The Ultimate Guild

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“Congratulations! You’ve won the 1st ever pre-release drawing. We’ve allowed you to get a special prize that you will help design.” the voice said over the phone. 

I paused for a moment as it sank in. 

“I really won?” I asked kind of doubtful after all the competition had over 40 million people from over 30 countries. It was short of a miracle that I won. 

“That’s right! The design team wants to get the start on your prize so go ahead and give us what you want to implement, a superpower? A powerful weapon?” he asked, and I couldn’t blame him for assuming that as that’s what most people would choose.

I thought for a moment, well I had been thinking about it for weeks since I heard what the prize was going to be, “I want to make the strongest guild so something along those lines.”

The line was silent for a few moments, “Well, that’s relatively open of you to share your prize like that.”

“Haha, not that nice, I want to share my time in the game with a group of people that I can laugh, cry, and generally raise hell with.”

The line was again silent for a few minutes with some sounds echoing from the other side before finally, “Mr. Alex, How about growing guild weapons?”

“That sounds really cool, but can you explain?” I asked.

“I was talking with a designer, and he says that without breaking the game we can implement a type of weapon that will grow with the guild and the more resources supplied to them the more powerful they will be. And because this is supposed to be a prize for you we decided that the more upgraded the rest of your guild’s weapons are the more powerful yours will be.”

“Man, you guys work fast! That sounds amazing!” I exclaimed over the phone. 

“When you make your character we’ll have it set so that you create your guild at the same time. The regular features will be slightly limited until you’re a little higher level, but you’ll get the weapon and will be able to recruit people.”

We discussed a few more things after and ended the call. I looked around my apartment. The gaming suite that had cost 10,000 dollars was set up and humming in the corner. A wheelchair sat folded leaning against the bed I sat on. I looked at my legs, correction, leg. I lost it a year ago in an accident, and the remaining one is nearly paralyzed. Luckily or unluckily the man that caused it was a drunk multi billionaire's son, and we settled out of court with me walking away with a flat 5 million dollars. I heard the son walked away fine but is turning over a new leaf, but it's not like we keep in touch. 

I have mostly adapted to the situation, but I missed being able to walk. That is why 

I am looking forward to this new game, Arval Online. 99% immersion rate where you supposedly can do or be anything. I had a few friends that were going to join me in the game. We had planned to make a guild anyways now we’ll be a few steps ahead of the competition. Thinking about them I picked my phone back up.

“Ah, Lily!” I said when the person on the other end answered.

“Alex? What’s up?” she asked curiously.

“I won!” I said simply.

“Won?... REALLY!? That’s amazing! What was the prize?” she asked excitedly.

“I was allowed to choose, they basically asked what cheat ability I wanted. Haha. I had them do power for the guild we’re going to make.” 

“Nice, I can’t wait for tomorrow to get here even more now, I still can’t believe you won. You're not trolling me are you?”

I laughed, ”I’m serious, serious. Tell your boy toy the good news once you let him out of the dungeon.” 

It was a running joke among our group, we were at a party when Lily’s phone started playing an S&M video, the kind where the woman dominated the man. The two were so embarrassed they didn’t show their faces for almost two weeks. We eventually had to go to there apartment and make sure they didn’t double suicide in shame. We found them just coming back from a vacation, and we nearly beat them then and there. 

“Ha fricking Ha, I’ll let him know when he gets home from work. You know Gared says he is going to finally kick you in the ass when we start playing so I would watch your back.” I could imagine her giving an evil grin while she said that. 

“I don’t like men, sorry.”

She sighed deeply then,” well I'm sure you want to let the others know. I see you in the newbie village tomorrow.”

“Alright Bye Lily.” 

We hung up, and I called the next person on my list.

“Hello?” the voice on the other end asked distractedly.

“Alfred! Take your break.”

“Alex? Give me a minute.” the line went silent for a few moments then the sound of Alfred asking to go on break filtered into the receiver, “Alright, what’s up?” he finally asked.

“Alfred, I won the competition!” I answered quickly. Alfred was a door hop at a hotel, and he lived or died on how many tips he gets during his shift, he hates to go on a break unless it’s really important. 

“Nice, what was the prize?”

“A cheat basically, I asked for them to apply it towards the guild so that we get the most bang for our buck. By the way, I have to name our guild when I create my character which one do you want to go with?” 

“well, I don't particularly care I think everyone really liked LivingFortress.” 

“Hey hey, you're going to be the vice guild leader I need you to be more enthusiastic!” I said exasperatedly. 

“I'm going to be living it tight until the money transfer option is opened in three months after that I'll be super enthusiastic.” 

“I can help..” I started to say but was cut off. 

“No, we all made a promise that to rely on you or try to take advantage of you, besides I have my own pride. I will prove to my stupid parents that I can take care of myself.” He said with a tint of anger, “ but don't worry. I know you mean well in trying to help.”

Alfred's break was about over, so we hung up and looked at the next name on my mental list of people to call. I dialed, and the phone barely rang once before they answered.

“Alex! What's wrong do you need me to come to help you? Are you ok?” The girl on the phone asked in rapid fire.

“Eliza! I'm fine, I crack my head in the bath one time, and I never live it down.” I mumbled,” anyways I won the competition for the Arval prize.” I said in a voice she could hear.

“Really?! That awesome Alex. We should go out for dinner to celebrate!” 

