[Authenticating User ID...]
[User ID Confirmed: Chen Hunter, 19, orphaned, living in a government welfare home...]
[Authenticating Element...]
[Escape360 welcomes you. The game will begin shortly…]
[Entering Single Player Dungeon…]
[Background: It's been seven years since the Big Bang; the explosion that turned Printon City to a war zone. The thugs got their hands on some high end military equipment and took control of the city. Continuous shootings and fires made the government and wealthy citizens evacuate the city. The thugs have no intention to cease fire, the government can't help and the military refuse to intervene. Over time, the city became a punishment ground.]
[Story: You have been sent to Printon City as a punishment for your crime]
[Main Mission: Survive for seven days]
[Secondary Mission: The governor's daughter has been lost in Printon City, Help in her survival, escape or recovery. The more you help, the more ratings you get]
(Hint: The Opening Dungeon is a great opportunity for every player)
The words appeared for 30 seconds before they disappeared simultaneously
That was when Chen noticed he was on his feet, his heart beat faster and harder like it could escape from his chest. Chen placed his hand on his chest and took deep breath
"Clam down, it's just a game"
Then he remembered '200 million dollars'. It is real after all, if he completed this game and escaped successfully, he'll be granted 200 million dollars. Chen started fantasising all the things he could do with such money.
His eyes shined like he saw a gold mine when he looked at his mission again
[Main Mission: Survive for seven days]
[Secondary Mission: The governor's daughter has been lost in Printon City, Help in her survival, escape or recovery. The more you help, the more ratings you get]
His heart finally calmed down and beat normally. Although Chen is not used to VRMMORPG he has played other games and knows beginner missions are always easy to complete.
He quickly scanned his surroundings. It was night, everywhere was dark except a few light bulbs that shed dim lights. There are houses all around but most of them are broken, probably from the explosion. Chen's eyes caught a sign behind him; Printon Unive… the rest of the sign had collapsed
Chen looked around him and although the situation is dire, all he had to do is survive seven days.
"I'll find a place to spend the night"
All houses around him are broken so he decided to try his luck and find an unbroken house.
The night was dead silent but Chen could hear the sound of flies buzzing nearby, he decided to follow the sound and after walking for a minute, there, on the ground was a hand. The hand had been caught off from its elbow. It had already softened and bursted with hundreds on flies feasting on it
"BLECH!!!"
Chen immediately vomited on the ground and coughed loudly. The stench from the hand was so bad he had to move back then the system words appeared again
[Bad Environment: Your HP will reduce due to foul stench]
[Moderate Environment: HP reduction have stopped]
"What? Even a foul stench is harmful?" Chen was shocked by the realization.
"Character" Remembering that he haven't even checked his character status, Chen called out and a blue led screen that only him could appeared before him.
[Name: Chen]
[Age: 19 (Male)]
[Race: Human]
[Title: None]
[HP: 100]
[Stamina: 100]
Chen scanned through the first page, which was basically the character's status and details, he was relieved his HP have not reduced. The second page described the character's attributes.
[Strength: F ]
[Agility: F]
[Constitution: F]
[Spirit: F+]
[Intuition: F+]
The third page included skills, equipment, and inventory, but it currently only displayed empty slots.
[Skills: None]
[Equipment: None]
[Inventory: Empty]
(Remark: A Newbie, totally worthless!)
Chen drew a smirk seeing the remark about him being quite abusive.
Ceasing his breathe, Chen walked away from the site. Just then, a light flashed over his and Chen immediately freezed. Given the situation, he knew moving can be very dangerous for him. The l8ght was hindering his sight so Chen squinted and blocked the light with his hand. The light move from his head to toe and then a whistle sounded.
Three other men join the whistle blower and they walked towards Chen.
"What are you doing here at this time?" The whistle blower asked.
"I…I…" Chen was dumbstrucked. He was more shocked when one of the guys hit his face and shouted "can't you talk?"
"Calm down now brethren, what do we have here?" A new man entered Chen's sight. He is quite different from the rest, he was dressed in a white germent with yellow robe tied around his waist. He's the same age as other guys but his dressing made him look like some priest in a church.
"Evening, Pope" the other guys chorused, their face beaming with respect.
"Young man, why hast thou wander in stranger lands?" Pope directed the question at Chen
"I'm new here" Chen replied, realising Pope have a control on the rest.
"You kneel when you're spoken to!" One the guy shouted and slapped Chen at the back of his neck.
Chen fell hitting his kneel on the ground
[Minor Injury Detected: Constitution and Agility reduced by 1%]
[Bleeding Detected: You will loose 1 HP every minute until bleeding stopped]
[Bleeding Clotted: HP loss will stop]
Chen felt a stinging sensation from his knees and the system reminded him of how dangerous his situation is. If not careful, he might just die before the game start.
"I'm new here" Chen repeated in a louder voice
"Fish" the guys chorused with a sense of mockery
"How come you're here this minute? The rest of the fishes have been assessed and settled in" Pope asked.
Chen have no answer for that, this is how the system delivered him
Turns out silence is the best answer "The lord cast his merciful eyes on you little, for you swim among sharks and whales" Pope returned to his religious voice "Walk with me" he commanded.
Chen got on his feet and followed Pope.
"You missed orientation but I won't mind giving you one now. Those that acquire the Lord's favor shall forever find peace. Amen"
"Amen" Chen played along with Pope's religious tone
"Here in Printon City, everything is free. You only have one God, one job, one blood and it all starts with baptism which comes up tomorrow evening. For y'all fishes swim in heavy waters, thou must be baptised into this new life lest you get swayed away" Pope preached.
Murmuring voices interrupted their conversation and the more they walk, the louder the voice gets. Soon, they arrived at a building, it is a big one with nine floors and lots of rooms on each floors.
Despite the darkness, Chen could see men walking to and fro on all floors
"We have arrived, welcome to The Great Castle. Printon is in its worst but we here, we are one blood, one family, we protect each other" Pope informed "Find this man a room" he commanded one of the thugs behind and continued " We protect each other. Attacks come here and there but if we stay together, we Survive. You never know when war can hit"
"Pope sir, there no more room, they are all fish filled" A thug delivered
"Pope sir, we usually kill the latecomers, fish here is no different" Another thug intervened
"Hmm, this is a lucky one, I sense something different about him" Pope then kept quite, he closed his eyes and raised his head towards heaven for a while "Stick him with Painkiller, let's see how lucky he is" Pope said and left.
One of the thugs held Chen and pull him towards the building. After climbing to the ninth floor, they went to the room at he extreme end of the floor
"You're not so lucky fish" Tge thug said and knocked the door. He quickly retreated and pount his gun at Chen incase Chen try to run.
The door opened and right before Chen was a woman.