Chapter 19: Twist To Ruin

-Garlneth Toofargariyan: "Garlneth? Who the hell is... oh." As the set of armor spoke its movements mimicked the tone of its voice. "My character's name, that's what you were talking about. But, how did you know that?"

The two friends both walked next to one another, slowly traveling the streets while cracking jokes and exchanging personal conversation.

Despite having no visible expression Gray's apparent giddiness resulted in him having full control over where the conversation went.

Stories of his grandeur, aspects of the game he saw to be underrated, lore of the land, and more.

During this Leek decided to change the display name of his friend. The thoughtless name was funny in thought, but the dreaded chance he may have to type it eclipsed this manifold.

-ALTgray: "Wait, how did I not think of this earlier? You can power through the story missions! I might just make another Smurf account, just to watch the slaughter..." Even though the slits of his helm hid his eyes, Leek could feel the devious squint and intent Gray emanated.

-Leek: His friend's words threw him off a bit. "No. I don't feel like dealing with another one of your accounts." Juggling multiple versions of the same person would be a headache.

-ALTgray: The suit's arms went up as if to say whatever. "Yeah yeah, anyways, what is your build cause I've never seen someone dual-wielding a gauntlet and glaive." He lowered his voice a little, trying to let his friend down softly. "And, to be frank, that's a horrible idea."

This question did not come about without warrant, as he had already taken a look at Leek's profile but was faced with an empty screen. The two were friends, and so Leek must have placed his detailed information hidden, as some do.

The only thing he could see of Leek's was the items he had currently equipped; his gauntlets, clothing, and glaive.

And with the way FAO constructs its gameplay, you'd need a feat to allow the use of the two independent weapons.

-Leek: No doubt he knew this would come up eventually. "Funny thing about that. My character is coded for FAo, not FAO. I can just play like I would there."

*FAo- Fallen Arc Original/Fallen Arc | FAO- Fallen Arc 2: Online*

Gray took Leek at his word. He already knew how "Leek" came about, being an accidental port from FAo; it still being bound by the game's rules wasn't too hard to wrap the mind around.

Something that gave Gray an even larger incentive was the lack of limit testing his friend had done. This meant everything as game-breaking bugs, and exploits could easily become profitable to the two.

-ALTgray: "Makes sense, I just can't wait to figure out exactly what you're able to get away with!" Again intent seeped from his face covering, again causing Leek distaste. "Anyways, it's time for us to do some leveling!"

Gray brought himself to this town for his good friend, but before even that he wanted to play this game.

What came to mind was the very first missions a player is required to complete. FAO asks when starting a new character, for a backstory, the look and physical structure, and an idea of your intended playstyle.

From there you would be given starting missions, bringing you from inexperienced to level (8), potentially (10) when factoring intended class.

Taking the idea of this into account Gray found it likely that Leek would be capable of doing these, but at his current level.

People have thought of doing this before now, refusing the starting missions to instead level themselves, then come back and squash any task they were given.

The integral issue with this was the unintended soft-locking of one's character. Starter class items were issued only after doing/as you're doing the starting quests.

Buying them from a merchant/seller wasn't possible as there was no in-game demand, and trading to get one wasn't allowed between anyone.

-ALTgray: "Let's party up." As he said this he sent a party invite to Leek, which he accepted.

*Ding* You Have Partied With [Garlneth Toofargariyan (22)], Enjoy!

-Leek: "You can play through those with me?" With his knowledge of other games, he'd assumed Gray would have needed to wait for him to complete them.

-ALTgray: "Yes I can, though I would have preferred you power leveling me past them!" His hand came into vision, in the shape of a thumbs-up.

The discussed missions were a pseudo-prologue. It's set in the time during/just after the wars set against the 'country' Belvath. Depending on the player's choice what you'll be doing and when will vary.

To accept these leek went into his quest/mission organizer, entering the "main" section, and choosing an obscure choice called "Manifest History."

-Leek: "Do I need to go to a start city?" This was asked to his more experienced peer.

-ALTgray: "What, no you don't, just wait a little. It'll take us to the correct server automatically..."

Both waited another moment, and just as nothing happened they were pulled from where they stood. If viewed from an outside perspective they appeared to have logged out.

""

"YO! DID Y'ALL SEE THE NEW UPDATE COMING?!?!"

These words were sent to a message board, sorted between newer ones that did not notice its contents.

"NO. F-ING. WAY", "Bruh. ths a joke or smthin?"

"fake. I know cause the the devs would post abt it first. a friend of mine is a developer if yiu want to ask him."

