15 Game World 1: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (3)

[[ Return Countdown: 15 D ; 18 H ; 00 M ; 00 S ]]

[[ Game Title: "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _" ]]

[[ Rewards ]]

[[ A: Clock Pocket Activation ]]

[[ B: Amoris Versatilis +3 Efficiency ]]

[[ C: Safe return to the Obelisk ]]

[[ Penalties ]]

[[ A: Count of Violation under *S.T.* Regulation Number Two x 1]]

[[ B: 10 D ; 10 H ; 00 M ; 00 S will be deducted from player's 'Return Countdown' in the next world ]]

[[ C: Player's Name's Letter Revelation x 3 "_ _ C _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _" ]]

As he read all of the contents of the panels that flashed afore his eyes, Aectaeon began to formulate questions upon questions in his head.

'Will I get to choose one out of the three rewards or will I receive all of them? If it's the latter, then it means that I will also receive all of the three penalties. I guess I'll have to see in the end.'

Aectaeon clicked his tongue before he put a hand on his forehead. He closed his eyes, tightly so only the darkness would be able to get through. A lot of information was purposely being left out, even the ones that could save him his life.

Truth be told, he didn't mind brainstorming in order to acquire the answers for himself. It's what he was best at. But for some unknown reason, he couldn't assume the proper mindset to tackle his situation on.

He ruffled his hair out of frustration. Given the choice, he would jump into the sea nearby, get rid of all the filth that was hugging his body, and let himself sink to the very bottom of the seafloor. To put it simply, he just wanted to run away.

Thankfully, a certain feeling brought his resolution back.

The ecstasy of infuriating Luluwa sent electricity down to every inch of his muscles. His lips quivered, but soon, it broke out into a smirk.

'That's right. I can't keep whining forever. I better show Luluwa that I didn't throw an empty threat.'

At that point, the sole factor that was driving Aectaeon was his unrelenting personality. He didn't like losing. It might be because of all the pent-up anger that he accumulated from working in the service industry.

Aectaeon opened his eyes with their glints renewed. He recognized that he had been indecisive all this time. If he wished to see the end of his journey, he had to make up his resolve.

'Alright, enough complaints from me. They want me to suffer that much? Then…'

He brandished his gritted teeth, sharpening his gaze all the while.

"I'll suffer as much as they like," Aectaeon muttered as he returned his gaze towards the panel.

[[ Guessing Opportunity Countdown: 00 D ; 10 H ; 00 M ; 00 S ]]

[[ To View 'Guessing Opportunity Countdown': recite "Forte Tempus" ]]

[[ Would you like to view the Main Story? ]]

[[ Yes ]] [[ No ]]

Aectaeon didn't waste a beat and tapped on the 'Yes' icon.

[[ A first person shooter video-game set on the island of Mahak. Helbert Grantz IV, president of the Republic of Thevor, issued a warning to the neighboring nation, the Union of Baratias, that several of their warships had trespassed their territory. ]]

[[ Despite the repeated warnings, the Union of Baratias refused to pull back their Naval forces, claiming the territory was uncharted and not under the scope of Grantz IV. ]]

Just as he feared, Aectaeon was sent to a warzone. He let out an exasperated sigh but continued reading.

[[ A war is brewing on the island of Mahak. To help the Republic of Thevor fend off the forces of the Union of Baratias, you were sent on a mission. ]]

[[ Your identity was nearly discovered, forcing you to return to the base before the scheduled time. ]]

"So, I'm supposed to be on the defending side? What am I? Am I a soldier or what? An innocent citizen who was conscripted against my will?"

Before his queries started to pile up once more, a panel of great interest to Aectaeon appeared.

[[ Congratulations! ]]

[[ Hidden Mission Accomplished ]]

[[ Do you want to receive the reward? ]]

[[ Yes ]] [[ No ]]

"A mission? What mission?"

Of course, Aectaeon was curious about the said mission. He hadn't done anything special aside from evading bullets and listening in on a conversation he wasn't a part of.

"The only thing I did so far that's related to the game was to view the sto… Oh, is that the mission? Well, a reward is a reward."

Aectaeon went ahead and accepted the reward. He had already set aside his reservations for the validity of the rewards since they're deemed as rewards by the system. For sure, they would be beneficial to him someway or another.

Upon tapping on 'Yes', the reward panel disappeared. In its place emerged a panel that Aectaeon had to be mindful of all the time.

[[ Player's progress: "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _" ]]

At first, Aectaeon was speechless. He didn't comprehend what he had just received right away. Withal, after blinking twice, his amazement registered on his face.

"Was the reward two letters? I got two letters this early in the game?! If that's the case, I can fin--"

He immediately suppressed his excitement. Aectaeon shook his head vigorously and slapped himself on the cheek lightly.

"What are you thinking? Of course, nothing will be easy. This is just feeding me with false hopes. I have to accomplish the system's missions for the let--"

[[ Start Game ]] [[ Quit Game ]]

The panels that unwarrantedly appeared bewildered Aectaeon. He raised one of his eyebrows as he uttered, "The game hasn't started? Not to mention, there's an option to quit?"

Aectaeon hovered his forefinger over the 'Quit Game' option. He was tempted to tap it, and that's with full awareness of what would happen to him.

"I'm probably gonna violate a regulation or two. This will seal my fate to see death sooner than I desired."

He then scoffed at his momentary show of weakness. Aectaeon did think that it would be better for him to leave everything behind and just sleep on his deathbed. However, he was too deep into the ordeal that quitting would be the worst decision he would ever make in all of his lifetimes.

"I have no choice, haven't I?" He said as he tapped on the 'Start Game' icon.

[[ Initializing Manus Celer Dei and the Game's system merge ]]

[[ 29% ]]

[[ 47% ]]

[[ 88% ]]

[[ 100% ]]

[[ Merge Successful ]]

Right at that second, a red panel appeared beside the familiar bluish panels of Manus Celer Dei. Now, on his left side was where the red panels appeared while on the right were the blue ones.

{{ Welcome, Player Igor Vali }}

{{ Choose your difficulty }}

{{ Novice }} {{ Normal }} {{Advanced}} {{ Veteran }}

"Ah, so the games have separate panel prompts. I should focus on this one for now."

Aectaeon need not contemplate regarding the difficulty he wanted. As an avid worshipper of the saying 'Never exert effort beyond what's necessary', normal was the best choice for him.