Chapter 27 - The HBTC (1/2)
”IT'S THE HYPERBOLIC TIME CHAMBER!!!” Brance and Cynrik screamed in unison. Then, unable to contain their excitement any longer, the brothers dashed forward into the small living area of the facility. Although the two knew what to expect, they were still amazed by the sheer vastness the HBTC held. Aside from the island-like living area, which spanned roughly a hundred square feet, all the two could see was a never-ending expanse of white astral nothingness.
The Rest Area was precisely as they remembered, a small circular living quarters with two round roofed storages, one on either side of the living room. Two massive hourglasses sat opposite ends of the living space, half-filled with green sand, signifying how much time they could stay in the facility. The tops of the rest area and the hourglasses were large golden domes that tapered into a sharp-looking point, while the roofs of the storage area were an off shade of pinkish-purple. Everything else, from the walls to the floor, was made of slick white marble.
Each chunk of flooring was shiny and new-looking while being roughly 3x3 feet in size. Standing with his back to the large door they came from, Cynrik took in all the sights around him, taking note of the two large purple beds to his right and the dining table with two chairs to his left.
Stepping away from the door behind him, Cynrik left his awestruck brother behind as he began counting how many tiles led to the opening of the living quarters out into the training area. Walking forward and counting 12 tiles, he came to the end of the living room, signified by two thin pillars and a wide archway. Looking to his left, Cynrik couldn't stop himself from inhaling a sharp breath.
”Animation doesn't do this place justice,” his words dragged Brance out of his stupor as he quickly caught up to his brother, who was standing just outside of the rest area looking out over the cosmic expanse.
They both stood there in silence as memories of their favorite characters training before fighting one of the numerous bad guys flashed through their minds.
”We truly are in a fantasy world, so what do you wanna do first?” Turning to meet his brother's gaze, Brance couldn't wipe off the grin that had plastered itself all over his face.
With a shrug, Cynrik continued walking forward onto the tiled floor before stepping down onto the two lower decks of tiles and stopping right before the tile ended and the white nothingness began. If he took another step forward the ten times Vinestra's gravity would kick in, and while brave, he wasn't stupid enough to just trek down into the training area.
Pulling them out of their nostalgia trip, Cynrik and Brance were suddenly bombarded by a series of notifications from Tobs detailing everything about the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
-Six months have been allocated to the Hosts. Please regularly check the hourglasses to keep knowledgeable about the remaining time left in the facility. -
-After certain distances, randomly generated virtual creatures will appear. Defeating these creatures will give the Host a small number of attribute points, Proficiency, and small bundles of experience.-
-Please be advised that the Host's stamina will constantly drain if they are in the training area corresponding to their Gravity Resistance Proficiency. If it reaches 0, the Host will be rendered unconscious.-
-While this is a virtual world, and death is not permanent, if for some reason the Host dies within the Training Area or Rest Area, all of the XP, Attribute points, and Proficiency gained in the 24 hours before death will be deleted.-
-The clock located on the Rest Area will chime every 24 hours to signal that all gains are secured and permanent.-
-If the Host remains unconscious in the training area for an undetermined amount of time, they will automatically die and respawn in the marked bed inside the Rest Area.-
-While rest and sleep are necessary to recover stats, food is not. The Host will not feel hunger or thirst.-
-The storage areas to the left and right of the Rest Area house several different types of training weapons and logistical equipment that can be used for the duration of the time inside the HBTC.-