Starting Point

They planned to play the game called Ranker's World Online after the class. However, Harry had a basketball match, so he suggested to Ling play the game alone. By doing this, he would be easily familiarized with the game's mechanics.

Well, playing the game for the first time had always basic tutorials and Hary knew Ling was a smart person to understand all of them.

'I would like to invite him to watch the match. However, I know he's going to refuse, as always. Plus, he had a lot of important things needed to do, so I might just waste his time."

...

When Ling got home, he saw the package lying next to the door and it was large enough to not recognize by his naked eyes

First thing first, he carried his box inside his room and put it over his small bed as its size was too large to fit on his desk.

Yes, he had a small knowledge about Ranker's World Online since everyone in their school was playing this game and talking about it. Yet, he didn't have the chance to play that game even once, knowing that was the game for someone who had extra money. Or to be exact, it was for the people who can invest to play the game and earn money.

At this point, he was curious about the actual price of this console, so he took his smartphone inside his bag and search the price on the internet.

[How much is the price of the Ranker's Realm World console?]

[In the Marketplace, the VR helmet is around 15,000$ and the VR capsule is around 60,000$]

The Daiki Soutei was the name of the Japanese inventor who created this game and made two different consoles. The only thing that changes within the VR capsule, it had the capability to support the human body if the player decided to play for several days.

His eyes widened after seeing the results given on the internet and could not stop his hands from shaking.

Bam!

"H-Hey, Hary, are you stupid? Why are you buying me expensive stuff?" He stuttered.

After that, he grabbed the smartphone that dropped on the floor, texting Hary that he can't accept something like this, it was too much. But before he could do that, the phone vibrated as he received a new message.

[Hary: I know you'll try to search the price of the package I gifted to you, and I already know you are going to text just complain to me. So the thing here is, once you earn enough money, just pay me, okay? Apart from that, playing this game could help your grandmother with her medications.]

Ling remembered telling Hary about his grandmother's condition and the huge financial problem. It wasn't for Hary's sympathy; it was for him; he needs someone to whom he can express his problems and release the heavy feelings that were building up inside his chest.

[Ling: Thank you very much for your help, Hary! I promised I'm going to study this game quickly so that I could pay my debt right away!]

Although he wanted to return the package to Hary, eventually he realized that it wasn't the right time to be picky and talk about his pride. Why? The only source of his income was working at the grocery store, and he should have thought an idea how he could earn extra money to help him to support their living expenses, house rent, grandmother's medication, and enough money for their college.

"To be honest, accepting Hary's gift is a huge slap in the face since our classmates or schoolmates would surely think I'm just making a friend with him for the money," Ling said solemnly as he examined the box in front of him. "B-But what could I do? I want to change our way of life, and this kind of opportunity will only come along once in my life; I should not waste it."

Alas, he decided to open the box using scissors as it was wrapped in thick tape to secure that the package would deliver safely.

Inside, he found the black wireless gloves that had silver lining on the ledges, and the black VR helmet had the same size as the racing motorcycle helmet. With its size, he can easily tell that it can cover his entire head.

"Ranker's World Online, the way to have an excellent life and brighter future." He read the context on the paper attached to the VR helmet. 

Meanwhile, Ling finished reading the instructions on how to operate the console. "After wearing the gloves and the helmet, I just need to click the green button on the console. That's all?"

Although he was clueless about how the game would start, he still did all the process concluded in the instructions. As soon as he clicked the green button positioned on the right side part of the helmet, it released a strong radiance that slightly dazzled him.

The feels like his mind was traveling in a new dimension.

Ding!

After a couple of minutes, his ears perceived a dinging tone while his vision slowly got back to its original state. To increase its recovery time, he gently rubbed his eyes.

[Welcome to the Ranker's World Online! In a new world that could surpass your expectations!]

Suddenly, a blue wide elevated screen appeared right before his eyes as the game welcome him into the new world.

At the very beginning, he wasn't aware of the environment he was standing in. Yet, everything changed when the screen disappeared and felt the cold breeze given by the trees touch his body.

"Oi... What the heck is this place?"

He was blinking his eyes in surprise as he noticed that he stood up on the high surface. In the place where he can be found were the green vast forest and numerous lively birds flying in the clear blue sky.

"It's the game that most of the people are so addicted to?"

Based on the environment, Ling could easily tell the structure of this place was exactly the same in the real world. The realistic colors of each object, the forest's soothing scent, and the gentle heat is given by the sunlight, all of them were so real.

He'd like to stroll in this place, but before he can do that, the screen gives him a new notification.

[Great! There's no existing bug!]

[We are now teleporting you to the awakening and character's customization!]

In order to hide each player's identity, they're allowed to customize their outward appearance and had a new name they would use in this game. Since this game was talking about earning money while enjoying the true essence of this game. It was way better if they hide their identities to avoid criminal activities that possibly happen. For example, being kidnapped for the items and cores a certain person had.

