The Other World

They got into the pod.

Gu Shu's lid closed almost immediately.

Cheng Xiu looked around the interior of the machine. Everything was sleek and smooth. The material of the bed was soft and comfortable.

Her heartbeat started to race, trying to jump out of her ribcage. She was unsure if it was in excitement or fear. Cheng Xiu suspected a bit of both.

A part of her was excited to experience a gaming pod. She never thought she would be able to see one with her own eyes, let alone use one. Her father's measly wages and her small income from occasionally tutoring the neighbors' were hardly enough to get such a great thing, especially with her Non-Qi status.

She didn't thank Gu Shu for it yet, whining about it instead.

Another part of her heart was scared. She had watched a lot of horror movies in which the characters are replaced by the AI in the Pod who take over the original's body and no one knows.

Everything is fiction, she thought to herself. It was okay. She was okay. Everything would be fine.

She put on the VR Helmet attached to the pod. It was a necessary piece of equipment because it connected the wires to the user's brain nerves. It also acted as a backup in case the pod had some malfunction. Hopefully, it wouldn't. She did not want to be the reason people found out the faults in it.

She then flipped on the switch to connect the VR helmet to the Nutrient Fluid which would make sure that her mind could handle the level of stimulation the pod puts her subconscious through.

She took the Fold Watch attached to the sidewall and put it on her wrist.

The Screen Folder was called so because it was a crystal screen that could be Folded. Made by Vrinsium, a metal found in abundance on Mars and other planets. It was discovered by Avrin Landon, a Martian scientist when he searched for a metal that could be used in VR helmets without making them bulky by using his Qi. It was the discovery of Vrinsium that led to many technological advances, making Avrin Landon the father of VR Gaming.

The Vrinsium was more malleable than even gold until it reacted with copper, which would make it more solid. Hence giving the Fold the ability to fold the screen. This meant you could technically carry a screen that was as large as that of a movie theatre in your pocket. The quality of the images, sounds and resolution depended on how much you were willing to pay. The lighter the Fold was, the more expensive it was.

Looking at the high-resolution picture of butterflies as the wallpaper on the Fold Watch around her pale wrist, this particular Fold Watch cost a lot.

She laid down and looked at the icon for The Other World, an animated door frame with fluttering curtains.

Activate, Cheng Xiu thought.

That was the greatest achievement yet. AI system that analyzed thoughts so that you could forego voice commands. It made international communication even more accessible.

The icon in the watch changed.

The curtains parted and the darkness within slowly turned to white light.

The bright lights of the pod dimmed into pale blue.

Her vision turned dark.

A whirlpool of lights and shadows passed by her eyes faster than her mind could react.

When her mind focused, Cheng Xiu found herself in a blank, white room.

She looked and moved around in awe. Everything felt so real. No wonder Pods were so in demand. VR Helmets had nothing on the details she saw in her hands and feet. Her skin texture was exact to reality.

She stood naked as she was born in the empty room. Alone.

The wall opposite her turned golden, and black symbols started to appear. A glowing black circle faded in and words-no spells started to be etched around it in glowing amber colours.

Cheng Xiu suddenly heard a soft, childish sound.

[Welcome to The Other World.]

[User xxxx4444 is playing Version 96S5. Checking database for previous iterations of User xxxx4444.

None found.

Would User xxxx4444 like to create a new User Account?]

Cheng Xiu wanted to curse badly. Why did her User ID have four 4s in it? Was she that unlucky?

"Create Account."

[The Other World is requesting access to all information stored in the DNA Registration Bank of User: Cheng Xiu. This information is for a better gaming experience and will not be used by a third party.]

Cheng Xiu narrowed her eyes. She didn't feel comfortable with giving her personal information to God knows who.

"Denied."

[Would User Cheng Xiu like to leave the Game now?]

So if she did not give her information she couldn't play?

Cheng Xiu sighed. Damn it. She didn't want to give information but she still had to play for Gu Shu's sake.

"Give DNA Registration access to The Other World System."

[Thank you.

Downloading DNA information.

Name: Cheng Xiu

Age:18 years 6hrs 7 mins Old

Blood Type: O+

Illnesses: No prior illness or hereditary malfunctions were detected.

Qi Status: Qi Center Inactive.]

Why did it want this kind of information anyway?

[You are the first Non-Qi Player with their birthday on September 5th, 2164, the Launch Day of The Other World version 5. You will receive a special reward once you register to the Adventure's Guild in your Starter Village.]

