"Where the fuck am I! And who the hell are you!"
Immediately craning my neck at the sudden yell I was met with a confusing sight. A cloaked figure standing not too far from me with… some sort of contraption… is that a plane?
"What the- Is my vision alright-"
"You! Answer me!" The voice seemingly coming from said individual screamed out.
I was taken aback, I couldn't, maybe even wouldn't process what she was saying yet I understood it clearly. I wanted to move even a single muscle but almost as if my body was in shock it did not cooperate, I was frozen. But as I was lacking in my motor functions the person yelling was not as they began to move imposingly towards me.
"If you don't tell me where I am I swear-"
Though right as I felt myself mustering up a will to move, my heart rocked as suddenly a bright blue and red streak in the sky began to roar through the air above me. I quickly passed through the top of my field of vision and into the horizon, before a very loud crash could be heard a few moments later. This event also seemed to stun the unknown person yelling, though only for a moment as I immediately noticed them on the move again.
My body finally jumpstarted back to life as my heart rapidly raced along with my mind. In a panic, I raised both my hands forward to try to show that I meant no harm, however, what instead came up was the now apparent sensation of cold hard steel hanging from the side of my arm.
"Is that a gun?!"
My eyes darted from the incoming figure to the new piece of modern weaponry seemingly connected to the back of my arm. Before I could make any moves to react to said weapon out of the corner of my eye I could make out sudden movements and as I turned I saw something that made me immediately panic.
But it was already too late as right as I turned back to face the figure, they were already directly in front of my face. Before I could do anything, I felt the all-too-familiar feeling of a breathtaking blow reverberating across my body as my stomach contoured from the sudden blow. My body ever resilient to this from the numerous instances that have happened before in games stayed firm as I only had to backstep to reel from the hit.
I could only cough in an attempt to recover but I only looked up to see another blow incoming, this time for my face as the figure pressed on their attack. I haphazardly raised both of my hands as fast as I could to shield myself from the blow. The feeling of someone bashing my bones was apparent as multiple strikes continued even after the first one.
"What the hell is happening?!"
In the flurry of blows, I swung a hard right kick, like clearing a ball, which after a few moments swiftly hit its mark as I felt my shoes hit something bony at least. With this the strikes paused and I wasted no time in quickly running backward to get some distance before lowering my guard. I was quick to notice the assailant seemed to also be recovering from my kick apparently as they were rubbing their leg rather frantically.
"Serves you right bitch, how do you like it."
I spat out some spit that began to clog up my throat before taking a few bated and heavy breaths to gather myself.
"Wait a minute why the fuck am I running? I have a gloc- gun…? Wait what the hell is this?"
Taking these few moments of respite I grabbed the gun that was seemingly attached to the back of my forearm and gripped it tightly. Giving it a quick inspection it was unlike any modern pistol I've seen, not a Glock, yet oddly similar, was it some sort of foreign export or something?
"Also what's up with its small size? This thing barely is held well in my grip, also what's up with its weight? I'm sure pure metal guns don't weigh as light as a feather. Don't tell me this is one of those 3d printed gu-"
A shuffle of more movement from directly ahead of me prompted me to dart my eyes up. My heart rate continued to rise as now this random person began to move for a second round of this bullshit.
"Not this time dumbass!"
Now with a slightly better grip on my position, I raised my pistol as well as I could toward this random person who jumped me before repeating the line all people should know.
"Put your hands where I can fucking see them!" I snarled as I aimed at the person.
However, unlike any other reasonable person would act when they are literally being held at fucking gunpoint, they just rushed forward with some sort of unrelenting drive.
"Fight or flight my ass, I gave you a chance!"
With no other choice, I pulled back on the trigger, I never shot a gun before, and I knew I would regret that as immediately my arms jolted backward and the pistol shot straight up from the recoil. What was louder, the deafening pop that came from it, or the anguish my arms were squealing in from the backlash? But one thing was certain, it was not as loud as the following growl? Grunt, or whatever of the person on the receiving end as they visibly began to stumble.
Heavily exerting my arms back down I aimed in once more at them, "Calm the fuck down unless you want me to-"
"You fucking fuck!" they screamed out in audible pain.
"Well that's what you get for fucking around, you found out, dumbass," I snarled in response.
"First you kidnap me next you shoot me? I don't know how you low-level agents got a hold of this level of tech, but don't think I'll take this shit lightly! You hear me! I'll kill you," she shrieked.
