Welcome to Codeville
Welcome
P L A Y E R.
=NAME.
NAME TAKEN.
S A N S
=NAME
NAME TAKEN.
R E A D E R
Welcome. Reader.
CHARACTER CREATION:
F/C Jacket, H/C Hair, Stylish Pants, F/C Footwear
Confirmed Selection?
Y E S
Selection Confirmed.
Welcome Reader.
Welcome back to the Underground.
----
*Oh... It's you.
*It's been a while.
*Reader.
*Not going to talk?
*Very well.
*Come visit me when you get the chance.
*Sincerely, Player.
You open your eyes. You get off the flowers that surrounded the spawn point. Then you glance up to the ceiling. You've always wondered why the spawn point had a hole leading up to the surface. When there wasn't a surface here to speak of. You look around. The Astral Ruins marble is everywhere. I step onto the marble outside of the circle of flowers. The world seems to brighten up as the marble does it's thing. It's always bright in the Astral Ruins. You head down the hallway, there you spot the Guardian of the HUB. [TRUEGUARDIAN32] His name is in dark red text and bolded. A Genocider. Hub 10 was supposed to be mostly NEUTRAL and PACIFIST player HUB. You examined their appearance. They had a shadowy figure, as in they were made of black smoke. They had a creepy red smile and red eyes. They glared at you. No... they are just looking at you.
"Hmm. A Newcomer? No... Oh well. Welcome to Hub 10. I am the resident Guardian. You can call for me for assistance if you need it." His smile gets wider as he disappears.
You wonder, how did a GENOCIDER get the position of a Guardian in a PACIFIST Hub. You shake your head clear of thoughts and continue you on your way.
---
Interesting. It's been a while since I've seen a GHOST Player. Hmm. I shall observe you Reader... closely.
---
You explored the Ruins, checking out all the changes that have happened since you left. The Coffee Shop was a new and very welcome addition. You only had a few dozen credits on hand though. Still, it might be good to explore inside.
A text box appears as you enter the shop. Welcome to the Coffee Shop! I hope you feel welcomed :)! A custom message, that's interesting. It disappears after a second. You observe the gathering of Players. Some were humans, others were monstrous types. From werewolves to skeletons... and a squidgirl? There are a few people here. You look for a empty booth. Finding one close to the cashier you take a seat.
Most of the names here are highlighted Green, standing for pacifist. Although there are a couple of white names around for the neutrals. Some were playing board games and others card games... is that a gambling corner? Yes, most definitely. The silver credits were going from left to right. The guy on the right was definitely cheating and using the window reflections to their advantage... You could interfere... But they are having fun, and credits don't mean much beyond purchasing power. After a minute of observing everything you decide to get up. The owner of the shop wishes you well as you leave. You would probably talk to them again before you left the Ruins.
You begin to think about it all as you walk and explore. The Hubs are a gathering of Players, Players who played a game of UNDERTALE... and then died. Yeah, you died as well. Although memories of your death are quite rare. The Players eventually found there way here well, kinda here, into the HUB. The first one HUB. This used to be an empty AU before we started to make it our own. All Players here were [CREATORS] no matter how weak or strong. So we made it our own Underground. Although we were going to stick to the structure of UNDERTALE, we decided to spread out the towns and everything. Since none of us could permanently die, although the story for that is to be told another day. But we spread through this AU, and made it ours. Eventually turning it into a true Player HUB. Each Player was different, unique. They had based there appearances around the strangest of things. Some were Slimes, others were Skeletons, and some were Humans. Honestly there was a ton of variety in the Hub. The main problem was the FIGHT mechanics that kept popping up when Players engaged another Player. They could turn their Intent into weapons... or bullets. Kinda like the Magic from Undertale. This lead to some interesting things. People would gain LV for killing others, even though the Players would respawn. There were some who were OBSESSED, with the feeling of gaining LV. So much so that they hunted each other constantly... Eventually forming the faction known as GENOCIDERS. GENOCIDERs had high LV levels and would hunt down other Players all the time. They normally started out toxic. But they mellowed out a bit after they got to the point where they couldn't kill enough people to increase their LV reasonably. So they just... calmed down. None of the Players had completely died during the formation of the GENOCIDERs, and not all GENOCIDERs became GENOCIDERs because of their lust for LV. Each one had their own story after all. People who hadn't embraced killing one another, but would do it if needed, were known as NEUTRALISTS. Unlike PACIFISTs they had LV to their name.
Eventually the Admins interfered, people who had mastered their Creative abilities to the point of perfection. They layered this AU, one AU on top of the other. Something that should be impossible... But worked, it was like Dimensions. Hub 10 was dimension 10 basically. They stopped at 16 hubs, although they could have gone further. They felt like 16 was enough for now. The GENOCIDERs took Hub 1. And the more violent tended Players kept on staying on the lower levels. Each HUB representing different rules. Hub 1 was a full on PVP zone... But it was possible to live there peacefully. Especially if you lived in a high leveled GENOCIDER zone. Hub 2 was still PVP, but there were zones for rest and Safe Zones where you couldn't attack each other. It stayed mostly the same until you reached Hub 8. Hub 8 is a Neutralist Zone. Half of it is PVP, the other half Pacifist. It had a lot of the crazier Players. The 16th Layer was for full on Pacifist Players. If you gained LV, you couldn't stay there... it was full of pretentious pricks that you would rather forget about. But you really couldn't after all, that was where you came from. You had a LV of 1, meaning you never harmed anyone since you arrived. You did make a lot of friends though. Even though it had been a long time. You just couldn't think of violence towards others at the time. But now? If someone pissed you off you would beat the hell out of them with your hammer. Although since you never had intent to kill all you would do is beat them up and not kill them. Although beating people unconscious has made for a nice alternative to [FIGHT]ing.
