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73.91% Aeternitatem Genesis / Chapter 32: The Needed Break II

บท 32: The Needed Break II

~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~

~~~(Location: Inn, Geonia, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time: Sunday, April 14th, 9:28 PM PST)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~

It's been a really long day today, and even climbing the stairs to the Inn room I rented makes me glad I'm getting off after three days straight of staying in AG. Logging off is not a complicated process.

In every VRMMORPG, your game character is temporarily transported to a limbo space, stored safely until you return to the game. When you log back in, you're taken to where you logged off.

Typically, people get rooms or have houses in-game to log off safely. There is a simple reason: if you log off in an unprotected area, like outside in the street or outside a dungeon, your game character isn't instantly transported to the limbo space.

Instead, you're left vulnerable to attacks and thefts, hence why everyone tries to get an Inn room or buy a personal piece of property in VRMMORPGs.

I've played VRMMORPGs where there are no protected areas to log off. It was a rough time.

I make it to my Inn room and open the door. Entering and closing the door behind me before making it to the bed. You may think VRMMORPGs would do the log-off process differently, but since the technology is built into the gaming pods instead of the games themselves.

It's universally accepted throughout all VRMMORPGs. After all, you can't get into these virtual worlds without gaming pods.

The only thing VRMMORPGs have in common is this individual function, which is from the third-party technology that is gaming pods.

If you're a gamer, you know all about third-party bullshit. But it's just something you have to deal with. I sit on the bed and lie down, looking up at the ceiling for a few seconds before I pull up my player interface.

Making my way all the way to the log-off button. As I close my eyes, the ticklish feeling enters me, and momentary darkness follows. It's all working as it's supposed to, and the next second, I'm opening my eyes.

The gaming pod opens with a pressurized hiss, and I watch as the IV tubes slink into their special holding areas, disappearing out of view as they do, making the entire inside look like a slanted cushioned chair.

I step out of the gaming pod, and my body is weak and stiff. Before I can say anything or make a stretch, I'm blasted with the need to use the bathroom. As my body adjusts to movement again, I almost run to the bathroom.

Making it easy to get around and less and less stiff. It's about 20 seconds after when I stand over the toilet and release a jet. The sound fills the bathroom, and I tilt my head back as I'm given sweet relief.

"Ahhhh..."

Standing here for a minute and a half is typical for anyone who frequently plays for long periods. My gaming pod has a built-in waste collector if I want to use it, but I don't play games long enough to where I piss and shit in my gaming pod.

I have hygienic standards, and so does the rest of my family. After I'm done, I go to the sink and see I've lost maybe a pound or two. Three days without solid food and only having sustenance from a nutrient bag has its side effects.

"Women love this part..."

The gamer's diet.

That's what women who look to lose weight quickly call it. Guys who work out and bodybuild hate it. I'll need to spend a few hours at my home gym before getting back on AG to work my body out and keep it from atrophying.

You can lose several pounds a week from staying in your gaming pods and living off the nutrient bags, but it's not something I'd recommend.

GRRRRRRRAAAAA....

My hand reaches my stomach as I walk out of the bathroom. I haven't had solid food in three days, so I'm hungry.

"Might as well turn on the TV while I make something."

My kitchen and living room are connected. I live in a large home, and the TV fits the size. I pick up the remote from the couch, go to the kitchen, and turn on the TV. I only have it on one channel: the gaming news network.

Also known as GNN.

Panels of professionals, guild founders and leaders, and other industry members report on and discuss everything gaming in the VRMMORPG world.

Modern gaming is a multi-trillion-dollar business. It's a thriving arm of the world economy. People live healthier and better lives thanks to building clean energy sources and preserving the natural environment.

The world today is healthier than it has been in the last 200 years, and life on our planet is thriving.

"It's been almost 72 hours since the launch of Aeternitatem Genesis, and it's already caused a large shift from other VRMMORPGs. Since launch, many have taken to the forums to talk about the game."

I stand over the oven as I prepare some BBQ chicken strips. I'm in the mood for something high in protein and carrying a bit of spice. It's not something I have all the time, but it's filling as fuck. One of my favorite meals.

My eyes turn to the TV screen and see the screen shift from the man talking to some of the posts being made on the public forums.

"Many players are upset they got bad names after letting the system AI name them for a measly 25% EXP boost. However, it's also sparked a large trolling community. Calling these people who got bad names a litany of insults."

Hey, when you make dumb decisions and announce them to the world, prepare for the roasts to come rolling in. It's part of the modern gaming community. You make some stupid choice and complain about it, and you get reamed.

I was one of the people who allowed the AI to name me during character creation, but I was lucky to get a good name from it.

"Aside from this particular subject regarding AG, its response has been overwhelmingly positive among the player base. Many claim it's a breath of fresh air due to the lack of hand holding and information dumping."

A small chuckle escapes my lips as the reporter's voiceover continues. The comments and forum topics on the screen slowly roll, shouting out gratitude and a new take on the genre as a good thing.

At first, I was on the fence about the whole thing. But now, after playing for three days and getting to be there in AG. It's really a blast to have the lack of information. Having to find things out for yourself adds another layer of fun.

"Many of the elite guilds offer multi-million dollar bounties on information, whether it be about locations, travel routes, items, or specific players. The guilds Heavens Nameless and Sins of Wrath have posted multi-million dollar bounties on certain players."

I sit at one of the chairs on my kitchen's center island. Making sure to keep an eye on the oven timer, and snack on some celery sticks as I watch the TV. It's pretty common that certain top guilds offer bounties to find specific players.

Heavens Nameless and Sins of Wrath are among the top 15 guilds in the world. Having over two million members a piece. Each is a powerhouse in its own right.

"These bounties are searching for the players with Legendary graded classes that stand at 10 million a piece. The single Ancient graded class that was announced is going for 6.5 million for information on this player."

Man, that's a lot of money. Considering I'm the player in possession of the Mythical graded class, it stands to reason the bounty to find information on me must be even higher.

"The player base of AG has found out that the Mythical grade is the highest possible grade for something to be assigned, and there is one player who currently has a class of that level."

In the past, when a particular player popped up in the game of the time, the top guilds would agree on a general bounty and then post specialized bounties on their websites. I wouldn't doubt this is what's happening right now.

"The general bounty posted by the top 20 guilds for the Mythical graded class and the player who wields it agreed on a 65 million dollar bounty. However, the bounties are even higher on the websites of the top 20 guilds."

I've been the recipient of bounties before, but that was for bad behavior and guilds wanting to teach me a lesson. I never got a lesson because I was so good at getting away or hiding. But now I'm being hunted for millions.

I can't say it's something I want to happen, but this is the market and function of the gaming industry—just how it all works.

"There has also been a general bounty posted by the top 20 guilds for information regarding the player who crafted the first Ancient grade weapon. Standing at 8 million dollars."

Whoever said that power doesn't pay was an idiot. But in the end, it depends on the circumstances of that power. So maybe they weren't a complete idiot.

"Along with a general bounty of 1.2 million dollars on information regarding the location or whereabouts of Priestess Daphne Winshearth. Specialized ones have been released on guild websites for these two bounties."

No one is getting the first of these two bounties, considering that person is me. But the second is information about an NPC. That 1,500 Platinum reward in the game dwarfs the real-world value of a 1.2 million general bounty.

No one in their right mind would give up anything worthwhile for that amount of money regarding Priestess Daphne Winshearth.

Man, I can't wait to check the forums and see what's on there.


บท 33: The Needed Break III

~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~

