SURVIVAL 21: LEVEL 2 STAGE 1 – VIRTUAL REALITY

*bell rings*

"Everyone, welcome to the virtual reality game selection!”

Author did not appear to us with its iconic hologram. We could only hear its robotic voice.

It began to speak again. "As you can see, there are six virtual doors which can teleport you to your chosen destination. Each of you must choose one category on what kind of game you will play."

"The first one is, 'The MMA Combat'." I looked to the left. On its elevator-like door, there is a label sign above 'virtual door no. 1 'and with 'The MMA combat ' below it. "A game where you will fight on a battle course without using any weapons thus by showcasing your combative skills and the one who controls you will hold your victory." Mixed martial arts. This needs a strong physical and mental edge.

"The second one. 'The Firearm Assassination'." I looked to the left just next to the first door. Like before, there is also a 'virtual door no. 2'and 'The firearm assassination' labeled on it. "A battle where you will use deadly weapons to fight your virtual opponents. The weapon that you will yield depends on your controller." This one seems good. Unlike the previous one where weapons cannot be used.

"The third one, 'The Elemental Wielding'. A battle where your defense and offense mechanisms are natural elements. Unlike earlier, guns, swords, etc., you wield a power that can control air, fire, water, land, gravity, and electricity." This one looks interesting. You have elemental powers to manipulate nature to your advantage.

"The fourth one, 'The Coven's Domain'." My attention was drawn to what Author said. "A wizarding world where your power lies within your magic wand. Cast magic spells and tricks in order to shield and dispute your virtual opponents." Maybe it’s fun to experience real-life magic spells and be a witch for once.

I notice Author says, ‘virtual opponent’. I breathed a sigh of relief because I thought we’d fight and kill each other.

"The fifth one, 'The Zombie Catastrophe'." Zombie? Wow, they exist in this game. "A battle between the living and the living dead. You will eradicate your virtual opponent, which is a zombie. If you managed to kill those monsters, you will win but if they tamed you, you would transform into one of them, which means you failed to win." Thrilling because this one would be a game of ‘to chase or to be chased’.

"The last but not the least, the sixth one, 'The Nightmare Enigma'." The title itself made me curious. "A dark and terrifying night where your goal is to catch the notorious midnight culprit who assassinates its victims. In the snowy streets of Phantom Street, there lies the serial killer named Zarod." It is about solving mysteries.

"The game controllers are called 'players' while you are called 'characters'. As for the difference between the two, the player controls the character while sitting inside the control room, rendering multiple options, settings, and buttons to play the game. On the other hand, the character is the one who plays inside the virtual game, which the player controls.”

Author continued. “You will teleport again in your chosen category. A setting far beyond what you're experiencing right now. Your goals and objectives will appear when you play. You will know when you have won if you have fulfilled all your missions inside the game. You'll automatically vanish in the game and will be brought back inside the glass capsule when you win the victory.”

Sixzen stepped forward. "Do we communicate with the players?"

"Yes, but only a matter of a certain time limit for communication. You're lucky if you managed to win within a short period of time. You can turn on or off your communication to save your communication time limit."

Good thing that we can communicate, but the bad thing is, it only lasts for a certain period.

"Here are the things and rules to remember: There's no time limit. The important thing is for you to finish your mission and win. The player is the only one who can control your movements when you are attacked by an opponent or in the middle of a fight. You can control yourself by communicating with your partner and telling them how they will control and uncontrol you. If you forcefully controlled yourself with your own will in the middle of attacks, your life percentage will be deducted. You can control yourself when there is no incoming fight. A player can only control the movements of the character, but not the character's mind.”

I managed to raise a question. "Can we talk to our partners today to ask them which category to choose?"

"It is not allowed. The player shall decide on what move the characters will make once they enter the settings of the virtual reality game. Only this time, the characters will be given an opportunity to decide on their own.”

I bit my lower lip.

Aeith asked. "Are we going to get killed if we lose the game?”

We all paused for a moment and fell silent. If we fight but lose to the virtual enemy, are we going to die with our real selves?

"Play so that you'll know the answer.”

Geez…

"Once you step one foot on the ground where the setting of the game is, the player can automatically control you, and that's when your game has started.”

We have different start times depending on our first step towards the virtual world.

“Choosing a career is hard because you're sacrificing your time, money, and effort, but choosing the categories in playing this virtual game is harder for it will be the answer if your chosen career will be fulfilled.”

I was left in a daze after Author quoted something that left me speechless.

"60 seconds will be given to choose and enter your game category. Health Level: Stage 1 will start in 60 seconds..." Just wait! "Now!"

