A/N: I will obviously be describing the appearances of the monsters in this fanfiction, but for those of you who wish to see images of the monsters, you may find them at the Puzzle and Dragons database. Some monsters will be made-up in this fanfiction and, therefore, not available on the database.
Simply type the name of the monster into the search to view their image.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this new world of Puzzle and Dragons.
Note: Monster stats and information in the database do not necessarily reflect some presented in this fanfiction.
"This world, implementing the finest in virtual technology, shall be the guise necessary to perform the task of creating the perfect soldier." -Thomas Malkin
Chapter 1: Ray
Seattle, Washington
United States
May 23, 2020
7:22 PM
2 Days before launch of PADW
The woman behind the desk opened a binded manilla folder and carefully removed its contents as if they would break just by the gentle brush of her fingertips. She laid out the papers and sifted through them one by one, scanning each and typing notes on her laptop. It had been a long day, and it was rising in temperature due to all the individuals that were packed together despite the size of the massive assembly room. Nevertheless, she had become particularly interested in the file that she had just received from this young man.
File #623: Subject Summary of Completion and Test Recording
Please submit this form to your supervisor upon completion.
Subject: Ray Andylon
Gender: Male
Blood Type: O
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 175 pounds
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Note: Eye correction required [Right -2.5 - Left -3.25]
Physical and Endurance Exam Results:
Cardio: S
Notes: Subject's ability to run at moderate speed level consistently with limited contraction of bronchial tubing has been noted. Subject has history of asthma and medication with albuterol inhaler has been discontinued for past three years. Excessive, deep air intake may prove problematic but negligible with results from intrinsic scans upon transfer. Subject form suggests professional training which was confirmed at the high school level and has been continued to the present. Attached is the subject's high school and college athletic history.
Strength: A
Notes: Subject is competent at lifting heavy objects and moving between stations with time constraints. Endurance is not an issue. Subject has knowledge of differing exercises and is aware of proper muscle groups for each exercise and operates them accordingly.
Reflexes: S
Notes: Subject displays excellent performance when presented with constantly changing situations and maintaining focus. Exercises 1-7 were performed flawlessly with exercises 8-11 receiving only one flaw each. Subject stance was analyzed and upon inquiry subject mentioned participating on his high school's wrestling team. Along with athletic history, a form is attached with information with specific athletic stats past and current.
The woman glanced up from the form for a moment. A young man in his early twenties stood before her with a passive expression on his face. His hands were clasped behind him as if he were standing at attention. His brown hair was slightly disheveled and he wore a black polo fully buttoned. The woman noted his muscle build as well. It was lean, meaning he was built for the endurance described in the report.
She was supposed to take note of these characteristics. She had been doing it for so long that she did it with everyone she met for the first time, and even with people she already knew to assess their transformations. It had become a useful habit.
As she was about to speak, a man approached her from behind and tapped her shoulder. His suit was visibly darkened from all the perspiration that wetted his brow and under his arms. His labored breathing showed he had been in a hurry. He motioned to her and she leaned towards him. She glanced at Ray for a moment who still remained motionless; however, his eyes were roaming the room. No, perhaps it was more along the lines of analyzing.
She nodded to the man and he made a hasty exit. The woman's eyes followed him until he approached another man, this one wearing some sort of black security uniform, and began speaking frantically to him about something inaudible. The man in the security suit beckoned for him to follow and they exited the room from an unseen side door.
The woman sat back in her chair for a moment and began to fuss with her ponytail. She knew it was a distracting and unbecoming habit, but she was convinced it helped her thought process. The exchange between the two men and the information she had just received was slightly troubling. In any case, Ray didn't seem to be distracted by it in the least when she made her first statement.
"As your supervisor for this testing process, I am required to provide you with information that will encourage any inquiries on your part," she said. She felt like a broken record, and she knew she certainly sounded like one. Her words came out fluid, but they almost felt robotic in a way. It was annoying to just hear her own voice sometimes with this job.
Ray nodded. "Okay," he answered simply.
"Since this is our first official meeting face-to-face, allow me to introduce myself, I am Emily Tanner. I will be your supervisor up until you are sent into the virtual world. My job is to go over these files and collaborate with your test instructors to ensure that you are given the proper coding that represents your true ability here in the real world. It will be applied to your person upon entering the virtual world and it will build upon the levels and stats you gain. Do you have any questions so far? I know it's a pretty wild concept to grasp."
