Pure Resonance: Oneshot

The sun shined through the window, Its colors blinded me as I woke. I was exhausted and weak from the day before, but I still have to go on with the day. The past few weeks have been stressful since I was fired. I recently found part-time jobs to get me by, but there was no break in between. These jobs are stressful. I work day and night to pay bills and ain't it tiring. I just want to die, but I just have to live with it.

My name is Allen, and I was a Gamer. Keyword, "was". It's been five years since the last time I touched a video game, and do I miss it? A little, but we can't all be stuck in the virtual world forever.

But that was a game. A game that I put so many hours into that I always lost track of time in, even in date. It was my bread and butter, and my passion. Loved the game, but soon I had to leave it, because of the problems it created. I blame myself for ignoring everything around me to play a game. I understood the problems it caused, so I made the decision to end my career for the sake of myself and my family.

Before I decided to leave, I originally had most of my income come from that very unique game that took the genre of gaming to a new level. This game was astounding. It rivaled other games with its next-to-real graphics and easy-to-use system. It was a game that I loved and played for countless hours. The years I put into it are what I regret, but the time I had will always remain. 

That game was "Pure Resonance".

Pure Resonance, or "PR" for short, was the highest-rated, played, and grossing game the world has ever known. The gameplay was amazing, the world, the storyline, and the setting. It was my everything for years. 

The game was set in a fantasy, medieval era with magic and all. It had a bit of a modern setting into it, but not enough to be considered as a modern game. It was considered a modern genre due to the introduction of several classes and weapons. I chose one that accurately described my playstyle while also adding different subclasses. I won't go into the details about the game any longer, but I can say that this game was my life. It was everything to me.

Now shall I begin this story from the first time I was reintroduced to PR? If so, then sit up and listen close because this will be a long one.

"He has done It! He defeated Jinx in a shocking upset! The new winner is 'Clove'! He defeated the God of PR-"

I turned the TV off as the newscaster spoke. My watch struck noon, and it was time to head off to my first job. The day was bliss and fresh, but I was still exhausted. Even though I was tired, I pushed on and tried to finish my jobs to the best of my ability. 

"Ugh..." I laid on my bed exhausted and dead. "I'm so~ tired..."

I was a train wreck. My bed was a mess, my hair was frizzy, drool ran down my cheek, and life sucked out my body. I felt like a zombie.

(*Ding!*)

My phone made a noise and I searched for it. I patted everything on the bed until soon enough, I found it lying beside my face. I opened the phone and an email was addressed with "Urgent" on it. I then shifted my body over to its back and clicked the email. It opened with a warning sign flashing in my face.

"Please continue this message on your computer and/or laptop." 

I lifted myself upright and pan across the room to a desk sitting in the dark space of a corner. I stood from the bed and walked to it. I stopped myself from getting closer to the desk as I reached toward my old chair. I took a deep breath and pulled the chair out and sat in it. It was nostalgic and weird but felt natural. Guess I still remember how it felt to sit here.

The monitor and desktop turned on as I pressed its dusty button. Its startup sequence finished a few minutes later with the message popping out, but sadly an update message appeared. I gave a small chuckle and pressed "Remind Me Later", which meant "Go away! I don't care!"

I opened the email and the subject line said "Urgent". The email was sent from an unknown person with my name typed out in a series of letters. Probably a scam.

>Hello, Allen. 

Thank you for opening this message. I am happy to invite you into a closed alpha extension regarding Pure Resonance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime decision that can't be accessed by anyone, but you and an elected few. Please think before accepting. Thank you. 

-PR Developer. 

(Attention: Acceptance will be permanent.)

<

The message was sketchy since it was sent from an anonymous source, but I was happy for a bit as it was a message regarding PR. I don't know, maybe I still had a thing for PR? I guess the feeling of the game still lingers in this head of mine. Should I do it? I promised to not play this again. But it wouldn't hurt to see how the game developed since I was gone.

