[Filtering newcomers!]
[Entrants are now undergoing scanners for irregularities!]
[Filtration Complete]
[Each Entrant will choose a profession of their own. However, their race was predetermined the moment they became an Entrant!]
"Please come this way," motioned the NPC. His appearance resembled that of a trout. He was half human and half fish, but it was not the hybrid look you are thinking. Rather, vertically, his body was half rainbow trout and the other half was humanlike. Literally half-man and half-fish
Weirdly, the trio looked at the foot of the NPC and how strange its gait was towards the "Fishdome". It is the name of any convenient building made from shells and sand, adhered to the clay and mud, which acts as the establishment's structure and pillar. Coral reefs and sponges add color to each building. It brings about uniqueness, depending on its intricate craftsmanship.
Inside, afloat water bubbles with tiny varieties of fish that perform as decorations and are scattered all over the building, even up to the glowstones hanging on the ceiling.
"Welcome to Ethereal, Entrants!"
More players like the three had gone inside the Fishdome for the proper explanation and tutorial of the game. Silently, they stared at the NPC and waited for it to finish its speech.
"As you know, Entrants are not allowed to choose a different race. It has been written in the memo of the game. There are limited professions, which each of you can choose."
[Depth Striker]
"This profession masters the instinct and muscle memory of the Entrants. It can branch to different mastery later on, so please keep that in mind."
[Shellguard]
"Now, different from the previous profession, Shellguard gives the Entrant a suit-enhanced forms that mimic sea armor. It is a live-feeder that takes on the abilities and appearance of any life form you have consumed. However, you must eat the individual alive in order for the enhancement to take effect. And of course, by alive, it can mean a dying one."
[Salvager]
"Among the other professions, this branch of Entrants allows the player to desperately look for survival tools, which would be crucial as the story progresses."
[Alchemerist]
"Science and fantasy have been mixed and integrated within each other. This profession allows the Entrants to imitate deep-sea science. It requires an in-depth knowledge of the structural information of the underwater ocean world. For this one, I suggest you read books in the library to further broaden your fictional knowledge."
Only four professions were available for the Entrants, the Foreign Dwellers.
"Does anyone have a question?"
One Entrant raised her hand.
Excited to see so many Entrants raising their hands, the NPC rainbow trout picked the first one to ask a question.
"Okay, you there, Ms. Entrant. What question do you have in mind?"
She paused for a second, clearing her throat after realizing the set of eyes patiently waiting for her voice to reach their ears.
"Gosh, now this is kind of embarrassing," she started, but immediately went on to ask her questions. "Why are we not allowed to choose a different race?"
As though he was expecting the question, the NPC formed a faint smile in its half-fish, half-man mouth.
"Your body simulates humanoid forms, encased in modular suits or organic mind-like shells. Unlike the natives, who are the other races, the ocean does not accept the Entrants— you must carve your own path and forge your fate with steel and instinct. Human players and real-world participants, thrust in a biome most of you scarcely understand, your survival is not expected... but some overcome. Those who strive by going against currents and seeing through the pitch black underwater. Entrants bring the madness of "choice" into a realm ruled by "order."
[Racial Abilities: Adaptive Drive and Beginner's Luck.]
[Adaptive Drive allows the Entrants to master any basic tool or weapon with reduced penalties. It takes effort to master a single weapon. Doing it twice takes double the effort.]
[Beginner's Luck: Once per session, you can be saved from lethal harm by unexpected environmental interaction.]
"I hope I answered your question."
She seemed as though somehow satisfied with the answer, thus lightly nodding her head and lowering her raised hand.
"Any other questions?"
This time, Moruel raised his hand, and he was instantly chosen.
"What about you?"
"Are there no special abilities for us, Entrants?"
"Special abilities, ah, yes, of course. Signature skills..."
[Glitched Code Signature: Entrants can warp the system rules on rare occasions—unpredictable, and unstable.]
"That's it?" Moruel confusedly added. "No specialized moves or attacks?"
"While the Glitched Code Signature can occur only in rare instances, it is an overpowered special ability. Imagine you are drowning and you accidentally and miraculously activate GCS, then warp the system rules, which allows you to breathe underwater for, I don't know, five to ten minutes?"
"Can there be permanent damage to the system rules upon using Glitched Code Signature?"
It was Lim who asked this time, curious to know the capacity of their said overpowered ability.
"Ah!" Surprised that someone asked, the rainbow trout let out a giggle. "That's for me to know and for you, Entrants, to find out."
It can only mean that the NPC's information regarding the matter was limited and can only be known when an irregularity occurs.
"I'm hoping that one of you finds out."
Maverick sat on the couch, tired and still experiencing the feeling of having his lungs flushed with ocean water. Beside him, an elderly Entrant scoots over for him to have a seat.
"Thank you," he gratefully said.
"Can't we pick up or change the race after?" Asked another Entrant.
"Here comes the interesting part!" With the wave of his hand and fin, the NPC created rainbow imagery. "Unlock paths!"
"Unlock paths?" Everyone dumbfoundedly repeated.
"Yeah, unlock paths. Entrants can either absorb the roles of NPCs temporarily by forming empathy-based bonds with native NPCs, or use relics to unlock a one-time Function Override: "Become like the Drowned to understand them." Or defeating legendary bosses and acquiring their Soul Code Fragment to mutate into race-limited variants and unlock more professions and broaden your skill tree."
"But how do we do that?"
"As your story completion makes progress, such advancement in your character will be available. Everything is in order. Just play and enjoy, Entrants!"
The NPC rainbow trout had concluded his explanation and fully transformed into a rainbow trout. His ability, Current Path, created a leeway for him to swim through the air and out of the Fishdome. Just like that, the Entrants were left with the new NPC that would handle all the professions chosen by the players.
"Please fall in line, Entrants. Those who don't wanna go first can sit down first on the couches. We have enough space for everyone."
Eager to explore the underwater world of Ethereal, the trio lined themselves up, patiently waiting for their turn.
"Next, please!"
The first of the three was Moruel. He was given a form to seal his profession with a signature and a dry seal of the Fishdom.
"Hmm... seems good. No hidden shenanigans." He said after reading the form.
"Please state your chosen profession and just sign here using an Octopus' quill and ink."
Moruel picked up the quill and dipped the tip into the ink. Before signing the form, upon thoroughly pondering his decision, he stated his chosen profession: "Shellguard."
It was to be expected of Moruel. He acts like a tanky warrior, which has decent agility and reflexes to make up for his weight burden.
"That means you have to eat a live fish, dude."
"Shut up," he said and then signed the form. The NPC rolled it upon dry sealing, put it inside an empty bottle, and covered it with a cork.
"Next, please!"
Lim's turn came, and the excitement on the dude's face was contagious. Entirely different from the usual MMORPG he had always played in his spare time, Ethereal offers a diverse genre with so much world-building to do and biomes to explore.
"I'm picking Salvager! Gimme those hidden tools, baby!"
Just like what the NPC did when Moruel signed the paper, the NPC rolled it upon dry sealing and put it in an empty bottle, ultimately covering it with a cork.
"Next one!"
Maverick's the next in line. He had been thinking about which profession to choose, as it affects the whole gameplay they will be playing for thousands of hours from now on.
"Alchemerist seems like a fun and creative profession, but I'm more of a Depth Striker type of guy, so I'm going with the latter."
His previous encounter with the monsters proved that he will be much more versatile and useful as a Depth Striker whose specialization focuses on instincts and muscle memory.
~