1 year later
I've finally graduated high school, at the age of 19, so now it's finally time to play Infinite Dendrogram. Why did I wait this long, you ask? Well, it's because I wanted to learn more about the world's current state, it's history, geography, economics, political spectrum, etc... to see if it was any different, but not really. All I found was some other anime characters and stories were part of history here, like Gramps' Black Lagoon, or SAO, which was another VRMMORPG that was one of the first of its kind. Funnily enough Jormungand is also a part of history (although I had to dig quite a bit to find that).
As a reward from the Devs I received a code that would let me acquire the Necrolith Lord Job before I even Left customisation.
Regardless, today is the day that I get the Full-Dive VR headset.
...
I open the box, a sleek helmet with a matching visor lays before me. I grasp it and place it on my head diving into the world of Infinite Dendrogram.
I find myself in Cheshire's presence and bow, remembering that Ray had done so and gained the AI's approval. "Sorry for intruding"
"It's nice when they're polite... Anyhow, welcome to the world of Infinite Dendrogram where you can become a hero or the demon king, a king or a slave, a good person or an evil person. You can do something, or you can do nothing. You can stay in Infinite Dendrogram, or leave it. It's all up to you. If it's possible, then you can do anything you want. Just like the Embryo in your left hand, what's about to begin is infinite in possibility."
"Now then, you get to customise your avatar now."
A status screen looking thing appears.
"About that... I have a special code that lets me acquire the Necrolith Lord Job"
Cheshire freezes at my words, a slight eerie smile plastering itself on the creature's face.
"What's the code?"
"H04ZZYUIHG665"
"...Correct!" the creature looks stunned, as though surprised that I know the code.
The customisation option shows a pitch black silhouette, shadowy wisps emanating from it. Purple highlights and accents define the masculine form.
Blue pixelated particles wrap around my form, my hight and proportions remaining the same, but wrapped in shadows.
Unlike most starter characters, I began with a hooded cloak to hide my features.
"So what name do want to be registered as?"
"Rock Balor"
"OK! So, Master, where do you want to begin your journey?"
"...In the Kingdom of Altar, that's the best place to start after all"
"Before you go, let me briefly explain a few things, Nyaa. In this world there are 3 main sources of power, the first are your standard items and equipment, the second is jobs, or classes as they're called elsewhere, and the third are Embryos, which are unique to this system, basically Infinite potential condensed into a small stone on your left hand, it adapts to the need and desire of its Master."
"And you're off!"
All of a sudden I'm falling, launched from space to near the Altar kingdom's capital "Alteia".
I crash into the ground and black out for a few seconds. I open my eyes to see the massive entry gate to the city. I move towards it, admiring the architecture and beauty of it all, before centring myself on my goal, which was strength. My current and starting job class had massive advantages. Speaking of which, it was time to look at my status.
-Status-
-LV: 0-
Embryo: Unawakened
HP- 100
MP- 90
SP-10
STR-15
AGI-10
END-10
DEX-15
LUC-10
-Skills-
Mental Boost (OG)- (Increases MP by 50%, perception speed and increases MP regeneration to 4%, grants base increase of 50 MP)
Dominant Arts (OG)- (You are well versed in Martial arts and Weapon arts, any skills related to weapon use or martial arts have their effectiveness increased by 150% whilst having the same SP/MP costs meaning that they will be working at 1.5x effectiveness, STR and DEX increase by 50%)
Chant (Mage)- (By adding a chant to a magic spell, the power, effect and range can be increased depending on the duration of the chant.)
Summon Undead Hoard (Lich)- ( Creates and summons a large amount of Low level undead, starting at 70 and increasing by 10 for each 5 additional MP, Base Cost= 200 MP)
Summon Greater Undead (Lich)- (Allows for the Creation and Summoning of a Strong but small group of Undead, starts with 6 and increases by 1 with every 20 MP added, Base Cost= 250 MP)
Phylactery (Lich)- ( Allows for the creation of a Personal Spawn Point, Costs 100% of MP)
Un-death Unleashed (Lich)- (Unleashes an Aura Similar to Necro Effect but far stronger and with a far wider range, costs 70 MP to cast, gives a moderate instant death de-buff to any in its range)
Necromancy (Necromancer)- (The representative skill of this job. It allows the user to create the undead via corpses. Undead can be created by two methods: by using grudge or by controlling them directly via magic. The former method places less of a burden on the user, but the undead created that way have a tendency to rampage. The latter depends on the intention of the soul of the target, but can be more easily managed.)
