บท 2: A Name, Starting Place, and Intrigue
Following the launching screen, Kieran opened his eyes within a white, digitized space with several azure gridlines creating an odd scenery.
A few seconds after he arrived, a fairy creature stepped out of a forming portal. The fairy possessed a petite frame no taller than 30 centimeters.
After appearing, the fairy revolved around Kieran with a curious gaze.
Kieran didn't flinch or react whatsoever because he knew this was part of the process.
Each player's journey began with a simple character configuration process before they could truly connect to the world of Zenith Online. After all, the makers couldn't just send them inside without basic knowledge regarding their upcoming experiences inside Zenith Online.
Finally, after staring at Kieran with her large mystical eyes, the fairy spoke while moving her hand in a rectangular shape.
"Young adventurer, please tell me your name. You're free to choose a name if such a player doesn't exist. This decision is irreversible, so choose wisely. The name will follow you everywhere you leave a legacy."
The fairy's actions suddenly changed as a mystical light illuminated her finger. The floating rectangular structure resonated with her finger, and she began her process.
Kieran ignored her actions and thought about her question instead. 'Perhaps a symbolic name is more important than I regarded it to be in the past. I didn't consider this thought in the past as I lacked any initial grand aspirations. But it's different this time around... When my name resounds, the power behind my identity shall create tidal waves of dread.'
Eventually, Kieran decided upon a name that felt befitting to his grand plan.
Kieran didn't just receive a second chance to become great; he gained a second chance to triumph and strike with a vengeance! A chance to smite those involved in his fatal betrayal!
Therefore, Kieran glanced up, looked at the circle composed of some Grand Spirit Magic, and answered. "Aatrox."
Loosely translated, this name meant the one deemed savage, terrible, cruel, or even merciless. Based on the emotions buried inside Kieran, why he chose a name like this was understandable. However, determining how exactly he would conduct himself or enact his acts of vengeance was something for him to decide alone.
After choosing his name, a ring of mystical energy bathed him in an otherworldly light for a few seconds. Upon completion, the ring dissipated.
But, the results astonished the fairy.
'That's odd… his soul is incredibly crude and unrefined... but it's powerful? How can that be? A human with a soul this powerful rivals the etchings of the Numinous Atavistic Tome. Could he be one of those humans of fable?'
The fairy's shock deepened once she perused Kieran's analysis further.
'This is impossible! It has to be the case. This human boy's soul isn't just strong, but so is his Mind's Eye. Intense perceptivity more than three times the average human? Amazing. However, it's a shame some kind of limitation has been imposed on him. It's also a shame he's a mere human. But that issue is outside of my hands.'
Although the fairy tried to tell herself otherwise, she couldn't help sighing disappointedly. It was rare for a human to rival a fairy without having their soul strengthened externally.
Nevertheless, she still imparted the information to Kieran, giving him a general idea of why the fairy was so shocked.
Once he saw his stats, Kieran understood why the fairy displayed such a drastic change of expression.
┌───────────────────
Name: Aatrox
Lv.1 (Experience: 0/100)
Class: None
Title(s): None
----------------------------
[«Stats»]-
Health: 140/140 (0.2 HP regen/sec)
Mana: 75/75 (0.08 MP regen/sec)
Stamina: 102 (0.1 Stamina regen/sec)
Attack Power: 22
Defense: 13
-----------------------------
[«Attributes»]-
»Strength: 10 (10 + 0 + 0)
»Intelligence: 9 (9 + 0 + 0)
»Agility: 10 (10 + 0 + 0)
»Endurance: 8 (8 + 0 + 0)
»Control: 25 (25 + 0 + 0)
»Vitality: 8 (8 + 0 + 0)
»Perception: 30 (30 + 0 + 0)
[Unassigned Stat Point: 4]
[Skill Points: 2]
└───────────────────
25 Control! 30 Perception!
Kieran began to wonder if these parameters were correct.
