ALTER REALITY: Online

A minute had passed since Noel used Calculated Liability, and it deactivated automatically. Noticing that the Spirit Energy cost was lower than his regeneration rate, he took it a step further and activated Enhanced Liability.

When the notification prompt appeared asking to choose a body part, Noel selected his left shoulder. Instantly, a red glow emerged, outlining his shoulder through the fabric of his shirt. 

Unlike the faint light-red glow from Calculated Liability, this one was deeper and more intense. It deepened his worry that it might be too visible to his opponents, even to the Sand Stalkers.

Aside from that, just like with Calculated Liability, Noel didn't feel any sudden burst of strength or speed.

But this time, the vapor-like layers around him were more pronounced. The air around him began to distort with a stronger, wavy effect, reminding him that Enhanced Liability wasn't just stronger. It was riskier too.

It didn't just boost his damage fourfold. If he was hit on the affected part, the damage received would also be multiplied by four.

With twice the Spirit Energy cost, it consumed 2 units per minute. Since his regeneration rate matched that, Noel saw no downside in keeping the ability active constantly.

After all, the notification prompts had made one thing clear: mastery increased the more he used his abilities. And sure enough, progress came. Just not in the way he expected.

A surge of new information appeared in his mind out of nowhere, as if it had always been there and had just resurfaced. From it, he learned that he could now deactivate an inflicted Liability at any time within its one-minute duration. 

However, to use it again, he would have to pay the Spirit Energy cost once more. Noel's breath caught at how naturally the knowledge had seamlessly settled into his mind.

'So this is how it works... bit by bit, the training methods become ingrained in my mind the more I use the ability,' he thought, marveling at the process.

The sensation was magical, to say the least. He couldn't help but wonder how the F.U.T.U.R.E. Conglomerate had managed to create such a mystical game, one that blurred the lines between virtual and real so effectively that it felt almost indistinguishable from reality.

Understanding that frequent use of his ability could accelerate his progress in Mastery Level, Noel continued without wasting any time. He activated the ability again while staying hidden among the rock boulders.

He repeated the process a dozen more times, each repetition transmitting him new pieces of information about his ability, shaping his understanding of how to wield his power effectively. 

The most comforting revelation was that the ominous red glow from the Liability-inflicted parts was only visible to him and no one else. The discovery brought a wave of relief; knowing his vulnerabilities wouldn't be easily exposed to potential enemies. He wouldn't have to worry about giving away his weak spots at a glance.

As he continued to explore his abilities, he also learned another crucial detail: the pain he experience on the Liability-inflicted parts was directly proportional to the increased damage those areas would receive. 

It meant that each time he activated a Liability, he had to brace himself for the corresponding pain, which would serve as a constant reminder of the heightened risk he was taking. 

Apart from that, he also discovered a strategic advantage. He could assign specific body parts as default targets for each of his three Liabilities. Being able to pre-select targets would allow him to bypass the prompt in emergency situations, saving precious seconds when they mattered most.

For Calculated Liability, he chose his right pinky toe. It was small, relatively unimportant, and easy to protect. For Enhanced Liability, he picked his right shoulder, weighing the risk against the reward of quadrupled attack power.

Critical Liability was a different story. The stakes were much higher. He immediately ruled out the head, chest, abdomen, and back, as those areas were too vital and too exposed during battle. Instead, he chose his right thigh, a spot he could protect more easily thanks to his natural stance, which kept his right side safer.

Noel aligned all three Liabilities on the right side of his body, making it easier to protect his most vulnerable points while maximizing his offensive capabilities.

As soon as he finalized his choices, a notification flashed before his eyes, signaling a breakthrough in his progress.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

﴾ Congratulations! Your understanding of Lv.1 Liability Training Methods has advanced your Innate Talent Mastery ﴿

 ﴾ Lv.2║Liability Mastery║﴿

- Use your ability more to have Lv.2 Liability training methods ingrain into your mind step-by-step. Comprehend them to deepen your mastery and enable more effective versatility in your abilities.

