[ Chapter XII (12): "PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN THE GARDEN, DISRUPTED FOR BILLY BATSON" ]
[ "This is so cool...!" ] Billy could be seen watering his Plant friends, about 5 of them; a Sunflower, a Peashooter, 2 Wallnuts, and lastly a Potato Mine, as he scatters the water from his water container, before then it couldn't disperse any more.
[ 59 SECONDS BEFORE REFILL ]
He places down his bronze watering can on the side, as above it a timer of some sorts appeared, counting down to when it would be filled with water again. At the same time, the young 10-year-old kid still couldn't believe his luck.
From what he experienced and heard, apparently this is another realm or universe entirely, wherein sentient Plants exist, wherein they are in space and could breath, wherein they could jump off the void and just reappear on the platform, live and well. And especially one that they can access for 12 hours every day, no more than that.
When that limit hit is entirely on their own respective time, as they'll get kicked out immediately from the said place after they stayed for even a second longer than the destined limit. Or when they choose to leave this place, or when someone disturb them enough from the outside to wake-up.
Funny thing about this is, Billy choose to leave this place, in turn realizing that he has been asleep and well. Having experienced the greatest sleep he has ever felt on demand, then waking up revitalized even though he has only been asleep for about an hour at that time.
He immediately wanted to tell this experience of his to his friends and foster family— like Freddy his roommate, sleeping on the bunk below him, but paused, as he then entered back into UTOPIA; not being able to hold himself, to part with the novel experience for even a single second.
From what he heard, that body of his will then go back to sleep, and would then wake-up if he so-chooses to exit from UTOPIA. Of course, he didn't do that, as he instead took care of his sentient Plant friends and receiving biscuits, chocolates, candies, and even soft drinks in doing so.
From the System Mission, which would update every so often as 5-10 minutes, apparently varying but mostly about Plants, watering them, talking to them, playing with them, carrying them, etc...
In return, just like what Billy said, he'll receive something in turn, only being food that he apparently doesn't need to survive into this new world. From what he heard from the Original Players, at the start, there was 15 of them, and they survived for 36+ hours inside this Realm without food, water, or anything else.
But their original body, even Billy's original body, that, that is the one that would need water and food, as after the 12 hour gaming limit, they say that you'll be consuming food and water like crazy. Billy who's new, alongside the 84 other Players didn't seem to mind, as some left, while the rest like him stayed and experience this brand new inter dimensional novelty.
Some prompted to tell the whole wide world, but the others quickly dejected, saying something like, "If you do that, then wouldn't we be in danger?" As lab rats, experiments and such. At worse, they would probably lose the ability to go here, at best, then they would gain fame.
After some time, all decided to shut up about this and have a wait and see approach as they enjoy the experience of taking care of the Plants, and some even unwinding from the chaos coming from Earth, from their marriage, from their problems, from everything negative really.
As in here, it is quiet, it has clean air, has people that shares the same troubles as you and chat with, has Plants that are very intelligent and have life, very cartoon-like.
As for Billy though, he just likes watering the Plants and seeing them grow up in real-time, before then roaming the peaceful Garden— a gigantic floating land in space connected to the small platform, which is connected to the pillar of light that they came from when logging in.
The rewards? They are just bonus in his eyes, like the biscuits on his hand for example, as he then bites into it, silently waiting for the watering can to refill. It being 3/4th's on the way there.
He glanced at this, then momentarily glanced besides him, at the Lvl. 5 Potato Mine of his that is chilling, seemingly content with life. Billy then looked at the halfly eaten biscuit on his hand, then offered it to his Plant. [ "You want some?" ]
Seeing this, the Potato Mine was startled, before then shaking it's head in refusal. As it then sinked back into the ground, popping seconds later somewhere close by wherein other Potato Mines are resting.
[ "Did the Plant...?" ] just refuse the sweetened biscuit that Billy just offered to it? Oh, yeah, it sure did.
As unbeknownst to Billy at that time, the Plants doesn't care about anything processed, or anything other than sunlight and water. As to them, boscuits and such are poison, sure it wouldn't kill them, but it'll leave a bad taste in their mouths...
That is, if that said Plant type had a mouth, if it doesn't, then it would be happy, as it doesn't have the chance to eat such "garbage" that could ruin them. To Billy and for the other Players though, that sounded like more sweets, chocolates and soft drinks for them, and less so for the Plants.
[ "Huh... I guess, more for me then." ] About to eat the biscuit on his hand, Billy then paused as the kid noticed a blue circle appeared under him— the words "GoG" and "UTOPIA" being written in either the middle and bottom of it. [ "What in tarnat-?!" ]
About to stand up, he couldn't, as he and his watering can was engulfed by a blue light, disappearing from inside the spacious land of the Garden. The other Players which are scattered inside and out the said Garden not noticing his disappearing act, except for the Plants nearby.
They then looked at one another, before then turning into a shade of green in horror... Now, how would they be able to eat fresh water?! They can't water themselves, they need a Player to do that.
Sure, there's water in the Garden absolutely, abundant really, but that doesn't have the same effects as the one from the bronze watering can... Now that friendly Player logged off, this is a sad moment, as they then begrudgingly bask in the sun instead of drinking water and grow inturn.
...
