"You've got to be kidding ," Zach said to the Orcish NPC, who lifelessly looked back at him and simply repeated the thing he'd said four tis already.
"Please use the tablet to select your answers. When you are finished with the exam, you may turn it in to be scored."
Zach was currently in a classroom—or sothing that looked an awful lot like a classroom, as there was a blackboard, a teacher's desk, and posters on the wall containing information about how a sewage system worked. Each desk had a tablet built into the middle of it, but aside from the Orcish NPC, Zach was alone in here. It was quiet, too; a soft buzz was the only sound to be heard whenever the Orc wasn't speaking.
"I can't take any more of this," he groaned. "It's been two hours!"
Zach hadn't been able to fit in the desk due to his armor, and so he'd had to quickly open his new inventory screen and swipe off the equipnt, which caused each piece to vanish without a trace. Now, he sat in just his underwear, which wasn't quite uncomfortable but nevertheless left him feeling awkward, though at least for the mont, he was glad that this place was completely empty and that NPCs were situationally unaware enough not to realize how one of Zach's worst childhood fears was being played out in front of him.
I'm almost naked, and I'm taking a test in the middle of class.
"Don't be discouraged if you do not succeed on your first attempt, adventurer," the Orc said. "You may retire to a sleeping chamber at any ti at no cost and resu when you are better rested."
He said sothing else, but his voice was drowned out by the woman that occasionally spoke up over the speaker system.
"Attention all Galterran arrivals. The next available screening of the Orientation will begin in two hours and twenty-five minutes. Please ensure you have your ticket ready. The theater can seat 800 at this ti. You will be eligible for a seat in accordance with your ticket."
Zach had missed the last one, and he was beginning to doubt that he'd make this one, either. With another groan, he glanced down at the tablet. Supposedly, according to the Orcish NPC, a dual-tusked man wearing a suit nad "Burk-Orm," the average ti to complete this "pre-orientation education" was two-and-a-half days. For Zach, it'd only been two hours, and he was just about finished with it.
"Let rush through this one as well," he said aloud, utterly miffed that he had to do this.
Question 1: What is a traffic light?
A: A type of illumination device used to lure monsters away from roads and streets.
B: An indicator on electronic devices that helps the user know when food has been prepared.
C: A color-changing light that helps regulate and enforce the laws and flow of vehicular traffic.
D: A type of currency.
Zach, for the third ti, made yet another annoyed groan as he answered this—and another hundred—questions as part of the "final exam" on "cities and electricity." Honestly, he found it deaning. He also found it strange and sowhat incongruous with the adventuring world as he had co to know it.
Up until now, the Great Ones had never seed to concern themselves with whether or not an adventurer was prepared for sothing to co. Hell, it almost seed like they wanted people to die with the way many of the dungeons he'd been in had been laid out, including so with deadly traps. Trials of Nolak, for example, where Mushkie lived—that place was loaded with ways to kill adventurers. If not for Jimmy, Zach doubted any adventurer would've ever been able to successfully make their way through that place without being killed by a magical trap dart or sothing.
And then there was Yorna's, the first dungeon Zach had ever visited. The floor that ran through Earth had a trap in there that caused an uncountable number of "Eeps" to chase after any adventurer or group of adventurers unlucky enough to aggro them. And given the speed at which they flew and the distance they were willing to chase before losing aggro, it seed like the only way to survive was to find and drive a "car"—as they were called—down a roadway. But did the dungeon explain what a "car" was? Would a primitive Galterran even know what to do or how to use one? Of course not.
And yet, now, suddenly, he was being told all about "automobiles" in a way he found confusing and infantilizing. They wanted him to know what they were, how they operated, and a bunch of other things like what a "toaster" was or how to cook raw food in an oven. It just made absolutely no sense. There was no reason at all for this.
Unless…
Zach felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as an idea ca to him: one that he was probably correct about, though he had no real way of knowing. And it was one that really, really rubbed him the wrong way; for this reason, he hoped he was mistaken. But it was the only explanation that actually made any sense—or at least the only one he could think of.