"ill wait until someone checks the link first."

"You lieing you dont know a dev forreal..."

Every response flooded in after the other, the diversity of usernames was fairly large. A couple of fast typers, as to fit themselves in multiple times before being pushed away, were actively fighting for attention.

"!!!dID YoU gUYs SeE thE NeW UpdaTE!!!!!! You sound stupid, they mentiond last time that this was all we were going to get until the new year. You got baited, like a dumbass!! JAJAJAJAJJAJA"

"Even if there is... WHO CARES//// <<<<<FAo"< p>

Not too long thereafter a consensus was reached in the message board.

Developers of FAO had decided to announce a new update without any teasers. Something few expected, and the ones who did assumed so without any sane thought.

They were implementing this some time soon, likely within the next week or so.

"It's about time they came out with an update for the NPC dynamic/adaptive behavior. The other games, such as SA:ERO have done this straight out the gate. TBH they just straching the bottom of the barrel right now, but ya'll gonna glaze anyways!"

*SA:ERO- Sunken Abyss: Eternal Realm Online*

"This finna make FAO the GOATTT of VRMMORPG'S."

"They're also bringinging the mounted lance class, more lower level mounts, sub/dual classing, new endgame dungeons, minor story expansion, player-owrned (collegium owned) halls within cities that can be bid on."

"Bro, that not even all. the developers are going crazy wth thisd drop...ETCC..!@#$"

"sounds pay-to-win. i hold my opinions until they can prve theyyre capable of doing this stuff right. cuz i only buy cosmetics no game is worthe spending money on to win but thats just me,. :P"

More people came online, reacting and contributing to the hectic conversations. But all that mattered was when these changes would come to affect them, and their enjoyment of the game.

""

'A Country Of Untold Strength, Consuming Any Border They Touched. An Army Disregarding Night Or Day, Rain Or Hail, Pain Or Pleasure; Monsters Conquering Man.'

'Belvath, The Land Of The Decrepit And Damned. A Snuffed Light Once Holding The Future Of The World In Its Hands.'

'Unclaimed Lands Forsaken By Every Body Of Government, As Their Assimilation Would Be A Geopolitical Headache, Bringing Forth The Petty Outbreak Of War.'

'Brought Together, Silent As They Moved, The Demi-Humans And Monster Established Cities, Villages, Domestic Trade, Laws, And A Unified Consciousness.'

'This New Power Showed Its Strength For The World To Respect. The World, In Their Ignorance, Quickly Took To Fear Or Retaliation. Few Acknowledged This Nation, And Thus Many Super-Powers Followed Their "Divine Right" To Claim Hold Of Land Under Belvirian Control.'

'And, With Their Hand Now Bitten, The Country Was Forced To Act. It Was All A Slaughter, Nearly Every Battle Lead To Blood Fed Soil, Never Soaked With That Of Innocence; There Was No Such Thing As Innocent.'

'Now I Ask You, To Learn Of Your Contribution To An Effort, To Whom Do You Pledge?'

*Bing* [Choose Your Race/Subrace!]

Despite the prompt indicating some needed choice, there was nothing to select. To only option being to "Continue" past the section.

*Bing* [Select Your Desired Class]

Again he could only "Continue" without thought.

*Bing* [What Is Your Type Of Playstyle!]

Again...

*Bing* [Words Words Words Words!]

None of it mattered, he had no decisions to make so he sat and skipped through as quickly as he could.

'I See. The War Was Not Of Your Taste, Needing Others To Fall To Build A Valid Foundation Was Too Much.'

'Rather Than Aid Any Side, Even When Provoked, You Fled From It All. Keeping Your Head Down Until The End Of The Multinational Skirmishes.'

'You Made Sure To Give As Much To Prop Up The Economy Instead.'

'During This, You Were Victim To The Day Of GreySnow. The Sudden Conversion Of Belvath To An Anarchical Society.'

'Reaching Hands Came To Swipe At What Was Yours, Running With What Was Yours, And Baselessly Persecuting Your People.'

'Preventable Death, Committed At The Hands Of The Aggressors In Retributions For THEIR Actions.'

'Their Raids, Pillages, And Desecration In Name Of Uselessly Deified Sapiens, At The Guidance Of Self Indulgent And Formless God's.'

*Ding* [+Story Mission: <input placeholder>]

'In Name Of The Wishful, Those Who Sit In Wait Of Liberation, Repair The Arc Of The New World |Travel To The Stripped Land Of Belvath|'

""

"What?..."