I already have my top 3 choices. First is 'The Coven's Domain’ Secondly, 'The Elemental Wielding'. Third, 'The MMA Combat',

"Last 45 seconds”

There! I was about to step into the fourth door, where ‘The Coven’s Domain’ was when I saw Fourth’s back while she is running. She is now right in front of that door. For a moment, what she stepped on, the door lit up and opened like an elevator door. She entered and the doors closed. Suddenly, there was a light above the door, and it is now marked with a red label, ‘RESTRICTED’.

Proceed to plan B! There is a sign ‘RESTRICTED’ above the door of ‘The Elemental Weilding’.

Let’s go with Plan C then! I was just about to turn around when Aeizen's speed preceded me. She deliberately pushed me, so I almost tripped over my knees. She has already entered 'The MMA Combat' while there is no expression, nor does she look sorry for what she did to me.

All my top three picks are gone! I saw Sectwen enter 'The Zombie Catastrophe'. I looked around, it was just Aeith and me. So, the one in 'The Elemental Wielding' is Sixzen. The only ones left are ‘The Firearm Assassination’ and ‘The Nightmare Enigma’.

"Last 20 seconds”

I turned to where my plan D’s door is when Aeith looked at me.

"8 seconds"

"I'm sorry, Second, but I'll go first."

She immediately ran to the door of ‘The Firearm Assassination’. I followed her and was about to run ahead of her when she screamed. “Ah! A monster!”

I looked to our left, where she pointed her finger. “W-Where?!” Why would there be a monster here that the game hasn’t even started?

I heard a door open and then she entered. What?

"5 seconds”

I bit my lower lip so hard that it bleeds. Not being able to pick my top 4 and I got tricked by Aeith, using the dirtiest and oldest trick in history.

I ran to the sixth door. It opened and I entered, then it closed again. Completely closing the door accompanied by the sound of a timer that says, ‘time’s up’.

LOCATION: Virtual world TIME: Midnight

I am now inside the virtual door. Half a minute later, the door opened automatically. When I stepped on the ground, the door closed and disappeared. I still hadn't left my spot because Author said that when we take a step, the game will start. I stood up feathered.

It was a little dark from about 10:00 PM to midnight. Only streetlights illuminate the street. I am amazed at this place that looks and feels so real. I still thought it was just a 3D type of virtual reality game. There are very few people—virtual people. Maybe others are already asleep because of the time I’m currently in. There are parked cars, closed establishments, and... it is snowing. Then I recall the words of Author.

“A dark and terrifying night where your goal is to catch the notorious midnight culprit who assassinates its victims. In the snowy streets of Phantom Street, there lies the serial killer named Zarod.”

If he is a midnight culprit, does that mean he kills people every midnight? Oh, since it is nighttime, it can be midnight now! I looked around and saw Big Ben. Am I in London? I looked at what time it was, and it was exactly 11:00 PM! It's almost midnight!

“Whooo,” I puffed.

It's too cold here. I checked myself and I was still in school uniform. This might be fake snow, but the cold I feel is real.

"Are you there?"

I-I heard someone’s voice. I checked but no one was near me. Z-Zarod?!

"Hey, it's me, First. I am communicating with you. Are you okay?" I turned around and looked for him to see if he is there. "Sorry if I startled you."

"Where are you?" I continued to look around and rubbed my palms against each other to keep myself warm.

"Here inside the control room. Each player has a different and separate room. I have three holographic monitors in front of me that have holographic buttons with options and settings, particularly for the game itself. You’ll experience the real world inside the virtual reality game. And I can only communicate with you through my voice. Currently, I can see you here on my screens from a third person’s point of view and can control your movements," First stated.

"Glad you're the controller, so we'll have a chance to win. Not to mention I traveled all the way here to London, haha!" Coming here is not exactly what I expected but this is not bad at all. "By the way, I'm sorry because this is the game I entered. I would have chosen the one with the magic wand and powers. This is the least and last choice I had." I am in dismay because the game I chose might not suit his taste.

"What are you saying? I chose this game right after it was introduced. We, the players, were watching you guys from the holographic monitors before you selected virtual doors. I thought you'd run and choose this game as your first choice." he chuckled.

So, right in the first place, this is what First wants! I’m glad to be of help to him. This is the thing I can do for now for both of us.

"What if we check this place first?" I suggested it because this place is so beautiful. It’ll be a waste not to see every inch of it.

"Sure," he agreed.

I took a step, then I remembered something. First and I have already started our game. I shouldn't just stand here, but this made me nervous.