Creation Online

[Unknown Alpha Player POV]

The first thing I saw with my opening eyes were the words that puzzled me.

[Welcome to Vaustaris ?#?*#?#]

The scrabble of nonsense at the end made me confused even more than whatever the heck Vaustaris was. The words blinked away as my sight set upon something staring down at me. She was tall. Very tall.

'No'. My mind disagreed as my eyes found the mound she stood on. A mound that wound around me. A pit. 'No. Crater'. I pushed myself to an elbow and looked around. I was lying in hot sizzling lava that was slowly cooling into magma and I felt nothing.

"What the ...".

"Snais ahka. Hiet orrt kor?".

I looked back up to the intelligible words leaving her mouth. It was a girl. 'An Elf '. My eyes widened. 'Is this some isekai shit?. Did my pod explode, or malfunction, did I die and get reincarnated? Is this another life?'.

[Recalibrating speech]

[Language - Vaustaris Tongue - Learned]

"....dazed. Maybe we should help him".

"Serie are you insane. He's sitting in lava. If he needed help he wouldn't be sitting there".

"How's he sitting there?". Another girl asked.

"Don no". The boy narrowed his eyes at me and then looked up at the sky. " Don't look like no monster I've seen though ".

I blinked both at tbe children's words and the words in my vision. 'Vaustari tongue? So it's a game. But ...' I looked at my hands, fisted them. 'Wait'.

Claws. Black long claws bit into my flesh. 'What the?'. I almost scrambled back but held myself. My eyes left my hands ignoring the golden liquid that streamed from the cuts as I surveyed my body. I could see bits of white hair on my legs. Black claws on my toes.

'What is this?'. Instinctively, on seeing claws my tongue darted within my mouth, exploring to feel for my teeth.

'Fangs'. Four of them. Long and pointed. I looked back up at the kids. 'Was I some monster in this game? Was this a monster feature? I didn't even get to choose anything'. I frowned at the thought but paused remembering that I indeed had chosen something.

'Were the cards the choice?'. It felt unfair. And annoying. It wasn't a proper choice. I rose, pushing myself to my feet. The lava cooling faster dropped off my body like liquid and to the ground. Fortunately, I wasn't exactly naked.

The moment I had risen light encapsulated me. It was gray and comfortable. Like the touch of something loving. I could feel something else though. Something different. Slowly I turned and found a white bushy tail swaying slowly behind me, attached to my tailbone.

"The Fuck". I groaned out. The kids stumbled back.

"Seems even monsters know bad speak". One of the kids chuckled, my attention returning to him as I momentarily ignored the confusion in my head to look at him. Now that they all had my undivided attention I decided I had to first get out of this crater before calming my mind.

Using both hands I clawed my way up. Over the edge and then up to my feet. Then I blinked.

[The Prologue - Godfall]

[5000 Aeus ago the Primordials walked the mortal realm. Close to the mortals, they taught and brought new ways of life to the people scraping them from the mud of existence. But the Primordials were young and curious. Growing and life seized their attention from the mortal realms.

You were born to watch over those who they had little time for.

**Beginner Mission - Ascension**-

- Confusion fills your mind. Worry not. Your status page remains locked until proper ascension. Your existence is sealed to keep this world from falling to the flames. Learn your strengths and weaknesses, carve out a piece of the cake for yourself, and grow.

[Rewards - Ascension]

[Failure - ???]

[Accept - Y/N]

Warning - As an unascended Entity, your true form is sealed within. Death will be permanent.**

"So it is the ERROR. Woah. I can't even use the word ERROR here. Nice. Okay. What's this? My status is sealed cause I'm an unascended Entity. What the hell am I then? My true form can even destroy this world. That's if fall to the flames is literal".

I frowned at all this as I jabbed at my jaw absentmindedly with my claws.

"Primordials. Carve out a piece of the cake for myself". I looked to the kids before me and then to myself.

'It's looking interesting but first to confirm I'm not dead. Logout '.

[Alpha Player cannot logout]

[Prologue position Commenced]

"That confirms that. I'm definitely in the ERROR".I frowned again. "Is it censoring my speech for the inhabitants or generally. Let's see". I raised my palm to my mouth and tried whispering as silently as possible. "Game". I titled my head.

