[ Chapter IX (9): "SAMURAI, NEW PLAYERS & BILLY BATSON" ]
[ "What's... this?" ] Curious, Barry emerged from the hill he came from, his grey jumpsuit tattered in some places, dirt smeared here and there. In front of him, to be precise on the small dirt road is a small partially destroyed wooden carriage...
He approached it more closely, curious as to what it was. As he approached, he kept his eyes on the carriage, noticing the designs in it. He could see that it only has 2 wooden wheels, pretty big compared to normal.
The said carriage is more on a cart house than a carriage. The horse attached to it, seemingly nowhere in sight. But what Barry did find out though, is that this one has Japanese memorabilia and designs in it.
[ "I-I guess, searching it wouldn't hurt..." ] Jumping inside the carriage, Barry was immediately greeted by a treasure chest and other antiques inside the said abandoned carriage.
Aside from that, he also received something else... [ "What is..." ] In front of him is a System Mission, one that he and the others normally receive when taking care of, planting, and even socializing with the alive and quite intelligent Plants...
In this case, in Barry's case, even though he isn't at Paradise, he still receive one. Though it isn't quite related to Planting, gardening, or growing seeds... But relating to a what now? [ "this?" ]
[ CHAMPION MISSION: "PICK A FACTION, EITHER KNIGHT, SAMURAI, OR VIKING. TO DO THIS, PLAYER MUST HOLD AND OWN A WEAPON, ARMOR, OR ANTIQUE RELATING TO THAT SAID FACTION" ]
[ REWARD: SPECIALIZED MISSION CHAIN RELATING TO THE FACTION PLAYER CHOSE ]
Not knowing what this fully means, he went and admire it, trying to grab the floating text. But no matter what he does, his hand went pass it just like the other times... So following the instructions of the said thing, he went and continued with his journey.
[ "Samurai...? Huh, cool." ] With his journey, as he then opens up the treasure chest in front of him. Inside it is a dull katana, 3 throwing knives and an armor... How did Barry knew? That is because they have floating text above them, just like the Plants. [ "Nice..." ]
[ Dull Katana (Common) ]
[ Throwing Knives x3 (Common) ]
[ Damaged Haramaki (Common) ]
...
[ FOR HONOR CHAMPION (BARTHOLOMEW HENRY "BARRY" ALLEN) CHOSE TO JOIN THE SAMURAI FACTION ]
[ "The what now...?!" ] Arthur engrossed by playing Roblox: Grow a Garden, couldn't believe what he is seeing. Turning to read the alert by the System, he in turn wasn't able to purchase an expensive seed that he has been waiting to buy.
In his computer is the game called Roblox, supposed multiplayer, but due to Arthur being limited. He wasn't able to interact with anyone else using his computer.
He can play online games, but he'll always be alone. Yet, that doesn't stop him from just magically appearing to his Players, currently lodging in the Lobby... But he doesn't want to do that, as it'll ruin the fun and mystique that he has been cultivating.
[ "Damn it...!" ] Noticing that he missed out on a profitable seed, he groaned. Before then pulling his headset off of his head. As he then turns to face the announcement. Reading it again as to make sure.
After making sure that it is legit, Arthur then pulled the videofeed of Barry, that he actually forgotten about. Then the map of the For Honor Map— Region of Hoobamon, which is digital 3D in front of him...
He has marked previously here the ruined castle which would lead to Barry being a Knight, the shipwreck for Vikings, then the abandoned carriage relating to Samurais which his Champion seemingly encountered. How nice.
Funnily enough, that said landmark is the farthest of spawn. Which led to Barry apparently having walked for more than half an hour in doing so, especially because Arthur rigged the game for him to likely be a Knight... Which failed apparently, as his first Champion is now a Samurai... Damn.
Remembering the promise he made for himself, Arthur then used his Developer Class powers and prepared himself to buy exactly about 85 Player Slots and 85 Blank Characters, for Players to use.
A single Player Slot cost about 100 Credits, so does a single Blank Character... So in total that was about 17,000 Credits, which made Arthur broke, 3/5ths of his wallet emptying in the process.
This caused him to suck in air through his teeth, but not fully regret. As he now welcomes other Players through doing this, to be more precise, 85 more Players which hopefully doesn't ring any alarm bells on the Universe of Detective Comics.
You see, there is about 9-10 Billion people on Earth, that is on DC. Trillions, Quadrillions on other Planets... That fact is proven, he just hopes that kidnapping and granting 85 more people on DC Earth wouldn't ruin his secret, especially because he is still whole unprepared to conquer Earth with his Games.
That Games he is talking about is half-baked, side piece entertainment like growing sentient Plants is more fun in his eyes rather than fighting in what, 1600 thousand years ago either as an Knight, Viking, or Samurai.
He should have probably picked another Game to start his venture. But he didn't, he was blinded by the spectacle of playing the For Honor Game, and now he is stuck with it, no way to delete it, no way to exchange it. He is stucked.
The only way for Arthur to gain another Game Slot, i.e. to have another game akin to that of the For Honor he has. He needs for it to be cleared. How? He still doesn't know, but it somehow something relates to Monthly Mission that he receives on For Honor and Players something-something.
Nonetheless he doesn't know, but at the moment the For Honor Games isn't his priority, as he focuses instead on his Players at the Lobby— Paradise as they call it, wanting for them to grow more Plants, to have more Players in it.
He solved the latter, now with the remaining Credits he has, he bought for himself what the System calld as the Basic Pack for 6,000 Credits, each containing 100 seedlings that would grown up to either be a Sunflower, Peashooter, or Wallnut.
