[Ding! Gamer Naoto has chosen to challenge Phase 0 of the Vermillion Trials. Now warping Party to destination zone...]
[Ding! As Gamer Naoto and his Party has entered an Instance Dungeon, time will no longer flow. Please complete the Quest to exit the Instance Dungeon.]
Before we realized it, our bodies dematerialized from the guest room we were all in, only to see the scenery suddenly change. Woosh! Woosh!
Just like the games, our bodies became bright blue glows of light, and warped into the Instance Dungeon. Where Dreichel's Plaza once stood. Well, it's still there, but it was entirely devoid of most colors. Just a weird mixture of white, grey and black, like what you'd see in one of those old classical movies. But to my surprise, my thoughts remained on the Gamer System, as the notifications didn't stop. They kept coming, which started a slow burning process. Similar to a headache forming.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto and his Party has entered Instance Dungeon: Dreichel's Plaza - Ashurei Lv100.]
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Level is insufficient and doesn't meet the current criteria. Attempting to adjust Level...]
[Ding! Adjustment has failed!]
[Ding! Attempting to adjust Level...]
[Ding! Adjustment has failed!]
[Ding! ...]
[Ding! ...]
'Ugh...', I inwardly groaned, feeling my head start to strike against itself, like it was being hit with a hammer. The Gamer System suddenly entered a loop of showing me the two same Notifications over and over. The steady ache grew bigger, but it wasn't anything I hadn't felt before. It was a far cry from the soul-binding pain of the Gamer System, which meant I could endure this. I had no other option. I wanted to see this through to see what the Gamer System was going to do.
After what felt like an eternity, the constant dull pain soon began to die down, as did the Gamer Notifications. It ended with one final one that made me turn serious.
[Ding! Adjustment of Gamer Naoto's body has been deemed insufficient to continue the Vermillion Trials. Gamer Naoto will now be granted a temporary construct. You cannot pause the process. The construction will now begin...]
'Temporary construct?', I thought. Before I could do anything else, my body began to glow in a bright white light, covering it entirely. Just like how a Pokemon would evolve.
"Boy?", Roselia questioned, seeing me suddenly change. She didn't immediately panic, but approached my side. It was then the others paid attention to me.
"Why is Naoto suddenly glowing?", Aurelia questioned, revealing a frown.
"I do not sense any threats at hand, so let us watch and see what happens.", Ein said after making sure their surroundings were safe. They realized they were brought into Dreichel's Plaza, but the three Magic Knights were still immovable. The fight hadn't started.
"I fear that is the only thing we can do for now.", Prince Olivert responded with a nod.
"Today sure has been filled with mysteries, hasn't it...", Mueller murmured, still in disbelief.
As for me, I was still in my thoughts, not shifting my attention to them.
'This should be the result of the Level requirement. It is 100, and I'm only Lv15. But to think it would go as far as to say my current body is no good. Since time is frozen here, I don't have to worry about the night passing. I can safely let it reconstruct me.', I thought. I didn't even need to pay attention to the passage of time for that matter either. I just had to simply wait.
And so, I waited until the next Gamer Notification.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto's temporary construct is now complete. Now delivering Gamer Naoto's soul into the temporary construct. Please note it will break down once the Quest is complete. Upon completion, Gamer Naoto's soul will return to his original body.]
All of a sudden, my vision blacked out. Then, I felt like something tugging my very being. It didn't last long, then I felt the tugging stop. Soon after, my vision returned. I still groaned, taking a moment to readjust myself.
"Ugh...", I uttered with a groan. But once I spoke, I paused. I became bewildered at the sound of my own voice. It sounded...much older? Also, why am I getting a sudden sense of nostalgia?
I tried to get my bearings straight, but I almost tumbled over due to the sudden balance loss of my legs. They didn't feel as short anymore. It's not like I didn't feel much strength in them. Quite the opposite actually. They felt stronger. More powerful. Sturdier. And longer. I became confused again just feeling this.
"This reconstructed body feels so weird, and yet, so familiar...", I uttered again.
It was then I heard Roselia's voice speak to me which woke me up from my stupor, as if a bucket of water was splashed on my face.
