The screen in front of me flickers like a dying firefly on its last breath. Sparks of blue light sputter across the surface, glitching in and out like it can’t decide whether to exist or nope out of reality completely.
The silence is worse. Thick and suffocating. It wraps around me like static in a horror movie, right before something lunges from the shadows.
My shoulders tense. Every breath feels too loud.
Above, the light’s blinding. Pure, sterile, way too intense. But honestly, that’s nothing compared to the thunderstorm going off inside my chest. My heart’s slamming against my ribs so hard, I’m pretty sure it’s trying to bust out of there.
Maybe it knows something I don’t.
Then the System cuts in, slicing through the stillness.
“For Health Points and Mana Points,” it starts, way too calm for the mini existential meltdown I’m currently having, “all players will start with the same default stats. However, these will increase based on the subclass you selected before the Tutorial, and by further enhancing them through the free stat points you acquire during gameplay.”
The screen shifts again, throwing up a cascade of info and symbols. Icons are dancing in circles. Text blocks scroll like some fever dream version of patch notes.
My brain’s doing its best not to crash and burn. It’s a miracle I haven’t blue-screened yet.
“Allocating points to Strength (STR) and Dexterity (DEX) will increase your HP,” the System continues, as if it’s reading from a game manual nobody asked for. “Intelligence (INT) will boost your MP. Plus, rare, epic, legendary, and mythic gear you grab from drops or buying stuff can bump your stats too.”
I nod to myself. STR and DEX for more hit points, INT for more mana. Seems simple enough. But knowing this game, it probably isn’t.
I rub my chin, eyes locked on the sea of data. My finger taps against my cheek while I try to mentally math out the consequences of whatever decisions are coming next.
There are six main stats on the board, and none of them looks like something I can ignore.
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MAIN STATS:
STRENGTH (STR)
The embodiment of physical power and muscle. High STR allows players to wield heavier weapons. Each swing comes with the potential to deal devastating damage in melee combat. It promises the ability to perform tasks that require brute force. The two elements, Power and Vitality, offer the allure of becoming a stalwart protector, capable of absorbing blows while standing tall.
DEXTERITY (DEX)
A dance of agility, reflexes, and coordination. Dexterity offers a different kind of prowess. Characters blessed with high DEX are nimble and quick, their movements fluid as they dart through the battlefield. They excel in ranged combat, raining down projectiles upon their enemies from afar. DEX contains two elements—Agility and Speed—promising the thrill of outmaneuvering foes, evading attacks, and striking with pinpoint accuracy.
INTELLIGENCE (INT)
The realm of the mind, Intelligence, beckons with its aptitude for mental acuity, reasoning, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Characters with high INT become adept in the arcane arts, their spells capable of bending reality itself. They excel at solving puzzles and deciphering ancient texts, their minds sharp and ready for challenges. With three elements—Magic Affinity, Problem-solving Proficiency, and Craftsmanship—INT offers a path of wisdom and creativity, a chance to manipulate the world through intellect and understanding.
WISDOM (WIS)
Intuition, perception, and common sense flow through the veins of those who wield wisdom. High WIS characters possess keen senses, allowing them to see beyond the surface and granting insight into human nature and the motivations of others. They are resilient against mental manipulation, their minds fortified against deception. With elements like Perception and Foresight, WIS offers a path of clarity, enabling players to navigate the complexities of the world with understanding and insight.
CHARISMA (CHA)
The essence of charm, persuasiveness, and leadership encapsulates charisma. Characters endowed with high CHA are natural leaders, skilled negotiators capable of influencing others with a mere word or gesture. They inspire loyalty and rally allies to their cause, their presence magnetic. With Leadership and Influence as its two elements, CHA presents the opportunity to sway the course of events, forging bonds and creating alliances in a world where trust is a valuable commodity.
LUCK (LCK)
The force of fortune, fate, and random chance. LCK influences favorable outcomes in uncertain situations, tipping the scales in moments of dire need. With its elements—Serendipity and Providence—Luck offers a tempting gamble, where fortune favors the bold and unexpected opportunities.
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I straighten up like I’m about to give a talk on questionable life choices.
This is it. The turning point.
My “choose your fighter” moment. One tap on this screen, and my entire destiny’s locked in. No do-overs. No take-backsies.
Each stat line feels like it’s got its own agenda, whispering promises of glory or disaster right into my soul.
Strength flexes like it wants to punch a dragon in the face. Intelligence smirks like it has cheat codes. Charisma practically winks. And Luck? Luck’s just sitting in the corner, flipping a coin, probably laughing.
I can feel the pressure stacking up on my shoulders like an invisible dumbbell set labeled “Your Whole Future.”
Then boom—here comes the lineup.
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1) BLADEMASTER
2) MAGE
3) MARKSMAN
4) TANKER
5) SUPPORT
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Not going to lie. All of them sound pretty awesome in their own way.
Tanker means walking into a battlefield like a literal wall. Mage means bending reality with sparkly explosions. Blademaster? Total anime protagonist vibes. Support? I’d be the MVP no one sees coming.
But it’s that third option that pulls at me.