"Is it generally or...is it dependent ony thought". I looked at the children. When I was thinking of asking something I realized that maybe it would be weird so I decided to just say something else.

The children must have grown impatient with standing there waiting for me as they beat me to asking a question.

"What are you?".

"You don't look like no monster?".

"Ain't no monster got fine white hair". Another shrugged to his fellow. I blinked and then reached for my hair. It was soft and yet thick. Flowing fast and bountiful down my head and to my ...wait. I felt something. Going back up to the side of my head I felt for something.

Pointed ears, Furred pointed ears.

'Claws, fangs, pointed ears. Beast person then. But what?'. I was curious. But I didn't put much mind into it as I continued with my hair. It flowed past my shoulders and probably stopped at my mid-back. 'Nice. Everyone loves long hair. White too". I glanced at it in my fingers and just shrugged.

"Hey Mister. You not a monster. You look too weak to be one". Another of the kids. Black-haired shouted at me.

"If I was, wouldn't you all be dead already?".

The silence from my answer was amusing. I scoffed. 'Kids'.

"Lucky us then". The female child with the raven locks spoke up. Her eyes glinted with hard-to-hide pride

'So life-like'. Even as I thought it I could see the pointed ears they all had and I couldn't help but stare. 'Elves'. But I wasn't sure. Each one had a different complexion. The raven-locked girl was dark-skinned while the others were fair except for the pink-skinned chubby boy in the center.

I towered over the children. They looked no younger than Eleven or twelve. A tingling in my mind made me realize that the mission was still there.

So I accepted it.

[Mission Accepted]

[Generatimg Starter Rewards]

'Hmmh. Didn't even think of those. Wonder they would be?'.

[Starter Rewards generation stalled]

[Starter Rewards Quest Granted]

As an Unascended Entity, your task to learn more about your capabilities is severe. But you also require aid in this task. To gain your rewards you need to acquire materials to make them. After all, you are no mere mortal. As an ?#?#?#? You must work for your power.

- Gather 9 Frierwood Elderbranch (0/9)

- Gather 2 Freirwood Elder leaf (0/2)

- Gain 1 monster essence (0/1)

- Gain 1 inch of monster flesh (0/1)

[Rewards - Starter Kit Rewards, Akashic Essence Orb]

[Mission compulsory]

I didn't like the turnaround. Yet it was clear that no mere mortal thing had a heavy emphasis. With a clear frown on my face, I looked at the kids. All five took a step back.

"I'm..." I frowned deeper. If I didn't have a status could I choose a name? If yes what to choose. If not what to have the kids address me as?

In the end, I just shrugged and went with the flow. If the game didn't want me naming myself then it could simply shut me up.

"Hello. I'm Rack of Life".

"Weird name?" The other chubby kid frowned. "Never heard of a Racolith before?". He looked at his friends in curiosity. All shook their heads.

"That's cause I said. Rack of Life".

"I hear you. Racolith". The kid nodded. I frowned and bent close.

"Rack!. Of!. Life!".

The kid stepped back and looked at the others. "Isn't that the same thing?".

I sighed. 'Whatever. Maybe they don't understand me well. Maybe the language thing. Still, I need those materials. I'm certain monsters are in there'. I looked into the woods behind the kids from where I hoped these little brats hadn't been coming from. Cause if so then it would mean monsters there were non-existent.

'Maybe it's a starter zone'. I shrugged.

"Say kids". I squatted making sure my robe didn't go rising and flashing the kids. I'd not had the time to peek there but I was packing. I was no perve and a sense of shame too. Game characters or not. "Can you help me with a mission. I'm seeking the Elderbranch".

They all frowned at me first then stumbled in unison as they looked into thin air. Then slowly and very nearly simultaneously looked at me. Then back into space then back to me.

" He's... he's... he's...".I watched the chubby kid hyperventilate in shock.

The Raven-haired one stepped to him and tapped his back while whispering to him. A motherly one eh?

The blonde and black-haired boys stared me down with wide eyes while the last girl just kept turning her head back and forth from whatever she saw to me. Just as I was about to ask what was wrong they all answered.

"We'll take you".

And that was how I found myself dragged off to who knew where. Pestered and hounded by kids who didn't have a filter. Yet as their questions bombarded me I put two and two together.

'Oh shit'.

