"What the hell?! Why was there a truck in the... wait?" I look around and see I am sitting in a white room, or at least it looks like a room. The walls seemed out of focus and covered in a layer of mist. Weird. Now about that... why can't I remember what killed me or where I was? This isn't good, not good at all..."
[Gamer's Mind] Unlocked!
Rising panic negated by [Gamer's Mind]
Then there was just calm logic, while it kept the panic away it still didn't explain why I can't remember what killed me. With the new skill though I really didn't care about it all that much, worrying? Yes. Concerning? Just can't seem to care. So I go ahead and stand, the chair I was sitting on disappearing, and look around the room. It doesn't take me long to find the single item in this room, a box with a note atop it. Ok then, I approach the box and look at it for a moment and smile at the very plain cardboard box sitting there. You would think that the box was a little nicer for some reason, as if in response to his thoughts the box shifted quickly and was an elaborate gray box with black ribbons. I blink a few times as I look at the box, ok. It doesn't do anything else so I walk over to it and look down at it Ok, sure, why not. I reach down and grab the note atop it and read the neat and tidy writing.
Apologizes to our newest, accidental Gamer,
The fact that you were killed in the acquisition of a new guild applicant had a minor unforeseen situation. In consideration of your inconvenience please accept these gifts and a prototype game that will basically auto fill options so... Have fun.
How did a note manage to seem haughty? Whatever I will accept a gamer system, even a prototype. Sucks I don't get a sexy system AI or the admin and manager? With a sigh I bring my attention back to the box and can't help but wonder if this is the guild that I thought it was. As I commit to open the box it unwraps itself, and I watch it with curiosity. Then nothing happened. Ok? I reach out towards the box with suddenly the smell of brimstone filled the room and an ooze or something jumped out of the box onto his hand. "What the fuck?" I try to shake it off as it easily clings to my arms and rapidly expands and before I can really think about it I am consumed and then there was pain and then darkness before I opened my eyes. I was still standing? How long had that taken? A screen popped up in front of me.
Gifts of the Creator
Alchemical Blood
Potion of Mage Armor
Noctis Cape
Well the Noctis Cape is really nice and unnerving, starting out in Worm would really suck, but I suppose there are many that are very much worse. But thank you mysterious creator of this system? I repeat the same thing out loud as well. Ok, time to test my memory of... Oh, right. Noctis Cape kicked in.
Status:
Error, Please finish initialization.
Derp. Ok. "Initialize?"
Please Enter a Given Name.
Awesome, I get to select my own name huh? I pace for a while as I think about what I want my new name to be, not even being able to remember my old name. "Alexander." I have always liked that name for some reason.
Please Enter a Family Name.
Oh because this can't possibly have any odd or possible bad side effects. "Crawferd." Why do I remember that character that I played as but I can't remember my own?
Age: Preset to 21
Well that really doesn't matter a whole lot I guess. Granted it is still an age-regression for me.
Please Select Appearance.
Sweet deal. Oh! Hello Skyrim character creator with HOLY SHIT graphics and no lag. That was where the excitement ended, I scanned through the list. It sure was extensive, to bad I can't actually see what any of them are and when trying to select them to see it said I lacked the points. I scratched my head, the avatar mimicking my movement, "Why give me an option at all then?" I ask as I select human. I adjust the bars and options as I look through all the choices. I have spent time on these things before but never like this. That made since though. I settle on silver, short messy, hair with an almost metallic sheen to it. My eyes are dark amber that almost seems to shimmer with power. My appearance doesn't look all that special and is probably determined by my stats, just like my build. I was always kind of average in height before so I think I will do something about that, I don't want to be huge though. I end up with an even six feet and that seemed to be all that I can adjust and looking over the avatar that stood posing for me I couldn't help but shake my head. So is it the game that made that log like third leg hanging there. As I am thinking about this I watch the six inches grow to ten and the girth grew to twice it was.
I simply shake my head, not that I am going to complain about it since I was very much average before. Wait, why do I keep remembering these random bits of information? Oh well I guess.
Please Select Starting Flaws.
Um... What?
Simple! Say yes and gain a flaw, then a perk. Flaws may be worked off.
That seems really familiar, but honestly... I'm a Gamer. How could I possibly say no to this?
??? Reputation +5
That is both interesting and a little scary. "Yes."
18Please respect copyright.PENANAN4FOMDXOz5
Mental Scars
Some things are much harder to forget
Half MP Gains and MP Regen!
Reach 450 in Int and Wis to remove.
Reach 550 in Int and Wis to recover double MP.
???