"Kidnap? Anger issues much? You started it cunt. Never knew a girl could be this much of an ass."
"Yeah in your dreams bitch, now calm down before I'm forced to give you another volley of lead," I grunted in anger as I steadied my aim on them.
For a few moments afterward I honestly thought she was doing just that, with the beginning to curl up slightly, I could not tell that well though as their very dark cloak in contrast with the vibrant grass sort of prevented me from getting a better look. But one thing popped into my mind that instant, what are people usually doing whenever they conceal themselves from cops they-
"She's grabbing a wea-"
In a split second, she sprung at me, closing the bridge between us rather quickly, and in that same moment I made a fatal mistake. I fired like an idiot. With no regard for her change in movement, I knew the bullet whizzed past her as she was now upon me with no intentions of stopping. And even out of my focus, I could begin to her pulling her arm out of her cloak and along with it-
"You little shi-"
Electricity.
"Huh?"
Just as quickly as this animal of a person rushed up, they completely staggered in place as blue electricity was wildly sparking from their body. I of course stepped back and reaffirmed my aim once more albeit more shakily than before.
"AUGH" they groaned in bloodcurdling pain.
"Is this bitch going super mode or something? What the hell is going on?"
The thumps in my chest began to rapidly increase even more so than before as I internally panicked about the situation. As I continued gazing for a few more moments, I could vaguely make out that the electricity was stemming from their left side, the one where they were about to pull… something out?
"Did this bitch taser herself or something…? No, I doubt a taser would make it seem like you're being struck by the God of Thunder, and for this long…"
As suddenly as her electrocution began, just as suddenly did it end with the abrupt stop of the zapping and start of the fizzling as I heard something hit the ground. I only needed a moment but the glimmer of a shiny object in the sun was hard to miss. And judging from its rough shape… she was trying to shank me.
"But why did she get electrocuted? Is it one of those off-brand two in one thing and it malfunctioned-"
"What-" the person heavily coughed out.
"Huh? What what?" I said in anticipation of something.
"Did you do-" they said laboriously.
"Well maybe start with you telling me what you were about to do with that damn knife," I gritted as I motioned with my gaze towards it.
They heaved in pain, "What did you think you… you damn brute!"
"Well, I don't know!"
"You're the only brute here you little shithead, how about you start by telling me where I am?" I demanded as I fixed my aiming posture slightly.
"You want me to tell you?! How about you explain what sort of… temporal box did you trap me in!" they screeched.
"What?!" I said in a baffled response.
"Is this person on something? Like the fuck? First, they attack me, next they start spouting some random bullshit… but again, they seem just as confused as me, granted of course with clearly more rage behind it."
"Okay how about you calm down and we figure out what the hell is going on, because clearly you don't have a damn clue either-"
"AUGHH"
Once again they pounced, though this time, while expecting it I was not fast enough to pull the trigger, was I scared of killing them? Maybe but before I knew it- The sudden feeling of my gut being reconfigured shocked my body as I felt another blow to my stomach.
"FUCK"
This time, however, I won't let it repeat play-by-play. I raised my pistol and using whatever was left of me not wanting to curl up in pain at the moment, I slammed down, hard, on their head. The result? Immediately I saw their body go limp as they collapsed face first on the ground, and with that, their hood unfurled to reveal a splash of white emerge from their head.
I was dumbfounded for a moment, though in the next my body remembered that I was just gut-punched and made sure to remind me by instinctively forcing me to clutch the site of impact.
"Damn, this… girl…? Whatever they hit like a fucking brick."
I crouched over for a few moments to regain myself, eyeing the girl from time to time, half because I was worried about her getting up and finishing me off, and half from the sudden invasion of white in contrast to their black cloak. The more I looked however the more I realized that they seemed to not be much older than me… maybe even the same age regardless of their hair shade.
"Looks like a granny, hits like a grown ass man, and apparently she can take a hit too because I shot her… wait… could she be bleeding? Wait…"
Instantly a grip of worry washed over me, erasing the previous anger that was festering from first contact as I once again looked over and this time, I became worried, as she stayed down with no voluntary movements to speak of.. Even if this girl almost murdered me, the thought of killing someone… I moved without thinking, ignoring everything that happened just moments ago.
I checked to see if there was any substantial bleeding by doing my best to them to the side with the contraption they had strapped on their back... Though to my surprise there was no entrance wound, nor was there any indication of any sort of bleeding? Pressing my fingers against one of the spots near their shoulder revealed no bleeding or at least any major kind that would have probably soaked it by now.
