• 3^rd Person POV

*YAWWWNNN* Evan woke up from the bed and sees through the window that its already way past afternoon. His eyes are crusty and his joints aching as he stands up from the bed. “Ah… did I get hit by a truck?” Evan look at himself as he slough off the bed sitting on the carpet for a while before fully standing up and went to the bathroom.

Washing his face and brushed his teeth, he made a simple lunch consisting of fried rice, frozen peas & corn, and diced spam. As he ate them savouring the taste while opening his phone looking for new information in the forums regarding the bounty.

“Good thing that its not regarded as ‘high’ bounty. But clearly it is an easy 400 dollars capturing someone in-game no less… I’ve seen someone on MeTube posting the highest bounty of 1 million GC” Evan remembered it albeit in vague cognition. Something about killing a noble NPC.

Although upon exiting the forum another headline have been created which caught Evan’s attention. “What’s this? A link?” Upon tapping on it, his phone opened a website that he’s familiar with. The gorgeous sleek glossy black background paired with bluish cyan floating cubes roaming about.

The cleanest UI he’s ever seen not that he knew a lot of them. But it is comforting to his eyes upon seeing it. Indeed this is the official website of the game ‘Eidolon’ each of those hovering cubes contain tabs that would direct the user to the sections they want.

It appears there is a particularly large blue cube in the middle of the website that Evan haven’t seen before as he tapped on it. In doing so, revealed a small cutscene where players fighting against one another in an epic battle.

“Whoa…” Evan’s amazed by how the movement of the players are so fluent. Similar to when he watches the tournament live when it happens. Before long a big title showing the words ‘Battle Royale’ appears.

He immediately opens MeTube and sees there are multitudes of live shows currently happening. With the famous EidoNews channel that covers all the events is live. 2 million viewers already come so quickly as Evan hop into the train as well.

“Huh… Hmmm… I see… I see…” His food lies uneaten for a second as he pour his focus into the news he’s watching. He begun eating but his pace is significantly slowed down as he absorbs what the news is talking about.

The upcoming event have been declared by EidoNews with the representatives from the Eidolon developers also comes to talk about it. They are currently in a room where there are two tables facing against one another. With the interviewer on the opposite site asking several questions to the representative with an opener of…

“Hello viewers! Today, we got big news for you all! I’m sure some of you have noticed the newest addition in the official website of Eidolon. We’re here to help clarify those for you since the representatives of Eidolon is here to explain!” The interviewer with bright smile, turn the conversation to the table opposite of him with the camera focusing on the figures there.

There are 4 people, two males and two females each wearing neat tux which looks nice to the eyes of Evan. As he look at himself and sigh. “I would never pull off that look with my pudgy body and all. Probably need to held my breath for hours hahahaha…” He chuckle as they begun to speak.

“We are proud to declare that Eidolon will have the event ‘Battle Royale’! It is a large PVP battle. First, players need to register to our website to participate in the event. We know that there are players who dislike PVP and we have accommodated them properly which we will discuss later.”

“Upon registration and during the day of the event. The players will be teleported in a special area purely for the event and they will be separated into sections based on their levels! From Level 10 to 24 (D Block), 25 to 50 (C Block), 51 to 75 (B Block), and 76 to 100 (A Block). We decided to separate them to prevent high level players to fight against low level players.” The male speaker pointed to the middle as a map appear in front of the board.

It shows four islands with same sizes but different randomized shapes. There is a perfectly round island that looks like a flat battlefield. Some with verdant greens, desolate ruins, et cetera. With on top of those images there are the alphabet from A to D corresponding with the levels & section the players will be separated.

“In there, the players will fight against one another and accumulate points. Defeating a player grants 1 point and it is cumulative so you might get a lot of points but beware!! If that player who have many points got defeated, those points will be transferred to the player that managed to defeat them.” The female now begun to speak in addition the board itself changed the image into a player that have a smug expression gaining a lot of points then got cut down by another player as the points get transferred.

“Whoa… so is it one for all then? With a single player the winner?” One of the interviewer asked politely with the male representative replies.

“It isn’t that straight forward, and we decided to have three winners for each block. Gold, Silver, and Bronze that way there are at least 3 players that get rewarded. But of course there will be element of elimination. Since once you get defeated that is it! you will be kicked out from that area and respawn in your respective safe spot! Ah! that reminds me about the non-participants. You can gamble your currency to each player who participated. Remember! Its start at the beginning, so believe in your hunch”

“Oh! Looking at how many players there in this game. Wouldn’t that be a lot of participations especially international?” One of the interviewer asked again with a reply from the representatives.