I take a deep breath as memories are forced into his mind of an experience that happened in Alex Crawferd's past that has wounded my connection with magic. Before I can even really get a picture of what happened it vanishes from my mind, I feel it being pushed towards the deepest parts of my mind, quickly losing track of it. Well that's not foreboding. Well, not like there is a truly bad
Iron Stomach.
No, edible, food can conquer you!
All terrestrial food tastes good to you, spices, sours, or sweets are never too much for you to handle. Still get full as normal.
I blink as I look at the box for a moment. I really can't process how you get a Flaw like that but end up with a perk like this. I feel like I want to cry for a moment and then just shake it off. Ok, can't let it end like that. "Yes."
Alchemic Rival.
They know! Not sure how but they know you know new and weird alchemy.
-20% Affection/Reputation Gains with Alchemists.
Max Affection/Reputation of # Alchemists.
1) Reduce Lose by 5%
2) Reduce Lose by 10%
3) Reduce Lose by 15%
4) Reduce Lose by 20%
???
Alchemical Superiority.
You were quite literally born for alchemy.
Increase effectiveness of alchemic products by Int%
Cha- FUCKING - Ching! Now that is what I'm talking about. At this point I think I have about broke even... but the damn munchkin in me is screaming, "Yes!"
Costly Cosmetics.
Is it supposed to look like that?
Increase the value of your alchemic products production by -Cha%.
(00%) Lucky Strike!
I blink for a moment as I look at the box. "What?"
Player Option...
1) Completely Remove a Random Flaw.
2) Gain Random Perk from a Special List.
There's a special list? Hmm... As nice as removing one of those flaws in particular would it I can't shake those question marks, the game is hiding something and that is clearly a perk so I as annoying as they will be I will keep them and go with the special list. Before I can answer a box appears.
For not being a total idiot.
+1 Int and Wis.
Huh?! Cool!! "Thanks. I will take the special list please." Clearly this was the right choice... or at least the better choice.
Silver Tongued.
You can do oh so much more than tie a cherry stem into a knot.
All conversational, and physical, feats of the tongue are 50% more effective.
This is very powerful indeed, and with that I decide that is probably enough. "Ok, I am good with those."
World Selection:
Atelier
Skyrim
Star Ocean
Marvel
High School DxD
No Man's Sky
Overlord
Worm
Persona
Board (Board games)
I eye the screen in front of me, that's a pretty good list. Some of those worlds are kind of scary to me right now but what I really wonder is about the Board selection. That seems oddly out of place and that worries me. I would love to play around in all of those worlds but honestly based on what I am, apparently, there are four that jump out. Atelier, a world literally built around alchemy. Skyrim does have a pretty great system. Star Ocean, since it has a really robust crafting system. Finally No Man's Sky, I almost disregarded this world altogether. But not being in a rush and thinking about it that's actually a pretty good place to start. I mean just the Multi-tool alone is worth going there for. The ships are cool but maybe I'll be able to make them look better? Not to mention all of the building blocks for crafting that I will get from there. Only downside is that it is a really lonely game. I also don't remember meeting a single chick the whole game, such bullshit. Give me a space game and I can't even Captain Kirk it?
Is it worth it to go into the next world completely ready for anything that comes my way? Yes, it really is., there are whole worlds just there to gather resources from. TRILLIONS! I have no choice, this is going to be a little boring but I really think I need to go there first. "I'll go with No Man's Sky."
World Modifications:
Credits obtained may be used to make adjustments to the worlds.
Tutorial Bonus +1000 credits.
Disadvantages may be selected to obtain more credits.
Pretty simple and straight forward or at least it seems so. After a few moments and nothing else happening I scratch my chin, "Ok?"
Searching...
Ok Conditions.
The world you start in has the conditions it finds itself in changed just by your very presence there.
Cost: Varies based on world. No Man's Sky: 100 credits
Accept? Y/N
I quickly select no and then sigh. No list, huh? Well this might take a while. I take some time and toy with it a little trying out strange things such as; introducing a new species, Removing technology from the trees, adding it, and a multitude of other things and no matter how strange the request it produced an answer with a cost. So after some number juggling, and trying to remember which ones cost what, I came up with this list.
Rifts RPG (Phase World) Technological Blueprints.
Complete with technological manuals.
Gain access to the construction of anything from the Rifts Multiverse.
Cost: 1000
Aggressive Sentinels
Instant Elite Packs.
Refund: 250
Multi-Tool Mastery
You bring out all there potential
Increase Multi-Tool Effects by 100%
Cost: 500
Ancestral Enemy.
The Vy'Keen hates you, forever.
Stations are neutral grounds
Refund: 500
Extra Technology Upgrade Slot. (Exosuit - Shield)
One extra upgrade slot.
