After completing character creation and being transferred, what spreads before my eyes is a dense, lush forest. Like in the offline version, it seems we start from a location suited to each species' characteristics.
[Tutorial Quest, Species "Moss" has been received] - [Start] - [Skip Tutorial] -
A window appears in my view, asking whether to start the tutorial. Unlike other VR games, this game doesn't only feature monsters with limbs, so menu operations are performed through thought. This is the same as the offline version and is indicated in the precautions, so there's no problem.
Since I was told it would be better to do the tutorial, I select "Start" with thought control.
[Tutorial Quest, Species "Moss" is starting]
Oh, it's begun. Right, I need to properly remember how to operate.
[About Operation Methods]
It starts with operation methods right away. Well, this could be considered the most important content. I have absolutely no idea how to move.
[Species "Moss" cannot move independently in its initial state. Therefore, use the initial skill "Colony Movement"]
Hey!? I can't move!? And what's "Colony Movement"...?
[Species "Moss" has the unique skill "Colonization." Let's try using it first. Please open the status screen from the menu]
A unique skill, huh? Well, let's proceed according to the instructions for now. Open the menu and select status.
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[Status]
Name: Kev
Species: Moss
Affiliation: Gray Collective
Level: 1
Evolution Stage: Juvenile Form
Colony Count: 1/500
Action Value: 10/10
Attack: 1
Defense: 5
Agility: 1
Knowledge: 1
Dexterity: 5
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Weak!? And there's no HP!? What's this Colony Count!?
[Species "Moss" doesn't have HP. Instead, it has what's called a colony. You'll absorb non-monsterized moss and multiply by incorporating it as part of yourself. Now, let's try "Colonization." Please open the skill screen from the menu]
I don't quite understand, but let's follow the instructions for now. I open the skill screen.
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[Skills]
[Unique Skills]
[Colonization Lv1], [Colony Movement Lv1]
[Normal Skills]
[Water Absorption Lv1], [Slip Lv1], [Photosynthesis Lv1]
[Special Skills]
[Increased Mutation Rate]
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So that's all I have for now. Ah, I've seen "Water Absorption" and "Photosynthesis" in the offline version. Though the effects might not be exactly the same. "Slip" is new to me, but I'm guessing it's an attack skill. It would be problematic otherwise.
I'm also curious about the special skill "Increased Mutation Rate." That was the affiliation bonus. So for other affiliations, it would be "Increased Attack Power" or "Increased Defense Power."
[Please select "Colonization"]
Alright, "Colonization" it is. Oh, something's added to my view!? Is this making the moss displays in my view turn red?
[You can select moss that exists within your view and incorporate it as your colony. The selection range will change to red. Do you want to execute "Colonization"?]
YES. Now, what will happen?
[Consuming 1 Action Value to activate "Colonization Lv1"]
[Colony Count increased by 300]
[Gained 2 Fusion Evolution Points]
Action Value: 9/10
Colony Count: 301/500
Fusion Evolution Points: 2
So skills consume Action Value, just like in the offline version. I wonder what the consumption rate is? And the skill effect increased my Colony Count. Fusion Evolution Points also increased? I don't recall this from the offline version. Is this because I fused...?
[The amount of Action Value consumed depends on the skill's level. Continuous actions are possible as long as you have Action Value, but skills won't activate if you don't have enough. Also, Action Value can be recovered over time]
So I need to act while being mindful of my remaining Action Value. Carelessly leveling up might lead to disaster in some cases. I'll be careful.
So, the effect of colonization is to incorporate the moss in this red area as myself, increasing by 300, and the current maximum I can incorporate is 500. I need to try to understand what this means in practice.
Also, the color of the display changed. There's a sparkling effect over the normal display. This effect indicates the moss that's been colonized.
[Within the range of colonized moss, it becomes possible to move the core of the mental life form using "Colony Movement." The total number of "Colonization" and the movement range of "Colony Movement" vary depending on the level. Also, if the Colony Count reaches 0, survival becomes impossible, and the mental life form abandons the body and moves to "Reincarnation Evolution." Would you like to proceed with the "Evolution" tutorial?]
This was in the offline version too, but it seems like the specifications have changed in various ways, so I should listen. YES.
[Starting the "Evolution" tutorial. Please select evolution from the menu screen]
I open the evolution screen as instructed.
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[Evolution]
Enhancement Evolution Points: 0P
Fusion Evolution Points: 2P
Survival Evolution Points: 0P
[Mutation Evolution]
Currently, there are no available evolution paths.
[Reincarnation Evolution]
Currently, there are no available evolution paths.
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[Affiliation Bonus: Increased Survival Evolution Points, Slightly Decreased Enhancement Evolution Points, Slightly Decreased Fusion Evolution Points]
So there are three types of evolution points and two types of evolution methods. In the offline version, they were all treated the same, but in the online version, they've been subdivided.
["Mutation Evolution" occurs during survival, and "Reincarnation Evolution" occurs upon death, both when evolution conditions are met and by consuming various evolution points. "Enhancement Evolution Points" can be obtained from defeating enemies or weakening them, "Fusion Evolution Points" from incorporating non-monsterized species of the same lineage, and "Survival Evolution Points" from near-death experiences or critical situations, depending on the circumstances]
Ah, so that's why I received Fusion Evolution Points when I colonized. Is the plant system good with fusion? I wonder if carnivorous monsters would also gain points by eating non-monster carnivorous animals...?
Otherwise, I guess the interpretation is that aggressive monsters easily gain Enhancement Evolution Points, and weak monsters that are easily killed gain Survival Evolution Points?
Maybe I made a mistake with the Gray Collective... I don't even know if moss is easily killed or not.
[What evolution paths are available, how many points of which type are needed for evolution, what the evolution conditions are, etc., should be explored by all players. The "Evolution" tutorial ends here]
So that's it. I guess they wouldn't let me evolve right away.
[Next, starting the battle tutorial for species "Moss"]
Oh, I've been waiting for this. Battle tutorial! I've made some predictions based on the skill list, but with initial skills, probably...
[The initial skill "Water Absorption" absorbs moisture from the surroundings, as the name suggests. "Slip" makes the surface of the moss extremely slippery. "Photosynthesis" can heal damage to colonized moss, but only while the sun is out]
That's a simple skill explanation. I guess that's normal for initial skills. So, moss isn't aggressive but more of a territorial defense trap-type species. Well, this depends on the skills I acquire from now on...
[There are multiple ways to acquire new skills: during various evolutions, by consuming evolution points, by performing specified actions, as quest rewards, etc. Please try to find many skills]
Hmm, I see. So I need to try various things. I'm getting a bit interested in how far I can go with moss. Even though they called it an unusual choice, it seems they've put some thought into its design.
[This concludes the tutorial. For detailed information, please refer to the help section or check for yourself. Enjoy your monster life!]
Huh? The battle tutorial ends with just an explanation? I guess they want me to try the rest by myself. First, I should maximize my Colony Count. Since that changes my movement range... After that, I'll experiment in actual combat.
There are probably non-player general organisms as well, so I need to find them and verify the practicality of the slip trap!