Z grabbed a spear from the weapon rack and spun it around. He spun it in one hand, then with both, before he began twirling it around his body. He then slammed it headfirst into the ground. A smile was on Z's face.
[Now, before we go any further, let's make you a Wielder. Sorry, but I lied earlier about you not needing to answer the question]
Z then appeared before Lone, his face smug with his tongue sticking out, as he smashed his fist against Lone's gut. Lone groaned as his eyes rolled back, everything going dark. But just before he passed out, Z spoke.
[What are you?]
Lone's body collapsed onto the ground. Z just stared as he walked back to the spear and gripped the handle for a bit. He moved his finger up and down its shaft, feeling its wooden texture and the rough lines on its surface.
Lone, though not conscious, felt awake. Though he could not see, he could hear something. Three words reverberated all around him, some slow and some long. Some sounded close, and others sounded miles away.
"What are you?"
Those were the words that reverberated in Lone's ears and mind.
"What am I? Am I meant to give a simple answer or maybe something exaggerated?" Lone thought as the words kept repeating over and over again. The words repeating only added more fuel to his thoughts as he pondered.
"Well, since people do this while emotional, I guess I should as well."
Z lifted his finger off the shaft as he looked back at Lone for a moment before pulling the spear out of the floor. He then grabbed a sword from the weapon rack and twirled it around his hand. A smile was plastered on his face as he tossed the blade into the air and caught it.
[The spear that pierces the strongest of veils and the strongest of walls. A spear that surpasses all else and relies on its own strength to strike true. I am Lone, a wandering knight who will leave his mark on this world and move with his own goals]
Z proclaimed as Lone opened his eyes.
[That was such a heartfelt shout. You really did pour your heart into it and so much more. Want to talk about it?]
Lone stood up slowly as he shook his head. Seeing this, Z just chuckled as he tossed the blade at Lone. Lone, wide-eyed, quickly moved out of the way as he watched the blade plunge into the wooden floor.
[Though I am just an AI created to help you start out, even I know some human emotions. But since you said no, I won't dare push it. Now grab the blade so we can begin]
Lone looked at the blade before him before staring at Z, "I thought you said I wouldn't need to answer the question. So why did you knock me out?"
[Hm? Oh, the reason was simple: you were the only one of the 99 players who let me explain everything. I thought it was best for you to learn how to use your Abilities before you enter the game. Of course, it would have automatically been unlocked when you entered the game, but just see this as special treatment. That way, when you enter the game, you won't have to fumble around trying to figure out how to use anything]
Hearing this, Lone just nodded his head as he grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out of the ground. But the blade was firmly stabbed into the ground. After a couple of tries, Lone managed to pull the blade out.
[Good, hopefully your struggle doesn't show how far you will reach in the game. But ignoring that, shall we start our practice? Now, first things first, let us pull up your window. You can do this by simply saying, thinking, or doing both, the word "Window" with conviction, and it will appear before you]
Lone nodded.
[Window]
A black screen with white words appeared before him.
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Name: [Lone]
Age: [?]
Gender: [Male]
Mark: [Knight]
Active Skills: [Man of Arms]
Passive Skills: [Spearhead]
Items: [?]
Background: [?]
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[Good, now allow me to explain. As you can see, the only things filled out are your name, Gender, and the two skills. Now, the name is because you named yourself when I asked. Gender is simple, since the game automatically sets you to your original gender. Though we can change it if you like?]
Hearing this, Lone just shook his head. Z just nodded as he snapped his finger and the dojo changed once again. It had become a small classroom, like the ones you'd see in school portables. He stood in front of a podium, a whiteboard behind him. While Lone sat in a chair, the blade still in hand.
[Alright, it's your choice. I think only three people asked me to do that for them, but oh well. Now, onto your mark, this is related to your proclamation. As you might remember, the term "Mark" is related to the tattoo you will have, and the tattoos are related to the ability you have. Oh my, did I lie again? Sorry about that. Now, during your proclamation, you referred to yourself as a Knight and kept talking about spears. So your ability just matched that; your Mark as a Knight shows the path you chose for yourself. It really isn't that important and won't change, or maybe it will, but what matters is your skills. These are granted by your Mark and decide how you will play. You will get more as time passes and as you play. But for now lets focus on the two terms, "Active" and "Passive"]
Z snapped his finger as the whiteboard behind him bore the two words.
[Active skills are skills that need you to activate them to be used. This can be done the same way you pulled up the Window, by either saying it, thinking it, or doing both. Though I recommend saying it since you will most likely ever use this while in combat, and well, you will need to push away any distracting thoughts to win a fight. Now onto your Passive skills. Passive skills are skills that activate automatically, without your input or under certain conditions. These conditions can range from you running to you using a specific item or taking a certain action. Now, if you can be so kind and press your Active skill]
Lone clicked on [Man of Arms].
_______________
[Man of Arms]- A skill that allows any item held by the user to be transformed into a spear made by the same material and retain the same skill engraved in it.
"I shall not fight with any other tool but that of my own power."
_______________
Seeing this, Lone was a bit confused, while Z just nodded his head.
[To others, this skill may seem dumb or maybe useless, but I see it for what it truly means. But the question is, do you!!! After all, a person who cannot grasp their skill is a person who is not worthy of using them!!!]
Lone just looked at Z, who was doing a exagerated finger pointing pose from behind the podium. Lone looked at the blade in hand and spoke.
[Man of Arms]
The sleek, curved blade shone a bright white color. Its form twisting and spiraling, the light slithering into a straight, sharp form. Soon, the light dimmed, and in its place was a spear with a wooden shaft and a long diamond-shaped spearhead.
[Great!!! Wonderfull!!! Spectacular!!! You did it on your first try; I must congratulate you on that. Now, it's time to teach you about the "Inspection." Inspection is an ability all players have to understand tools or items before them by simply staring at them and either saying or thinking it. Now use Inspection on the spear]
Lone did so.
[Inspection]
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[Basic Spear]- Once a sword generated by the all-powerful Z to help those in practice. Now transformed into a spear by the hands of a Wandering Knight called Lone. Its purpose was remade to pierce a path for him. Skill: [Air Slash]- A skill that allows the user to create powerful slashes that fly forward and slash anything in its path. Its power is equal to the strength used to create it and will continue flying until it hits anything.
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[A wonderful skill you have, isn't it. To transform a tool into an item for your own power. Many want skills that deal damage or boost them, but I would say they are either boring or shortsighted in the long run. Now, click on your Passive Skill]
Lone called his Window and clicked on his Passive Skill.
_______________
[Spearhead]- A skill that allows the user to increase the power of each strike the longer they are in battle.
"Even if my spear goes blunt, I shall pierce your flesh! That I promise you!"
_______________
[A nice and straightforward ability. Most Passive skills are like this, and those that aren't are usually the busted ones. But for your first skill, this is a good one. But you really can't test it out, unless...]
Z stared at Lone for a bit as he raised his spear and pointed at Lone.
[Shall we start your first lesson in combat training!!!]