The Great Ones, he thought. They probably believed that soone who made it this far was soone who'd earned a bit more consideration. Soone more deserving of life.
It was the only thing that could possibly explain why the Great Ones had switched so drastically in their creative thods from total, hands-off indifference to this "nursery-like" onboarding process. They probably designed the system to provide more assistance and care to those who rose to the top while filtering out those who were too weak to make it this far. And if so, that was just disgusting and wrong.
The goal of the strong should be to protect the weak, he thought. It was a belief that had beco a fundantal part of him.
Desperately wanting to be done with this, Zach tapped the screen as fast as he could until, at last, he got to question one hundred, which showed him several maps and asked him a question about how to use the "new GPS system" in the "map function" that he'd unlocked on the way over here. And finally, upon answering it, the Orc began clapping.
"Congratulations, student, human, Zachys Calador. You are now clear to proceed to Orientation."
A hatch on the ceiling above him opened, and a bunch of balloons fell down, a few of them bumping off his head and floating slowly off to the side. "Hurray," he said dryly.
A few seconds later, there was a poof sound, and a rectangular keycard popped into the air right above Zach's head, where it continued to float until he reached up and took it. Getting out of his seat, he moved over to the electronically sealed-shut door on the right side of the classroom and waved the keycard in the reader, which turned green, and then there was a "click," which he took to an the door had unlocked. Upon walking through, the keycard vanished right out from between his fingers.
Even as he continued to proceed onwards, he opened his inventory screen and ntally dragged his equipnt back onto his body. One after the next, each piece appeared on him instantaneously. He was starting to really like this new system. So far, the new inventory was his favorite part. In particular, he liked how seamless it all felt. He didn't even feel like he'd trip or lose his balance as his knee-high boots were equipped mid-stride.
I need to start thinking hard about which items to keep in my Quick Inventory and which to keep stowed away in box 1.
His armor clinking, Zach at last exited "Station A" and erged into an oval-shaped, spacious room that, while not exactly "huge," was large enough to feel a bit less claustrophobic than the tightly cramped quarters or the classroom he'd just spent hours working his way through. Here, there were vending machines, benches, tables, chairs, and restrooms located all around. He moved towards a bench tucked against a wall. He felt like he needed a break.
It feels good to be in a place that at least looks civilized after all that ti in the tower.
Zach sat down on the bench that he had chosen at random, but the mont his butt hit the padded seat, he hopped right back up and strolled over to a vending machine that sold candy bars, crackers, and other types of snacks. It was one of many in this lounge-like "rest area."
Make your selection and then confirm. Gold will be deducted from box 1 only. Box 1 must be funded.
Zach assud this was a reference to his new inventory system, in which the thing forrly known as "Bank and Storage," was now an extended inventory space called "Box 1." This was separate from his "quick" inventory, which had 20 slots and didn't go by physical item size.
Buying himself a bag of chips and an orange-flavored cola, he chose to instead sit down at a table, though he had to pull the chair out a bit farther than he normally would because of the physical size of his new armor.
After quickly eating and drinking, he leaned forward and rested his head on the table. As he relaxed, he beca sleepy, and he must have dozed off, because when he again reopened his eyes, the woman's voice ca on once more after a short musical chi and indicated that almost two hours had passed.
"Reminder: orientation begins in 15 minutes. Please make your way to the theater."
Zach sighed. "Not even any ti to rest, huh?"
He thought about just waiting for the next one, but there were signs all over the place that indicated orientations were every four hours, and he didn't know if he wanted to be stuck in this lonely, oversized space station—or whatever this was—for that long. And so, getting up, he headed through this spacious rest area, through a set of double doors, and now, he erged on a one-way path that led him down a corridor lit entirely by fluorescent lights above. This seed to go on for a while, too, because nearly five minutes elapsed before he entered yet another spacious area, this one containing two cute female NPCs that stood in front of a roped-off entryway frad by red curtains that appeared to lead into a much darker and vastly larger section. There were also another two NPCs nearby that were standing behind booths, one opposite the other.
