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*Bl-Bl-Blub* *Ding!* -Hm?- Hearing my system ping, I used my hand to motion the panel up in front of my face before quickly skimming it. -Ah, it's the data link...-
Data Link Requested
Requester: "Saint Michael"Server: 141-A81-B5Colloquial World Name: Earth
Discimers
In short, data links were the tethering of a user's main system profile and a mirror of that profile permaly pnted into another server's database. This meant the user would i access to the tethered server and all its funs regardless of their e to it, so even if they were in another world, ected to a different server, they could access and unicate with the tethered server and anyone on it, as well as receive quests and traems.
Acc to the warnings, this iion was typically reserved for administrators or their closest underlings to let them still unicate with their world while they were away, but it still held many bes for normal users.
However, as expected, being stantly ected to a world's server also meant that that server's administrators would have access and jurisdi over the user's profile, being able to not only issue quests with penalties, but even directly manipute their iory and upgrades.
It was essentially a link that signed away your freedom, hehe endless mass of warnings in the discimers tab.
However, in my case, I wasn't too worried about it. Even though Michael would teically have some authority over me, I was fident he knew his orders would, at best, reach my ears as suggestions. -He 't afford to upset me either, so I doubt he'll try anything stupid like toug my shit iving me quest penalties...-
However, while I ged just thinking about the possibility, that would be the st time it crossed my mind.
*Woop* Swiping away the panel, I went back to the request and opened up the Administrator's note, expeg to see a note from Michael.
However, it seemed to be a note from a very different administrator, reading as follows, "This is not a normal data link, but that isn't because it's what the requester asked for. Essentially because of some errors in your profile, it ot be formally accessed, meaning you will have to manually input data for the linked server to see. This also means the local administrators will not be able to view or directly edit your actual profile, so many system-based utilities that require that funality, like 'quest rewards' and 'aies', are essentially rendered useless. Rewards aies must be transferred to you physically, with the exception of gold.
If you decide to accept, you will unlock a ab in your system that will let you freely tweak your visible data, but be forewarned, it will likely notify the system when ges are made. Also please keep in mind that the administrators will still be able to edit that visible profile, as well as restrict server access from it like normal."
As my eyes reached the end of the message, the rest of my body remained pletely still with an expression of disbelief on my face.
But it only took a moment for it to morph into a wide, predatory smile. -Oh my...-
Although to any normal user, the penalty of not being able to receive anything that couldn't be transferred through physical means like stats rades was brutal, for me it meant nothing.
-It seems I was worried for no reason!- Happily accepting the request as I fortably rested my cheek on my fist, I returo my main System panel and promptly tapped on the ab beled 'Data Link'. *Woop*
Almost instantly, a new panel lined with tabs appeared in front of my face with aensive forum that looked like a more detailed version of my local system panel, listing everything from name and titles to stats, an iory, and 'skills' which I momentarily assumed were the same as upgrades.
However, unlike my actual stat panel, all its values were bnk with the exception of my name. -Holy shit...-
Tapping the bnk spaext to 'Strength' on the forum, a number pad immediately popped up. "Hahaha!" I couldn't help but let out a ugh. -How terrifyingly ve...-
It was quite literally a universal key that released nearly every restri on me currently. -Looks like I won't o worry about lying until I'm caught anymore...-
Quickly filling out the information, I set my dispy level to just over 600 with pretty baats, set my race to normal 'Human', aively left several things like my css as 'Ued'. -Now all that's left is to get a proper ID for Earth and I get fortable...- *Woop* -Assuming I get a handle on my aura, at least...-
firming my inputs, I was immediately sent bay main system panel, ao close it, but before I could wave it away, a rge red warning appeared.
WARNINGUnauthorized System Data Tamperied
ta administrator immediately...
-Huh? Unauthorized?- I immediately tilted my head. -Ah, is this what the note meant by notifying the system?- Assuming it was nothing to worry about, I swiftly swiped it away, not paying it any further mind. *Woop* -Anyway...-
*Bl-Bl-Blub* Leaning bad rexing once more, I looked over at Bel, wanting to ask something, but was only interrupted by ainy system panel appearing as a voice met my ears. "Thirty seds till takeoff, please ensure you are properly seated or in aia troller."
-Huh?- It was a voice being reyed through the system. "Takeoff in thirty seds? Was that the captain speaking?"
Bel immediately nodded with a slightly fused expression. "It was, but don't worry. This entire suite has a supersized iia troller on it, so it will only feel like gravity has momentarily increased. If you , I prepare the cushions and-"
"No no, it's fine." I quickly waved her off. -I was more curious about how they used the system to make a local annou like that...- But her statement did make me curious. "What exactly is aia troller though?"
She immediately smiled as a hologram appeared over me. "Typically they are used on the beds in higher-end rooms and suites, but they are also purchasable individually in other parts of the airship. Essentially, they will rotate during the takeoff so, with the help of the cushion, it just feels like gravity increases for a moment, letting most people fortably sleep through takeoff. This room has the same cept, except the entire suite will rotate."
-Iing...- "In that case, go ahead and switch the skyroom to the outside while we take off." -I wonder if the view outside will shift with the room...- Finally lifting myself out of the tub, Bel handed me a towel with her mouth and the ss all flickered to once again reveal the sky outside.
"Please beware that this skyroom being active during takeoff cause nausea. Is there anything else you would like me to prepare?" Her tail curled slightly as she sat down not far away.
"Not now, but I do have a question." I looked over at her while I dried off. "How does identification work oh? Is it all dohrough Local System Panels, or do you have your owhods?"