“Yes! This is quite a big event for us, so we also decided to split up based on the continent for example; Asia Battle Royale, Australia Battle Royale, et cetera. That way it is easier for us and players but of course *wink* there will be next event for that.”

The interviewers and some audience there gasp getting the hint. With they get enthusiastic and one of the interviewer asked something that has been nagging in Evan’s mind.

“Is there any rewards for them to participate? We sure hope so”

The interviewer inquisitively asked as the male representative smiles and begun to wave his hand as the white board again changed into another image representing 3 stage with numbers and colour on them. 1 (Gold), 2 (Silver), and 3 (Bronze).

“For the third prize 3 (Bronze), they will be given 10000 GC & rare magic item, second prize 2 (Silver), they will be given 15000 GC & very rare magic item, first prize 1 (Gold), they will be given 20000 GC & legendary magic item!!!”

“WOOW!!!” Several interviewers went speechless. The bronze reward is considered miniscule in what players of ‘Eidolon’ have experienced. The gold reward though… a legendary magic item being given like that would be something amazing to have.

“EHH!????!??! 10000 GC?? Oh my gosh, I would be able to pay my bounty with 6000 GC left. Yay!” Evan uses his split screen to hurriedly open ‘Eidolon’ official website and tap register button as it is displayed after the initial animation of the battle royale. The display changed from ‘register’ to ‘registered’ and since his account already automatically registered in. Evan can see he’s been separated to the section C (Level 25 to 50).  

“Alright!!” Looking up from his phone, he can see between the table. The board displays numbers already reaching around 2675894 and continue to rise up so quickly with the interviewers look amazed by the number. Though the representatives have this knowing look seeing the numbers.

“Remember folks! The event will launched next week, and it’s going to be on Sunday” The interviewer reminded before the live stream ended. “Hmm… if its launched next week and I already reached the goal for this week and if I converted the rest, I would be fine for the next week too.” Evan smiles as he wash the dishes and clean up his room.

After that, he enters the console as he’s logged in to Clamshore. The scent of salty sea carried over by the breeze hit his face as Evan can see from the gaps of the buildings. There are several canals on the city where NPC used to travel between the city sections.

As usual, Evan is in the alleyways away from sight as he find a place to sit down and summons Umbra to his side. Looking left & right and activating his ‘radar’ he didn’t sense any entities that’s currently near him as Evan weaved a veil of mana in a sphere containing him & Umbra.

The invisibility zone is created as Evan pulled out his chest and began infusing it with mana as he can feel it is faster than normal. No doubt due to him developing his skill [Mana Control], rather than pouring using a bucket. Evan feels like he’s using a firehose to fill the item with mana.

He continues in focusing on infusing the chest and put a reminder on his time panel with Umbra uses his keen sense to detect any intruders since Evan deactivated his ‘radar’ opted to fully focus on what he’s doing.

*TING *TING *TING

Evan heard the reminders ringing as his time panel appeared before him. He opens his eyes and look at the chest he’s been infusing. Giving a closer look, Evan can determine how much he has been infusing the item. It seems he has now filled three compartments so there are six left for him to complete.

“Hmm… if I fill two compartments per 4 hours, I need 3 more days of infusing or I just focus on finishing this item for today?” Evan went to a dilemma as he refreshes the invisibility zone duration by recasting it. Opening the net, he searches ‘flip a coin’ and decide himself that ‘head’ equals doing something else and ‘tails’ equals to continue his focus on infusing for the day. Pressing ‘flip’ he waits for it to reveal the answer.

“And… it’s a tail. Alright… I just focus the entire day infusing the chest then.” Evan gives some treats to Umbra for doing a good job of guarding him. The sight of a massive dog would cause people to be scared but since he’s in the invisibility zone. No one would notice it at all.

He logs out so his eyes can have a quick rest from concentrating before opening his eyes again eating some snacks and now enter the console.

“Let’s go!!” Evan pulled out the chest from the inventory, summons Umbra to his side as the dog emerges from his shadow. He outstretched his hands and wave enclosing them together as something shimmers in the air.