"Welco, adventurer," one of the two behind the booths said. "Please approach and receive your complintary package."
"Free stuff?" Zach said aloud, his mood once again brightening. "Say no more."
The NPC continued to speak. "We'd like to give you three special items. One you may already have seen, one is very valuable, and one is so valuable you may wish to guard it with…your life. You may find it quite difficult and ti-consuming to obtain another!"
"Well, I'm sold."
Zach enthusiastically approached the booth to his left, as he doubted it mattered which one he waltzed up to. The man standing behind it then handed him a dark-blue-colored pouch made of cloth with the top of it tied by a simple piece of string. Intrigued, Zach attempted to open it—and failed.
"What in the…"
The string wasn't coming loose. So he tried to dig his fingernail under it and take it off that way. But that also failed. And so, with a shrug, he chose to just yank it open—but even that failed. Becoming confused, he widened his stance, used both hands, and grunted out with exertion as he pulled the cloth top apart with all his might, but incredibly, it simply would not budge.
"Hey, Teenga, I heard a secret," one of the NPCs standing in front of the roped-off entrance said. Her na was Teega, and she was wearing a blue, button-down shirt with a backwards blue baseball cap. The NPC standing next to her was nad Teenga, and this one wore identical clothing.
"What'd you hear, Teega?" she replied, also whispering. Although, in this case, "whispering" ant that she still sohow spoke so loudly that anyone anywhere inside of this room would've been able to hear her.
"Shh," Teega replied dramatically. "It's a secret."
"Ohh! Tell , tell , tell !"
"Well…" She paused, and her tone beca excited. "I heard that so items in the new Quick Inventory section have a feature called "Use," which enables you to use them right there."
"No, way!" Teenga exclaid, causing Teega to press her finger to her nose and shush her.
Zach rolled his eyes. They were really laying it on thick. He would've figured it out eventually, anyway. And yet, they continued.
"No, I'm serious," Teega said. "Apparently, if you bring up your inventory and select certain items, you'll be able to open those items. If their contents can't fit in your QI, they'll automatically be moved into a box with space. And if you have no space in any of your boxes, their contents will be dropped on the floor. But let's just keep that our little secret."
"Okay, sis."
Zach felt his entire body cringe. But it was a fleeting emotion, as his curiosity got the better of him. Opening his inventory, he ntally moved this satchel into one of the empty squares, which caused it to vanish out of his hand. Then, he selected it, and sure enough, there was an option that popped up: Use.
Zach used the item. Instantly, it vanished, but in its place, three new items appeared, each one occupying a separate box. The first was one he recognized imdiately: a Teleport Stone. He had so damn many of those now, and he still didn't fully understand what they did, or how they differed from the "Teleportation Stone," which he also had plenty of and looked almost identical.
The other two things were new.
One was a cube-shaped box that, based on its picture, looked like so kind of chanism for a machine. Zach brought up its information. Then he smiled as he saw it was sothing with a Legendary rarity.
Na
Expansion Cube
Level
9999
Rarity
Legendary
Description
Use to permanently increase the user's QI—Quick Inventory—capacity by 5. (The QI may expand to up to 500 free slots. Quest Items are placed in bonus slots and are not deducted when such items are obtained.)
Zach grinned. "Aweso!"
Seeing no reason not to use it, he selected the item with his mind, rather than his hand, and chose Use. The item vanished from his QI, and then, suddenly, he heard a noise that seed to co from within his head. It sounded like a shutter being opened or closed. And then a ssage popped up.
QI slots have been increased by 5!
Right before his eyes, he saw five more square-shaped boxes beco appended to his inventory, and now, he realized there was a tiny little seek bar that he could move up and down to see the last two that did not fit on the screen while concealing the first two. Zach also realized he could simply make the screen bigger, but, if anything, he should probably make it smaller, as it obscured way too much of his vision. For now, however, he left it alone and instead turned his attention to the third item he'd received. And this one was, in fact, really, really rare. Based on its icon in the inventory screen, it was a small, pretty little figurine carved out of wood that resembled a beautiful female angel spreading her wings.
