The Chronos lobby, a hub eagerly awaited by all players, was the place where adventurers sought missions to earn money and valuable items. As Cloud gathered his resolve and embraced his new reality, he knew he needed both information and funds. The Chronos lobby was his best bet.
Approaching the imposing gates of the Chronos lobby, Cloud felt a nervous flutter in his chest. The massive gate was unlike anything he had seen before, adorned with advanced technology and magic-infused face recognition systems that registered every player's presence, weapons, and status. Two towering guards stood sentinel, wielding colossal cross-axes, their armor gleaming with an air of unyielding strength.
Cloud clenched his fists and tried to muster his courage.
Cloud: "This isn't the time to cower. I need information."
As he crossed the threshold into the lobby, he marveled at the enormous holographic display that appeared before him.
Cloud: "These must be the rules of the Chronos lobby."
The instructions were clear and precise, with one sternly emphasized rule: no duels or fighting were allowed within the lobby.
Cloud couldn't help but quip, even if only to himself: "Guess I won't be doing that anyway."
He continued further, approaching a designated NPC called "the Giver," who distributed quests to players. Many players were already forming groups and gearing up for their missions. Some had even upgraded their equipment.
Cloud noticed a few groups that stood out due to their popularity and unique tactics. Two, in particular, caught his attention.
The first was the "Night Ravens." They dressed uniformly in vintage tweed suits, checkered patterns, heavy wool, and long dark coats adorned with the symbol of a sinister black raven on their backs. While their attire seemed stylish, it was also infused with a blend of magic and technology that provided protection and enhanced functionality. Each member carried a golden revolver imbued with powerful magic, and they always moved in formation, making it difficult to discern their leader.
The second group, the "Last Knights of Chronos," consisted of four men and one woman. They were the self-proclaimed knights of Chronos and aggressively hunted down anyone or any group that assumed the title of knight. Their Milanese plate armor was colored in red, blue, purple, and black, with each color signifying a different rank. The blue-ranked member wielded a longsword, the second-ranked had a beautifully crafted spear, the third-ranked carried two massive axes, the purple-ranked used a technologically advanced bow and arrow, and their leader donned a resplendent golden armor, armed with two silver daggers adorned with diamonds on the handles. Each group's strength lay in their unique personalities, as well as their distinctive fashion sense.
All around him, players were readying themselves for quests, forming parties and discussing strategies. Cloud knew he had to find Kai and Sora as quickly as possible.
Cloud: "I've got to locate Kai and Sora, and I have to do it fast."
He approached the Giver and initiated a conversation.
Cloud: "Excuse me."
Giver: "What can I do for you, player?"
Cloud: "I need information."
Giver: "That'll be one silver."
Cloud: "For information? I guess everything has its price."
With that, Cloud extended his hand, and the Giver scanned him, transmitting a wealth of information directly into his mind.
Chronos Rules:
- Beginners cannot embark on quests alone.
- Quests are ranked from F to S.
- Players must upgrade to undertake higher-ranked missions.
- If a player dies in the game, they lose all their items.
- Each quest costs 2 silver coins.
- Players who encounter a "Swallow" must refer to them as such. A Swallow is a player who has been chosen.
Giver: "This is all the information you can access for now."
Cloud: "I need to join a party of Swallows."
Moving through the bustling crowd, Cloud approached several parties, but each one ignored him. Feeling somewhat dejected, he noticed a group consisting of just two people. He asked to join them, and they agreed.
These two, known as the Snow Wolves, seemed rather unassuming. They wore no armor or equipment that indicated their readiness for a quest. They were clad in simple winter jackets and wore white masks to conceal their identities. Their weapons, while not impressive at first glance, remained hidden.
Cloud couldn't help but question their lack of protective gear.
Cloud: "Why aren't you wearing any armor or gear?"
The leader of the Snow Wolves, who went by the moniker Joker, burst into laughter, seemingly unable to stop.
Joker: "What's the point of wearing armor if you don't plan on getting hurt?"
The other member, who introduced themselves as Crow, remained quiet, offering only a single word of greeting.
Cloud also introduced himself.
Cloud: "So, which quest should we choose?"
Joker: "Considering our rank, let's go for a D-ranked mission."
Joker reached into his small bag and pulled out a black winter jacket, offering it to Cloud with an eerie grin on his face.
Joker: "Wear this."
Cloud, unsure but willing to go along with it, put on the black winter jacket. It felt surprisingly lightweight, and he couldn't help but admire it.
Cloud: "Wow, this is pretty cool."
Crow, the silent member of the Snow Wolves, moved to cover his face with a black mask. Cloud noticed that it wasn't an ordinary mask but a piece of advanced technology, a rare find indeed.
Cloud: "So, what's the catch?"
Joker leaned in close, his tone ominous.
Joker: "Everything you find belongs to us."
Cloud was taken aback.
Cloud: "Wait, what?"
Joker drew even nearer, his voice a menacing whisper.
Joker: "Listen to me, you little... if you try anything funny, this jacket is rigged to explode at my command. So, behave."
Cloud, anxious and feeling trapped, reluctantly agreed to their terms. Crow took the remaining silver coins and selected a mission.
Crow: "We're going for the Reaper's Grave."
Cloud had heard of the Reaper's Grave, a place where countless players had ventured and never returned. Despite its reputation, it was categorized as a D-ranked mission.
With Cloud carrying all their supplies, the trio set out for the enigmatic Reaper's Grave. The journey had begun, and Cloud couldn't help but wonder what mysteries and dangers awaited them in this dark and foreboding place.