"Oh. That's awesome I guess. Some good stuff for spending my birthday in a VR game that is sure to have morons who want to bully and or harass me."

[Please create a new Player Name.]

She used the Gamer name she had been using since she was 14 for any game she played.

"Selafia."

Sela was her favourite character from Master Si WenLu's first novel [A Girl Like The Flame]. Sela, a Wiccan Witch, used her soul fire to create a permanent barrier between the Male Lead and Evil Spirits that wanted his soul. The barrier was called a Fia [soul fire] Protection.

14-year-old Cheng Xiu had spent 4 days depressed and heartbroken because of it. Since then she had always used Selafia to immortalize the witch in her heart.

A blue line scanned her entire figure.

[Please change your Avatar according to User preferences]

A lifelike model of Cheng Xiu stood in front of her in her undergarments.

"Keep the black hair colour. Change the hair highlights to red and maroon. Keep everything else unchanged."

[Would Selafia like to use face accessories?]

Cheng Xiu tilted her head, considering. She nodded.

The golden wall transformed into shelves. Each cubicle had Cheng Xiu's head in it.

Cheng Xiu shivered at the eerie image of her heads on display. Creepy game.

The faces were wearing all kinds of masks and face tattoos.

Cheng Xiu chose a simple black mask that had bright blue swirls and patterns embossed on it.

"Is this detachable later on?"

[Yes.]

Cheng Xiu put the mask on.

[Please select your Starter Village.]

The shelves disappeared and in its place emerged a large map. From it, Cheng Xiu understood a bit of the geography of the Gameworld.

There were five continents. Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central.

That was a disappointing world-building effort for a multinational, multi-billion dollars company. She hoped it was better inside the world than what it seemed to be.

A pedestal appeared in front of her. There was a single black dart on it.

Cheng Xiu felt annoyed. "Please don't tell me that throwing a dart is how my starting point is chosen."

There was silence.

Cheng Xiu groaned. "System of this game? Is this how it's done?"

[You can call me Maya. And yes, that is how you choose your Starter Village.]

She was surprised by the human quality in the AI's voice. It creeped her out a bit, to be honest. Skynet might be a thing!

She took the dart and threw it quickly, wanting to be done with this as soon as possible. Darts. Honestly. Throwing darts. Disappointing for such a hyped-up game.

The dart landed in the southernmost of the Southern Continent.

Cheng Xiu Shrugged. It was all the same anyway. She had played enough RPGs to know that.

[Please remember that you can change your initial location when you have seen your first choice as long as you don't step out of the Teleportation Circles.]

Cheng Xiu was surprised. "Really? Why is that?"

[The first selection is based on your luck. It gives a glimpse of how your luck is in this world. If you do not like it, you will be sent to one of Central Continent's five common Starter Villages.]

Cheng Xiu frowned. "Weird game mechanics."

[Please remember that you can only access your Player Status once you register with the Adventure's guild. Until then you will not be able to do any missions.]

A weird stipulation. This game had too many rules.

She realized something. "Hey! Maya! I will get clothes right? Or am I going to appear naked in the middle of a street?"

[Player will be given the basic Traveler's Clothing automatically.]

"Good to know."

[Player Selafia will hear two clues about the land you will begin your journey in after 5 seconds.]

Another weird game stipulation.

She was mildly curious about this one. Gu Shu had said there would be two voice-overs that would hint at how she could survive The Other World initially. That was an element she had not encountered before in any other Game. And being able to change your initial village after seeing it but not stepping out of the Teleportation Circle was way too complex and instruction.

She was suspicious of the trace of pity she heard in the AI voice. But that had to be her imagination, right?

She suddenly heard her voice echo around her, speaking cryptic words.

[Fairness is an illusion created by those with an unfair advantage. As long as you are the one with the advantage you will never feel the unfairness of your world.]

Was that the supposed clue? What kind of stupid clue was that?

The second voice-over played. Again in her voice.

[Great Opportunities are sought after. They don't come to you.]

Cheng Xiu couldn't understand how these words could be considered as clues, unless...

[Transferring User Selafia to Veritas Village in the southern kingdom of Vixia.]

The room started to glow forcing Cheng Xiu to close her eyes. When she opened them again she was looking at a busy street through a screen of rainbow lights.

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A/N: Sorry about the exposition dump that you had to face in these two chapters. I'll try to show the backstory instead of telling it from now on. If you do see the few that got away please forgive me and do point them out. I'll fix them as I go.

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