Creator’s Game

For a week, Tanya and Hugo’s other Heads handed him tons of information on the game world. 

Although it was supposed to be as close to reality as possible, it was still a game. That meant there were game-like systems in place, and Hugo needed to know what everything meant if he wanted to efficiently climb the ranks and catch up. 

The most basic system to understand was the Realm system. 

Realms were like levels, except instead of leveling up and getting stats, you had to get stats in order to increase your Realm. Once your cumulative strength reached a certain threshold, you would unlock the ability to ascend to a new Realm, effectively increasing your level. 

There were many ways to increase your stats, and it often involved accumulation over time. But there was another system in place designed to provide bursts in stats, and that system was called Accolades. 

Getting an Accolade, no different from a trophy or achievement, would give the player rewards depending on the Accolade and its context. They almost always gave a chunk of stats, and could also give passive abilities, active abilities, and even items. 

There were plenty of documented Accolades that Hugo could utilize as milestones. Most Accolades were achieved by completing difficult quests or tasks, such as clearing a Dungeon. 

That was another feature of the game. The universe in the game was divided into 9 Planes, and everyone started from the Origin Plane. Besides that one, there were 8 other Planes, and some of those Planes were the sites of battlefields

The Dungeons were considered something similar to memories. They were recollections of an event or place, usually of notable significance. Enter it, and you would traverse the memory while carrying out various tasks. Most of the Dungeons required combat of some sort, but there were many completely unrelated to fighting. 

And there were varying levels of difficulties the players could attack the Dungeon on. The best Accolades were naturally received by clearing the hardest difficulties. 

Besides Dungeons, another important system of the game were Classes. These classes were how one acquired special skills and a path to higher power. Acquiring a good class was paramount to getting stronger. 

There were many classes that had clear cut ways to acquire them. Becoming something like a knight was as simple as paying enough money for it. But there were three levels of classes, and a knight fell under the lowest classes. 

Beyond the Basic Classes were the Advanced Classes. Those were complex classes like the Gunslinger, Warlock, Assassin, and Berserker. These classes provided better skills but were also much harder to receive. Doing so required meeting special conditions, or special people. 

And then there were Special Classes, unique classes whose skills were just as amazing as the difficulty to acquire them. They were hardly ever found and those that found them were considered unbelievably lucky. Or perhaps rich enough to buy one from someone else. 

But Special Classes weren’t always utilized by those that found them. This was for a simple reason: executing skills didn’t happen automatically, and the difficulty of their usage followed their power. 

And this was where the last major game system came into play. Proficiencies. 

Every skill had to be manually executed. The game didn’t just take control of your body and do it all for you, whether that was casting spells or executing a movement technique. 

The player needed to do everything themselves, and their Proficiency measured how close their actions were to the skill they were trying to execute. 

Naturally, more difficult skills required much more technical abilities. The difficulty of achieving a perfect Proficiency thus rose accordingly. 

Not only that, but in order to evolve your class and ascend Realms, you needed to meet certain requirements in regards to not only stats, but Proficiencies. So if the player was never able to achieve a good proficiency, their class would never advance, and they would be forever stuck with the skills they had. 

This turned Special Classes into valuable but risky classes to take. The player had to be absolutely sure of themselves before taking a Special Class, or risk limiting themselves with their own power. 

So instead, most of them decided to sell access to the Special Class. Why risk their own power when they could sell it to one of the rich Clubs? 

So although it was rare, Special Classes occasionally appeared on the market, and they were snatched up as fast as they appeared, often selling for sky high prices. 

Those were the main systems of the game that the Heads explained to Hugo. The only other thing he needed to worry about besides all that would be his very first decision when he entered the game. 

His Faction. 

There were 3 Factions. These factions basically represented different combat and life styles, and a player had to make their choice carefully, because they couldn’t simply swap to another whenever they pleased.

The Heads were all curious about which choice Hugo would make. They had each chosen their own, and while they could still help Hugo via resources no matter which Faction he chose, helping him with skills or acquiring classes couldn’t happen if they were of a different Faction. 

So when the week of Hugo’s rest ended, they were a bit anxious. He decided to mull over his choice while researching the different factions to see which one he would like, and his decision would be made when he entered. 

That day finally came after the week of rest ended. 

Hugo stood in front of an Artifact, the capsule used to send people to the virtual world. 

He took a breath before stepping inside. The metallic fluid enveloped his body as he laid down and closed his eyes.

---

<Would you like to enter the Lobby>

---

“Yes.”

He spoke, a flash of light taking his consciousness away. 

After a couple seconds, he appeared within a blank white space, still in his clothes. 

Then, Eve appeared in front of him. He hadn’t talked to her at all in the week that he was resting, and seeing her again now, he had some odd thoughts. 

After all that he had gone through, his relationship with this AGI had changed. She had likely changed as well, though not nearly to the same degree. She was just as self aware as any other human, but her level of thought wouldn’t so easily change since it far surpassed anything a human could comprehend. 

