Dream Fulfilled
"I'm home." Of course, no one answered—just darkness greeting me back. Not that I was expecting much.
I mean, here I am, almost 30, barely scraping by with my paycheck, and let's not even talk about my non-existent love life.
My biggest achievement? Winning a local fishing contest and finally saving up enough to buy this bad boy.
What is it? A visor—fancy tech that lets you dive into the latest gaming trend: virtual reality.
Yeah, the world's gone so high-tech that you can now 'upload' your consciousness straight into a game. They call it full-dive.
Well, technically, that's not how it really works. The visor sends waves to trick your nerves into thinking it's real—at least that's the gist (don't ask me for the science behind it, I barely passed physics).
Anyway, trying out VR gaming has been my dream for years. The gear is stupid expensive, even for the cheapest, crappiest version, so I had to save up for ages.
While waiting, I had to make do with my old console and play MMORPGs like it was 2005. That game was so ancient the servers were probably run by dinosaurs. And whatever I did in it? Yeah, totally pointless.
So when I finally got my hands on this VR setup, I was pumped. Like, really pumped.
I ate, showered, and jumped into bed, ready to dive in. Oh, and I was just wearing my underwear because, hey, who's gonna know, right?
"Alright, here we go. My first dive into the world of virtual reality gaming!" I muttered, adjusting the visor on my head as I laid back on my bed.
The latest VRMMORPG everyone was raving about—Eclipse World—was the talk of the planet. People said it was more than just a game.
It had its own economy, real-world impact, and players were making fortunes by selling rare items. That's what got me hooked. Who wouldn't want to be rich by grinding dungeons?
The screen popped up.
[Welcome to Eclipse World.]
So far, so good. Everything looked sleek, futuristic—like something out of a sci-fi movie. Then came the character creation screen. Simple enough. Choose a race, a class, and set your stats. The basics.
But then I saw it—Charisma.
"What the heck would I need Charisma for in a game where I'm just gonna smash monsters and farm loot?" I scoffed. I mean, this was a game. It wasn't like I was running for office or trying to make friends with the NPCs, right? So, obviously, I dumped it to zero. ZERO.
I dumped everything else into Strength, Agility, and Stamina. Maximum damage output. That's how you win games.
I looked at my character—a buff warrior with a ridiculously oversized sword. Perfect. No finesse, just pure brute force.
And so, I hit Confirm.
When the loading screen finally vanished, I found myself standing in a serene village square.
Other new players were popping in and running around, talking to NPCs, picking up quests, and looking all heroic. I stepped forward confidently, my sword glinting in the sun.
First things first: tutorial. I walked up to the NPC standing by the fountain. He looked like your typical quest-giver—gray beard, humble clothes, a slight twinkle in his eye. He should be the guy to show me the ropes, right?
"Greetings, traveler," he said, his voice carrying a cold edge. "Ah… another one. Let me guess, you think you're destined for greatness too?" He smirked, crossing his arms.
Wait… what?
Everyone else was getting cheerful greetings and easy quests to kill slimes. But me? I was getting roasted by an NPC? I glanced over at the other players; they were already running off toward some peaceful meadow. I sighed and turned back to the old man.
"Uh, yeah… I guess?" I replied, scratching my head.
He snorted. "Well, we can't all have it easy, now can we? No, I've got a special task for you. Something more fitting for your… talents."
Talents? I hadn't even done anything yet.
"Fine. Just give me the quest," I said, figuring it couldn't be that bad.
He smirked again, more sinister this time. "Perfect. Head to the Darkwood Forest and take down a Wolvebeast."
Wait, wait, wait. Hold up.
"A Wolvebeast? That sounds terrifying!" I mean, everyone knows in RPGs you're supposed to start off fighting slimes or something easy, right? "I'm only level one!"
The NPC rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, it's dangerous, but you're up for it. I mean, if you want to waste your time with slimes, be my guest. But surely, someone as powerful as you can handle a little Wolvebeast?"
Was this guy serious? A slime was like hitting a piñata at a kid's birthday party, but a Wolvebeast? That thing could tear me apart like a cheap piñata at a kid's birthday party.
I didn't get it. The other players were already skipping through their tutorials, killing little blobs and collecting XP, and here I was about to get mauled by some overgrown wolf-thing. But, hey, a quest's a quest, right?
With a shrug, I headed off toward the forest, grumbling under my breath.
*#*
About twenty minutes later, I was crouched behind a tree, peeking at the Wolvebeast from a safe (and cowardly) distance.
This thing was HUGE. Like, Why does this thing exist in the tutorial zone huge. It snarled and prowled around, clearly on the lookout for fresh meat.
I drew my sword, mentally preparing myself for what was about to be the dumbest decision of my life. "Alright, big guy," I whispered, gripping my blade. "Let's see if zero Charisma means zero brains."
I charged.
I was dead within seconds.
The respawn screen popped up with a snarky message:
[Welcome back! You should try something easier next time.]
*#*
Respawning back at the village, I let out a long sigh. Great, this was going to be tougher than I expected. I headed back to the NPC, fully prepared to give him a piece of my mind.
At this point, I'd settle for an easier quest—if he even had one. To hell with his stupid insults.
But then, something weird happened. A menu popped up out of nowhere.
[Secret Bonus Unlocked: Wolfbane's Gift.]
"What the…?" I muttered, staring at the screen. Wolfbane's Gift? That sounded suspiciously like a cheat.
[Wolfbane's Gift Package: Congrats! You've earned this exclusive reward for hunting wolf-type monsters. (Warning: Wolvebeasts can track your scent and will hunt you down within a 100 km radius. Don't bother trying to run to another city or reset your character. It won't help.)]
Wait, what?! The person who programmed this has to be messing with me.
[You got Wolf's Endurance from Wolfbane's Gift Package]
[Wolf's Endurance (Passive): Increased stamina and critical hit chance against beasts by 20%]
[You got Power Strike from Wolfbane's Gift Package]
[Power Strike (Active): Deliver a powerful blow, +20% damage]
Huh. Maybe getting bullied by NPCs wasn't so bad after all.
I grinned. Alright, this game had potential.
But first, maybe I should work on that Wolvebeast… again.