Two lives left: chapter 1

Damnit, they changed a lot, Coby thought as he read through the crisp black letters that covered the ancient-looking scroll hovering in front of him. Behind it, the frozen world looked almost like a photograph.

"Only up to level twelve, but with how hard those class fragments are to get, that might be for the best. I just wish they explained what was removed or altered. How am I supposed to find the optimal solution like this?" he muttered.

The small timer beside his screen ticked down to the last second, and the scroll rolled up, then vanished with a crisp ping. The entire world seemed to shiver, and things commenced moving like a machine turned on.

With a jarring suddenness, cars came to a screeching halt, some swirling around as they slammed into others.

Coby felt control over his body return and quickly ran onto the sidewalk before pressing his back against the donut shop's sidewall. He could feel it shaking softly, but he was only looking at the intersection a dozen feet away. Seven cars were piled up, smoke curling up dangerously as people climbed out.

"Good thing it's this early," he whispered, taking a deep breath.

If it had been a few hours later, hundreds of cars would have been here.

All around him, people ran out of shops and began pulling wounded people out of the cars. Coby was secretly happy he didn't have to help. He was still tired from the night, although luckily sober now.

Wait, was he?

"Shit, perhaps someone slipped something in my drinks," he grunted as he realized nobody around acted any different. Perhaps he was in shock from seeing a normal accident, and his mind made up some fantasy?

He shakily pulled out his phone, selected the top contact, and walked away from the commotion. The only other pedestrians walking around at this ungodly hour were a group of teenage girls with baggy eyes and mascara stains chatting nervously as they stared at the crashed cars.

The phone rang twice before someone picked it up.

"Am I drunk or crazy?" Coby asked, not bothering with a greeting.

"Probably, but if you're talking about that scroll and the fact you couldn't move? Then, no and no. Well, unless it's mass, planetwide hysteria," a soft, slightly high-pitched voice replied.

"Fantastic… so, can we even reach each other before those tutorials open up?" Coby asked, barely managing to stop when a door in front of him opened almost in his face.

A bedraggled man shoved a small shopping rack out of the door of the small grocery shop. He had a confused look and a zoned-out look in his eyes. He looked so much like Coby felt that he couldn't stop himself.

"You are not crazy," Coby said, startling the man as he ignored the surprised shout from Jessy on the other end.

"How... why?" the man muttered.

"I don't know, but it's real, so stop that and go call your son or grandson for advice," Coby said before stepping around the man and continuing on his path. The man shouted something after him that sounded like thanks, but he ignored it. He had no time to waste, so he put the phone back against his ear.

"Jessy?" he called when he heard nothing.

"Who was that?"

"Nothing. Just some old guy. Now, are you at your flat or with your mom?"

"Mom, sorry. You will have to do the tutorial on your own," Jessy said.

"Fantastic," Coby said. "So what are you going to do? Any advice?"

"Figure out if Wizards get every spell we know or if they changed that. If they get it all, and I can get that class shard, that's what I'll take. Teleport would go a long way in getting my other sisters home safe," Jessy said.

He was quiet for a moment before humming a horribly off-pitch tune. "And advise? As I said, Wizard. That way, we can share spells for faster progression. But whatever you do, pick a caster. Anything that can keep you out of harm's way."

"What about a Warlock?" Coby asked, an idea playing through his mind though he wasn't able to keep the doubt from his voice.

"What? Are you crazy? Low hit points, low mana, and barely any spell choices," Jessy summed up. "Pick the Wizard or, if you have to be different, Sorcerer or Druid."

Coby knew his friend was probably right. If only because he was the one that always theory-crafted every combination in every game. The problem was, that was when it was a game, and going all in on a single thing was a good option. No, before he was going to pick anything, they needed more information. Some way to find out what was going on, and perhaps a way to set the rules to their hand.

"Warlocks get a Patron, thus a chance to communicate with something that might know more of what's going on," he couldn't resist saying, trying to sound like he knew what he was doing.

He moved into the narrow, dirty street, lined by four-floor apartment buildings, two on each side. A quick look at his watch showed he would make it home with time to spare.

"Jessy?" he asked.

"Still here, just pondering what you just said. I hadn't thought about the intel side of things, but even then… someone else will do this and share the info. Right?"

"Probably," Coby agreed. "But will they be fast enough? Also, we would have to trust them. We don't even know if we can find a class shard, let alone if we can be picky. And what if all we find is a Fighter or Ranger one? Are you willing to wait for the right shard with the chance of it never happening? It's not like we have that long, only a year before the final safe area is engulfed."

"True…" Jessy said. "There is merit to what you said, but I think a Cleric or Paladin would be a safer bet in that case."

"If the fake lore we've all read is going to be the basis of the truth, they might never even answer their followers," Coby said slowly, mulling over the idea of becoming a Paladin.

