You have been knocked unconscious - 25 Minutes

I sighed mentally as I was forcefully ripped out of my avatar and placed in the black void. I began to think of this place as a holding cell of sorts. It wasn’t reality and it wasn’t the game. It was the in between.

I clicked the exit button on the side of my screen and I was brought back to reality and released from my pod. The shiny silver metal casket opened up to bring me back to the real world.

Standing up and sliding my legs out of the pod I noticed the moonlight flickering in through my curtains. The time in the game was about 1:4. Every minute in the real world was like four minutes in game or every hour in the real world was like four hours in game. I had spent at least three hours in game…so that was about nine in Ethaessan time.

I decided to take a quick snack break and grab a shower to refresh myself. The tortur…I mean training took a heavy toll on me mentally and I needed a few quiet minutes to relax. I had about five or so minutes to kill thanks to the conversion rate between reality and the game.

After a quick shower and a midnight raid of my refrigerator I logged on to my computer to see if there was any new or important information about the game. I had only briefly scanned through the tutorial booklet so there was a lot of information that I lacked.

I opened the main website for the game, but found it was mostly basic information and updates, but a link on the bottom of the screen labeled ‘EthaessaForums’ caught my eye.

I clicked on the link and it brought me to the mecca of all things Ethaessa. From the animals and monsters around each of the starting zones to the layout of basic classes and more.

The thing that caught my eye though was the topic named ‘The top ten best and worst starting classes’. I clicked on the link and quickly scanned the list in front of me. I only payed attention to the first three on each list and the top three that made up the best list were Archer, Warrior, and Priest.

I nodded my head. That was pretty standard. Not much was known about the game and its many classes. So the go to choice for best classes would be the well-known ones. I was more interested in the worst class list. So scrolled farther down and noted the top three. Sculptor, Bard and Chef.

The reasoning behind it was relatively simple. Sculpting was a costly professional with little to no fighting ability. The bard class offered buffs and spells, but they were far inferior to the priest and the mage classes. And lastly the Chef could really only make food at the moment. Before I could delve deeper into the other articles the timer on my pod went off. I had spent over a half hour outside of the pod and it was way passed time to log back in.

Before I pulled my eyes away from my screen I noticed an article that was labeled ‘Ascension – A guide to E-skills’ I wanted to read it, but I knew if I took any more time Gor’thak would be pissed.

I jumped out of the chair in front of my computer and crossed the room to enter into my pod. It took me a few moments to find a relaxing position, but I did, and the pod door closed on top of me. Sealing me from the outside world.

Welcome Back

A big blue box was hovering in front of me and I clicked the login icon right below it. I was sucked into the game immediately…only to find myself looking at the world upside-down.

“What the hell.” I squirmed, but it seemed someone had tied me up by my feet and hung me up on a low-lying tree branch.

“Hohoho…finally awake I see. You didn’t respond to Gor’thaks gentle waking hand. So I was forced to resort to more extreme measures.” I could feel the blood rushing to my head and it was a very unpleasant feeling.

“Could you let me down then…?” I asked, but he seemed to wave me off as he finished jotting something down on a piece of paper.

Gor’thak stood up and showed me the piece of paper only to find that I couldn’t read it upside down. “I can’t read it like this.” I exclaimed defiantly.

“Of course you can’t. You’re upside down…why are you still upside down. Gor’thak thought you would free yourself by now. Gor’thak overestimated you again.” With a flick of his hand I found myself lying on my back on the ground. I pulled the ropes off of my feet and stood up.

Gor’thak shoved the paper into my face again and it read…

Endurance Training – 3 Hours

Explaining things to baby – 1 Hour

Voice Training – 2 Hours

Learning not to be a pansy – 3 Hours

“You have gone through basic endurance training today. Gor’thak will now explain anything you wish to know now. As long as it’s not stupid or wastes Gor’thaks time.” Gor’thak had a superiority complex the likes of which I had never seen before.

“I guess I have a few question then.” I scratched my chin before continuing. “Do you know anything about ascension or e-skills.” I was curious about the article I saw earlier and wanted more information.

“Does Gor’thak know anything about ascension, he asks. Of course Gor’thak does. I am a 9th Order Conqueror.” Gor’thak spoke like what he was talking about was basic knowledge.

“Orders? Does that have something to do with levels or classes or something?” I asked.

“Baby doesn’t even know about the orders. Fine…fine. Gor’thak explains. Every twenty-five levels or so…depending on the class. One is able to go through an ‘Ascension’.” He air-quoted around the words ascension.

“As long as you have a class you are considered someone who belongs to the first order. You do not have a class. Thus you are a baby. Anyway, within the realms of the mortals there are nine orders. Every twenty-five levels one is able to take a test from one of the guardians in order to reach the next stage or order.” Gor’thak spoke seriously.

“But what are guardians…” Gor’thak shushed me before I could finish asking my question. “Let Gor’thak finish before more questions are asked.”

