As the days passed, I found myself lost in thoughts.
There were now at least 2000+ players registered on the game's site.
Although I had only asked for their basic information, I had already gathered the rest of their relevant backgrounds.
This was the list: 57% were students, 33% were employed in corporations, and the remaining 10% were unemployed. A few within that last group were even retired veterans from America and Europe.
This, in particular, was a surprise.
I had begun to group the players using their time zone, nationality, and ethnicity.
So, I've managed to create a fluid schedule, setting up different 8-12 hour login blocks for the various groups.
As I finished authorizing the players I had chosen, the announcement for the beta players in Version 0.1 finally began.
Light: Good day to you, players. We have finally made a decision within the Board of Directors. Here is the list for the chosen players for Version 0.1: [Link].
Zenith_Sword: ???
BallsDeep69: Ohh! It's finally here!
Jerking_Off_with_A_stapler: Shit. I thought this was fake.
The players hadn't truly expected a reply so soon early in the morning after a week, but they now waited eagerly.
They pressed the link, and a list of player in-game names appeared.
1.) I_declare_war_in_albania
2.) P.P Sniffer
3.) Osama_Bin_Laggin
4.) Arnold_Schwarzeneggro1234
5.) The_TunaGoddess
6.) 7/11_gasoline_hits_different
7.) …
8.) …
…
The list went on and on.
Yu Seol scrolled through the list, a tense feeling knocking in her stomach.
'This isn't supposed to be a legit game, so why am I feeling so nervous?'
She really hoped that she could try out this game, even if there was a huge chance of it not being real.
As she finally reached the final section, she closed her eyes and then opened them slowly.
47.) Zenith_Sword
She sighed with relief.
I_Killed_The_Entire_Population_Of_Puerto_Rico: Tsk. I didn't get into the registration. Bleh. Not like it is real.
Most of the players that didn't get in complained a bit, and the developer, 'Light', replied.
Light: My apologies to those who didn't get accepted. However, there will be more chances in future versions. It might only take several months, or even a few weeks, depending on how fast the current Version 0.1 players progress with rebuilding the City.
This satisfied some, though the players who were accepted into Version 0.1 began to question how they would get the headgear.
Light: As for the players accepted into Version 0.1... congratulations! There will be packages sent to your registered addresses any time now.
"Eh?" Yu Seol stared at the screen in confusion.
Knock.
She shuddered in fright as she glanced at her locked door. The only possible way to get to this floor was to have an access key card to swipe at the elevator.
"No way… how did they know my address?" She suddenly felt like this had turned into a horror movie.
She crept to the door and glanced through the peephole.
But nobody was there. As she glanced at her security monitor, she saw a box that was placed at the entrance, marked clearly with her in-game name.
"No way… what is with this Project Moon Company?"
She quickly grabbed the box and went back into her room, locking the door behind her before opening the package with a cutter.
"Eh? It's really a headgear." It looked smooth and glossy, like something you'd see in SAO.
There was a symbol on its side, a crescent moon with a keyhole cut into its center, with the label 'PROJECT MOON' just below it.
As she looked around the box, she felt confused.
"Why is there no connector?"
Even in novels and games where players use this kind of headgear, there always had to be a connector for electricity, right?
"There are also no buttons…"
"Well. I have to test it out."
She wore the headgear and laid down on the bed.
She waited for a few breaths, and then, the headgear silently turned on.
"Eh. No way it worked—."
However, before she could even check for a display, her consciousness exploded in a brilliant color of light.
She instinctively tried to close her eyes and grab the headgear, but to no avail; blinding white light was the only thing she saw.
"That scared me," she muttered to herself once the light subsided.
Thankfully, it didn't seem to damage her eyes.
She glanced around the new white space. She felt like she could actually move here.
"No way. It's actually real?!"
As she was about to test her theory with a backflip, a blue screen suddenly appeared in front of her.
[ Welcome to Project Moon! ]
[ You have been chosen for the beta test of Version 0.1. ]
[ Before you can enter the game, you must finish several steps first. ]
"Wow. Whoa. This is—!" Just as she was about to blow up with excitement, she turned her eyes to the customization section.
She didn't change much of her appearance, except for turning her black hair and eyes into a matching golden hue.
As she pressed the 'OK' button, dismissing the numerous message labels from the system asking, 'Are you sure?', a new window appeared.
[ Customization Complete. This will be your appearance for the whole game. ]
A slot machine suddenly appeared in a colorful blue light, she stepped back in surprise, but stared at the new system panel with a baffled look.
[ Please roll the gacha to gain a skill at level one. You may roll new skills upon reaching higher levels. ]
[ Rarity ]
1.) SSR
2.) SR
3.) R
4.) N
[ Warning: There is a chance that you may not receive any skills from this roll in your first awakening. ]
"Ehh… a gacha?" She frowned.
She never liked RNG because of how terrible her luck was.
As she sighed and glanced at the slot machine-like interface, she pulled the virtual lever. The symbols and numbers began to roll.
She closed her eyes, already accepting her fate.
She opened them again only at the sound of celebratory sound effects.
"?!"