Cost: 250
With that I have balanced out my Credits so I think that is good enough. "Ok, I am good on those."
Initialization Complete. Starting in...
3...
2...
1...
Then there was nothing but bright light which stretched on and fell into consuming darkness before I jolt awake to the sound of alarms going off.
Memory Lose Negated By [Gamer's Mind]
Warning! Exosuit integrity compromised, oxygen levels, falling. I look around and see nothing but expansive plains stretching into the distance. I turn around and see I am right on the edge of a pretty steep cliff. Well that really would have sucked. But nice to know Gamer's mind is working. I check my sensors and see what kind of planet I get to start with.
Xenorphis
Tropical
Boiling Rainstorms
Sentinels: None
Fauna: Low
Minerals: Rick
Flora: Rich
All and all about what can be expected. I pull out my new toy and look over the Multi-Tool. This might very well be my key to almost everything. I quickly turn it on all the nearby plants and rocks, scanning them and making a quick 1000 credits (NMS). With a sigh I then pull the trigger to mine the materials. Click, Shit. I thought it had a charge. With an even deeper sigh I go about bashing some plants for their carbon until I build up enough to load a small charge of all my carbon into it and then start blasting away. I crab enough carbon for a full charge plus a hundred sitting in my Exosuit inventory. I check my heads up display and start making my way towards the marker on it. I use the scanner to grab all the Oxygen, Sodium, and Di-Hydrogen that I can without going too far out of the way. All of the oxygen quickly being loaded into my life support system. With a little more breathing room now I venture a little more in a meandering path, always heading towards the marker though, and grab some of the easy to acquire materials before I make it back to my crashed ship. Taking a moment to look it over before I run to the cockpit and get inside, the satisfying hiss as the ship seals and quickly normalizes the atmosphere I smile. Well this isn't a fighter, which would have been a little nice since I am sure that I'm in Vy'Keen space. But it's a hauler. I suppose Inventory space isn't going to be as big of a problem for me though... Maybe?
Inventory:
Empty.
Yeah. Not going to be a problem at all. So I really wish I had got a fighter but whatever. I pull up the damage report and look over the damage to the ship. It's really a piece of trash right now. But I remember the items needed for fixing the ship to be able to fly, break atmosphere, and power the shields. Some of the simplest materials to get in the whole game are what is used to repair these features on the ships, for obvious reasons.
I don't even really know how long I have spent here, but I took a break for a while and took a nap and then this happened.
[Gamer's Body] Unlocked.
Allows the user to live life like a game.
I had just assumed I wasn't going to get it, but I guess since this isn't really a "smart" system it needs my input, which is what helped spawn this.
Quest Created!
Fuck this planet!
Repair your Launch Thrusters.
Repair your Pulse Engine.
Repair your Shields.
Leave the Planet.
???
Rewards:
Launch Thruster Fuel x1
1000 Credits (NMS)
Gacha Token x1
???
The Space Station can Wait.
Establish a base before you can.
Gacha Token x1
Recipe Book
200 Credits [Game]
I guess the space station can wait. I also want to try and figure out what that bonus objective is, with it being listed after leaving the planet has me kind of confused though. But I have time and worst case I just have to hunt down some of the creatures and plants that are edible. But otherwise there is no way I can build a base without reading through these cursed manuals. I haven't quite figured out how to use the alchemy yet, since everything has only showed up as materials for the crafting here. But whatever I will figure it out in time and if I start getting worried about hunger and thirst I will fix the ship and just leave right away.
So I spent the next week reading, resting, and trying to mine this planet out from under it. I have gathered quite a lot and managed to finally figure out why I was having problems with the alchemy, oh and I also managed to gain a few levels from hunting the occasional creature that wanted to be a little too friendly. The manuals were amazing... eventual. Over the course of reading so far I have netted +20 Int and that was when the books started to actually make a little bit of sense, also the headaches went away. I also earned a couple of skills. I had gathered multiple stacks of all the materials I could find here, built multiple portable refineries, which I found blueprints for in my ship and a couple more of the simple blueprints I found while exploring and clearing a few buildings that were within a few hundred kilometers, which also managed to net me 340 nanite clusters. I also managed to finish scanning everything else on the planet and now sit with 15,000 Credits (NMS), and 590 nanite clusters.
Level Up! x3
[Bombs]
Explosives make life so much more interesting.
Figured out how to make special, customizable, explosives.
Skills Acquired!
Engineering.
Electrical Engineering.
Blueprint Drafting.
General Construction.