"The hell? I know this pistol looks like a miniaturized toy version of the ones I know, but still, those bangs… and the way she screamed, I hit her… so why… Is she even bleeding?"
My curiosity and worry began to equally rise. But even if they were some sort of bloodthirsty killer I was not going to try to undress them to investigate further. The steady yet clearly uneasy breaths they were taking also relieved me of me possibility of just killing her right then and there. Relief was felt across my mind, though quickly it was replaced with more questions than answers on what the hell is even going on.
"A gun that can hurt like one but not puncture the skin, and on top of that this… girl, has a plane that looks like came straight from the German front in World War 1. And if I remember correctly there was this big ass meteo-"
"Hello?" a new voice confused and softer interjected my thoughts.
Already having been practically assaulted, and my nerves being on edge, even at the sound of this much more passive question. I instinctively raised my pistol once more at its source. However, to my confusion, there was a boy, on a tank.
"What the hell…?"
As confused as I was I was not going to let the same thing happen again, and if this boy knows how to operate it, then…
"Get off the tank!" I yelled with the most imposing voice I could muster.
"Huh?!" he yelped as he got in between my crosshairs.
Short, raggy clothes, and an odd complexion as unwittingly harmless and maybe pitiful as this guy looks like, I would not let myself be at the risk of danger once more.
"You fucking heard me!" I yelled, "Get off!"
Yet again, contrary, well sort of contrary to the expected response from being held at gunpoint, they did something I did not predict. They began to break down. At first, I thought it was just par for the course, but almost instantly they went from fearing me to just collapsing on top of the tankette and flopping around sort of. In between that clear and loud sobbing was being shouted out of his tiny body, how such a frail boy could produce such noises I could not know.
Ranging from normal crying to howls and hollers of names I did not recognize nor did I care to, I lowered my weapon out of… embarrassment. Luckily it was not an act as even when I dropped my guard he continued to twist and turn, oblivious to his current position and everything around him, sort of like a baby?
"Is he okay…"
I eyed him awkwardly, "Hey man you good?"
Even as I tried to question him he seemed non-responsive as he just continued to sprawl around without a damn care about anything happening.
"Well, it's not blissful ignorance, more like annoying unawareness, loud could also fit the description."
My mind began to wander and block out his cries as I refocused on the next big thing as I doubted one's self-esteem could keep up a ruse this long.
"Now about this giant ass hourglass… Hey! that rhymed! But really what is that thing."
The giant hourglass looming over me this entire time from a distance away was resting on top of a small elevation in comparison to the rest of the open field. As much as I was worried that the dude's screaming would either wake that grandma girl or call over a wild animal, standing here waiting for either to happen won't end well either.
"What am I to worry about? I have a gun! I can just pop anything that gets in my way! Well, I should probably not go all psycho with this… plus my ears are still ringing a little…"
Ignoring my imminent tinnitus, I made my way to the big hourglass, if I was going to get answers maybe this thing will have some message inscribed on it or something.
"I recall seeing some hourglasses in the cutscene that played on the game I opened before… all this… Don't tell me… Nah… There is no way I got… Okay! Bad thoughts and doubts go away, we go to the hourglass. Now!"
Brushing aside my thoughts I marched forward directly towards the hourglass, any hopes of maybe getting back to my semi-comfy bed and out of this burning sunlight I'll take and investigate. As I approached the out-of-place ancient time measurer, I felt an odd feeling, I wouldn't call it unease but more or less something building up.
At first, I held my check a little with my free hand as I might just be having breathing problems from getting my shit rocked, but it continued. However oddly as ambiguous and unknown as it was I sort of knew it, it was not new… maybe unnoticed? I confused myself more but I was not worried about not knowing, since I always knew…?
As suddenly as that weird feeling arose, it immediately disappeared and while it confused me for a moment, It became clear as to why. Looking up, near the top of the giant hourglass there seemed to be an oddly colored… jewel? Ruby? Either way it was beginning to glow, and definitely not due to the sun's glare, if so I would have noticed beforehand.
However even so with the giant hourglass over me, it being the height of a small building, I was not afraid. Instead, I was intrigued, as for some odd reason yet again, that feeling arose once more, but it sort of… beckoned me to approach. Like I was incomplete, and needed to find the whole… but would that mean I was always incomplete? Imperfect? No full…?