*

[Unknown Alpha Testers PoV]

"Magnificent". My eyes must have held the unmistakable glint of excitement and glee as I stared up into the sky. "Two suns". It felt like a cross between dawn and sunset as one sun rose from the side and the other set to the side. I wasn't sure of the geographic terminology here.

'The boss would be so pissed now'. I thought right before I activated my raven. If I tried to hide anything from him it would be my head. I might say this or that but a good check in other players' streams and I could be screwed.

'No need to tempt the boss'. I thought and yet I couldn't help but wonder. 'Maybe for just a moment '.

Her eyes traveled up her form. The beautiful scales, the tattered gown that curved around her. 'I got mean curves'. A chuckle escaped my lips. I blinked at the sight of the hair flowing down my head. It was black and felt less like hair and more like.

"Shadows".

The weight on my neck made me feel up my head and find ridged and tall long horns. Claws on my fingers and an ashen flesh where scales spared. Feeling my face told me it too was spared the scales. Still, there were some littered around my neck. My shoulder blades felt heavy and yet powerful.

"Must be how the boss feels after a gym day". Flexing my new growths was instinctual. Creepy but yet acceptable. 'The last thing I need is to start learning flight'.

Both large appendages that seemed merged between feathers and bat wings spread out and flapped. The magma at my feet sizzled as I lurched into the air and then landed on the field. My palm touched the grass at my feet. A deep inhale forced tantalizing greenery through my nostrils.

'I love this game'. I rose sharply. Looking around me with years of paranoid expertise I evaluated my location. 'Where am I?'.

Words appeared in my vision. As I read it I felt a sense of glee rise over me.

*

At the beach, submerged within a crater filled with water another Alpha player awoke. His eyes took in his surroundings as he gasped. Water rushed through his mouth and nostrils down to his lung and yet the familiar feeling of choking didn't come.

Still, he felt a grappling fear as he rushed upwards. His body lurched and with a blast of pressurized air, he was out of the water and landing on the beach, ankles submerged in water and feet on the sand. Claws on his fingers, fangs bared as unknown instincts sought danger, his hair his eyes flew from one side to the other.

Then words appeared in his vision.

*

Player Racolith's POV

The children were excitable and helpful. The perfect guides for completing the first requirements in the starter quest. All six of us stopped beneath an Eldertree of the Frierwoods.

"...that's why they're called Elder woods and so important. Even the King's men come here to get wood from us".

I wanted to ask what I missed in her story but my attention remained on the tree before me. Luckily this starter quest was easy'. Stepping forward I began the Herculean task of climbing this tall tree. It wasn't that hard. In four minutes I was on top of a branch twisting, stomping, and snapping branches.

"You know we have axes at home". One of the kids muttered.

"He doesn't need it dumbie".

"True". The child agreed. " That he doesn't need it, not that I'm a dumbie. Stop calling me that". I chuckled shaking my head before my mind wandered off.

What stories did this world have beyond the Primordials walking amongst them? I was curious.

But first, starter quests.

My weight made the spot I stood on wobble but I didn't fall. Once I had gotten the Branch I dropped it down and turned to harvest another.

[Elderbranch - (1/9)]

With a smile, I kept on the work. Breaking off branches and checking if my meter had increased. Some branches didn't register and I realized they were thin and weak branches. The quest required thick and sturdy branches. It didn't take long to get all 9 of them. Next, I hunted for the leaf of the Elder wood. Those were harder to get as the quest rejected everything below. Soon I was higher up in the tree and standing on the weaker parts of the tree. Still, nothing here was accepted.

Five minutes of climbing and adjusting balance later I poked my head out of the top of the tree canopy. Instinctively I took a good look around.

"Woah". Behind me was a canopy of trees lower than me. Ahead was the canopy but stopping a few distance ahead and then grassland spread ahead. To my right and left was the same. I could hills sprawled out in the distance.

"My eyesight". Far off I could see something that should be too far to see. A large tower or was it a city? 'Maybe I'll head there after my quest'.

The two topmost leaves were the prize. Getting down I turned to the kids and smiled. "Thank you for help. Now let's get you all back home".

I didn't think it was nice to have them lead me to a monster. I'll just drop them off at their homes and then go find monsters. Maybe someone in their city will have weapons to loan me or something.

'I don't have a coin on me' to buy one. What game starts without a single copper? 'Stingy!'.