He'd played them on occasion, but the idea of having to actually run into melee with a monster, knowing he might get stabbed, somehow didn't appeal to him as much when he knew it would actually hurt.

A high-pitched shout sounded on the other side of the phone.

"Coming. I'm on the phone with Coby!" Jessy shouted, luckily pulling the phone from his mouth before he did.

A response came, and he sighed.

"Mom says you should come home. I'll explain that you can't but will come here as soon as you can. Which you will, right?"

"Definitely," Coby said. "Better go prepare her and your sisters… wait. Are they going in?"

"Jaylee is, but mom and Cassie can't. Mom wouldn't know what to do, and Cassie? She's too young for this shit Coby. Also, Mirella isn't here. She-"

Screeching tires and a roaring engine drowned out Jessy's following words.

Coby looked up as a truck roared through the narrow street, a panicking man behind the steering wheel. A red-haired woman was shouting at him, then they were gone, taking the next corner on two, screeching tires.

Coby suddenly realized there were sirens blaring all in the distance. When did that start?

"Listen, if you have to go with a Warlock, go for a celestial patron, or if you have to, some sort of genie. Don't take the Hexer, because that will bring you into melee range. Whatever you do, try to avoid that. The chances of getting killed are way too big!" Jessy said.

Before Coby could respond, another muted shout came from Jessy's mom.

"Damnit, they are losing their minds over here. I've gotta go! Stay safe and don't do anything stupid," Jessy said.

"Same to you. Make sure you bring one of each class shard back if your stupid luck works in the real world," Coby said.

"We can't bring them out, remember? Anyway, laters," Jessy said before hanging up.

Coby looked at his phone, momentarily thinking of calling his father. Then anger rose, and he shook his head. What's the use, he thought, pocketing the phone.

Less than ten minutes later, he unlocked his apartment's old, shabby door. The wooden, carpeted hallway behind him was empty, but he heard shouted conversations from the Enriques' two doors down. He slammed his own closed and looked at his watch. Thirty minutes left.

"So…  what does one need for a twenty-four-hour tutorial in some monster-infested area," he muttered. He moved into his bedroom and grabbed his old sporting bag, turning it upside down and tossing the contents on the ground.

"Good running shoes, comfortable clothing," he muttered. "Maybe, depending on what happens I might get some armor there, but can't count on it."

He quickly changed, putting on his old camo pants with the dozens of pockets, filling a few with a pocket knife, some wires, and a handful of marbles he had gotten from Jessy's sisters.

His tiny kitchen cupboards were empty, and he groaned when all he found were some instant noodles and a single chocolate bar, which he shoved in his bag. He took one look at the noodles and put them back in disgust. Of all the times to be out of canned food.

Under ten minutes after he had entered his room, he stepped out again, wearing his black coat and sporting bag. He held a crowbar in his left hand, a prop for a cosplay party years prior that he had kept for fun. He was glad he had kept it, as it was the only thing remotely like a weapon in his entire apartment. Kitchen knives notwithstanding.

"Coby!"

A heavily accented, older voice called him, and Coby turned to Miguel Enrique. The gray-haired, olive-skinned man's normally permanent smile was gone as he rushed over.

"I thought I heard you! Coby, what is going on? What should we do? I know you play games. Always games. You, you have to know something!"

Coby smiled and put his hand on the older man's shoulder. "Calm down, mister Enrique! Remember your blood pressure!"

Miguel cursed in Spanish so fast Coby couldn't even make out the different words.

"Madre Mia, Coby. Don't give me that crap! Blood pressure? What should I do? Do I need to do this… tutorial? Or…"

Coby squeezed old man Enrique's shoulder as he smiled sadly. He wanted to tell the old man to stay here, but did he have the right? If Miguel didn't go and couldn't find a sponsor after, he would eventually die.

"I don't know much more than you, Miguel. But I have to hurry before those zones appear," Coby said. "If I were you I would go… they said we get one extra chance there, so if you die you will just go back outside. But, if you go inside, be careful. Think of it as a war but with magic."

Miguel shrunk slightly, a slight panic on his face. But he nodded.

"Bruchas… mother was right after all. I… I'll think about it. But why couldn't they give us more than an hour? This... this is just…" he fell quiet, and Coby squeezed his shoulder again before stepping away.

"Good luck Mister Enrique," he said before turning and rushing down the hallway and into the staircase that led down. It would be faster than waiting for the elevator.

I hope he tries, he thought as he recalled the little information on the scroll. Two lives for those who entered the tutorial, and if you finished it with both you could keep them. He knew it was probably enticement to make as many people go in as they could, but he was still going. He would gain valuable experience and knowledge even if he failed and died.

When he reached the bottom stories, sweating and out of breath, he saw dozens of people standing on the street outside. Most had baseball bats, knives, or other weapons in their hands. The most remarkable was a person with fake red hair, dressed in a white kimono with two swords on his hips.