I’d say I had a pretty damn good week with that alone. But not actually needing to sleep has also managed to allow me to get a start on the foundation of my base. There are a lot of things that I just won't have yet but I will probably have a whole lot more also. Another week went by of gathering, reading, building, and fixing. Smiling as either the NMS mechanics or the Gamer's Body mechanics are keeping me from being hungry or thirsty, haven't even used the bathroom. Sweet. Even better my Int slowly kept increasing, when I stopped and just groaned for a moment. It was this that caused it all.
Int +1
Perk Unlocked!
Int 50
Photographic Memory... Already Exists... Converting...
[Speed Reading]
Increase speed of reading by Wis%
Comprehension not hindered.
While it was great that it switched the Perk but I have been an idiot, it was relaxing though. My schedule got a bit more filled from then on as I started including a workout into my daily routine. I always did hate working out, but honestly if I would have had something like this telling, and showing, me I am increasing makes it really hard not to. The week bore much fruit just like the first week of reading had, plus the materials kept stacking up.
Str, Dex, Con +20
Int, Wis +5
I'm starting to get extremely bored, but I knew that coming in, that is why I have spent so much time working on my ship. It's not completely fixed yet but honestly it is very close. But it was at the start of the next week that something finally happened as I was looking at a new tech manual.
Skill Unlocked!
[Observe]
I bite back the self-targeted curses and take a calming, Gamer's Mind assisted, breath and nod. Fine, I then start to observe everything. There have been ingredients around me this whole time I just wasn't looking at them right. Which is great, but not exactly helpful to be honest, but I did pull the Potion of Blur out and look at it for a moment.
Potion of Blur.
Grants a 20% chance of being missed.
Now that is pretty nice. But I only have one slot in my [Alchemical Blood] right now, I will hold off for the time being. I put the potion away and look around my ship. I only have a few pieces left anyways so I might as well finish it before I leave as well. With much of my quest completed I figure that taking a week and work on the manuals some more since I need the Int. Well I need MP. Five hundred, to be exact, mana is what I needed to make a potion. I only have 305. I settle back into the pilot's seat and pick up another manual…
Another week went by and my gains decreased again. +10 Str, Dex, Con. Int and Wis got +5.I also managed to eke out another level. Still not enough to actually make any potions but I plan to spend more time leveling next week. I managed to put the finishing touches on my base. It's still nothing special but I was able to make a container of sorts, really it is just a box with a hinged lid but it works. Proof of concept is all I really needed right now anyways. I am not limited as the game character was. I still don't know how to make anything too fancy with any of my blueprints from Phase World but I knew that was a long endeavor anyways. Speed reading really is helping though.
Level Up!
Another week went by and my gains from exercise are basically done. Str, Dex, Con +5. I didn't gain anything for Int or Wis from reading, but honestly the current manuals all make so much sense that I don't really have to try to understand them anymore. It will probably change once I get to some of the harder material. This alone could probably max out my Int and maybe even Wis. The big thing is I killed a lot of the critters around here and well... This place is trash for exp. Maybe I can really only get it from Sentinels. Sure not right now though. I did manage to get two more levels though, even though I basically just committed genocide of a planet. I also finally looked at all of the salvage data I managed to dig up, even without the mining laser. I just made a simple shovel. But I managed to come away with fifteen of them.
Level Up! x2
[High Explosive Blast]
May increase affected area to 20 feet.
Perk Unlocked!
Str 50
Power House.
Increase Melee Damage by 20%
Dex 50
Fleet Footed.
Increase Movement Speed(s) by a factor of Dex/100
Con 50
Enduring.
Fatigue 20% Slower than Normal
Wis 50
Heightened Perception.
Increased Awareness.
All of that aside, my base complete with the help of my blueprints I was able to finish fixing my ship to pristine condition. I smile as I move as many of the stacks of Ionized Cobalt over to my inventory and the ships. I'm not really interested in hunting pirates right now, but honestly they are probably ok xp, maybe? Anyways it's time for my maiden flight. As I sit focus on the shit controls and make to choice to go the how just bubbles up in my mind and I smile, of course I know how to fly with this start. I take off and tilt up till I'm at 80 degrees and hit the boosters. I am pressed back into my seat but smile as the inertial dampeners prevented me from suffering the heavy G's currently was being applied to the ship.
When I finally break free of the atmosphere I smile at the sight before me, it can only be described as beautiful. It's a shame that we as people are the way we are. This sight will quickly become common and I will stop caring about it at all. With a sigh I turn the ship towards the systems space station and engage my auto-pilot to fly me to the station. The second Auto-pilot was engaged windows blocked my view with their transparent selves.
Quest Completed!
Fuck this planet!