You remember your first guide, a GENOCIDER by the name of [OVERLORD20] They had a deep understanding of the HUBs and would show you everything you needed to know. They were nicer than the Pacifists and showed you how to end fights with Conflict, and how to end them Peacefully. They could honestly be your first friend you made when you fell... the second was PLAYER. A Pacifist. The person who had taken your first chosen name. They were friendly... but obsessive. They would try everything they could to keep you near them. You once caught them threatening Overlord when he was visiting. Turns out Player was a lot scarier than you thought as your Friends started to avoid you because of him. He messaged you constantly. Wanting to talk to you. Eventually you just blocked him. You weren't talented with your Creative abilities like the Admins were, but they were good enough. Still, it was enough to create a Universe if you truly wanted to do so. Every Player here could create Universes... but we all had this interesting understanding of a thing called The BALANCE. And how close the universe was to tipping that balance. So we mainly cultivated and reinforced our AU. Making it stronger and more compact, instead of spreading out through the void. The BALANCE appreciated that immensely. Occasionally it would pick up one of our GENOCIDERs or PACIFISTs to complete tasks in the multiverse. They would always come back after they were done, they didn't have to destroy AUs, or make them. Just maintain them. When a AU was growing strangely or bending into another AU? The BALANCE would fetch one of us to fix it. No one got to really interact with the occupants of the AU's as we fixed them from a distance. You were taught Universe management from the Admin known as KeeperOfSouls. They were the one that maintained and expanded Hub 5.
Then you walk into someone. "Sorry!" You apologize.
You look up at the player. It was a red and blue lizardman. "It's alright. You Ok there Reader?"
You glance at his name. It was a white [SWAMPMONSTER]. "Swampmonster? Really?"
"Yeah... I didn't think I had died when I named myself. Still, it isn't as bad as some of the names around here."
"No one was judging Swamp. Well, not truly at least."
"Yeah, people are a lot less judgmental here than back home." He's still calling the old universe he was born in home... must be new.
"Good luck on forming a new home here Swampy. It's got some pretty nice people."
"You sure about that? It feels like I'm getting pulled in a fight everywhere I go."
"They don't mean any true harm, they just want to increase their LV. Still, you managed to get to Hub 10 at least. You have to admit it is a bit more peaceful here."
"That's for sure, the [FIGHT]s I've been in since I came here have mostly been fun. You know there is this guy called Catisbay who has a Checkerboard as his fight? You have to beat the game inorder to [SPARE] or [FIGHT] him."
"Ah, it appears someone's starting to figure out how altering the [FIGHT] mechanics work. In Hub 11 there is a guy you have to have a tea party with shaped teddy bears. If you take the teddy bears order wrong you would take damage. He actually started gaining LV cause people would just kill themselves as quickly as possible in order to get out of his [FIGHT]. Although there are some that enjoy it."
"Altering the [FIGHT] Mechanics?"
"It's in the ARCHIVEs building, there is one in each HUB, it tells you exactly how to do stuff as a CREATOR and a PLAYER. It should be somewhere in this Hubs town... I believe this Hubs town is called Codeville? Hmm. Eh, Codeville. It's the next town outside of the Astral Ruins."
"That's what this place is called?"
"Mind me asking, but what color was the name of your guide?"
"Green? Why?"
"Ah, I was just wondering, you had a PACIFIST guide, while most of them are Ok, they don't have the same Patience as a GENOCIDER. So they won't inform you of everything you have to know. Here's a bit of advice, get to the ARCHIVEs so you can learn a bit about the HUBs and their history."
"Alright, thanks Reader... Hey you said a GENOCIDER is Patient right? Why did my guide say to stay away from them?"
"Look at the name. G-E-N-O-C-I-D-E. They kill people, not to be mean or anything, but mainly to increase LV."
"What are the benefits of increasing LV?!"
"From what I've read? None, it just means they are more experienced at [FIGHT]ing and won't hesitate to attack you with a extremely powerful combo right from the start. Most of them are nice at first. But you can expect to get dragged into a [FIGHT] eventually. Some like testing out other players skills."
"Thank you Reader!"
