-00:10 AT {Arena Time}, Day One | Arce Lunae / Gatehouse

  “Alright folks, does everyone know the plan?”

  Emil: “Of course, milord. We are to spread out quickly to gain as much intel about the surroundings of our castle. Taking special note of any terrain or forts that should provide an advantage.”

  “Alright then, Ray, you wanna give some motivational speech or something?”

  “Well then, everyone, don't forget the most important rule of all.”

  Group:”To have fun!”

  With that, our party is prepared.

  We searched through the armory and found some basic equipment. It's nothing special, but we each have our speciality. Emil with his katana, Rigar with a warhammer (though not quite as large as normal), Ray has a Railgun and spear slung over her shoulder. I, of course, have a spear and shield, as is typical.

  It seems that Linda doesn't have that much stomach for close combat, so she has chosen a long-range anti-material rifle. A very scary rifle at that, one shot would go clean through humanity’s most advanced tanks. Of course, it's pretty slow to fire due to charging and reloading the heavy bullet.

  We are also all wearing a basic set of repulsor armor. Basically normal armor, but with a decent repulsor field projected over it. It can protect us from some minor arms fire, or perhaps slow down a railgun shot. But it's not gonna make us invincible or anything. Also, a key thing to note about repulsors, they can technically deflect melee attacks, but only at certain angles. Due to how the electromagnetics are configured, they can't always repel attacks, especially if they are going slow enough. So, not something to count on when it comes to close quarters.

  Another thing of note, in the armory we found another rule on the wall. It basically said we can augment gear with inae, but we cannot make weapons or armor out of pure inae. Fair enough I guess, they gotta balance the game somehow, and they only recently learned about inae stuffs, so no time to fully balance according to it.

  It also said that inae usage was limited only to personal manipulation and enhanced perception. So, I guess I won't get to catapult a tank over walls, sadly. Though, it will definitely allow me to be more mobile, after all, I can fly!

  “Hey Ko, are you ready for this?”

  “Of course, darling. I was practically born ready to participate in a FPS/milisim game. Do you know how many hours I've logged in VRFPS games? Not to mention milisims. It's like this was designed for me.”

  “Now that you put it like that, this is like a game. A very crazy and klacking mad game, but a game nonetheless.”

  “Yep, let's just remember that these are real people, and not mindless pawns. We shouldn't go for full sociopath efficiency.”

  “Of course, but a little efficiency only hurts morale minorly. So it's a balancing act.”

  “By the way, you're super cute, darling.”

  At my sudden pronouncement, I can see a faint blush creep onto her cheeks. Aha, I have done it yet again. It's always nice when I manage to fluster her past her quite indomitable mask.

  “Hmm, you're at least equally as cute. So don't discount yourself either!” She says, then she leans over and before I can react, she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  Man, isn't my girlfriend just the cutest being in all the universe? Time to put my time as a worthless NEET to good use, and show her just how cool I can be!

  04:07 AT, Day one | Territory outside Arce Lunae

  I feel a sharp impact hit my back, outa nowhere.

  I'm standing in the middle of a large grassy field, somewhere to the east of the castle. The grass is very thick and at least a meter taller than I am. I can barely see two meters in front of me. I landed to get a minor break before continuing my exploration.

  I should be alone, but apparently I'm not.

  I get thrown away a dozen or so meters, but I manage to orient myself and land on my feet, with a bit of telekinetic assistance of course. Thankfully, the armor was able to negate any serious damage.

  Though, I might have a few bruises that will require Ray’s assistance.

  I regain my composure and deploy a thin aura of skier inae, to augment my perception.

  I detect a presence near where I used to be, and it's coming right for me.

  I move out of the way of the entity, and not a moment too soon.

  I feel an immense wave go through the grass, and just a meter away, a beast goes running by. If I hadn't moved, it woulda charged right into me.

  I take off and float a few meters off the ground. I get a pretty clear view of the beast now.

  It looks like a bison, but perhaps twenty percent bigger. Plus it has two horns on the top of its head. So perhaps it's more like a large, wooly cow rather than a bison.

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  The moment I look at it, a display appears on the side of my vision. It looks like an inspect screen like you'd see in one of those VRMMOS. I've dabbled in such games, but the multiplayer thing never suited me very well.

  The screen says that the creature is called a Minor Bisoclo, whatever that means. It also says ‘level: high-medium.’ There is also a small anatomical diagram of it, but it's completely grayed out. Perhaps as I fight more of them, I'll learn its weak spots and such?

  The Gamekeeper mentioned wild animals, and the ability to fight them for currency. But I didn't expect it to go full gamified mode. Not that I'm complaining, this seems like it'll be fun. I imagine there are far larger and more terrifying beasts that lurk in this arena. Perhaps ones that will require a sizable party, maybe twenty or so people with a balanced composition, to defeat.

  Anyways, enough with the speculation, it's time to kill this beast.

  I take my spear from my shoulder and aim for the beast. Which is standing under me, looking at me menacingly. Thankfully, it can't fly.

  I think this is a good time for experimentation. I condense a bit of shifter inae across the point of my spear. This should be allowed, they said we could enhance our weapons, right?

  In my training, I have learned a few important things about wielding. Namely, each affinity basically has its own type of ‘inae.’ Gesir has the raw form, Skier has the aura of inae, while shifter has a strange type. It can be used in various ways, only one of which is to traverse the interplanar barriers.