Something about Marksman just hits differently. Precise. Cool. Mysterious. Like I’m about to become that one character who never says much but always shows up at the last second to save the day.
The quiet legend. The background badass. The guy with one eye half-covered by hair and a tragic backstory.
So yeah. I click it.
The screen flickers again, and a new list pops up, bathing my face in soft neon blue. My eyes dart across the screen.
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MARKSMAN SUBCLASSES:
- SNIPER:
Elite marksmen who excel at taking out targets from extreme distances.
- GUNNER:
Masters of firearms who wield guns with deadly accuracy, raining down destruction upon their foes from afar.
- HAWKEYE:
Legends of archery whose shots never miss their mark.
- DEADEYE:
Merciless assassins who pick off their targets with cold efficiency.
- TRICKSHOT:
Experts in unconventional marksmanship, using trick arrows, throwing knives, or unique weapons to confound and defeat enemies.
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Jackpot!
The GUNNER subclass lights up like I’ve just punched a cheat code straight into the universe. All those hours spent at the arcade, blasting pixelated baddies in Time Crisis II, are finally about to pay off.
I can already picture it.
Me, sliding across rooftops in slow motion, twin handguns blazing. Enemies exploding in cinematic blast waves of oops. Pure action movie magic.
“Please select your subclass, Player Akira,” the System prompts, sounding way too calm for how big this moment feels.
“Hold up a second, System,” I say, eyes locked on the glowing PLAYER STATUS window. “I’ve got a few questions first.”
“Please, go right ahead,” it replies like a digital butler who’s clearly running out of patience.
“What’s this ‘Title’ thing?”
“The ‘Title’ refers to an honorary designation granted to the player within the game. It’s calculated based on the activities you engaged in during your past life and your proficiencies in this world. Your title will evolve as the game progresses.”
“Cool,” I nod. “So basically, the more badass I act, the fancier my title gets. Got it.”
The System doesn’t respond. Rude.
“Alright, then what’s ‘Prestige’? That sounds… plot-important.”
“Prestige drives the overarching plot of the game. Characters strive to reach a specific level of prestige to fulfill their goals or overcome obstacles. This could involve earning the respect of allies, rallying support against adversaries, or proving oneself in critical situations. Players may embark on quests aimed at increasing prestige, which include dangerous challenges, artifact retrieval, or fulfilling requests from influential figures. Aoi Players who eliminate other Aoi or Midori (NPCs) will see their prestige drop.”
I rub the back of my neck. So basically, I can’t go full murder-hobo. Got it.
“And I can’t switch my class after the Tutorial, right?”
“That is correct. This is a one-time selection.”
“No pressure,” I mutter. “Okay, what about loot? How do I rack up rewards and shiny things?”
“By eliminating monsters, completing quests or scenarios, or purchasing them in the online store using gold earned.”
“Speaking of gold… how do I earn that?” I press further.
“By eradicating monsters or fulfilling quests.”
I lean in closer. “Is there a limit on how much I can hoard?”
There’s a pause. An actual, awkward pause.
Then…
“COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! Due to your persistent questioning, I have spat out some blood.”
I blink. “Did you just—?”
“So shut your trap and select your class!” the System snaps, sounding like an overworked side character five seconds from a full breakdown.
I clench my fists, imagining the snarky voice had a face I could slap.
Just once. Not too hard. Just enough to make a point.
“Ahem,” it adds quickly, voice flipping back to Customer Service Mode. “Please select your class now, Player Akira.”
Still pouting, I jab my finger at the glowing MARKSMAN class, locking in GUNNER like I’m pulling the trigger.
“You have selected your class and subclass and cannot revert,” the System confirms, like a wedding vow I can’t annul. “The game will calculate your default points based on your innate talent and the class you have chosen. Your Status Window will be updated after you are teleported to the Tutorial phase area.”
It pauses again, like it’s waiting for me to tear up or second-guess my life choices.
“Good luck, Player Akira, with your tutorial.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, if you really wanted to wish me luck, you’d max out my luck stat, you passive-aggressive toaster.”
“Please speak louder, Player Akira. I couldn’t hear your request.”
“Oh! It’s nothing, really!” I say, voice jumping an octave as I fake-laugh like a guy totally not begging for freebies.
“Understood,” it replies, and I swear I hear it mentally side-eyeing me. “Prepare for teleportation to the Tutorial phase zone.”
The world lurches.
It’s not like falling or flying.
More like my atoms get scooped into a blender and reassembled by a drunk barista with something to prove.
Then—boom.
Sunlight spills through the trees, scattering across the forest floor in gold-tinted patches. The air hits my face with that crisp, morning-after-a-rain kind of vibe. Birds chirp somewhere overhead, and the leaves rustle like they’re whispering secrets I haven’t been invited to hear.
I take a long breath, letting the cool air sweep through my chest. The place is… kind of peaceful, actually. Like nature had pressed pause on chaos for once.
“Welcome to the Tutorial phase, Player Akira,” the System’s voice echoes around the clearing while I stand there for a moment, trying to make sense of the strange situation unfolding before me.