“Now just because you reach the requirements…doesn’t mean you will pass the test. Gor’thak has seen people who still belong to the first or second order at level 100. Orders are very important, because a level 75 3rd order warrior could easily defeat a level 100 1st or 2nd order warrior. Levels only matter if there is a difference in a few hundred levels or so. What truly matters is a person order level.

“Gor’thak knows this is a little confusing, but Gor’thak is getting to the main point. Each time you ascend to the next order some of your skills will become more powerful and you will unlock new ones. There are two different types of skills. E-skills or evolution skills are those that evolve when your order increases and standards are skills that may or may not be class skills, but they do not evolve.”

I nodded my head as I started to understand the system. The point of leveling your character was to receive more chances to take these so called ascension tests and the higher you ascended the more powerful or efficient you became.

“Wait that means you’re at least…” I quickly did the math in my head. “At least level 225.”

“Gor’thak is level 324. Once you get to the 9th Order it becomes extremely hard to ascend to the next level and even I…the great conqueror have failed several times. After the realm of the mortals comes the realm of the immortals. When Gor’thak transcends the 9th Order, Gor’thak will become a Saint Order Conqueror. The Saint level has three orders and beyond that Gor’thak does not know what one becomes.”

I started to become really intrigued by this system, but I still had a few more question before we continued on with my training. “You never did touch on the subject of the guardians.” I was extremely interested in what they were and how they were able to administer these ascension tests.

“Guardians are powerful creatures that come in many shapes and sizes and our very mysterious, but Gor’thak knows that they all hold at least the saint level in power. Much speculation about them has been raised, but no one seems to know for sure. Not even the brilliant Gor’thak.

“Some people think they are messengers from the gods…some even think they are gods themselves. Gor’thak thinks…well Gor’thak doesn’t really care.” Gor’thak made a pouting face. Scrunching up his oddly mixed elderly and yet childish face.

The order system seemed to run fairly smoothly, but one thing still bothered me. “Does the order system apply to non-combat classes as well? How does a class like a blacksmith or a sculptor pass the ascension test?”

“Stupid baby…Gor’thak never said the ascension test was always combat related. Each test is directly catered to the class and type of person who is taking it. A 1st Order Blacksmith who takes the test would probably be asked to demonstrate his technique or create something unique. Upon doing so his skills would evolve and he would acquire new ones. Gor’thak knows that the standard blacksmith skill is Forge…once upgraded it might become Iron Forge and then Steel Forge. All the way up to the 9th Order skill Soul Forge”

“So every rank not only increases the power of your current skills, but it also creates new ones.” I reiterated what Gor’thak had said earlier, because what he meant by it finally managed to sink in.

My mind was so excited by the conversation that I almost forgot about the blinking blue icon on the side of my screen. I clicked on it and a series of blue boxes popped up.

New Skill: Tough Skin

New Skill: Strong Will

For acquiring basic information in a roundabout way +2 Int

I looked at the two new skills that I had acquired. I must have gotten them sometime during my endurance training and I was to delirious to notice that I had gotten them.

“Description: Tough Skin. Strong Will.”

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Tough SkinNovice674%Tough Skin is an evolutionary skill that isn’t acquired by the feint of heart. For every level the player gains +3 Defense and +1 to Physical Resistances.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Strong WillNovice436%Strong Will is an evolutionary skill that empowers the player against overwhelming odds and pressure. For every level the player gains +1 Strength and +1 Luck.

My eyes widened when I saw the new skills. Not only would they increase my survivability as I increased their level. They were evolutionary skills, which means they would become even more amazing every time I passed an ascension test.

“It says novice under this thing called skill level. How many skills levels are their?” I asked as I flicked my hand. The skill boxes seemed to disappear into thin air.

“Alright…last question. Gor’thak does not have all day for this. Skills have five skill levels. Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Master, and Grandmaster. Each of these has ten levels bringing it to a total of fifty levels. The more the skill evolves the slower it will progress through the five stages, but keep in mind that some skills won’t advance past a certain point unless they evolve first.” Gor’thak gave me a warning, which I would not fully grasp until later on in my adventures.

“NOW…TIME TO TRAIN VOICE!” My master yelled directly in my face and caught me off guard. “GOR’THAKKKKKKKK!”

You have succumbed to several status effects: Fear, Paralysis, and Confusion

Chapter 4: Status (Yes I know he has 1000 Infamy…MC will notice this soon and it will be explained)

Status WindowName:KaiAlignment:NuetralLevel:1Class:UndecidedRace:CherubGender:MaleTitlesThe Conquerors ApprenticeFame:70Infamy:1000-Health:100 / 100Health Regen:0.5 / SecMana:150 / 150Mana Regen:1.0 / SecStamina:300 / 300Stamina Regen:3.5 / Sec-Strength:6 (+4)Agility:11Vitality:10Intelligence:15Wisdom:15Endurance:35Luck:0 (+4)-Attack:1-2Defense:15 (+18)Physical ResistancesSlashing:5 (+6)Piercing:5 (+6)Crushing:10 (+6)Elemental ResistancesFire:10%Water:10%Wind:10%Earth:10%Light:10%Darkness:10%