Ray didn't take much time to ask his question, even though the question was actually more of a confirmation, "So basically, my ability in the real world has been gauged and it will be applied to me in the virtual world."
Emily smiled. "Yeah you pretty much got it. The only other thing you're missing is that you can improve yourself even without gaining levels, just like you can in the real world." She left a notable emphasis on the word 'real.'
"It seems a little unfair if some people are more athletic or stronger than others in the real world," Ray commented.
Emily nodded. "In hindsight, it does seem that way. However, when you all enter this world, you will find that people have capabilities that will make you all equals. It depends upon how you all use your talents that will bring the desired outcome. The intrinsic scans are also in place to determine what your possible true potential is that you have not yet reached. I assure you that nobody ever reaches their full potential. We hope to bring that out in the virtual world."
Emily stopped for a moment. She surprised herself by how much information she was relaying to this boy. Normally with her candidates she went through just the typical, boring procedure: read the file, answer the questions promptly, and then send them on their way. However, at this point, she found herself babbling.
She immediately dismissed the notion and returned her attention to Ray.
"Do you have anymore questions?" she asked.
Ray considered it for a moment. "Only one. Is there someone I can speak to more in-depth about the world and the database we will be given?"
Emily cocked an eyebrow at this peculiar question. "Yes, there will be a final assembly held the day before you are sent in. You will have some guest speakers who will explain how everything works. If you don't get some answers you are hoping for, I am sure they will be holding some separate meetings afterward to make themselves available."
She went back to the form she had been reading and scanned through some of the unimportant details: the background checks, possible criminal history, highest level of education, they could all wait until a later date. After a quick skim, she reached a report that seized her attention. At first, the letters didn't quite register in her brain. It was like a calculator that had been given a formula that defied all the laws of equation it had been taught. She felt her mouth drop slightly as she read his intrinsic scan report. It didn't seem possible.
She forced herself to look back up at Ray. "You didn't look through this folder right?"
Ray tilted his head in confusion. "No. They told us not to. Besides, judging by the way it was sealed, the tears would have been obvious if I had browsed through it."
Emily nodded and composed herself. "Of course. Sorry, I wasn't thinking. It's been a pretty long day."
She rubbed her eyes and glanced back at the form before placing it back in the folder,
Intrinsic Scan Analysis Report:
Subject displays tremendous physical and mental capabilities. Physical capabilities include heightened reflexes and situational strength/endurance limiter removals. Situational testing displayed a 97% success rate for limiter removal in dangerous and time-crucial situations (situations and conflict varying upon mental state and source of conflict).
Mental capabilities were impressive with resolving highly difficult problems and amending provided instructions with opportunities to ascertain flaws and/or enact improvements. Readings indicate unidentified potentials at rates ranging from 87%-99%.
Subject Final Intrinsic Scan Analysis Score: SSS
Emily closed and sealed the folder with a special lock she withdrew from a small metal box on her desk. She stared at the folder for a few more brief seconds. It was as if she was seeing through the folder and still reading Ray's files. SSS.
She felt a thought tugging at her somewhere in her brain, but she couldn't quite grasp it. It was like someone was dangling the answer at the end of a fishing line being constantly pulled out of her reach. At that moment, she reflexively drew a pen from her pocket, pulled out a stack of notes, and wrote a short memo to herself, More research: Ray Andylon, ID 623. She ripped the sticky note off the pile and stuck it in her pocket before extending her hand across the table to Ray.
"You are dismissed. I will see you right after the final assembly for a few last-minute instructions. I wish you luck."
Ray grasped her hand in a firm grip and they shook with one quick motion. "Thank you."
Ray grabbed his backpack off the floor, gave Emily a curt nod, and proceeded to head to the cafeteria for dinner. Emily watched after him until he disappeared behind the glass double doors at the end of the assembly hall. She stared down at her hand. A person's handshake could tell a lot.
Ray strode down the crowded hallway and pulled out his cellphone. Apparently, he had missed seven calls; one under the name Keiichi, and the other six under the name Lucy. Typical Lucy. Ray couldn't help allowing himself a grin when he also opened his text message inbox to find ten more texts from her and two from Keiichi. He figured he would be seeing them soon anyway, so he saw no real reason to answer them back.