Two text bars appeared with "Accept" and "Decline" under a row of text. I leaned back into the chair and rubbed my face with both hands like one of those yawns that required you to rub your face with both hands. Yeah, that one.

(*Click*)

I pressed accept and another message appeared with an installation window appearing.

>Thank you for accepting. Enjoy!<

A small loading bar with an image of the PR game appeared. I yawned heavily waiting for the loading screen, and then my eyes suddenly became heavy. I yawned aloud once more and I felt my eyes getting heavier until my eyes suddenly closed in exhaustion.

I fell into a trance of sleep, and I felt a warm feeling throughout my body. My body felt cold, but the warm sensation flowed through my body like a flowing river. The warm sensation took over with my eyes slowly opening to the sun shining upon my face. I saw leaves blocking the sun's rays with a cool wind blowing gently against my face. I felt my back against the rough bark of a tree, and I lifted my hand to block the light.

A thick forest surrounded me with no idea of where I was. I gazed upon the beautiful landscape I was present on and felt relaxed. I took a deep breath and felt the clean air flow throughout my body. A nice relaxing breath of fresh air is the best feeling anyone can achieve.

I stood myself up and searched around the area. I don't know how long I walked for, but my mouth was dry, dry as the Nevada desert. looking around I soon found a stream flowing through the forest. Thank heavens.

I crouched down and stuck my head straight into the water without worry.

"Ha... That's good..."

I wiped my face off and noticed something peculiar. When I looked into the water I saw a face that I didn't recognize. I jumped back as I was frightened by the face of the unknown. I looked around and saw no one, so I slowly eased my way to the water and saw the face once again. It was young and colorful as its eyes were blue like a flame, and hair as dark as night. Though I didn't realize that it was my face.

"What the hell?!?"

I touched my face and saw that this face I saw within the water was my own. I shook my head as I knew this couldn't be real. Whoever heard of a blue-eyed person like this?! I was shocked and skeptical about this. I was at a loss for words, but it felt like I knew this face.

"What is going on!?"

(*Ding*)

A jingle appeared with a transparent email appearing. It had text written on it with "Read" marked on it.

"Thank you for accepting, Allen. Welcome to the world of PR-"

"PR?!" I yelled tremendously.

"Please stay calm as I'll explain what you need to know. First, this is the world of PR. It may be different from ten years ago, but it's still the same. Secondly, you probably already noticed that you look different. This is because you are now playing as your avatar from PR-"

"No way!" I said as I tried to look at myself with something.

"And finally, everything in this world is real and much alive. See for yourself, and try not to die as you only have one life this time.

(P.S. Your level has been reset with a few things I left in. Enjoy!)

My words couldn't be spoken. My arms were shaken, but why did I have a smile? Was I happy to be here, or was I just losing it? What's happening?

(*Jingle*)

Another noise appeared as I opened the "Menu" of PR. The Menu is the core of all games. From editing your character to saving the game, it was everything. Sadly this menu didn't have a "Log Out" button, but it did have my level from the last time I played thanks to the "report" system. I was a level 286 from my past playthrough and earned a lot of rewards. Hmph, I surprised myself. But now I'm a level one? Damn this sucks.

Anyway, I'm back at the beginning of the game, but this isn't the beginning as in PR. You normally would be greeted with a guide explaining the small, but pointless, story in the game while entering the town of "Havan". Not exactly the same as I started, but maybe since the update they changed the game. I don't know. It's been too long since I last played.

As I walked through the forest staring into my menu, I discovered a small list that appeared on my menu with "Gift" labeled on it. I sighed as I was about to click it, and then it closed suddenly. I panicked as it closed and started a hand motion going up and down as I once saw from a show that had the story's character that was almost in the same situation as me. But sadly, he wasn't dragged into the game literally like me.

"Nothing works! What am I going to do now?! l I don't know how to open my menu. I'm like one of those so-called noobs now! Maybe I should think of something else. Wait! That's it!"

