Offline:\Vancouver, Canada\Hastings-Sunrise\N2 Data Center>
Nighttime, after the
successful Les-Skaly World Boss campaign...
N2 Data Center, or
well-known by Orion's investors as “Nurturing Noah”, is a
specialized data center built for NOAH. It is established at
Hastings-Sunrise neighborhood, in Vancouver, Canada, a year before
NOAH's secretive beta testing was initiated. At N2 Canada's living
quarters, a spiky red-haired old man drinking a glass of martini
watched different U-Tube video clips about Les-Skaly's epic demise.
The crazily-dressed old
man phoned Orion and started a conversation,
“Orion!
This is Edwin. You've handled that event well. I thought it'll end up
like another predictable boss battle, but you pulled off a troll that
made our players thinking different tactics on that poor bear!”
Orion giggled at his
fellow supporter, “That's what I want to happen actually, Edwin
Lee!”
“You
never fail to amuse me with your antics, Orion” Edwin Lee smirked.
Edwin sipped his glass
of martini and continued speaking,
“Say,
I heard that our Japanese comrade started helping you, albeit
sounding like he's on for a hostile takeover eh?”
“Yes,
Edwin. Hirohito's begging for his pieces of action in this game.
Honestly, seems that he's trying to communicate a favor but his
childish emperor persona got in first” Orion laughed loudly.
Edwin gulped his
remaining martini and cracked up,
“Okay,
how will he really help? Have special monsters that looked like the
infamous 'Moe Colossus' that eat rule-breaking bastards like
chocolate bars?”
Orion coughed a second
and he answered,
“He
appointed a set of 'Reapers'. They're some sort of undercover game
moderators that will get along with players, be it innocent ones or
not. One of my men pulled off that twist before though”
“B-but
will that cause corruption, paranoia, and eventually community
dissonance sir?”
“That's
what I fear, Edwin” Orion sighed, then he affixed, “In my
implementation, my men will clearly have rainbow aura all over them
when they're at their game master mode. What the Kanzaki guy wanted
to do is to strike without warning!”
“Now...
that's really good but so bad. Let's all just see his wonders for
now, Orion. Okay?” Edwin ended their conversation.
Offline:\Makati,
Philippines\Sinagtala Relocation Zone\Sinagtala Tenements>
Third Sunday of June,
at the break of dawn. Ren woke up with an ear-reaching smile on his
face. He hurriedly dressed up for work. Just before he left his room,
he imagined seeing his in-game alter ego waving at him.
“I'll
be right back, partner!” Ren thought to himself as he glanced at
his avatar's imaginary rendition.
He went to the kitchen
and cooked a lightly-salted sunny side-up egg for his mother. He
served the cooked egg to their table and headed out for work.
Offline:\Makati,
Philippines\Sinagtala Relocation Zone\Manang Abe's Bakery>
Ren, Butchoy and Kokoy
met at the bakery's garage, then Manang Abe showed up to the three
kids.
“I've
talked to Mang Mario yesterday and he's letting Kokoy sell some of
our bread inside his Internet Cafe every weekend”
The stubby bakery owner
gently stroked Kokoy's hair and she added,
“And
as for the drunkard at the tenement, he finally learned his lessons
through the authorities”
Ren and the kids were
glad at Manang Abe's tidings, that they headed towards their bakery
bike and fill it up with bread for peddling. While loading bread,
Butchoy talked about their first World Boss battle in NOAH,
“Ren,
it's kind of nice being a gunner-type, especially if someone gave you
an enchanted weapon!”
Kokoy joined, “Some
girl named Amuu offered us better weapons that time, Ren!”
“Really?
Are you the ones who looked like a hamster soldier, and a gangster
pig?” Ren asked the young boys.
“Yup,
I am the hamster dude named Masher321” Kokoy introduced his in-game
alias.
“I'm
Makabosog the Gangster Pig, Ren” Butchoy stated his avatar's name
to Ren.
Ren asked the young
boys, “What's up with those names anyway?”
“Makabosog
is a big fat bad guy, and since we're allowed to play as humanoid
pigs, I decided to play as one, even though I'm just a simple yet a
good fat boy” Butchoy answered then he giggled at his response.
“I'm
called Masher on Mang Mario's because I love whacking other players
with a hammer on another online shooter, hence the name, and I'm born
on March 21, that's why I have the number after my alias” Kokoy
gave his name's story.
Manang Abe went back to
the garage and asked the boys,
“Is
it fully loaded?”
