Reality Break Ch. 04

Then in the last week, two people had suffered from level three Reality Break, and probably more people under the radar. Of what Minerva learned, level three Reality Break, or RB3 for the lazy, caused a person to live a completely different life in a completely different world. It sounded similar to level two Reality Break, or RB2, but it was most certainly different. RB2 made people believe they were something else, maybe an assassin or a pro wrestler inside Earth. What was different about RB3, in the first case of the player Demonz, was that he believed he was a member of the Changeling race inside the world of Rebellions as if it was actually real and the Earth never existed. He believed he was his class, the Crypt Knight, and he had to enact his evil plans, whatever his insane mind concocted. Not only that, but RB3 showed more obvious wear and tear on a person's mind and brain to the point that it seemed to affect their body's processes with their internal organs.

To be honest, Minerva never really cared nor like Donner. Still, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the player and his family that had to go through such a tragedy. Still, Donner probably lived halfway around the world; it wasn't like Minerva had to visit him in his hospital bed. It was best to feel sorry for him for a little while and get on with her life.

"...When is he going to get here?" Minerva wondered out loud as she stretched her legs amongst the flower beds from the bench she sat on.

Minerva was a Dark Elf player who was a member of the Duskcaller classification, a cross rogue and priest class. Of their stats, Duskcallers usually focused on Agility, Perception, and Focus, with the main stat being Perception. Minerva wore black leather armor with similarly shaded cloths that draped around the armor which didn't look like they won't belong on a cult cabalist (which incidentally is another rogue/priest classification). For a weapon, she had a miniature hand crossbow which she could easily pull out at any time with either hand. For melee combat, Minerva relied on her Dark Blades special skill which allowed her to create numerous dark swords in her hands or the air depending on how much mana she had.

As for her looks, Minerva didn't think she looked

Currently she was waiting for her cousin who said he was in a group that was looking for two more people and recommended her since she was recently kicked out of a guild. She was thankful for the offer and was legitimately interested in joining, but every time she was reminded of her being kicked out for that asinine reason, Minerva winced.

The reason for being booted out was for losing that duel the day before Donner was affected with RB3. "For fuck's sake!? Who the hell gets kicked out of a guild simply for losing A, and I stress A, duel." Several people in her guild and outside the game have commented on her foul mouth, so she often forced herself to use faux politeness, right now she was far too pissed off to be polite. Also, Minerva was correct when she said she lost a duel, as she had never lost a single one beforehand, at least not after gaining a few levels and understanding the game.

Minerva loved gardens, not the act of gardening, but the finished product. She often lazed about in the various beautiful gardens of Rebellions in order to relax and think about various things. There was far more beauty in this world than there was outside of the game. There was far more color and vibrancy to the lands of Rebellions when compared to the area she lived in and most of Earth in general. She told herself many times that when she became a high enough level to safely travel, she would visit as many places as possible in each of the game's seven continents. Atarea was extremely large, far bigger than many of the game worlds of the previous years. Yet it was only one continent, and there were six more waiting for her to see and explore.

Out of the corner of her eye, Minerva saw her cousin. In actuality, thanks to her high perception, she heard and even smelled his presence before seeing them but decided to wait for him and his group mates to come to her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp air and prepared herself mentally to meet her cousin, whose in game name is Coolidge and the people in his group.

Turning around with a smile on her face that was not overly friendly but not overly cold, Minerva attempted to greet the players. "He-H-H-Hello." She saw him.

"Hi there! We meet again, Minerva!" He spoke with a cheerful tone that didn't seem to care that she fought him in a duel the other day, in fact, his voice was as smooth as glass.

"Hello..." Minerva said again under her breath as she stared wide-eyed at quite probably the most handsome player she had ever seen, Glass. Screw photo-shopped pictures on the internet of hot men (not that she looked on the internet for those pictures in the first place). Glass was without a doubt the most perfect specimen she had ever seen. It was a given that every player model was closely designed after what the player looked like in real life, and it was also a given that each player model was had their overall attractiveness increased... However, Minerva would believe it if Glass said he looked exactly like he did in game in real life, minus the High Elven features.

