Synchronisation Test 1
"Woh," Dan muttered, "That's a lot of information to take in all at once, but I can remember it unusually clearly!"
"Yeah, I'm surprised that I could remember that much as well, I wonder why?" Shaun replied as well, definitely surprised.
"Anyway, on another note lets go to the Era headquarters. We need a lot of time to find that pod," Dan said seriously.
"Yes, you speak the truth," Shaun said, trying to match the tone of seriousness.
Though it was nearly 1 AM both of them were in tip top shape and able to run a few kilometers.
Era's Headquarters were open 24 hours a day so they could go now to find the pod.
The reason why it is open 24 hours a day is because they had to cater to a lot of people from different time zones.
Robots fluent in all languages would guide them to a jet lag removing chamber to remove the jet lag and let them be on their way.
Whether that meant going home to sleep or exploring the headquarters, it was up to them.
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01:17, Era Headquarters, New York.
Shaun and Dan stood in awe in front of the monumental structure that is the Era Headquarters.
People call it Heavens Tower because it reaches to the sky and it is filled with heaven sent genius'.
Though this was not the first time they had seen it they would never get sick of the view in front of them now.
They building was made in the shape of a cylinder, a cream coloured brick covering most of the building but intricate patterns made of black glass was spread throughout the building with silver highlights complementing them very nicely.
Shaun and Dan walked through the double doors to get into the building and discovered something even more amazing.
Everything inside were different shades of blue.
From the cadet blue hologram screen advertising Era's many products to the navy blue circles that acted like elevators to go to the upper floors.
The blue's were all in the right places pleasing to the eye.
Shaun and Dan walked in ready to explore but a few seconds into their 'exploration' they found something out of place.
If you weren't actively looking for anything you would've missed it completely.
There was a red dotted line that lead into a wall on the utmost right side of the building.
"Shaun,"
"Dan,"
They were both thinking the same thing.
"Let's go," Dan stated with authority.
They acted like any other tourist but were actually slowly moving their way to the utmost right wall.
From there they followed the ever flickering red line to a deserted corner.
Wait.
Corner.
Weren't they in a cylinder.
They must of went underground?
They were very suspicious about this but continued.
They scooped around every part of this deserted area but found absolutely nothing.
"Dan, I think we were lead on a wild goose chase," Shaun said, obviously sad.
"Don't worry dude, there's got to be something..." Dan said. He continued to feel the wall while persuading his friend to come and help. Eventually Shaun came to help.
Shaun was bored so he tried doing some exercise.
He first did 10 push ups, after would he did 10 jumping jacks. Whilst he was doing jumping jacks he noticed a faint indent the corner where they entered the room.
He stopped exercising and decided to push it.
Shaun didn't know but the in the headquarters, the way to enter the hidden beta was ten times harder than in the branches around the world.
The reason why was that because this is where it all started they wanted to make the easter egg much, much harder. But with effort comes rewards.
Era would give the an extra lucky wheel one rank below the their given one if they get the chance.
The indent that he saw could not be seen at all with the human eye and any others who have pressed it, it would be accidental.
Never was there a situation where someone could see the indent and specifically press it...
As soon as he pressed it the sound of gears turning filled their ears.
The room started compacting, pushing Shaun and the bewildered Dan into a 2×2 meter box.
The room that they were in started sinking.
Glass panes replaced the grey dusty walls.
through the glass panes was dirt.
It was probably an elevator
They were probably underground.
Every second they would speed up and up until the point were they were floating.
Instead of slowly stopping to a holt the elevator abruptly stopped, sending the two floating friends falling at breakneck speed to the floor.
Both of them closed their eyes, bracing for impact...but it didn't come.
They opened their eyes to find themselves being propelled up 2 meters by a massive ancient fan.
They describe it as ancient as they are living in an advanced technological society so anything not high tech is ancient.
Both of them thought that the ancient fan would break if they linger around any longer.
They positioned themselves so that they could cushion the fall by landing on their feet.
Just as they finished doing that the fan creaked to a halt and they got on the ground.
Now with the chance to look at their surrounding, Dan and Shaun looked at were they were.
They were in a dull grey lobby room with no furniture. There was a wall of glass and a wooden door on their right.
Though the glass you could see thousands of pods being prepared by robotic arms and robots, no human workers in sight.
Shaun and Dan were shocked and had no words that they could speak to each other at the moment.
"Woh." Dan summed up their thoughts into one word.
"Welcome to our pod manufacturing plant Shaun and Dan. Before you ask why I know your names it is because I got some irrelevant information from your touchless'.
I am Cloud. A quantum computer, Era's main computer." A charming boy's voice seeped into the room informing Dan and Shaun of there whereabouts.
"Woh." This time Dan summed it up with one word once again.