“Yes
ma'm!” Ren answered, and they all drove away for work...
Offline:\Estoril
Park\Estoril Gardens>
Romeo fed his stray
cats at the park. As usual, the cats were satisfied at his kind
actions, and they all purred at his shins. The cat-loving boy patted
the cats' heads softly and left them playing at a nearby tree. Henry
and Hatsumi saw their cat-loving buddy, and brought good news to him,
“Ruru!
Did you check out your World Boss reward box yet?” Hatsumi asked.
“Why?
Did you check yours first?” Romeo asked back.
Hatsumi answered, “Not
yet, but when I went back to both NOAH Filipino and Japanese message
boards, some of the participants tried to open the box but they all
failed”
Henry on the other hand
seemed to be worried, that he stared at the morning sky like a
powered-down drone. While emptily staring at the sky, Henry thought
to himself,
“Great,
papa forgot advertising the Cash Shop opening event... What is my dad
thinking this time? Another word-of-mouth? MyFriendBook
advertisement?”
Hatsumi and Romeo
playfully patted Henry's shoulders and both yelled,
“Earth
to Hatsya!”
Henry was startled and
he merely apologized,
“Sorry
guys, I'm a bit worried about the game... Papa's forgetting his
advertising tasks to make this game well-known, and be worthy to
spend on”
Hatsumi and Romeo
embraced Henry side-by-side, and she tried to paint a smile on his
face,
“Chillax,
your dad knows his duties. Don't be a worrywart, Hats!”
Offline:\Tokyo,
Japan\Odaiba\Kanzaki Multimedia Corporation>
A bespectacled,
young-looking, white-haired man, wearing ash gray office suit, phoned
the Kanlaons in the Philippines and tried his best to communicate in
English,
"Hirohito Kanzaki
here, seems that you'll really need us as global publishers... I know
you've been juggling your role as the developer and a newbie
publisher but it seems that you'll really need our backs, Orion"
"I don't think
your Reapers alone will help my game's security, as they can cause
paranoia to the whole community, sir!" Orion initially rejected
his offer.
Hirohito, the
white-haired Japanese man, begged further.
“Orion,
mind letting us do the wonders for now? Besides, your hands are too
full!”
The eager Japanese
software developing-publishing president paused for a moment and he
enumerated,
“You're
actively watching and policing your game, doing bugfixes, talking to
your grown digital kid, and you are a dad too!”
Offline:\Estoril
Park\Kanlaon Family Mansion\”NOAH Core”>
Orion shed small tears
while talking to Hirohito Kanzaki and he talked back,
“You
know, even though you often sound like you wanna dethrone me on my
very project, after all... You are really concerned at my well-being,
Hirohito-san”
His Japanese software
magnate cajoled,
“See,
I told you Orion! Behind that stoned, determined pessimist face of
yours lies a concerned father!”
Orion blushed a bit and
Hirohito advised him,
“You
better soften and free yourself a bit! What's the use of Eden there
anyway?”
“I
am not yet ready to entrust the game's future on my very creation
yet, that's why I can't leave him running NOAH alone” Orion
confessed.
“Okay,
seems that I'm really going take off some load from you then? Just
leave the security, publishing, Eden's 'sanity check', and item mall
for us then, please???” Hirohito Kanzaki begged at Orion.
“Seems
that it's the only way for now... So much for me managing the game,
that I'm about to fail to manage my own family...” Orion gave up
like a tamed puppy.
The
touched father went up from his office chair and saw Marietta,
his wife, serving two pairs of egg sandwich and a mug of white coffee
to him. Orion's wife looked at his face and started a conversation,
“Honey dear, you seem to be sad
right now...”
Orion looked at his wife and he
confessed,
“Sugar, it's about me becoming
less of your husband, and more of a glued king in my industry” He
squeezed his cheeks, covering his mouth for a moment, and spoke
further, “If you've noticed, at the break of dawn, you'll always
find me here in this office with our workers, and with my growing
world. It's about time for me to let my friends work along on our
project...”
Marietta placed his breakfast at his
desk and embraced her husband, easing the pain caused by his
admission about his engrossing career. Meanwhile in Japan...
Hirohito Kanzaki
hollered at his office workers and he announced with roaring glory,
“Everyone,
Orion DigiWorks shared their security, publishing, and promotion
rights to us! Let’s all get to work, it’ll be a major win-win
situation for us!”
