A New Game 3
One by one, Trex settled on the abilities that he felt like would properly synchronize with each other.
The various level of spells that ranges from one to nine is something he picked by design. Spells take time to cast especially high-level ones. But level nine spells aren't necessarily more lethal than level one spells. Spells are graded over their complexity rather than power.
Spells like flick could become an instant movement spell, but cast time takes five seconds. Fortunately, spells could be used concurrently with hexes. Meaning he could fight back with his hex until he could flicker somewhere else and initiate a spatial jab.
If he needed to shorten the distance, he could throw a large number of ice bolts that he could cast in less than half a second.
Trex believed the abilities he selected had enough variety in them to fight battles.
With only 20 seconds left in the timer, he finalized his choice of abilities.
["Congratulations of creating a character."]
Trex's environment changed back into that of the arcade hall. On top of the arcade cabinet is a card with the image of Trex engraved on one side and the logo of Cross Arena on the other side.
The card floated towards Trex, who caught the card excitedly.
After the environment settled, the interface asking him what to do popped up once again.
[Detected tokens: 3]
[Play a game - 3 Tokens]
[Create a new character - 20 Tokens (Insufficient Tokens)]
Without even thinking about it, Trex tapped on the 'play a game' button.
The environment changed once again.
——
Since Trex only had one character card, the game automatically selected it for him and transformed his appearance.
With a purple robe and a sparking runic orb, Trex appeared mystical and scholarly as he took a step in a basic-looking arena that seemed like it was pulled from a boxing match.
In front of him is a training dummy.
[Game detected that the card is new. Initiating tutorial.]
[Welcome to Cross Arena. Cross arena is a game that simulates actual fighting in an augmented environment.]
[Please Enter a name for the character card]
Trex paused for a moment as he thought about the name. Recalling back, Jonathan's settled on a name in every game he played. That name was JSunn.
It was then that he had an idea. Actually, he doesn't know what Sunn means, but the 'J' obviously means Jonathan. Satisfied with that, he decided on a name.
[Name TSunn is accepted.]
[Arcane abilities are simulated and activated using the same way as one would do outside. Do not worry about miscasting spells as the arcade game could isolate casting with the help of the Cross Arena bracer.]
In the cabinet, a compartment opened itself, revealing a metallic bracer that is connected to the archine by a fine mana cable.
["Note in accordance with the law: This bracer is an altered version of a 'slave's collar' and inhibits one's ability to communicate with mana. Please check for signs that the bracer had not been altered and is easily removable before putting it in."]
Trex had his mouth agape. As far as he could tell, slavery was already abolished, especially since instead of a slave, Illana was a maid. Even then, traces of her days being a slave are visible, such as how she acted extremely obedient and timid in front of him and his family. Not to mention, Trex could tell Illana felt it wrong to call him by his name.
'The fact that they repurposed slavery into gaming is a little scary but shouldn't harm me, right?'
Trex picked up the bracer and scrutinized it. After a few twists and turns, he found no locking mechanism. At least none mechanically. He also found a hole in one side near the seam. Judging by the shape, it was the same as the one in the door where he had to scan the key.
Even though he saw how the mechanism worked, he didn't understand the concept at all. But from what he saw, the scanner controlled the bind that keeps things shut.
'Without it, it's safe to assume that this brace wouldn't be locked or unlocked, right?'
With that thought, Trex equipped the bracer to his right forearm.
Immediately, he could tell that the mana stopped responding to him. What's more terrifying is that the moment it stopped replying. The words in front of him became illegible.
It was also then that he felt lightheaded and nauseous. Trex felt weak and even though he wanted to remove the bracers. Fortunately, the pain subsided just for a few moments, and the words began to be legible again. It was then that another window appeared in his vision.
[Detected harmful substances enter the body… user detected to be non-human. Analyzing potential fixes…]
[Error…]
[Error…]
[Error…]
[Threat terminated successfully. Unable to create a log file. Tremendous battery charge had been consumed.]
[Battery: 6%]
[The AV Headgear is going to hibernate.]
[New notification received.]
[Vygdrasil OS: I've detected mana repression on your body and initiated a mana flush. As a Chede, please take note that mana repression negatively affects your body. That is so until your mana is just a little bit over the danger zone at six percent.]
[AV Headgear hibernation was aborted.]
[New Task Received: Maintain battery at 6% at all times.]
[Note: This task can be activated and deactivated in the control tab.]
When Trex's head cleared, he read everything in one go.
This time, Vygdrasil has saved him.
Still, he found it odd that the metal tree knew how to save him. Unfortunately for him, communicating with it can only be done in the throne or in the holoroom as the network is in its infancy, and 99% of Vygdrasil's resources are used on analyzing mana and its effects.
*Ding*
[User successfully equipped the mana suppressor bracer. Enjoy your game.]
Just like that, a lousy image appeared in front of him. A man wearing basic leather armor and a long sword appeared in front of him.
With a distance of what seemed to be 20 meters, Trex's avatar TSunn and a swordsman stood still. Trex remained idle as he stared at his foe while his opponent had his fighting stance.
[Time Remaining: 150s]
["Waiting for another player.']
[Ben Mnezza (Ghost) - Bronze]
[Cross fighters ready?]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Fight!]
'???'
'What?!'