Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Into the Horizon
As Emil donned the NexusGear, the world around him faded to black, replaced by a swirling vortex of colors and sounds. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He felt a gentle pressure on his temples and a cool rush of air across his skin. It was as if he were being transported to another dimension. A soft, soothing voice guided him through the initial setup.
"Welcome to *Eternal Horizons*. I am Solis, your AI assistant," the voice said. "Please follow my instructions to create your character."
Emil's vision cleared, and he found himself standing in a serene, white void. Before him floated a holographic interface with countless options for customization. Solis, represented as a glowing orb of light, hovered nearby, ready to assist.
"Let's start with your character's name," Solis suggested.
Emil thought for a moment before typing in: **Shadowblade**.
"Excellent choice," Solis said. "Now, let's proceed to your character's status."
A detailed status screen appeared:
```
Name: Shadowblade
Title: N/A
Level: 1
Experience: 0/100
Health Points: 100
Mana Points: 50
Attack: 10
Magic Attack: 5
Defense: 8
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 6
Endurance: 8
Dexterity: 10
Critical Rate: 5%
```
"Next, we'll select your starting items. As a beginner, you will receive basic gear," Solis explained. The screen updated to show the items Emil would start with:
```
Items Status:
Weapon: Basic Dual Blades (White Rank)
- Attack: 5
- Critical Rate: 2%
Suit: Beginner's Leather Armor (White Rank)
- Defense: 3
- Vitality: +2
Gloves: Basic Leather Gloves (White Rank)
- Attack: 1
- Agility: +1
Boots: Basic Leather Boots (White Rank)
- Defense: 1
- Agility: +2
Headgear: Simple Leather Cap (White Rank)
- Defense: 2
- Vitality: +1
```
"These items will provide you with basic protection and combat capabilities," Solis said. "Now, it's time to choose your class."
A new screen displayed a list of classes, each with a brief description:
1. **Warrior**: Strong melee combatant with high defense.
2. **Mage**: Master of elemental magic with powerful spells.
3. **Rogue**: Stealthy and agile, specializing in critical hits.
4. **Archer**: Expert in long-range attacks with high accuracy.
5. **Priest**: Healer and supporter, essential for group survival.
6. **Paladin**: Combination of melee combat and healing abilities.
7. **Berserker**: High-risk, high-reward melee fighter with powerful attacks.
8. **Necromancer**: Summons and controls undead creatures.
9. **Blader**: Dual-wielding melee fighter with a balance of speed and power.
10. **Monk**: Unarmed combat specialist with high agility and healing capabilities.
Emil's eyes were drawn to the Blader class. The idea of wielding two blades appealed to him, a perfect blend of strength and agility. "I'll choose Blader," he decided.
"An excellent choice," Solis responded. "Now, let's select your race. Each race has unique traits and starting locations."
The screen shifted to show the races available:
1. **Human**: Balanced traits, adaptable to any class.
2. **Elf**: High agility and intelligence, suited for magic and archery.
3. **Dwarf**: High strength and endurance, ideal for warriors and berserkers.
4. **Orc**: High strength and vitality, excels in melee combat.
5. **Halfling**: High dexterity and luck, great for rogues and archers.
6. **Gnome**: High intelligence and dexterity, perfect for mages and engineers.
7. **Dragonkin**: Balanced physical traits with additional elemental resistances.
8. **Dark Elf**: High agility and magic attack, suited for dark magic users.
9. **Lycanthrope**: High agility and strength, excels in melee combat with transformation abilities.
10. **Seraphim**: High intelligence and healing abilities, perfect for priests and paladins.
Emil considered his options carefully. He wanted a race that would complement his Blader class, focusing on strength and agility. The Dragonkin seemed like the ideal choice, offering balanced traits and additional elemental resistances.
"I choose Dragonkin," Emil confirmed.
"Very well," Solis said. "As a Dragonkin Blader, you will begin your journey in the Pelis Desert, a harsh and unforgiving land. Your starting skills are *Double Slash* and *Blade Mastery*."
```
Skills:
Double Slash: Attack a target with two quick strikes (8 MP per use, additional 10% critical chance on second strike)
Blade Mastery: Passive skill that increases damage with dual blades by 10% and enhances agility by 5%
```
With his selections made, Emil was ready. "I'm ready to enter the game," he said.
"Good luck, Shadowblade," Solis said. "May your journey be filled with glory and adventure."
The white void dissolved, and Emil felt a rush of wind as the world of *Eternal Horizons* materialized around him. He stood in the middle of a bustling village built on a disused oil field, surrounded by sand dunes and rugged terrain. The realism of the game was astonishing – the heat of the sun, the texture of the sand under his boots, and the distant cries of strange creatures all combined to create an immersive experience.
Other players were appearing around him, their expressions mirroring his own amazement. Conversations buzzed with excitement as everyone marveled at the game's realism.
"Can you believe this? It feels so real!" one player exclaimed.
"This is going to be incredible," another said, adjusting their gear.
Emil took a deep breath, feeling more alive than he had in years. He checked his status and gear one last time before heading out of the village and into the hunting grounds.
As he ventured into the desert, he kept a watchful eye on his surroundings. The landscape was harsh, with jagged rocks and sparse vegetation. In the distance, he spotted a small creature with large ears and a cautious demeanor. The game's interface identified it as a *Sand Warg*.
**Sand Warg**
```
Health Points: 50
Attack: 8
Defense: 4
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Vitality: 8
Intelligence: 4
Endurance: 6
Dexterity: 8
Critical Rate: 5%
```
Emil approached carefully, noting the creature's alert posture. As he closed the distance, the Sand Warg turned to face him, its ears twitching. He drew his dual blades, ready for his first battle in this new world.
The Sand Warg lunged at him, and Emil sidestepped, slashing at the creature's side. A small health bar appeared above the Warg, indicating the damage dealt.
```
-10 HP
Sand Warg HP: 40/50
```
The Warg retaliated, swiping at Emil with its claws. He felt a sharp pain as the attack connected.
```
-8 HP
Shadowblade HP: 92/100
```
Emil gritted his teeth and activated *Double Slash*, his blades moving in a blur as he struck the Warg twice in quick succession.
```
-12 HP
-15 HP (Critical)
Sand Warg HP: 13/50
```
The Warg staggered but didn't back down, charging at Emil with renewed ferocity. Emil blocked the attack with his blades, feeling the impact reverberate through his arms. He followed up with another series of quick strikes, finally bringing the creature down.
```
-13 HP
Sand Warg HP: 0/50
+10 Experience
```
Panting, Emil stood over the defeated creature, amazed by the intensity and realism of the battle. His heart raced, not from fear, but from exhilaration. This game was unlike anything he had ever experienced.
He took a moment to catch his breath and check his status. The experience points from the battle brought him closer to leveling up, and he felt a sense of accomplishment.
"Maybe this world is just what I needed," he thought, a smile spreading across his face. "A place where I can truly be myself and start anew."
As he ventured deeper into the desert, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, Emil couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something extraordinary.