Dystopian Tales Online

While Carter is explaining the details of the games, Xavier turned his attention towards Clover. He knows that the player is been sick last time due to playing online games for the whole day. And as usual, he never seen Clover out from the room again. His stare is now then caught by Frass.

Frass, or also known as Frasier Foster in real life, is a student who is now getting his masteral degree. The relationship between these three is closer than what people expected. In a usual setting, one can normally see Aud-01 always hanging out with Frass as if they are a set. While Xavier can be seen as clingy as possible towards Aud-01.

This is because these three are connected by blood.

Frass can see the worried face of Xavier. He just shook his hand lightly telling Xavier that everything is fine and just listen to what Carter is telling. Xavier wanted it but his worries is much stronger than the idea od engaging in a new unidentified experiment.

On the other hand, Aud-01, or Clover that is still unknown to most of the players, is watching the video clip from the conference hall. The presentation Carter is showing was sent beforehand in order for Clover to review them. Well, aside from being the owner of the most known guild and the top player of the game, there is one thing that nobody will ever think of.

Clover is the only child of Tristan Foster.

Frass is Tristan's younger brother while Xavier is Tristan's wife's little brother. If asked, the three of them grew up together. Frass is three years older than Xavier and five years older than Clover. The small differences between their ages made them closer than any of their relatives.

Carter noticed the small signals Frass and Xavier exchanged. He didn't call them out but continued on his presentation. He have known these kids for so long that he didn't need to get their attention to listen. Of all, these two are the most knowledgable. From the family of geniuses, it is normal for Xav and Frass to be as smart twice the people inside the room.

What more is that Clover is smarter than the two.

Both Xavier and Tristan are good with computer engineering. Actually, they are part of the team that coded the game before it was announced. Being the two of them as the youngest programmers that contributed a lot in the project, they are given the free access of the give without undergoing the test. Along them is the young Clover who just watched them on their work.

The main features of the previous servers was explained by Carter. In each server, a new feature is added. Mainly, the reason why there are additional servers is to let the programmers to remove bugs from the game. Bugs are a hassle to them, these are things that kept the program move slow or suddenly crash. And also to improve some features that are already installed.

For example, o the first server, voice chat is already inputted. However, nobody could chat and type on the same time. If they did, it will lag their server that will cause some buff in the time. So during that time, the players would rather talk than to type to avoid such event. It was on the second server where speech and chat is been fixed. The following servers improved the characters and emoticons that can be used through chat.

Aside from removing bugs and improving features, a new server means additional levels and floor. Currently, on the fifth server, the level cap is in 500. That is decided by the programmers to increase the level cap by a hundred in every new server. Unlike the other rpgs, DTO and VR do not restart in every new server. That is the rule made clear from the start.

There are also floors in the game. Currently, there are five floors in the game. These floors are like world stages. That is, in each floor a required level is needed to step up. Each floor constitutes a certain strength. Monsters of the first floor are weaker than those on the Second Floor. And so did on the next floors. These world floors are called in a name to not confuse players from dungeon floors.

The First World is called the Terrare.

The Second World is Zwene.

The Third World is Threo.

The Fourth World is Feower.

And the Fifth World is Pente.

Players having higher levels means that they can enter any floors. Most of the players can enter the Feower Floor, but only Clover can enter Pente due to floor's requirement level of 500. The creation of the sixth server will create five more floors increasing the level cap up to 1000. This time, long term leveling up is needed for players to reach the peak.

"The dungeon floors are also increased," Carter said. "Currently, the dungeon of the Terrare World is already been solved. Players are now hanging out on the Zwene's dungeon with the dungeon limit of 200. You are almost reaching the end of it. However, in this new server, the dungeons will be dissolved and will be joint into one. And that is the creation of the Hal's Grand Dungeon."

An animation of a dungeon emerged on the screen showing the 2D CAD design of the dungeon. Carter motioned towards the table and opened an interface that activated a holographic model to appear in the middle of the table. This time, all sides of the dungeon is being shown.

"Your records of the Terrare Dungeons and the Zwene Dungeon will remain. The Terrare dungeons will be the first level dungeons while the Zwene will connect next. With a total of three hundred floors, we extended more floors reaching a thousand. This means that the dungeon of all the ten floors is placed in Hal's Grand Dungeon. This is also the reason why we want all the players to reach level one hundred to enter the Zwene world and participate in this new dungeon."

