Gamer Pt2

With a flash of light, an emerald radiance immersed the two of them. Their injuries started fading…

However, the same couldn't be said for others…

In fact, you could say the thing most terrifying thing at that moment was the tram's eerie silence.

To think, everyone would end up dying…

But it wasn't outside expectations. Their injuries were too deep. They'd only hung on by a thread.

"…Huh?" Julie blinked a few times. Her injuries had vanished, and she was moved away from the window. Ben had kicked a plump man to the side to get them somewhere that wouldn't do them harm.

His eyes reflected a strange blue screen…

[You have entered Tutorial Mode.]

[Character setting cannot be altered for the duration of the Tutorial. Your job is unchangeable.]

[Would you like to add another Player?]

"Add 'Julie Siren' as Player 2." As soon as he spoke these words, a sapphire radiance bound to her.

She couldn't understand what was going on.

"B-Ben…?" She called, but he didn't seem the same as before. It was… scary… Too scary.

He was nothing like the 'Ben Turner' she knew.

When his eyes turned to look into her own, all she saw was the look of someone both tired and empty.

Like a robot that was only acting on reason.

"Julie… Welcome to my story." Rather than hiding anything, the 'Grand Delusionist' opened his arms.

Making a performative gesture to his 'audience'.

The deathly silence and darkened world around her only added to the craziness of what he was saying.

"L-liar…"

"This is the setting of the novel I wrote."

"It's not."

"You haven't even read it." A tinge of annoyance appeared on his face, but it still looked calm.

How could it look tranquil in this situation?!

"Call someone. Emergency services. Anything!"

"They're dead."

"Stop playing games now. I'm being serious here!"

"And I am too. There's no way to get Wi-Fi anymore after that earthquake. Most buildings are torn now."

"That's…" She wanted to refute this, but the sheer darkness only proved the power lines were broken.

Her phone was already broken as well.

Julie held her head and found herself seeing a realistic illusion of a blue screen in her own eyes.

[You have been picked for the Tutorial Mode.]

[Maximum limit for the Tutorial Mode is reached.]

[Your status has been generated.]

[Name: Julie Siren

Job: Perfect Secretary

Magic Affinity: None

Personal Skills: Peak Level Academic Education (Rare), Self Defending Combat Expertise (Rare), Analysis (Rare), Social Adept (Rare), Multi Linguist (Myth), Peer Support (Common), Muscle Control (Legendary), Peerless Mentality (Legendary), Lie Detection (Rare), Danger Avoidance (Heroic)

Growth Characteristic: Rare Female Closet Otaku/ Erotica Fantasiser/ Perfectionist/ Over Worker

Unique Skill: Innocent Charm (Special), Perfect Management (Special), Suppressed Musculature (Special)

Intrinsic Skill: Gifted Latent Magic Potential (Locked)

Imaginary Attribute: None

Overall Evaluation: Wow girl~ Your so damn fine in everything you do! I'm in love with your growth limits and potential to become the greatest fighter on the planet. The only issue is your lack of a battle related Job. Good! Surpass this mere Delusionist!

Power Tier= D (Myth)

Agility Tier= D (Legendary)

Speed Tier= D (Myth)

Defence Tier= D (Heroic)

Combat Prowess= C (Beyond Human)]

Even though the overall evaluation was saying she was strong, she didn't feel 'mythical' or 'heroic'.

Unlike what her coat would make one think, she'd been hiding strong muscles under this disguise.

However, that was only from proper exercise.

She wasn't 'beyond human', really…

At least, that's how she saw it. For Ben, her next actions were beyond what he'd expected of her.

"How did you heal me?" Her eyes became clear.

It wasn't the same as suppressing her emotions. A look like that wasn't forced by the power of a Skill.

This was just how she was…

['Peerless Mentality' has offset the mental shock.]

"…I used a Medical Cabinet that fell off."

['Lie Detection' determines statement as true.]

Julie glanced at the message that only appeared in her eyes. She didn't fully believe his words.

"And how did that end up healing me?"

"That's gonna be a little hard to explain."

Just as she was about to use Lie Detection again, a window appeared that explained everything to her.

This was likely the 'Tutorial Mode' in action.

From what was written, it seemed like skills and reality didn't change a person or alter their growth.

Unless you had something before you died, what you'd get in your status was based on reality.

As for what 'Growth Characteristic' meant, they were essentially your future in terms of skills.

Hard Workers tended to get good overall stats, but those who were lazy got skills of befitting nature.

Like how Ben had 'Poker Face' and 'Liar Liar'…

The most crucial fact right now was that they were both in a state of mind that focused on their goals.

"So… Is this the Tutorial of your novel?"

The Grand Delusionist was about to say 'No', but then thought about the repercussions of the truth.

He'd rather act like a know-it-all…

"That's right."

[You have used 'Poker Face' and 'Liar Liar'.]

['Lie Detection' determines statement as true.]

"And everyone here is dead because of you?"

"I wrote the novel, but I'm not omnipotent." His words didn't seem false from her skill's vision.

There was no room to lie about this…

Still, that only gave room for different questions.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Meaning…"

"I'm guessing you have something to do with this situation. If so, what were you planning to do?"

Her question was quite rational, but it was exactly that logic that caused him to have no answer.

To make a name for himself properly… maybe?

The big 'Couch Potato' himself didn't know.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Julie decided to ignore him and try to escape from this incident.

She grabbed onto the metal pole meant for leveraging from the window angle, then pulled herself up. One could tell what she was about to do from the way she reached for the sealed door.

"Don't." Immediately, Ben reacted and grabbed her unconsciously by the waist. Only to get a cold look.

[Your 'Player Mentality' is shaking immensely.]

"You don't want to go out there." He quickly let go and explained himself. His attitude was composed.

"Why not?"

"Creatures will come out soon. You know, like the kind of development seen in Korean Webnovels."

"Are they from another world?"

"It'd be better if they did-" Just as he was about to explain. A figure appeared in the corner of his eye.

There was a woman with blonde hair staring at him from the end of the tram. Her figure… was floating.

"Aaargh!"

"Ben?"

Julie seemed unknowing of the reason her coworker was freaking out, even while looking in the same direction. The spear holding woman also didn't seem to be paying attention to the secretary.

Her eyes were locked on the unknown writer…

It was something that frightened Ben to death!

[Your extraordinary high spirituality has given you the Special Unique Skill: 'Extrasensory Perception'.]

This 'scene' wasn't in his novel!

['Player Mentality' has weakened.]

"That's weird. Why are there survivors here?" The woman spoke in tone that seemed above mortality.

Like death meant nothing in her eyes.

"Hey, snap out of it!" Someone knocked his head. It was at that point that he realised what'd happened.

Especially since the spear-woman had vanished…

He saw a 'ghost'!

But what exactly did this mean?

There were no ghosts in his novel.

His novel was supposed to be about 'Hunters'…!

"You said there'd be danger outside. Is there any way to deal with it. On top of that, the… world…"

He knew exactly what she meant. If they were the only ones left, then she'd eventually end up dying!

"You don't have to worry."

"Really…?"

"I think my 'story' is about to begin." Time had been distorted, and space itself was reconstructed.

The presence of the 'System' became stronger.

His words were followed with the breaking of dawn.

The light faintly illuminating their faces.

Suddenly, the dead bodies groaned once more.

They opened their eyes to see the world once again. Even though they'd certainly died…

The 'game' was about to begin.