Repair your Launch Thrusters. [X]
Repair your Pulse Engine. [X]
Repair your Shields. [X]
Leave the Planet. [X]
Completely fix your ship before arriving at the space station. [X]
Rewards:
Launch Thruster Fuel x1
1000 Credits (NMS)
Gacha Token x1
Upgraded Ship: Massively increased Shields.
The Space Station can Wait.
Establish a base before you can. [X]
Rewards:
Gacha Token x1
Recipe Book
200 Credits [Game]
Wow! The Gacha Tokens actually gave me an erection.
Imaginary Porn Tablet.
Creates Porn of anyone, doing anything to anything, which you enter into the search criteria.
With a grunt I smile. Maybe that was the reason why?
Gamer's Cell Phone.
Always the most up-to-date hand held communication device.
View various Gamer Stats and Access the D-Market.
No Battery, No Plan.
I pull the recipe book out from my inventory and look at it. Flipping through the pages I see that is just a bunch of blank pages.
Recipe Book.
Stores recipes or any type, and organized as desired.
Always appears the same size, never fills.
Before I can pull the phone out though my sensors go crazy and the readings don't make sense. Nope, they wouldn't when the Anomaly warps in through both space and time. I go into the Anomaly and wait for the ship to land. I look around the station and just took it in for a second. Maybe I should take full control; this could make one hell of a mobile fortress.
Quest Created!
The Only Anomaly is that it's not YOUR'S.
Gain full control of the Anomaly.
Kill Occupants.
Convert Occupants.
Rewards:
The Anomaly.
Well, well, well. I don't think killing them is an option but honestly they were really nice and they all just seemed to want to be left alone for the most part. I will worry about that later so I start to head up the ramp, looking at the cube moving around behind the holographic cube surrounding it. I ignore it since the Nexus is no use to me yet. I stop and look at it for a moment, wondering just what it would offer now. I pull my attention away and head right into the "kinda" leader of the Anomaly. I walk up to the very alien life-form and then just kind of zone out. I don't really care what he says, since I already know. I wish I had an X button right now or something.
Alert!
What?! Alert?!
Quest Created!
Click.
Your thoughts have made a powerful entity aware of your existence.
There is no way that is a good thing. What could it have been? No! I don't need to make it more aware of me. Oh! Dude has finished talking. I thank him for his offer and then stop before I make my rounds of the Anomaly. "Hey? Is there any chance that I could use this as an actual base for a team? The life-form tilted its head for a moment as he thought, or I assumed that he did. He could be reading my mind for all I know. After a few more moments he just shrugged his should and smiled. "Sure. There is plenty of space, just keep them civil and respect the others wises and I see no problem with it." I smile and thank him again before going to make my rounds.
Quest Complete!
The Only Anomaly is that it's not YOUR'S.
Gain full control of the Anomaly.
Kill Occupants.
Convert Occupants.
Rewards:
The Anomaly.
Quest Creation!
There Can be Only One!
Remove the boss man from his position, one way or another.
Rewards:
???
Hmm... That sure is a whole lot of Hmm... Ok? I turn my attention back to the life-form behind the counter as he hands me an anomaly detector. I take it and thank him before moving on back to my ship, having already purchased all of the blueprints that I could or needed most. I get back in my ship and take off, ready to finally make it to my first space sta... Well ok I guess this is technically my first. I did get an Exosuit upgrade as well. I start the takeoff and quickly turn towards the space station and engage the Pulse Engine and Auto-pilot.
I pull out the cell phone and watch as it goes from a cell phone one second to a wrist computer of sorts. Fancy. I lip through it and look at the D-Market, flipping through the pages of things for sale. I was hoping something like this would be available, didn't expect it from the Gacha but it was more than worth a token. Maybe it was orchestrated that way... Probably was. My sensors beep and I look up and see I'm almost to the station. I wait a little longer and then take control to navigate around the station till I find the blue light indication the entrance. Once the station grabs hold and the auto-pilot kicks in again, I double check to make sure that I filled the ship and my inventory to the brim with Ionized Cobalt.
Now that the ship was completely docked I exit the ship. I look left and look right at the very boring interior. A central landing area and two, large, raised alcoves hat housed all the aliens and shops. I'm really only here for a few things. First is to buy my cargo slot, second is to trade in some of the Nav data I found for coordinates. Finally I needed to sell thirty-three stacks of Ionized Cobalt. This will be fun. Hmm... Each piece is worth Damn it's down, but it is still worth 467 each. Do some quick mental math, not that the screen won't show it. 329,967 pieces at 467 each? 154,094,589 Credits (NMS). I would burst out into maniacal laughter but honestly that really isn't a whole lot in this world, but if it can convert that would be great. But all the really cool stuff, other than the freighter, cost nanite clusters. I'll get there. At least need to upgrade the Multi-Tool. Oh yeah. Can't believe I almost forgot. I go to the Multi-tool store, the container holding the multi-tool they had for sale, opened as I got close. I looked it over, but not for a long time since it was really hard for it to not be better than my starter one so I buy it and knock off 1.3 million credits, having brought the price down a little by selling my old one, from my account.