7.7.7
[ Congratulations! ]
[ You have won the jackpot! Three rewards are granted for a jackpot. ]
[ You have attained three rewards: 'Unrelenting', 'Swordplay of the Homeland', and 'Blade of Clouds'. ]
• Swordplay of the Homeland - Slashing Dice Power 2+
-> This grants you a higher damage output when using swords.
• Unrelenting - Upon taking a lethal blow, reduce all incoming damage (including the attack that activated this passive).
-> This grants you significant damage reduction upon taking a lethal blow.
• Blade of Clouds - You have a higher potential in swordsmanship.
-> You have gained one of the highest possible passive growth rates for a swordsman player in the faction.
Yu Seol was speechless.
"Did all of my luck go into this gacha?"
She turned her eyes to the next system panel.
[ You will now be sent to the tutorial. ]
[ You will be given three trials: ]
[ The Trial of Survival ]
[ The Trial of Battle ]
[ The Trial of an Ordeal ]
.
.
.
Meanwhile, the chat forum went on with its questions, though many were finding it odd that the accepted players in the comments had suddenly disappeared after getting their headgear.
They all felt wary of the page now, as they waited for the beta players to return and report.
However, they were stunned by the next thing that appeared on the page, which reloaded itself.
Light had displayed videos from the perspectives of the beta players.
Videos were strung together, creating a depository of POVs where they could see each of the players' experiences in the trials.
I_Killed_The_Entire_Population_Of_Puerto_Rico: Holy shit. No way this is real. This is a hoax! A way to make people addicted to this!
The_DeprivedOne: I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult, but… this looks legit. I know someone in the trials. The way he speaks is similar.
I_need_to_wipe_my_ass_but_there_are_no_tissues: Wat are u sherlock holmes? Bro you ain't him.
The players became heated in the forum, while the rest of the silent users watched the live videos intently.
Nonetheless, this had achieved what I had wanted. It only continued to make them more interested in the game.
I glanced at the rolled traits with a smile.
Several others had obtained their traits. But to be honest, those traits were just a way for me to amplify those players' existing strengths.
I had researched their history, so I knew that these specific traits would satisfy them and even improve their specializations.
The traits were limitless. I could create new ones on the fly, but those traits only displayed minimal effectiveness compared to genuine, real experience, EGO identities, and workshop gears.
At most, the rarest growth-rate traits only increased their learning curve, while the less rare traits increased their immediate combat capability.
Other, more common traits also increased working capability for engineering, embroidery, and various other creation & management systems that some players were already good at.
Not all players were going to be fighters, since half of them would be creation & management-type players, while the rest specialized in battles or large-scale wars.
Nonetheless, other creation & management types could still join those battles, since they weren't limited to just creating gears, technologies, or potions.
They could assist in logistical or support areas.
Well, it was better for those leeks to do it firsthand instead of me thinking about it.
The trials were, in truth, quite simple. They were given tutorials on acrobatics, combat against 'rats' (the weakest NPCs in the City), and the basic crafting recipes for them to make bandages and makeshift tools for their survival.
They could even create consumables with the materials found on the side.
It was all very realistic. In these trials, they were granted scenarios specifically suited for them.
It was a good way to transition them into the Ruined City, which was filled with unimaginable horrors.
And then, after the players completed their initial missions, they were given the final trial. The easiest so far. Hahaha.
They didn't have to win this trial. Win? The very idea was laughable. Even Color Fixers would struggle to win against those monsters.
They only had to experience hell. To welcome them to the City.
I smiled, feeling like a veteran observing the unsuspecting new rookies.
.
.
.
"This game is too realistic..."
She glanced down at the fallen rats, which were slowly turning into blue particles before disappearing. They had all been cut down by her sword.
She had died a few times, but learning the patterns of the rats was simple. They only wielded short knives and the occasional rusty axe.
She only needed to keep her distance and once they swung their axes, she would end them with a decapitation or a stab.
Plus, she didn't feel any pain or emotional hesitation upon taking the life of another human.
The truly amazing part was that the combat mechanics felt completely realistic, just like she was in the real world.
At first, she felt terrified and died quickly to the hands of the rats.
But as she calmly assessed the fight, she realized the rats were simple-minded.
Their teamwork was non-existent, as if they only had base instincts without a working brain that could efficiently coordinate their weapon swings.
The 'Fixer Sword' she had created in the Trial of Survival had proven useful, allowing her to keep her distance while attacking.
Her form was lousy, but her advantage was her ability to calmly assess the situation—which she found odd.
Was this the censored part? She didn't feel any kind of great or lingering fear, even when she died.
The panic always went away after several seconds. Plus, killing the rats didn't make her feel anything at all. It was...
"Strange." She shook her head as she glanced around, only to find a new door that had appeared in the distance.
She walked to the door and opened it. As she entered, she was sent to a new place.
It looked dark, and the entire area looked ruined, as if it had experienced a great calamity.
Several other players had appeared in the large, garage-like place. She turned her eyes to the flickering sign hanging above.
Lobotomy Corporation Branch.
[ Ding! ]
"Huh?"
She turned her eyes to the new objective. The other players also stopped conversing with the others as they glanced at the new panel.
[ Trial of an Ordeal ]
Objective: Survive and Retrieve the Golden Bough
Reward: A Random 2 Star Identity Card
Mission Details: …