For 3,000 Credits he bought about 2 Day Pack that was in rotation days ago, which he saved. In total there is about 200 seedlings inside, they would grow up to either be a Sunflower, Peashooter, Wallnut, the same as the Basic Pack.
But also added is that, they have a chance to grow up either as the Potato Mine, Cherrybomb, Snowpea, Chomper, or Repeater. All of which are classic plants in the original Plants Vs. Zombie game, i.e. the Day Plants, thus the name, Day Pack.
After buying the packs, he then went and bought bronze watering cans for the soon-to-be Players... Due to him being poor, he had to painstakingly wait for his Credits to be enough to do-so, thanks to the passive income given by the Plants. [ "Thanks." ]
He absentmindedly said, before then spending 500 Credits on advertisement. For the citizens of DC Earth to enter his Realm/World/Universe, or whatever this place is, he promp to call it Realm, but what if that is the wrong term, so he uses other terms on it, especially because he doesn't know...
Moving on, he sat back on his chair, as he watches Barry seemingly encounter problem, a group of raiders, not affiliated with either the Knights, Vikings, or Samurais. Oh, yeah, no.
He forgot he did code some individuals to indeed have personality... So thieves, robbers, raiders, and other such individualized NPCs exist... And Barry seems to have encounter some of them, good luck with that Mr. Champion.
He then glances at the other videofeed, which has the Players in it, about 3 in total, in the Garden chattering with Plants... In seeing this, he smiled, before then refocusing his work, dividing the 500 Seedlings he has to 100 Players.
Each Player having about 5 Seedlings in total, in their Inventories, even to those Characters which isn't filled yet with a Player... To those newbies, he gave them a bronze standardized watering can that they could use to take care of their Plants.
In talking about Plants, it seems that some people are starting to arrive at the Lobby... As people one-by-one starts walking out from the pillar of light, all being confused, which made even the 3 online Players confused in seeing, plus the Plants.
...
[ "Where is... this?" ] Billy Batson, the kid that would known in the future as Shazam couldn't help but be confused at what's happening. In front of him are a Lobby of some sorts, with Plants the same size as himself there, roaming.
[ "A-are they alive?!!" ] Billy, the highschooler couldn't help but admire, seeing a Sunflower, a Peashooter, and a Wallnut walking around... With names and levels appearing right above their heads. [ "They are alive!" ]
He couldn't help but have stars in his eyes, in seeing this. As he tries to ignore the absurdity of the situation he finds himself. Seconds back, he just randomly downloaded an app, then now, he is here... Hell, how? He doesn't know.
But his childish bewilderment on what's happening overtaken him, as after coming out from the weird gigantic pillar of light, he then immediately went and patted the head of the nearest sentient Plant creature-thing he could get his hands on. [ "You are so, cute!" ]
Behind him are other individuals, about 34 in total and increasing, all wearing the same grey jumpsuit that he is wearing. All seemingly confused at what's happening, much more-so compared to the chill Billy, that has already accepted his new life.
After about some time, the Original Players approached them, talking to them, immediately getting to know them, as then they taught them about what's happening and where they are. They testing out some things, and yes, those are the truths.
Billy, a kid that only knows one language— English, couldn't believes himself, as he immediately realizes that everyone around him aren't speaking the same language, but are hearing the language that they are most proficient with in their ears.
To Billy that is English, to some that may be Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or even an obscure language, a dying one, that they are most comfortable with. The mouth and words oftentimes don't match, but to Billy, that looks cool.
He watches in the sidelines, standing besides some other Players, a Plant being pet by him besides him, as he listens to the instructions of the senior Player in front of him. As some others slowly emerged from the pillar of light that they came from...
[ "Inventory?" ] He hears a gaming term, and blurted it out instinctively. In doing so, his own Inventory appeared in front of him. Others also noticed this and copied what he just did, as all of them has an Inventory appear, some overlapping with one another. [ "That is so cool!" ]
[ PLANT SEEDLING LVL. 1 (3) ]
[ PLANT SEEDLING DAY LVL. 1 (2) ]
[ BRONZE WATERING CAN ]
Barry reached out towards his Inventory panel which is lower and smaller compared to the rest and grabbed the image of the second option— the Plant Seedling Day, and immediately, his hands went through, under his surprised and smiling face.
[ "Awesome!" ] Others noticed this, and followed suite. As they then pulled out small seemingly useless seeds from their... Some who are well-versed in games was able to recognize this inventory dynamic, while some wasn't, as it took them longer to get used too.
The Original Players on the other hand became worried, that they might accidentally throw, destroy, or step on the seeds. Which they all known as important, especially because, they sonewhat revere these things as familiars.
Quickly explaining what it was, the Original Players was immediately relieved when they noticed the shocked gaze the newly arrived Players gave the seeds that they are holding. Billy most so, as he tries to connect the seeds, to the same height Sunflower Plant right besides him.
[ "You came from this...?!" ] He asked the familiar, inwhich it replied with a smile and a nod. That explains the connection. As Billy then focuses back his gaze on the Original Player— at Mr. Harp apparently, a shy 20s something person that has dirt on his jumpsuit and under his nails.
That in here means experience, so Billy, the troublemaker kid that never listened to any grown up, or to anyone to be more precise. Couldn't help but instinctively listen, at what the novelty that this Player and the other Original Players are talking about.
His gaze sometimes wondering to the weird island-like surroundings behind him, wherein some Plants— Sunflowers, Peashooters, and Wallnuts are emerging from, approaching them.
[ "Is this... Heaven?" ] Has to be, as there is no other explanation for this phenomena that he and selected others are experiencing... If this is, then Heaven more awesome compared to what others said.
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ 06/04/2025 ]
[ 06/05/2025 ]