Broken out of her reverie, her cousin Coolidge immediately went into introductions. "This is Blossom, an Aeromancer and the tactician of our group, and this is Glass whom you seemed to have met before. There is also Song Ha-Sup, a Blood Savant healer and Scarlet, a Wanderer who are buying supplies for the group at the moment. Glass and Blossom, this is my cousin Minerva, though she is a few levels higher than us, please allow her to join the group."

It wasn't like a high level player couldn't join a group of low levers and vice versa. However, most players agreed to best enjoy the game, every player in a full group must be at least within ten levels of each other, though in large scale groups the level gap could be larger.

Minerva coughed and regained her composure and spoke with an honest politeness that didn't suit her true personality. "Ahem, um, yes, it's a pleasure to see you again Glass. I, uh, heard from Coolidge that you are looking for another person to join your group?"

Blossom narrowed her eyes at Minerva as if she could read her mind, but she remained silent.

"Yup, though I may have beaten you in a duel, it was obviously because of extreme luck. I've no doubt you're actually quite skilled in this game with your class. Please join our group!" The handsome player curtly bowed his head.

His words and formal gesture threw Minerva's mind around, she was at a loss for what to say next but managed to mumble through it. "I don't mind..."

Blossom had certain suspicions in her mind, and they were more or less confirmed. Still, she made Glass the group leader so she couldn't complain on his choice of group members. (Maybe I should mark some territory? No I'm not clingy and Glass and I aren't involved... Still.)

Placing her hand on Glass' shoulder and leaning in closer than usual, the pretty Undine player, with a partially embarrassed look, stood next to Glass and faced Minerva. "Welcome to the group and I hope we get along."

Minerva's eyes slanted as if looking down the sights of the game's ranged weapons. "Oh yes, I hope we get along."

As Blossom and Minerva tried to stare each other down, Glass innocently looked back and forth between the two, thinking (Neat, seems like they're friends already!). Only Coolidge could tell what was really happening behind the lines as he released a throaty chuckled beneath his wolfish grin.

-

"That'll be fifty cogs my good sir."

"And here are fifty cogs for you my good store owner!"

Song Ha-Sup reached into a money purse for fifty cogs, Rebellions' currency, and handed it to the store owner. He and Scarlet were in the store to buy supplies for the upcoming excursion into the underwater dungeon at Sibling Lakes.

Entering a dungeon, even a fairly low level one, was no small deal. Many dungeons were located deep within the game's vast wilderness far from any town or outpost. There were a few dungeons located near towns or even in towns themselves such as the Sunken Cathedral of the Grotto located underground Europa's largest city of High Romalia.

When Coolidge shared his map with everyone in his group, the map data was automatically transferred to each player and what Coolidge had explored was now available for each player to see on the map. They did the same back and each player shared their map data with one another. Blossom had noted while everyone was walking together that the closest area which had the important NPC shop owners which had supplies for a dungeon was the town of West Log, a town similar to what settlers would have made after settling down in fresh land. On a side note, any player could purchase maps from a store or map data from another player for cogs. This was an easy strategy to gain cogs quick for higher leveled players when selling their map data to fresh new players.

That said, Blossom told Song and Blossom to go get supplies for six people. Blossom had made Scarlet the group treasurer (which Glass found to be an excellent job for the virus AI considering the mathematical capabilities her programming gave her) so she held all of the cogs she, Glass, and Blossom had made when grinding before reaching Castle Port, which was no small number. The group had plenty of funds to purchase as many supplies they needed to last their delving into the dungeon and then some.

Right now the two were buying food supplies from an NPC run shop. It was not like a player needed to eat to survive in the game, but it was nice to taste the delicious food the game had to offer. Plus, various delicacies and ingredients offered special benefits and buffs. Cooking in this game was often compared to potion making.

Scarlet stared at the vast selection of food ingredients which ranged from cuts of strange fish exclusive to the game to a neat arrangement of herbs. While Scarlet was not a good judge of character, she noticed that Song had a rare serious face on him as he decided what to buy, though he resorted to his normal personality when conversing with the NPC as if the virtual shop owner was a real being. (Is that how people talk with one another outside of this world?) Scarlet pondered, though she didn't remain with the question in mind for very long.