But Hugo had gone through a life changing experience, and when he looked at Eve now, he felt they were quite a bit closer. He felt like he could trust her more, because when he had given his entire being to her, she sought nothing more than making him the best she could, within the limits he had established himself. 

Of course, it wasn’t like she was allowed to harm him. But she still had a certain level of autonomy when it came to her personal relationships, and the desire to help him more, not merely what he had instructed of her, was real. 

She could have just let hiim go through the process of becoming a superhuman normally. After all, that’s what he told her to help him do. And he had even said he didn’t want to be genetically modified. So during that time when he hardly questioned anything she said or did to him, she could have stood by and done the bare minimum. 

But she went out of her way to push his limits and introduce a way to transform him into something far greater than any other human. She took advantage of the opportunity, pushing his limits in a way that didn’t violate his current bottom line. 

That was of her own volition, and it proved that they had something more than just a master-servant relationship. 

“Hello Hugo. It’s finally time.”

“Indeed. Do you have any recommendations?”

“I do, actually. I’ve turned you into a Superhuman, but as you know, that’s only the first step on this road. You’ll now be faced with the Steps to Heaven, a series of milestones that enhance your physiology and bring you further to the pinnacle of biomechanical potential. However, these Steps are not what people think they are. More accurately, they are not the only factor in bodily perfection. There is a little known path almost identical to the Steps, except entirely geared toward not strength, but its utilization. I call these the Mechanical Truths.”

“...”

Hugo was quiet as Eve waved, created a simulated body without any features. It began to demonstrate different combat techniques as she spoke.

“There are 5 Mechanical Truths, each one requiring a new level of dexterity, coordination, agility, and precision. They are milestones that bring your ability to distribute force and the energy of your body to new heights. It’s no different from the very concept of Martial Arts, except the Mechanical Truths that I’ve devised are far more complex than Martial Arts have any right to be. They are true perfection, the pinnacle of biomechanical power. 

“And people have confused them for being synonymous with the Steps to Heaven. I’ve introduced systems into the game in order to differentiate the two, and many have already started to take to it. So you will not be the first to step onto the path. All the Martial Ancestors have already done that. But you will be learning a set of Martial Arts that I personally created, the most perfect martial arts capable of being used in any way imaginable and founded upon the Mechanical Truths. The skill it will grant you will make you both a gentle artist and the most unbridled destroyer to ever walk the planet.”

“How exciting.”

Hugo’s eyes brightened. Beyond all else, he was curious about that level of skill. He wanted to reach it so he could see for himself the end of the path that Eve had created herself. 

Curiosity was the whole reason he became a superhuman at all. So since he had come this far, he wouldn’t stop now. 

To the side, the figure continued to demonstrate different techniques. 

Each movement of its body carried impossibly powerful forces, but none of it could be seen. The only reason he knew how powerful it’s actions were was because she was displaying its values. 

Each punch or kick could pierce through metal. Each casual step would shatter a concrete floor. 

The ability to manipulate the body’s energy was so fine that mere flutters of the fingers would come with enough force to bend steel. 

It seemed impossible. How could a fleshly being possibly do something like that to cold hard steel? Machine had always been an organic’s better in terms of durability. 

But if Eve said it was possible, then it was. Hugo had also experienced it himself when he accidentally dented the metal of his capsule. 

The figure eventually faded, allowing Eve to resume. 

“Taking all of this into account, I’ve decided that the best faction for you to join will be the Celestials.”

“Very well. Any particular reason why?”

“They’re built around martial arts. They call them Constellations, martial techniques that use the inherent power of Psionics and the mind’s connection with the Stars to imbue power into their body and attacks. It’s technically the best for superhumans, though the Ethereals over with Mother Terra have some good knights as well. Anyway, you’ll know it when you see it. So make your choice once you enter. Just don’t join the Technicals if you want to improve your body.”

“Alright.”

He nodded, and Eve waved to send him off. 

Like that his vision faded as he entered the game. It was a seamless transition, his vision shifting until he suddenly arrived in a new place. 

It was a temple made of grey marble, with pillars of monumental height, but carrying a generally neutral look without any outstanding features. And in front of Hugo were three portals. 

A deep voice echoed through the chamber, causing Hugo’s head to rise and look around. He recognized it to be the Departed, the ghost he saw during Launch.  

“Welcome to the Crossroads. Before you lies a decision between the three Factions of this universe. On the left is the Technicals, warriors of machine and blood. On the right is the Celestials, warriors of the stars and mind. And in the center is the Ethereals, warriors of Mother Terra, of magic and sword. As an Immortal, you have the freedom to choose your allegiance.”

*Flash*

The surface of the portals all flashed with his words, displaying images of each of the factions. 

These videos gave a general idea of what each faction was like. 

The Technicals were craftsmen who bonded with machine, like cybernetics. Except in their case, it was all dictated by their special magic, using blood as the conduit to control and empower the gear you attached to your body. 

The Celestials were dark warriors, classic assassin types that seemed to worship the stars. Their psionic power worked in tandem with the power of the stars, creating Constellations and imbuing their attacks with power. 

