FortuneCraft in Apocalypse

Elena

Following her swift footsteps, they ran through the darkness until they reached a crumbling house. Leo gave Draven a wary look as he paused at the entrance.

"Can we trust her?" He asked silently.

Leo shrugged and replied, "We don't have another choice now, do we?"

Draven's heart was still racing from the encounter with the creature, and he spoke up, "Uuh... Hey stranger. I'm sorry to say this but... are you sure about this place? I'm not trying to be rude but this place looks like it's about to crumble any second."

She turned to face them, her expression calm and somewhat bored.

"You can go back if you want. I prefer having the place to myself." 

They pushed open the creaking door to reveal dusty furniture, weapons, and equipment inside. 

Then Leo spoke. "I'm Leo, and this is Draven. Thanks for your help back there."

A faint smile appeared on her face as she nodded. "I'm Elena. It's not every day that I come across dumb people. How long have you both been here? You don't have to make a ruckus when fighting. You'll only attract more danger to yourself. You two can call me El."

Draven said with a mix of irritation. "Look, Elena, I mean El." He corrected himself quickly. I appreciate your help, but we were just doing what we had to do. I don't know anything about this place. So I'm not dumb. We're not dumb."

With a bored expression on her face, she looked at him. "Suit yourself," she said as she took off her weapon. 

"Sorry we made a bad first impression." Then Draven walked up to her and extended his hand.

"I'm Draven. This is Leo." He gestured towards Leo.

"I came to this game today, and met Leo and yes also met you too. I'm such a social butterfly." He flashed her his bright smile but she seemed less interested in talking to him.

Leo chuckled nervously. "Nice to meet you Elena."

"El." She corrected him.

"Oh, sorry. Nice to meet you, El."

Elena waved her hand, "No need to apologize. Now that we know each other, follow me." 

She walked to a door in the corner of the room, but as she opened it, a hidden passageway appeared. There was an underground staircase leading to an astonishingly well-preserved sanctuary.

They descended into the underground hideout and Draven couldn't help but ask. "Wow, this place is lit. How long have you been here?"

His question was met with silence.

"That may not be a question you want to ask." Leo whispered to him. 

"Oh. But how long do you think she's been here?" He whispered back. 

"Well... She already has her special powers and a cool hideout. I'd say 5 days to one week" 

"Wow. But the game ticket was open just today" Draven couldn't get how these players had already reached higher levels while he was just here.

"Time isn't the same here. Here, time is faster. Time is slower in the real world." Leo explained to him as he continued walking, "So those who came before you have higher levels than you."

"Ohh." Draven nodded his head, "Got it."

They climbed the staircase silently until they reached a big room. There were things on the wall too, like a sword adorned with an elegant bronze hilt. A fighting cane with an unfamiliar style. This firearm had a long barrel and a container of metallic balls next to it. The sword caught Leo's attention. He was just about to touch it.  

"Don't touch anything." Elena scolded.

"Alright, alright." Leo raised his hands like surrender.

There was a shelf on the wall full of wearables, like a duelling vest etched with symbols and marks. It was a shield lined with metal and wood. A ring adorned with numerous gemstones.

Then Elena spoke, "Both of you are new here. That means you don't have your powers yet or don't have acquired any wealth now."

"Wealth?" Draven asked. 

"Everyone has to acquire wealth in the game in order to survive in the game and reach higher levels. This wealth grants you special armour in the game and you can do other things in game or in the real world too.I am sure your system has already told you about this."

"Oh, I see," Draven replied. He thought about what she had said for a moment. 

Elena, Draven and Leo continued walking in that sanctuary. The soft glow from mysterious crystals cast an otherworldly light around them. Turning around, she stared at them.

Draven furrowed his brow. "In the real world? What does that mean? I thought our wealth was just part of the game mechanics."

Elena nodded. "You're partly right. Our special wealth is indeed game mechanics, but they're also connected to the real world also. In this world, they are used to acquire unique powers, but you can also use your money in the real world."

Leo chimed in, "So, you mean our wealth will also be available in the real world at the end of this game?"

Elena nodded. "Exactly. The more we explore the game's world and acquire our respective wealth, the more we can unlock our characters' true potential. This money is the key to unravelling FortuneCraft's deepest secrets."

Draven scratched the back of his head. "How do we learn about the system more and unlock these special powers?"

Elena looked at him like he was silly. She shook her head and replied. "It starts with research and sometimes even embarking on quests specifically related to the wealth system. We'll need to find clues, decipher ancient texts, and interact with non-playable characters who can guide us on our journey."

Leo leaned in as he was intrigued. "So, it's like a mix of in-game knowledge and uncovering the game's hidden wealth system."

Elena nodded. "Well.... Something like that. As we progress, we'll uncover the true potential of our characters. It's not just about defeating enemies and completing quests; it's about understanding our past, our wealth system, and the source of our powers."

Draven, now fully engaged, asked, "And once we acquire this wealth, how do we use them effectively in the game?"

Elena was becoming irritated. "Have you never played an RPG in the real world before? I called you dumb before and this just goes to prove my point."

"Hey!" Draven protested.

She rolled her eyes and continued."Once we understand the system, we can strategically use them to solve puzzles, overcome challenges, and defeat formidable foes. It's not just about brute force; it's about skill and creativity in using our powers to outsmart the game's challenges."