《Elflike》 Videogames and Dreams CHAPTER 1 Videogames and Dreams I hate my job! It¡¯s tedious and boring After doing the same thing every day for years everything seems the same. But I haven¡¯t had any luck finding a better job. Perhaps I should introduce myself. My name is William Taylor. I know not the most interesting name. To be honest nothing about me is unique. I¡¯m 6¡¯3¡±and that is the most distinct thing about me. Most of my friends live out of state or are still in the Army. I had a great career in the Army until I got injured. Now I mostly play video games or read in my spare time. I did good in school and played sports and enjoyed outdoors stuff, but since my injury grinding in games is something I look forward towards. And since I don¡¯t have friends close by it came as a shock when I heard knocking on my backdoor. I just wanted to shout go away. Then I thought who knocks on your back door. I ignored the sound and turned down the sound on my game. I even turned off my lights for good measure. Whoever it was didn¡¯t go away. Maybe it¡¯s my crazy old neighbor from across the street. Another knock came, more forceful, and then it sounded as if someone rammed my door. I could hear the sound of splintering, cracking wood. I thought I heard footsteps and grabbed a knife I left on the counter. That¡¯s when the creature attacked me. To be honest I wasn¡¯t sure what it was. It looked like a rolling blob of green jelly. Holy crap I thought I recognize the creature it¡¯s a slime. I relaxed I must be dreaming. As it rolls towards me I back away. That¡¯s when I hear the whip sound and feel the sting of the slime. ¡°God dreams aren¡¯t supposed to hurt.¡± I yelled then I see red numbers rising from my body. I feel another attack and realize that if I don¡¯t do something I¡¯ll end up dead. Holding the knife tightly I stab down on the slime¡¯s head with as much force as I can. The monster starts to shake and red number float. I don¡¯t have time to waste I start stabbing furiously. I jump to the left to avoid the counter while trying to avoid another attack. More red numbers float. Then I realize if I can avoid it¡¯s attack I can win but this is going to take forever. I grab a bottle of salt and throw at the slime. It shrinks into the slime and it starts shaking violently and begins to condense leaving a slime trail like a slug. I stab it even quicker I¡¯m not sure how long it will take to defeat this thing. Then even the slug slime disappears, and a neat bag is left in its place. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. An intense pain burns through my body before I can reach the bag. Pain runs through my entire body and I feel like I¡¯m being torn apart and put back together. When I think it is beginning to end the pain intensifies and a bright light blinds me. Before his mind could advance too much farther down that train of thought, a literal pop-up window materialized out of nowhere, right in front of his face. He shouted an inarticulate yelp and stumbled backwards a few steps, but the window didn¡¯t seem to get any farther away, just like the ring of light surrounding him on the ground. He focused on the writing on the pop-up window, it read simply, ¡°Choose your class.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. He tried waving his hand through the ghostly window, but to his surprise, his hand actually went behind the window, almost as if it was projected directly on his eyeballs. Seth¡¯s first a message in a blue panel before I pass out.
Congratulations: You¡¯ve reached level 1.
I read the blue panel floating in front of me over and over absorbing in all the information. Reaching out I tried to touch it, but my hand went through the panel. It flickered and disappeared. Then everything goes black. ¡°That was some crazy dream!¡± I say as I sit up as quickly as I can which doesn¡¯t help the headache that I feel. Looking down I see the knife still in my hand. ¡°About time you woke up human!¡± Turning my head, I see a massive 7-foot-tall figure standing over me. His skin was greenish gray. With sharp pointed nails and heavily muscled frame wearing a loincloth that reaches almost to his knees. ¡°I need your help. Free the elves. Their city is draining my swamp¡¯s magic. I¡¯ll give you a boon and a servant. Follow me.¡± Man, this dream keeps getting weirder and weirder. Walking through my smashed backdoor a stiff breeze sends chills up my spine and I pinch myself. Is this a dream? Why do I keep feeling pain? Or have I gone mad? Before us is dirt path and bizarre trees and bushes peering through the thick canopy I see an oddly colored blue sky. Ok was I abdicated by aliens. We reach a clearing where a crystal is on a pedestal. Inside is a miniature city. I felt compelled by it when my hand touches it a message appears in another blue panel.