- Time Estimated for next Mastery Level: 24 mins of comprehension

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Seeing the notification, Noel couldn't help but feel a small surge of accomplishment. Each step forward brought him closer not just to mastering his abilities but also to clearing the First Instance and eventually meeting his son in the game.

The progress, albeit small, gave him a sense of control in an otherwise unpredictable virtual world. He was starting to understand how to use his Innate Talent more effectively and how it could become his greatest asset in surviving the challenges ahead.

As he looked at the time required to reach the 3rd Mastery Level, Noel found himself reflecting on the process so far. 

He realized that he had used Liabilities 14 times so far. Out of those, he had consciously focused on comprehending his Innate Talent during 12, which directly correlated with the time counted toward reaching the next step in his Mastery.

However, as he noted that the comprehension time requirement had doubled for the next Mastery Level, a question lingered in his mind. 

'Would the time requirement keep absurdly doubling with each level or is there some kind of reasonable pattern to it?' The thought puzzled him, but he knew better than to get lost in speculation.

Noel let the thought pass. He kept Enhanced Liability active and turned his focus to his Inventory.

In a place as unforgiving as he was in, every advantage mattered. His Innate Talent was powerful, but he needed more than just ability to survive; he needed a weapon that could give him an advantage in the battles to come.

Noel opened his Inventory and scanned through the items until his gaze landed on the purple embroidered card. Without hesitation, he retrieved it before activating the one-time use card.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

 ║Weapon Selection Card║

⧼Common Grade⧽

- A reward for new drifters upon vanquishing their first monster. Select a weapon from one of the 7 categories listed below within the next three minutes.

Warning: Failure to choose will automatically result in receiving the weapon with the highest compatibility with your Innate Talent.

﴾ WEAPONS ﴿

Ranged

Recurve Bow | Longbow | Crossbow 

Composite Bow | Compound Bow | Short Bow 

Arbalest | Flatbow | Reflex Bow | Sling

Piercing

Lance | Halberd | Trident | Short Spear | Long Spear 

Javelin | Pike | Glaive | Polearm 

Partisan | Ranseur | Spontoon

Slashing

One-Handed Sword | Two-Handed Sword 

Short Sword | Long Sword | Sabre 

Broadsword | Katana | Scimitar | Falchion 

Rapier | Cutlass | Dagger

Bludgeoning

Club | Mace | War Hammer

Battle Axe | Maul | Morning Star 

Flail | Cudgel | Quarterstaff

Thrown

Throwing Knives | Throwing Axes 

Chakrams | Boomerangs | Shuriken | 

Javelins | Bolas | Tomahawks | Harpoons

Hand-to-Hand

Brass Knuckles | Gauntlets | Claws 

Tonfa | Nunchaku | Sai | Cestus | Tekko

Specialized

Chain Reavers | Whip | Hook Swords | Scythe

Kusarigama (Chain Sickle) | Urumi (Flexible Sword)

Rope Dart | Butterfly Swords | Meteor Hammer

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Noel's mind raced as he skimmed through the options on the Weapon Selection Card. Each weapon name was paired with a holographic image, giving him a clear look at what he could choose. With only three minutes to choose, he had to make his decision fast.

Ranged weapons appeared first. Bows of various types, from the Recurve to the Longbow, floated into view. Noel admired their design but quickly moved on. He wasn't a skilled archer, and learning under pressure seemed like a bad idea.

Next, Piercing weapons appeared. Spears, lances, and halberds. Out of them, Spears drew his attention the most for their long reach, offering the chance to strike from a distance. But without proper control, that same reach could become a problem, especially for someone just starting out.

He moved on to the Slashing weapons. Swords of all kinds were there; One-Handed, Two-Handed, Long, and Short. The sword seemed like the safest bet. Easy to learn, versatile, and reliable. It felt like the obvious pick, but Noel didn't choose right away. He still had time, so he moved on to explore the other categories.