As I took a few timid and apprehensive steps, the glow of the gem intensified until finally… it shot out. A beam of light from my right arm's side shot out into the gem at the hourglass. With that, the glow of it began to switch to a flicker on and off.
"Did that just shoot out of my-"
Gazing down at the new weapon I acquired, the end of the magazine where one would usually reload and eject ammo from the pistol, a dark red-colored gem that was previously unnoticed began to rapidly glow in a similar rhythm and speed to the one on the hourglass. Looking back and forth between the two only confirmed my suspicions and even more so when I got a little closer and raised the end of it so they would align next to each other at least from my perspective. A new beam blasted out a few moments later, and instinctively I ducked to avoid it, it followed my movements, but instead of eviscerating my brain, it collided with my pistol's gem.
Subsequently following that interaction, both the glowing on the hourglass and my weapon stopped completely. And while I could only crouch in confusion for a few moments as my heart rate recovered, I felt it immediately spike once I saw something appear in my field of view. It was not appearing… it was making itself known better yet, at the edges of my vision I saw in the corner a small little circleish thing.
"Am I tripping? I thought it was just some dust or some sunlight blindness thing… that was something?"
As I attempted to focus on the said thing, I was immediately startled whenever it changed and began to grow in size. Just as instantly as it became noticed, it expanded to fill my view and…
"Is this a goddamn status menu Straight out of a video game, one I think I've seen before in those RPGs'..? I think?"
The bombardment of information was baffling, apparently, I had stats? Also, there were several images with names attached on one part, to list a few: Status, Party, Help, and Inventory. Not in that particular order and not including all of them. While I was… excited? At first, the feeling quickly faded away and was replaced with a new emotion, dread.
"So this just confirms it, I got kidnapped into another world. I think the proper name is like Isekai or something, I don't watch enough anime slop to know much. Wait so does this mean… is it like one of those die-in-game-die-in real life?! What if someone turns off my PC? Or is this an actual world?! What the hell am I suppose-"
The flurry of thoughts enveloped me, but my attention was grabbed from them as the RPG menu changed, now with a glowing icon on the screen.
"Status? What's so important about status?"
I scratched my head in confusion at the glowing button. But the pieces began to fall in place after they began to blink in their luminosity.
"Alright so maybe this is like a tutorial or something? As much as I hate being straddled through basic stuff I think this situation calls for it… Now how do I select this… status button…"
I raised my hand and attempted to touch the button, but nothing changed. My hand only seemed to phase through where it should be, only serving to obstruct my view.
"So it's not a physical thing, okay. So it's in my eye? Maybe it's a mental thing? Focusing on the weird thing on the side opened this whole mess, that might be how I interact with this… menu, I think at least."
Doing my best to focus on something that does not actually exist was odd but after a few moments of just staring blankly at probably nothing like an idiot on the outside something suddenly clicked with a new popup appearing. At the top in large text, 'Status.' But what interested and confused me more was what was under it.
Alex Rodgers
Class: Ranged Weapons Hero
Level: 1
Equipment: Small Basic Pistol (Legendary Weapon), Other-World School Uniform
Skills: None
Magic:
"Okay, definitely in some sort of game world, that's for sure. Legendary… Ranged Weapons? Wait- that's the weapon from the- oh yeah I got sucked into the game. Or did I get transported to an actual manifestation of the world…? Either way, I'm fucking sure that the die here, die in real applies here as from that clobbering I got earlier."
While reminiscing about the beating of the lifetime I got not too long ago, the glowing from earlier started up once more. This time however now in the "Help" section.
"Okay self-explanatory, maybe this will explain why I just got basically abducted."
Doing my method of focusing once more I was able to open up the new popup with greater speed. Replacing the previous information being displayed, now being shown was a multitude of tabs and folders. They covered the screen from the side top to bottom. While glancing through the many sections listed, my attention was once more grabbed by the return of the indicating glow.
The section labeled "Tutorial" was prompted by the glow and repeated the same thing as before I opened it. A dropdown menu popped down revealing many greyed-out tabs, but the top one like the main one before was glowing. Knowing what to do I focused on the glowing one labeled "Introduction" unlike the last one which was filled to replace the status menu, this instead filled the empty space to the side not filled by the tabs on the left.
