Dark Dayz: VR Dawn (Chapter 01)

BIT 01: SPAWNED

Darkness consumed my senses, and I felt as if I were traveling through a windy tunnel in a speeding car. Cold air flushed around me, and without warning, I fell away from what had been the character creation screen.

    As I plummeted, I looked to my arms and legs; they were bare, along with the rest of my body. Bit by bit, clothes appeared on my being. Jet-black boots came first, followed by dark pants that climbed, stopping just above my waist. An armored vest manifested on my torso, a longsword on my hip, and a long dark green coat. With a final blast of air, I touched the ground, falling to one knee. 

    The only source of light came from a crimson moon. In every direction were large trees, crooked and broken branches jutting out every which way. The dirt, or something else, left a foul stink hanging in the air. I couldn’t place it, but its stench even made its way into my taste buds. Impressive, for a video game.

    I stood and turned. Again, I found forest.

    I held out my hands, moving them, testing each finger; bending and curling them into tight fists. The dark leather gloves crunched and rubbed against my skin.

    I moved my legs, taking a few steps forward, then back. I kneeled and touched the dirt, pushed it around, and made a small design.

    Satisfied, I stood. “Calibration seems correct, and even the dirt is realistic. Great attention to detail. Epic Possibilities outdid themselves with Dark Days.”

    Coldness spread up my spine. Eyes watched from somewhere close. My senses were weaker than I liked. Did I have to train them?

    I put my hand on the hilt of my sword. 

    A heads-up display screen flashed before my eyes with a list of menu items. I didn’t have time to look, for a movement in the shadows caught my attention.

    “I wonder what first level monsters they’re throwing my way already? Dire rats?” I grinned, drawing my sword. The blade made a shing sound, and I smiled wide; everything seemed so realistic.

    My awe ended as a creature stepped from the trees. It stood at least eight feet tall, towering over me by two heads. It looked humanoid, standing on two bent legs, with lanky arms, and vicious claws.

    “So, you’re my first opponent?” I eyed hairy, canine-headed beast. “Let me see what they call you.”

    I focused in on the monster, and a red bar appeared above its head with the number ten next to it. The name, Damned Werewolf, classified it.

    “Oh.”

    It swung an arm, and I lifted my sword. Sparks flew as claw met blade. I stumbled from the force of the attack, smacking back-first into a tree. 

    “Level ten In a starting area? What the hell?”

    The werewolf growled and bared its fangs, gunky black goo dripping from its maw.

    I held my sword before me and tried to look at the menu. A section labeled, Skills, rested in the middle of the list. I scrolled and clicked with my thoughts. The menu popped open, but the wolf pounced, jaws snapping for my throat. I ducked and rolled out of the way, backing myself into another tree.

    Back in the menu, I found rows of blank boxes, with one highlighted near the top, so I clicked it.

    “Aha! Lightning Jab!” I focused on the skill and thrust my sword forward in a flash.

    The wolf’s ears perked, and it looked at its side where my sword had grazed. It growled, turning its eyes back on me. Its health had only the tiniest speck missing.

    “Okay.” I swallowed hard. “This is not a place for level one solo players.”

    The werewolf lunged again. For a second time, I ducked. This time, though, I kept moving, running as fast as my legs could carry me.

    I dodged into the trees, my feet pounding the dirt. A loud howl broke out from a few yards away. The ground shook under the monster's chasing gait. My heart raced, and my pulse thundered in my ears.

    I shook my head. “This is difficult!”

    The wolf came within range of making another attack, and with the level gap, it might be a quick death.

    I spun as claws came at my face, bringing my sword straight. My weapon caught the attack, keeping it an inch from the tip of my nose.

    “Holy Hell!” I gulped and raced through the menus. I hoped to have something but found only three small health potions. “Not useful!”

    I tried to hold the beast at bay, but it pushed me back inch by inch.

    The wolf broke its hold and slashed my chest. My eyes flew wide as a burning pain ripped through me. I glanced at the wound and found no blood, but instead, glowing, missing pixels. I ducked the next slash and backed away. 

    My green health bar rested at a tenth. The damn thing had taken ninety points in one attack.

    “Okay, running time!” I spun and burst back through the trees.

    I summoned forth a health potion and chugged it. My HP rose, but only gave me twenty points back. I summoned the next two as I continued to run and drank those too, but they left me low enough to die from one more hit.

    I stumbled to a pair of trees that were close enough to squeeze through and pushed between them, popping out on the other side. The werewolf ran straight into the wooden barricade. I tripped over a root and landed on a dirt road. With haste, I leaped to my feet and looked both ways. Which direction to go?

    Sword at the ready, I waited for the wolf to race around the trees and attack, but it didn’t. Had I left its threat range?

    Ten seconds of silence later, my health meter restored on its own.

    “Health regeneration?” I slumped forward, hands braced on my knees. “At least there are a few friendly elements in Dark Days.”

    A loud clop-clopping came from the road. I turned, brandishing my sword, ready to attack whatever moved, although it'd likely kill me if it were the same level as the Damned Werewolf.