"No problem, I'm going to go ahead and explore, have fun!" You watch as the lizardboy runs off. They are young. At least they aren't a child player. The Pacifists would have stirred up a storm if the child Players weren't up on HUB 16. Although there were child Players on the lower floors as GENOCIDERs don't really harm children, but they are heavily protective of the kids choices, letting them grow up in the way they want too. That's how we have Pacifist Players on the lower HUBs instead of just on HUB 10 and higher. It's actually strange to gain LV nowadays if you weren't on HUB 1. As HUB 1 was full of PVP Players looking for do or die fights or challenges. The [FIGHT] you had with Overlord showed you why the GENOCIDERS were so dangerous. Overlord had a full two minute first attack. And each attack had a unique pattern that you had to pay attention too. It was intense fighting one. You were able to spare Overlord after his second phase. Although he said if you wanted to have some more fun you could try and face his third phase.
It was fun with the GENOCIDERs, they weren't afraid of insulting each other, and didn't care much for other people reactions to them, but they cared about other people if they were depressed and sad, in their own weird way of course. In their head a [FIGHT] was the best way to get peoples heads off things making them depressed.... and you have to say, it worked most of the time. You can't think of things toxic to your self when someone's trying their damn best to kill you. You'd say it makes sense, cause the dead can't feel depressed... but that's not true in this case as the dead don't stay dead.
You shake yourself out of your thoughts. It was time to stop thinking and start exploring... and socializing! Damn you hate socializing. You did it to one person... maybe you can call it a day? Then you look at your pitiful amount of Credits. You needed to spare a few people inorder to get some credits for to purchase a home. Although you weren't sure if you would stay in the Astral Ruins or not. You were actually thinking about staying in either Codeville or the LabZone, Administrative City was a big no no for you, as there was a bit too many people that stayed in Administrative City. Although it did have some of the best thing to see, such as the Star Dome, or the Paradise Park. Although some of the best sites were on HUB 1, formed from the bombastic attacks of the stronger GENOCIDERs, who fought without using a FIGHT. You shrudder thinking of those fights, you saw a recording of one once. It looked like something out of Mortal Kombat. Especially when the silver metal dude ripped the head off of the lionman. It can get extremely violent in HUB 1 at times, you must admit. There was a reason the PACIFISTs were terrified of the High LV GENOCIDERs.
You look for someone looking for a [FIGHT]... and there is one, a grey named fox human called [KENNY]
You approach him. "I'm needing some Creds, so are you looking for a [FIGHT]?"
"You sure? You might be hurt facing my patterns. They do a pretty high amount of damage."
You glance at you 59/59 HP. It had decreased from it's initial 80 since your stay with Player.
"Yes. I'm sure."
The [FIGHT] begins. You are pulled into a black room with no details other than your soul and the fox human The familiar options pop up in front of you. [ACT] *TAUNT
"Let's get this over with."
"You can eat those words later Reader!"
The attack begins.
White water like walls form on the left and right sides of the room. Suddenly beams appeared moving towards you from above and below. You move your soul into the gaps, barely dodging one attack after the other. It was a constant stream of attacks as well. But you only needed to stay in the center of the gap to survive. Then it is your turn again.
[ACT] *Taunt
"Is that all?"
"Course not! It's just a mini tutorial before I get serious!"
The attack begins again.
It's the same attack as last time, but this time droplets of water fell from one end to the other, and they moved with the stream attacks. Giving you less room to in the gaps. You had to be on either the left or right side for each drop. They were going to make you work for those Creds. Luckily the longer and tougher the fight the more Creds you would get.
[MERCY] *SPARE
The next attack begins. There is a bit of blue and orange magic in the mix this time.
[MERCY] *SPARE
This time fishes flop out of both sides, they peaked their heads out first, letting you know where to dodge.
[MERCY] *SPARE.
The fight ends. Your LV doesn't increase, you gain 45 cred. You now have 80 cred.
Sometimes you hate that Player wouldn't let you get into many [FIGHT]s even though HUB 16 [FIGHT]s were harmless. It force you to rely on him for everything... and you hated that.
"It was a good fight Kenny."
"Thanks! I worked hard on it. I've been learning more unique attack pattern recently and how to shape my intent into more than just insta kill lines. I even figure out how to reduce the damage of the INTENT attacks!"
"Nice! I bet your [FIGHT]s will be one of everyones favorites eventually!" His smile got bigger. The humanoid fox gives you a hug...
"THANK YOU FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT!" How down has he been!?! "Here."
Your eyes go wide as you eye the three thousand creds he holds out to you. "Wha?! Why?"
"You need it, my phases are a bit too short to give you the cred you need if your going to stay on Hub 10."
"How could you tell!"
"You were whispering aloud about your plans to stay in Codeville or the LabZone, then you quieted down. Don't worry about me, I make that much Cred in a day from [FIGHT]s I have to do a lot of studying you know, to improve my [FIGHT]."
"Well... Thank you!"
"No problem, anyways if you need me I'll be at the Arcade. A GENOCIDER from the lower levels is going to show off his new attack patterns and is inviting people to try and [FIGHT] him."
"Good luck! And for real, thank you! I'll pay you back as soon as possible!"
"Don't worry about it Reader!" He says as he runs off. You forget occasionally how nice people are here, even the GENOCIDERs and pure PACIFISTs have their place. It only takes 2,000 to buy a door in Codeville, and you could make the pocket dimension the door leads to as big as you wished, and you could customize it! Your own place, you were excited. You just had to finish up at the Astral Ruins.