Log In - 2

After walking into his room and eagerly opening the package, Ted couldn't contain his excitement. He carefully pulled out the VR headset, marveling at its sleek design.

Unable to resist the urge, he clicked a photo of the VR headset and uploaded it to his social media accounts, wanting to share his new gaming adventure with his friends.

Sitting on his bed, he quickly opened the game's forum on his computer and logged in using his social media account.

The forum was bustling with activity, filled with discussions and information about the game, Escape. Ted's eyes scanned the page, searching for important details such as classes, quests, races, and the vast world within the game.

Ted's enthusiasm led him to a post by a beta tester who shared various insights about the game. According to the post, the world of Escape was named Red Planet, inspired by the planet Mars.

It consisted of five continents, mirroring the five great nations in the game.

However, these continents were separated by vast seas, leaving players clueless about crossing them.

The beta tester also revealed a secret about races and bloodlines. Changing one's race to Elf and acquiring a bloodline that granted immense intelligence would make a player surpass most Elfs in the game.

Similarly, transforming into an orc and gaining a bloodline that enhanced strength would make a player an exceptional tank.

Furthermore, there was a mysterious attribute called a special stat, which could be obtained but remained a mystery to all. Each character also possessed a unique superpower, but no one knew how to obtain it.

An hour passed quickly as Ted delved deeper into the forums. Suddenly, he heard his mother's voice calling him down for dinner. Ted hurried downstairs and joined his parents at the dinner table.

"Did you order something today?" Ted's father, Dev, asked. Dev worked for an IT company that developed software, including the one used by NEXT Solutions Ltd for their game, Escape.

"Yes, I ordered the VR headset for the game called Escape," Ted replied, unable to hide his excitement.

Jiya, his mother, chimed in with a hint of concern, "Can't you do anything other than playing games, Ted?"

Ted sighed, "Mom, I only play physical sports games, not digital ones. They are different."

Dev intervened, trying to calm the situation. "It's alright, dear. Playing this game can actually help improve mental strength and stamina. It has its benefits."

Ted's eyes lit up, and he asked his father, "Dad, since your company is one of the sponsors, do you know anything that could help me?"

Dev hesitated, "I'm sorry, Ted. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to disclose it. However, I can tell you this much: I had the opportunity to work on one of the game's crucial software components. I've heard that NEXT Solutions Ltd is planning to reward some of the workers and developers with a bloodline base, allowing them to create their own unique bloodlines. Ironically, as a developer, I can't create a gaming account, but I could give you the bloodline base. Additionally, there's something about a superpower unique to each character, but I don't have much information on that."

Ted's imagination ran wild with the possibilities of what he could do with a bloodline base. "Thanks, Dad! This is amazing!" he exclaimed before quickly finishing his dinner and rushing back to his room.

In his room, the VR headset awaited him on his bed. Night had fallen, and Ted realized he could play the game while asleep. Excitedly, he put on the headset and activated it, lying back on his bed. A blue screen materialized before him, prompting him to log in using his Identity Card Account—a digital ID stored in his nanotech.

As Ted's vision darkened, he drifted into a sleep-like state. Soon, darkness enveloped him until a faint glimmer of light emerged, gradually taking the form of a human figure. The figure had a glowing white body with only a mouth and eyes, emitting a radiant white light.

"Hello, Player. Welcome to the Red Planet," the figure greeted Ted. "As you've logged in with your Identity Card Account, we already have all the stats you registered during testing. It's important to note that the in-game stats are 100% of your actual stats and can change if your real-life stats change. Stay healthy and exercise daily."

Nervous but eager, Ted responded, "Thank you for the information."

The figure continued, "What would you like to call yourself?"

Ted thought for a moment and suggested "Edge."

The figure checked the availability and replied, "Congratulations, Player Edge! The username is available. Now you can customize your character's appearance."

Preferring to keep his appearance similar to his real self, Ted requested, "Same as myself, please."

The figure confirmed his choice and informed him that clothing and equipment wouldn't grant any additional stats. Ted opted for black pants, black boots, a black shirt, a black overcoat with a hoodie, and a black mask.

"Granted," the figure acknowledged.

Suddenly, Ted felt a teleportation effect, and his body disintegrated, only to reappear within the Eastern Kingdom's Temple.

As he stepped outside, he was struck by the breathtaking scenery—houses made of stone, abundant greenery, a clear blue sky, a desert in the far east, small mountain hills to the north, a vast forest to the west, and an expansive sea to the west.

Ted's location at the top of a hill granted him a panoramic view. He noticed a mirror nearby and caught a glimpse of his appearance, which mirrored his real-life self. His black hair, eyes, and fair skin were identical.

Eager to explore and seek guidance, Ted muttered to himself, "Alright, let's find someone who can help me understand this world better," and made his way toward the city, leaving the confused priests behind in the temple.

With anticipation and curiosity fueling him, Edge embarked on his adventure through the enchanting Eastern Kingdom, eager to uncover the secrets and mysteries that awaited him in the virtual world of Escape.

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