Great the idiots are out already, Coby thought as he walked outside.

"Thirty-four minutes left," someone said beside him.

He turned, thinking it was directed at him, then saw two men with black leather coats and baseball bats lean against the wall.

"My bet is that one of them will show up in the old park. These things always happen in the park, right?"

Coby didn't recognize them, but both had tattoos and looked physically fit and tough. He made a snapshot decision and stepped to the wall beside them.

"That, or the old train station on Hamptons street," he said.

The two looked at him, two pairs of dark eyes quickly scanning Coby's black attire and the crowbar. One of the two, a long-haired, stubbled latino nodded appreciatively. The other one, with short spiky hair and piercings in his eyebrows and ears, snorted.

"Aye, I hadn't thought of that yet. You are going in on your own?"

Coby shrugged, eyeing the other. He was heavily regretting his actions. When would he ever learn not to jump in on a first whim?

"I was hoping to find a group to join," he said. "You two look ready for anything."

A little flattery never hurt anyone, he thought as he waved at the baseball bats and army boots.

"Not everything," the long-haired one said with a frown. He dragged a hand with a lot of silver fings through his heavily greased hair. "If what they said is true, we might be up against anything ranging from hill giants to legions of gnomes. These," and he raised the bat with obvious self-depreciation. "Won't do jack-shit against those."

Coby stared at him, and it took a second for him to get a grip on himself, close his mouth, and nod sagely. He'd not expected the other to have any knowledge of fantasy games. He seemed more like a fan of shooters at first glance.

"So, mind if I join you guys?" he asked, no longer as doubtful as before.

The shorthaired one frowned, seeming ready to reject it, but the smarter one held up his hand.

"Sure," he said, holding out his hand. "Martin."

"Coby, and thanks," Coby said, looking at the spikey-haired one.

"Anton," the angry one said, scowling at him. He turned to Martin. "You sure about this, bro?" he asked, ignoring Coby.

"Yes, now calm down," Martin said. "With the others being on the far side of the city, it's safer with more people."

Anton snorted, then commenced to ignore Coby.

"Ignore him. He is always grumpy," Martin said as he turned to Coby. "What do you know of this game we are supposed to play? I know it's fantasy, with mages and knights or something, but no more."

Coby took his eyes off Anton and looked at Marin.

For the next three minutes they talked about games, and Coby quickly found that Martin was a fervent fantasy gamer, owning half a dozen consoles. He didn't know much about tabletop games or the edited version they were apparently subject to now.

"So… who do you think is behind all this?" Anton asked Martin, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at everyone around him, pointedly ignoring Coby.

Coby watched as Martin's eyes glazed over, and he understood why. That was the question wasn't it? Who was doing this? There had been no more information than join or die, but with a whole world of people frozen in place, planes hanging mid-air, and everyone getting the same message, there was little denying it had to be something beyond human understanding.

"I don't know… a god maybe?" Coby asked, shrugging.

"Gods don't exist," Anton said automatically before looking around in confusion. "Right?" he asked Martin.

"I dunno, bro," Martin said.

The sound of shattering glass came from everywhere, and Coby dropped down, hand over his head. Terrified screams came from the people clustered together, and Martin backed up with wide eyes and his club raised.

It sounded like it was raining glass for ten more seconds, then the distant sounds of explosions and collapsing buildings replaced it. Massive black pillars rose in the sky, towering above the city, likely visible from far away.

"I guess that means the tutorial areas are there," Coby muttered as he rose and looked at the nearest one. Most of the rumbling came from the east, where multiple pillars poked out from the city, which seemed like the largest collection. A big gust of dust streaked up above the northern part of the city with another three.

"Rilion Tech's old factory," Coby said, pointing at the biggest collection while trying to recall what was up north. "I don't know about the other area."

"Saint Ann's church. Everyone bloody knows that," Anton hissed as he wiped his face.

"Anton, calm," Martin said as he looked around. "Most people are heading east. I think it's the safest bet. Let's go." He moved forward, running after the other people.

"If you wanna stay, keep up," Anton said with a glare at Coby.

Coby waited for a second, slightly shocked by Anton's quick anger, then ran after them.

Better not to go alone, he decided.

The wave of running people was joined by many more until they reached the edge of the city residential area. It was mostly young men, but there were women and middle-aged people mixed in.

As Coby tried to keep up with the other two who had sprinted to the head of the group, his breath caught in his throat when he came around the corner of two large buildings mid-construction.

The tutorial zone dominated the view ahead. The black wall was dull, seeming to absorb all of the light, and a massive clock sat in the middle, ticking down.

They weren't kidding when they said we would know how long things lasted, Coby thought.

"Let's go in," Anton said, seemingly not even slightly out of breath.