~~~(Location: Apartment, Los Angeles, California)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time: Sunday, April 14th, 9:47 PM PST)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~

The timer on the oven goes off, telling me it's heated up and I can put my food in. My stomach growls as I place the BBQ chicken inside the oven. In about 20 minutes, it'll be done.

Once I close the oven, I start the 20-minute timer on my phone and head over to the living room couch with the TV remote. The GNN is still playing on the TV; the guy is talking about how certain guilds invest a lot of money into AG.

"The top 100 guilds have collectively invested over 500 billion dollars into funding playing AG players. This has caused the exchange between dollars and AG currencies to skyrocket due to the demand."

In layman's terms, one Gold in AG could be worth a couple thousand dollars right now. People exchange real money for virtual money in games, but it's difficult with AG. The player base is broke, and it's a joke to try to convert real money into virtual money.

The price is inflating because no players are willing to sell their current in-game funds. In VRMMORPGs, you can't buy virtual currency with real money; you have to use the in-game economy. Making the desperation for AGs currency real.

"Items of Rare grade are selling close to 200 thousand dollars in value. The trading forums are littered with items going for more money than I make in a year."

The man chuckles a little as the screen shifts to show a scrolling forum screen where items are being sold. It's extremely sketchy trading on the forums and outside the game. The odds of getting scammed are a lot higher.

You can enter an agreement to sell something in the real world on the forums and pay upfront, then go into the game to meet whoever is selling the item to find out you got screwed. I've never been dumb enough to fall for it.

Anyone who fails to realize the odds of being in the same place as the seller deserves to get swindled. The only way I know of at the moment to trade between players is in person or by using the Auction Houses in some way.

"The Trades and Currencies of Games Commission is urging players to hold off on buying and selling on the games forum before a safe way to trade using this method is made for AG. Don't go losing your money, gamers."

He puts it in great context. You don't risk trading on the game's forums until a solution for that specific way is created. If you do, you're asking people to take money from you.

The TCGC will be active for the next couple of months. They'll make announcements and guidelines for public trades on AGs forums. They have no authority or rights to interfere in private trades, but anything traded in the public domain falls under their purview.