Would you like to restore Averia?
Sure, I thought and once again blackness overtakes me. Awakening CHAPTER 2 Awakening I wake up unrested and yawn. Sunlight pierces my eyelids. I rollover over in attempt to escape the light to no avail. I open my eyes and see a forest around me. Looking around, I examined the small glade. The pool of crystal-clear water abutting the rock face was surrounded by multicolored plants and all sorts of ferns and shrubs. A line of trees hid the small glade from view, creating a hidden enclave. Walking up to the pool I looked down at the plants but could not identify any of them. Herbs always came in useful in games though, so I decided to grab them. ¡°Morning sleepy head. Welcome to Averia,¡± The sound of someone else so close sends me into a near picnic. And I hear a high-pitched laugh. I hear a tone of pity as the voice says, ¡°Up here, William. I am the servant you were promised. I was chosen to help you because I have paid some attention to your world. It means there is a higher chance of you understanding.¡± Now, having a clear direction to reference, I look up and see hovering about three feet above my head is a woman, no bigger than my hand, with auburn hair, and smooth alabaster skin. This tiny woman flies through the air with four translucent wings and is wearing a dress that seems to be made out of leaves. ¡°Hmmm. The best way to explain is probably to show you. Think in your mind or say out loud if it helps, ¡®Status¡¯. Go on, try it,¡± she suggests. Feeling a bit silly, I do as she suggests and shout ¡°STATUS.¡± To my utter surprise, a blue window appears in front of me.
Name: William Taylor
Level: 15, 56%
Age: Immortal
Race: Human (Trollblood & Elfblood)
Alignment: Good
Languages: Sapient Mortals, English Level 72
Mana: 1000 Stamina: 1000
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 14
Agility: 12
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 31
Endurance: 24
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 23
Luck: 100 If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
Available points: 65
RESISTANCES
SKILLS
Climbing Level 14
Swimming Level 11
Cooking Level 72
Portal Mage Level 1 Reading Level 96
Map Reading Level 14
Text Level 96
Riding Level 3
Equestrian Level 3
Writing Level 56
MARKS
Elfblood, Elf-friend, Gaia''s Blessing, Trollblood
ABILITIES
Gift of Tongues: Ability to comprehend almost any sapient languages
Immortal: Age no longer affects you. You now appear to be 25.
Regenerate: Wounds heal. Injuries eventually heal
Willing the window to go away, I focused back on the Sprite, who started talking again. Her patience exhausted, she flies right up to my face and replies in a huffy tone, ¡°You may call me Regina. That is, of course, not my real name. You must never give your real name. As for you William Smith of Earth, I shall call you Roderick. I am your servant and guide.¡± A fairy? A real fairy? I can¡¯t seem to wrap my head around the fact that I¡¯m actually speaking to a creature of myth and legend. I pinch myself trying to wake from the dream I¡¯m sure I¡¯m still in. Yet nothing happens. I don¡¯t wake up. Noting the incredulous expression on my face, Regina sighs. ¡°I know you no longer have fairies where you come from, but if you¡¯ll let me continue, maybe I can answer some of the questions you must have.¡± Not having a better idea of what to do next, I nod in speaking to a creature of myth and legend. I pinch myself trying to wake from the dream I¡¯m sure I¡¯m still in. Yet nothing happens. I don¡¯t wake up. ¡°Annnyway, you¡¯ll be able to examine your stats in greater detail later. Do you know the difference between abilities and skills?¡± I shake my head at the sprint''s attitude why did I get a servant so rude. Then reply, ¡°Abilities are things you are born with, given to you, or ability books dropped by monsters. Skills are what you can learn either practicing something repeatedly or receiving training from someone that has that skill.¡± See my father was wrong video games did come in handy. I laugh to myself. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to ask either then why do I have so few skills or abilities.¡± I replied. She huffed. ¡°Well the system in this universe can only convert some skills and abilities. Don¡¯t worry once you''ve joined the system you''ll always be part even if you go home. So, what should people call you? Did you ever wonder why, in the past, there were so many stories of gods and goddesses in the world? Stories that continued and lingered on across the years? That¡¯s because they were all real, child. Unfortunately, a couple bad decisions were made, because several of the damned trickster gods got together and thought it would be a lark to go and fool the whole damned pantheon of pantheons! Once the Sundering happened, we couldn¡¯t get back and undo the damage, so you humans were on your own, without even the System to help you.