(*Ding*)

The small chime of the menu appeared with the menu itself. I gave a small smirk as I figured a way to open it. Opening it using my head wasn't a thought until now, how ironic.

>To Jinx,

Enjoy this small gift of mine, because I bet you'll need it soon.

Sincerely, Anonymous<

I looked down and saw the icon "Open" appear after I read the message. I then clicked it and a small sound effect of fireworks appeared with items listed on the screen.

[Gift from >Unknown<]

[5×] Mana Potions

[5×] Health Potions

[1×] First-aid Kit

[1×] Loot crate

"Even the game doesn't have a name for the director. Kinda figured that would happen."

After taking a second to place the items I just got away into my storage, I looked to my bottom right and saw that the map was still there as the game with the status bar displaying my health and mana to the top right. A kinda weird spot to put that status bar at. I need to change its spot later. But ignoring that, the map is still useless like ever since I don't have a clue where we're at. And soon after saying that, six dots of red appeared with their direction heading towards me. Red usually shows that it's an enemy of sorts, but also stands for unknown since well, you don't know them after all. You have to take that into account when you're exploring the unknown, or just walking around.

So I looked around and waited for the dots to approach. The dots grew close in time until they were atop of me, but I didn't see them. I looked around, scanning my vicinity, and I didnt see no one. I thought they might haven't seen me, but I guess I'm wrong.

(*Thunk*)

A throwing knife grazed my cheek and stabbed the tree behind me. I felt the blood dripping down my cheek with every nerve feeling the pain from the graze. I turned my head toward the direction of the blade and slowly stepped aside. As I stepped away, I saw several flashes of light from above. I dashed to the right and dived out the way. Several knives struck the ground from where I stood with more blades coming. I back peddled as they grew closer with only a few scratching and grazing me a couple of times before being stopped by a fallen tree. I backed up close and pressed against the tree when a person leaped from above. I threw myself forward into a roll and luckily dodged their blade. I turned toward the anonymous person in a crouched position that was ready to move in any direction.

"Stay still dammit!"

A person stood in front of me with half their face concealed with a cloak. They held daggers close and then taunted me, but I didn't move. I didn't want to face them in this state of a beginner, especially if I don't have a weapon.

"Come on! I was itching for a good fight, and you seem to be a worthy one," She said.

"Stop! What did I say about working alone!?" A deep voice roared out.

A man appeared from the bushes behind the hooded person in thick and heavy armor that rattled and banged with each step (not your typical idea of an armored warrior). He sat a sword on his shoulder while a shield rested on his left. He was much older than I was, by 10 to 20 years maybe? He stood bold with four others standing behind him, cloaked and hidden.

"Don't go attacking random people. How many times do I have to tell you to make sure you have the right person? Forgive my subordinate here, sir. We are Royal Knights of King Adam, and we happened to be chasing someone suspicious earlier. Have you seen anyone suspicious come by?"

"Royal Knights" of PR were NPCs that were just in the background of important events of the main story, but they never did much. They were just background characters that were useless and pointless regardless of position in the game. You only saw them in action when players begin to fight amongst one another on the street.

"Hello?"

"Sorry. Um... I didn't see anyone when I was here. You six were the only ones that I saw."

"Come again? My team is made of five members including-"

"Watch out!"

I felt the presence of an object coming towards us as we had that short conversation. A little hair on the back of my neck kept sticking out throughout that conversation, but I didn't think it was because I felt something coming close. I reached out and grabbed the object as it nearly struck the person to my right. I turned and grasped the blade tightly as I rebounded its momentum behind me to strike the hidden figure. They dodged the blade from jumping from a tree branch, alerting me of their location.

"There they are!"

I started a sprint as they took off. I followed behind keeping my pace with the help of my map. It kept me going in the right direction until the point that I caught up. I took a detour before leaping out and tackling the person. We tossed and turned in the dirt as we wrestled one another. A quick struggle with me inevitably being thrown to the ground with a knife to the neck.

