The Immortal Player

"Brothers and sisters! We don't need to worry! With us all together, we can explore the world further!" A male player leading a group of ten walks in the forest a few miles away from a mountain.

"Awooooooooooooo!" A very loud wolf cry was heard miles away from the mountain as its origin. All the players in the group stopped to their tracks and wore a pale look.

"Not good!" a small player quickly ran away, opposite the mountain. He ran back towards the Kagat Village which was about half a day by foot.

"Waa! Waaa!" Seconds later, the rest of the group ran for their lives!

"What was that! It is too terrifying!" the player who leads the group could only wear a bitterly smile in his face. Fear took over his pride.

...

Back in his room, Pedro kept the traded items to his inventory for he could not use or activate it yet. He just continued his cooking until It was just minutes before he logged off. He planned to wake up early so he could go to the university and meet his classmates before the 'announcement' would be made.

He woke up at 05:00 in the morning and jogged around outside their house and did some push-up and jumping jacks to exercise.

"I need to change my lifestyle and make a better morning exercise plan! That way, my body will not weaken when playing the game in extended hours!" He uttered to his self as he walks back to eat breakfast and prepare to go to university.

During breakfast, they had the usual morning conversation. After eating breakfast, He took a shower and quickly prepared to depart to the university.

"Let's go, Pedro!" His Uncle Gilbert was waiting outside the door of their house. He wore a Barong, black slocks and shiny black shoes. He was Pedro's Uncle in his mother side that works for them as a personal driver.

"Uncle?! Are you driving me to the university? Then, who's gonna drive for father?" Pedro asked. His father's personal driver was his uncle. This way, they could be assured that the driver wouldn't have ill intentions to his father and his trip would be safe, especially he is the president and owner of a company.

"Don't worry! Your father will leave later than usual, so he ordered me to bring you to the university first! I'll go back home to pick your father afterward." His uncle explained.

"Thanks, uncle! But I'll just bring my car to the university! That way, I won't be troubling anyone to pick me up later!" Pedro replied as he plays the key of his Toyota Land Cruiser.

"But... your fa..." His uncle tried to argue because Pedro's father ordered him to and at the same time, he was also concerned about Pedro's safety.

"Let him, Gilbert! You don't wanna be late, son! Have a safe trip!" His mother interjected as she approached them and gestured at Pedro to leave.

He rides his car and left. After an hour of driving, he was able to reach the university earlier than he expected. It was only around 08:00 in the morning. There were many cars parked already. It mostly belonged to the university's faculty, staff, and employees.

"Guess, I'll look for Engr. Davion Garcia and ask where should I go for the 'university announcement'!" He went to their department building and look for Engr. Garcia. He decided to look for him since he was a professor who was easy to approach and kind.

Pedro's university was the Lowland University. It was located between Metro Manila and Cavite Province, that was a typical University composed of different departments for the different course offered, like the Engineering Department, Education Department, and the Business and Office Administration Department.

Each department has its own designated building on the campus. Besides departmental buildings, There was the University Logistics building, University Administration Building, Library, and a University Arena.

All of the buildings were surrounding the University Arena (North) and football field (South). The Engineering Department building was located on the left side of the intersection of the football field and the University Arena.

When he reached the fourth floor of the building, which was assigned to the Electronics Engineering, he went to the faculty room. He greeted the professors he got contact with, as respect, and went to Engr. Garcia who was talking to another faculty. When Engr. Garcia noticed Pedro he excused himself to the other faculty and approached Pedro.

"Mr. Armaz... You're early!" Engr. Garcia chuckled as he approaches Pedro.

"I predicted that there would be a huge crowd who will go to university. That's why I decided to head early!" Pedro smiled a bit awkwardly while scratching his head as he explained.

"That's good! That's' good! So... Do you need anything from me?" Engr. Garcia patted Pedro's shoulder slightly, twice then he places his hand over Pedro's shoulders as they walk out of the faculty room.

"Yes, Professor... I was wondering if you had any information about the 'university announcement'..." Pedro asked directly to Engr. Garcia as soon as they were in the hallway.

"Information? If you mean about the contents of the announcement... I can't help! Even the Dean doesn't know anything yet... We were only advised to place the students per year and section! Then, assign each to a room... That's all!" Engr. Garcia could only explain to Pedro while occasionally glancing inside the faculty room.

...

In his past life, he didn't experience any university announcements like these. The Electronic Survival Sports and Development subject, Bearth Online, was only included in the curriculum in their country a year after Pedro graduated from College. (Third year of Bearth Online.) Hence, Pedro could only deduce that the announcement made would be the same as the one released during the third year of the game.

The announcement was that the game was a mandatory game to be played. It can be played when one was sleeping, there was no problem in the progress of one student in the game and It would not be a reason for them not to perform well in the school.

Students were graded quarterly based on their Survival rating. The school will record the level and attributes, at the start of the quarter and at the end of the quarter. The difference in the recorded data was used in giving the Survival rating. This rating reflects the ability and potential of one person that he can possibly contribute to the community.

The Survival rating has two parts. The attribute and the level increase. The attribute part was just a reference to what was the current capabilities of the player. It will be indicated as raw values of his or her attributes to show how a player was able to attain those corresponding level increase.

The major role player was the level increase.

...

For example, at the start of the first quarter of the year, the current level of Pedro in his past life was 44. When the first quarter was about to end, he had a level of 51. Hence, he had a 7 level increase, which was above the average level increase in that quarter that was around 4 to 6 level increase.

If a player has a level increase below 3, he or she would be rated "F" on survival ranking.

3 to 5 level increase would be rated "E".

Above 5 to 7 level increase would be rated "D".

Above 7 to 8 level increase would be rated "C".

Above 8 to 9 level increase would be rated "B".

and lastly, Above 9 level increase would be rated "A".

...

The Tier ranking was based on the survival rating of players, mostly based on the level increase. (Note that Tier rankings are based on a yearly basis, not quarterly!)

...

Other than students, the government, in his past life, made a special department to record the Survival rating of a non-student citizen. Because the rating can be used in applying for jobs and such, as a representation of survival and development capabilities of that person. It would highly reflect his or her abilities in working alone or with other people.

...

"It's fine Professor, I was simply referring to the room assigned for me!" Pedro chuckled.

"Ahh... You're on section EE23, right? Go to room 405, that's the room assigned for your section! Is that all?" Engr. Garcia pointed into one of the rooms along the hallway. (EE23 - Electronics Engineering, second year, section three.)