The hallway merged with a sky bridge completely encompassed by glass with a view of the city below. Seattle was bustling with massive crowds of people heading home after a long day of work. The traffic was as horrendous as ever, with cars knit tightly together and evidence of an accident a few blocks up the road. Ray didn't much like the city, and it was due to the fact that wherever you walked you were bound to bump into twenty-or-so people before you even made it a few yards. He wasn't really much on crowds, and even the narrow bridge made him jittery as he hugged the railing that lined the glass.
He noted the large digital screen that overlooked this section of the city. On the screen, a female wielding a lengthy halberd was in combat with another female clad in thick armor who deflected her opponent's attack with a finely crafted lance. The curved blades attached to the sides of the lance allowed the halberd to drag alongside it and forced the other female's momentum to carry forward. Just as the armored female was about to deal a critical side swipe, her lance was halted by a male with a lance of his own, this one a lime green and exuding some form of pestilence. The man in green readjusted his hat and gave the other lance wielder a wry grin.
The battle continued for some time on the screen with more participants joining along the way. The advertisement showed the vast scope of the world that a select few Players would be entering.
Ray stared at the screen a little longer, completely mesmerized by the display. That was the world he would soon be a part of and he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. It was just so exciting that he would be able to experience a whole new world firsthand.
He had been growing tired of the world he lived in for so long. It was as if some deity up above had answered his prayers and was giving him a second life that he could only have dreamed of up until now. It was the chance of a lifetime for someone like him.
I won't let any of this go to waste, he promised himself.
The cafeteria was crowded, just the way he hated it. His fellow Players were already seated, and he could pick out their excited conversations concerning what they planned to do once they entered the virtual world. Some of them were showing off their ranks and monster boxes from the previous Puzzle and Dragons; the one for the android and ios released many years ago.
It's been nearly a decade, Ray reminisced.
He could discern a few key words from specific conversations. They were discussing dungeons they had conquered, teams that were most effective against certain gods, and, most importantly, who they intended to pick as their first monster upon entering the world.
Each Player would get the opportunity to list five monsters he/she wanted when first starting out, beginning with the first as the most desired and the last as least. Ray didn't quite know how it was decided who received what monster, but he assumed it had to do with how often the monster was used by the Player in the previous Puzzle and Dragons. He hoped rank didn't apply. The original Puzzle and Dragons was released in 2012 and he only started the game in early 2014 due to the fact he didn't own a cellphone that could run the game. So basically, he was way behind most of these Players as far as rank was concerned. Nobody had a prayer of catching up to Players who had a two-year head start. In the end though, it was just a number right?
At that moment he heard a familiar name uttered by one of the Players, "...Leilan..."
The name halted Ray in his tracks. It was a name Ray had discovered during his first few weeks of playing the original game. He recalled the emotions he felt as he took a pull on the machine that released a variety of eggs, all different colors, that could hold one of a list of nearly fifteen hundred monsters. This machine could give a Player the monsters he/she desired, but it could also give them essentially nothing. It had been his first pull.
He had sat there with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, wishing to any and all forces out in the universe that he would see that gold egg appear out of that silly, yellow dragon machine.
Ray pulled down on the dragon's arm and the slot on the belly of the egg machine opened. Ray held his breath. A gold egg appeared and he pumped an excited fist in the air, but, almost immediately, drew his hand to his side and realized that even a gold egg could hold something that wasn't what he desired. Gods weren't the only ones that rested within these treasured capsules.
Ray stared unblinking at the egg as it shook a few times. After a brief moment, it burst open with a bright light that consumed the screen of Ray's phone. As the light diminished, Ray saw a girl with a mix of dark orange and red hair wrapped into a long ponytail. Her Chinese dress was a deep red laced with gold, and her small rainbow wings were outstretched, prepared to take flight. She wielded a broadsword burning with an unquenchable fire that mimicked the flames that swirled around her in a controlled circle.
Ray sat staring at the screen for a long while. Time had become meaningless. She had a wonderful smile on her face that exuded an air of confidence, but also hid a reserved kindness. He tapped the screen with a trembling finger and at the top left of the screen it read "God" with a red orb; a fire symbol sealed within it.