I met Eliza in college, and we became fast friends, she liked to game, and I like to game. When I got in the accident she was the main person to take care of me, and I developed strong feelings for her, but I could never tell about her. She never stayed with one guy for more than a month. From what I've heard no one is ever upset about the breakup it was one of the seven mysteries of our college. I'm pretty sure she just sees me as a sibling. While I had feelings for her it would be hard to say that I loved her in that sense, it was more like she was someone I was deeply indebted to.

“Sure I would enjoy that,” I answered honestly.

I called the est of the people on my list and got similar responses. Everyone was excited to get started playing the most extensive game known to man and hopefully for us to leave a mark in its digital history books.

After about an hour of calling various people, I finally put my phone down. I grabbed my laptop and checked my email. I went to Arval online homepage to see if they released any more information. There was actually an interview by the lead creator.

He talked about the setting of Arval which was a ruined world, destroyed by a mad elf race that felt that all other races were killing the planet. They summoned a primal force that swept the planet clean of intelligent life. Now thousands of years later portals are opening from another dimension and inhabitants are migrating over. The game takes place ten years after the migration the players are the second generation of immigrants.

There are four portals that players can choose. The world is massive with a gateway per continent, the players will establish civilization, culture, and even war eventually. Some people are calling it the second Earth. Players can find Heartsource Stones which they can use to develop a city, fortress, and various other things. I plan on getting to one of these as quickly as possible. 

Players can choose between several dozens of races. I was planning on going half-draconian, with mostly human features. Everyone else in the guild was planning on going half something it was going to be our core groups call sign. 

There were a dozen more things he talked about, and each was more interesting than the last. I finished watching the video and went to take a bath before Eliza got here for dinner. The whole time I dreamt of being able to walk again, and of course the childhood dream of slaying a dragon.

------

I had a pleasant dinner with Eliza and went to bed early. Arval was set to open at 9 am, and I wanted to be awake and ready to go before 7. A rumor was going around that a select few will be able to get in an hour early, but it was uncertain if it was true. I wheeled over to the suite a maneuvered myself inside. I attached the heart monitor and laid down. Pressing a button the lid slid down thankfully it was partially transparent, so I really didn't get a sense of being locked in.

I pressed to the uplink button and closed my eyes, a few seconds later I was in a vast white room. Several options were available, I had a basic training program, but it only had 27% immersion, so it did quite do it for me. The Arval icon was sitting there frayed out at the moment. I looked at the clock, I still had 3 minutes before the rumored time of early access. I set the suite to try accessing it every 10 seconds.

I pulled my friends list up and checked to see who else was trying to get in. All but one person was currently trying to get in early. I group messaged everyone.

(Glad to see everyone else is as impatient as me lol)

(You think I'm going to let your sorry butt get ahead of me?!?!?!?) my friend Yui sent back.

(Last time you got drunk you said you like my butt) I sent back.

(,,!) was all she sent back, I took it as my win.

At that moment a system message appeared before my eyes.

-Welcome to Arval Online-

The white room faded out, and a blue vortex appeared around me, it looked like I was moving incredibly fast, but at the same time, I was floating there. A flash of light appeared in front me and a small creature popped out. It was a fairy, a little woman the size of my hand with butterfly wings.

“Welcome to Arval! I will be helping you select your material body for your soul to inhabit while you are in Arval.” She said, and a vast amount of silhouettes appeared in front of me.

“Half human half draconian, with most the features close to my own please,” I said quickly. A body formed in front of me it looked mostly like me, but there were two horns on the head, and both arms had steel colored plates, I guess scales were running up the arm. I was surprised by the wing on the back each was several feet.

“You will be able to fly at the later levels, any race that has wings have to reach a certain length for their body type.” The fairy explained as if she read my thoughts and considering I'm connected to a machine that's basically doing that right now it wouldn't be surprising.

“Name?” She asked next.

“Alexarchos,” I replied 

“Portal?” 

“The wavering Groves” I answered instantly, we had discussed it at length with the group.

“Guild name?”

“LivingFortress”

“Enjoy your adventure in Arval! May the accolades tell your tales in the future!” 

After breezing through something will take most people several minutes to finish I started to move along the blue vortex. A few moments later I emerged in a courtyard. There were a few flashes of lights here and there as other people completed the character creation. I moved to the edge as I didn't want to end up getting smack as some people flailed when they appeared. 

After moving to the edge, I realized I had walked for the first time in a year, and I didn't even think about it. I almost started laughing. It was so hilarious. I did some jumping jacks and bounced a little bit on my feet, you never realize you exactly how much you miss something till you have it. Thinking about how I’ll lose my leg again when I log out of the game, I made a sad smile.

I checked my friend list, luckily the game brings your suite’s list in with you. Only one other name was bright. I clicked on it and sent a message telling them where I was standing. Everyone knew what they were going to select so if they weren't on in a minute then they didn't get into the bonus time. 

As I was doing basic movements I hadn't done in over a year, a girl approached me. She was half drow half human. She had emerald eyes, small of the back length black hair and pale skin.

“Alex?” She asked though she sounded confident that she had the right person.

“Yo Yui. I win by the way.” I said with a grin.

“ like you could know that it's a draw. A d-r-a-w.” She said sticking her tongue out at me.

“Well, we have an hour to kill before the others can get in so let's get level 2 before the others,” I said my inner competitiveness was leaking out in my voice.