<<Gun Gale Online>>

 Author's Note:

I have based my story on GGO (Gun Gale Online) but made a few tweaks to the method of play and a couple of others like the avatar model numbers... etc. to make things a little more complicated and maybe serious. I was also influenced by SAO (Sword Art Online) and decided to make GGO a 'death game' just like SAO, with players unable to log out and all... yeah, yeah... hehe, this author is rather boring isnt it? Well, to cut things short, I'll explain or disclaim in the other chapters... happy reading!

           Two weeks. It has been fourteen days since I have been trapped in this killer game. Die here, die there. And the ‘there’ I mean the real world. I survived one death game and now in another. Fortunately I was no beginner or I would be feeling the same shock I felt two years ago. However, this game’s motto is ‘kill, rob, live’. Stripping the previous game’s ‘fair, survive, minimal violence’. This place reeks with crude oil while that place was ever fresh with the green grass swaying in the wind and here is just more and more infertile soil. This depressing atmosphere is unbearable. The clouds are constantly dressed in grey, blocking most of the sunlight away from our eyes, the city in ruin, fumes poisoning the air, tired and worn players everywhere I must admit, living a day in this place as a reason strong enough for people to commit suicide.

            20,000 players entered. 11,823 players left standing after a mere two weeks. In this inhospitable game, most players are guys, mainly because of the genre of this game. I am one of the few female players who have the guts to play. Even though many of the male players want a female avatar for perverted reasons, that is not allowed here. Everyone has a unique avatar with different stats. The higher the performance of your avatar, the higher the chance of your survival. Most gamers still standing here own avatars models 8000 and above. If the model number is 8000 or above, it is a high performance one, usually given to those with a stronger mind. If utilized by the wrong person, the avatar may not be able to function. The system reads your mind, personality and facial features then attempts to match one closest to you. They avoid changing your face unless really needed to, like perhaps you are ultra ugly or something.

           My avatar model is F9854. The letter in front states the gender of your avatar. M is male and F is female. My avatar is more of an all-rounder, thus more suited for close-range combat. STR (strength): 636, AGI (agility): 690, VIT (vitality): 579, DEX (dexterity): 648 and DEF (defense): 544. I am a solo player. I have never felt the needs of having any company, especially with most of the gamers are guys and the few female players are either bitchy or too strong for my liking.. Well, except my good and annoying friend, Rosette. But, after being companions for three weeks and clearing two mobs of Chapter 1, we decided to dissolve our party considering the fact that it was difficult covering one another since one is a close combat player and another is a mid-range one. She teamed up with another player, Andrew, whom is another mid-range one. I –

            A rectangle purple hologram had suddenly appeared before me. I frowned in irritation when my gaze settled on the sender’s name, ‘Rosette’. What does she want now?

            ‘Yo, Hayate! Whatchadoin’? Meet me at my fav pub in thirty minutes! Don’t be late!’

            Hah? I raised a thin eyebrow. This sort of abrupt invitation again?! I sighed in defeat. Time to get moving. I lazily pushed myself off a wall of a small hut and trudged my way through the crowd to the pub nearby while looking at the remarkable scenery.

            Although it reeks of motor oil and dust particles everywhere, the medieval setting is nice to look at. Of course, the setting changes every chapter and perhaps getting duller and scarier as the players progress. But so far, the cobblestone walkways and the lakes framed by hills have satisfied me well enough.

            Fifteen minutes was all I took to reach the small pub at the corner of the street. I stood in front of the old wooden door, hesitating for a few seconds before pushing open the old door, hearing a loud creak of complain from the door.

            “Hayate! You’re late, again!” A too familiar shout sounded the moment the door was fully opened.

            Yes. It was Rosette. She was in her usual attire, her white, red and yellow armor, which consists of a white chest plate, calves and knee protection. Her scarf is red, edges yellow or what she calls, ‘gold’, red belt carrying ammunition around her waist and red boots. Her long hair remains as the same rosy pink and her eye colour, red.

            “I arrived fifteen minutes early though…” I muttered under my breath as my black eyes scanned the pub. It is rather empty as compared to the previous times I have been here. The only customers were my friend and a small group of four men playing cards at the corner of the room on a round table.

            “Come here! Come! Sit beside me!” she shouted again, patting the seat next to here.

            “Um…” my eyes immediately darted to the four card players who now have their heads raised, staring at us accusingly. “Okay…” I whispered a reply while scurrying to her side to sit in front of the bar.

            “So, the reason why I invited you here…” she lifted her beer cup to her lips.

            Just then, the door to the pub opened once more, making us automatically look to the entrance. It was a girl around my age. She has short light brown hair that is long to her chest before her ears and tied together with brown strings. Her fairly tan skin complemented her dark brown eyes and the armor she was wearing; a pale blue scarf with a deep blue line running down the center. She also wears an anti-flash white bulletproof long sleeved cloak that ends at her waist and underneath is tight sleeveless black shirt and a pair of black three-quarters. As for shoes, she wore a pair of laced black boots that reaches her shins.

            “Ah! You’re finally here!” Rosette laughed and jumped off her seat to greet the newcomer.

Author's Note:

Ah... just a boring prologue, but the story would begin to get hyped up in the other chapters. Construtive comments are welcomed and flames will be donated to my school's cafeteria.