Bludgeoning weapons came next, flashing images of clubs, maces, and war hammers. Heavy, powerful, and perfect for crushing, but Noel knew their weight would slow him down. He didn't want to risk it.

The Thrown category scrolled past. Throwing Knives, Throwing Axes, Chakrams could be lethal at a distance but they demanded high accuracy. If he missed, that would be the end. Against monsters with thick hides, only precise hits to weak spots like the eyes or ears seemed effective. He needed something simpler. He moved on to the next category.

Hand-to-Hand weapons appeared, displaying brass knuckles, gauntlets, and more. Fighting bare-handed felt like a last resort, so he dismissed the category and kept browsing.

Lastly, the Specialized category showed an array of exotic weapons; Chain Reavers, Hook Swords, Scythes, and more. Noel found them fascinating but didn't consider picking any. They were unfamiliar, and the learning curve would be steep.

As he reviewed the list, Noel kept checking the timer. The minutes were slipping by while he remained torn between two weapon categories. His eyes shifted back and forth between the practical reliability of swords and the tempting reach of spears that offered safety from a distance. 

In the end, he decided to go with a sword for its ease of use and the potential to learn as he went. Among the options for swords, he leaned toward a longsword for its extended reach. It wouldn't match a spear's length, but it was still better than nothing.

But before Noel could finalize his choice, with just 15 seconds left, the ground began to tremble again. The vibrations were stronger than before. He held his breath, immediately recognizing the sensation. It was a Sand Stalker, and from the intensity of the tremors, there were likely more than one.

Without wasting another second, Noel dashed out from the cluster of rocks, leaving behind the safety of the crevice.

Despite moving further, the vibrations intensified, reverberating through Noel's boots as the sand rippled ominously beneath him. 

Noel realized they had somehow sensed his escape and were now pursuing him from underground.

With time slipping away, he rushed through the weapon options and tapped on the holographic image of the Long Sword.

Just as he reached to confirm, the ground ahead burst open. A Sand Stalker sprang from beneath the sand, its massive body launching forward with terrifying speed. Noel flinched, caught off guard, and moved on instinct as the creature charged straight at him.

He barely managed to sidestep, feeling the rush of air as the beast's claws sliced through the space where he had been standing just moments before.

He didn't have time to recover. As he staggered backward, two more Sand Stalkers burst from the sand on either side of him, moving in sync as if they had planned the ambush together. 

Noel's heart pounded in his chest as he twisted to avoid the one from the left, narrowly ducking under its swipe, only to find himself in the path of another closing in from the right.

His instincts, sharpened by years of F1 racing, took over. He reacted just in time, slipping past its open jaws.

Noel's instincts went overdrive as he evaded in the nick of time. For a moment there he even felt its hot breath graze his neck. The sand from their ambush still lingered in the air as the three Stalkers circled him, their eyes glowing with hunger as they moved closer.

While dodging the nonstop attacks, he lost track of the countdown. The timer hit zero, and a new notification appeared in front of his eyes.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

﴾ You have failed to choose within the give time. the weapon with the highest compatibility with your Innate Talent has been added to your Inventory ﴿

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Noel grunted in frustration as he tried to put distance between himself and the circling Stalkers. He quickly opened his Inventory, desperate to check what weapon he had ended up with.

"Damn it! Why does it have to be this weapon? How does one even use something like this?" he muttered in disbelief. It was the last thing he would've picked; a weapon that seemed more like a cruel joke than a lifeline.

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Author Note: 

ALTER REALITY: Online is the 1st Side Story of EARTH's ALPHA PRIME, a LitRPG System Survival novel that has completed 3 volumes so far. 

The revamped version of EAP Volume 1, 2 & 3 are now live on Kindle. You can find them on Amazon by simply searching the book title or go through the link provided here.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR53YMV2

≿━━━━━━༺❀༻━━━━━━≾

Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.

 ╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :

https://discord.gg/P6cWGg2G

 ╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