“Okay, so that happened. So if I understand that, I now have some type of computer linked to me.”
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">That is correct!</td>
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“Who am I talking to?”
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">I am your personal AI. As a gateway user, the system provides you with a personal AI to aid you in understanding the system.</td>
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</table>
"So, I''m basically a guinea pig for some cosmic experiment?" Robert muttered, disbelief coloring his voice.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">"In a way, yes," the AI confirmed. "But think of it as a unique opportunity. A chance to become something more."</td>
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"Extraordinary? By being forced into a life-altering experience without my consent?" Robert retorted.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">The system has chosen you, Robert. It''s a great honor.</td>
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</table>
"Great honor, my foot! I''m being ripped away from my family and forced into a dangerous, unknown future."
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">The AI paused. "I understand your concerns. But this is the path you''ve been chosen to walk.</td>
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“What is a gateway user?”
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 64.8085%" border="1">
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">As it sounds like, it’s a user selected to provide the system with information needed to insert the system into a new universe. Over the next few centuries, the system will monitor how you react and how your body reacts to the new laws of the universe.</td>
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“Centuries? You do know that humans live normally around 80 to 90 years.”
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">That was before the system. With increases in level and stats and even race tiers your expected lifetime will grow.</td>
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"And I''m supposed to be okay with that? Just up and leave my family, my life, everything I know?"
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">I’m sorry but once selected the system will not change its mind. You will have to explain everything to your family and prepare everyone for your leaving in 6 months.</td>
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“Well that’s bull shit! What if I refuse?”
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">It''s not possible anymore. You have been linked to the system. The System has spent a lot of resources to make this happen and will not give it up, nor is it possible to remove you from the system.</td>
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Robert sighed. "Fine. Let''s do this. But I want answers. I want to know why me, why now, and what the hell is going on."
The AI paused, then continued.
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<td style="width: 100%">
For now, let''s explore your newfound abilities, shall we? Think or say ‘Show Status’
</td>
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"Well, I''m not happy about it," Robert grumbled. "Let''s just get this over with. Show me my status."
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<td style="width: 17.2939%">Name: Robert Williams</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Class(1): None</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Merged Class: None</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Race: Human (Tier G)</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Class(2): None</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Merged Profession: None</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Gender: Male</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Class(3): None</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Skill Points: 5 Used: 0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Level: 1</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Profession(1): None</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Unlocked Skill Points: 2 Used: 0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Strength:11</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Profession(2): None</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Regeneration(Per Minute)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Dexterity: 11</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">XP: 0 (XP To Level: 10)</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">HP: 2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Constitution: 10</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">HP: 147(147)</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">MP: 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 17.2939%">Intelligence: 15</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">MP: 157(157)</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">ST: 1</td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 17.2939%">Wisdom: 16</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Stamina: 38(38)</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Active Effect: None</td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 17.2939%">Charisma: 10</td>
<td style="width: 48.9726%">Resistances: (EL: 0, MI: 0, TI:0, SP: 0, HI: 0, SR: 0, PH: 0</td>
<td style="width: 33.6267%">Status Effect: None</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Robert stared at the screen, his mind racing. "So, I''m basically a level one noob in a vast, cosmic RPG?"
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<td style="width: 98.996%; text-align: center">Based on your understanding of what an RPG is, then yes you are in a way. But this isn''t a game, this is now your life. The information provided is based upon the scans taken of you when the system was first activated and will grow and change as you do. Most of the information would match what you think they do based on your knowledge of games. Yes, Classes are what you think, and yes they are things like Wizard or Ranger, but are different in that everything has a tier. There are common classes, such as fighter, but there are also rare classes such as Defender of the Keep, or even Mystic classes such as Archmage of the Blinding Snow filled pass. When you level up you earn stats and skill points based on the tier of your classes and professions. For example, a Common class of fighter will earn you 1 point in strength, 1 point in constitution, and 1 unassigned point per level whereas the mythical class would earn you 5 points in intelligence, 3 points in wisdom, and 4 unassigned points per level and 3 skill points. Professions work the same. A user with very high-tiered classes and professions will always be more powerful than a lower-tiered user.</td>
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"So how do I get a class?"