I felt the knife pressing against my throat with the perpetrator on top of me. Their face was concealed by the afternoon sun. I continued to struggle as the knife scratched my neck. I felt as the blood bled from the cut.

"Who the hell are you and why are you following me?! I have no history or business with you knights so leave me alone!"

We struggled until I started to push the knife away. That was my chance, and I took it. I kicked the person off me and scrambled to my feet. I stood holding my throat and looked up and saw the person was gone. I scanned the area and looked around, but I couldn't see her, nor did my map. It was like a ghost had appeared and then disappeared.

(*Crack*)

"Did you get 'em?" A voice spoke out behind me. I turned and saw the others holding their weapons. I shook my head to their question earlier and they lowered their weapons and tucked them away from view.

"You seem hurt, son," The older man asked.

"I'm good," I said. "They just scratched me, so it's nothing major."

"Here's a cloth to clean it off. And what happened to the person?"

I shrugged my shoulders with a sigh while lying to them. My map pointed out their location as they peaked from the treetop to listen to our conversation. I continued with the act while catching a glance at the person and they soon backed off slightly. Our conversation continued a little longer before the older man ordered everyone to move. They apologized as they walked away.

"Forgive us. There's a city north of here. Tell the guards at the gate that you were sent by Dom."

The man waved as they soon disappeared off my map. I turned around and looked up in the tree to see hair blowing from behind the tree trunk. They jumped down afterward and walked from behind the tree. The face of a girl appeared, catching me off-guard with her appearance. Her hazel brown hair blew in the wind with her light brown eyes glistening in the light. We stood staring at one another before speaking a single word. Our states were enough to speak words.

"Why didn't you tell them where I was?" She asked uneasily.

"There was no need. My instincts tell me you're not what you seem. Accept my action as thanks for not taking my life. I'll see you." I said with my facade of a stern man.

I continued through the dense forest soon after our chat, and soon I discovered a small abandoned shack with greenery eating its way through its rotten wood. I investigated the shack and took note of a pouch sticking out from its cracked and splintered floorboards. I grabbed the pouch and opened it. I poured out several items with a piece of paper inside. I tossed it away soon after while grabbing a scroll. I unwind the paper and tossed it forward as I equipped it.

[Map Added]

"That's more like it. Didn't think a stash was here. Who would've thought that I would be close to a stash? So next I'll head east from here, or north? I don't know. Since Bernie how 'bout there!"

I chose a random direction, and opened my newly equipped map, and scrolled through a gigantic map that had detailed architecture. From the mountains to the towns. Everything had great detailing and actual names thanks to the UI. Thank you developers for such a feature.

"Ha... If you're going to follow me, then I suggest you should show yourself. If not, then leave me. I have other plans."

That girl from before had been following me since I left her. She kept her distance, but my map beforehand still told me she was near. That, plus my "Detection" skill that is given to every player. There was no chance of anyone sneaking up on me anywhere around 50 yards. Little OP(overpowered)? Not really since players could use a beginner-type stealth spell or potion to counter it. A simple counter that many figured out first when experimenting.

"Forgive me, but I never had someone who helped me out in a while. Thank you for helping me. Thank you for what you did for me. I will repay this act one day," she said as she kneeled in front of me.

"There's one thing you shouldn't do and don't," as I tapped her shoulder while walking ahead, "don't lose faith with others or yourself. Trust the worthy, and not the uncertain. Remember this as you continue to live."

"Wait!" She grabbed me.

"What is it?" I asked as I thought what I said was a little out of character. That line I said was stolen from a quote a writer I knew of said once. He spoke this quote when someone asked why he didn't have many friends. That one sentence stuck to me since I started playing PR.

"The next time we meet I wish to talk. I don't want to lose a friend I just made."

"I see." I reached toward her with my hand out. "My name is Allen."

She accepted my handshake.

