Chapter 13 Is This... the Chosen One? (Seeking recommendation tickets!)
What's the most frustrating thing about playing games?
That just when you've started and don't feel much time has passed, several hours have gone by and it's time to log off.
Game time is always the enemy of players.
And doesn't "thought acceleration" mean, in some sense, that players have more game time perceptually?
Although it's just one hour in reality, with thought acceleration, it's four hours in the game!
"Elf Kingdom" has drawn the attention of a massive number of players, not just because of its top-notch promotional video, but because of this technology.
Of course, they don't know that it's actually just because the flow of time is different between the two worlds.
But in reality, aside from the eye-catching "thought acceleration," the quality of the "Elf Kingdom" game also greatly exceeds players' expectations.
It's so realistic! Really so realistic! Completely different from those rough virtual online games on the market!
Just as advertised, it truly makes one feel like they are in a real world!
At this moment, all the lucky players participating in the beta test are filled with amazement and excitement.
Three hundred uniquely styled elves, thrilled, explore and study this strange world in their own ways...
Some stand in open areas, gazing at the distant scenery, exclaiming, "So tall! So beautiful!"...
Some swing their arms, feeling the gravity identical to reality, their expressions filled with astonishment...
Some pinch their own faces, while sighing, "It feels so real!"...
However... there are also some who aren't quite normal...
An explosive-haired guy actually started stripping in public... causing a chorus of "Ah!" from the crowd.
Surrounding players laughed and jeered...
Even some blushing female players, while covering their faces, peeked through their fingers with big watery eyes curiously looking over...
But, this guy is clearly going to be disappointed.
After a few moments of stripping off his clothes, the most crucial parts were covered with golden Holy Light, blurring everything.
"Darn! It's actually an all-ages version!"
The stripping guy spat out in disappointment.
Watching this scene in her mind, Eve felt her stomach churning...
Thankfully, she had prepared the harmonizing Holy Light in advance, otherwise the game would have been reported by Bluestar as soon as it launched.
She didn't want to be unilaterally blocked by Bluestar on claims of impure content!
Glancing at the person who stripped, Eve silently made a note of it and urged Saintess Alice to quickly assign tasks to these beasts, to prevent any further antics.
Most of those she had recruited this time were experienced online game veterans.
Eve dared not bet on what kind of clever maneuvers this group of players would come up with.
...
"The Chosen One has arrived!"
Inside the Natural Temple.
Sensing a tremendous wave of spatial power, Alice, who had been kneeling and praying in front of the statue, suddenly opened her eyes, her emerald pupils filled with excitement and anticipation.
She picked up the hem of her sacrificial dress and stood up, ready to greet him. Meanwhile, Eve's solemn, serious voice echoed in her heart:
"Alice, assist the Chosen One in getting familiar with this world."
For some reason, she felt that the Mother Goddess's voice sounded somewhat weary.
It seems that summoning the Chosen Ones also took a lot of energy from the Mother Goddess... The Mother Goddess had just awakened, and she began working so hard for the future of the Elf Clan, I must not disappoint her!
With this thought, Alice's gaze became more determined, and her faith in nature grew even more devout.
Mother Goddess, Alice will definitely live up to your nurturing!
With deep emotion, she bowed slightly towards the statue, extended her right hand and drew a tree-shaped symbol representing Mother Nature on her chest, and then hurried toward the main trunk of the World Tree...
As soon as she stepped out of the temple, Alice heard cheers and shouts.
"It's the Chosen Ones!"
Her eyes brightened, and after adjusting her appearance, she patted her cheeks, organized the prepared welcome speech in her mind, then with a sweet smile and elegant steps, headed toward the direction of the sound.
What kind of beings could make the Mother Goddess pay such attention to them?
While walking, Alice's thoughts kept drifting.
As a youthful girl not yet three hundred years old, Alice's heart filled with longing and curiosity towards the "Chosen Ones," who seemed like heroes.
At this moment, she had already imagined various scenarios in her mind...
Hmm, as followers of nature, the Chosen Ones must be like the heroes described in stories, riding holy unicorns, wearing magnificent armor, holding Holy Swords and Magic Wands, blessed by the Divine...
They must be true brave ones, handsome and elegant, humble and noble, mysterious and powerful!
They must be like the legendary Natural Army, with iron discipline and conviction!
Thinking this, Alice suddenly felt a strange nervousness.
"Tsk, what am I fantasizing about... You are the Natural Saintess! You must not disgrace the Mother Goddess!"
She shook her head vigorously, clearing her mind of these wild thoughts, but unconsciously quickened her pace.
Pushing aside the obstructing branches, Alice finally saw the much-anticipated "heroes"...
On the trunk, several hundred elves dressed in coarse robes and broken wooden armor as Chosen Ones jostled and made a racket.
Some were fooling around, some were testing magic, others were picking at tree bark and pulling leaves, and still others were singing loudly towards the distance...
More outrageously, there were a few naked male elves, their bodies shimmering with brilliant Holy Light, hopping from branch to branch, dazzling others...
"This tree bark is quite tough! Can't pry it off even with a knife..."
"Where's my gear? Who stole my gear?!"
"Hey hey... can you guys not get so excited, can we still properly read the newcomer's guide?"
"What skills did everyone draw?"
"I got strength-based, the Goddess gave me Cross Slash and Spinning Strike."
"Cross Slash looks cool!"