¡± A translucent screen appeared in front of my gaze again. It simply said, ¡°Name:¡± and had a blinking cursor after it. I thought for a moment. I wanted something cool or intimidating but couldn¡¯t think of anything. ¡°My name is Will. And can you explain the stats?¡± I am who I am and nothing will change that. ¡°Oh, well strength affects how hard you hit and how much you can carry. Dexterity determines how quick you are and how accurately you hit things when you aim. Constitution determines your health. Intelligence determines your mana and how powerful your spells are. Wisdom affects how quickly your mana recovers and how resistant you are to some spells. Charisma determines how likable you are,¡± she answers. ¡°I¡¯m sorry the Gaia, the elf goddess, made me promise to take you to her priestess once you had a basic grasp of this universe. We¡¯re in her garden now. It''s now connected to your home and her temple. Up ahead are two doors one leads to Averia and the other to your home.¡± Cool I thought I can go home unlike most stories. I looked ahead and saw two doors in a hedge I hadn¡¯t noticed. Two gold labels identified the doors: Will''s World and the other Averia. We entered the one labeled Averia. A familiar gold shimmer appeared when I opened the door. I paused and walked through.
Congratulations:: New skill Mana Detection
Elf Priestess Chapter 3 Elf Priestess ¡°Welcome Earth Will. May I ask what nation you hail from?¡± ¡°The United States. How do you know about my world?¡± Cheib laughed, ¡°It is not just your world. I know you have heard the stories that you can never find the Elven cities We moved freely between the worlds, never anchoring to one for longer than is necessary, but I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know your United States. You have legends of Elves back home as well. That¡¯s how we know; we once lived there and visited afterwards frequently. Also, Gaia may have mentioned you were from Earth.¡± She said as she started laughing. ¡°Humans fought with elves in several wars and have settled several worlds. They are several half-elves in the city, but unlike you they are not immortal. You shouldn¡¯t mention your God given titles or abilities. Few people will see your info with this ring. Most humans have some elven blood on other worlds. By our laws children of portal mages were not allowed to remain on other worlds. Portal mages we¡¯re a very rare class that rarely mixed with outsiders. You evidently are an exception. Portal mage is one of the rarest classes both parents must have the genes. And no living portal mages we¡¯re known to exit until you appeared.¡± ¡°So, I have always been part elf?¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. You have the genes for a portal mage and maybe a few other elven genes before the Goddess¡¯s blessing. At level 10 elves choose professions. Leveling is what made this universe so strong compared to your people. Some believe that there have always been portal mages which is why the races look so similar across universes and can have children. Ancient portals certainly exist so perhaps your genes are even older. But old legends differ so much we could spend years and barely cover anything. But the ability to create a world was unknown to our portal mages. Maybe it¡¯s a fluke that happened when you released us, but your house is now an independent world much like an elven city. Here take this.¡±
You have received the ring of shielding
¡°Also, since you¡¯re not in the same universe or on the same space-time continuum you just have to return here and enter the garden to enter your world. Don¡¯t worry the Goddess contacted your house with Earth. You can even get it down to the exact moment if you leave your house. Your subconscious drew your house into the portal creating another microworld which you can expand at least that¡¯s what we think. An illusion covering where your house was is now in place with a giant rock shaped like your house. No one will know.¡± ¡°And Will while this world may work like a lot of the games you¡¯ve played, it¡¯s a real place. The monsters you¡¯ll fight want to live as much as you do and will kill to stay that way. There are no extra lives. Resurrection spells are rare and only a few people are capable on any world. And remember Regina will guide you. And from now on you are Roderick.¡± Of Dungeons and Gods Stepping out of the temple, I am surprised by the size of the city and the number of different people here. I see people of all shapes and sizes though most were elves. In the closer examination I could see that many of the different people had slightly pointed ears. Half elf and half other. Then I get a series of strange messages
Congratulations on your birth. You are now %7*Dungeon&* Wil¡¯s Wor;d*90(City.