And it was incredible.
Na
Resurrection Totem
Level
9999
Rarity
Artifact
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Description
This item is used automatically upon death. However, certain terminal wounds, conditions, statuses, or pain thresholds may offer the user a prompt to die rather than wait.
Resurrection Totem resurrects the user at the nearest pre-determined "safe" location*
For ethical and existential considerations, please search RIS2212 in your glossary.
*(safe in this context does not refer to safety from other adventurers or sentient beings capable of acting of their own will).
This was incredible. Truly, truly incredible. This item basically said that, if he died, he would co back, just like he had when Olivir had saved him. And while he certainly was in no rush to et his end, it definitely gave Zach a trendous feeling of relief as well as so much-needed peace of mind.
I can't believe an item like this actually exists!
With about five minutes to go before the start of the orientation, Zach decided to quickly check his glossary in order to satisfy his curiosity. And as he did so, it confird to him that it really was the sa exact glossary that he'd had access to while using Unleashed Phase. This, he found amazing.
Glossary Entry: Resurrection Implentation System 2.2.1.2
During the creation of the RIS, the Great Ones vigorously debated the nature of existence. Of note—and concern—was the discussion of whether existence is tied rely to the data in one's brain or if the totality of one's person encompasses who they are and were. In RIS 2.2.1.0, we implented a system that would restore the user's body and genetic material with an exact, identical copy following death. This was a seamless copy that would contain all mories of the host up to and including the mont of expiration. But many of the Great Ones were unhappy with this system, as it raised questions of whether or not the resurrected user would truly "be" the sa as the user who had died. Others argued that such a distinction is aningless. Ultimately, it was decided to ease their concerns by ensuring total continuity. Now, with RIS2.2.1.2, the exact sa matter—down to the atom—will be preserved, teleported, and reconstructed, ensuring that such existential questions are no longer a factor.
As Zach read the explanation, he found himself not caring about it all that much. He'd be fine with either. As long as there was only one of him, and everything flowed in a direct, uninterrupted tiline, he didn't care one way or another about the nitty-gritty details of where his atoms ca from or this or that.
I bet a ton of people would totally care, though, he thought, as Rian's sister, Lienne, ca to mind. She would flip out if she died and woke up, then found out her body was cloned. She wouldn't sleep for a year.
He chuckled. Then he turned around as the two NPCs standing in front of the roped-off entrance began to move while a woman's voice spoke over the speaker system.
"The orientation is now set to begin. For all stations A->M, please calmly approach in a neat and orderly fashion. Please rember that fighting is prohibited in this station, and that all unruly, uncivil behavior will result in consequences ranging from fines and imprisonnt to execution."
Doing as instructed, Zach approached the two NPCs. Then he felt a pinch of deep acid in his gut as he realized he no longer had his ticket. "Um, the NPC took my ticket when I—"
"Okay, everyone!" the NPC on the left, Teenga, shouted out. "Please form a line. We know your ticket numbers, so don't worry about it if you forgot to take it back from the NPC near the station gate. One by one, make your way inside the theater."
Zach looked around at the spacious, empty area, and he shouted, "No cutting, assholes! I was here first."
Snickering, he waited for them to unclip and remove the rope, and then he entered. As he did so, the NPC on his right, Teega, said, "Zachys Calador, seat G17, upper balcony."
Making his way through a narrow passage, Zach erged into a large, dimly lit theater about three tis the size of a school auditorium, with three levels of seating at different heights. Each seat was padded, sowhat small, and all were facing a raised platform stage similar to those perforrs used during plays.
All alone in this eight-hundred-capacity theater, Zach decided to walk all the way down the soft, carpeted aisle and make his way to the very front, right near the stage. His boots thudded against the carpet, and his armor clinked, and upon reaching the closest seat right in the middle of the front row, he plopped himself down—only to scream aloud in agony as a searing, burning pain erupted in his ass.
