by Cosimo Yap
“The student dormitories are in the directory, check in with them. They have open spaces for all Academy students. Where have you been sleeping up until now?” Celeste asked.
“Capsules, mostly. In my Home,” Alan said, trying to recall where exactly he had been sleeping. Mostly in Cerberus’s Revenant capsule.
Celeste put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her. “How do you feel right now, Alan?” Celeste asked.
“Maybe a little tired,” Alan said, puzzled.
“All right, well if you ever need someone to talk to, feel free to find me. I know that Cerberus is likely not the most talkative of mentors, given his predicament, and you need to talk to more people besides your AI.”
“What, you think I’m not getting enough human contact? I think there was some miscommunication here, because I’m fine. Great. I’m playing a freaking virtual reality game so far advanced I can’t even begin to fathom how it works,” Alan said.
“Okay. Just remember if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. It’s rarely mentioned, but the main source of death, real death, is suicide, so if you ever feel depressed—”
“I’m fine,” Alan said. “I just had a frustrating day and need to figure out what I’m doing next. Goodbye.” He turned around and left the simulation room. A message appeared:
Managing to defeat 100 consecutive enemies with amazing control, Knife Mastery (Basic) has been upgraded to Knife Mastery (Intermediate)!
+15 Agility +10 Strength +10 Endurance
Alan found his way to the student dormitories in the Institute, and was able to find a single, empty room. He took a shower, found some food, then lay awake on top of his bed, staring at all his stats:
Status Window
Name:
Alan
Alignment:
Neutral
Level:
508
Class:
Rogue Machine Lord
Species:
Human (Earth)
Gender:
Male
Titles
Black Rose Recruit, Revenant Initiate (Hidden)
Renown:
Rank G (50*)
Notoriety:
Unranked (15*)
-
Health:
545 / 560
Health Regen:
0.06 / Sec
Computational Energy:
254/ 500
Regen:
0.06 / Sec
Shield Energy:
2000 / 2000
Shield Regen:
2.71 / Min
Stamina:
340 / 340
Stamina Regen:
1.25 / Sec
-
Strength:
69 + 20
Agility:
179 + 20
Intelligence:
117 + 20
Willpower:
54 + 20
Charisma:
1 + 20
Perception:
191 + 20
Endurance:
68 + 20
Luck:
42 + 20
-
Resistances
Physical:
23.6%
Mental:
87.1%
Psionic:
5.2%
-
Faction Standings
United World Government:
Neutral*
Predecessors:
Neutral*
Legion of Man:
Neutral*
Lords of Life:
Neutral
Haxlards:
Neutral
Administrators:
Friendly*
Revenants:
Friendly
Black Rose Guild:
Friendly
Ability Points:
387
Current Quest:
Justice is Served
General Ability Window
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Acrobatics (Basic)
F*
???
G
The ability to perform miraculous feats of agility and balance.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Detect Presence
B*
???
B
The ability to detect the presence of others.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Gifted
N/A
N/A
F
Grants an additional ability point every five levels to spend on attributes.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Skilled
N/A
N/A
F
Grants an additional ability point every five levels to spend on abilities.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Talented (Undeveloped)
???
???
D
Enhances your talent in various areas.
Combat Ability Window
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Energy Efficiency(Basic)
E
???
D
The ability to use technology more efficiently, wasting less energy on extraneous actions.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Energy Melee Weapons (Basic)
D
???
E
The ability to use energy based melee weapons effectively.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Energy Ranged Weapons (Basic)
D
???
E
The ability to use energy based ranged weapons effectively.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Knife Mastery (Intermediate)
C*
???
C
The ability to wield knives effectively.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Sniping (Advanced)
A*
B43522
B
The ability to fire weapons with deadly precision, no matter the obstacle.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Sword Mastery (Basic)
D*
???
D
The ability to wield swords effectively.
Hacking Ability Window
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Connect
C
???
B
The ability to mentally forge connections with machines. Somehow, your mind is able to comprehend and send digital signals.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Data Interaction
S*
???
S
Error.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Machine Communication
C*
???
F
The ability to communicate with synthetic beings.
Skill Name:
Sk
ill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Mental Hack
D*
???
C
The ability to seek and exploit weakness in connected minds.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Mind Defense
B*
???
A
Your mind has been organized in such a way that it is only with much difficulty that a foreign host will be able to begin to comprehend it.
Machine Lord Ability Window
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
AI Interaction
B
???
C
The ability to better allow oneself to interact with an AI and be interacted with in turn.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Divided Mind
A
???
