Finished with recording the information that I knew, I headed to the VR pod in my spacious room with excitement. I was going to perfect my disguise as a middle stage Awakened in preparation for the academy arc.
How?
Full-Dive VR!!
It was always a distant concept on earth, envisioned in many anime and web novels I've consumed. I've always wondered when that technology would come to fruition so I could experience it myself, instead of through imagined stories.
And now… that moment had come, much sooner and in a much different way than I ever imagined.
I stood before a smooth, oval pod made of polished vermillion crystal. Its surface is traced with thin glowing lines that pulse softly like veins of light.
As I entered the pod, the moment felt surreal. I was giddy like my first time going to the arcade. Hopefully, I won't end up hating it like I did towards arcades. Fucking overpriced ahh scam.
After carefully reading all the guidelines and terms of services in three seconds (impressive right?) I booted up Path to Sagehood Online. It had come preinstalled with the pod.
Along with all the anime and web novels, there was always that one game at the center of it all, what the story was based on.
For The Sword Sage's Saga, while not a story revolving around a game, Path to Sagehood Online was the game prominent and reoccurring throughout the novel.
Developed on millions of gold coins over three decades with thousands of devs, the game was truly a masterpiece.
It was able to faithfully recreate an accurate depiction of our entire world pre-modernization with thousands of researched monsters and playable Arcanums. There was even the feature on high end pods—like mine—to upload the player's physique, Arcanum, and complete stats into the game.
Because of its hyper-realistic combat simulation, many people used it as a form of training.
Of course, no game could rival real combat and perfectly replicate the experience, but for those who'd only ever sparred with siblings or parents, it was a massive improvement. In fact, it is believed the game has saved tens of thousands of lives by granting such an authentic simulation of combat.
And, frankly, it was incredibly fun!
Exploring an ancient world still dominated by scattered villages and small kingdoms, fighting monsters, or dueling friends without the risk of injury—just fifty years ago, such a thing would've been unimaginable.
For me and millions of gamers on earth, this was the stuff of our dreams.
As I entered into the game, I was met with a majestic cutscene showcasing the striking world—vast magical forests, ancient ruins swallowed by moss, wyverns circling in the distant skies, playable-looking characters, and much more.
Typically, I have always been one to skip the cutscenes and story. But this time, I was truly captured by the resplendent view before me.
Actually… Nevermind.
I'm still probably going to skip the story. Even with the great visuals before me now, the story was still trash, it originated from that novel after all.
Soon enough, I was met with a character creation screen asking for my name and if I wanted to import my Arcanum, physique, cultivation realm, and stats.
For my character, I just chose to import my real appearance. Being this handsome, who wouldn't flaunt it at every opportunity??
I also imported my Arcanum and physique as the entire point of this gaming venture was to help me act like a true middle stage Awakened in the academy, not because I want to have fun.
However, I opted not to import my Adept realm cultivation and reduce it to middle stage Awakened.
Instead, I wanted to start from initial stage Awakened and work my way up. This was because I feel restarting would develop my combat style more naturally, and definitely not because I believe starting from zero is more fun.
Now, onto the final part: the name. Hehehe…
I was contemplating between many good ones—You're trash kid, I'm just better, Git Gud, NoobSlayer69420, U MAD BRO?—it was honestly a difficult decision.
What would trigger the most gamers, I wonder?
It was then, I discovered something incredible!
Because of my ultra premium VR pod, it offered even more benefits in game than I thought.
Beyond keeping my body more comfortable and allowing me to import my Arcanum, physique, and cultivation—it also tripled the allotted character count for my name!
As a result, please bow down to 'U MAD BRO? Im just better. Git Gud, Your trash kid'
And in my infinite wisdom, I purposefully used the wrong 'your' and 'Im' to ragebait more people.
Also, in case you're wondering where the NoobSlayer69420 went—that is premium material for a guild name.
'You were killed by: [NoobSlayers69420] U MAD BRO? Im just better. Git Gud, Your trash kid'
… Hehehe. I can't be the only one to find this funny, right?
On the final part of the character creation screen, it asked if I wanted to link my character to an Arcanet account.
After pondering for a bit, I choose yes, linking it to mine, but not verifying it.