"Oh, fuck, fuck, owe! Owe, what the fuck!" It felt like he'd sat on lava. It even still hurt when he got up, requiring him to hop up and down as though that would hasten the ti it took for the pain to diminish. "What in the na of the Gods just happened?"
Ding, ding, ding, played the musical notes over the speaker.
"All adventurers, please rember to be considerate and to sit in your assigned seats. While we understand so may dislike their seat, we assure you that all seats were chosen for you at random in order to ensure fairness. To prevent bullying and harassnt, we have taken certain asures to circumvent seat-swapping."
"Fucking bitch," Zach growled at her, his ass still aching as though set on fire. "I'm coming back here one day and farming whoever she is. I don't even care if there's no XP or item drops. I'm just going to camp her spawn and kill her over and over all day."
Ding, ding, ding.
"Please proceed to your seats. There will be no talking allowed during the presentation except for monts of applause when appropriate. Please be considerate of your fellow adventurers. Disruptions will be dealt with accordingly, beginning with a warning and escalating to more severe consequences."
Zach was starting to hate this place. Grumbling, he turned around and headed right back the way he had co, but this ti, he grabbed a banister and clinked his way up two flights of soft, carpeted steps until reaching the very top balcony. From there, he moved beyond several rows of seats until arriving at "G," where he then studied the numbers on each seat.
"Okay…14…15…16…there I am, 17."
Zach sat down.
And then he jumped up.
"Oweeeee!" he scread, this ti in a mixture of fury as well as pain. Hopping up and down, he grabbed his plate-covered ass and looked around as though for sothing to kill. "Why this ti? Why this ti?" he scread.
Ding, ding, ding.
"All adventurers, please rember to be considerate and to sit in your assigned seats. While we understand so may dislike their seat, we assure you that all seats were chosen for you at random in order to ensure fairness. To prevent bullying and harassnt, we have taken certain asures to circumvent seat-swapping."
Zach had to exercise all the emotional control Jascaila had once taught him in order to prevent himself from going on a wild rampage and breaking every seat in this fucking place. "What do you an?" he shouted. "This is my Gods-be-damned—"
"Oh."
He stopped speaking as he realized he'd confused his armrest for the adjacent seat's armrest, and so he'd assud that this seat, seat 18, was actually seat 17. Shifting one to the right, he nervously sat down—then relaxed when there was no pain.
And now, he was forced to wait. And wait. And wait.
"Boring," he whispered with a yawn. He closed his eyes and decided to take another brief nap. Thirty minutes later, he opened them as, at last, things were finally beginning.
The lights dimd to the point they beca pitch black, and for a mont, there was nothing but total darkness and the sound of ringing, ambient silence. But then, there was a trumpet, and it played a long, drawn-out note. This was followed by another instrunt, and another after that. Before long, an entire orchestra was playing.
The lights turned on, and now, on the previously empty stage, was an entire symphony orchestra of NPCs playing various instrunts as fire shot out of sprinkler-like devices all over the stage, and a mist settled over the theater. Zach, feeling a bit entertained, watched as a tall human NPC wearing sunglasses strutted out and made his way to the center, where he raised his hands high above his head, and then began making gestures that seed to indicate he believed he was dealing with a packed, cheering crowd, and not just Zach.
He pointed at random empty seats as the orchestra played, nodding his head and smiling.
"Yes, yes, it's really ," the NPC said.
As the lights brightened a little more, Zach realized he'd been mistaken: the NPC was not a human, but an Elf. One with the na "Gloral Veynra" written above his head. "Yes, it is really I, the Great One, Gloral Veynra—or at least, I'm a version of !"
He lifted his hands, palms downward, and began making a waving motion. "Settle down, settle down. I appreciate the applause, I do. But I know many of you are eager to get on with it, and I don't intend to keep you long."
His eyes began scanning the crowd, though they were clearly lifeless and non-sentient. Zach had never heard the na "Gloral Veynra" before, but if that was indeed the na of a forr Great One, then that ant "Gloral Veynra" must've been one of the ones Adamus had killed via trickery and manipulation.