All of his workers
nodded and manned their cubicles in preparation for NOAH’s full
commercialization process. Hirohito pointed one of his employees and
commanded,
“Shigimoto,
have this activity streamed towards my friend’s network, to show
them that we are actually doing our job over here!”
Sasami Shigimoto went
to their security department office at a horse’s pace, eager to
show their company’s helping hand to Orion’s project.
At the security
department, Sasami relayed Hirohito’s command,
“Have
K-Corp Gaming’s software development and publishing offices’
cameras be streamed privately towards Orion DigiWorks, as our boss’
order!”
“Will
do that, ma’m!”
The security personnel
opened up a program that will stream K-Corp Gaming department’s
activities towards Orion DigiWorks’ network. What the Kanzaki
Multimedia Corporation did, their graphic artists, and designers
worked together on the new NOAH poster, and shared them on
MyFriendBook, and on other social networks. The 'Reapers', and normal
game moderators logged themselves in NOAH to spread the news...
Sunday afternoon, the
much-awaited game event came to fruition...
Online:\Brygul
Planet\Walled Metropolis “Kanpeki Sekai”>
At the spacious, empty
spot of the walled city, eleven Gold Caravan frigates fluttered above
the empty space and landed the ground slowly. Oddly-haired teenage
bystanders which seemed to be bearing the Gold Caravan logo reminded
all of the avatars,
“Finally,
since you were all able to defeat the monster that's been hindering
their landing, you'll be able to buy some of their finest swag!”
The Gold Caravan
frigates finally landed the empty space, and they all began deploying
their products. Everyone in the NOAH universe received a system
message,
[Due to your bravery, Cash Shop
features are now active
through Gold Caravan's marketplace
here in Kanpeki Sekai.
For a start, they're selling
'EXP-Boost 2x', 'GD-Boost 2x',
'Emergency AutoDocs', 'Gear
Barrier', 'Gear Clover'
'Hammerspace Expansion +5',
'Hammerspace Expansion +10'
'NOAH Starter Kit', and 'Akashic
Record Cube']
However, another system message
popped out and it came from someone named 'Flt. Cmdr. Kanzaki',
[Dear NOAHrians, you may now open
your [Reward
Pack PDB-001]
and eventually, we'll
launch our own prepaid cards, and other means
to purchase these
premium items. For now, let's all celebrate by checking
out
all the gear that Les-Skaly's been hoarding from its belly!]
Rennin, Hatsya, LeijiBiaoqiang, and
their friends opened their Reward Packs and they commonly obtained
one [EXP-Boost 2x], one [GD-Boost 2x], two [Emergency AutoDocs],
[Hammerspace Expansion +5], and an [Akashic Record Cube].
Unexpectedly, there was one mysterious gift box inside, in a form of
an Alien Box...
Rennin opened his gooey [Alien Box]
and obtained dual iron kali sticks-type weapon, [+3 Forceful
Nerve-tripping Iron Baton]. He was delighted at the weapon's
features,
“Wow... It has +5 critical hit
rate, and 5% chance of paralyzing an organic target's body parts... I
didn't know that we'll be this lucky!”
Hatsya opened his box as well, and
obtained a Spanish Rapier referred as [+3 Psychotic Vampire's Hispana
Ropera of the Fatal Blaze]. He was surprised at how the game gave out
rewarding gears for defeating Les-Skaly. Hatsya read his new weapon's
description, eager to wield the powerful weapon someday,
“If the weapon has Psychotic
prefix: +5 critical hit on corporeal humanoids, recovers 2 EP per
strike, and if coupled with Zombie Citizen card, there's a chance of
inflicting a bleeding debuff. As for the Vampire prefix: recovers 1
to 3 HP per strike on organic targets. Fatal Blaze suffix will
increase critical attack damage by 10%, and bestows +7 Critical hit
on Incorporeal targets”
Hatsya's friends were shocked at his
weapon's features, and Eisen spoke first,
“Hats, I hope you know how to
handle that weapon of yours, and if I were you... Don't attempt to
upgrade, or it'll make you really cry like a little girl when it
breaks”
Eisen giggled at him and blurted
out, “Oh right, you are a trap!”
Hatsya sheathed his new weapon and
just smiled at his online friends and sat like a prim and proper
noblewoman. Evyll stated his observation based from their acquired
weaponry,
“Say, seems that we'll have two
good melee DPS guys now!”
