☽ Stage 1

[crasherpacifist]

[To say this was different would be highly understating the problem.

To put it simply enough, Megaman X was completely, utterly, and cluelessly baffled. The last thing he remembered was getting another moment to relax. He had just stepped through a door, intending to head out, and --

-- stepped out here. Without his armor, instead wearing some kind

Comments

[powerforwisdom]

[Mac Anu is a well populated area, though a closer inspection of some of the people revealed that well... some of them didn't seem quite 'normal']

[one such boy was a bespectacled young blond running by with a paper bag in his arms. Haruki had been off buying some supplies and food while Kazuki was off... being Kazuki again. Either way, he had caught the tail end of X's musing and stopped to take a look]

Underground? Those types of dungeons would be out in the fields.

[crasherpacifist]

Dungeons? Do they regularly store stolen things down there?

[powerforwisdom]

[pauses to adjust the groceries in his arms]

I'm afraid not.

Did you just arrive here? If so.... It might take a while to catch up to everyone.

[crasherpacifist]

Catch up to... what?

[He seems to know what's going on, thank god.]

Do you know where we are?

[powerforwisdom]

Catch up to the others here. This places seems to be someone's idea of a game. [one much preferable to the one Haruki must 'play' in] It's not something that I can agree with, but... Playing this is the only way we can get anywhere, it seems.

[nods and... looks around because his arms are full. He sighs after a moment and settles for explaining by word] This is Mac Anu. It's... I guess you could call it a home of sorts, while we're stuck here.

[crasherpacifist]

[A game. That certainly sounds pleasant.

Hey look, even X can be sarcastic. He sighs.]

Since you understand it, would you explain how this "game" is played, then?

[He also shows his relic, still with his armor highlighted, to the other.]

And where this is?

[Taptap at the Level 20 part.]

[powerforwisdom]

Hmmm, what did Kazuki called this...? An MMORPG? I'm sorry, I don't care for games. You level up by going out to the fields via that Gate you woke up by and defeating the monsters there. Though... [pause and looks up] I think we're overdue for another event.

[squint] Oh! It's not a place, it's your own level. [looks at X for a moment, then sighs as he lowers the groceries and pulls out his own Relic] If you're just looking at inventory, it won't give you too much information, but we're suppose to aim for level 20 to recover anything that this place took from us. Here. [shows X the screen and reveals that Haruki himself is only level 15]

[crasherpacifist]

[X listens carefully, even if he doesn't understand it himself. Defeating monsters, though? Great. Well, it wasn't as if it's surprising that he'd be pulled into yet another place like that.

Event, though...?]

My level?

[He watches Haruki for a moment, then mimics him, getting to his own status screen. Level 1, huh? Well, at least the level thing is making.... slightly more sense. But there's that other thing...]

"Harvest Cleric?"

[powerforwisdom]

Your level. Right now, I'm level 15 because I've completed a number of events and my friend has 'kindly' taken me out to fight a few times.

That's your class. I'm a Blade Brandier, the friend I've been talking about is an Edge Punisher. What class you are changes your fighting capabilities, or what spells you use.

[crasherpacifist]

I see....

[X sighs. More fighting, he does not want. But he's quiet a bit more, thinking, and tapping at his Relic.]

Is it safe to assume "spells" is this place's term for certain abilities you use?

[powerforwisdom]

It's magic. [shrugs] I don't claim to know everything that's happening here but... [small, sad smile] At least we're not forced to kill.

[crasherpacifist]

[Magic X does not comprehend, but there's a surprised, almost hopeful look crossing his face now. He just said that he had gone out fighting (if spoken of in less of a necessary way), so...]

What do you mean?

[powerforwisdom]

... [collects his groceries again] You can chose to avoid monster battles out in the field. But... It's not easy reaching level 20 this way. [laugh] I only got up to this level because Kazuki insisted. He's a good 7 levels ahead of me, the last time I checked.

[crasherpacifist]

[...X can't resist a slight smile. Avoiding a fight? That's...]

So they don't actively threaten anyone?

[powerforwisdom]

The gate you woke up in front of... I asked around; apparently, it's designed to keep monsters out of the Root Town. So unless you walk out into a field unprepared, then people are safe.

[crasherpacifist]

[And here is an utterly happy X. Of course, people are going to go out and need help, but to think that this place is perfectly safe...

Congrats, man, you made his day.]

I see. Thank you for explaining everything.