She gently tilted her head befiving a quick response. "Earth still uses traditional identifiethods. Unfortunately, the only things that be openly verified with a system panel are age, name, race, and level, so we use traditional IDs to track everything else. If you do not have one, I would advise visiting just about any guild, or the Iional Security anization to get oypically the gover registers users when they initially return to Earth, but if you didn't get logged, please do so when we nd." Her tone was quite serious. "Knowingly uered users are sidered criminals, and d you in a troublesome situatiardless of your strength."
"Is that so?" -I guess I should grab one before I do anything else after nding...- Thankfully though, now that I had a local system panel, I didn't o stress about it.
*Cl-Cl-Cl-k* *Pat-Snap* Finally standing up, I started making my way bato the lounge while equipping my armor, just in time to feel the pressure on my feet grow, ahe horizon bee the sky. -How fasating...- The entire room truly rotated almost y degrees while the ship zipped down the runway and took to the air.
"Ah, I actually have oher question." Gng over my shoulder as I equipped my gloves, I watched Bel walk into the louh her attention aimed at me. "Where would be the best pce to go to learn about mana after we nd?"
Her head immediately tilted. "Are you familiar with the 'System Forums'?"
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- Bently Horne ~
"Hooh..." Letting out a tense, anxious breath, I firmly gripped the frame of the doorway leading intuild hall while the airship began taking off. -Thank god we're finally getting off the ground...-
The guild hall was absolutely packed with people, leaving barely any room to move, with people using anything firmly ected to the ground as a backrest during takeoff.
But even with so many people, besides a few groans of pain as we started accelerating, there was barely a peep.
As the b began, the news about the wall having colpsed, and even a rumor that some figure of the Church had been killed were beginning to spread like wildfire. While we were trying to get important figures on the airship, it turhe airport into a mess, but regardless of hoeople we mao stuff in the airship, there were still tens of thousands of people fearing for their lives that we had to leave behind.
It left a terribly bitter taste in my mouth, but it was simply the reality of the world... Not everyone was equal, and not everyone could always be saved.
But of course that didn't keep humanity from trekking forward. As we lifted off the runway, we received word from our captain that he could firm military transport airships were on the horizon, and it wouldn't be long before they arrived to help those still stuck at the airfield.
The issue was.. I didn't think they realized the jaws of the creature they were running right into... "Fuck..."
However, as I hung my head, someone loudly spoke up. "Uh.. guys? The Regional Quest was pleted..."
Jolting slightly, I instantly opened my system panel.
Regional Quest*pleted*
An Unknowy has ehe Region
Entity Ranking: Unkimated Ranking: Leviathan Css
Objective: Kill the EntityReward: 1 [Divine Wish] | +300 Levels
But it was.. empty. -What the...-
"It was pleted.. but there's no one on the tribution list?" No one knew what to think of it. "Could.. an administrator have dealt with it?"
It usible theory, but there was ohing I couldn't ignore no matter how hard I tried. -My Sensory Overload skill is still active...- It had activated earlier in the day when I first felt the presence of what I assumed was the 'Entity' of the regional quest. -But if the quest is done, and the entity was dealt with.. why is it still active...-
"Perhaps the system just bugged and marked the quest as pleted?" The crowd quickly began ing up with theories. "After everything that's happened, it wouldn't surprise me..."
But I wasn't buying it, and after a moment of thinking, slowly getting more and more anxious, one of my guildmates came up to me with a worried expression and expihey noticed the same thing I did.
"Do you think the presence is from the administrator, or maybe an apostle?" Diane whispered to me while the crowd grew chatty in the guild hall.
"That's possible, but I don't know..." My gut told me the presence I felt was ing from a being different than a god. "It feels too much like the presence of a monster..." Looking at her, I noticed her worried gaze. "I know you've noticed that as well..."
She anxiously nodded before looking away. "But is there any point in thinking about it?" Leaning up against the wall behind me, she squatted down to the floor and pulled her knees into her chest. "We have to trust the administrators in times like these. If the quest being marked pleted was a bug, we will know soon..."
Watg her hands quiver slightly, I felt my stomach .
But there was nothing we could do besides pray and wait.
At least that's what I thought.
*Pat-Pat-Pat-Pat* Hearing someone running down the hall behind me, I looked up to see a young woman in some unusual attire running down the hall with a military helmet in her hands. -She must have bee to board... Who is she?-
But instead of running past me and tinuing into the guild hall like I expected, she ran straight up to me and stopped. "You are Bently Horhe Sparrows Guild guildmaster, right?" Her face ale with an expression of both fear and exhaustion.
"I am." I tried to respond formally, but her appearance did nothing but put me on edge.
"I need you to help me hide." Her eyes darted around the guild hall as she spoke softly. "My name is Diana Hale, a US pilot stationed in Arlington. I have been granted permission by the Sergeant Major of the US military to use whatever methods necessary t this helmet to him, but there is a monster on board this airship that could promise it..."
She seemed quite ge spoke like someone on the brink of insanity. "Huh?"
"S-S-She looks human, l-like a padin of the church, b-but isn't... I 't expin here, so please take me to some pce isoted..." Tightly g the helmet, she seemed to be praying. "If 'she' finds me.. I'm certain I will die..."
But while Diane and I simply raised our eyebrows at each other, after just a moment, my mind froze solid.
Opening my system panel and jumping through menus, I quickly nded on my 'Sensory Overload' skill's info page and looked for the information on the source of the presence.
It read: "Target is nearby." -But.. we are at least a few thousaers in the air now...-
Slowly looking back at the tense woman, I felt my heart sink. "L-Let's tinue our talk elsewhere..."
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