP WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED AT LEVEL 10]
2nd SLOT(locked)
3rd SLOT(locked)
4th SLOT(locked)
INVENTORY(unlocked)
•three common skill cards.
•two bronze skill cards.
•two common prop cards.
•one bronze prop card.
'The Statistic cards were distributed beforehand but the skill and prop cards weren't?'.
He thought, his gaze flickering in amazement when Flora's excited voice pierced through his ears.
He turned towards them to find Ruby smiling proudly while Flora and the others complimented her.
"...what's going on?" He asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Ruby and Flora turned to him in unison, while Bryan and Ryan sighed, their attention fixed on their status screen. Of course, it was only visible to them.
"I got a legendary battle card". Ruby replied while Flora giggled at her response.
Paxton raised a brow in surprise as he nodded his head in acknowledgment. He had to admit, he was impressed.
Of course, they must have received a different test than his, but her's must not have been any easier.
'...how did she complete her missions…or mission?'.
"How many missions could you complete?" He asked.
Ruby's lips curled awkwardly into a wry smile while Flora hissed.
"Why does that matter? Everyone completed one". Flora replied, her tone filled with disapproval.
Bryan adjusted his glasses and turned to Flora.
"I passed two….so I was given two character slots". He said, his tone laced with hesitation.
At that moment, his four classmates turned around as if checking if anyone had heard him before turning towards him.
"You idiot! That's not something you should say! People like us ought to keep our trump cards!" Ryan scolded as he knocked him lightly on his head.
The five of them had come from the same school. They knew themselves more than anyone present in this room, and they had lost some of them in the process.
They needed to watch out for themselves more than ever.
Paxton nodded his head, understanding Ryan completely. After all, he completed four.
"It seems like the Test Of Humanity is more than it seemed". He said, taking their attention away from them.
"It must have been hard…just completing one alone shows you're either courageous, or filled with love, or strong enough to make others have faith in you, or maybe your faith in yourself alone and finally the wisdom to apply your skills…"
The others paid attention silently while he continued.
"For someone like you, Bryan…I'm guessing wisdom and faith. You are someone who must have applied their knowledge like I did".
Bryan nodded slowly, adjusting his glasses again.
"It was a difficult test, but I was glad I was able to believe in myself for solving it. And it's thanks to our school…." He muttered.
The others remained silent for a moment, slowly regarding their thoughts as they turned their attention to their status screen once again.
The sound of Players chattering continued to fill the room until President Kim struck his cane on the podium.
The noise seized, grabbing the player's attention.
"The Test Of Humanity tests your core values as a human. The ability to believe in oneself or make others believe in you, the ability to stand in front of the ridiculous of mountains, the ability to decipher small knowledge, piece by piece, into a cloth of answers, and the ability to show humility, compassion, and love to those around you".
He said, his voice echoing against the walls of the room.
"Passing one of these means you are human, but failing them all…..casts You aside from humanity. You die…and become nutrient for the Dark Web".
These were information the Players would have wished for before entering the Test, but it was impossible to carry out the Test with prior knowledge.
It was a terrible fate and perhaps a ridiculous condition, but the Test Of Humanity was built like that.
"Completing one gives you a character…and how you complete it gives you your grade….
I would like all those with multiple character slots to remain here after this"
Multiple character slots, though common, are extremely rare. Humans tend to be courageous but not compassionate or perhaps Wise but unable to apply courage.
They tend to be crafty, in life choices and decisions. Choosing one over the other, it was extremely difficult to solve all missions.
But Paxton had solved all four, not two, not three but four. Why?
Paxton could sit down all day and think about it.
He could have chosen one like he thought, but he just genuinely wished to complete all missions.
'Though the creation of a miracle was one I never expected to pass'.
Then again, he did.
"Your characters will be given personal props for their properties. Perhaps your character property is flames then you could be given a flame thrower as a weapon or a firefighter costume"
He explained, and some players chuckled at his statement.
"Also, as much as I want to say grades matter, I will also say that it doesn't. We have the number seven from our Top Ten Players as a Common grade player. However, you will have to constantly hone yourself and your skills….increase your battle character strengths, and improve your character link. After all, higher grades are given more skills and points than you….so you will have to work like no one else has ever worked".
Paxton raised a brow, his curiosity perched by his statement.
'Skills and Stats aren't equal amongst grades….well, that should have been expected'.
"I hope you killed a lot of Glitches in your Tests because you will never receive as many rewards as you did in the Test Of Humanity," he explained, a light chuckle escaping his lips on noticing the player's protest.
This was also information they would have wished to have, but sadly, they weren't given.
"I have nothing more to say. I know you wish to have time to access your characters so rooms will be provided for those who wish to stay.
You will also be given a one-week crash course on the dangers of the Dark Web and study of the Glitches currently known to mankind".
Some players scoffed at the idea. Most had already planned on going for a Web Raid, where they could test out their skills and kill some low-grade glitches.
Others, like Paxton, appreciated the offer as he had no intention of going back home.
"This will be all for now…if you wish to stay, then find your representative, and they shall take you to your room and show you the cafeteria where your meals will be prepared.
And those that wish to leave, then you must be off this premises in the next minutes".
He stumped his cane on the ground one last time before turning around.
"We welcome the 91st generation of Players. I hope you help us in the great cause….those who possess more than one Character Slot….find me in my office instead".
Paxton folded his hands as the room for rowdy again. Some Players had prepared to leave while others remained.
Ruby nudged at his arm, a smile on her face as they stared at each other. It seemed like her character grade had given her quite the confidence boost.
"You want to stay, right? I'll stay with you".
Flora sighed. "We need to get the training and crash course anyways, so I'll stay too".
Bryan adjusted his glasses with a smirk. "I'll stay as well". They all remained silent after that, their gazes slowly landing on Ryan.
Out of five of them, he was the one that lost the most.
Ryan sighed and stood up. "I can't stay," he said, his tone sounding harsh. "I'll be joining my dad's boss guild…so I hope to see you guys on the other side".
They stared at him as he walked out of the room with some other students, a sigh escaping their lips.
Paxton turned away, his thoughts reeling in. 'Oh, Guilds…there were those too'.