"It's actually this amazing!" Shaun muttered absentmindedly.
"Yeah," Dan still hadn't recovered from that introduction Cloud gave them.
"Now, let's not delay. I am about to give you a chance to do something amazing but this is very sensitive information this needs a non-disclosure agreement. A contract has appeared on your Touchless.
A short and violent contract appeared before Dan and Shaun's eyes through the Touchless.
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The one that signs this contract agrees that they will not leak any information about what they have heard or seen after this point.
If you disobey this simple point, the police WILL track you down, take ALL the money you own and arrest you for LIFE in solitude PRISON. Your family will have to pay Era half of their fortune so think carefully before thinking about deciding to break the contract.
Signed
Era
=====
After they read it and inwardly thought how brutal it was they signed it with signature, finger print scan and an iris scan.
"Okay, let me tell you something now. Ever since the founding of our company we haven't released a single Virtual game. This is because we wanted to create a masterpiece for the world, where this virtual reality could be like a second world to humanity.
We have finally achieved our dream and it needs a bit of testing so we set up an Easter egg in all of our branches to give members of the public a chance to participate in the selection of testers to change their life. We have partnered up with the worlds most prominent banks so that we have a currency exchange system in the game. Selling in game currency for real money, not the other way around. This insures fairness in the game.
This hidden testing gives you the chance to get ahead of the player base and make a name for yourself but you have to have the qualification.
Here we will test your synchronization rate.
Synchronisation rate , measures your mental capacity, how much pressure we can put on your mind without it being stressed. This number will be with you for life unless it reduces with old age as bodily functions stop working at old age, including your mind.
With a good synchronization rate you would be able to do myriads of things such as mastering high level magic quickly, levelling up skills quickly and having reaction very quick reaction times in the game.
Once we get your synchronisation rate, if it is up to standard you will get a ranking. Once the selection process is finished across the world depending on your ranking you will be given a ranked lucky wheel. Each wheel will give you good to amazing rewards.
The higher the rarity lucky wheel, the better rewards are on it.
Now that the introduction is done follow the robot helper that is currently coming through the door. Any questions?"
"None." Dan replied courteously.
"Nope." Shaun replied in a lax tone.
"Ok, au revoir."
And with that the room went silent. Soon enough the robot came through the door, gesturing for them to go through the door with him.
They followed the robot, admiring the automated construction process of the VR pods.
Soon they came to a black door with a key pad to its right.
the robots hand moved faster the human eye could see but Dan and Shaun could see it in slow motion. They did not find anything wrong though, thinking that he robot was moving slowly on purpose.
Once the robot robot keyed in the code the door slid open introducing a small dark room lit by 4 lamps that shone with a blue light.
In the middle of the room was 5 VR pods. They were 3/4 of a meter tall and a dull grey in colour and all of them had various widths for people with different sizes. There were placed in the sizes smallest to biggest/tallest.
The robot guided them on how to get in the pod and left the room. Shaun obviously new how to get in but he feigned ignorance as to not arise suspicion regarding him time traveling
As Dan was 1/2 an inch shorter than Shaun he went in the average height pod. Shaun went in the taller than average pod. he had an inch of legroom and headroom but it was fine for the moment. When he gets his pod for the hidden beta it would use his recorded height to make it perfect for his height.
The inside of the pod was a comfy white foam and once you got in the foam would let you sink in and it would mold your body features in itself and harden to retain them. If you lose weight or something there is a redo button as well.
The pod has a compartment to put Concentrated Nutrient fluid in. These are drinks that people that work out use to replenish energy but as VR works up a lot of mental fatigue it is used to replenish energy.
You can stay in the pod for a maximum of 24 hours, as the pod can replace sleep.
You can play a full 24 hours with the fluid before you have to get real food in your system. Unless you are in special circumstances you will be given a 60 second warning before being forced out.
If you don't have it you can play a maximum of 12 hours before having to eat food.
Dan and Shaun decided that it was time to start testing and stop wasting time
"Good luck bro," Dan hurriedly said.
"You too," Shaun replied
The pod hatch's closed and they were plunged into darkness.
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Shaun couldn't see anything even though he had his eyes open. He floated for 10 minutes, suddenly a burst of light devoured the darkness and temporarily blinded him. He hurriedly closed his eyes. Once he thought that it was safe he opened his eyes.
He was in a vast hall that seemed to be the abode of the gods. The hall had high ceilings and everything was massive
Marble walls and jade pillars were the main theme of the room, sculptures of hero's were the decorations.
He was not the only one in the room. 9 other people were in the room with him but he could not see Dan. These people had their faces blurred to ensure privacy. Shaun was sure that even if Dans face was blurred he would notice him as everything about him is average.
'We must have been sent to different test sites, dang."