She would be the first of many gods that Ray received over his time playing the game but, in the end, it was Leilan who conquered the most dungeons and pushed him to the rank he was at today. He felt that, if not for her, he would have possibly been one of those people who quit the game out of sheer frustration due to not receiving a powerful enough monster from the machine to move forward at an acceptable pace.
He willed the memory away and grimaced. Not a chance buddy.
Just as he was about to take a strained step forward he felt a slight nudge from behind. He could instinctively tell it was not hostile, so he glanced over his shoulder calmly and noted the person behind him. The young man was around his age with short black hair and a similar lean build. His brown eyes held a hidden intensity that was masked by his unmatched enthusiasm. He wore a winning smile as he gave Ray a quick wave.
Ray couldn't suppress a grin. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Keiichi."
The young man named Keiichi slapped a hand on Ray's shoulder and they embraced in a one-armed hug.
"Dammit man where have you been?" Keiichi asked unable to contain his excitement. "I messaged you a few times but didn't hear back from you."
Ray raised his hands apologetically. "Sorry, they held me there longer than I expected. Had some equipment problems."
Keiichi frowned at this. "Seriously? That's a shame. You missed out on the meet and greet. Not that it was anything all that special I guess." He shrugged. "Though I can tell that a bunch of them are going to be taking a dark path. More than I expected."
Ray gestured for Keiichi to follow him so they could grab some food. He didn't address the statement immediately, but he did take some time to process Keiichi's words. It was typical of games that had player vs. player combat to have some Player Killers, but he was hoping that the focus would be more on conquering dungeons and discovering the secrets of the world. The fact that a lot of other Players were already considering killing other Players was unsettling.
Ray and Keiichi grabbed their meal from the buffet line and settled at a high-top table in the corner of the room where they could separate themselves from most of the cacophony. Ray could now get a clear view of the area and noted that there must have been at least a couple hundred people. Some were Players, while others appeared to be staff.
"So if we are going to have Player Killers we'll need to make sure we don't draw too much unwanted attention," Keiichi continued. "But you go for the whole rogue thing in these types of games anyway right?"
Ray nodded. "Usually, but I may have to try and join a guild so I can have a decent information network." Ray sighed. "Which may be a little problematic for someone like me..."
Keiichi nodded solemnly. They were both friends in the original game, so Keiichi was aware of Ray's rank. It wasn't high. Ray had started the game too late and he wasn't a Player who spent much money towards it like many others did, which pushed him even further behind in rank. Keiichi knew more about him than any of his other game friends did though.
Keiichi and Ray were a rarity and actually stayed in contact outside of the game and discussed things that went beyond gaming. It turned out they were both successful athletes, excelled in school, and were absolutely dense as hell when it came to women. They laughed about the latter constantly. Both of them had blown tons of chances with girls and, honestly, they didn't mind sharing these moments with each other despite the fact they were on opposite sides of the country from each other. Ray actually found it kind of scary how much they had in common: music taste, anime and tv shows, books, etc.
"I wouldn't worry about it," Keiichi said after what seemed like a considerable amount of time. "If some guilds reject you, then they don't know what they're missing out on. You've demonstrated some of your puzzle-solving skills with me, and they were damn impressive. Furthermore, our abilities in the real world will be applied. You might even have an advantage."
Ray nodded. He was thankful for Keiichi's support, but they both were aware it was still going to be rough nevertheless. Ray was confident that if he could have Leilan as a partner, he could hold out as long as he needed to.
"In any case-" Ray started. He was interrupted by a tray that slammed on the table right in front of his plate. The plate leaped off the table but managed to hold the food in place. Ray and Keiichi both instinctively reared back in their chairs. Ray was more fortunate than Keiichi. He leaned forward just in time to right himself in his seat as Keiichi's chair settled too far back on its legs and sent him down hard to the floor. He lay there sprawled in a heap with his legs dangling above his head.
The two stared fearfully at the newcomer. Her head was lowered and her body trembled. When she looked up, Ray pushed himself towards the corner, cowering in fear while Keiichi covered his face with his shirt and assumed the fetal position. There was death in those eyes.
"Oh god she's here! She's friggin here!" Keiichi sobbed. His voice was nearly raised to a shout with his fake crying.
Ray threw his face in his hands dramatically. "Gods above I am so sorry. Whatever sin I have caused I will amend in any way I can. Your humble servant begs for mercy."