As I began to read the wall of text that emerged in front of me I was beginning to actually get a few key points from it. Well, it helped that a lot of the supposedly important terms were bolded, highlighted, or in brackets in comparison to the rest. They all each probably mean something, but I'll worry about them equally for now.
"Alright let me just go from top to bottom, I'll just skim on the non-important looking stuff for now."
[Summoned from another world, your purpose as a Hero is to protect the world from an impending cataclysm labeled the "Waves of Calamity."]
"Waves of calamity? Like literal waves of pure calamity or something? Let me try focusing on the underlined word maybe I can interact with it like a hyperlink or whatever."
A small feeling of happiness figuratively rose from my chest as a new text box now expanded to cover a portion of the previous one. With new information most likely pertaining to what these so-called "Waves" are.
"Underlined ones are openable, keep that in mind, Alex."
[The "Waves of Calamity" are a cataclysm that brings forth a slew of monsters that emerge from cracks in reality. To bring the Wave to an end, one would need to defeat the "Wave Boss", who once defeated would begin a countdown until the end of the wave."]
"What the hell is a wave boss? Well, it's underlined so I guess I'll just…"
The following text box was even smaller but provided the needed information once again. Waves bosses are apparently monsters that are bloated in size and strength and like I already read, are required to end these so-called "Waves."
"Okay that's great and all but why the hell was I even transported, how even, I'm fairly sure this is too freaky to be in sci-fi, I doubt even the U.S. government has this level of tech. And why would they use an unsuspecting guy not even out of hig- Actually I can see why… Sort of… But still!"
While contemplating the ramifications of the United States military or whatever branch I was possibly being subjected to under examination. My helpful wall of text seemed to be more abrasive as suddenly all of my small pop-ups closed and my view of the text scrolled down to a highlighted section.
"Yeah either I'm tripping, being expirmtend on, or… video game… I hate how it's looking more and more like the third option!"
Slightly tensing my free fist from my thoughts, I refocused on the highlighted section that this info dump wanted me to see for some reason.
[Heroes are selected through requirements set by the "Legendary Weapons".]
"That's it? That's it?! Maybe this link has something."
[Each Hero is equipped with a "Legendary Weapon" to aid them in their goal of repelling the waves. Each Legendary Weapon is unique in its regard through its "Capabilities" and stat allocation.]
"... This does not explain shit… I feel like whatever this tutorial… Guide thing is just meant to infuriate me."
Expanding the Capabilities to reveal whatever garbage the Capabilities tab would redirect me to, my expectations were exceeded as I came across something peculiar.
[While each "Legendary Weapon" is unique, all share several common Weapon Benefits exclusive to "Heroes".]
"Weapon benefits? Like this thing does more than putting some lead in someone? Wait but won't I need ammunition however now thinking about it…"
I wearily glanced down to where I would normally eject and insert the magazine would be. As sure as I was of my lack of qualification to handle such a weapon, losing its capability to, you know, do its job would be a massive detriment.
"I hope it will explain how to refill the gun with the crystal gem thing in the way… Cause if not, I don't think this 6-8 magazine pistol would be able to do anything useful. Whatever! Let me check out these benefits."
[Heroes will gain access to "Weapon Forms", weapon forms allow Heroes to gain benefits from wielding derivative forms of their weapon.]
"Wait- So I can change the form of this small pistol? Like can I make it a machine gun or something? That would actually be really great… though it would not solve the ammo issue. Hm… Let me just figure out these benefits before I try to fret over these details, the more I know the better."
Continuing the trend of opening tabs with my mind? Concentration? I read through the weapon form section. However, I came to a very disappointing realization as it explained further as to how to "acquire" said weapon forms and their beneficial properties.
"Soooo, absorb random things, get weapon form? I think that's the gist? It doesn't really describe how to absorb, just that I will get stuff called "Equip Effects" and "Skills." And as much as I would want to continue investigating the tutorial, I think maybe trying to get these benefits sooner rather than later would be optimal."
After a few moments of trying to figure out how to close down the whole menu, it eventually did so on its own. Either from non-interaction or just me wanting it to happen, however the way it happened, it brought more questions than answers as the top left of my view was now slightly obstructed by some new things.
"Were these always there? I mean I think I know what they are but I don't really want to assume, assumptions lead to misunderstandings and mess-ups, and I don't think this is exactly the place where I want to do that… But weapon forms…. Augh, why did I have to be sucked into this weird ass place!"