There were different sites to be tested at like you could be tested in a wasteland or underwater. He and Dan were separated so he couldn't guide him but Dan was clever and he trusted him to do well but he couldn't help but worry.
[ Welcome lucky participants to the testing of who is qualified to play in the hidden beta of...
LIMITLESS! ]
At the front of the hall was this announcement plastered on a blue semi-transparent holographic screen that was equally as large as the room.
[ Limitless is a second world. You can start anew, be a princess, an evil villain or just a humble farmer that can destroy worlds. You can be all that but you just need to have the capability to be what you want as nothing comes for free. ]
The first half of the announcement was sweet to the ears of the contestants but the last part through a bucket of cold water on their heads.
[ This test shows how your talent for the game. This talent will determine how bright your future will be. When you decide to stop you will never be able to go any further even if you retake the test when the official game comes out the world. Remember, make sure you have the capability! ]
After that announcement was read by everyone all the announcements dispersed into fog like it was all a mirage.
A Celestial staircase ornate with otherworldly jewels and paints giving of their own special lustre appeared. It was the only thing human sized in the hall, but that didn't make it less magnificent with white stairs made of limestone and gold rails. The wide staircase the covered almost half if the hall stood proudly with an air of arrogance.
It was screaming, You can't climb me.
But that arrogance wasn't unfounded. The ceiling of the hall had disappeared replaced with golden clouds. the staircase looked like it continued above the clouds
Who knew how far up it went?
[ Walk up the Staircase of Attainment to determine your place in the world.... ]
The last announcement was on a gold holographic screen, after it was read it dispersed into gold dust which showered down towards the staircase.
The gold dust which all of them thought was going to disperse started to form the number 10
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10
9
8
7
6
5
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The numbers were counting down...
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4
3
2
1
0
CLIMB
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And with that everyone started running to the staircase, which the only thing there size, as if by instinct.
When everyone's stepped onto the first flawless stair they didn't feel the pressure they were expecting.
Shaun new that they were very naïve about how hard it would be to climb the rest of the staircase, if they could.
He continued to climb the staircase leisurely as he knew it would be a while before he actually needed to try.
Meanwhile...
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On a Staircase of Attainment made of lava and rock...
"Aaaaaaaaaah," a motivated war cry could be heard in the other 9 contestants ears before an average sized figure dashed past them.
This figure was Dan.
He was so motivated by the announcements, he decided to give it his absolute best. He started sprinting up the staircase two stairs at a time shocking others in his group.
10 steps
30
59
70
100
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453
507
584
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765
789
799
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If Dan were to look down right now the other people would only be specks of dirt in his eyes due to his current height, then again, are any of the contestants still there.
Once you can't move anymore you will get your current stair number as a badge and get put into a spectator room to watch others as you wait for them to finish their test
Stair 800 and Dan started feel pressure equated to a feather pushing down on him..,
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Currently Shaun was on step 799 and he felt pressure equalled to a feather as well.
Shaun was surprised it took this long as in his last lifetime it was on step 596 on which he felt pressure.
He didn't think much about it though. Now he needed to be serious. In his past life, people dedicated into finding out how to improve your possible synchronization rate discovered a trick for people who hadn't tested theirs's.
As soon as you start to feel pressure speed up abruptly and keep that pace, it would be easy as you don't feel fatigue when your testing synchronization rate. Apparently it improves your future score by around 10 steps. The reason to why hasn't been found out.
He pushed his body to its limit, his muscles expanded to double the size of a body builders but then contracted to the size of someone who exercises a few times a week.
Shaun didn't notice but what he did notice was an explosive increase in power, causing him to jump 10 steps at once.
Shaun was intoxicated by the increase in power and enjoyed the feeling by continuing to push himself. His steps went from 10 at a time to 30.
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800
810
823
836
850
875
905
935
960
990
999
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By now the pressure was like carrying 500 kilograms on his back which was why he slowed down near the end.
He now came back to his senses but dared not to stop as if he did he would be eliminated.
His head was currently above the clouds and he saw an even more majestic staircase that had no end.
He stepped on the first step above the clouds and it felt as if a mountain was being thrown on his body he slowed down from his fast pace instantly and he became pale.
Unexpectedly he felt something deep inside of him click and he gained his strength back and more.
He powered through the mountainous pressure like it was just breath tickling his neck...
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Dan went through the same process of muscle enlargement and intoxication that Shaun went through. He stuck his head above the the lava that was hung above his head since the very beginning.
He soon hit the 1000 step mark when he was standing on the first step above the lava when he felt a mountainous pressure on his body, his face lost all colour and he slowed down very quickly.
Just when he was about to quit strength spread through every orifice of his body and he soon gained his motivation to continue.
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Little did both of them know that the pitch black eggs that are in them had started cracking...
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