"Surprisingly, a Legendary graded shield has been put up for preview in the AG Auction Houses. At noon tomorrow Pacific time, the bidding war will begin for the item. It's the first item of its grade to be placed up for auction since AGs launch."

Wow, a Legendary graded item will be bid on tomorrow in AG. This means not a single player from the player base is getting their hands on it. It's actually an ingenious move, in my opinion. It's the best option if you can't use the shield now or in the foreseeable future.

By selling the Legendary graded item on AGs Auction Houses, where all the players and powerful guilds are broke as shit, you can sell the item to the NPCs of the game. Cutting off potential competition in the future by someone who bought an item you sold.

You're essentially flipping the bird at your fellow players and getting rich as a motherfucker while you do it. The inflation between AGs currencies and dollars in the real world means you'll become one of the wealthiest people in the world overnight.

"There has already been backlash and calls for the player's identity by the top 100 guilds. Saying that selling in the Auction Houses on AG will lock out the player base from participating in the bidding. However, there is no breach of legality with this choice."

Yeah, it's just brilliant. I would've done the same thing if I found a high-grade item that I couldn't use now or in the future by a reasonable margin. Meaning the shield must be unbelievably powerful.

I hope the person who is doing this stays anonymous. While the gaming pods and the VRMMORPGs can't be hacked, that doesn't mean people can't find out who you are in real life. There is a black market for player information.

People are smart. Especially when it comes to a lot of money and power, they can use other methods to discover who you are in the real world.

Since hacking for your personal information is impossible, an entire arm of the black market is based on gathering and selling other players' information they learn in-game.

For example, tactics include talking to them in-game. After gaining their trust, befriending them and asking where they live or who they are. They turn around and sell that on the black market. It's one of the black market's most significant revenue streams.

"The last bit of news before we sign off for tonight's update is a public announcement by the TCGC. They want to warn players that a recent spike in forged items has started appearing in AGs' auction houses."

Ahaha! How about that? The first time I checked out the auction houses, I saw one such forged item. It was something I was planning to check out on my own, but it'll have to wait until I finish everything else I have going on.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. That's the last update from me. GNN will return to air at 4:30 AM Pacific time for overnight updates. I'm Chris Crow, and I'll see you all next time."

The live broadcast ends as the man gives a small salute. GNN is a large company, to say the least. They're constantly updating the news that's happening in VRMMORPGs. Not just AG. I lift the remote and turn off the TV.

A few seconds after I do, the timer on my phone goes off. Telling me my BBQ chicken is done. I don't waste time preparing the food as I pull it out of the oven and set up my kitchen table with my laptop on the other side of my plate.

As my food cools down for about a minute, I first check out AGs player forums. Live conversations are happening about the Legendary grade shield being sold tomorrow and how players are pissed they can't participate.

"You idiots... You can participate; you just need to find an Auction House that's loose with the rules."

I clearly remember the rules for Zindars Auction House in Geonia. There are Auction Houses that allow you to bid with money you don't have. You just can't do that at Zindars in Geonia.

Seeing the outrage from everyone, you likely can't do that in any recognized Kingdom or Empire...

Does that mean there are secret Auction Houses out there or something? God, so much to find out and discover. But hey, I might just be wrong about this little thought.

If players can find an Auction House that allows them to bid with funds they don't have and start a price hike, it'd be easy for players to troll this guy. Make the price so damn high it won't sell to anyone. Good old toxicity.

I can see that happening tomorrow; it just depends on whether players have access to the Auction Houses that allow it. I think people don't have access to an Auction House with loose rules since I see no one talk about a place where they can do it.

It's not coming up anywhere, and I know I'm not the only one who thought this. It's pretty damn interesting, but I won't worry or think about it too much.

Once my food is cooled down, I take my attention from my laptop and start to devour the BBQ chicken with reckless abandon. I'm freaking starving.

BZZZ!

My phone goes off next to the laptop. I almost don't pick it up since I'm having a real moment with my food, but seeing it's pretty late. Someone wouldn't reach out unless it were important. I pick up my phone, and see it's a text from Lil's.

[I know you'll read this at some point when you're taking a break from AG. I want to ask if you know anything about pets. Like hatching them or growing them? I know it's unlikely, but I can't find anything on the forums. Please get back to me when you can. Love ya.]

I read the text thoroughly, and a large smile takes shape. Looks like Lil's has found something pretty special in AG. At least, right now, it is. Sadly, I don't know anything about pets.

But, thanks to her, I know the function exists. Maybe it's exclusive to a class? Or it might be locked behind a specific skill you need to buy or find somewhere.

After all, you need to find inspect-type skills independently. They don't come for free with classes or when you start the game. Whichever way taming or using pets might work in AG, it could be similar to how to find inspect-type skills work.

[If I find out anything, I'll let you know. Now, leave me alone.]

[Love ya, sis.]

I send the texts back and put my phone down, returning to my delicious food. But my mind is occupied. There is so much still to learn.

And I love it.


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