Uncharted Realms Online

Cold sweat runs on my forehead, my spacious room while empty with furnishing now holds a huge device in the middle of it. Something I have worked hard on for years. Hell, I even rented a room on a much more expensive apartment complex, all for security and space. Yet my key to escaping this life of mediocrity and constant financial worry now sits like a coffin inside my room. Even looks like it. Might even be it if this all fails.

You must think I am kind of stupid right? Buying an expensive piece of tech to play games and even think about playing to earn. I could've just applied for a job somewhere out there. But that kind of life is just not for me, I've done it and went three years stable, living in a cramped apartment room that I could even barely use since I get off work early and get home just enough for a good meal and sleep, then repeat.

Listen to me, virtual reality games are just the thing right now. I've played with the small leagues for years, had fun but barely got enough to get something for this coffin-like device. Trust me, it gets better. Ever heard about online transactions? Apparently those in-game items even get sold for real cash, the rarer it is the more value. Why? Well I don't know either, but it's a shortcut to what they want. That's what I am going to get into, that is what Ethan Colt is here for.

I stand here staring at this newly bought apparatus in front of me, talking to myself as if to convince myself I made the right choice. Moments later, I read the receipt placed atop it. It reads "Immersion Dive Gearset", made by Vision, one of the leading brands in virtual reality tech. I can't just go buy cheap sets, I had to make sure I am safe.

Quitted my job just to get here, I might as well make the most of my time right now to recover.

I make my way to the device, I had my doors locked and even the windows closed. The lights are not on, so I suppose it would be dark when I get out. I took off my thick clothes, only leaving my underwear on. The device, even though it has enough space needs to have contact with my skin. I heard it was to monitor our vitals. Others could just wear a suit, but I don't have anything like that so I settled for being almost naked. There should be no issues with it as well.

"New user registered. Ethan Colt. We welcome you to Vision. Please wait while we calibrate the Gearset."

The Gearset lights up upon touching a button. Having registered my fingerprint, it proceeds to work on the system, possibly updating itself. Eventually, after a few seconds the hatch opens up and reveals a comfortable looking space for me to lie on.

"Please enter the Gearset. The process would proceed as soon as we have your confirmation."

The robotic tune announces, and eager to try out the Immersive Dive, I got on the Gearset and responded my confirmation.

"I'm good to go.", I responded after lying inside. Soon, the hatch closes and I can see my vitals on the monitor inside. Not only can I feel it, I can also see how my heartrate increases. Anxiety tugs on my body, yet there is a mix of excitement to try something of my own.

"Please provide the program the user desires to enter. Rest assured that, Vision will provide the safest route and stable connection to the virtual reality."

That must be the command to go to the game.

"Uncharted Realms Online.", I replied back, relaxing my body to enter the game. I see light growing brighter and brighter till I am blinded by it. I can't even feel my body moving either. These slight seconds where I only see the light, whereas I feel blinded by it but unable to feel the strain nor even know if I am blinking is rather a chilling and terrifying feeling.

Do they all feel the same for their first time? I don't think think I will get used to it.

I thought to myself, waiting for the light to fade.

Maybe I am dead?

Except when those thoughts start to linger, the light fades and I found myself in the middle of a forest.

"Unlike any other games, it seems that this one just forces us to keep our appearances here...", I thought to myself as I find my all too familiar hands.

Wait, do I even have clothes on?

I immediately checked out my outfit, thankfully there are clothes sitting quite nicely on my body. Not the ones I own however. Must be default ones. It's simply a shirt and pants to cover my bottoms. Shabby shoes as well, but not that I'd complain.

Suddenly a pop up appears right in front of me, asking me for my name. Contemplating, it takes quite a while for me to search through my vocabulary.

"Weiss...?", I responded. But I can see that the name is already taken as shown by the popup. Thinking through it more, the more my brain gets frustrated. "Dungeon Raider?", and once again someone seems to have gotten the name. At this point I thought I should just add a number and get through with it already, yet I let future endeavors take over me thinking I might seriously be referred to by the name I'll be picking one day.

"Karl Hearth.", the popup confirmed it as usable, then I proceeded to use that name for this game.