  One of these ways is physical enhancement, or at least, that's what I call it. It basically boosts the effects of any physical forces. Whether it be a super punch, or making a spear a super spear. It has many uses. It can even be used defensively, as seen in my fight with vessel Regulus, with the whole reflection of inae thing.

  I dive down from my position, and nail the Bisoclo in the skull.

  Its skull practically disintegrates the moment my spear touches it, the force of the blow propagating near instantly due to the enhancement.

  Where the info screen used to be, a new screen appears and displays the text ‘congratulations: you have defeated 1x Minor Bisocolo, Please stand back for collection.”

  I do as it asks, and I step a meter or two away.

  A few moments later, the ground seems to open up, but only for a brief instant. Within the space of a few blinks, the entire corpse is gone and I get a new notification.

  ‘+1 Bisoclo Trophy added to backpack. Deposit in your flag room to receive rewards.’

  Surely enough, a bar appears in the bottom right of my field of vision. On it are several grayed out icons; a map, some sort of person, and a backpack icon. With my knowledge of VR games, I easily manage to open it up, and low and behold, inside is listed the one trophy. It also shows the spear, shield and armor I have in equipment slots.

  Apparently my spear is a low-class, while my armor and shield are medium-class.

  Oh boy, they really just went and made a real life VRMMO, didn't they? Plus they added in military simulator stuff.

  I have a feeling I'm going to love this trial, a whole lot.

  Also just as a note, let me remind you of the approximate level-classifications that the universe has come up with, in case you forgot.

  In order of increasing power they are; pitiful, low, medium, high, great, extreme, immense, god. Power growth is defined roughly by the equation 2^2x, where x is the level (pitiful is 1). Although those reaching god-level are often far, far, stronger than the label would imply.

  Minor technical reminder aside, I give Ray a call on the comms. After all, you should always seek compliments after a big feat is accomplished.

  “Hiya Ko, whatcha been up to?”

  “You should praise me, lots.”

  “Oh, my Ko is so cute, cool. He is a genius among geniuses. He tries to care about others, sometimes succeeds, but is often a jerk. Also, he is great at giving headrubs.”

  “Wow, I didn't even have to tell you what I did, and you just did it.”

  “Well of course, I don't need a reason to praise you, you are already worthy of praise.” My heart performs a small flutter at such a statement. I nearly panic at the new sensation. But my kit quickly informs me of the nature of the sensation.

  “Well, you're super cute too!”

  “Of course I am silly. Now, I take it you had something to tell me?”

  “Oh yeah, I found one of those creatures that The Gamekeeper described. It was a weird bison thing. I killed it and got a trophy that I have to turn in at the flag.”

  “Your’e so cool.”

  “Oh, that, it's nothing. Just average stuff for me. It turns out, this place is even more gamelike than I initially thought.” I then explain some of the menus and stuff that happened. Neat stuff.

  “That sounds so cool! I can't wait to fight something myself. Even better, lets find something to fight together soon!”

  “Im sure we will have plenty of opportunity to fight things. Both together, and with larger groups. This arena is massive, I've barely gone six klicks from our castle, and it's already been three hours.” In case you don't know, one klick = one kilometer. Its just a faster way of saying kilometers, handy for combat scenarios.

  “Woah, you're fast, I'm only about two klicks out. This grass is thicker than Kek’s armpit hair. Lucky you, getting to fly over it all.”

  “Yeah, I think we are going to have to do something about it, it's a massive security hazard, we wouldn't see any attackers until they are like, right on top of us.”

  “Fair point. But that could also come in useful in the opposite way. We could easily ambush any invaders, presuming we know where they are.”

  Emil:”Pardon the interruption, Milord and Lady. But I believe I have discovered the location of the first Fort. It looks quite intimidating in my opinion.”

  “Great news, Emil. Why don't you collect some photos and such, safely. Then we will go over it when we convene at the designated time.”

  “As you wish, milord.” Emil says, as he leaves the comms channel.

  “So, darling Ko. Whatcha gonna do for the rest of your expedition?”

  “Well, I'll see if I can find any more of those Bisoclo. Perhaps I can haul in enough currency to get us something special for our first siege.”

  “Good idea, I'll keep an eye out for any creatures to hunt for myself. I'll also tell the others about this discovery. Don't want them to be too surprised. Though, I imagine that would be quite funny.”

  “Oh Kek, I think I let out a squeak when it surprised me.. I'm probably all over the net already, aren't I?"

  “*laughs*, yeah, you're probably the focal point of the entire universe by now. For good reason too, your squeaks are always so cute.”

  “Hey, isn't that a bit private to be sharing over a monitored channel?”

  “Well, I blame it on your coolness. I am just a girl y’know, my brain can get a bit funky when I imagine how cool you must be. Squeaking at the sight of a beast that is.”

  “You are evil incarnate. But your cute evil incarnate, thus I love you.”

  “Of course, just as I love your squeaks, I also love the rest of ya!”

  I'm sure this is only the start of the fun we will have in this trial. So long as Ray and I stick together, we are bound to conquer it, plus have a ton of fun along the way. So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 83

  Next: Chapter 84 | Wrangling Bisoclo