Well... I guess I should go ahead and enjoy the terrible reputation with the Vy'Keen and see if they give better experience or not. I jet-pack back over to my ship and climb aboard. Here we go, I take off from the space station and sigh. I don't know if I can actually stay here much longer... All the going in and out of the space stations gets a bit old quick. At least the portals aren't going to be load screens. Please don't be load screens.
I'm boosting my way at two pirate ships, them doing the same. I love how intuitive this game was but it wasn't really built for this but I can't rely on that just yet. As soon as my sensors tell me I am in range I open fire. My improved Dex is already showing itself as my hands hold the controls steady. The Photon Cannon launching round after round into the other ship. I watch its health bar tick down. Guess it is really similar to the game. There blasts lay into my shields but they hold strong, even before the upgrade they would have easily held. I finish off the ship I was attacking on my next run and quickly make a similar show of the next. I collect there ejected cargo and turn my attention to the small box in the corner of my vision. Screens pop up.
Level Up!
[Shape Charge]
Control the area that is affected by your bombs.
Well I was at the start of a level so two ships for a level, that will quickly lower, but I should easily be able to get several more levels. Well that was until the Sentinels showed up, along with their dreadnought. Hmm... Starter ship vs. interceptors and a dreadnought sounds like a perfectly fair fight for a Gamer. I can do this. Just have to be careful. I really didn't take my enhanced shields into consideration as I finish clearing one side of the dreadnought of its cannons and turn fully to the interceptors. That's not to say that there weren't any troubles, but honestly... when all I had to do was pull back for several seconds it really kind of was...
Next Wave Incoming: 00:30.
It starts counting down but I look at the screen popup.
Level Up! x6
[Elemental Bombs]
Adjust the damaged to any standard elemental type of the world.
Perk Unlocked!
Int 100
[Hyper Focus].
While focused double productivity but half awareness and other skills and abilities unrelated to the target of Hyper Focus.
I collect there drops and just fly around, away from the dreadnought and wait for the next on to show up. It took me a while and I now have a lot of their drops. I don't need them right now so I might just sell them. I think they sold for like 25-75k. It actually got a little nerve racking once when a second dreadnought showed up after killing the fourth one. I don't think the game did that. But it sure upped the challenge, which was pretty nice. The real winner though, as I go to land on a freighter, having already destroyed all the ones around that had freighter salvaged data. I didn't find enough but all I need is enough to get the warp drive for it. I don't even care about the freighter other than it can jump farther than my hauler... or I can just use the black holes...
The dreadnoughts and interceptors did net me fifteen more levels.
Level Up! x15
[Ghostly Bombs]
Adjusts bombs to be able to affect the ethereal.
[Combat Alchemy]
Able to craft simple potions and bombs with 1 adjustment during combat.
Speeds up standard Alchemy.
Perk Unlocked!
Con 100
Stout.
Increase HP gains by 50%. (Retroactive)
Well... That's a thing. I chuckle to myself and look around. I really need to move on. All this alone time is making me talk a little too much to myself. I stop myself and just shake my head. I open my menus and install than complete my Warp Drive along with a stack of warp cells. Alright I think I am perfectly ready to move on and find a place with some girls. The Imaginary Porn Tablet helps but honestly... I'm a Gamer! I open the start chart and target the system with the black hole that I had got the location of from the Anomaly. The Warp Drive warms up and delves into the deeper layers of space as I travel through the hyper lanes. So I take this chance to look over my character sheet.
Well that sure is some nice growth from a relatively weak world. I figure I might as well keep reading my manuals; I am actually starting to see and deal with small, really small, electronics. I activate [Hyper Focus] and everything but the book vanishes. I blink my eyes a few times as I close the book. My brain almost feels like it's humming after finishing the book. I just sit there for a moment and listen to the sounds of the ship traveling through warp as I try to help my mind parsed the information. It really didn't take that long or at least it didn't feel like it with [Hyper Focus] on. He looked around after finishing and turning the skill back off. Looking at the distance left he sighed and finished another Manual before he made it to the system with the black hole. Only having to focus on the occasional ship that was a little more persistent then I would have liked. But it was fine and he quickly flew through the block hole and was instantly in another system. I pull up the chart and smile. Ok I don't even care what's in the system. I should try to upgrade the warp but I can always come back at some point.