"You might be wondering why I introduced the dungeon beforehand and what is its relationship on the sixth server. The creation of the five new floors is already done and is now being scouted by Beta testers. However, the dungeon is off limits. We need players to clean the bugs on the first few floors."

"Didn't you say that Hal's first floors are from the Terrare Dungeon? Why do we have to clean it from bugs?" Alexander asked.

"That is because of the anomalies of bringing lower dungeons to higher world floors. Bringing the dungeons from the third, fourth, and fifth floors are easy due to their normal higher levels. But the levels on the first floor is low, and so, adjustments are done."

"Then, why do we have to clean it? Are your staffs not enough?" Roderick asked.

"We have enough staff to clean the floors and dungeons at the same time. However, the main developer of the game set a condition. Only players of VR can enter the dungeon. Not even DTO players can see this new dungeon. And of course, not the beta testers who are VIPs that can enter the floors without worrying on leveling up."

That explained today's reason of the meeting. They are all aware that it has something to do with the sixth server.

"Are you saying that you called us to beta test the game before the sixth server will be released?" Aries phrase out the exact notion.

"Yes, I am requesting you to beta test the server before opening it to the public. But don't worry, such action will be given a compensation. Your attendance on this request will give you benefits. Drops and leveling up will be doubled in this activity. You will also be payed twice. You will be ahead to those players by a half."

The offer sounded beautiful to their ears that from their faces Carter can tell that they will definitely join. Beta testing is no different from a normal play. What is new is that they are playing in a new environment while recording any anomalies and if there are bugs present. Amidst the interest, a sound from the edge of the table called Carter.

"One question," Clover called out.

"Yes?" The scientist responded.

"I already reached the maximum cap of the current server. How can I gain this benefit of leveling up if I'm already on the max?"

It is true that Clover is already on maximum cap. He actually reached it a year and half ago. This announcement surprised the players. Not even the other guild leaders believed it.

"How long have you been on a stagnant level?" Carter asked.

"A year and a half," Clover responded.

"Then, it means that you already collected a lot of EXP for those months. Because you will be beta testing on a new server, your EXPs that are stored will be used up and will level you up. Maybe in this game you will be the first one to enter the sixth floor."

Everyone gasped. Clover is not that active in records to be shown in TV but they know that he's actively playing in dungeons. None of them sure saw him but they are all aware of the player online. What could he be doing than to play on the higher floors where no one can enter, right? Especially on the Pente Floor where mosters give more EXP than the lower floors.

Calculating the numbers in their minds, the estimated level Clover will reach upon entering the Sixth Server would be at least in level 612! What will happen if he joins the beta test? He will reach 650 in just a blink!

"Oi, oi, you're always playing all day in DTO and VR. That's why you level up faster than us," Roderick almost cried beside Frass. "And I thought we're already closer."

The second place, Frass, is even still at level 492.

"Well, well, let's just ignore these numbers and proceed on the planning of the beta test," Carter called.

He clicked the button to the next picture showing an image of a gear that looks like a headphone. Though, it doesn't have those round speakers, buts instead a slim end where two small circular nodes are placed. The picture showed the model and the way it was worn. It will be placed right just on the back of the neck of the players wearing it like a necklace on the back.

"This is called The Synapse. This is a nerve gear that will be installed on the back of your neck. You will wear this before logging in so the system will identify you as a beta tester. We will guide each of you on how to operate for safety."

"On hand, we have one hundred nerve gears for disposal. Now with the top ten players leading the game, I will be giving you ten Synapse gears each. You will choose among the five hundred players of VR who will join you to beta test. Anyone, even those who just reached level 100 is allowed to participate. It's up to you on who will be the first players of the new server."

Then it means that one hundred players will be chosen. One hundred players to clean bug is sure a large number. They will surely finish the beta test faster. Carter closed the presentation and faced the players.

"Now, I would like to know who among you want to back out from this project. We can't force you to join this test run. We can choose any players on the next top ten as your replacement. Once you started this, you can't back out. So let me see the hands of those who wanted to refuse the offer?"

Nobody raised a hand. Of course, with all the benefits given, who would refuse such good offer. Carter smiled at them with a determined look. All of them did the same ready to face this new challenge given to them. Carter then announced the opening of the beta test and the formal statement that everyone is now listed.

"Well then, everyone, let's start testing the new servers this weekend! Meeting adjourned!"