    Instead of a monster, a huge horse pranced closer, with a coat of coal and fiery eyes. It snorted smoke from its nostrils when it spotted me. I focused, and despite its terrifying, muscular display, it had a yellow bar and the level number one. It was a guess, but yellow had to be non-hostile.

    I watched as it approached, noticing a dark wooden carriage drawn behind it. On the bench sat a hunched over figure with a tall hat and a fancy party coat. When the carriage neared, I stepped aside. The driver pulled back on the reigns and lifted his head with a loud popping sound.

    “A Non-Player Character.” I exhaled. The near-skeletal man bore a blue health bar, and his level showed question marks. He seemed to pose no threat.

    “Hello,” the man croaked, turning his head to regard me. “I see you are new here.”

    It was odd talking to a computer program, but I did so. “Hello, my name is Zycuh Hunpo, and I arrived in this forest.”

    “It’s dangerous out here.” The man waved his hand. “Many rabid beasts wander these trees. I dare say; some are even watching us now.”

    “This zone is way too difficult for a level one.” I raised my eyes. “Are you part of a quest line?”

    A white question mark appeared above his head. That answered my inquiry. 

    I tilted my head. “What's the quest?”

    The man pointed to the carriage. “I’m offering rides into town. Although, I cannot say it is much safer these days. If you would like a lift, I will give you one, free of charge.”

    “Yes, please!”

    “Then come aboard, Zycuh,” he pronounced my name right.

    I wondered how an automated system ran through so many. An effective algorithm. Most games didn’t pronounce names, let alone ones that weren't real.

    The carriage door opened, and I pulled myself inside and shut the hatch behind me. I slumped into a wooden seat, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes.

    “Thank gosh.” I breathed.

    From outside came the snap of horse reigns and the carriage rolled again.

    I leaned forward and looked at the floor, having a moment of safety to examine the menu. I scrolled to the stats page and checked out my gear. “Blader Cloak, only five defense. Longsword... basic, but an attack of six.”

    My stats showed to the side. Strength, Vitality, Speed, Dexterity, and Arcana. Each were below ten; my strength boasted only a nine. Dismal.

    A series of loud howls came from nowhere. I jumped back in my seat, reaching for my sword, but it stuck in its sheath. I tugged, but couldn't draw it. Was the carriage a safe zone? The howls faded away, and I sighed. “I think they gave up, thank gosh.”

    “Well, that was indeed terrifying, wasn’t it?” a voice came from within the carriage.

    I screeched and fell back into my seat, pressing into a corner. A figure leaned forward from the shadows. Had he always been there? With pale skin, he bore a long scar over his left eye.

    “Hello.” He smiled, wearing a top hat. This guy had a green bar; another player.

    I nodded. “Greetings and salutations.” 

    He had a level ranking of three. Two levels could mean life or death.

    “You didn’t notice me?” He chuckled.

    His name appeared above him, reading, Chyld of Pandora.

    “You can call me Pan.” He grinned, and I couldn’t help but notice a chill on my spine once again. “May I call you Zeeka?”

    “No.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s pronounced, Zai-Koo. The NPC gets it right, and you get it wrong?”

    “My apologies.” Pan gave a solemn nod. “I haven’t seen another player in a few days, you know. I thought the madman Z had wiped everyone else out.”

    “No other players?” My eyes widened. “One million began the game, well now one million and one.”

    “You're that one, I see. After being dropped into an infected starting area, you’re lucky to be alive.”

    “I know. What kind of damned game is this?”

    “As you said.” Pan sat back in his seat, holding a cane in his lap. “A damned one.”

    “I thought this was gonna be easy.”

    “Anything but…” Pan sighed. “But it's understandable that you didn’t see me. I’ve been perfecting my stealth skill since the game began. If the enemy cannot see you, there’s no reason to worry.”

    “What class are you?” 

    “Assassin.” He tipped his hat. “A favorite of mine in all games.”

    “I’m a Blader.”

    He frowned. “Oh… A melee-only class. You’ll be dead within the hour.”

    I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

    “Only that you've chosen the weakest class in the game. You would have been better off choosing Creature Tamer as a starting point. Noobs always make things so difficult.”

    “I’m no noob!” I snapped.

    “Then what are you? You joined this game after a week, knowing people stuck inside are dying every day.”

    I stuck my thumb to my chest. “I joined to defeat Z.”

    Pan looked at the ceiling. “Ah, I have my answer.”

    “And that is?”

    “You’re an idiot. No one can beat this game. We'll all die here... but let’s make the best of it.”

    I sighed. He didn’t understand my skill level at games. He didn’t know me. I ranked in the top five hundred in the country.

    “Well, Zycuh. It seems we’ve arrived.”

    “Where?” I glanced outside the window.

    Before us, there came a city filled with buildings short and tall, each in the style of Victorian England. 

    But something was wrong.

    Around the outer walls, hung bodies, names above their heads. Strips of barbed wire held them, dried blood crusted to their every contour. NPCs, or players, the scene was morbid.

    I stared in horror. “What is this?”

    Pan lowered his head. “Our own personal Hell.”