A
You are now able to split your mind in two, completing two tasks at once or tackling the same problem from two sides. Costs 100 Computational Energy to activate.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Enhanced Accuracy
B*
???
C
Gives the player enhanced accuracy when aiming, allowing them to precisely calculate where and when to attack to hit their target.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Enhanced Awareness
C*
???
B
Gives the player enhanced awareness of their surroundings, allowing them to perceive their environment to a greater extent.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Enhanced Control (Advanced)
A
???
A
An ability that gives you greater control over your own body and mind, allowing you to surpass normal limits and make precise movements.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Enhanced Movements
B*
???
B
Gives the player enhanced control over their movements, allowing them to make precise movements with ease.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Hypercognition
B*
???
A
Allows the user to enter a state of accelerated perception, able to perform mental operations at an accelerated rate.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Programming a Path
C*
???
D
Programming a Path allows the player’s thought out actions to become almost second nature, allowing inhuman feats of precise movement.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Transcendent Will
C
???
C
Gives unimaginable willpower in extreme situations, allowing the user to accomplish feats of will otherwise thought impossible.
Rogue Ability Window
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Jack of All Trades
N/A
N/A
E
Gives a basic understanding of many elementary skills. Allows player to acquire new skills more easily.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Quick Learner
B*
???
C
The ability to quickly learn and develop new abilities and talents.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Sneak (Intermediate)
E
F1859537634
G
An intermediate stealth ability.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Stealth (Basic)
E
E434459
F
The art of moving about undetected.
Skill Name:
Skill Rank:
Skill Proficiency:
Skill Rarity:
Trap Detection (Basic)
F
???
F
The basic ability to detect traps.
AI Status Window
Name:
Eve
Classification:
Undetermined
Computing Ability:
Rank C
Synchronization Level:
N/A
Main Objective:
Train Alan
Current Role:
General Functions
Operating System
Classified
Corruption Level:
19%
Storage Level:
39%
Aberration Levels
Baseline:
23%
Sanity Check:
Pass
Administrator Warning Status:
2 Warnings
Alan stared at all the windows for a while longer before falling asleep, unsure of what to do.
Chapter 10
I have determined our plans, Alan sent Eve the next morning.
Oh? Eve replied.
We will try to gather as many abilities as we can in as short a period as possible, except this time you will try to teach me the ability, not simply show me how it is done, Alan sent. Along with the stat bonuses that we’ll gain, there might even be one or two skills I can master in a few months. And if I can’t, who cares? The abilities will come in handy.
Very well, but we should concentrate on all abilities, not only combat-oriented ones, Eve sent. Luckily, stats cannot fall below 1, but you should try to raise your charisma as quickly as possible. I believe some of our troubles have been a result of your low charisma.
Troubles? What troubles? Alan asked.
The exorbitant prices exacted on us to pay for lessons, for one, Eve sent. I thought it odd all the teachers were charging for lessons, but that’s because they were private, one-on-one sessions. All group lessons are free and open to anyone, but no one mentioned this to you until yesterday. I also believe you would have been charged far less if your charisma was at a decent level.
All right, sure, so no one told me about that. What’s your point? Alan asked.
You have no friends or allies that you can call upon here, and no one is willing to give you information regarding your assassin because no one wants to talk to you, Eve sent.
Wait, hang on a second, I have friends, Alan sent. And no one had any information!
You have acquaintances, people whose goals align with yours, Eve sent. And there is always more information, but a key stat aligned with information-gathering is charisma, which you do not possess. This is likely a result of your loner status.
I didn’t see a class on making friends on the schedule, Alan replied.
No, but there will be people you know who you can get to know better at the group lessons, Eve replied. And if you know no one then reach out. Meet new people.
Really? You’re telling me to make friends? That’s your advice on how to get better at the Game? Alan asked
.
Based upon my understanding you cannot approach friendship with this mercenary attitude, Eve replied. I have been querying multiple Institute AI and they all agree that friendship within a cultural setting is a mutual relationship.
Great, Alan thought to himself, my AI is better at making friends than I am.
At Eve’s behest, he went over to an Administrative Center and dumped the forty-five ability points he could only spend on stats into charisma, bringing it up to forty-six. Then he went off to class.
***
I still think this is a dumb idea, Alan sent. He approached a group of about fifty students waiting outside by an air strip on the planet Terra, having teleported to the nearby Jungle Base Administration Center. Dense jungle surrounded the place, hence the name; Alan could almost imagine he was back on Earth, in a rainforest somewhere.
Based upon my research a competitive training environment is highly conducive to making friends.
Research? What research?
The visual training aids that helped inform me about culture—
The anime I made you watch?