Followed by lots of symbols. Then the now familiar blackness overtakes me. I wake up with a big yawn. I slowly sit up in bed. It feels like I¡¯ve been asleep forever. It¡¯s so peaceful. I hate getting out of bed. I had the weirdest dream about garden gnomes, cats, and dungeons. I look around and see my bedroom. Relief floods me. A strange voice speaks. ¡°Aww, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re awake. You¡¯ve been unconscious for almost a week. Sorry had to transport you here. Couldn¡¯t have the elves see you collapse. You have important work to do. I¡¯m afraid releasing Averia had a few unintended consequences. The system seems to have calmed. Even gods have trouble handling the system. As for you, I really don¡¯t know what to call you. Definitely an overpowered being. The system took a piece of your soul to create three dungeons, a word¡¯s will no pun intended, and a city interference. And almost destroyed your soul. If I hadn¡¯t brought you here so close to other pieces of your soul you would have died.¡± I finally noticed the woman speaking. I assumed the woman was a model. She was stunning, the kind of person words like ¡°statuesque¡± and ¡°immaculate¡± had been invented to describe. It wasn¡¯t just her beauty, though, that made her look like she belonged more on the set of some kind of photo shoot rather than standing in the middle of my room. ¡°You have a gift, and your actions could shape the future of an entire worlds. I am Gaia, the Goddess of Earth and Elves. I come to you now in answer to my people¡¯s prayers. The war with the Dark Elves devasted both peoples.¡± A vision appeared in my head of two races of elves. ¡°In the end only two cities remained and warred Averia was besieged when the gate mages moved the city within the crystal while mages cast the magical storm that ended Darkhold, the dark elves, and all the gate mages. Time ended for Averia. No gate mage appeared until you. I need you to meet the king and help my people reconnect to old allies and new friends This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Quest offered: Help my people She paused no one expected Averia to remain in the crystal so long or the crystal to gather so much mana. When you released Averia you released the mana and bonded with the crystal which shattered. Several shards entered your body, some were left behind, others ended in Averia, and more in the artificial world Averia left. Your world now. Your bond allowed them to share your abilities including regeneration. The shards pulled together to form dungeon cores, but the system recognized them as you and vice versa. You are now linked. The System copied a successful dungeon of each type chosen by ur level. The dungeons choose plant, animal, and goblin though the three are linked and can create anything the others could. But the dungeon in your world the system allowed to consume everything in your world which included your house, a chuck of Trollheim including a witches house, and the little bit of Averia you couldn¡¯t free before you passed out: forest, battlefield, and a farmer and his land. The dungeon reorganized the land and brought your house, the witches house, and the farm together which caused the system to split the dungeon soul into a will of the world, city interference, and destoying the core causing it to spill the dungeon out onto your land before the core regenerated. Dungeons are portals into another realm which connects all worlds. Regeneration is not a trait dungeon cores have. This world¡¯s dungeon had to start again. You probably know that if you look at your system messages. Congratulations You have gained new patterns Feral cat Garden Gnome Skills absorbed Grace level 9 Herbology. 56 Green Thumb 43 Gardening 12 You have bounded to a group of Garden Gnomes. Error. 1st bounding must be to a dungeon fairy. Converting Garden Gnomes who made pact. Error group pact made. Converting group error Fairy template incomplete. Garden Gnome template not compatible. Incorporating known template non system humanoid and incomplete fairy template. Congratulations on your first God Fete. Create a sapient species. Creator perk given error dungeon. Override user recognized as humanoid. Error dungeon and humanoid detected. Override given. Summon sapient species.