I stare at the void in front of me for a moment and blink a few times to make sure that I'm not seeing things, but it was gone pretty quickly. How is there something that looks more like a void than a void? I summon the Anomaly and go grab another set of co-ordinance for a black hole. I manage to make it through two black holes before I had to stop and try and figure out what my sensors were reading. I pulse drive to where the sensors are telling me something is there and squint into the distance. Of course the sensors still warn that I am approaching before I can even see it. Hmm, I need to make myself better somehow.
Quest Created!
You Can Make You; Better, Stronger. Faster!
It probably won't even cost a billion dollars.
Improve yourself.
???
???
???
???
???
Rewards:
Improve yourself.
???
Etc.
Ah Ha! The screen actually distracted me long enough to crash into a derelict freighter. Shit. My alarms blare and I quickly guide myself away from the freighter and let my shields, which got knocked down to half strength, recover. Once they do I fly around the freighter, hoping that it will be one I can board. I sigh after I finish flying around it and find that there is no place to land. Man that sucks. I point towards the freighter and unload my pulse cannon on the freighter until it overheats and then Continue on to the Anomaly for my next black hole.
It's ok, you’re almost over halfway there, you're moving on soon. I grip the steering controls and while I am really starting to develop wanderlust I don't want to do it here. It's great for resources, and once I set it up... which before took me a long time to get set up, but I know the way now and it will make money just a point total and nothing else. I actually start to reverse thrust my ship as I see another ship fall into a leading flight path and then hail me. That in and of itself isn't weird, it happens, but what is weird is the ship. That ship doesn't belong here... That ship doesn't belong anywhere. That... Umm... Ok? Why does it look like there is a giant pink unicorn running through space? I open the channel and everything stops. I don't even say anything as I look around at how nothing is moving.
A cheerful voice that sounds very young and very girly comes from a hologram, or something, that springs to life right in front of me. To say the voice matched the projection in front of me would be the most understated thing I would ever say in my life. Before I could even process anymore she frowned. "Seriously! These ships are way too small." She then waved her, where did that scepter come from? Is she another Gamer? The ship suddenly expanded, blurred, and I feel myself gently set down in a very soft, very frilly, pink chair. I look around the room and see what I could only describe as the quintessential little girly-girls room. I mean I feel like I need a shot of insulin! I turn back towards the short girl in a pink Gothic Lolita dress, fully decked out to the nines. She eloquently curtsies to me and then takes a seat at the tea party table and set that just appeared between us. Her hair shimmered like a river in the afternoon and as I looked at her hair all I could say is that it looked like a river ran down her back. Her eyes were the deepest blue as if I was looking at the water right before descending into the abyss. Skin so pale it almost hurts to look at as if the sun was shining down on the beach sand. Despite the strange situation she is quite literally the most beautiful person I have ever seen. Despite her "apparent" age she is a masterpiece!
She smiled and blushed, covering her face with a gloved hand. "Oh, my! You are to kind, sir." Her smile turned nearly predatory. "But that can wait for another time. I see something there that I might not be opposed to. But you are still too young." She paused for a moment and chuckled. "Yes. I can read minds. I am... a lot older than I appear. I am a fellow gamer. Alchemic Gamer? Never seen that one before, anyways, I sell things and saw that I was only twelve multiverses away so I figured I would stop by and say hi." She punctuated that with a cute smile and small wave. "Now then, just to make this a little easier. I can't answer a lot of your questions, rules and all, but I can tell you that I am a merchant. I can make stuff to but you will eventually be able to make stuff like me anyways. Probably better in some. Anyways, anytime I can I like to meet new gamers and offer them a discount on their first purchase. I'd rather be liked more than the others."
Ah! Gamer bullshit. She didn't take a single breath through all of that, but I can still only blink and stare at her for a minute. Apparently she can read my mind, but she's giving me time to parse everything myself. I appreciate her for that. I also like how honest she was about her intentions. It just makes me like her more and I am sure that she knows that and has done this very thing to many times to count. With that thought the girl... Who had yet to introduce herself now that I think about it?
"Sara. Spelled S. e. a. r. a..." She chimes in before falling silent again.
I nod and continue. Seara Seara, Sara, Seara, Sara. I snicker to myself as I childishly amuse myself by changing the emphasis of the phonetics. "Anyways, so what did you have in mind?" Her smile seemed to widen. "That's the easy part. All you got to do is access the store... however you do that, and look me up! She passes me a ticket of some kind which disappears into my inventory on its own. "Thanks, Seara!" I pronounce her name correctly and she just smiles at me, nods and then she was gone. Dang it! I need to stop forgetting about [Observe]! But from past readings about Gamers doing that to other, much stronger, Gamers normally hurts your head so probably lucked out.
