The excitement in the air was thick and heavy like morning syrup on breakfast waffles. Every new player was looking forward to the final day of "orientation" which meant the real game was soon to start.
"Class 501T3, I am proud of you…you did well and managed to hang-in these last seven days. As I mentioned on day one, this is only the beginning. Soon these metal doors will open and you will venture out into the world of Avalor. Remember the basics…stick to them…and you will be fine." The trainer said with a softer than usual voice.
"Today there will be no morning warm-up exercises. In a few minutes you will receive a quest…it's your final exam. Pass the exam and you graduate from trainee to initiate. Fail the exam and you will have the option to:
1.) Become a keeper, or
2.) Take additional training sessions and re-take the exam at a later date.
For those who manage the pass the exam, a graduation ceremony will be held here today. Scouts and representatives from all the major guilds will be here to meet and recruit you. In addition, Vance Arion will be here himself to…"
"WHAT!!!"
"VANCE ARION!!"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
The wave of voices grew louder and louder…excitement filled the air to the point where it was impossible to hear the trainer's voice.
"QUIET DOWN! CALM DOWN PEOPLE!" The trainer shouted loudly.
Vance Arion was a legend.
He was the guild-master of Eterna guild…the largest, most powerful, and most prestigious guild in the game. Vance was widely considered as the strongest hero in the game…he had immense strength, mana, speed and agility along with a wide repertoire of unique skills (skills only held by him).
"I know you are all excited to meet Vance Arion and the elite strike-team from Eterna…but before you do, you must successfully pass the final test which will start in a few minutes. Best of luck!"
!ALERT!
[New Quest - "Trial by Fire, final" has arrived]
[Trial by Fire, final - please line-up by door 11]
A sudden sense of apprehension and fear overtook the room….as if suddenly hit by the realization that the final test was seconds away. The crowd of trainees silently shuffled their way through the large room to their respective doors.
Arthos was relieved to see Wain standing by his side…the two were paired up again. Standing a few feet in front of them was Kristan. A few other trainees silently made their way to door 11…none of them looked familiar from prior missions.
Door 11 opened and the group went inside. Although the room was the same as before, there was a noticeable difference in the air. It felt heavy and threatening like a caged animal…almost as if the air itself had turned hostile. Arthos gulped as his breath thinned and the palms of his hands grew sticky.
The tension in the room increased as soon as the trainees felt a sudden shift…they were not alone in that room. Instinctually, the group went silent as each trainee strained their eyes and ears to perceive what was inside the room. The sound of metal scraping was heard followed by a low and deep exhale…then they saw it.
An orc.
Walking towards the group was a hulking 7 foot orc. Its skin appeared to be dark green/gray, thick and course like old bark on a tree, stretched and pulled tight over its hulking muscles that seemed to bunch-up around its chest, abs, biceps, and thighs. Its arms and chest were filled with jagged scars…like permanent tattoos from a life filled with untold violence and death.
The orc looked at the group with its ember-bright colored eyes…like a lion staring down its next meal. Two giant tusks protruded upward from its lower jaw like two daggers. As it walked toward the group, it let out a slow rumbling growl. That growl grew louder until,
ROAR!!!
Without warning, the orc bellowed out a deep and thick roar that filled the air. After the roar ended and passed into memory, the air retained a smell of rotten flesh…like a reminder of the carnage to come.
Arthos gulped heavy and slow…this felt so real. For a moment, he forgot that this was only a "game" and that his real body was not in any danger. There was no time to rationalize and sooth himself with logic…all his instincts screamed 'danger!'
"We need to stick together…all of us…that is the only way we will win." Arthos said as he broke the silence in the room.
"Speak for yourself….I don't need your help scrub…I can take him by myself," one trainee said with confidence.
The trainee grasped his sword with both hands as he elongated his stance. Suddenly, he burst into a sprint holding his sword up high as he let out a loud battle-cry.
"NO!!! DON'T!!!" Arthos shouted.
Too late…with little effort, the orc managed to catch the sword swing with his bare hand…stopping the attack completely. With his other hand he lifted the trainee by the neck straight up into the air.
The trainee kicked and swatted his arms desperately trying to break free of the monster's grip. The orc formed a small smile…then he ripped the trainees head right off the body.
THUNK
A headless body dropped to the floor splattering blood everywhere.
AAAHH!!!
High-pitched shrieks and screams erupted from the remaining trainees as they watched the carnage in front of them. During the prior six days of training, they had seen and possibly experienced defeat in battle…but those occasions were bloodless, and no real harm was done to the avatars. This time it was different…it was like witnessing a murder in real-life.
The headless body twitched and continued to pour out blood. The orc held in his hand the avatar's head with part of the spine still connected…thick puddles of blood formed on the floor like dripping honey.
The orc looked at the remaining group, smiled and tossed the head towards them.