Eisen opened his Alien Box and it
gave him an [Ascendant-Unraveled Eisenkreuz], an iron cross spear
with a point shaped like St. John's Cross with a shining diamond gem
socketed at the center. He tried reading the description of his rare
gear,
“The power of the Ascendants have
unlocked the power inside this rare weapon! Eisenkreuz is a deadly
holy spear used by an Ascendant Pope himself. Eisenkreuz bestows the
player a Lv3 Healing ability, Lv3 Radia-Sanctus Slash, Lv3 Rapid
Strike Sanctus, and Lv5 Megalostavros (AoE skill)”
Rennin and others were shocked at
the features of the Unraveled weapon. Hatsya retorted,
“I think you should know how to
handle that weapon more than I do, Eisen. You are one lucky lancer to
get that powerful weapon early in the game. I hope that cross won't
be shattered by your darkness”
“Wait... So now, I gotta be saving
your backs this time with this Eisenkreuz then?” Eisen asked the
rest of his friends, with dismay about shelving his bloody bravado
knight persona.
Unexpectedly, a sky blue-haired
avatar resembling Hatsya stood beside them. The sky blue-haired
bespectacled anime avatar wore an angel wing scarf, midnight blue
fitted short sleeve coat, mid-length short pantaloons, and brown
leather sneakers. His name is HatsuVelona, a feminine-sounding for a
young noble fencer.
The young, sky blue-haired nobleman
brought out his Alien Box, and unveiled a gold sword-sized needle
with pulsating stray blood red linings wrapped all over the golden
needle sword. It turned out that his golden needle is
[Ascendant-Unraveled Chrysovelona Spathi]. Rennin's team were
surprised at the mere presence of another Ascendant-Unraveled owner.
Hotaru asked HatsuVelona,
“Would you like to join our guild,
Velona-kun?”
The gold needle-wielding boy stroked
Hotaru's furry head and he answered,
“No thanks, I have a guild
already. Though I'd like to join your party”
Hatsumi instead invited HatsuVelona
to their party, and unexpectedly there are eleven more avatars
flocking around them. One of the flocking avatars was named Totoy
Brown, a semi-realistic Filipino avatar wearing an extra-large shirt,
an ocean blue headset, and large cargo shorts tightened by his belts.
Totoy Brown brought out his plant-killing [+2 Herbicidal Machete],
and he asked the rest of Hatsumi's team,
“What are you guys holding?”
“Buffed weapons, just like yours.”
Roy-kun answered as he showed his
[+4 Shattering Arvo PDW] handgun to Totoy Brown.
“Damn! So enviable, Roy-kun! I
wanna have that!” Totoy Brown exclaimed.
“Let's hunt Les-Skaly again if you
want” Roy-kun suggested.
“B-but he'll be on the next
Saturday! I wanna try that one, please?” Totoy Brown rejected his
suggestion.
HatsuVelona walked towards the two
and asked them,
“Have you encountered an avatar
named Neruto?”
Hatsya instead answered,
“Yes, I've encountered him at the
early days of NOAH. I even banned his 'Neruto44' account, Velona”
HatsuVelona dragged Hatsya to a
nearby alley and whispered,
“Hatsya, just call me Hatsuya”
“Eh? Though our names nearly sound
the same at that rate, Hatsu” Hatsya replied with a surprise.
He grabbed Hatsya again and
whispered,
“I am actually... the first
Reaper that your dad's talking about. I dunno if your dad told you
about us. Henceforth, my real name somewhat made sense for my role”
While the two identical fencers were
discussing shady topics in the alley, Rennin and the rest of his
friends went to a nearby in-game cafe. He brought out a screen and
read about real money to NOAH Credits in order to purchase premium
items, [PhP 1.00 = 1 NOAH Credit (NC)].
After reading the basic cash shop
pricing guide, he browsed at the game's item mall page for the items'
prices.
'EXP-Boost 2x': 50 NC
'GD-Boost 2x': 50 NC
'Desperate 2x Booster' : EXP and GD
boost 2x for 1 day : 75 NC
'Emergency AutoDoc': 10 NC
'Gear Barrier' x5 : 25 NC
'Gear Clover' x5 : 50 NC
'Hammerspace Expansion +5': 25 NC
'Hammerspace Expansion +10': 50 NC
'NOAH Starter Kit': 100 NC
'Akashic Record Cube': 50 NC
Rennin sighed at the prices of the
essential premium items and he told himself,
“Some of them cost like my daily
allowance...”