 "My name is Sabrina. We'll see one another again soon enough." She grinned happily as we shook hands, and then she walked north to the city. I looked away and I didn't see her again on the map.

"She's been through a lot."

I continued my journey east and I started to get closer to a place that was scratched off the map as the trees became less and less dense, and a text box appeared with "Trespassing" flashing constantly in red. I ignored it as I knew more than enough that you won't know until you explore. I'm trespassing onto someone's land but I don't care too much.

[Home Discovered]

"Home? As in temporary, or permanent because I don't remember. Maybe it was someone else's?"

I walked along a brick wall aged by greenery and erosion and stepped in front of a metal-bar gate that was eaten by the elements. The building has a lavish green as the moss and nature chipped away its brick and marbled walls. I stepped through the gate that was conveniently unlocked and saw that the courtyard was well kept as the grass was low with flowers and other plants separated from one another. It looked lovely and had a nice color palette. I continued my walk through the giant courtyard to step in front of a thick wooden door that posed no door handles. I raised my arms and pushed with all my might to open the door but no luck. It was heavy or was just lock, either way, I didn't have the key so that ruined the adventure for now.

(*Click*)

The door shook slightly and then slowly opened to reveal its secrets behind. The inside was bright and glamorous with sparkles of the spotless items that flooded each room. Maintained and taken care of as if someone had been here every day, but why not the outside? No person was seen throughout my initial walkthrough of the interior until I found myself in the kitchen, that was when a noise appeared.

(*Thud*)

I turned to my left and my eyes connected with a woman staring with a startled expression. She slowly stepped back and then took off, leaving the fruits she dropped from her basket. I walked over and picked up the fruits and walked back into the kitchen. I left the basket atop a counter and walked a little further ahead before I was startled by a voice.

"Master?" A voice spoke from afar. "Is that you?"

I turned to the woman from before and she stood with tears in her eyes. She walked toward me and reached toward my chest. She touched my chest and she smiled up at me.

"You returned. I never thought I'll see the day you return to us." She bowed while stepping back. "Forgive me for my actions, sir."

"It's okay, but what's going on here? Who are you?"

"Forgive me, Master, but I'm the head maid, Eleanor," she replied with a graceful bow.

The more I stared at her, the more I felt like I saw her before, especially that name. The years before are a little fuzzy so I can't confirm this right now. And then another name came to mind, Simon. He was... Ugh, my memories are being stupid right now, but if I'm not mistaken then he was my butler, right? I remember him standing behind me just waiting for an order to be given, or so the game made him like. Wonder where he's at?

"How long do you have left, Master?"

"What do you mean?" I replied surprised.

"How long have you been here? In this world, that is?"

"About... Wait. What do you mean by 'world'?" I was confused. What did she mean exactly?

"When you open your menu, what's the time on the top right?"

"My menu? How do you-"

"There's no time! Please answer me, Master." She cut me off in a fury of panic.

"It says 10 seconds left on it."

"We're out of time. I know it was weird of me to ask this of you, but I needed you to know. Ha... I wish I had more time. So before time runs out, know this, everything's going to change soon. Be ready, because we don't know what's coming. All you need to know that everything you know isn't-"

(*Alarm blares*)

The sun shone on my face as I woke slouched over my desk. PR was running on the monitor with the text box of Eleanor opened. I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I skipped through the rest of the conversation. I clicked out of the game and closed it as I scooted out of my chair. I stood up and walked over to the bathroom. I turned the light on and stared at the mirror touching my face to make sure if it was my own. I gave a small chuckle after checking, and then I washed my face.

"I need to stop playing games."

My alarm rang again as I hurried to put my jacket on. I quickly turned the lights off, grabbed my phone, and ran out of the apartment. And as I rushed out, that dream I had was something I haven't had in a long time. A dream in general was pretty rare, but it doesn't kill to have one once in a while. Kinda wished it lasted a little longer.

"Hopefully something like that can happen again. I miss that world."

That's what I said two years before realizing I got the wish I always dreamt about.