"Umu. I did not think this would be within the realm of possibility. You sure like to bring surprises left and right, Naoto.", Roselia said. I saw her eyes furrow upward.
"Master?", I asked, not sure what she meant by that.
"'Tis best to see it for yourself.", Roselia said. After that, Roselia uttered a small incantation, creating a small echo around us. In response to that, a small distorted mirror came into view. Similar to the scrying mirrors those villains would use when declaring their intentions, but not to that extent. But it served its purpose, allowing me to see myself.
I turned wide in shock the moment I gazed upon my own reflection. It was the same Joker-like face I had in my previous life. Not just that. I had the entire body. It was as if I was in my prior life again!
"No way...", I uttered in shock. Did the Gamer System deem this temporary body suitable for me to do this Vermillion Trial? I could only imagine so, seeing as I was now in it. And as if responding to that doubt, I heard more Gamer Notifications.
[Ding! Gamer Naoto is now in the temporary construct. Criteria has been met. Gamer Naoto's Level has been adjusted. Current Level: 100. Gamer Naoto's Status has been adjusted. It is now available for viewing. Would you like to view it?]
[Ding! Prince Olivert's Level has been temporarily adjusted to Lv100.]
[Ding! Mueller's Level has been temporarily adjusted to Lv100.]
[Ding! Ein's Level has been temporarily adjusted to Lv100.]
[Ding! Roselia's Level has been temporarily adjusted to Lv100.]
[Ding! Aurelia's Level has been temporarily adjusted to Lv100.]
[Ding! Temporary adjustments of Party's Status have all been completed. Each Party Member can now review their own Status before challenging the Magic Knights. Now would be the time to formulate a battle strategy. The Magic Knights will not move until the first move has been made. The Magic Knights can also have their Status viewed at this time.]
'Well that's a good thing to hear. This Vermillion Trial really is giving me the upperhand here, isn't it? If I had to take a guess, it feels more like a Tutorial, if anything, seeing as I had yet to enter combat here. Now, I've been given the body to do so. I won't immediately start, since I still need to discuss this with everyone.', I mused while reviewing these Gamer Notifications.
As I checked over that, I saw subtle glows appear on everyone's bodies. It didn't feel harmful or beneficial. Instead, depending on who it was, some either felt empowered, or weakened, causing them to all raise their eyes.
"Why do I suddenly feel weaker?", Aurelia questioned, not expecting to feel this way.
"Is that right? I'm the opposite. I feel bursting with energy.", Prince Olivert responded with a smile. For some reason, his eyes randomly sparkled with stars, and looked toward Mueller who was beside him. Prince Olivert opened his arms wide open. "Come on Mueller, why don't you leap into my arms and give me a big 'ol hug---?", Prince Olivert tried to say.
But Prince Olivert couldn't even finish saying his words before we all heard a loud smack strike our ears. SMACK!
"Yeah. How about, no?", Mueller immediately retorted after smacking Prince Olivert on the head. You'd often see these two bicker constantly in Sky, and were quite the comedic duo. I couldn't help but laugh seeing this exchange happen before my eyes. And seeing me laugh from this, the others did too, which eased the ongoing tension.
"Aww, you're no fun.", Prince Olivert responded while laughing with us.
After we all shared a laugh, the tension around us eased considerably.
"As much as I'd like to joke around here, all of this has been an enlightening experience. I too felt my strength become limited. I take it we've all received a different 'adjustment', according to those messages. Just what in Aidios's name is it that you can do, Naoto?", Ein asked, taking the time to approach me. "And for that matter, is this your true form?"
I guess it was time to tell them about the Gamer System, huh?
Not like I was trying to hide it, knowing how the Gamer System operates compared to other Systems and all.
I looked at Roselia, and she nodded in agreement.
"Might as well. You see, I have a rather particular ability. It can turn everything around me into a game, affecting the laws and rules of my surroundings itself. I'd love to go into the logistics, but that'd take all day. For now, why don't you all review your Status? All you need to do is think of it, like 'I want to see my Status Window', and it shall appear before you.", I replied, showing honesty in my eyes.
"You...can turn everything around into a...game?", Aurelia asked in shock.