From what he understood, a player's attributes should be capped at 10 without leveling up and even that was somewhat difficult. Of course, there were some cases of players starting with inflated stats, but that was limited to the attribute reaching 15 at most.
Anything beyond this was unprecedented as the calculation of points involved the strength of the player's mind.
The mightier one's mind, the better one could control their character. After all, all that linked the player to this game was an inferior VR device—the VR Helmet. As a full dive VR, the mind was an integral part of the experience.
Nevertheless, Kieran remained baffled simply because of his knowledge of this game.
'Zenith Online begins in an incomplete state, purposely inhibiting the sensory emulation. Compared to Earth, it's at 90%. It should quite literally be impossible to have Control and Perception this high.'
The 10% difference might seem small compared to how much information a human's senses absorbed, but it meant life or death on a battlefield.
Losing 10% of the information processed could be potentially fatal in a dire situation, like a war.
Although Kieran possessed many questions, who could supply the answer? Stats were a matter of personal evaluation.
"It's a shame that you're only a human with such an exuberant spirit. Perhaps, you'll prevail if you take a special path, for example, a Spirit Conjurer. If not that, you could always seek counsel with those Blessed by Mana in the future," the fairy commented.
But Kieran's expression remained unchanged as he looked at the fairy. 'Those Blessed by Mana? In other words, Dragons? I'm not that delusional. No, ma'am.'
Eventually, Kieran shook his head. "I appreciate the suggestion, but I'll have to decline. Ultimately, it's best to choose what our heart desires because all paths converge at the crossroads of magic."
The fairy nodded faintly. "You're not wrong. As the building block of life, Mana powers all. Still, don't completely overlook or disregard my suggestion. Your potential is too valuable to squander."
Kieran didn't doubt the fairy's words, but he had already decided on his path forward. Whether it was becoming a Spirit Conjurer or meeting with the Dragons, neither of these options was readily obtainable.
"I won't, perhaps it'll pose some use in the future. For now, it doesn't," Kieran remarked.
"Ah. ...Typical of a human. Never one to listen to a suggestion," the fairy said before waving her hand.
The mystical energy embedded within the spirit ring expanded and deconstructed, soon becoming a Zone Map that revealed the many Beginner Zones scattered throughout the world.
"After I brief you on some vital information, you'll be free to choose the location of your choice," the fairy said.
However, Kieran suddenly lifted his finger and pointed to a specific location on the map. "Transport me here, the Starter Village of Gena."
The fairy blinked speechlessly, "I haven't imparted the information yet. It'd be foolish to delve directly into the world without knowing what you'll experience. I think you should reconsider."
Despite the suggestion, Kieran's expression remained confident and unperturbed as he shook his head. "It's fine. The Zone Map has given me enough information. My decision stands. I'd like to be transported to the outskirts of the Aeredale Kingdom within the Xesian Empire."
"Very well," the fairy obliged. "I only hope that you don't come to regret your decision."
A moment later, a circle appeared beneath Kieran's feet, matching the one that scanned him earlier. However, before he was teleported away, Kieran spoke. "I already have many regrets, but this decision now is not of them."
As Kieran vanished, the fairy was left at a loss.
"That human was odd, alarmingly so. I know I judged his perceptivity and the depth of his spirit, but that barely encompassed it all... it was merely what I could fathom. I should inform the Queen Mother about this experience if she isn't aware."
Suddenly, an array of mystical ripples surfaced around the fairy, followed by her blinking away.
…
Kieran appeared within the world of Zenith Online with a flash of blinding blue light alongside several identical phenomena.
These flashes were naturally other players spawning into the Beginner Village.
Although Zenith Online's world was massive, players would be killed if they entered the towns or cities.
Thus, their activity was confined to Beginner Villages, which was cordoned off from Zenith Online's patrons.
Gena Village wasn't the best Beginner Village to start in due to its somewhat lacking opportunities compared to others, but it was the one Kieran was most familiar with.