Why didn't it even got me started on a town or something? I'm in the middle of nowhere am I?

I looked around and found no trails to follow. Perhaps it may have been too much for me to go here without research. But checking on my interface, I can see my health, mana and the yellow bar I'm assuming must be stamina. There is a menu button near, I'll just tap on it.

The menu opens and there it is, a map and a guide. I could take my time to read the guide, but I feel like it would be too dangerous for that here on a forest. I should get to a town nearby.

Looking into my inventory, it seems that I have a rundown wooden club for a weapon, and a makeshift shield. Equipping it, I now look like a third rate goblin. I like it. I can feel the freshness in this starter setup.

Still, these are quite the unusual sight for a starting area for an MMO. Though these kind of hardcore starting areas are a staple for some single player games ever since one punishingly difficult game made it popular. Is this even hardcore? I don't want to be jumped on suddenly.

My map says that I only need to go straight and I'll get to a town. Pretty straightforward, if this were a console game that would be where I get taught how to move and I assume, is also where I will have my first combat.

Walking around, I finally start to have a moment with the world I am inside of now. The breeze brushes past my skin, cold yet the warmth of the sun that passes through the leaves brings a complex feeling. Hyper reality is what I would put it. Like my senses are better here than it is on real life.

Right now, I admire the beauty of nature, not something I could readily see in abundance. Now if only there weren't such a bunch of trees in my way so I could simply have a nice stroll.

A moment later I finally see an opening through the forest. Something flat, open and bright. That is right, the plains.

There should be a town just around these parts.

I thought to myself after exiting out of the woods. I feel the wind brush past my cheeks, and I hear the sound of grass being whisked by the breeze. The sun, now fully reigning atop of me now feels warmer than it is when I was in the forest. A pleasant weather, and an atmosphere I could never get tired of.

But enough dilly dallying. I need to make the most of my time.

Moving my body, I head my way into the town. I see stone walls from afar, there lies the town I am looking for. Fortunately, now that I am outside the cramp space of a forest, I can now see clearly my destination, and avoid any enemies that I might encounter.

"Halt. I haven't seen your face around here...what business do you have here?", a man donned in a cuirass and leather greaves, armed with an iron spear. He remains composed, but rather relaxed with his spear.

Good, he doesn't see me as a threat. What should I say? Should I say I came from the forest?

"I'm a...", looking on my equipment, I can't really say I'm a traveller. Not even a bag on me. "—fighter. I want to try my luck out here and get stronger."

The guards squints his eyes, eyeing me from head to toe. "Well, you certainly got the build. Not trained for sure, but potential is there. Instead of a fighter, do you want to join the militia?", the guard suggests and as he do a popup appears in front of me. A quest indication.

~~

Quest: Military Enlistment. Join the Holstead Town Militia.

Joining the militia may offer opportunities to strengthen your skills. Fight for your country and you may earn rewards and influence.

Reward: Iron Spear, Militia Uniform

~~

This could certainly get me an equipment early...but I fear I may ruin my plans to even get treasures if I end up staying in just one place.

"Ah...thank you for the offer, but I have something else in mind.", I answered, and the popup greys out with a stamp of declination, before disappearing. So this is how quests work in here, quite straightforward.

"Shame, well if you ever do get famous in the Arena make sure to visit this town plenty!", the guards answers before stepping aside to let me in. As I enter the town, I can hear their small chatter on the gates. They're quite lively.

The walls weren't exactly big, I could argue that the buildings inside are even taller. It has a fantasy medieval style theme in architecture, something you'd usually see in games like these. Quite bright, but there are also some parts of the streets that are dim because of the buildings.

Walking through the streets, I see that the roads are getting busier and busier the closer I get to the center. Various carts being pulled, crates being transported. All sorts of businesses seem to be quite busy around this hour. Speaking of, I should see what time it is now around here.

Opening the menu, I find the time here to be around two o'clock in the afternoon. A busy afternoon, this town must be quite bustling.

Crap, now I don't know what to do next. I need a guide, a tutorial. This is the problem with games that just leaves you out in the wild. I don't have a path to follow. Get a grip Ethan, you're an adult.