"Not yet," Martin rejected as he examined the barrier.

Groups of people were moving closer, but even though they had run there, no one seemed eager to be the first to enter.

"Why not?" Anton snapped.

"Because we don't know what's inside," Coby said in between his heavy breathing.

"Damn, you're a wash," Anton snapped as he looked at Coby. "Can't even run a little bit before almost dying! Why are we even bringing him along, bro?"

"Calm down, Anton," Marin said as he looked at the other. "There are non-physical classes in the game, and we can use his help. His eyes flashed for a second, and Coby might have missed it if he hadn't been looking out for it.

Coby felt his heart rate spike, but he managed to hide his feeling. He is going to try and use me as bait, he thought as he looked at Martin, who inspected him back. He had no idea why, but he was sure of it.

"So, let's go a bit closer," Martin said, turning away.

Anton glared at Coby, then followed the second.

I'm not that crazy, Coby thought as he followed slowly, letting the distance between them grow. Then when he had a chance, he stepped sideways and behind a container. There was a small gap between the lid, which he used to look at Martin and Anton.

Better alone than being used as cannon fodder. I wish Jessy was here, he thought as he saw Martin and Anton reach the group closest to the black wall. Martin turned and looked around, his eyes widening. Then he slowly prodded Anton and said something that Coby couldn't hear.

Yeah, I'm gone, smart-ass, Coby thought as he watched the two argue for a bit. Then they began looking around, finally heading towards two guys in their mid-twenties. Each carried something long and oddly shaped, which Coby thought might be table legs.

Far to the left, a group of four finally moved into the barrier, disappearing from view. Most of the people around, Coby included, watched the spot, waiting.

After a minute another group went in, and suddenly it seemed like fear left people. Whole groups of people began running through the wall, but Coby waited until Anton and Martin left with the other two guys. Then he moved from his hiding place and walked toward the rest of the mass of people. Many were standing around, appearing to look for a group, and he began doing the same.

No overly quick actions this time, he told himself, knowing it was likely he wouldn't be able to keep that self-imposed limitation.

The large clock had ten minutes left, after which the tutorial zones would close until everyone was out, when Coby approached a group of three guys and two girls. They were all tall and lean, and one of the guys was so buff he had to be a wrestler or bodybuilder. Coby had watched them slowly group together, initially all alone except for the girls, and as Coby stepped forward they turned to him.

"What do you want, short stuff?" the buff guy said, smiling at Coby with no malice.

"Wondering if you guys can use another," Coby replied, looking at the others before focusing on the buff one.

"Sure, why not," Buffguy said with a wide smile that, to Coby's utter surprise, reached his eyes. "I'm Brad!"

Coby blinked, then grinned back, barely holding back a 'ofcourse'.

"Coby," he said as he moved towards the group.

"So, if you want to come, there is one rule," Brad said as he waved around. "From the looks of you, you have some experience with online games, so this should be quick. We have all picked a class, and if we find a shard that matches it, it goes to the one who chose it. As you are the last one, you don't have a whole lot of options left."

Coby blinked in surprise, both by the quick stamp he'd gotten and the information. Then he nodded. "I see. And what classes did you all pick?"

"Paladin," Brad said as he pointed at himself, then waved at the others.

"Mace, Ranger," one of the guys said before pointing at the one beside him. "And David here will be a druid."

"Tiffany, but call me Tiff," a blond-haired girl said. "I'll be the cleric and healer." She smiled anxiously as she kept glimpsing at the black wall.

"Margot, rogue," the last one said, pushing her glasses up a bit. "Now, we should have enough people. Let's go before the countdown stops. We only get this one chance, and we shouldn't blow it!"

Brad laughed and strode forward, swinging his arms as he did. "Coby, I'm pretty sure you will agree to what is left?"

"Sure," Coby said as he nodded. "What do we do if we find multiple of the same shards and none of the ones you want?"

"We will see then," Brad said. "We know basically nothing anyway, so this is more a formality. Now let's go!"

Coby followed the others, looking at Mace, who was inspecting him curiously.

"Sorry," the wannabe ranger said with a smile that showed he wasn't sorry at all. "Just checking to see what role you could fulfill. I'm thinking you are the mage type?"

"Not sure yet," Coby said, ignoring the second jab at his skinny physique. He'd long since gotten used to that. "Kind of depends on what shards we get, doesn't it?"

"Definitely," Mace said.

"Here I go," Brad shouted as he stepped through the black wall without any apparent fear.

Definitely a Paladin, Coby thought with a snort. Not that he would have sniffed at the option. There were paladins, and then there were Paladins. Brad was just the regular kind. Ahead of him, the others followed one by one, and suddenly he was alone. He looked at the black wall, noting there was no reflection or glare—just a dull blackness.

I wonder if they included every subclass, he thought as he forced himself forward and stepped through the wall.