“For you to succeed you will need to be trained, grandson, so I have asked Laikas, a master of combat to come here and train you. He has spent most of his life studying the many different forms of martial training and combat. He will begin the process of molding your human shell to effectively use the life-force. It will not be easy, but without this knowledge, you will fail against the Gods.”

I nodded in understanding, I knew that Judo was not the solution to this problem, helpful yes but it would only go so far in the game world. Magical and physical DPS attacks and who knows what the Gods would bring to the table. I would need to grow and learn, be open to anything that might help me. Standing I looked at the world and asked, “Grandmother, can you tell me about this realm?”

“This is the realm that all the races and beings came from. The dragons, my first children lived here on scattered mountains and on the islands that dot the seas. Then from the earth came the Dwarves, my children who had lived in and under the tall mountains. They are always seeking the deep jewels and metals, being masters of the smithy.

The Elves also, coming from the sea and living on the far Islands they were bright lights in the darkness, always exploring but always returning to their homes. Tied to the lands with magic and power both races lived at peace. Indeed, intermarriage while not common did occur. Even amongst the mighty dragons this occurred, some of whom observed that the daughters of man were comely and desired to be with them. Thus were born out of fire and shadows the Vampires and their daylight kin the Dhampyers.”

“Wait, you mean that Vampires and Dhampyers originated by Dragons and Humans interbreeding?” “Yes," she answered, "but such things have faded, now only the descendants remain.” Well that explained some things, I was not sure if it was relevant to what was happening but knowledge is power. I was about to ask a few more questions when fast approaching the building was a flying Dragon. No, it was not a dragon, but looked very close to one. “Grandmother, what or who is this coming towards us?”

"It is Laikas, and no he is not a dragon, he is a Wyvern.” What is a Wyvern I thought as I watched the sleek body of the creature land and then springing forward he changed into the body of a small man. His complexion was dark and his eyes were oddly slanted downwards. His pupils were golden red, I looked at them as he stopped and knelt before Gaiatoci, I could see that they were shifting and moving, full of small living flames. It was not a comfortable feeling staring into his eyes.

“Stand my loyal one, and greet my grandson, he is the one that needs your help.” Standing there as he observed me, I was struck by the feeling of physical power emanating from Laikas. It roiled off him like steam rising from a warm lake on a cold morning. This clearly was not a person to mess with. I quickly performed a Ritsurei and with head bowed waited.

“I see you have some sense of propriety, which is good.” Laikas voice sounded smooth and even, well balanced. I think not much could change that. “Show me what knowledge you have?” The next several hours passed with me stretching myself to the limit. It was clear, that while I was not a beginner Laikas far surpassed me in every way with regards to combat.

Finally, it stopped, and I was able to rest. “You have some skill and the ability is there. The problem is your ability to perceive and use the life-force. The constraints of the human flesh limit your senses; first, we must free your flesh to be able to see the flow and harness it.” “How do we do that?” I asked. The easiest way is to live as a dragon, however, that is not the dominant aspect of your character. Being a human is.”

So how do I learn to feel the life-force and use it, through meditation?” Looking at me I could see that Laikas was deciding on how to proceed. “Meditation would work if we had ten years to concentrate on it, however, we do not. No, I think that you will have to go through the trials of Temptation.” Yes that sounds great, in every game I have ever played any kind of trial meant someone was going to get his or her ass kicked, for some crappy item.

“What are the trials of Temptation? I might need a little more information here.” Laikas smiled grimly at me and spoke. “The trials are simple really, you will be taken to a place, you must leave that place and return here.” “How far away is this place?” I asked. “For some it is great distance, for others it is closer than they know.”

Ambiguous, it was the second word that came to mind.The first one I won’t repeat, I am trying to not curse as much. “Master do I need to take anything, all I have is what I am wearing.” Looking at me Laikas shook his head and then placing his hand on my shoulder we shifted dimensions, changed locations, transported to a different place. I really do not know what Laikas did, but we were elsewhere.

I stood there looking around; we were in some sort of vast area that was desert, with broken rocks and black sand. Off in the distance was a range of mountains, clearly volcanic in nature, a couple still had plumes ascending upwards. It was wild and beautiful with a dark storm on the horizon, the brilliant flickers of lightning lighting up the whole sky and the boom of the thunder painfully loud even at the distance.

“Laikas, what do I do here?” I asked as I turned around and noticed that he was just a rapidly receding dot in the sky as he flew off with great speed. I confess that the first words to depart my mouth had more to do with him being a flying gecko along with a few other descriptors categorizing how I felt towards his departing form.

Turning in a full circle I observed that I was stranded in the middle of desert with volcanoes on one side and black sand stretching out as far as the eyes could see. I was standing on a small knoll which afforded me the view of the desolate waste. Despite the barren nature of the place, it had an intense feeling of primordial power.

Taking off my cloak I spread it on the sand and then opening my bag I began to take stock of what I had. Inside the bag was a wineskin which I had filled with water at some point. Also, there were two biscuits I had been too greedy to leave behind after my last breakfast. There were a few silver and gold coins, and my map.

Opening my map I saw what looked like a blank sheet and across the top appeared to be a tab. Touching the tab I saw the map of the city appear, greyed out and colorless. I touched the tab again and the desert appeared showing perhaps a radius of twenty kilometers with my dot located at the epicentre.

At the far edge of the map heading towards the west was a small dot, tapping it the form of a building half appeared. I would guess as I stared at the direction indicated on the map that one of the dark areas at the far edge of my vision as the structure on the map.

Taking a small drink, I put everything back in the bag including the cloak and began to walk towards the building. Activating my interface the map appeared on the top right corner of my vision, and staring at it brought it into focus. Happy as I was that the interface still worked, I began to wonder at the nature of the game.

This all seemed too much, the realism of the game, the characters I had encountered, my tryst with Reona. I doubted that the average young male gamer was having the same gaming experience that I was undergoing. If my torture and blinding were what could occur Ingame, this whole game would be shut down as soon as the government was aware of it.

They had strict rules about what could happen, and everything I had experienced went far beyond the guidelines of what is allowed in through VRP I also thought of the old bastards, those people who were struggling to let go and clinging on to life within the game. I did not begrudge them I would do the same. But the powerful never willing give up what power they have, so what are they planning here in this new world.

As for the game masters, tasked with keeping the game balanced and safe, where were they, and why they were not doing their jobs was a question I wanted an answer for. These were my thoughts as I trudged along over the black sand. A solitary figure with a grim look, dark tattoos writhing on both arms and eyes of fire, hair pulled back in a topknot all dressed in black leather.