"Are you done gawking? Tsk, move aside will you?", I hear a voice behind me. I didn't realize it, a shadow towering my own is there. I turn around to see a large man, arms and chest built like a truck, yet not exactly well defined stomach, rather a huge belly for his build. His face looks intoxicated, with his beard still wet from the beer he's drinking.

I stand aside and let him pass through, yet his wide build needed me to at least take two steps further. It seems that not all people here are pleasant...

Though I certainly am an inconvenience here to be standing around, I better get a look around.

Exploring the town, aside from the usual groceries, I find that they have an Armor smith here, a Weaponsmith, Alchemy shops and a Sorcerer's Emporium. Not that I have any gold to trade with. Even more, a tavern on the side to take meals, inns to stay in, and well an adventurer's guild. In front of me actually.

Opening the door, I entered the structure and I was greeted by a Victorian style interior design, which is rather common for the big structures here in this town. Medieval exterior, yet inside is similar to that of a Victorian Era style. I do like the consistency however that the small structures are medieval style inside and out. What powers these lights?

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild! You must be the new traveller we were hearing about. Would you like to register as an adventurer?", the clerk approaches me as I marvel at the interior of the building. A lot of people seems to be simply hanging out inside, some are having a discussion and others simply waiting.

The clerk leads me to the counter where I am greeted by a receptionist. "Hello! I am Clara, I will be handling your registration. Is there anything you would like to ask about first?"

Hmm...well I guess I do need to know the limits of being an adventurer.

"Oh, hello. I'm Karl Hearth, can I know what things I can do as an adventurer?"

"As an adventurer, you would be allowed to take on requests by the populace. A handyman of sorts. Of course, you could also take requests as well to scout a region. You would be allowed free passage as well on each country's borders. In addition, the Adventurer's Guild is an organization funded by the Alliance to reinforce exploration efforts to uncover the Elysian Continent."

"Thanks to the massive work of the adventurers, the four kingdoms have managed to build their capitals here, but there are still a lot more things we do not know about this continent we are on right now, and each and every bit of information would be helpful." the receptionist added.

All I'm hearing are benefits! A free pass to anywhere, that would save me the hassle for each gates I pass on. Sharp eyes she have to have seen my satisfaction with it as she immediately prepares the necessary papers for my registration. She hands me a document and a quill and ink for signature. Everything seems to be good in the paper as well, nothing that I find to be of displeasure. Though I did find that I would be required to assist with any crisis a town is under in with an Adventurer's Guild is based in.

The receptionist upon receiving it, stamps the document I just signed on and handed out a piece of card to me. As I accept the card, a popup appears.

Congratulations on joining the Adventurer's Guild.

"Welcome to the guild! I hope that we would be much help to your endeavors as you would be for us. If you would like to take on requests now, please head into the bulletin board and hand it over to me to reserve it for you.", she points towards the side. Lots of papers are pinned into the board, perhaps there might be worthwhile requests.

Eager to start my way, I start browsing through the requests, finding something that would suit my level as of now.

I don't have much combat experience, so it would be rather risky to get commissions to kill some creatures. I heard dying here means I won't be able to play the game for a time, talk about hardcore.

I did find some unusual requests however...

"Isn't this more of a recruitment poster?", I handed the paper to the receptionist and upon checking it, nodded.

"Yes, that is right. We simply left it as we found it to be something we recommend for adventurers, new and old to have a visit. After all, having combat training is essential. Please, if you would be interested, have a visit at the southern part of the town and ask for Gregory. The training field should be there and he would be your instructor.", the receptionist waits for my reply as I consider the request.

Right now, I don't know how any of this combat system works, but I can't say I know how to fight either. I mean I can hit them with this stick. Nevertheless, outside knowing how to fight there is something else that piques my attention.

Commission Request: Basic Combat Training

For those interested to know how to handle themselves on a fight, or simply looking for a place to hone their skills. Head to the Training field, south of the town and ask for Instructor Gregory for assistance.

Reward: Based on rating

Though the poster does say that my reward would be a basic weapon of my choice, there seems to be some inconsistency with the system logging it as simply based on rating. Or perhaps there might be some truth to it. In any case, I do need a free upgrade to my equipment.

"I would like to take this commission!"