The Arcade Series

I walked out of the stone dungeon entrance with a smile on my face and a busy mind as I thought about the spells I tried out and fought with. The leveling rewards were good too, but spells are cooler.

I found out sort of how this dungeon worked during my time inside it, and it was interesting, very different from anything I had heard of or read before. I only made it halfway through the first floor before I left, but it was clear that each floor was split into sort of ‘zones’ where the danger is different and the monsters are really different as well.

An example of this is when I encountered a dog sized spider that fought me with a rat, a full two levels higher then the highest leveled rat I had seen. After that point, the rats started becoming less and less frequent and the spiders started appearing more and more until it was only spiders. It didn't stop with just the spiders either, as soon after I had to look out for bats swooping at me from the ceiling. It was just around there that I decided I was done and I left quickly.

But with these higher leveled monsters, it was quite easy to gain the five levels I had eventually earned, with the rewards being withheld until I answered a question from the leveling system. “Select class.” Was the entirety of the message, so I waited until I finished killing the monsters before answering.

And that time is now. “Wonder what I can get…” I muttered to myself in excitement, thinking about the different classes I had read about in some fantasy books. I opened the selection screen quickly, not stopping but reading as I walked to my Arcade again.

Available classes

Mage (Common): You have used your mana and have produced a spell.

+2 intelligence, +1 mana and +2 Free Stat Points, Per level.

Sorcerer (Uncommon): You have taken control of mana and have bent it to your will to make a free form spell.

+2 intelligence, +1 willpower, +2 mana and +2 Free Stat Points, Per level

Dungeon Mage (Ultra Rare): You are in control of a dungeon core and have used its powers in combat to increase the potency and effectiveness of your spells.

+1 intelligence, +2 willpower, +2 mana and +4 Free Stat Points, Per level

Dungeon Fighter (Rare): You have fought and killed a monster with aid from a dungeon core and have used its powers to your advantage.

+2 strength, +1 willpower, +1 constitution and +3 Free Stat Points, Per level

Combat Mage (Ultra Rare): You have used your spells along with your body in tandem, killing a monster with both magic and your own strength.

+1 intelligence, +2 willpower, +1 mana, +1 strength and +4 Free Stat Points, Per level

Combat Sorcerer of the Dungeon (Legendary): You have used freeform magic in combination with your own hands, using the abilities of a dungeon core to amplify your effectiveness in combat.

+2 intelligence, +1 willpower, +2 mana, +1 strength, +1 dexterity and +3 Free Stat Points, Per level

I look at the list, reading over all the scarce details with some curiosity. “It's interesting that I actually unlocked the classes by doing things…” I think, noticing that the classes described some things I did and assuming that's what it meant. “But still…” I wonder, looking over the list with a keen eye “I wonder if these are any good… They sound good, but I don't know anything about this whole thing.”

I sigh and look over the list one more time, my mind already having chosen the class but I check it over once more. “The Legendary class seems like the only real option…” I said, before giving in and selecting it with my mind.

You have gained 5 levels. 10 intelligence, 5 willpower, 10 mana, 5 strength, 5 dexterity and 15 Free Stat Points have been gained.

“Huh.” I mutter to myself, “I wonder if that's a lot…” I trail off suddenly, because I start to feel the effects of all the stat points. My eyes widen as I feel my mind start to grow clearer, more distinct and sharper. It was almost as drastic as when I found the Mind Scape the first time… Suddenly, my mind reeled as I could feel the mana in my chest growing still, as if they are more under my control.

I had not had any particular problems with controlling them before, but I could already tell that I would be controlling it easier than ever. Then the effect of the strength hit me and I paused, feeling odd, like any fat that I had in this body had started melting away into mussels and I could feel stronger, like how I would feel if I had just come from a work out when I was younger.

Then, finally the feelings of my body shifted, almost like it was suddenly turned to high definition and I moved my arm with so much control it was incredible! It was almost like my whole body was more fluid and under my control, like the difference you would see in kids and adults, but the change happened instantly.

“Woah…” I muttered, feeling the changes and I started to grin, almost turning back to the dungeon to try to get more levels right then, but I resisted and I started to jog down the street, feeling my speed and ease of movement with a smile.

It was a surprise when I reached my Arcade, I was sure it took at least half the time to get back as it did to find the town dungeon. I quickly entered the shop again and I started to think about my new class and abilities deeply. My fighting style seemed to be leaning in an interesting direction, combining physical fighting, magic and the abilities the dungeon core can give me. Along with using whatever new artifacts I pick up.