Although Kieran was relatively calm, he spawned into a disturbance.
Furthermore, it was a player-created one.
"What the hell? Why wasn't I given a class? This crap says I am a basic human! I don't even have any skills! What am I supposed to do? Bite monsters?"
"Goddammit! You're right! Where are our skills and classes? How is this a VRMMORPG? It's basic knowledge that we should be given a basic class upon character creation! Jesus, this game is already DOGSHIT! Shit devs!"
"Oi, you guys yell too much. Use your brain and scope out the place. It can't be hard to find if it isn't provided initially."
Meanwhile, Kieran scoffed.
'You should have waited a few more minutes and listened to the guide's explanations. All of this would have been revealed. This game seeks hyper-reality; why would it be brainlessly easy? That defeats the purpose of seeking stimulation. They're probably the type to skip any dialogue or lore in the past.'
Despite his small mental comment, Kieran ignored his surroundings for the most partner, choosing a location near his next destination. Afterward, he took some time to acclimate to his given body, testing the sharpness of his movement.
'They're somewhat rigid at the moment, which is understandable given how long I've been out of combat. Still... having a superior starting point already exceeds my expectations,' Kieran thought.
Starting stats were significant to beginning players.
The higher the initial value, the greater its overall effect on the player because it determined how small or large the effect of a single UAP could become.
It was similar to people attending the gym.
Someone with prior fitness experience would have an easier time getting back into shape than a completely unfit person would.
By the time Kieran finished evaluating his body, those who completed the essential guide had started appearing within Gena Village and inside the game world in general.
Like in the past, many players who started the game were excited to begin leveling. Some even thought about rushing off to the leveling fields before even receiving a class to increase their leveling efficiency.
However, those who were intelligent and familiar with the route of MMORPGs decided to receive a class. Unfortunately, obtaining a class wasn't as simple as requesting one from a mentor.
First, your attitude in their presence played a notable role in the chance of receiving the desired class. A mentor's approval was pivotal in this process.
Secondly, one's attributes summed together became the measurement for class aptitude.
The four Unassigned Attribute Points given upon creation weren't just for show, nor were they for thoughtless use. It was best to save them until the primary attribute each mentor sought was revealed.
Of course, if players were familiar with Zenith Online's precedents, they'd understand how to build a near-optimal starter build. Zenith Online didn't differ greatly from earlier VRMMORPG titles when it came to a class's main-stat focus.
That said, Kieran turned towards the village center, specifically a building within a large rectangular prism shape.
Because of his impressive stats, Kieran was confident that he'd receive the starting class of choice. Thus, while commotion filled the town, Kieran and a few other discreet individuals ventured toward a collection of buildings at the end of a paved walkway.
Most of the buildings were identical except for the unique insignia draped on a large banner atop their entrances and the impressive images embedded on stone walkways leading inside the large halls.
A feeling of slight nostalgia washed over Kieran while standing before the hemisphere-aligned identical buildings, each one appearing like a medium-sized temple or cathedral.
The nostalgia soon subsided, and Kieran walked towards the buildings aptly named the Class Halls.
According to Kieran's knowledge, they symbolized the starting classes―Warrior, Fighter, Mage, Knight, Thief, Hunter, and Priest.
In a sense, every soul within Zenith Online originated from one of these seven base classes, even if they stumbled upon gems like hidden classes of varying grades.
The moment Kieran walked inside a spacious room, a burst of wild air appeared but quickly subsided as an individual opened their eyes faintly before closing them again with an oblivious attitude.
"I'm here to acquire a class-..."
"Go away."
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ApexPen
ApexPen Giving this story Power Stones will increase the chances of getting a good ranking in the WPC, which will, in turn, set the foundation for this book to do well.
I'll continue to talk amongst you all to establish some kind of relationship between us.
Again, I appreciate you reading this novel, no matter how infantile it may be.
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