"Who knows how to check the mini-map?"
"Any sisters want to take a screenshot together, the scenery is nice, I want to post on social media."
Of course, upon closer observation, it was really just a few dozen making such a ruckus, most of the players were normally studying the beginner's guide, but even a few dozen can skew the overall style of the players...
From a player's perspective, it's actually not hard to understand... it can only be said that this game is just too realistic, making the players a bit too excitedly trying everything.
But... for the native elves, it's different.
Looking at the chaotic scene in front of her, Alice's smile froze on her face.
"Are these... the Chosen Ones?"
She rubbed her eyes, suspecting she was hallucinating.
Taking a deep breath, Alice looked again...
"Hey hey! That's the gear I took off earlier! Don't just wear it randomly!"
"Your name isn't on it, how do I know it's yours?"
"Seriously, can you all just play the game properly?!"
"Didn't you say there would be a guide for new players? Where are they?"
It was still a complete mess...
"Crack..." Alice felt like something in her heart had shattered.
The combination of the elves' beautiful and noble appearance with such vulgar and nasty behavior was almost overturning the girl's worldview...
She stared blankly, her eyes wide and mouth agape, her mind in total chaos.
What... what is this situation?
Aren't the Chosen Ones supposed to be the cherished of the Divine?
Aren't the cherished supposed to be noble and wise?
Shouldn't those who arrive be heroes and warriors?
This... this...
This bunch of elves, undisciplined like Goblins possessed, impolite like Half-Beasts, without a shred of shame, what on earth is going on!
Suddenly, she noticed a few who were picking bark off trees with wooden swords...
The girl's face changed, anger surged up, and she couldn't help but shout:
"Stop! What are you doing! Don't be disrespectful to the Mother Goddess!"
Her crisp voice suddenly emerged, attracting hundreds of players.
In an instant, three hundred pairs of eyes of various colors looked at the girl...
The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.
Feeling hundreds of gazes staring at her, Alice felt her scalp tingle. She involuntarily stepped back, somewhat intimidated but trying to remain composed, she shouted:
"You... what are you looking at? Even if you are people chosen by the Mother Goddess, you can't be disrespectful to Her substance..."
Her voice trembled slightly, revealing a facade of strength.
The players looked at each other, and suddenly things got lively.
"Elf girl?"
"So... so cute!"
"She doesn't have a name above her head! She's an NPC!"
"Nonsense! Look at her gear, so cool, she must be an NPC!"
"Such vivid expressions, so real! It doesn't have that stiff feeling from other virtual online games' AI!"
"Beautiful Miss, are you a Priest?"
"Hey hey, calm down, you seem to have scared her!"
Looking at Alice, who was as alert and adorable as a small animal, some of the male gentleman players became curious and excited.
"Not good... Her expression is a bit too much... makes me want to tease her…"
"Miss, what's your name? Are you a Priest?"
"Miss! Is there any quest available?"
"Miss! Can I join your religion?"
"Miss, may I touch your priest's dress?"
Because Eve had already made adjustments to language exchanges, the players' words were automatically translated into the language of Segis World, and vice versa, so Alice could clearly understand what these Chosen Ones were saying...
Hearing each of those frivolous remarks, the Elf Girl's face turned red with anger, shaking slightly.
"Blushing! She's blushing!"
"Wow! Such a strong sense of interaction! This NPC is so realistic!"
"Hmm... I think she seems angry…"
"Can you all stop! Even if it's an AI, can't you be more polite!"
"Hmm... Haven't seen such a vivid NPC before, just curious…"
"Why isn't she talking? Hey, who has the identification spell? Can you identify her and try?"
"I have it! I have it! Let me identify her... Hmm... Miss's name is Alice Wind, profession is Natural Priest, level... can't see... Huh? Opening identification also unlocks the target's favorability? Fuck...! Why is my favorability with her negative?! Fuck! It dropped again!"
"Hahaha! Is it because you made an ugly face?! Hahaha, let me identify... Fuck! My favorability is also negative…"
Looking at this group of rascals who were utterly lawless, Alice trembled with anger.
She took a deep breath and frantically reminded herself...
Calm down! Calm down!
Alice, you must stay calm!
This must be a test from the Mother Goddess! You must not disappoint the Mother Goddess!
"Why isn't Miss talking?"
"Her hair is so long! I wonder what it feels like…"
Suddenly, that bold player who was the first to take off his clothes, glowing with Holy Light, sneaked up and stealthily reached toward Alice's golden hair.
The Elf Girl was startled, and before she could stop herself, swung her Magic Wand.
In a burst of brilliant light, accompanied by a pitiful scream, this player with the word "Demacia" in green above his head was struck by a protective Holy Spell and fell straight down from the World Tree.
So weak!
This was Alice's first thought.
Oh my God! What... what have I done? I actually pushed him down!
This was the second thought...
Alice turned pale with shock and hurriedly stepped forward, looking down the World Tree...
However, the unlucky player was already out of sight.
"Mother Nature above! I... I... I actually killed a Chosen One?"
Alice's vision went dark.
"Hahahaha! Served him right!"
"Only level 1 and daring to challenge an NPC, serves him right!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Behind her, the voices of other players, reveling in the misfortune, came along with bursts of laughter.
Alice incredulously turned her head, staring at this group of elves who, after witnessing the death of a companion, were not only unafraid and worried but also excited.
These Chosen Ones… is there something wrong with their brains?