Awaking Undead (Necromancer)- (A skill that activates an undead monster that was created in advance and placed on standby.)
Necro Aura (Necromancer)- (A buff skill that increases the status of an undead monster.)
Necro Repair (Necromancer)- (An active buff skill that gives a short HP regeneration buff on a target undead.)
Necro Effect (Necromancer)- (Gives a weak instant death debuff to anyone that touches the target.)
Reveal (Scout)- (An active general skill that allows the user to take a look at another person's status information: name, main job, main job level, total level, and status values.)
Killing Intent Perception (Scout)- (A passive general skill that lets the user sense killing intent.)
Dagger Arts (Assassin)- (Increases the effectiveness of using daggers by 200%, boosted by Dominant Arts)
Bloody Slash (Assassin)- (Increases damage by 200% for a single slash that consumes SP, boosted by Dominant Arts, causes the Bleed Effect)
Back-Stab (Assassin)- (passive 300% damage boost when stabbing an opponent in the back, boosted by Dominant Arts, causes the Bleed Effect)
Stealth (Assassin)- (Passive bonus to blending into shadows and bing unnoticed)
Physical Berserk(Berserker)- An active skill that greatly increases the users' stats in exchange for removing their ability to control themselves. While this skill is in use, no other active skill can be used.
Heart of Stone (Berserker)- This passive skill allows the user to control themselves while using berserk type skills.
Beastheart Possession (Jaguar-man): (Adds a certain percentage of a subordinate monsters' base status to the status of the user. It adds 10% stats at level 1, 50% at level 9, and 60% at level 10.)
Full Link (Necrolith Lord)- A passive skill that allows the user to use any skills from their sub jobs regardless of the grouping. The user can also choose to send acquired experience value to any sub job they want. Therefore, the user can raise the sub job's skills without needing to change jobs.
--
I went towards the Guild so that I could get registered to do some quests.
I looked at all of the available quests and find a small few which will allow me to get started on some of the requirements for the high-classes I want as well as the superior classes.
The first quest involves a standard Bandit Extermination, which is the type of quest that I'll be doing quite a bit for 3 reasons, the first is to increase my current level to one more satisfactory, the second is to increase my kill count so that I can unlock the High-Class Dead Hand, the third is so that I'm able to get enough lir to buy a Crystal of Purity.
...
I think it's time to explain my build a bit, since I've planned it out already. I'll be mainly focusing on getting 2 Necromantic Special Jobs and 1 Dagger related job. Since I'm thinking about making a really fast and dexterous Caster, with a lot of minions (eventually) Apart from that I only really have 2 other classes in mind, Burglar and Dead Hand. One to steal enemy stats and items, whilst the other is to further boost my Dagger techniques.
...
I head outside of the capital city, the road before me stretches far into the horizon, meeting hills, and mountains, and forests galore. I move towards a nearby merchant carriage, another job that I took since there would probably be several encounters with low-level bandits and monsters, which would be perfect for what I want to do.
A small group of tian (name of this world'sresidents) stand around the carriage, presumably waiting for me.
As I walk towards them, a slight look of derision crosses some of their features, as this country doesn't typically like non-humans very much. They still introduce themselves, of course, Dan, Jobe, Elle and Ferguson. Each one of them, rather young, in their mid-twenties. Dan, the leader, ir rather silent, whilst Jobe, the newbie is pretty excitable and jovial.
We set out on the quest, which will take us to the next city over "Gideon."
We set out across the plains towards the "Sauda" mountain pass, as we near the mountain the forest begins to close on the path, the trees get closer and closer, perfect for a monster ambush.
A/N: I'll be uploading 1 more chapter next week with similar lengths to this, if you'd like me to continue after that, just let me know (I won't drop the story this time), if I get enough interest I might upload 2 chapters instead