Chapter 3: 1_ ch 2: A. The Ocean of The D

“Resonance”

And my surrounding changed.

But just as I thought that, ...

“What the .... ? Shi...”

I end up losing my breathing while drowning underwater.

“Hah, ghah, gha...”

Holding breath.

Shit, now this is sucks. Truly.

I never expected that I will find myself drowning the first thing after login-in.

But quickly closing my mouth, and holding my breath, I try calming down as fast as possible.

Now calm down, Alice, and slowly think of the situation.

Let's reassess what’s happening first.

I just connected to LSO, and now I am drowning in the ocean.

Of course, this can’t be another world.

So maybe the game has already started.

But, hmm...

Somehow I don’t feel suffocated. So maybe I don’t need to breathe?

Feeling no suffocation, or uncomfortableness, even as I am not breathing, and am surrounded by water, I quickly calm down.

“Fuh.”

Seem like I was right, and I don’t need to breathe.

It is good that I have calmed down fast, otherwise, I would have a panic attack.

So, now what? I guess looking around is the first step.

And thinking like that, I try looking around for the first time, when spotting a person.

Hi there! Seem like there is someone in front of me, that I was ignoring.

Hey, hey. How many taps do you need to turn around?

Taping at the person’s shoulder, and feeling irritated for him ignoring me, forcefully pull his shoulder.

HEY.

Hah? The HELL?

Wow, that was shocking, saying the least.

And so the person that I forcefully turned around to face me, was dead. Or more like a corpse drowning underwater.

Now, taking another look, he is not the only one, but just one of many.

Because there are hundreds if not thousands of dead, motionless bodies, around in this ocean.

And finally seeing that, I fall in silence, speechless.

Just who designed such a sick place?

So anyway, I guess, this is a sign for me, right ? to get out of here quickly, I think.

Reaching such a conclusion, I try for the water surface.

Then looking up, I can see it not far, and so here goes nothing.

Because when swimming with no fear of suffocating, it becomes simple, I guess.

Like that, I have started swimming to the surface, AND here I am.

“Fuu, Haa, Fuu, Haa”

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

Guess, even without the need for air, human are used to the act of breathing it.

Finally reaching the water surface, I take my time calming down, as I finally breathe air again.

And then when my breathing is stable, I touch the water, and...

Hmm, so this is how it is.

“if I touch the surface of the water, from above, I can desire it to be either liquid water or solid water ?”

Weird. But honestly, it is not as weird, like everything else.

Looking around, I can see endless water, to the other side of the horizon, and until the end of it, I can see dead bodies, filling the ocean.

At the same time, looking above me, have revealed a giant red moon, filling the sky, as if a pupil looking down from above.

And adding to that is a path of chains, defined in front of me.

Yeah, a path of chains.

Instead of trees, or pillars at the side of it, there are chains appearing from under the water, from both sides of the path, for every 1 meter, and they keep stretching to the heaven above while pulsing with blue lightning, as if a protective wall from the outside.

Though I feel relieved that I quickly took to the surface.

I don’t know what could happen in the water, for such a giant bridge or maybe a wall of electrocuted chains to exist.

Then looking ahead of me, I can see a water tower, or is it a water tornado?

Anyway, what is there is water, a lot of water turning in circles, and reaching a great altitude as if protecting something inside of it.

And Looking closely, it may have a diameter of 15-20m, with the height being unclear.

All four walls of chains are connected to the water tower from four directions.

Then calmly looking at this weird place, I decided to move.

And with that I started walking, until I reached the tower, and stopped ...

“is it safe to touch this water barrier ?”

Stopped, when faced with the weird water barrier at the end of the path.

And then by taking a deep breath, I prepare.

Three, two, one, NOW.

And I touch it, when ...

Wah, COOl.

I just pass through the water wall, while water is brushing my hair, and nothing else happening.

It is a fun experience, though.

And with me finally getting to the other side of the barrier easily, I stand in my place gazing around, while thinking of what to do.

“So, ....should I just follow the path of chains to the middle of this space ?”

That middle, that is filled with a blue pillar of light.

Yeah, it really needs a good deal of courage to touch it.

I mean, it is a pillar of light, you know?

A pillar of seemingly endless light, stretching high above, and even to the unknown sky, you know?

Hell, I can even bet that something appearing out of that pillar any second now, won’t even be that surprising.

I mean a pillar of blue light with a diameter of 2m, on an ocean of corpses, surrounded by a giant water barrier, and four magical walls of chains.

Is it really safe to touch such a thing? it really brings an ominous feeling.

But, yeah.

Let's think first. Where are we ?.

A world that looks like the end of all that is living.

Good.

Next, in the middle of this place, there is a giant water barrier as if protecting or hiding something.

Right

Then a weird electrocuted four walls that meet at the middle, just to then reveal a giant pillar of light, that give the feeling as if it will swallowing everything.

Indeed

And finally, a super big red moon, that won’t surprise me if it is revealed to be a pupil of something unimaginable.

Yeah, so maybe I should just go back.

Thinking so, I jokingly try taking a step back, when...

“ouch.”

I end up hitting my face.

Yeah, of course, the water barrier is a one-way thing.

No surprise.

Rubbing my nose, and thinking that I should have expected such a thing to happen, I start once again looking around me, while thinking.

Hmm, so now way back, huh ? with advancing being the only option it seems.

So is this all, or is there anything else, I have missed or forgotten, hm?

Stare.

Glancing around me like that for a few seconds, I finally remembered.

AH, OF COURSE.

“I totally forgot the UI here. How careless. Soo, let’s see.”

And then looking at the corner of my vision.

Ah, there.

An icon was there, and when touching it, ...

A red menu appeared.

-Welcome to Lost Solace Online-

And then getting curious at that, I start reading it.

-Welcome to Lost Solace Online-

-You are surely confused by your place right now, are you not ?-

-Then that is good. Be confused, be scared, and be ready.-

-As you have no idea yet, of what you have just being chosen for.-

-As you may regret being chosen, as you may curse your fate, or you may simply be swallowed by your new world.-

-But fear not such things, as such things are but a luxury, for the living.-

-Instead, remember where you stand, remember the ocean of the dead, and remember, that forgetting and just drowning peacefully, may one day be one of your greatest wishes.-

-So here I beseech you, oh chosen one.-

-To make your choice carefully, as there is no turning back anymore.-

-So, may you be new hope, even when drowning in despair.-

-May your action result in a new ending, even when you are, but trying to escape.-

-But no matter what may you have fortune on your side, as you’ll need it.-

-And so remember, that this is my message for you. That this is my gift to you. And that this is the beginning...-

-Of a new hope. Of a new ending.-

-And now lastly, with that all over, let me give you a piece of good personnel advice.-

-Don’t choose an avatar randomly, you’ll regret it, period. There is no “but” or “maybe”.-

-So seriously don’t make a stupid choice like changing your gender, or becoming a shrimp.-

-And so with no further ado, let me welcome you, chosen one.-

-And may you be one of the lost solaces.-