The two fear-stricken boys continued their stammering pleas as the girl eyed the two of them back and forth furiously. She finally rested her eyes on Ray, stepped on the metal rungs of his high chair, and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt violently.
Keiichi clapped his hands together in prayer, thanking some unknown deity for sparing him and sacrificing Ray so that he could continue to live a fruitful, fulfilling life.
Ray heard all of this and kept his eyes tightly shut as he bawled to Keiichi, "You damn coward! I'm going to haunt you when I die!"
He opened his eyes a sliver so he could see the expression on the girl's face. It was actually what he had expected. She looked more hurt than angry. Her eyes were a deep blue and practically sparkled in the light. Her brown hair settled just past her shoulders and, despite the fact that she was now towering over him, she was rather petite. The girl's face was barely an inch from Ray's and she gazed at him as if she were analyzing him.
Ray finally managed to find his voice. "H-hey Lucy."
At the sound of her name she shook Ray a few more times before embracing him in a devastating hug that should have been impossible for someone of her stature.
"Why didn't you answer my calls you jerk?" She rocked the chair back and forth and Ray felt his head collide with the wall a few times.
Ray strained to breathe. "I'm-sorry," he choked.
Keiichi now stood at his side and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Poor Ray. His life was a brief one."
Ray managed to get a couple more select words out, "Screw-you."
The girl named Lucy turned to Keiichi at the sound of his voice with a mixture of joy and hate in her eyes. It was an emotional combination that should have been impossible, and it terrified Keiichi. He raised his hands nervously in surrender, but the girl had already leaped away from Ray and seized Keiichi in a death hug just for him.
Emily moved hastily through the assembly hall as soon as she finished saving her data on the laptop and filed away her physical documents. There were still large throngs of people blocking her route and she shoved many of them aside with obvious irritation. Many of them gave her disapproving and angry looks, but she didn't pay them any mind.
The hallway outside became surprisingly quiet as she entered the administrative wing, and she made good time to her office three floors above. A man sat at a long, marble desk, typing away furiously, his brow furrowed deeply to match his intensity. The door to the entry room closed without a sound behind Emily and she made her way past the front desk to her office. The man didn't seem to notice her.
Her office was a generous size with a window nearly dominating a side wall that overlooked the city. Two large bookshelves filled the adjacent wall where a mahogany desk sat before them with just enough room for her to swivel her chair back to sit. There was nothing decorative to the room, and one would think it rather plain. People typically didn't know her personality all that well though.
Emily withdrew her laptop and set it on the desk as it booted up. While she waited, she picked up the phone and dialed an extension.
After a few tones passed, a tired voice answered, "Hello?" The man sounded like he had just woken up. He yawned loudly on the other end of the phone.
Emily dismissed this unprofessionalism. "Rick. It's Emily."
The man named Rick made a loud shuffling on the other end of the phone.
"Well I guess if you're calling it must be something important," he said, attempting to mask his interest.
"I just received a SSS rank."
There was silence on the other end of the phone. The only indication that Rick was still there was his slow, even breath. Emily gave him a moment to let the news sink in. When it was apparent that no response was forthcoming, Emily broke the silence.
"Rick?"
"Who else knows about this?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "You, me, and the guys who administered the tests. What do you take me for?"
Rick sighed heavily. "I know. Just one of those questions that needs asking. Okay, send me his information. I highly doubt this is a coincidence, and if my hunch is right, there will be more."
Emily opened a document on her computer and prepared to relay the information to Rick through a secured dropbox linked to his computer.
"And the testers?" she asked.
"I'm barred from their area in the system. There is nothing we can do about them. If we tell them to keep quiet about this, it will just arouse more suspicion. No, they will definitely be shooting their mouths off. Who wouldn't when they've just finished testing a SSS rank? I guess we just need to hope it doesn't reach the wrong people too soon when it spreads."
Emily nodded even though Rick couldn't see her assent.
"This will no longer be a secure line in a few days," Rick added. "I will meet you at the usual place to give you access to the new line."
Emily nodded. "Okay."
There was another long silence before Rick spoke again. "What do you think about Kurosaki? Can we trust him?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'll keep you posted." Emily hung up the phone and sat there for a moment running the conversation through her head again. If what Rick said was true, then more SSS ranks were going to be entering the virtual world. The only problem with that was, whose side were they on?