His head rotating, the NPC looked back, forth, up, and down, taking in the crowd. Though his face ford emotion, Zach had discovered a year ago that he had a natural talent for spotting genuine sentient feelings and NPC fakery, and this was clearly the latter.
The NPC seed to draw a deep breath, which he then released. "My dear adventurers," he said as the volu of the music beca lower and lower and then stopped entirely. "Before we begin, just give yourselves one last round of applause. No, go on. You've earned it. You've made it this far. That's an accomplishnt you should be so, so proud of. Yeah, that's right. Let's hear it for you!"
He paused, and then there was nothing but total, complete silence as though he was waiting for 800 rowdy adventurers to quiet down. Since no one was here but Zach, it just ca across as creepy and weird. But thankfully, the NPC continued to speak after another few seconds.
"You're all about to enter a world beyond your wildest imagination. A world that was ticulously crafted with such care and detail that it took over a thousand years to create. And while I would love to take credit for all of it, it would be dishonest of to do so. Hell, it'd be dishonest of even if I shared the credit with the other Great Ones. You see, adventurers, like much of the world you've co to know, everything you've likely ever experienced was actually built by a great number of people: people who, unfortunately, rarely get any credit.
"Because many were servants, slaves, or outcasts. And many existed during far more turbulent tis. In the case of Albion-4, it would not be an exaggeration to say that tens of millions of lives were spent to create the world you're about to step foot in. And most of those people lived and died in a flash. They spent their entire lives contributing to just an aspect of Albion-4, all without ever being able to see its completion or step foot on it."
He paused for a mont and then resud speaking.
"So," he said, taking small steps along the stage, his head moving around as he spoke. "You're here now, in orbit around Albion-4. You've probably worked very hard to get here. And now you've made it. You've actually made it. You might be wondering: what cos next? Well, let's take a step back. You see, I need to be honest with you all about sothing."
He turned around, grabbed a wooden chair on stage, and then flipped it around so that he sat on it in reverse with his elbows resting on the chair's back and his eyes gazing out into the nonexistent crowd.
"Even though you've gone through most of the onboarding process, it actually is possible for you to turn back. And I must be very clear when I tell you: this is your last, final chance to do so." He lifted his chin as if to gesture at sothing, and Zach turned around to look behind him.
"Do you see all those entrances from the various onboarding stations you ca in here from? In exactly two minutes, all of those will shut closed. And once they do, you will no longer have the option of turning back. And I say this because, speaking candidly, Albion-4 is going to be a challenge unlike anything you've faced so far. And it's also one you cannot readily escape. Chances are likely that it's going to be a long, long ti before you are able to return ho to Galterra, should you wish to do so. And in complete honesty, it's very unlikely you will do so in your lifeti. You're probably never going to leave Albion-4, whether you want to or not."
Zach felt the muscles in his shoulder tighten apprehensively. That last part made him a bit uneasy.
"While returning is in fact possible," the NPC continued, "it requires certain conditions I'm not going to disclose to you today: conditions that will require imnse cooperation from your fellow adventurers. It will require you to work together and cooperate—it will require complete and total trust. And even then, it is likely you will only gain the ability to send one, perhaps two adventurers ho. You see, we have deliberately made it so that it is not an easy thing to do. And while we're on that topic, let's talk about where you are right now."
The man got up from the chair and pushed it aside. He extended his arms. "You're on board a massive space station orbiting the planet of Albion-4. But this place has special significance, because if you're here, it ans you are special. It ans you are one of those with the potential to usher all people forward into a better era! For a better future!"
He smiled, and Zach felt a bit nervous as the doors began to shutter closed, his two minutes having co and gone. Not that he'd ever consider turning back in the first place. Still, the fact that he'd said it would be very hard to return simultaneously gave him hope that his friends were alive while also making him worry he might've just trapped himself sowhere for life.
Just how hard is it to leave?
