The first thing Aqua saw after gradually materializing in the Tutorial World was a vast plain covered in tall grass.
Countless unfamiliar people were scattered across the area.
Slowly, more familiar figures began appearing nearby.
Aqua immediately recognized several of his friends.
Although all of them looked completely different from their real-life appearances, they had used their first names as their character names.
Aqua quickly walked toward Clay.
He placed a hand on Clay's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's go find the others."
Before Clay could respond, Theo, who was standing behind him, slapped Aqua's hand away.
"Who are you?"
Theo glared at him angrily.
Aqua froze.
Then he remembered.
He looked completely different now.
He had not used his real name for his character either. For now, he had deliberately ensured that no one would know who he really was.
Aqua's new appearance was entirely different from his original body.
He had a fit, heavily muscular build and stood at least six feet tall. His eyes were a bright aqua blue, contrasting sharply with his pure black hair.
He wore a long black coat, black pants, and gloves.
Aqua sighed.
"Guys… it's me. Aqua."
Theo narrowed his eyes.
"How do we know you're the real Aqua?"
Abu and Clay, who were standing behind Theo, nodded in agreement.
Theo's new appearance was fairly similar to his original height. He had bright purple eyes, light brown skin, and pure black hair. He wore a black jacket and baggy pants.
Abu, on the other hand, looked like a real-life version of the Hulk.
He had a massive, heavily muscular body, dark red eyes, and wore a white T-shirt with green pants.
Clay was the smallest of the group.
He had a fit build with fewer muscles than the others. His eyes were brown, and he had peach-colored hair. He wore a long black coat with red stripes and black jeans.
Aqua smirked.
"Fine. How about I tell you guys about how the teachers hate Theo?"
Theo's expression changed immediately.
"Wait—"
"And how Clay had a crush on someone back in kindergarten?"
Clay's face instantly turned red.
"HEY! STOP!"
Aqua continued.
"Or maybe I should explain—"
"Okay! Okay! It's me!"
Clay finally admitted it.
Theo and Abu both turned toward him in shock.
"You had a crush in kindergarten?" Theo asked.
Clay quickly turned away.
"Anyway… where are we?"
Aqua stared at him.
"You're only realizing that now?"
"Don't try to change the subject!" Theo shouted at Clay.
Suddenly, a system window appeared in front of everyone.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Welcome to the Tutorial World.
Your objective is simple.
Kill 100 insects within 30 minutes.
Good luck! :)
Suddenly, a small sword appeared in everyone's hands.
The ground began to shake.
A loud screech echoed from behind them.
Abu slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
Countless giant insects were charging toward them.
They were enormous.
Some of them were as large as trees.
Aqua gripped his sword tightly.
He began walking slowly toward the approaching monsters.
I'm fine.
I know what to do.
Theo saw Aqua moving toward the insects and immediately grabbed his hand.
"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
Aqua shook him off.
"Did you not see the message?! We need to kill them to survive!"
Suddenly, someone bumped into Aqua.
He looked around.
People were running in every direction, trying to escape.
But before anyone could get far, a massive, partially visible dome suddenly appeared around the area.
Several people ran straight into it and bounced back.
Another system message appeared.
SYSTEM MESSAGE
Don't try to escape.
You can't.
Aqua turned toward Theo.
"See?"
Theo stared at the barrier.
Aqua then turned back toward the approaching insects.
He began running.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
And faster.
He stopped once he reached what he believed was the correct distance.
Aqua took a deep breath.
Then he activated his skills.
Analysing Gaze.
Weapon Mastery.
The insects continued charging toward him at full speed, screeching loudly.
Aqua remained still.
Clay and Abu watched him carefully.
The monsters drew closer.
And closer.
Then—
Aqua suddenly charged forward.
A giant centipede leapt toward him.
Aqua calmly ducked beneath its head and drove his sword upward.
The blade pierced the underside of the centipede's head.
The massive creature collapsed instantly.
Aqua quickly activated Analysing Gaze.
Target Analysis
Species: Giant Insect
Before Aqua could examine it further, a giant grasshopper suddenly leapt toward his legs.
Thanks to Analysing Gaze, Aqua saw the attack coming.
He jumped.
While still in the air, Aqua activated his fire ability.
His hand struck the grasshopper's face.
Then—
A massive wave of fire erupted from his hand.
The flames surged forward, eradicating everything in their path.
More than twenty insects were instantly destroyed.
Aqua landed.
But suddenly, something grabbed his leg.
He looked down.
A cockroach.
The insect began climbing up his body.
Aqua lost his balance and fell to the ground.
The cockroach pinned him down.
More insects began rushing toward him from the right.
Aqua struggled beneath the creature.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The cockroach was sent flying.
Aqua looked up.
Theo stood there with his fist extended.
The cockroach had been struck with such force that it flew into several other insects.
Aqua stared at Theo's hand in surprise.
But Theo looked even more shocked.
He stared at his own fist.
"How did I do that?"
Clay and Abu quickly ran toward them.
Abu looked at Aqua.
"We don't know what's happening…"
Clay nodded.
"But we aren't going to abandon a friend and let him die alone."
"Ew" aqua said disgusted
Suddenly, a large worm wrapped itself around Clay.
It squeezed tightly.
Clay screamed at the top of his lungs.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The worm continued tightening its grip.
It slowly moved toward Clay's face.
Then it tried to force its way into his mouth.
Abu reacted instantly.
With a burst of strength, he grabbed the worm by the head and threw it as far and as hard as he could.
The worm flew through the air.
Clay collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently.
Abu quickly turned toward him.
"Clay!"
Meanwhile, the worm landed near another man who was desperately fighting for his life.
The worm sensed the man's fear.
Slowly, it began wrapping itself around him.
The man struggled.
The worm continued moving upward.
Eventually, it reached his head.
For a moment, the worm stared at him.
Then it moved toward his mouth.
The man tried to scream.
But his voice was muffled.
He collapsed onto the ground.
His body slowly turned purple as the other people nearby watched in horror.
The scene froze everyone.
Nobody moved.
Nobody knew what to do.
Some people completely lost hope.
They dropped their weapons and stopped fighting.
The insects immediately attacked them.
One of the monsters grabbed a man's sword and drove it toward his throat.
But even as the man fell—
He smiled.
The people around him stared in horror.
The Tutorial World had only just begun.
And already…
People were dying.