Doing my best to shrug off the mounting stress of my circumstances, I moved my attention to the three bars with my name at the top with a small image of the side profile of a pistol. There was a large green one at the top, a smaller blue one below it, and an equally sized yellow one below that. While I'm not the most adept when it comes to these kinds of games, I had a vague idea through context clues.
"Green is obviously health, it's not hard to guess too considering it's been lowered from its supposed maximum by a good chunk. That white-haired bitch being the culprit for that… Tsk. Now the blue? Maybe mana or MP, is magic a thing in this world? I mean it won't be that insane with everything happening so far. The yellow though? Uh, maybe stamina? I mean it's at full along with the blue one, and seeing as how I've just been standing around it might have regenerated. Recovered? I'm not really sure on the wordage… Weapon forms! Right right, stop getting distracted Alex!"
Leaning down I began to pull on the vegetation, "It said to just get materials right? Grass is material!" I huffed.
A few seconds of yanking a pulling later on the stubborn grass, I was now holding a handful of grasses, weeds, and whatever else green. Next, I needed to figure out how to "absorb" these things.
"Well, they said "Absorb" so not eating them myself, maybe this weird gem has something to do with it? I mean it's the only thing I could imagine having some special thing or property attached as normally I don't imagine one to have such a large gem on a pistol of this caliber. Well unless you are like some Saudi Prince, maybe some African Warlord… you get the point."
I lightly shook my pistol to no reaction from the gem. Crouching down I lifted it and hit it against the ground several times to no avail other than kicking up some dirt.
"Maybe it's a mental thing like my menu thingy?"
Squinting my eyes I focused on the gem for what felt like a minute. Widening my eyes, diverting my gaze, or thinking of absorbing would prompt a response from it.
"Was it not reacting before by the giant hourglass? Maybe I need to be near it?"
I moved a few paces closer than where I was, almost up against the giant time tracker. Peeking inside I could see of course sand dropping from the top container to the bottom, the top has most of the sand, so whatever its timing there must be a good amount of time for it. Now gazing upon the giant gem crystal at its top, I lifted my pistol like before… for nothing.
"What? It worked the first time why the hell is it not working now?"
I could only grunt in exasperation as I lowered my arm once more.
"Hm, stupid idea but…"
Raising my grass-cupped hand I brought it next to the attached gem on my pistol.
"Maybe… I can reload and unlock weapon forms with these things? I'm just seeing what sticks here, to be honest."
As I brought both my hands together at first nothing happened. And with that, I could only blankly stare in frustration and defeat as I just deeply exhaled from my nose many times. Seeing as just putting them near each other was infuriating me by the second, I did the second most logical thing in this illogical world, I tried to slam the grass into the gem like ammo.
"If this won't work then-"
While initially my hopes got dashed as the grass just pressed against the gem, a sudden reactivation of the gem occurred as it began to glow.
"So it works?"
As the gem's glow intensified, I felt the grass immediately begin to… disappear? Until eventually I was only pressing my hand against the gem bare.
"So that's how that works!" I said with a grin, "Alright now I'm getting somewhere."
Now with a grasp on how to "Absorb" I did the only reasonable thing I knew I could do in that moment and plucked out all the grass in a 1-foot radius of me for a couple of minutes. I was not sure how much I needed to get these "Weapon Forms" but I sure as hell was going to get it now. Who knows I might be able to get something more useful than this pellet shooter… well it's not exactly a pellet shooter but my point still stands.
I piled the grass as best as I could on top of each other in the now 1-foot wide patch of dirt. I had to step on it a number of times to keep it compressed and to avoid the random wind gusts from blowing them away. While the sun continued to beat down on me, I was not really worried as I had a small amount of shade from the hourglass.
Now with more than enough grass, I grabbed my first scoop and repeated what I did before.
The gem ate the grasses as expected. Nothing popped up but I was not too worried, after all, if this world is like its game it would not give me a good-ass weapon for just two scoops of grass. I mean then again it is grass so I don't expect anything crazy but I would prefer something with a bit more oomph.
Reaching for my third handful of grass out of the tens of more I had piled up, I absorbed it, only for something new to appear in my HUD.
[Requirments met: Leaf Pistol]
"What."
Like before, I stared blankly at the popup for a few moments and looked back at the small row of grasses I had prepared. My toes curled for a moment in frustration as I looked back at the popup before mentally pressing it. As I did so I was redirected to the main hub menu thing where I could choose where to proceed.