With the wisps of mana being altered into a shell, the pair figure vanished to thin air as the invisibility zone have been created.

Evan pours mana into the chest as he keeps on focusing. As another four hours have passed and with that, he stopped and look at this handiwork. “Good! I completed additional two compartments of the chest. If I keep this up, tomorrow its going to be finished” He looks satisfied as he give a large bone treat to Umbra which the wolf dog just chomp it in one go.

Evan then logs out and look at the time on his phone. “Its around 11 PM, I think I have time to shower and snacks” As Evan stands up from the console and went to the kitchen for a nice night snack then take a nice hot shower. Before finally goes to sleep.

--

*BEEP *BEEP *BEEP

He sluggishly wakes up from the bed and look at the phone as he automatically turning the alarms off almost closing his eyes again until… he went wide eyed and hurl the blanket away from his body.

“I did it! I did it! I woke up according to the alarm. Alright… let’s try to make it consistent now Evan!” He smiles as he feels satisfied knowing he managed to wake up around 9 AM. As he begin by eating a muesli bar and an apple for breakfast.

Evan then washed his face and brushed his teeth before going back into the console putting the glass lid back in, he’s transferred to the familiar city of Clamshore with their canals used as a means of transportation. There’s even NPC’s that over their boats to be ridden to each sections of the city.

Evan opted to stay where he is as he’s looking out from the gaps of the alleyways. Before long, he summons Umbra once again and directed him to guard Evan while he’s going to fully focus on infusing the chest with mana.

After 4 hours have passed, he gives Umbra some treats and logged out to have a nice lunch consisting of his left-over spam fried rice, but he added a soft omelette on the side with ketchup as the condiment. Evan returned to the console and starts infusing the chest again.

“Great! Even with my senses, I can determine that its almost completion. Everything is going to be fully infused with mana. Though… the book of enchanting did say, if I get it overfilled. It might cause problems especially with high-quality item.” Evan at the last second of the infusion taking care not to overfill it rather an appropriate amount until it is just right at the top. Doing this requires a lot of attention & care to be given.

“DONE!!! I’m so happy. It’s already evening probably around 5 PM ish… I think I can spend couple hours of shaping the contained mana to my liking. Hehe~” Evan snicker with Umbra just close his eyes and let the sea breeze ruffle his fur. In Evan’s point of view, Umbra looks majestic as he lazily scout around for any players / NPCs roaming about the area.

Evan then weaved the mana inside the chest making it into a pot like shape with an intent for it to be an extra dimensional pocket for each compartments. At first, it is easy as he repeats the process over and over. The next step though… it is a challenge to Evan.

“Sigh… I need each of those dimensional space have their own individual weather which I can finely control. Hmmm… I’m stumped in that department.” Evan ruminates for a while, as he opens the net and look at how weather is made in MeTube with a meteorologist explains them.

“Oh! Let me replay that one again” Evan occasionally back-track through the videos making a small note on his notepads about weather. For example; the cycle of water into clouds and turn into  rain. Et cetera, until he seems satisfied although his notepad is a mess, at least he divided it into sections.

“Let’s try again” Evan carefully weaved the mana using his understanding of the weather. With the system help, it seems the mana aligned themselves to what he intent to do. Taking away much of his concentration and making him forget about how much time has passed.

“Haah… haah….” Evan lean down to the wall of a building as he refreshes the invisibility zone once again and throw treats to Umbra. The dog quickly chomp them down each time Evan threw it. So far, his score is 0:20 with 20 treats that Umbra catch. He chuckles for a bit after finishing his moment to rest, he looked at his masterpiece.

It is a wooden medieval style chest probably around 30 centimetre in length and 15 centimetre in height with a curved lid & some curved parts to use as handle when carrying. Upon opening the chest, Evan pulled out two section from the inside on right & left each displaying four shelves arranged like stairs.

The middle of the chest is empty just the compartments as well but soon it will be filled. “Hmm… I think I’m going to put weird things in the middle of this item and for the compartments. It will function as a pot for planting. Here… I… just need some soil” Evan dig some earth and spreads it on the compartment then flatten it.

In this case, Evan decided he would label the compartments. Compartment One to Eight with the Nine is the middle or the large looking space in the chest. Compartment one to eight have been filled with soil as they began to turn moist due to the magical effect.