"Miss Scarlet, let us acquire the rest of our provisions our fantastic group needs for the dungeon!" Song said loudly to his teammate.

A simple nod and Scarlet followed the boisterous Tiefling player to their next destination, a player run potion shop.

...

Song Ha-Sup was having as much fun as ever. Even though he was currently buying shops with probably the most silent and apathetic person in existence, he was truly having fun with his mundane task. Besides, he could tell through that cold exterior that Scarlet was just begging to smile and laugh as much as he did, and he'd be damned if he didn't succeed in making Scarlet do both one of these days.

Well that would be for another time.

"I say my good citizen of Castle Port, what useful potions are you selling for a group that needs to go through a dark and scary dungeon?"

Song faced a player ran stall which seemed to cater exclusively to those in need of potions. Vials and flasks of all shapes and sizes each filled with a mixture of interesting color. Behind the stall was a player interacting with advanced alchemical gear which were being used for potion making at the moment (Alchemy, or transmutation, is a different profession than potion making but the same devices can be used for both professions). Next to him was an open door which seemed to hold various ingredients for potions, at least as far as Song could see. It was probably that player's private property.

The player, who was a Catfolk and most likely a classification of the Ranger class, turned around and stroked his chin. "Well, really depends on what you're group's good at. I'll just tell you the potions most people buy when going to a dungeon and take your pick." The Catfolk player pointed at seemingly random potions as if making a mental list in his mind before sweeping a portion of the table clean. The potions he swept away disappeared before they hit the ground as they entered his inventory for him to drink or place out at a later time.

The player soon listed off each potion he recommended and placed them on the cloth covered table as he spoke. "First off is Nocturnal, the benefit is obvious, it lets you see in the dark with the effect increased depending on a player's perception. Metal Skin, it makes a player's skin tough and more resistant to damage, depending on the metal used in making the potion, the stronger the effect; I'll sell a few stronger ones if you want. Hover, this is an expensive one, it lets a player fly for a good few seconds. The Lucky Draft, it basically makes a player luckier, though relying purely on luck is a stupid idea if I ever heard one. Heightened Senses, as it says, it increases the effectiveness of a player's senses. Similar to that one, Heightened Reflexes does the same but to a player's reflexes. My, can't believe I forgot Health and Mana potions, well no need to explain those..."

Doing his best as a salesman, the Catfolk player introduced several more potions.

With Scarlet at his side, Song had already decided what to buy. "Might I know the name of the skilled wordsmith who convinced I, Song Ha-Sup to buy your most bewitching draughts and elixirs?" There was no need to know a player's name in order to purchase or trade with one another, but Song wanted to know the Catfolk player's name purely out of civility.

"Sure thing, call me Dante." The Catfolk player shrugged and gave his name.

"Since Miss Scarlet handles our group's funds, please delegate with each other over the actual purchase. We would like-"

...

Fifteen minutes later found Song Ha-Sup and Scarlet completely done with their shopping. After visiting Dante's potion stall, the player recommended the two go to his twin brother Vergil's store which sold general survival supplies like different kinds of torches and lights, bandages and medicine (in case a group's healer was out of commission or for groups with no healer), and soul gems/stones.

Song and Scarlet had also purchased items from stores that sold miscellaneous consumables, basic repair kits (they didn't amount to real repairs performed by NPCs and players but were better than nothing), and much more.

They walked towards the group rendezvous point which was located in the northeastern point of Castle Port at an inn called the Fantastic Flagon, incidentally a player operated tavern.

-

All six of the Magnificent Seven's (six) group members were seated at a round table in the corner of the tavern. Starting with Coolidge, the order of seating went Coolidge, Minerva, Glass, Blossom, Scarlet, and lastly Song Ha-Sup.

While the group didn't notice it, they were once again bombarded with envious looks from all angles.

"So what is our group name exactly?" Minerva questioned Glass sweetly.

