Transference 99%.
Transference Completed.
____________________________________________________________
For the first time in his life, Cody felt nothing. Not an ache in his legs, or neck pain from improper sleep positioning. His balls didn’t even itch.
He tried to think back, trying to remember how he had gotten here. He remembered slapping on his headset and loading up a new game, and then just darkness.
XxJohnWick9964xX, welcome to the beta of Pangea Online. We’re pleased to have you join us for a trial in a world more primal than the one you currently inhabit. Do you have any questions before we proceed?
His head swam with questions.
How did you get here? You signed up for the beta on June 11, 2021 at our E4 stand. You also submitted your headset serial for a direct installation.
Unfortunately Cody did remember that. The four hours waiting in line, made worse by his need to use the bathroom. It hadn’t even been his own idea to sign up, it had been Brady’s.
Any further questions before we begin character selection?
His head began swimming with questions once again.
Oh dear, look at the time! We must be going, you’re the last tester in stasis. Anytime you need a question answered, simply contact an Administrator!
White light burst from nowhere yet everywhere in an instance. Cody was in a white void, his mind was still reeling from his conversation with the voice, wondering when he’d get to begin picking his classes.
Cody already knew what he wanted to play as. He could already see himself, a magical High Elven archer. Shooting high damage arrows out of a bottomless quiver, leading the charts and inspiring the rest of his party.
He would be power leveling on trash mobs, grinding up his skills before swindling some crafter to power up his equipment.
His dreaming was interrupted as a message appeared in his head.
Are you a predator or are you prey?
In a flash, the white void was replaced by a dark forest. Cody could barely see a foot in front of him, the tree-tops stopping moonlight from illuminating the forest ground. From between the trees, blood red eyes stalked him, waiting for him to make a move.
The choice was clear run or fight. The realization sparked something in Cody, and he charged ahead eyes closed prepared for the worst.
Are you the first soldier over the threshold of danger or the last?
Cody opened his eyes and the forest was gone. Instead Cody was sitting in a cramped ditch, surrounded by soldiers. His head was pounding, as the explosions from outside the trench shook him. The soldiers were staring at him, looking for a direction or an order.
Cody thought about this one. If he was serious about being an archer, then it’s obvious he would want to stick to the back and ensure he’s protected and safe. He didn’t want to be unreliable DPS, but if he wanted to be a leader, then the choice was clear.
Which is better to negotiate or to conquer?
After jumping out of the ditch and being peppered with bullets. Cody was transported to another world. The world was open, and bright, with plains stretching as far as the eye could see. A man held his hand out to Cody, with a small army behind him.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The man smiled at Cody, and reached for the exchange. Cody looked behind him and saw more men, his men, looking prepared for anything. He felt a weight on his back, something metal stopping him from turning all the way.
A dagger.
He was being asked peace or war. A part of him wanted to draw the dagger to stab the man and take him hostage, to ransom for wealth and land.
Another part didn’t want any part of this. Wanted to parlay with the man and work together in this new world.
Cody grasped the man's hand and squeezed tight, thinking if he had royally screwed his character creation.
Retreat in Shame or Die a Hero?
He was on another battlefield. However instead of soldiers, there were men in glistening armor and women in robes with crystallized staffs. Across the field was a horror. Multiple stories tall, with a maw that seemed to endlessly open, and appendages that swung out and crushed men, young and old, male and female without regard.
Cody felt hopeless. He saw a man try and defend a downed soldier before a tentacle swung down and crushed both men into pulp. He saw figure, walking around aimlessly as if it didn’t even realize it had lost it’s head.
His head pounded as the screaming grew in intensity, and the crunching and whistling as the creature made swipes at the army, before the squelching as metal bent to brute force and bones popped.
Cody felt something drop from his hands. He looked down, and saw a blade. A longsword, with a leather pommel, nothing special, nothing heroic. The creature continued to take lives as Cody contemplated.
Then the world froze. The screaming cut out, and Cody looked up to see a tentacle about 30 feet up from him.
It’s time to make a choice. Fight or Flight?
Cody knelt and picked up the blade. He gripped it in two hands, feeling it’s weightlessness and balance. He thought it would look better to die with a blade in hand. To die like a hero. He charged, and the tentacle swooped down and crushed him.
____________________________________________________________
Congratulations for finishing the Character Selection Scenario Quiz! You’re selected Race and Corresponding Continent are now chosen. Specialization Choice will occur at Level 3 and Elemental/Evolution Path at Level 10!
Remember, in Pangea the only way to level is not killing and quest completion, but exploration and construction. Domination is not always the answer. Enjoy!
____________________________________________________________
For once it was pitch black, and Cody was not going to miss the endless void he’d just taken apart of. He tried to move his arms and was rewarded with something falling on his face. He coughed and hacked but ended up tasting what suspiciously tasted dirt. He had to escape this prison, but actually felt oddly comfortable.
He tried wriggling his arms more, trying to flip onto his stomach. It took him awhile to move his rather stubby arms enough for gravity to do the rest. Something told him he was in a tunnel not a filled in hole, so he crawled forward, moving his arms and legs ahead down the pitch black pathway before he headbutted something large and warm.
He reeled back and almost flipped onto his backside again before he heard something move. It sounded massive, as every motion he could feel the unearthed dirt in the tunnel move and shake. Then the being moved closer and covered him completely.
Cody began to panic and squirm, he felt his mouth close on a portion of fur and bit down.
Cody almost felt his head exploded in questions, and finally cursed his stupidity. He began thinking about a character page with basic information so he could get his bearings.
Cody realized a couple of things:
First, he had absoulutely no fucking idea what “Cynomys ludovicianus” is. Second, he was fucking blind. Third, his mother was still nigh suffocating him.
He then focused on the scientific name, a torrent of information almost split his head in half.
Cynomys ludovicianus is the scientific classification of a black tailed prairie dog mostly found in the Great Plains of North America.
He shut down, he couldn’t fucking believe it. He tried opening his mouth and making a scream of rage and fury over the fleeting thoughts of his min-max archer build but only managed to squeak and convince his new mother he needed more crushing cuddles.
He thought for a moment, thinking he could re-roll his character or anything. “Global Chat” was his next thought, thinking he could make aware this bug.
JesusKiller69: WTF I’M A DOG
PoppaChulo1245: BARK BARK
Dog33 (Admin): Whoops forgot to tell everyone, all humanoid races are disabled, the technology isn’t there yet and we don’t want someone blowing up ˉ\_(ツ)_/ˉ
Fazer34: Are humans ever going to be in-game?
Dog33 (Admin): That’s above my paygrade. At least I rolled a Great Plains Wolf.
He closed it. A feeling of dread pervaded him and was unshakable.
Cody was so fucking screwed.