The worst thing about that though, and I almost wonder if that was part of the reason she stopped by, is that now I know there are other Gamers out there and it is quite possible to run into each other... How far away did she say she felt me from? Didn’t she say multiverses, those are some crazy senses and I just hope that I am below all the scary ones notice, but those are problems for the future honestly. I turn my attention back to the ship and go back to making my way to the center of the universe. Now, though, as I am traveling through pulse or warp I am flipping through Seara's page. How in the HELL is she doing that?!
Quest Creation Potential!
"What?"
Player Selection Required.
Continue and Install Module? Y/N
I am pretty sure I just moved faster than my Dex stat actually allows as I slam my hand through the No, Why would I want that so early?
Acknowledged! Download Complete!
WHAT!? My memory quickly flashes and shows that the yes and no were reversed on this one. D... Did the Game just screw me?
PvP System Initialized!
PvP Questing!
Coop Questing!
Gamer's Friend List!
At the end of it all was a cute stylized YW in Seara's colors. Seriously, how is she doing that? With a pair of small lips kissing right next to it, also in her colors, as if she is flaunting it now. She is weird and scary. But also seems fun.
Quest Created!
How does she do that?
Discover how Seara does what she does.
Rewards:
???
I see. I guess this is a PvP quest? I have a feeling that quest will most likely be gaining access to how she does what she does.
Wis +1
For being able to read between the simple lines.
Rude. I glance at my character sheet and finally notice some things. I can make potions, and have been able to for a little bit, plus due to the flaw halving my MP and regen the regen manages to actually work a little faster to reach max, versus the other two pools at least. Just a neat little thing with numbers that my brain likes to amuse itself with, there fun, but I mentally sigh. I am such a nerd.
Title Unlocked!
Numerical Nerd.
Numbers are just fun to you.
Equipped Effect:
Number's help you predict outcomes.
[Lightning Calculator]
Complete calculations faster mentally than physically.
Nerd Magnet
They found you, and they brought their games and books.
Affection/Reputation with Nerds +20%
Um... Freaking Awesome! I equip the title and nothing happens. Hmm... Guess I will just have to wait and see. I turn my attention back to the world around me and see it is still stopped; however, as soon as my attention is firmly back in place everything gently starts back up and I make my way to the next black hole.
As I go I finally take some time to really work out the potions stuff. It was actually all very much instinctual, now that I had the mana to use it and actually thinking about it. Man... I might be one of the worst Alchemy Gamers. I laugh at myself.
Carbon was actually a pretty universal component and basically just functioned as a substitute for other materials. That seems both weird and to make sense. Sodium was a catalyst for... something. I know that some alchemy uses a lot of catalyst so... maybe? Di and Tri-hydrogen have no use yet, but maybe it just needs to be used as some sort of fuel source type thing? As I keep going I see a lot of uses for the items but I can't actually see them. It is actually quite frustrating. I have faith that these things will be useful later,
I fly out of the last black hole and marvel at all of the black holes, the Atlas' space station sitting in the center of them all. Before I can make any course adjustments everything stops again and my vision fills with a screen.
Congratulations for making it to the center of the universe!
Level Up! x10
Inventory: Hanger Upgrade.
Random Unique Class Unlocked! (Alchemic Mimic)
2000 Credits
NMS Marked as Hub World.
[Green Thumb]
When gathering ingredients from plants/plant-like sources acquire double.
I find myself standing in the white room again, and then it was a screen.
Select World.
Atelier
Skyrim
Star Ocean
Marvel
High School DxD
Final Fantasy
Overlord
Worm
Persona
Board
Ok, so they auto filled the world I already selected. I like all of the worlds, but really I'm an Alchemist. "Atelier."
Select Timeline.
???
???
Arland
Dusk
Mysterious
Other
I'm not really sure what to think about the two that are question marks. I can still clearly select them but I think? That those are the two series before hand, Mana Khemia and Atelier Iris, but I don't know the name of the arcs so maybe? Before I could question my own statement the game responds.
Wis +5
Sound deductive reasoning.
Thanks. I'll take Arland please.
Please Select World Modifiers.
Dimensional Wallet.
Store your money and always pull out the main currency of the world.
Cost: 250 (Double to apply to all worlds.)
Ecchi World.
Heh.
Cost: 500
You and Your Cauldron are One.
Your cauldron understands your intentions.
Cost: 1500
Advanced Alchemy.
All alchemy projects end a tier higher.
Cost: 3000
Worlds Collide.
Each selection of this adds the world events of another Atelier over top of current world.
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky
Refund: 750
Overpowered Enemy!
How did that get there?
Refund: 1500
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