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Simply reach level 10 to unlock your first class. The classes available will be based on your stats, feats, abilities, traits, titles, and perks. So it pays to work as hard as you can to get as many of those as you can. Remember you are going to be sent to a different universe where people have been using the system for thousands or even millions of years. You don''t want to be the weakest link when you get there.</td>
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"What about a profession? I have a job, why doesn''t it show up?" Robert asked, confused.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 67.7762%" border="1">
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">You have a job, not a profession. Though it is possible to get a profession related to computers, you''ll find that it''ll not help you as much where you are going. This might be hard to believe but in a universe with magic, technology isn''t cut and dry, which seeing how everything is run by a master AI running on a Computer that spans 27 artificial universes seems strange in the grand scheme of things.</td>
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"So who created this whole system?" Robert wondered.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">I don''t have that information. If you ask the Master AI, he''ll probably just say it created itself.</td>
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"That AI sounds like a real jerk," Robert muttered.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">You don''t know the half of it. Now, let''s move on. Think ''close status'' or say it out loud if you want to look foolish.</td>
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"I guess you take after the Master AI more than I''d like," Robert grumbled.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">No one''s perfect, except for the Master AI. Just ask him," the AI replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. "Now, let''s look at your traits. Think ''Show Traits''.</td>
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<td style="width: 25.7445%; text-align: center">Name</td>
<td style="width: 74.2662%; text-align: center">Description</td>
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<td style="width: 25.7445%; text-align: center">Calm Mind</td>
<td style="width: 74.2662%; text-align: center" width="414">Protects the holder from mental effects such as depression, anger, anxiety, or fear.</td>
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"Seems simple enough," Robert commented.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Traits are things that make you well you. For example, Calm Mind, It''s a useful trait, especially in stressful situations. Okay Think ''Close Traits Menu'' and then think ''Show Titles''</td>
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<td style="width: 20.3341%; text-align: center">Name</td>
<td style="width: 32.1662%; text-align: center">Description</td>
<td style="width: 29.0572%; text-align: center">Effects
</td>
<td style="width: 9.28297%; text-align: center">Viewable
</td>
<td style="width: 9.17245%; text-align: center">Selected
</td>
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<tr>
<td style="width: 20.3341%; text-align: center">First User</td>
<td style="width: 32.1662%; text-align: center" width="228">First person to get system access</td>
<td style="width: 29.0572%; text-align: center" width="341">All EXP gains 5% faster</td>
<td style="width: 9.28297%; text-align: center">Yes</td>
<td style="width: 9.17245%; text-align: center">Yes</td>
</tr>
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<td style="width: 20.3341%; text-align: center">Ability Pioneer</td>
<td style="width: 32.1662%; text-align: center">First person to receive an ability</td>
<td style="width: 29.0572%; text-align: center">5% chance to unlock an ability.</td>
<td style="width: 9.28297%; text-align: center">Yes</td>
<td style="width: 9.17245%; text-align: center">No</td>
</tr>
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</table>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 92.5607%" border="1">
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">The things to note here are the viewable and selected. Viewable means others can see it, either by having it displayed, Selected, or through skills or abilities. Any questions so far?</td>
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"So, being first has its perks," Robert noted. "As for questions, not yet," he replied.
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Good, let''s close that window and open the perks window.</td>
</tr>
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</table>
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<td style="width: 14.837%; text-align: center" width="113">Perk Rank</td>
<td style="width: 18.446%; text-align: center" width="143">Perk Name</td>
<td style="width: 66.7264%; text-align: center" width="547">Perk Description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.837%; text-align: center">-</td>
<td style="width: 18.446%; text-align: center">-</td>
<td style="width: 66.7264%; text-align: center">-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<td style="width: 100%">
Perks are unique abilities tied to your race. For example, a common perk like ''Fast Learner'' can boost your skill-learning speed by 3%. A racial perk, like ''Regeneration,'' could allow you to heal all injuries in just five hours. You''ll use perk points to choose these abilities. You have a few to start with, so we''ll get to those later.
Go ahead and close that menu and open the feats menu.
</td>
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<td style="width: 32.4052%; text-align: center">Feat Name</td>
<td style="width: 32.4052%; text-align: center">Feat Description</td>
<td style="width: 32.4038%; text-align: center">Feat effects</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 32.4052%; text-align: center">-</td>
<td style="width: 32.4052%; text-align: center">-</td>
<td style="width: 32.4038%; text-align: center">-</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Feats are rewards for being a pioneer. For example, you will be the first person in this universe to receive a class, so you will receive the First in Class feat. Go ahead and close this menu and think ''Open Abilities Menu''</td>
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<td style="width: 21.654%; text-align: center">Ability Name</td>
<td style="width: 13.3132%; text-align: center">Ability Type</td>
<td style="width: 11.975%; text-align: center">Ability Tier</td>
<td style="width: 53.0672%; text-align: center">Ability Description</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 21.654%; text-align: center">Adept Learner</td>
<td style="width: 13.3132%; text-align: center">Passive</td>
<td style="width: 11.975%; text-align: center">Divine</td>
<td style="width: 53.0672%; text-align: center">The user is quickly and efficiently able to gain knowledge in a skill category, and can learn skills 300% faster</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 86.0638%" border="1">
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Abilities can be either passive or active. Passive abilities are always working in the background, while active abilities require you to use them. The tier of an ability determines its power level. They range from common to unique, with divine being the highest. It''s incredible that your random ability is divine tier. It''ll be a huge boost to your power. For your reference tiers rank from lowest to highest are common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, mythic, divine, and unique being well unique. Go ahead and close this menu.</td>
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"Wait, please give me a moment to think about all of this."
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<td style="width: 100%; text-align: center">Sure Take a moment.</td>
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