This was bound to make some people mad because I was acting like a poser, an internet degenerate who wants to leech attention from a currently trending figure.
How will they react when they find out it's actually me? Hehehe…
Without further ado (ADO MENTIONED??>), I spawned into the world, truly starting the game.
The moment I moved, the world responded.
It felt exactly like real life. My feet pressed into the ground naturally, touching grass for the first time in this world.
I took a step, then another, then spinning in place just to feel the balance shift, and a smile spread across my face. I'd dreamed of this for years, and now it was real.
The world stretched around me, alive and seamless.
Soon enough, I was directed towards an old NPC who was apparently my master. They were ecstatic I managed to Awaken, stepping into the realm of cultivation at an age far younger than most. With a wide grin, they patted me on the shoulder and began outlining my training, their voice full of pride and urgency. "You have potential most only dream of," they said, eyes sparkling, "but potential alone isn't enough. If you want to survive—and thrive—you'll need discip—...
Yeah, I skipped the dialogue. Can you even blame me though? It looks like they just used ai to generate that. But I don't care.
Gameplay is by far the most important aspect in a game, and this game has no faults in that… I hope… Please don't be a let down just like the food!
Freed from the dialogue, I was instructed to assign my attribute points and sent off with 50 silver to wander the small village and acquire a real weapon befitting a cultivator.
Looking at my stat page, it was B's all around except for vitality, which was completely maxed out. This didn't surprise me as it had always been at SS+ because of my physique.
With three attribute points, I assigned them like this.
===
Usable Attribute Points: 0
Mana Capacity: B
Mental Strength: B
Strength: B → A [2 Attribute points spent]
Speed: B → B+ [3 Attribute points spent]
Vitality: SS+ [Maxed]
===
With my mana regeneration and low mana consuming Arcanum, I didn't need mana capacity.
For mental strength, it isn't really a needed aspect.
In real life, sure, mental strength matters—a firm resolve is essential to survive, but most of it develops naturally.
Actually training your mind for extra toughness? Potentially it could save you from a powerful mind hex… but this is just a game, the worst that happens is you lose a few levels.
Otherwise, only people with telekinetic powers or others relating to the mind will need to upgrade mental strength.
Then, with my vitality already being maxed out, strength and speed became the obvious choice.
Afterwards, as one would, I began scouring every nook and cranny for potential loot. If it was in my line of sight, it was basically mine.
Fruit? Mine. Paper? Mine. Potted plant? All mine.
That was until I met an audacious youth who dared to pick up a gardening tool that I already set my sights on.
Was I first? No, but it was mine.
Naturally, I immediately tried to kill him with a swift choke-hold using all three of my hands. However, my hands and body just went straight through him. A notice shortly popped up informing me pvp was not allowed as this was a safe zone.
Right when I gritted my teeth in frustration, the boy who had been holding the gardening tool screamed and ran, processing that I had just attempted to kill him.
It was so high pitched, was this literally a twelve year old? Just as I was pondering, I noticed he dropped the shovel in his panic.
Ha! Like taking candy from a baby!
When I was about to pick it, I heard a crashing sound in the distance. The boy had tripped and fell, causing me to laugh out loud at his clumsiness.
He soon got back up and continued running for his life, until he tripped and fell again…
This kid was definitely dying in a horror movie. He also started crying now as the second fall had been on firm dirt rather than soft grass.
After that, he successfully got away. Meanwhile, I examined my new shovel and let out an evil laugh.
[Material Grade: Middle Stage, Awakened Realm]
[Core Rank: N/A]
[Description: A shovel made out of Spiritwood used for tilling frozen mountainside dirt]
What the hell?! I just got a shovel made of middle stage material? Do I have protagonist level luck?
Yes, there's no core, so no ability—but, it's made of a middle stage material. In other words, it's pretty god dang strong.
Stronger than an initial stage weapon with a core? Probably not, but I doubt I can afford one anyways.
Cheaper? Well, it's fucken free, so duh.
Funnier? Absolutely!
I can go around killing people with a shovel as 'U MAD BRO? Im just better. Git Gud, Your trash kid!'
Taking candy from babies is really profitable, huh?
Well, I may have also just started TeddyBrown2013's villain or revenge arc. Hopefully that doesn't come back to bite me, and it just traumatizes him instead.