The alien voice continued its tutorial explanation, its tone becoming increasingly procedural yet somehow more animated than before. Then, in a heartbeat, Mike could understand what was being said again.
"Level 1 participants will find three starter abilities available to choose from in their interface. Please select one ability to begin. Once selected, you will proceed to the training grounds where neutral creatures await. These creatures will not attack unless provoked, allowing you to practice your newfound powers safely. Relatively."
While the voice continued explaining information that was mostly irrelevant to him, he looked around. Several people were within sight, but nowhere near the 99 that were supposed to be. He wondered whether they declined participation or just spawned elsewhere.
As he focused on the nearest person to him, a young woman, he began to use his pattern analysis ability to examine her. She was a young woman of average height dressed in the same grey pajamas he was wearing himself. As he studied her, he realized he could glean all sorts of information about her:
Might: 1
Precision: 1
Vitality: 1
Perception: 1
Reason: 1
Will: 1
Health: 115
Mana: 70
Level: 1
Class: Unassigned
Her brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and even through the unflattering grey pajamas, Mike could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her weight shifted from foot to foot, as if she was preparing to run. She seemed terrified but trying to hide it.
Finally, she noticed him looking at her. âTake a picture, itâll last longer.â
âI sort of am,â He replied, grinning and trying to convey that he meant no harm, just gathering information about this new reality they found themselves in.
âWhatever you say, gym broâ
âWhat? Iâm not a...â He didnât think heâd stepped into a gym more than three times in his life. What did she mean? âOh, right, âHe said out loud as realization washed over him. This new body heâs got, that Greek god physique he got. Mostly like a Greek god, except for that minor detail. Major detail. Come to think of it.
âThis is a new body, I wasnât like that beforeâ
She gave him a disbelieving look, scoffed and turned away. âLeave me alone, I need to choose one of these 3 abilities.â
Mike could understand her disbelief. Everyone else had entered at level 1, and they probably couldn't imagine what happened as you levelled up yet. They probably couldn't tell his level either, so they had no reason to think his situation is any different to their own.
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He reflected on what she just said. They were choosing one out of three abilities? Interesting. He had a much wider choice, probably because of his level 100 start. He wondered if that made some combinations possible that wouldnât be otherwise. He also noticed they werenât asked to choose a class, while for him it had been his first choice.
â I wonder what thatâs aboutâ, Mike mused.â I guess that roll introduced more subtle differences than I realized at first.â
The plaza began to shift, sections of the obsidian floor rising to form pathways leading to different areas. Mike's Enhanced Perception picked up details others might have missed: the geometric patterns in the architecture, the way space seemed to fold in on itself at certain angles, the faint shimmer of energy barriers separating zones.
"Tutorial zones are now accessible," the voice announced. "Please proceed to your designated training area based on your selected ability type. Your designated color appears on your screen nowâ.
Mike watched as the other humans began moving uncertainly toward the different colored zones. Some walked alone, others had already started forming small groups. He noticed patterns in their movement - the natural leaders already trying to organize, the loners hanging back, the panicked ones latching onto anyone who seemed confident.
A notification appeared in his vision:
WARNING: Your level significantly exceeds tutorial parameters. Enemies in training zones will provide negligible experience and pose no challenge. Alternative path available.
"Alternative path?" Mike said aloud.
"Ah," the voice responded, and for the first time, it sounded genuinely intrigued. " Level 100 from initialization. Unprecedented in 847 seasons. The tutorial is... inappropriate for your current state."
"So what happens to me?"
"You have options. You may proceed with the others. You may access the Advanced Testing Grounds, where challenges scale to your level. Or..." the voice paused, as if considering something, "you may skip directly to the Competitive Phase."
Mike tried to think rapidly through the implications. Going with the others would be safe but pointless. The Advanced Testing Grounds would let him practice his abilities against what? Something that might be close to appropriate challenges? Thatâs hard to believe, he didnât think even he advanced training would be close to appropriate for someone at his level. But skipping to competition...
"What exactly is the Competitive Phase?"
"Species are released into the Assessment Zones to complete objectives. Points are awarded based on performance. The five species with the most points at the conclusion join the Federation. The bottom five are terminated."
âWhat kind of objectives?â asked Mike, trying to gather as much information as he could, though he didnât expect much cooperation.
âWe cannot divulge that information.â
"And the others? My fellow humans?"
"They will enter the competitive zone when they complete the tutorial. Estimated time: 8-20 days based on historical data."
Mike looked around at the other people, still milling about in confusion. Part of him wanted to help them, to use his massive level advantage to protect them. But another part, the part enhanced by 240 Reason understood the logic. He couldn't carry them all. The best thing he could do was scout ahead, learn the real challenges, and maybe find advantages they could use when they arrived.
"If I skip ahead, can I communicate with them? Leave information?"
"Negative. Phase separation is absolute until convergence."
Mike felt the weight of the decision. His enhanced mind could see the probability trees branching out from each choice, but there were too many unknowns. He thought of Sarah and Tommy, pushed the thought away, then forced himself to confront it. He was sick to his stomach with fear for their fate, fear that he would never see them again. They were the most important things in his life, and he needed to make sure he had the best chances of reuniting with them.
No. He needed to focus on the right question. What would give him, and by extension, humanity, the best chance of survival? His whole build was designed around independence, around being able to function alone. He'd made that choice for a reason.
Moreover, he couldn't forget that the competition would eventually involve other species. He needed to push his advantage to the max, even if it meant taking a calculated risk on the unknown.
âGet me to the competition zoneâ, he said.
âVery well. You will be transported to the competitive zone in 5, 4, 3...â
As the voice was counting, he saw the woman heâd talked to taking a glance in his direction, with a surprised look on her face as he shimmered away.