"Alright kids. Take me to your homes. It's time you got back. Plus I also need some sort of weapon".

All the kids perked up and then the Raven-haired one I'd come to know as Seri stepped up. "Dad's a blacksmith.

I was on the ground.

The children were muttering amongst themselves but I said nothing as I gathered the branches, tied the leaves to my robe, and held the branches over my shoulder.

"Well. Lead the way". I smiled as best as I could at the kids. Serie and the black-haired one, Alarie led the way while the other three circled me and began throwing questions at me.

The children called me an Alkis. The term used for the Primordials. It meant, in their tongue, the Vaustaris tongue that is. God. There was no plural or anything else to it. It made things clear on why they'd readily accepted to help me. That and the fact I had given them quests. It made me wonder if I was some sort of quest giver or what. Wasn't it only NPCs that could give quests? I was still unclear on what our role here was. Still, the terminology used for us made it clear a bit.

'She did hint at it too'. I smiled. 'Still no reason not to atleast give us a single coin'.

The children took me through the path they'd chased my descent through. It was a darker and dreary place. Their courage was disturbing for them to have followed this path.

"I don't think you kids should be following such dangerous-looking routes". I started. Seris turned to give me a look, and Alarie nodded in agreement. Fremy and Jia looked cowed. Draes simply shrugged.

"Nothing much happens here. The path is safe. Chief makes sure of it".

The other children nodded quickly. I was about to say it didn't matter when a growl from behind had us all halting. Seris and Alarie were already next to me before I could turn.

"Vaustaris Wolves". Fremy whimpered.

Six of them. Large powerful beasts that had their shoulder height up to my chest. White fur and an assortment of blue and yellow orbs. Even as I took them the wolves were already splitting into their revered wolf formation.

"Seris". I muttered as I brought down the branches I held slowly. "You and the rest grab a branch each". I had no intention of dying, especially after what the prompt had told me. Also, I was unsure of NPC mechanics in this game. Did they die permanently? Did they respawn? I seriously doubted and even if they did I didn't know and didn't want to test with kids. I held on to one of the beaches while the kids grabbed the rest.

Part of me wanted to say something like stand back. But these were wolves. Language was not something they should understand.

The first one struck from my left, targeting one of the kids. Fremy and Jia screamed. I turned with panic ready to defend when I found the weirdest situation.

The wolf was frozen in midair. Looking back at the others I saw the same thing. Looking at the children I found them stuck in a pause. A glance at myself showed a thick film of condensed material that I seemed to press and push through while moving. Air or something else? I wasn't clear on what.

"So gods.." I shook my head. "...Alkis are fast. Faster. Seems plausible. Or is probably some temporal effect. Not clear".

This was a chance to get rid of this issue. Raising a branch I got close and then brought it down hard on the thing's head.

"If I don't kill it I should at least stun it". The skull mashed up. I frowned. The pause was making the bits stay in place. Looking at myself again I couldn't help but feel a sense of thrill in me. I dashed for the next wolf and repeated the same. And then the next and the next till all were dead. Then I rushed for the kids and stopped.

"Unless we're so overpowered that moving affects time or every other thing around me I want to believe it's a temporal skill. Wait, what if it's just air, frozen air? If I'm fast then won't everything be frozen since I'm going faster than every other thing? this is just due to me being very fast. With my perception. Would explain this". I poked a finger through the condensed material.

'Whatever. How to stop?'. I focused on stopping. 'Go back to normal perception!'.

"Aahhhhh".

PULCH.

Fremy's scream and the exploding wolves coincided. I couldn't the feeling of revulsion I had, luckily my gagging didn't actually regurgitate anything. The kids were silent as they stared with the same amount of revulsion as me at the headless wolves.

I almost gagged again as I took a look around but my body seemed to not agree anymore. On the bright side I eyed a corpse, if these were monsters then maybe I already had all I needed for the quest. "Well, no need for hunting eh". I muttered while forcing a smile at the kids to hopefully distract them from the blood. Maybe I should have taken them a fair bit from here. I shook my head.

'Nah. Who knew how the speed thing would affect them?'. Looking away from their frozen faces. I turned back to the corpses I realized that if the kids lacked a knife, then I was going to have to use my claws.

I stared at my fingers and had to fight back another gag.