Professions.
These are one of the systems of Project Zerø that added depth to its players, and the decisions they do.
These professions may be inherent from the class they got, or sometimes, just players taking it to their own two hands.
And right now, Zypher has seen a way for him to struggle in this game.
The pain he felt for the past three days are not in vain, and looking back, it was the most eventful two days of his gaming.
"1.8 APH, huh?"
Clenching his fist, he laughed.
He needed none of it now, and so, he can change the damn setting.
"Yo, who do we have here?"
An arm suddenly wrapped around his shoulders, startling him.
Seeing this, Zypher's eyes squinted.
1.8 APH is a bit overwhelming, because you feel 90% of the pain inflicted.
And now, the person hugging him, by his calculation, have the power to crush him, not by pressure, but literally.
In Project: Zerø, new players start their stats at 10 in all stats they have unlocked.
And the heaviness he is feeling right now is like carrying sacks of rice.
Pushing him down, he can see what was happening.
Chest heaving, he pushed himself up, against the heaviness.
"Oh, if it isn't Alfred?"
He shouted, for everyone to hear.
In an instance, all of the people inside the place looked at what was happening.
"Oh, sorry, wrong person."
He said as he slipped out of the hand of the player who hugged him.
Although not smoothly, but because of the sudden attention, the man can't move the way he want to, leaving a gap for an escape.
"Y-Yeah. Sorry for the mix-up."
The man said, scratching his head.
With that, Zypher achieved two things.
One, is the escape, and the other is the nasty thing.
The potentially future headaches he will face.
Shouting wasn't to garner attention.
It was to tell everybody that he is being targeted.
Because in the game, player names are all shown, so everyone can see who they are talking to.
Yet, the way he used the phrase stuck.
'If you can see the name, then why won't you know the person? Unless, it is the first time you are seeing them.'
And with that, he cleared his hands.
Of the trouble. Of the shame.
With that, he slipped out and went to his room.
When he did, he got excited as he opened the title screen, yet a sudden notice opened before him.
[Project: Zerø will be having a maintenance update! Players, please Log Out before the game exits.]
"What?"
He then rushed to log out, but then, a powerful vortex suddenly sucked him in.
The room then became quiet, as the person inside was gone.
____________________
Testing the Waters.
This is what it is called when players play the game before the update.
Basically, it is just creating a new game account before the update, to familiarize oneself, and ready themselves.
It was because there are good things that is givem out everytime an update happens.
Of course, there are also cons in this.
Because you register late into the year, you will be hit by sudden changes that comes from the updates.
And each and every major update, the players are thrown back to the starting line.
Yes, this one is a major update, and there have been ten updates like this in the past.
For it was the tenth year anniversary of the game.
The festival is still felt by everyone as the winter snow fell from the sky.
The tranquility made by the season is broken through the noise made by the screens playing.
People gather at different places, and the traffic is almost non-existent, as there are no pedestrians that can be seen.
Amidst the flashing screens and snowy weather, a woman can be seen walking, holding a basket full of fruits.
Apples, grapes and others that promotes body restoration and healing.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
A guard said as he opened the door.
"Good morning, Kuya Robert."
She answered as she walked in.
When the door opened, sudden cheers erupted.
She was surprised to see what was happening, but then, she smiled at the happy faces of the people.
"Oh, it's Laura-nee!"
The kids then started to sprint to her like crazy.
"HEY KIDS!"
Suddenly, a man ran across the hall, and then jumped right in the middle of the kids and Laura.
"PFFTT!"
His hisses and groans was covered with the laughter of the kids as they stopped to greet her.
Laura laughed at the sight before her.
"Ate, what brings you here?"
The man said, trying to get up as he patted his whole body.
Patting a kid's head, she gave the basket to the young man as she strolled towards the front desk.
"A fine, young man." The desk assistant said, writing Laura's name at the visitation log, then she handed it to Laura.
"Don't start." Signing up beside her name, she sighed and retorted.
"Sigh, why are you so blind?"
"I'm not."
Laura laughed at the desk assistant as she then took the elevator.
"Ate, wait up!"
The young man said, running towards the elevator.
Laura did, and waited for him before pressing the elevator's close button.
The elevator ride was uneventful, yet awful.
It stopped when it reached the basement.
Arriving at the place, you can see a multitude of test machines and other equipments.
The hall is pure white, but all the rooms have doctors and even scientists who are doing something there.
"Here, Ate."
Laura was awakened by the sudden call.
She shook her head and entered one of those rooms, and when she did, her tears started to come out.
In there, is a person.
If Zypher is here, his eyes would be shocked to see his body, floating inside a canister, submerged in liquid.
Laura began to bawl her eyes out, but her sobs were too quiet, and the only thing to be heard is her ragged breathing.
"Ate, this is bad for Laurie."
The boy said as he knelt down beside Laura, holding her bulging belly.
Laura, still crying, held the boy in her hands and hugged him.
"Don't leave me like what your brothers did, Zeine."
Yes, the boy, is not a boy, but a girl in boy's clothing.
Looking at the glass before her, Zeine felt a bit of pain in her heart as she remembered what happened that day.
Laura cried silently as she buried her face onto Zeine's chest. Zeine also hugged Laura, not seeing that a finger of the body displayed before them moved.