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Back Opening Moves Save as PDF
Contents ( 23)
  1. Arc 1: The Tutorial
  2. Prologue
  3. Chapter 1
  4. Chapter 2
  5. Chapter 3
  6. Chapter 4
  7. Chapter 5
  8. Chapter 6
  9. Chapter 7
  10. Chapter 8
  11. Chapter 9
  12. Chapter 10
  13. Arc 2: The Guild
  14. Chapter 11
  15. Chapter 12
  16. Chapter 13
  17. Chapter 14
  18. Chapter 15
  19. Chapter 16
  20. Chapter 17
  21. Chapter 18
  22. Chapter 19
  23. Chapter 20

Alan noticed that things were starting to become cluttered, so he had Eve reorganize the factions and skills alphabetically.

So, what now? Alan asked the Administrator.

Please wait as the results are tabulated. This may take up to 10 hours, so please feel free to rest. You may also spend ability points and perform other tasks allowed in the Home. Respawning at your spawn location and teleportation are currently disabled.

Uh, okay.

Alan checked out his character inventory; the only thing he’d lost was his sniper rifle. He had 26230 credits currently, and barely enough points to purchase the talented ability. He’d probably get an additional bonus once the results were tabulated for the Survival Test.

After purchasing the talented ability, Alan checked its details. It was simply listed as Talented (Undeveloped) and it enhanced his talent in various areas, whatever that meant. Eve didn’t know how he was supposed to develop the ability either. He’d have to figure it out himself. Feeling rather tired, Alan ate a simple meal of dull grey blocks and fell asleep still wearing his power armor.

***

Alan awoke to the dinging sound of message. Yawning, he got up to read it.

Results gathered. For being the only member of your party to successfully complete the Survival Test and remarkable fortitude in the presence of a boss class enemy, you are awarded a Platinum Mark. At the end of the Tutorial you may trade in the mark for an item from the Vault, 100 ability points or 100,000 credits.

A small, metal cube appeared in Alan’s hand. This must be the platinum mark. It looked like one of the cubes that appeared on the side of the Black Coin he’d been given earlier, a simple dice-sized cube of platinum, but when Alan turned it about in his hand it gave off a faint, ethereal glow displaying a steady flow of digits running across its surface. Alan stored it in a safe compartment in his armor. Once Alan was fully awake and had taken a shower, which had conveniently appeared in his Home when he thought he smelled a bit funny, a new message popped up:

The Ethics Test:

Choose. Choose only as you would choose. There are no right or wrong answers, simply a choice. To act is to choose. To not act is to choose. Choose well.

Alan felt Eve’s presence vanish, replaced by a warning from the Administrator:

The results of the following tests may be lost, even to you, depending upon your actions. Permanent scarring may occur, even death in a few highly unlikely cases. Are you certain you wish to proceed? You may complete the Tutorial now. Or, you may truly be tested.

Somehow, Alan got the feeling that the Administrator wanted him to proceed. Most would probably have considered the warning carefully, become more hesitant, but Alan felt differently. He was finally having an adventure, and despite his debt, despite the pain, despite the world being in danger, despite the fact he was simply following Eve’s directions most of the time, he was having the time of his life. He could maybe, finally make a difference.