One of the options which was listed as "Weapon Forms," opened up on its own to reveal a massive tree-like structure with many… circles? That branched out. At the dead center laid an odd image of a pistol's side profile like the one near the bars, which was the only illuminated one out of the many greyed-out ones with "?" Just a moment later, however, one of the nonilluminated ones next to the illuminated one began to be filled, then suddenly-
Leaf Pistol
-Abilities Locked- Equip Bonus: Gathering 1
"Woah… Now that's something, that's for sure," I mumbled to myself, ignoring all the previous effort I put into unlocking this.
"Okay… Now how do I… use this weapon form… It's probably also a mental thing-"
Just as quickly as the thought emerged, did I feel my right hand feel off? As I turned my head to see, my pistol began to emit a soft red glow across its whole body as it began to turn into… something. I attempted to drop it, but for some weird reason, it stayed attached by its end to my finger. My panic quickly wore off as from that mush, a new weapon emerged.
Now bigger, and with a leafy new camouflage that reminds me of one you get in shooters. The weapon was dangling on my finger as if it were glued on. But contrary to one that was glued would act, it slid down my hand as I moved the lowest point.
"What the- This is trippy, it's like a slime, is it a slime? Do slimes exist? Wait that won't make sense-"
Barring a few seconds of panic, I slowly came to my senses regarding any sort of logic applying to me at this point. And steeled myself under the logic of just dealing with things as they came until I could find some sort of explanation behind it.
"Fretting over each thing is just a waste of time, unless it directly hurts me in some way I'll just take it as is, no need for panic, or I'll try to at least. Now, let me see what this whole tree- tech tree-looking thing is, maybe I can find out the requirements for other weapons? Since as much as I… wish I spent my time better with the grass, I can maybe get something more useful."
Closing the tab with my new leafy weapon form, I focused on the only other illuminated circle. The one in the center directly. As I do with all menu-related things, focusing… willing it to open lets me interact with it.
Small Basic Pistol
-Abilities Locked- Equip Bonus: +3 Attack
"+3 Attack? I assume since this is a game I have a damage stat of sorts, and that's attack. Wait so does that mean that the Leaf Pistol I just got it worse? Since that only gives me "Gathering 1" I'm not sure what that does, and it's a hell of a lot more convoluted than just giving me more damage, I think there is really only one logical thing to do."
Attempting to repeat what made my weapon form change initially, I did my best to will myself to equip or select the previous one I had. And while it did take a few moments yet again of just staring blankly at nothing, I was able to more quickly change the weapon form. I knew I was successful as the leafy feeling I was getting from the pistol got replaced with the metal from before.
I was forced to adjust my grip on the smaller weapon, but it was no issue for me after a few hand adjustments.
"Alright I'll just keep this on hand until I get something better, let's see if the "Help" menu has anything-"
"You fucking bitch!" a slurred scream came from my left.
Caught in a panic I attempted to close all my menus but ended up opening more in the process. Behind their semi-translucent walls of text, I could vaguely make out a familiar black-robed figure with an odd contraption approaching.
"Calm the fuck down Alex, just explain to her what's going on, and she'll calm down."
I began sounding as assured as I could while closing the menu, "Hey! Listen I think I figur-"
She interjected "Shut your damn mouth you mongrel! First, you abduct me, next you shoot me! I already thought you were scum but I have had enough!"
"Mongrel, that's a bit harsh- Oh shit she's coming-"
Like some wild animal in a frenzy, this girl comes running at me. With negotiation breaking down, one solution is available, retaliation. Bringing myself to a shooting stance as best as I could in the few moments I took to realize the situation.
"Don't make me fucking do this! I don't want to hurt you but-"
"Don't want to hurt?! You almost killed me you beast!" She snarled with heavy breaths.
The closer she got, my heart thumped in kind, I knew I was hesitating, giving her chances, not just blasting her outright, it was dumb. My life was definitely more important than hers for me but… I just could not bring myself to pull it, but I know the consequences.
"You gave her enough chances, pull the damn trigger."
"I'm sor-"
A new beam, but the same came blasting through from the hourglass above. Almost a repeat of before, I saw her rush immediately slow to a crawl, then a complete stop as she just stood in relative calmness from my perspective. Just as a sense of peace washed over her, followed my heart as the imminent danger seemingly disappeared.
The moments that followed were only filled with the heaving breaths through my nostrils as I soaked in the moment.