"You are special because, if you weren't, you wouldn't be here. As I'm sure you know, only those with certain 'potential' are given access to Albion-4. But that's not to say it will not open up for any and all. Quite the contrary, it is the ardent wish of all the Great Ones that it will. But you are the ones who control that. And if you're here, listening to , it ans that goal has not yet been t. You see, once Albion-4 is unlocked, this space station will turn into its final dungeon, and sothing special awaits those who complete it. But the process of unlocking Albion-4 for the general public is one that is going to take an effort that will require everything from you: and possibly your children, too, and their children as well. It is quite possible tens or hundreds of generations will go by, to where the existence of Galterra itself becos just a rumor whispered among the believers."
He shrugged. "Or, it's possible you adventurers are so capable that you open it up by next year. Either outco is possible, though the first is far more plausible than the latter. Ultimately, it depends on you."
Zach thought over what the NPC was saying, and it caused him to beco both determined and hesitant all at once.
"But if you take one thing from this orientation, then let it be this," the NPC nad Gloral said. "Know that Albion-4 is going to test you in ways you never imagined. And although there are places of peace and fun and safety—a great many, in fact—there are far more that consist of extre danger of the sort that only cooperation, as opposed to sentient-on-sentient violence, can hope to overco."
Sitting back down in the chair, the NPC paused for a few seconds and then continued. "First off, let's talk survival. You see, there are no biological, wild animals on Albion-4. There are only so, very rare crops for you to forage. There may be rivers or other waters from which you can drink, but they are seldom found. Yet, food and drink are in fact plentiful, but costly. On Albion-4, most food and drink, outside of loot drops, must be purchased.
"And the gold you are bringing with you from Galterra will only get you so far, as its value on Albion-4 is but a fraction of what you've co to believe it's worth. On Albion-4, there are many, many different currencies and many, many different forms of paynt, but they're all earned through effort and through quests. If you want to eat—if you want to sleep! If you want to be safe at night, you must earn. Survival does not co easy on Albion-4. But riches and luxury await those who persevere!"
Earlier, Zach had co to believe that all this "orientation" bullshit was part of so elitist ploy to ensure the survival of the "strong" over the "weak." But now, he realized he had actually been wrong, as the Elvish Great One's NPC lookalike made clear.
"The reason we have gone through such lengths to provide you with this onboarding and orientation is so that you will have the best chance of survival in an unfair world. It may have seed odd given what your likely experiences have been until now. Yet, it is a matter of fairness that you co to this world inford. But do rest assured: what I have told you is a drop of water in a bucket the size of a planet. The knowledge you have gained today will aid you only slightly."
The NPC's expression turned serious. "All of you have been provided a Resurrection Totem. They are extrely rare and difficult to co by, and yet, in addition to searching out LATs—Latent Ability Terminals—I suggest making finding more of them a top priority. Because, on Albion-4, sotis, you will die. Sotis, progressing through certain points requires death. Other tis, it is simply a natural consequence of trying."
Ah, sheesh, Zach thought to himself. That's not what I wanted to hear.
"One of the issues we've seen with Galterra," the NPC continued, "was a sense of stagnation due to the fear of death. It prevented many adventurers from being willing to try the unknown or the new. To combat this, we have created these totems, which will allow its holders to be incentivized to try things that are inherently dangerous. Although, I should warn you—there are perils beyond re death."
Zach shivered at the way he said that. He was becoming both excited as well as nervous.
The NPC's tone reverted back towards sothing a bit more optimistic as he resud his speech. "Having said all that, let tell you a little bit about what Albion-4 actually is, and what cos next for you all." He stepped to the side, and now, a gigantic, stage-spanning, globe-shaped plastic model descended from the ceiling. All the lights again dimd except for this globe, which began to light up, particularly on those "bumps" that Zach saw from the window-like port when he'd first co here. And athough Zach could no longer see him, he could still hear the NPC's voice.
"Albion-4 is, at its core, a desert planet. This is sothing you will realize quite quickly—but it is also sothing that, should you survive, you will forget just as quickly. Because approximately half the planet is one big city. It is a city so large that your minds will struggle to comprehend it, and you may just take years to truly appreciate the sheer magnitude and size of it. Despite this, no two places in the city are the sa. No two stores are the sa. No two eateries are the sa. It is, without question the greatest invention in the entire history of sentience. However, getting there is itself a challenge."
