Bennett stood motionless in the dimly lit storage room, his eyes locked onto the misplaced D.I.V.E. unit pod nestled among forgotten crates and outdated tech. The sight of it sent a thrill through his chest, a stark contrast to the weeks of frustration he had endured.
The beta testing program had rejected his applications time and time again. Their reasoning? "Insufficient experience in immersive gameplay mechanics." It was laughable.
But now, fate—or perhaps a gross oversight in inventory management—had delivered an opportunity straight into his hands.
His fingers twitched with anticipation as he stepped closer. The pod was sleek, its obsidian surface smooth beneath his touch. The interface glowed faintly, indicating it was still connected to the network. It was functional. Ready.
A glance over his shoulder. The storage room was silent, untouched. He had made sure of that. With a firm nod to himself, he moved toward the door, locking it with a quick swipe of his security clearence wristband. No one would interrupt him.
Settling into the pod, he adjusted himself against the cushioned interior. The moment he pressed the activation sequence, a low hum resonated through the confined space, and the hatch sealed with an airtight hiss. The world outside faded, leaving only the interface’s soft luminescence against the darkness.
"Initiating Deep Immersion Virtual Environment," the automated voice chimed, sterile and precise. "No prior usage recorded. No prior accounts logged. Please confirm existing user credentials or create a new account."
Bennett inhaled sharply. If he logged in under his actual credentials, this entire plan would crash before it even started. No, he needed a new identity. Something separate from his maintenance logs, something that wouldn't immediately flag his presence as unauthorized.
He selected Create New Account.
The screen flickered, and a form materialized before him.
Username: Without hesitation, he typed ProlixalParagon, keeping his username and character name the same.
Bennett frowned as the screen transitioned and he was met with a bland character creation screen, consisting of a list and preview of an avatar. This would be one of the first things that players saw, shouldn't it be more inspired? He sighed and went through the process.
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Race Selection: His eyes scanned the list of available races, but one immediately caught his attention—the Fennician. A vibrant and mischievous people known for their dexterity and adaptability, the Fennicians were humanoid foxes with thick, shimmering fur that changed color depending on lunar cycles and birth time. Lean and agile, they possessed digitigrade legs built for speed, large expressive ears that rotated, and glowing eyes that aided in low light. Their long, bushy tails played a key role in their body language, adding an extra dimension to their already animated personalities.
Originally from the mysterious Oras Continent, the Fennicians had abandoned their forest homes for a nomadic, caravan-based lifestyle, adapting to various harsh environments. They held a deep respect for nature, spoke in a fast-paced and musical language filled with clicks, and found joy in riddles, storytelling, and pranks—though they valued balance, ensuring their tricks were never malicious. Their culture thrived on fluid gender roles, practicality mixed with vibrant aesthetics, and a strong sense of community. Everything about them resonated with him.
With a smirk, he selected Fennician and moved on.
Class Selection:
Now came the difficult choice. Two uncommon classes stood out to him, both offering unique approaches to magic and ingenuity.
Arcane Artificer – A specialist in imbuing existing objects with magical properties for a limited time or set number of uses. An excellent choice for someone who liked thinking ahead and setting up advantages.
Tinkerer – A hands-on inventor capable of crafting unique weapons and constructs to aid in battle. Less about enchanting and more about raw mechanical creativity.
Bennett leaned back in the pod and adjusted the helmet, considering. The Artificer’s ability to temporarily enhance objects with magic had an undeniable appeal. Strategic. Clever. But the Tinkerer offered something more... tangible. A class built around trial, error, and innovation—creating constructs and devices that could be tailored to his needs on the fly. It was messy, unpredictable, and completely in line with his way of thinking.
After a long pause, he made his choice.
>Confirm Account?<
His pulse thrummed. This was it. He pressed Confirm.
The screen dissolved into a cascade of colors, then darkness. The D.I.V.E. unit's immersion protocols kicked in, drawing him into the digital abyss. Weightlessness took hold, his consciousness drifting through a liminal space between reality and simulation.
Then, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Welcome to Ludere Online, ProlixalParagon. The world awaits."
And just like that, he was inside.
