As I assigned each of them their respective roles as class NPCs, a transformation came over them. The taller skeleton donned a suit of heavy armor, complete with chainmail and plate, and sturdy leather pants to match. Two others were cloaked in flowing robes, the fabric shimmering with intricate patterns that spoke of magic and mysticism. And the last one appeared as a stealthy assassin or ninja, clad in black from head to toe and carrying an assortment of hidden blades. It was a sight to behold, but it was merely for show; these outfits held no special powers, only serving as a means of self-defense against potential attacks from users.
With a flick of my wrist, I summoned the remaining skeletons to stand in a precise line, their bones clacking together in a macabre symphony. As the sun beat down on the snow-covered landscape, one of the npc skeletons obediently fetched a simple wooden chair from the nearby hut. I took a seat and gazed out at the empty expanse before me, knowing that soon it would be filled with players, each one unaware that this virtual game had become my new reality. A cold breeze rustled through the area, carrying with it a sense of foreboding and excitement for what was to come. My heart raced as I waited eagerly for the game to begin.
Somewhere in an alternate reality
Sitting at my desk, I ran a hand through my short hair and let out a heavy sigh. My username, TrueStrike, was plastered across the various gaming sites and streaming platforms I used to make a living. But lately, it felt like I was just going through the motions. The virtual reality games that used to excite me now felt repetitive and uninteresting. As I scrolled through different websites, my eyes glazed over with boredom. It seemed like everything that could be done in VR had already been done. I closed my laptop and turned to my gaming setup - three monitors, a gaming chair, and an array of controllers and headsets - all collecting dust. Maybe it was time for a change..
My heart raced as I delved into the depths of the online game market, determined to find a new obsession. And that's when I saw it: a striking advertisement for a game called Endless Waves. It promised endless adventure and fierce battles within its Alpha testing phase.
But it was the trailer that truly captivated me, and simultaneously made me wary. A party of skilled skeletons adorned in powerful gear, a mage, warrior, rogue, and mysterious healer, stood steadfast against a ferocious wyvern. My eyes widened as the scene shifted to reveal multiple battles happening simultaneously across the expansive territory, all under the watchful eye of Rain - the owner and creator of the skeletons.
Yet, what sent chills down my spine was the small text in the corner declaring 'actual gameplay footage'. If this was real, if this was truly the game they were offering, it would undoubtedly be the greatest game of all time. With trembling fingers, I quickly messaged my friends on mistcord, eager to share my discovery and join forces in conquering this unknown world.
"Hey guys, have you checked out the trailer for that new vr game 'Link to Endless Waves'?"
"I watched it and I'm definitely interested in signing up."
"We should probably do it soon though, I heard they only release a limited amount of spots for the Alpha version each day."
"Oh shoot, I already signed up."
"Me too!"
"You had me at the trailer"."
"I never signed up for an alpha faster than I have just now."
"Looks like we're all on board then. I'll go ahead and sign up as well." My smile widened as I could feel the excitement radiating from everyone. We were all craving something fresh and groundbreaking, and this game could be just that.
Back to Rain
After finally finding a moment to relax, I was grateful that I had eaten before being transported. The thought of being stranded in this unknown place with nothing to eat was enough to make my stomach growl. Glancing over the regional chat, I couldn't help but notice the desperate pleas for help and the insane theories about this whole situation being a government conspiracy. However, I refused to entertain those thoughts. Survival is key, and I needed to prepare as much as possible. Some were attempting to gather others and form groups, but the fear of what lay beyond our protected area hindered any real progress.
As time passed, the once lifeless skeletons began to radiate a faint glow, their bony forms shifting and contorting. Some grew taller, others wider, as if they were trying on new bodies. A few even took on more defined masculine or feminine features, while some remained genderless. And as if by magic, each skeleton was adorned with a simple set of clothes - a tattered cloth shirt and pants. The monochromatic white hues of their bones transformed into a vibrant array of colors - crimson red, royal purple, electric blue, shimmering gold, and more. But despite the physical changes, these creatures were still merely level 1, and the alterations were purely superficial for now.
Eventually the light dimmed, and they each gained blue flames for eyes, before looking over to me.
"Welcome to the world Manteria my undead brethren. Here is a place where we all must struggle to survive and build up the territory in order to defend ourselves. My name is Rain, the owner of this territory. Each of you are the first to join here to defend this place. Thank you for joining, and I wish you the best of luck. To my left are those that can assist you with choosing your main combat path. Feel free to explore the territory itself, but for now, we need to gather resources.
For now, we must focus on gathering resources and fortifying our defenses. Do not be fooled by your undead nature. While you may be undead, that doesn't mean you don't need to eat. Due to the special capabilities that you have, you no longer have the normal weaknesses that an undead would. However, that also means you no longer have some of the benefits as well. While you do still have endless physical stamina, you would need to rest your mind if you over exert it. You also need to eat food and drink, although the amount is lessened quite a bit."
3rd Person
[Quests have been issued]
[Quest 1, Obtain a class: Choose a class that fits you. Remember that you cannot change your initial class once chosen, so choose wisely.]
[Quest 2, Gather resources: Gather some wood with the surrounding trees, obtain some herbs from the surrounding forest, and find food.]
[Quest 3, Build a home: Rain is currently living in a dilapidated hut, gather enough resources and build him a new and more comfortable home.]
"Alright, now that you have your objectives in mind, seek me out when you have gathered the necessary resources. You can find me in the small hut over there." Rain gestured towards the ramshackle structure with a tilt of his head. With deft movements, he picked up the wooden chair he had been sitting on and carried it into the dilapidated hut, disappearing inside its weathered walls. The worn planks creaked under his weight as he disappeared from sight, leaving behind a trail of dust and the lingering scent of wood smoke.
"Is anyone else able to feel their surroundings, or is it all just a dream?" A skeletal figure, skin the color of the deepest ocean and adorned with the name TrueStrike floating above in glowing white letters, addressed the remaining 15 skeleton players. Each one shifted their bony frame, testing its movement and capabilities. The air was thick with a cold, but not uncomfortable air that brisked across their skin.
"You aren't dreaming, I feel the same way. I never thought that technology would reach this point where it could replicate the five senses." A red skeleton that looked more feminine with the name Rose responded to TrueStrike's inquiry.
"This game is going to be big. Probably bigger than any game before it. If even half of what I saw in that trailer is possible, and I'm starting to believe it might be, we need to get ahead as much as possible before anyone else." A skeleton that was actually still pale white spoke up. Their name showing above their head was FrozenAsh.
"I say we join up and work together in groups. There are 16 of us, that means we can form up to four even parties. Or we could mix things up. It really depends on what we end up with after everyone chooses their classes." A skeleton named ForbiddenLife that was green in color spoke, and that spurred everyone of them into motion. The group of players went towards the class npcs that were on the other side of the graveyard. Most went towards warrior or mage, with only three choosing healer, and three choosing to be a rogue.