The bumps went dark, and now, the surrounding land lit up.
"Montarily, you will depart from this station, and you will be allowed to choose a drop-site. It makes no difference which you choose. All are equidistant from the city. Before you depart, I strongly—let repeat, strongly!—recomnd you stop at the water fountain and drink to the point you feel nauseous. Drink so much that your stomach aches. As you will be dropped in a desert with limited opportunities to quench your thirst. So, if not many, of you may die. However, with mutual cooperation, it is possible for all of you to survive. But if you do die, and you have your Resurrection Totem, you will respawn hydrated. If not, then that is where your life—and story—end."
The lights returned, and the large, stage-spanning model of the planet lifted back up and out of sight.
"Let make this clear: you are free to do as you please. But I suggest you make your very first order of business getting to the city. I will tell you all right now: there are no secret LATs to be found in the desert. This is rarely the kind of information a Great One would share, but for the sake of fairness, and to prevent needless death, I am personally swearing in my na that we have hidden nothing of greatness or value in the desert. The mobs and bosses to be found there drop no loot, offer no coin, and though their XP may seem great, it pales in comparison to what you will find in the city, and thus there is little reason to linger in the desert and farm.
"You should make for the city as quickly and as urgently as you are able. Once there, I recomnd you begin your search for LATs, as your search for LATs will naturally put you in contact with much, but not all of what the city has to offer."
There was another pause as the NPC stepped down from the stage and stood directly in front of it. "The city is incomprehensibly huge. As I said before, tens of millions of people lived and died building it, spending their entire lives on its construction. As Great Ones, we contributed ten suns' worth of power to ensure it can function for a million years. With that said, I will tell you a few last pieces of vital information. There is so much more that I wish I could share, but am forbidden from doing so."
By Adamus, Zach thought. It was what the NPC likely wanted to say, but couldn't.
"Fear the night," he said, his tone once again becoming ominous. "Albion-4 operates on a familiar 24-hour day-night cycle. But unlike on Galterra, this does not change throughout the year. There are no months on Albion-4. There are no seasons. Sunrise is always at 6 AM, and sunset is always at 9 PM. Between the hours of 9 and 6, the city is filled with monstrous, demonic entities that are likely too powerful even for the most successful of raiding parties. Whether or not these deadly foes can be slain remains to be seen. But for now, know that your best path to survival, at least to begin with, is to find an inn and spend the night, and never be out after dark. Of course, it's worth ntioning that nearly all stores and other locations automatically eject patrons after 8:30. You will need to find an inn, and you will need to be able to pay for it. If you are broke and caught out after dark, you will die."
Zach again shivered. This was sounding a bit more daunting than he'd imagined. And here he thought they were pampering him and treating him like a baby. Sothing told him he was going to dearly miss the Orcish school teacher and the stupid tests about lightbulbs. The Gods curse him for actually being naive enough to think that the Great Ones might let up for a change.
"I wish all of you luck. There are those of us who, were it in our power to do so, would prevent your deaths entirely—find so other form of consequence. But this is the world as it is, and now you will go forth into it. But heed my words: find the city, and fear the night. Go now, adventurers. Proceed towards one of the exits behind , and be ready for your orbital jump. You will all be teleported to a much smaller station, but one that is much closer to the planet and in the uppermost layer of its atmosphere. From there, you will be jumping from space. I wish all of you good luck. And the speed of the Gods!"
Zach gasped, and although it was just in his imagination, he could almost distinctly hear the gasp that Donovan and the others must've heard when the NPC had said that. "Jumping from space?" he asked aloud, his voice the only in the "crowd."
But there was no one left to respond to him, including even the NPCs, as they all de-spawned right before his eyes: the Great One, the orchestra, and all of their musical instrunts. They vanished into individual puffs of smoke, and then they were gone. At the sa ti, a number of doors across from the stage swung open.
"What did I get myself into?"
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