The more physical fighting I was more then used to at this point, but the magic and dungeon things were new and strange, though they seemed to compliment each other well. I turned my back to the door and I walked heavily to the front desk, my thoughts turning serious.

In a real battle, I don't really know how I would measure up to people who spent their whole lives being taught all about magic, the system and monsters… I might just be worrying too much, but I really need to learn how to fight effectively, using all my abilities. I sigh and I sit down, my thoughts concluding on that final note as I look out at the window shutters where the warm morning light started passing through the cracks.

“It's a new day…” I mutter, feeling a strange sense of lightness as I looked at my cafe/arcade. “Hope Arcade huh.” I said, thinking about the choice that I hadn't really put much thought into in a different light. “Hope…” I mutter, letting my thoughts run. “In a situation like this, we could all use a little of that.” I said, only to feel guilty at what I was planning to do. Taking advantage of a situation for your own profit was always a thing I frowned at, but here and now it might just be the right thing to do…

I open the system screen with a thought, looking first at my balance and whistling in appreciation. Three thousand dollars might have been a laughable amount back on Earth, and probably in this world as well, but I have the system now.

I look through several options in the system store, my eyes being drawn to a special option that I remember from when I looked at this screen for the first time. Consciousness transmitting VR headset and chair…

I smile as I think of a particular story with something similar to this purchase option and I decide that it is worth it. I am sure somebody can find it useful once I get it set up. I quickly select the necessary options, both the user chair and the admin chair and I quickly place them on a 3D map of the arcade, the user chair on the wall of the arcade section of the store and the admin chair in the break room.

I press buy and a thousand dollars disappear from my balance and I eagerly make my way into the break room from behind the counter, looking in at what I see inside the bright white break room that I haven't been in for a while. Inside the room is everything I had designed it to have. Counters and shelves along the walls, a clear and open room with one major difference from what I originally saw as I passed through for the first time. A high back black chair stood bolted into the middle of the floor, signs of its advanced tech on its back and specifically the fold down headset, at the perfect height for me.

I spend a few seconds admiring it slightly before I decide to test it out and I climb onto the chair, pulling the headset looking part over my eyes and I waited for something to happen.

I did not have to wait long however, as almost as soon as the headset came on, I seemed to fall asleep for a second before the world cleared before my eyes. I was in what looked like a void, completely black and all encompassing, but I could see myself and the chair I sat in as bright as day. It was odd, and I peered into the darkness a little worried at what was going to happen.

Then a screen appeared in the air. Not the usual system screen, but a different white and black one that contrasted with the void around it. On that screen was a sentence and it read “Hello, Administrator.” Then as I read those words more appeared below the first, “New Administrator detected. Would you like to run a refresher program?” It asked me questioningly and below those words, two options were displayed. Yes, and No.

I look at the screen quickly, but I realize I have no idea what is going on so I decide to just do as directed and I lean forward slightly and select ‘Yes’ causing the screen to blip for an instant and say, “Refresher Program is being uploaded…” Then I wait for an instant, wondering what exactly the admin chair is doing.

But I quickly realize what it is doing when I start to feel something start firing off in my brain that I feel acutely, I am getting information uploaded directly into my head. I panic for a second and I almost try to resist its effects, but I don't after I realize that this is the admin chairs version of a ‘Refresher Program’ and I wonder how exactly this chair works. Things like this were at least a few hundred years of scientific research into brain modification tech on Earth, even if it was not banned by practically every government.

Sure VR might have been around and prevalent, but this was straight from the Matrix, without the hole in the backs of people's necks.

But while I didn't know those hows, I knew some of the practical ones now. Information uploads were apparently a bit… iffy, even with the tech in the Admin chair, and it definitely is not practical besides small info dumps like how the Conscious Transmission Virtual Reality System, or CTVRS, works and how it's operated.

It's actually surprisingly intuitive once you learn some of the basics. The whole system works on a basic AI that basically generates the world that the Admin describes, though it only works as long as it has enough information. But besides that, there are three different modes. RPG Game Design, which needs a plot starter, canon points and world design with some creative freedom in the system. Sandbox Game Design, which just needs physical rules, sometimes plot points and a more indepth world description. Finally, the White Room Design, which is the exact opposite of the RPG.

The White Room Design itself is more of a simulator then a game, being very malleable to users and closer to real life then a RPG or Sandbox, but what makes ‘real life’ is very dependant on what is programed in, with the White Room giving more freedom then either of the other two options, but its smaller in function then the others.

I smile at the interesting information and I decide that it is probably best if I do some practice before I make anything for actual playing. “Let's get playing!” I say, with a smile as I bring up the designer screen, selecting White Room Design.