"Oh? Why it is the Magnificent Seven minus one! It shall truly by the Magnificent Seven once we gain a seventh member, but we'll put that goal on hold for now." Glass smiled as effortlessly and elegantly as always with wide eyes as he spoke between bites of his meal.

"It was my idea." Blossom grumbled with a slightly irritated tone.

"Hm? Oh yea, Blossom chose this great group name that'll surely impress any other group out there."

"They'll hear of the Magnificent Seven's magnificence from High Romalia of Europa to Center Pole of Icea!" Song voiced out merrily as he partook of the establishment's alcoholic beverages.

"Let's settle with perfecting ourselves as a group first..." Coolidge advised quietly.

"..." Scarlet was silently nearly the entire time, she was far too busy experiencing what felt like a barrage of fluctuations in her thought processes, Glass told her that what she felt was taste.

"Mmm, this is pretty good, though not as good as mine." Glass mentioned as he bit into a nougatine based pastry.

"Eh, do you like to make pastries, Glass?"

"I don't just like to make them, it's my job! I'm taking classes in a culinary school with my focus being desserts and pastries! Heck, the chef who teaches my classes even said he was going to base the sugar sculpture in a contest he's participating in off of a design of mine! Though he's of course going to make plenty of adjustments to the end piece obviously, after all I'm still an amateur when it comes to sugar sculptures."

Blossom rolled the new information she learned about Glass in her head. She cursed herself for not asking what Glass did for a living sooner, maybe there is another question she can ask? "Ah, Glass-"

"Speaking of which Glass, you know you can cook in this game, you should make some amazing desserts for us sometime." Minerva wasn't forward enough to use 'Me' instead of 'Us' in her sentence. She wanted nothing more than to flirt, but it would far too awkward in front of the group she just joined, especially in front of her cousin and this woman who was obviously interested in Glass. While she wasn't sure about Scarlet, Minerva didn't consider her a threat for now.

(This is a good chance! I actually would've left Dune Lions if Glass asked me to join his group anyways. To think I'm in the same group as this hottie, I have to be one of the luckiest girls in Rebellions right now!) Minerva shouted from within her mind. She continued to converse with her new group while her mind's thought process took a turn. (I mean, it's not like I'll ever get the chance to be with him outside of this game... Even if I knew him personally, he would never go for me, not with my malady.)

Her depressing reverie was interrupted by Glass lowering his head to her face, though he kept a respectable distance in order to not be seen as a creep. "Just smile, that's all one ever needs to do in order to gradually feel and be better."

Wordless, Minerva earnestly thought about Glass' words before gleefully smiling as asked. He was right, what good did it do to be depressed in a videogame that was designed for its participants to have fun?

The conversation around the table grew louder and more intense with every passing minute. While there was the occasional lull, it was soon consumed by random topics that reached the groups interest. It was getting late, and for some of the players, time to get off.

"Tomorrow shall be the day, the day WE, the MAGNIFICENT SEVEN... Minus one, shall set out in search of this dungeon that houses foul beasts and beings! Alas, I, Song Ha-Sup cannot stay online for much longer this night. I bid you, my fair comrades good night in a foreign language!" (It was actually impossible to say words in a foreign language unless specifically disabled for certain words thanks to the modern age's translators)

Song logged himself out and disappeared in a radiant yellow beam of light that disappeared into the dark sky."

Soon after, Coolidge and Minerva said their respective temporary goodbyes.

A simple, "Good night." And Coolidge logged off.

Minerva also said good night, but it was fairly obvious (to Blossom) that she emphasized her words to Glass.

Now there left Glass, Blossom and Scarlet.

Glass turned himself towards the two pretty girls. The sudden movement which ended up showing Glass' full splendor to Blossom made the Undine player blush. She thought that she would be used to this by now, but it got her every time.

"I myself am feeling somewhat tired, but there's something I want to go check out by myself, so I'll leave you lovely ladies by yourself for now. Though of course if there is an emergency, you can always count on me, I'll definitely come to your aid!" Glass performed a gentleman's bow from the 1800s that did not seem out of place when he did it.