Asylum: Saving the World

Not a Game Like Your Own

I flinched. I feel weird for some reason I can't explain. Enlisted to save the world. That phrase automatically replayed on my mind. What's this? I thought it's just a game recommended by my senior in the frat who is still addicted to online games despite his age and professional standing as a judge. If not for him, why should I come here? I have absolutely no interest in this kind of stuff. Well, as an obedient junior, I have to comply anyway with his order. As if I have a choice, I reminded myself. 

"All of you are from different fields and academic disciplines. You have been carefully selected and picked to represent your profession. Not all of you can make it but the future of humanity depends on you."

I snickered but bowed my head so that I will not get caught. I can bring shame to my profession if I am caught here. What's more, my frat will forever be cursed in the legal field if I misbehave here. Now that I am listening to this introduction done by the system, I am beginning to understand those "endless meetings" my society has been deliberating on lately. So this was the topic all along. I am clueless but I am the one chosen. Unknown to me, they have been planning to do this without having me informed. I have to talk to my senior after this. I don't let him go tonight until he tells me why I was the one chosen to play despite my lack of knowledge and expertise in this field. What do I know about online games? I have never placed my hands over game controllers in the past. My world has always been seriously spent inside libraries and books, online and literal ones. 

"The game is not similar to the ones you play. It requires full concentration. That's why your physical bodies have to be shut down. All that works when you lie down inside those computer capsules are your brains. Your minds are connected to computers and that's where you get your strength."

I squint my eyes. Am I hearing this clearly? So this is a mind game. Great! How smart! So that means I was sent here because of my brains and not because of physical strength or skills. No wonder. I shook my head as I resolved to confront my frat mates regarding this. In the meantime, I have to attend this orientation and play a bit. Who knows if I can still get my way out of this. 

"This is a system-operated game and all you need to do is to choose your main weapon now. That weapon contains all that you need to survive in this world. Meanwhile, the computer attached to your brain can be controlled by any member of the group or society you are representing. He can aid you in order to survive during crucial times. It could serve as your helpline."

I swallowed. So this is a battle of societies? I sneered. Wow, this sounds more complicated than I expected. This is not an ordinary computer game as I thought. From what I can deduce, I can work with someone in the outside world while I am inside the system. How wonderful is that! I sneered. Am I being used here or the other way around? I breathed deeply. It's no use trying to feel bad while inside this virtual world. 

"Since this is just the start, you need to choose your main weapons. You are given two major weapons that can help you all throughout your journey to survival. Ciao!"

At that, the light disappeared and we were suddenly brought inside the armory. I immediately looked around and saw a lot of weapons around. Just choose two, that's what the system said. I can see many players like myself picking different weapons around me. However, I cannot spot the weapon that I want. I can see a lot of weapons scattered around me though. There are many weapons hanging on the walls, too. 

"Ahhhh!" 

I turned my head to look at the person on my right side. Two players are fighting over a sword that looks so sharp and powerful. It is shining brightly. No wonder they are fighting for it. How about me? What will I get? I am not good at anything. I have no sword skill so there is no point in getting a sword. I am not good at using a g*n, too. I breathed and watched the others taking weapons scattered around. 

I walked around. This is an armory. What would a neophyte find here? Since young, I never liked fights so how would I survive this? Anyway, I have to choose the weapons I need inside this room. I can see that almost all players are already holding their chosen weapons. I swallowed. Just as I was about to give up, I can see something shining in one corner. The corner is hidden and looks so unattractive that no player dared to look at it. Curious, I walked nearer. 

I can see a book. That's right. It is a book. It looks like an old one. I squint my eyes. Am I seeing things right or is my lawyerly nature taking over that I am seeing a book right inside an armory? I frowned. However, when I opened my eyes, I can see that the book is indeed there. I shook my head and walked over. Of course, I would always take a book. I am a lawyer! Books have been and will always be my life! But what is this book doing here? 

My intuition is telling me that I should take it anyway. Reasons should come later. I bent and picked it up. However, the moment I bent, I saw a bow stuffed under the carpet. Curious, I pulled it up again. There are even arrows that came with it. 

"Time's up!"

At that, all of us were taken out of the armory back to the place where we were oriented. I looked at both hands. On my right are a bow and some arrows while on my left is a book. Wow, it seems that I already have two weapons. I didn't choose them. They choose me. I smiled as I shook my head, clueless about what is happening.