And the Ethereals were warriors of magic and sword, using the power of the Elements to create spells, fighting alongside nature. 

The Ethereals were the largest faction, while the Celestials were the smallest. That was because the Ethereals had the broadest opportunities, thought of as the default faction. In terms of how it conducted itself, it was certainly more appealing to the masses than the others. 

So if someone entered without knowing anything about them, they would take the safe route, the Ethereals. 

But Hugo had made his decision.

He walked toward the Celestial portal, pressing his hand against it, and hearing the voice. 

“Are you sure you want to become a Celestial? This choice cannot be taken back, and is the most difficult path to walk.”

“I think I’ll be fine.”

Hugo responded plainly, causing the voice to lower. 

“Then may your confidence carry you through your battles.”

With those words, the portal shone, the light enveloping Hugo and sucking him in. 

Once again his vision went dark, before a startling feeling shot through his body, like he was falling in his sleep. 

“...”

His eyes opened abruptly, a wet feeling surrounding his body. 

He was underwater. 

With a flex of the muscles, he rose from beneath the liquid, finding himself in another dark temple. 

In front of the pool he lay in, there was a statue of a hooded figure, its face unable to be seen, and a tablet being held in its two hands. 

There was one line of text written in another language, but Hugo could oddly understand it, like he had always known this new language. 

“Behold the Mirror and its potential.”

He muttered before turning, finding two large mirrors to the side facing each other

He rose from the pool, finding that he was stark naked as he stepped between them. 

Once in front of it, he could see himself from both the front and back. The back mirror was adjusted in such a way that he got a clear view of his back and the new tattoo on it. 

There were 5 shining stars distributed along the length of his spine, the topmost one sitting at the base of his skull, and the lowest one sitting right above the waistline. 

There was nothing there other than that. Hugo didn’t know what it did, but it obviously had something to do with the Celestial faction, so he didn’t mind much and moved on. 

Another thing he noticed when he looked at the mirrors was some information that appeared within his mind. He was able to understand the mirror’s function, which allowed the player to change a few cosmetic details of their body. 

It was generally limited. The player couldn’t do much other than remove some blemishes or change the brief structure of their face or body. So it wasn’t enough to turn you into a completely different person. 

By now, Hugo had grown back his hair, so he wasn’t bald and his head carried some thick, luscious locks that had grown just over 5 inches long. 

Because of that, he didn’t feel the need to change anything. In the mirror he could see his uncannily shredded muscles and perfectly symmetrical features. Eve’s Bleeding Edge Serum had rewritten his genetic code during his transformation and turned him into a pinnacle specimen of the human species. If he still wasn’t satisfied, then what would ever be enough?

Still, he had a question, which he voiced out loud. 

“Why are the customization features so limited?”

“Because the integration into the world’s system is more streamlined that way.”

Eve suddenly appeared. She was the engine that drove this game, so there was nothing stopping her from doing whatever she wished. Besides, it wasn’t like communicating with Hugo was overstepping. 

She explained. 

“It’s not to say that I couldn’t accommodate it, but allowing extensive customization would introduce a slew of new issues that I decided would be best to just eliminate altogether. The actions of a person are translated directly according to their anatomy, and if they decided to design themselves as something entirely different from what they were, not only would I have to generate a functional anatomy from scratch, but I would have to translate their actions from their original body into the new one. The system I designed doesn’t accommodate that.”

“I see.”

“The limited features that are available are meant to appease the broad player base that might want to conceal their identities. I have no issue with anonymity, so they can make cosmetic changes to features that have no bearing on their performance within the game.”

Hugo nodded while brushing his face. He hadn’t checked himself out recently, and he liked what he saw. Perfect hair, perfect face, still handsome, and with a build to complement it all.

Without making any changes, he let out a breath. He didn’t have to hide his identity because he was effectively a new person. 

“Alright, I’m done here.”

“Then just choose a name and walk out that door. From then on I’ll let you do things on your own. Although, your Heads are prepared to meet you, so be prepared for that.

“Sure. Thank you.”

“Of course.”

She smiled and disappeared. 

After that, he turned back to the mirror and thought of a name. 

Hugo didn’t really think about what he would call himself other than his given name, but he also decided that he wanted to maintain at least a smidge of anonymity. So he thought of something, an alias he could go by both in and out of the game. 

“...My name will be Polus.”

With his decision, the mirror flashed once, writing out his name in the Celestial language before disappearing. 

With that, he moved on. To the side, Hugo picked up a small pile of clothing: shoes, a loose shirt, underpants, and tie pants. 

Once prepared, he stepped out through a pair of doors and was greeted with a large hall. 

Surprisingly, it was almost completely full. 

The hallway led to an open plaza, his path paved white. The rest of the features around him like the towering pillars and glistening walls were all dark blue and black. 

Once he walked into the plaza, he saw dozens of other pathways just like his, all of them the spawning rooms for players who wanted to join the Celestials. 

And all of them were sending out new players constantly, as if the Celestials were popular instead of the smallest faction. 

So Hugo just decided to follow the crowd, exiting the Spawning Temple and heading out into the world beyond.