章 4: Ocean Race!

1000,000U was the whooping amount Anna saw in her account.

U stands for the Union, it's a worldwide currency and it is more valuable than any Country's currency and it was used mostly for international trade!

Union has no physical representation; it was Virtual. But to withdraw it one has to convert it to local currency.

That amount of money is enough to buy their whole city and still have a spare change to save.

Thanks to the arrival of the Asteroids Online representative, Anna was taken care of in an efficient manner.

"Lady Anna! As you can see Asteroids Online is an International VR Game that can make any person rich overnight."

"We have taken measures to make sure people stay safe. For that, we arranged for a new villa we built for each of our winners…."

The professional agent has been rambling ever since Anna was back to her senses and was able to understand the situation.

But she was still scared of all the development. So all she could do was listen and try to keep up with the chatterbox.

"One last thing that I need to emphasize is" the man becomes serious, "You need to defend your position. The Game is arranged in an uncanny manner that not even old veterans could predict its direction."

"I would like to advise you to treat the Game as a New World. Every decision and anything you might do may have a consequence."

After that, he began to explain the importance of the new VR Cabin he brought to her.

Bronze Rank

"This cabin is a better version than all that is on the market. And its value is so high that it may take months or even a year before it hits the market."

"It has three important aspects. One was you can dive into the Game for more than 24 hours without any side effects."

"Two, you can set up a private chamber in VR Space where you can develop and have deals and businesses. But only with those who have the same Cabin Rank. you also receive emails and messages and many more."

"Thirdly, it's able to keep your body safer and in healthy condition. On its own, it will send any unknown signal regarding your body condition."

Anna only nodded her head.

"If I'm not intruding, can you tell us the value of the Bronze Rank? And when will it be available for the public?" Sam asked.

Aaron, Sam, Anna and Joseph were all around. Then the two agents Raaz and Zealand.

Raaz coughed a bit before he said, "In a conservative estimate, it is worth 23,000,000U. The developers are trying to reduce the co..." he saw the four people gawking at him with shock.

'Yeah, sure! This Champion Candidate has fainted after seeing 1,000,000U. What do I expect?'

Their meeting was not short as they kept bombarding the Agents with questions until he was tired.

But that was only the beginning. Raaz and his partner oversee Anna and her family's move from the Class E neighbourhood to Class C.

Where they were given a Villa that can contain a family of 20 and even have space for more.

The Villa is owned by Anna, but for the security and other services given they had to pay. Thankfully, for the next six months, they will enjoy all the privileges.

What Sam Aaron obtained was Iron Rank Cabin which has everything that Bronze has, except for VR Office.

After the beta testing, they spend a week before the Game will be open again.

The media use that moment to show how people have become rich overnight. Further enticing those that were reluctant to join the Game.

Seth's family has health problems. His parents had many children but they all died. Zach, Elias, Anna and Seth were the only ones that survived.

All of them have the disease except for Anna. but they gradually got better the older they were and were mostly cured by the age of 15.

Seth was 18 but still suffering because his situation was worse than the rest and it was a miracle that he was still alive. The illness causes no pain, no aches, just an unceasing feeling of weakness.

He can't do any tedious activity without fainting due to exhaustion.

***

On the day that Asteroids Online will be launched completely, a handsome man in a black suit with a red face due to frustration and a black circle under his eyes stormed into an office of a 2m tall individual sat with boredom.

"Do you know what they have done?"

The individual didn't even look up.

"Balla Ark, I'm speaking to you!" The new arrival shouted with anger. The other just raised his eyebrows before he resumed his boring attitude.

He was the one that proposed the solution of using human brain activity to siphon the Beta Core Energy!

Seeing that attitude, the angry man slammed a metallic card on his tablet and some numbers and charts appeared

"They are merging Asteroid Online with their Madness!"

Balla Ark jump start and looked at the tablet. But contrary to his opponent's expectation he was smiling.

"So, they did break through my firewalls. Good. This changes everything!" He leaned back, having some thoughts.

"We should stop the Game immediately. Or else we wouldn't predict what will happen!" Bell, the angry guy, said with a shaky voice.

"This is a blessing in disguise. You don't need to be agitated." Balla said.

"What do you mean… they are a Rebel Group. You know they can sabotage us every time we..."

"Calm down. Do you know why more than half the councils spend astronomical amounts to prompt and reward the Champion Candidates?"

"No!"

"To fish them out. Our Game contains only 45% of the original Game. 50% are with rebels and 5% that is the most important piece is with me." Balla clarified.

"The rebels were going to release their 50% as another hyped Game, shortly after us. Making us rival and compete."

"But our stunts, though dry us out, still force them to merge the Game. Because before the hype died down we might get what we all wanted"

Bello just stared at his elder brother. They are very close and work their asses together but he never knows this.

"Why am I in the dark? And what if they did something bad about the progression of the Game?"

"It's a secret. And yes, they will definitely do something. but that was still acceptable. The core of the Game is still with me."

"We will be having gradual updates. The saving grace was that we all have the same goals. Only the means and moral views are different." Balla sighed and closed his eyes.

*****

Seth and many Gamers around the world didn't know that the Game was being changed a little. Not that it matters.

To begin with, the Game is shrouded in mystery and they were asked to explore it themselves. They considered it to be a giant piece of a puzzle they needed to conquer.

And all those with a grievance about the hardships of the Game have dissipated. It was replaced with curiosity and zeal to play more and explore more.

Becoming rich overnight was something that was only heard in myth and the old Earth.

Now that the Social Hierarchy was divided into classes it has become hard to bridge.

But now it will be easier to do so just by playing a Game.

The rich were terrified. What if they were dethroned?

A society that was ruled mostly by money was threatened when the simplest means of achieving that became available to everyone.

Seth, Anna and Sam attended to the Agent as he explained to them how to install a Nutrient Solution.

All those that were on the Ranking List received one or more Nutrients Solutions, depending on their ranking.

The solution will be released in small quantities in the Cabin and will be taken with breathing. No need for injection or manual consumption.

After entering the cabin, Raaz said, "Don't be too serious! Enjoy your time there."

The moment Seth lay down as the door closed he felt his eyelid became heavy before his consciousness drifted away.

***

"You gotta be kidding me. I thought beta officially ended. And we are starting a normal Game!" Seth cursed out loud. He wasn't the only one cursing. Almost everyone that was popping around cursed one way or the other.

But looking around, Seth was a bit comfortable with this starting point. He was lying on his chest while his chin rested on a cushion, on top of a surfing boat in the middle of the ocean.

His hands were grabbing the stirring mechanism that resembles a motorcycle head. With a little nudge, he can make it move forward or turn in any direction.

[Welcome To Asteroids Online Second Trial]

[Quest Generated]

[You have survived until you gazed at the Terror Dragon on the first Trial and attend the tile of ××××××× Champion Candidate]

Brave the Ocean of Blood and retrieve your Customized Hatched Weapon.

[Quest Reward]

~Unlocking the first two Aspects of your weapon.

[Quest Penalty]

~ Losing your weapon

~ Temporary Losing the Title of Champion Candidate

"Fuck you, developers. Is this some kind of a Game for you?!" Someone shouted.

"Yes, it's a Game. Dumb ass!" Another person said.

Everyone was upset including Seth. Without his Staff, he is as good as dead.