“Okay! Let’s see…” Evan brought out his crystal aster seed as he plunge it right on compartment one. In doing so, something strange begun to happen, but it is what Evan expected.

Falling snow & clouds begun to appear on compartment one covering the soil with white fluff, but it does not affect the other compartments just compartment one. And smaller décor such as icicle spikes emerges from the bottom. Uniquely, they did not cover the part where Evan put the seed as a single sprout begin to appear from it.

“Heheheh… its working!! I’m so happy. Huhuhuhu…” Evan shed a single tear spending approximately two or three days full in making the item. In ‘Eidolon’ time that would be around a month if he stays there for 10 hours or more per in real life day.

 

“Hmmm… the days are ‘Eidolon’ day so its probably once every 7 hours in real life. Since I just put this one in, I guess I’ll harvest them tomorrow” Evan thought as he closed the chest and put it on his inventory and upon clicking it, he can see what he has planted and how many hours left before he can harvest.

He logs out from the game and cook a simple dinner. Then he took nice hot shower taking an extra time as he thoroughly clean his body and brushed his teeth. Before long, he look at the mirror then wonder about his char. “My mana control skill is LV 7, I can feel its progressing. I can’t wait for it to reach LV 10 and upgraded it” He chuckles and excited, wondering when that will happen.

Drying his hair, Evan lay down on the bed and curled on the blanket into human burrito as he giddily smiles and turning around. “Hehehe…” chuckling he set the alarm on the phone as he put it aside on the bedtable before closing his eyes.

--

*BEEP *BEEP *BEEP

Evan woke up feeling refreshed as he look to the window of his condo. It shows the morning mist enveloping the town as the sun slowly rising up.

The skies became brighter blue as Evan lazily smile. He succeeded in waking up according to the alarm second time. “Hehehe….” He chuckles as he stands up & tidy up the bed.

He moves to the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. Then have a muesli bar & pear as breakfast this time. Opening his phone, he checked if there’s any progress in the forum regarding his character bounty. There are some who’s looking for him, but it is not urgent compared to more heinous crime.

“Sigh… some players really kill NPC just like that” As Evan sees another bounty being propped up in the forum. A player have committed a crime by killing an NPC causing him to have fifty thousand GC bounty. “Well… the more heinous the crime, the bigger the bounty after all. I would last for how many months? Let me calculate for few seconds… 4… I would be able to live for 4 months with 50000 GC.” Evan sighed as he clean his cup of milk and did not forget to clean his milk moustache.

He moves to the console as he sat down and closes the glass lid, then turn on the device. As his world changed into the all familiar city of Clamshore. The cries of seagull, the sounds of NPCs and Players alike chattering while using the canals as transportation can be heard.

There’s even music being played on the small boat when travelling the canal as Evan just listen gently. “Ah right!” Evan pulled out the chest from his inventory and put it on the ground as he opens it.

“There it is… whoa… its pretty” he looks down to Compartment One. There he sees a patch of flowering asters. There are probably around ten to fifteen of them. The leaves and stem are green as do with other plants, but something is unique with the flower.

The flower of the aster plant has snowflake like petals with a transparent bluish colour like ice and in the middle of that petal is a rather round orb seemingly made from crystal.

Even from this distance, Evan can feel cold radiating from the plant as he’s going to harvest them. Upon touching the compartment one a notification appeared.

 

He had a deadpan expression for a while upon seeing the notification as he hopes to get more than two knowing that there are more aster flowers. Before long he chuckled to himself “It reminds me of a game where there are heaps of flower and when you harvest them you only get one.”

[Authors Note: I’m pretty sure you guys know what game that’s like that]

Evan open his inventory panel as he sees the chest item icon shows the 6 hours 59 minutes until the next harvest. But he’s more interested in knowing what the Crystal Aster Flower is as he click on it and get more in-depth look.

 

Reading the description & effect, Evan is happy, but it made him think of adding another things to do. “Since I finished making the chest, now I am free to do anything else. First of all, get a new clothing preferably that’s made from nice high-quality fabric so I can infuse them. Second, get an alchemical set from the alchemist shop in Clamshore”

Evan opens the player’s market to check what’s the best-selling thing in the market. “Hmm… besides boss & monster materials for sale. It seems players buy potions or food to increase their stats temporarily.” Evan ruminates for a bit and decided to learn alchemy as he went to a dress-maker shop.