chapter 3

Why didn't they customize their characters? And if they didn't, how did the game set them using their real features as default? Nothing was adding up. 

Jason dusted his clothes, "and surprisingly painful too" he added. He took a deep breath and exhaled, "feel that? Even the air feels normal" he smiled.

"Ah yes, I knew doing all that hard work would pay off", Derrick said and placed his hand on Jason's shoulder. He pointed to the sky excitedly, "look at those clouds men! They're freaking real!".

Eiden nodded in agreement, he adored the design team cause the game's graphics were simply out of this world. The temperature, the way the grass fluttered underneath the wind, it felt real…maybe too real.

"Something's off", Eiden's voice caught their attention. "I can tell it's you guys, I don't get it. Why didn't you guys characterize?"

Confused, Jason, Derrick and Gabbie checked themselves. They were shocked. Gabbie furrowed her brows, "I swear I chose blue armor and a crossbow, I even added an animal sidekick"

"What the.." said Derrick, "my sword". 

Jason as well didn't look like the character he chose. He looked at Eiden, "speak for yourself Eiden, you still look a lot like yourself"

Eiden immediately objected, "that's impossible, I-" his words ceased, Jason was right! He still had on his old gray hoodie and worn out jeans. Where was his Golden armor, sword, and shield?

"Something doesn't feel right," Gabbie said with uneasiness.

"Maybe it's a glitch in the game?" Jason suggested

Derrick got angry at his words "I didn't just pay a huge amount for a rip-off!"

Eiden pondered before speaking "no, it's not a rip-off. Others have played this game before us, if it was a fraud, its popularity should have shrunk. Maybe we missed something"

His mind trailed back to when the status screen changed its color just before the game started. That could be the problem.

"What if we try logging out and in again?" Jason suggested

Gabbie shook her head "we can't guarantee they'll let us come in again, they might say we've had our turn and kick us out"

The four of them stood in confusion.

Derrick folded his arms across his chest, "I'm not leaving this place" he fumed "I thought this game is supposed to be high rank stuff, why glitches then?"

"What do you think we should do?" They turned to Eiden who was in deep thoughts.

"Jason's right" he started, "it could be a glitch in the game. As for our lost equipment, we could just gather them the old fashioned way" which was completing tasks and quests or defeating bosses and other players.

Although they settled already Derrick still kicked up a fuss, "this character glitch is bullshit, to think I'd appear here as my uncool self"

Gabbie laughed at his remark "don't overthink it Derrick, it's probably just a bug in the system".

Suddenly, a blue transparent status screen appeared before her, startling her and the others.

"Whoa!" She exclaimed, "are you guys seeing this?" She asked

They were. They saw it all life and direct.

"How the hell did you do that?" Derrick asked 

She quickly denied "how should I know, I didn't do anything". She took a step back and it followed her.

As expected, they all looked at Eiden, the brains in the squad.

Unsurprised, he sighed. He already had a presumptuous conclusion, "this is the same status screen we all saw from the beginning right?"

They nodded.

He pondered. "this screen appeared the moment Gabbie mentioned.." he paused before continuing "system"

The same status screen appeared before him, confirming his theory.

"System!" Jason and Derrick chorused simultaneously and got the same status screen. Derrick stared amused "whoa, I take it back. This game isn't bullshit it's crazy"

The four of them stood, with each system facing them.

They all carried the same message

[Player used the keyword system!. Welcome to the Wisher's Death]

[Continue: YES__NO__]

Gabbie reached out to tap the screen but her hand effortlessly passed through it. She retrieved her hand immediately.

"It's not a touch screen," Eiden noticed.

Derrick tilted his head at it, his hands akimbo "how then are we supposed to operate it?"

It was only a theory but Eiden said loudly "yes!" And the system moved to another tab.

They all did the same and the tabs changed.

[Player name_Gabbie Kains]

[Race_human]

[Strength_20]

[Stamina_20]

[Level 1]

[HP_10/10]

[Skill_Mind manipulation: Limitation__use five times in 24hrs]

[Player name_Derrick Hawkins]

[Race_human]

[Strength_30]

[Stamina_30]

[Level 1]

[HP_10/10]

[Skill_Space-time manipulator: Limitation__Deterioration]

[Player name_Jason Hart]

[Race_human]

[Strength_30]

[Stamina_30]

[Level 1]

[HP_10/10]

[Skill_Lightening summon: Limitation__none]

[Player name_Eiden Wells]

[Race_human]

[Strength_30]

[Stamina_30]

[Level 1]

[HP_10/10]

[Skill_Swordmaster: Limitation__Player weakens at the sight of his own blood]

They stood in a state of confusion, staring at the system's tabs. Derrick was the first to air his thoughts, "the hell!? This is not my player's name!"

Same with the rest of them, no one was that optimistic to use their real names for their characters.

Gabbie folded her arm, "this is gender bias, my strength and stamina is weaker than the rest of you guys"

Derrick smirked "seems like the system agrees with my theory