[ "-ion..." ] On the other hand, Billy, the 10-year-old who is the protagonist at the moment, couldn't believe his eyes. As his eyes adjusted to the new surroundings of his, apparently in a pitch void-like black area, causing him to question everything he knows. [ "Okay, uhh... W-where am I?!" ]
Billy was ready to pull down the exit button and get out of here. But paused in his ways as he realized something flickering into existence... The 10-year-old kid curious by this, approached the flickering, as it then materialized into a full-blown text to his face, shocking him, as he takes a step back.
[ PLEASE, PLAYER, CHOOSE YOUR FACTION ]
[ KNIGHT FACTION ]
[ VIKING FACTION ]
[ SAMURAI FACTION ]
[ "Woah... this is... badass!" ] Billy quickly adjusting to the situation, like a kid he is, as he then reads the text... He doesn't know what it means yet to be in a Faction, may that be with the Knights, Vikings, or Samurais, he has no idea... So he tries to imagine what a Knight, a Viking, or a Samurai would look like in his head.
Closing his eyes, a figure of a man in a suit of heavy iron armor appeared, seemingly holding a sword as he rides a white horse into a battle. This is what a Knight should look like from what Billy imagines them as.
Inside his head, the scene changed, the landscape too, the soil then turns into the sea— the scene having some men in leather armor, axe wielding and such, drinking to their heart's content in a ship sailing to raid another land. To him those are Vikings, which he somewhat likes due to him imagining them as carefree.
The peace which was the sea then turned into a dense jungle, the jungle quickly being engulfed in flames, as then a skermish happen. Men-to-men, both in armor, old-era, each holding a sharp blade called the katana in prestine condition, as they then clash at one another, seconds later, only one coming out alive. The proud Samurais...
Yeah, so in short, all of them sounds cool to him that is... Billy doesn't want to complicate everything, so he chose the middle, i.e. the Vikings, not out of love for them, as he doesn't know a thing about history other than superficial ones, stereotypes created by the popular media.
But he does connect in how, usually, in stories, the Vikings are the most free to do whatever they want, more on pirates really. Compared to the Knights which has honor, and to the Samurais which has traditions. He doesn't really like authority that much, so Viking it is for him. [ "Viking it is!" ]
He clicked it, and seconds later a light blinded him, causing him to close it. [ "My eyes...!" ] He then opened his eyes again after the light faded away and was immediately greeted by a sight, as he felt something in his hand materialized, it gaining weight by the second.
Instinctively, Billy held onto it, but he could still feel it tilt. So he glanced at it and noticed an axe on his hands, a pretty big one, a one-sided axe, as he then grabs it using the both of his hand. [ "Woah...!" ]
[ SKEGGÖX (COMMON) ]
[ LAMELLAR ARMOR (COMMON) ]
[ BYRNIES (COMMON) ]
[ IRON HELMET (COMMON) ]
[ LEATHER BOOTS (COMMON) ]
He glanced down at his body, feeling it weird, noticing the changes... His hands are much more lengthier than before, his body, talker, more buff, and is covered in armor that screams Viking... He expected to be practically naked or something, but seeing his body covered in armor... yeah, it's cool.
[ "This is awesome!" ] His childish voice having disappeared, which he realized also, as he then covered his mouth in shock, his eyes widening, as he then laughts at himself. He wants to experiment more, especially because he is now practically an adult, a hulking and tall one at that.
But he could hear thousands or-so of individuals outside, he doesn't know where, but he could hear it. Later in response to his questioning, a gigantic double wooden door began to open up, presenting with him sunlight and sand from outside, which is different from the candlelights he is getting inside this seeming of a standby area.
The more the door opened up, the more the screaming he could hear, not out of terror may I remind you, but is instead screams of adorations— cheers to be more precise, which Billy basked in hearing. [ "Super awesome!" ] His childish voice having disappeared, but his mentality which is that of a 10-year-old is still there.
So proven by the stats being reflected in his eyes, as he tries to get a feel on his body which is modified. Yes! But one that he doesn't dislike, actually, it's the opposite, he loves it, he loves having a grown-up body, with his voice different but somewhat the same. So after the doors fully opened up, he then stepped out, ready to receive the adorations that is his.
[ "Hello, fans!" ] He rushed out, like the child he is. As he then smiles and waves at the people sitting around the arena-like area he is in. Finally having the idea of how really big the place is... super big! As he is having difficulty in seeing right due to the light, but at the very least he could see them happy. Which mades him wonder why...?
[ ARENA MISSION: "KILL THE ENEMY KNIGHT CHAMPION" ]
[ REWARD: +150 SYSTEM CREDITS, KNIGHT KILLER TITLE ]
[ "WHAT?!" ] Doing a spit take, Billy finally realized the reason why he has an axe on hand, or why he has an armor on, or why he is in an arena being cheered on by the common people, by the nobles, by other Knights and such, apparently it is the opposite, he is instead beeing booed by the people...
He listened in closely to confirm his suspicion, and quickly he heard their distinct voices mixing into one, gruff, but understandable, most of it being about, "Kill the barbarian", "Fight already", or, "I bet 20-pound of gold, that the savage will die in less than 5 minutes." Those, or a remix of those, which aren't reassuring one-bit.
[ "A-am I the bad guy here?!?" ]
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ 06/09/2025 ]
[ 06/10/2025 ]