Awakening. It's a process when the players would have to awaken their unique passive skills helping them develop a ranker. Well, it can be good or bad, depending on what kind of unique passive skill players could awaken and how they're going to perfectly utilize the power bestowed to them.

Swoosh!

"rnn!"

He groaned in pain as the distorted lights touched his eyes giving him a mild pain inside his head, and eventually making him dizzy.

"Welcome to the Ranker's World Online, Ranker! I'm here to assist you with your character customization and awakening your unique passive skill."

Unexpectedly, a sweet woman's voice went to his ear, based on its volume, he assumed the woman was not far away from him. Although his vision was vague, still, he forced himself to find the origin of that voice.

The entire place was enveloped by the numerous bookshelves located on the ground floor, second floor, third floor, and so on.

To begin with, at the 15 meters distance, he narrowly spotted a source of light located next to the desk and the blurry image of a woman. He gently wiped his eyes to clear his vision, then saw a beautiful woman who had light pink hair, rabbit white ears that had thick fur, blue eyes, 155 centimeters in height, and wearing decent attire, a light blue floral dress.

Without making any second thoughts, he sauntered closer to the woman to ask some questions.

"H-Hello, good day, miss! Could I ask you where am I and who are you?" He stuttered as he was facing a beautiful woman who looked like an Italian. Yet, he still managed to ask her politely.

"I'm the number 73 NPC Amida! Right now, you are in the place we called Awakening center." She smiled faintly.

Awakening and character customization were already explained to him within the information provided by the system.

"Miss Amida, what should I do first here?"

"First, we are going to do your awakening. Once you have received your unique passive skill, that's the time when you are going to customize your appearance and choose a class that is suitable for your passive skill." Amida replied just like a real human.

Ling gradually rubbed his chin. "What should I do to start the awakening?"

Amida placed a transparent plate crystal on the desk. "To start the awakening, you should place your hands in the mana plate and patiently wait for the result."

"If that's the case, let's do it then."

"Great!"

He placed his left hand over the translucent mana plate. It started to release different colors inside it, just like the color white, blue, green, red, violet, and black. Or easy to say, it looked like the basic magic elements.

At first, he doesn't feel anything until the awakening lasted for 10 minutes, and experienced his body sucking something inside of him.

His sweats in his temples were dripping on his cheeks as he started to feel tired for some reason.

Ding!

[Great you have unlocked your passive skill!]

[Unique passive skill: [Shadow] level 1 - you could increase your movement speed by 50% in dark places.]

"Shadow? How it can be useful to me?" He said in a weak tone, but it looked like Amida could hear him.

"Sorry, but we can give any suggestion with your unique passive skill. The player should find a way how they can make it useful." Amida said, then wiped in the air as he send a new notification to Ling.

"No, that's fine."

[Please select a username that you'll use in this world!]

A screen appeared and followed up with Ling's character's abilities.

Name:--

Ranker Level: 1 (100/100)

Job:--

Title: --

Health: 100/100

Stamina: 20/20

Mana: 25/25

____

Race:--

Class:--

__________________________

__________________________

Strength[+]: 18

Agility[+]: 16

Vitality[+]: 20

Dexterity[+]: 13

Intelligence[+]: 10

________________________

•Unique passive skill: [Shadow] level 1

•Unique passive skill: --

_______________________

CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION

•Hair:

•Face shape:

•Eyes:

•Eye's color:

•Body type:

•Skin tone:

Ling was dumbfounded at the multiple screens that transpired right before his eyes. Yes, some of the contexts on the screen were self-explanatory, so he didn't have a hard time understanding some of them.

First was the race, it had different categories like human, hybrid wolf, bear, tiger, etc. By this, the race was allowed to increase the current abilities of the players.

The second thing was the class, he can be a Swordsman, Gunner or Archer, Mage or Sorcerer, Lancer, Rogue, and Tanker.

Lastly, the name, he should pick a decent one that he'll be going to use in this world.

"What name should I choose? Blood? Reaper?"

It took 30 minutes before he finished setting up.

Name: Blood

Ranker Level: 1 (0/100)

Job:--

Title: --

Health: 100/100

Stamina: 20/20

Mana: 25/25

____

Race: Human

Class: Rogue

__________________________

__________________________

Strength[+]: 18

Agility[+]: 16

Vitality[+]: 20

Dexterity[+]: 13

Intelligence[+]: 10

________________________

•Unique passive skill: [Shadow] level 1

•Unique passive skill: --

_______________________

CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION

•Hair: Black Hair

•Face shape: Oval

•Eye's color: Black

•Body type: Slim

•Skin tone: Warm beige

He chooses to be a rogue as it was the class that seemed suitable for his passive skill.

"Ahh! It's way harder to think of a name I'm going to use here. Well, it doesn't matter since the main purpose why I played this game is to earn money." He uttered, then looked at Amida.

"Ranker Blood, It's time for you to send to the 9 NPC to enlighten you about the world!"

"Eh? Teleport again?"