Prologue – Project Alice

The long sword impaled through the chest of the «Black Swordsman», as the man known as the «Paladin» looked on with pale pallid eyes. He did not portray victory. Instead, he looked on pitifully as if there were no other eventualities.

His willpower and courage moved me, but those alone would not be sufficient for me to go against direct orders from my superiors. However, his love for the «Lightning Flash» moved me. I had to help him even if it no longer constitutes as my task of «Observation».

I hastily drew a complex symbol in the air, muttering words under my breath. The «Black Swordsman» stopped breaking into polygons, granting him sufficient strength to wield his lover's rapier to pierce the «Paladin» through his chest. That is twice now, that I have used this skill, once earlier to remove the paralysis that held the «Lightning Flash».

Finally, the «Paladin» realised my interference, but it was too late for him. His final words of "I see" remained too soft for anyone else to hear. His look of surprise was merely momentary.

『The game has been cleared — The game has been cleared — The game...』

I am Alice Schuberg, 22 years of age as of the year 2022. I have a mixed heritage and a complicated family history, but essentially I am a petite Eurasian with more Japanese blood than European. My paternal grandfather was a Bishop from Germany and my mother was a model who never made it big. I speak in past tense as they are no longer in this world, but I thank them for equipping me with the skills I have today.

Unlike many children, I never had a place I could really call home. Instead, I was given home tutoring in every country my father went. He was, for a lack of better word, a manipulator. He taught me the tricks to look at human fault lines and to use this knowledge against them. However, he died in service when I was 10. Hence, I was mostly schooled by my mother.

I am a splitting image of my mother, who gave me my looks; intelligence; and willpower. She had an indomitable will and excellent photographic memory. The only time in my life that I ever remembered crying was when she passed on.

Since 7 years ago, I have been living in the United States. After spending 2 years building my network, I began work at the Special Ops. Although I have played MMOs during my spare time, a VRMMO was not something I envisioned myself playing for leisure. However, I was given specific instructions to explore the world as a beta tester in August. Before the launch day, I was told to join under very specific instructions of «Observation». I was not to directly influence the clearing of the game and my direct supervisor gave an apologetic look before I engaged «Fulldive».

Within a few hours, it became clear to me that my supervisors fully expected what was going to happen. I muttered a curse for not keeping me informed as Kayaba Akihiko announced the start of the death game and that no one was to leave until the 100 floors have been cleared.

However, I know they fully expected me to be calm. I am their ace agent and it would be a personal disgrace for me to die in an online game.

As a beta tester, I have explored thoroughly all the 6 floors that were unlocked in the two months of testing. Coupled with my photographic memory, I could say I am more informed than information brokers who rely on buying info.

Keeping a keen eye on the crowd in the plaza, I could see some players beginning to move. They are most likely the top tier group of players, past beta testers like me or people with incredible adaptability. Majority of the players remained stunned, perplexed or even having a breakdown. I noticed several players heading to the northwest exit as I waited patiently to hide my own course of action. These players are most likely going off for the «Anneal Sword» quest. It is indeed the best sword for the first few levels of the game, but the quest is tedious and unnecessary.

With the right amount of Col, one can even buy an enhanced «Anneal Sword+5» from other players. Regardless, that quest has no time limit. Instead, I intend to be the first player to complete the «Goblin Trove» quest. Back in the beta phase, this quest is common knowledge but not everyone has the perseverance to enquire enough and find out that the rewards became poorer in quality as more people completed the quest. If completing it on the third day got me a «Bronze Sword», and someone who completed it on the second day got 5x«Heal Crystal», I looked forward to seeing what I could get as the first person.

If the reward was that good, it came as no surprise that I saw a bulky looking man with cropped military hair already hunting goblins in the zone when I arrived. He must have been the one to get the top item back in the beta phase. I quietly noted that he left via the northwest gate earlier. Considering this place is southeast from the «Starting City», he must have had planned for this.

Much that I have a competitive spirit at heart; I refuse to engage in PK, especially when it involves a person's life at stake. If it was a criminal, I believe I have the strength to finish him, but not when he is an innocent. Even though he arrived first, I knew I could compete on even ground. At the most, he has gotten 1 or 2 kills with the «Small Sword» he had equipped. On the other hand, I am prepared having spent all my Col on 1 «Bomb» and 10x «Monster Lure».

The quest's nature involved killing 50 goblins but there is a rare occasion a goblin leader would appear, which instantly completes the quest. This goblin leader would only appear if you kill a large group of goblins very quickly. That was the reason why I bought ten monster lures and the very expensive bomb. I was betting my fortune on the quest reward.

With that, I ran about using my «Monster Lure» as I gathered 10 goblins to a spot by attacking and running away, while avoiding the other player attempting the quest. I activated the bomb and they shattered into red polygons. A weird tingle sounded in the air as a purple creature burrowed out of the ground. I hid quickly in the shadows using «Hiding», which I have just leveled. Against creatures who rely on sight, it has its uses.

The purple creature had pulsating veins across his naked body, with ugly ulcers and blisters littering his torso. The name of the creature was also purple in colour, there it was - «The HobGob». I mused out loud to myself how its name sounded cute compared to its looks.

As a level 1 player in a death game, fighting a special monster that is 4 levels higher can be deemed as suicide. However, I had a plan. Goblins are generally lower in intellect and I have previously decided to lure it to environmental death. Seeing there is another player nearby, my plan has now changed.

I used «Horizontal» on the purple monstrosity, twice in quick consecutive fashion. As the sores in its back were its weak points, I dealt critical damage. Despite the critical hit, it still had more than 70% of its hp left. Incurring its fury, I intended to lure the monster to the other player, but not for monster PK. Instead, I shall keep my presence hidden and let the other player think the «The HobGob» was a rare spawn. Seeing the fault lines of that bulky military guy, I knew he would be tempted by the rare spawn.

It certainly got his attention as he lunged after it with several «Horizontal» in succession. His natural way of activating skill moves meant he had skill. However, based on my calculation, the level difference would be too great and he would have to make his retreat. Sure enough, as the «The HobGob» neared the red health critical portion, the bulky guy made a hesitant retreat, making a mark on his map as if to return here after he has restocked on healing items.

Needless to say, the monster was swiftly dispatched by me. All it needed was another 2 more «Horizontal» on its weak spot. As it died, the chimes and message of me reaching Level 2 was heard. All this in an hour's work!

Having achieved the 50 kills, I went to the cave in which I received the quest. Having completed the task, the NPC gave me the reward which he said he retrieved from the chest. He congratulated me for being the first to complete the task, and I received the following item.

«Unique Item»

Chimes of Aria (Increases COL gained by 50% regardless if trading with NPC or players)