"Was I really going to shoot them? But I was justified… Still, I don't, augh. I still don't even know if this is a game, for all I know I could respawn and just appear back here. Even so, if I could respawn would it help at all? Would that not trivialize the entire concept of life and death? I never really thought of the religious and spiritual ramifications now thinking about it. I'll admit my parents were more into that but won't this disprove, like everything? Unless this is some obscure ass thing with a religion nobody knows?"
"But who would believe in being trapped in a video game? Who? Is this even a natural event? Supernatural for sure but- I mean the government pulling some shit would still be on the table but- why? Why me? I was just sleeping- I should have just slept- What would mom think the morning? I just up and left? I need to go back, but how? This whole system- can I even go back? Am I trapped? Forever? Until I die myself? Or will I have to die to go back? What should I do? How do I go back?! I want to go back! Whoever had the sick fucking idea to trap me here needs to send me the fuck back-"
"Hey-" a familiar voice spoke up.
Pulling away from my thoughts I came upon the girl, standing where she was before. I could not respond, or did I not want to respond? I stayed silent in quiet anger, not fully for her, but for whatever got me here.
She seemed unaggressive with her voice, but what she said next baffled me, "Could you please lower your weapon now."
I did not think my words through, my heart spoke for me in its pacing and pent-up anger, "And why the hell should I do that," I spat.
They seemed taken aback for a few moments, but responded, "Because- I understand now, what you were trying to tell me."
"And that is?" I grunted in frustration.
"Why I'm here, well, sort of. I- …," she paused for a few moments, "It was vague but I got the gist of it."
"Is that so?" I eyed her questionably.
"Indeed it is so," she confirmed, "I can assure you, if what I was- said? Is true, it would be in our best interest to cooperate, as begrudgingly as I don't wish to," grunting at the end.
"What's that supposed to mean, especially that last part?" I snarled.
Her patience seemed to run thin as her tone seemed to anger slightly, "Put down your gun and I'll gladly explain, this seems very one-sided does it not?"
"She has a point…"
"But so do we, don't trust her, know what she can do."
"Still…"
"I have given my two cents, it's not like we can convince ourselves easily."
"Shut it."
Going against any normal person's logic, I slowly untensed my grip on my arm and weapon and lowered it to a resting position. I could not tell but it seemed like the girl ahead of me was also untensed, but I'm not sure. A cool gust of wind breezed over us and picked up the grass I had not too long ago spent a while collecting. Then, she finally spoke up.
"We need to talk."
End of Chapter 1
(No index or bonus text this time, I'll start implementing those next chapter. [Expect more of the latter!])
Authors Notes:
Okay, this is going to be a wall of text again, if you wish for a TLDR just skip till the end.
Firstly, I wish to say sorry (Again I know.) for the massive lack of uploads for… a while, yeah. A lot has happened, I got badly sick for a whole month, motivation plummeted even after I recovered. Then once I was motivated again I had to do a ton of college prep which destroyed any free time. And the free time I did have I wasted just playing video games and then writing. But now with my college schedule all set and now in the grove of things, I should (Should) be able to return to normal bi-weekly posting.
Secondly, I'll begin preparing a packet doc containing all the older chapters pre-rewrite that get replaced on FFN, if you want to access them just join the MWP Dis Server at the bottom. I won't promise it will be done soon since I'm still fairly busy but I should have it up within a few weeks for anybody wanting to read through my old writings.
Thirdly, yes I will do my best to stick to the schedule. Something of note is that as much as I wish to stick to the 2 rewrites and 1 normal chapter, I might sometimes swap it around depending on how I feel. Sorry if it's not consistent but it largely boils down if I just wish to retell something or want to progress the story.
Finally, be sure to drop a follow even with my inconsistent posting, at the time of posting (9/1/2) I'm approaching 100 follows (On FFN) and I would love to reach that! Reviews are also appreciated on both platforms I post, and I will strive to do my best to continue to write this story to its finish. I have a lot planned, and I have no plans on not taking you all with me. Anyways, until next time (2 weeks from now) take care, have a great day/night, and peace!
TLDR: Apologies for no uploads, sickness, demotivation, and college prep are the reason. A packet doc containing all older replaced chapters is in the works and will be posted in the MWP Dis Server in the following weeks. Drop a follow, Kudos, Review, or whatever, it's much appreciated, my friends.
MWP Server: Dis co rd. gg / Bu ha 9 Qa Kz W