Catalyst tube glowed brighter as the Heart Core settled into pce, resonating with my choice. The blue glitter within the core swirled, mirr my determination. As I chose this, actually, not just for my personal satisfa.

  But it was something I sidered in the long run.

  Although I didn't join a forum dedicated to "World: The in," I often read it and even enter discussions about this game on social media because of its popurity. As previously said, Catalyst was the hardest to master; many pyers struggle with it.

  Apart from requiring a high [trol Grade], this Css demanded high adaptability. If pyers didn't choose Catalyst during a tutorial and unlocked it ter, the adaption time was signifitly lohan that of other Csses, making opening Catalyst for the sed ot optimal.

  Sihe Skill sets and attributes prioritized in Catalyst differ signifitly from those in others. For example, a Css based on speed, like Gunner, would develop different pyer attributes than Catalyst, which used strategy pnning and trol siderably more. Hehe psychological aspect of pyers came into py, where they would choose their fort zone Css (or their first chosen Css) that was aligned with their pystyle to its strengths and weaknesses.

  This made sense. Catalyst was like the mage, caster, or priest roles found in s—roles that used special powers that didn't feel as real as physical fighting. These Csses felt less grounded in games that didn't use magic. But in World: The in, this particur power art of the game's story; Catalyst was the sole Css that represented "magic."

  So, only pyers who chose Catalyst from the beginning (usually experienced gamers who liked using "mage") might tio use this Css, making their existence rare.

  But this game emphasized the issue of bang team position; no matter how plicated the Css was, it still had its own role.

  Including Catalyst.

  Then, of course, the existence of Catalyst would be sought after, but only a few took the Css. Wouldn't this be a great opportunity? This was a terintuitive strategy; I did zigging when everyone else zags.

  Ding!

  Catalyst Css successfully selected!Initializing Css Tutorial…The notification s appeared before me. Noir stepped back, giving me space as the transitions occurred.

  The giant holographic globe above me glowed and spun quickly before spreading out as it activated the room's simution mode. This pce, which was merely panel ss moments ago, had been turned into a desert with numerous sand dunes and boulders. Several red-colored flying drones also appeared in the distance.

  "Your first lesson as a Catalyst," Nan, "is ma your Floating Hss. trate on the Heart Core and imagihe on of your chosen Css."

  Nodding, I reached out my hand to grip the Heart Core and focused on it. In my mind, I pictured the Floating Hss, which, for some reason, was already clearly drawn in my mind what it looked like.

  Floating Hss InitializedMy crystal orb floated slightly as digital fragments began to surround it, f a frame around the Heart Core with rge octagonal holes resembling a honeyb. Two long s hung above it like decorative ribbons. It kept spinning its frame, the ribbons fluttering, which seemed to be its own attempt to stay afloat on my palm.

  Noir stepped forward. "Let's begin your training. Your first task is to learn the basients of the Floating Hss."

  With a snap of her fingers, she summoned her own Floating Hss. Overall, the shape was the same; it had a frame with decorative ribbons. But iail (holy), Noir's was more elegant with those golden ats, better decorations, aailed motives as well.

  'And her instant summoning expins her Css Grade; perhaps S—Ah, no. SS?'

  Noir extended her arm and curled her fingers. The Floating Hss responded by asding into the air. As she twisted her wrist sideways, the on moved with it.

  'Sure, it won't be as easy as it looks.'

  I raised my hand. My first gesture was simply an upward of my wrist, expeg the Floating Hss to rise. Instead, it wobbled uainly, hanging there as if hesitating before it jerkily moved upwards.

  See? My [trol Grade] was clearly less refihan Noir's.

  I tried again... to move the on from one side to another. Unfortunately, my movement was too jerky, and Floating Hss mimicked it by darting sideways at an untrolble speed.

  Tsk!

  'Expining why just at the tutorial stage is enough to make people not want to choose this annoying Css...'

  Seemingly aware of the cliy tongue, Noir said, "Floating Hss is sensitive to your iions. Move with finesse."

  There was it; her instrus were too abstrao clear steps. All relied on how the pyer perceived it. What the fuck was finesse?

  'Indeed, you 't expect more from AI.'

  So be it—uanding it in my own way.

  Iions... this was a virtual reality game; what Noir meant by it must be specific algorithms that interpret the pyer's inputs in a particur way. It would be the pyer's thought patterns, as VR:Ser was strongly tied to brainwave es.

  The solution, then, was to execute direal thinking; if the pyer wanted Floating Hss to rise, they wouldn't only think "up" but visualize it elevating in a trolled manner.

  Although this sounds quite plicated, it was retively easy, and I did it regurly.

  'ive trait like overthinking has its own advantages, you know.'

  I began calg the flight distance, visualizing the path, imagining how it should move, estimating the dire of the glide, and adjusting the asding rate. But my on remaiubbornly in pce despite all my efforts. Perfect!

  With that, I focused on my Floating Hss again. I ged my approach to be more patient and careful. Its movements were still stiff, sometimes irregur. I tried again, slowly... Yes, there it was! My Floating Hss finally moved! See that? My on started moving the way I wa to! Horizontally. Vertically. With one swift motion, the Floating Hss also shot forward.

  Nice!

  'I wonder how others will overe this stage...'

  I admit, many people certainly didn't sider making up a way out like this, especially when wanting to enjoy—Oh, well... they could skip the Tutorial and fet about the extra rewards from the early stage if it was all too bothersome.

  "Good." Noir cpped her hands, making me look again at her. "You are beginning to uand."

  "Oh, really? I had no idea. I thought I was just randomly waving my hand around for fun."

  And Noir looked at me with that same expressionless face. Before eventually saying, "Now, uanding the [Basic Attack]."

  I rolled my eyes; it would be fun if she respoo my sarcasm... or maybe not. It would be troublesome if this NPC was back-to-back with me, so I shrugged it off and refocused on her.

  "Catalyst basic attack, [Ice Lancer], is essential in battle because it doesn't rely on your Dragonic Power (DP). This allows you to tiag or defending even when your DP is depleted. However, remember, it is still categorized under [Basic Skill]."

  I uood what Noir meant.

  Although [Ice Lancer] was categorized as a [Basic Attack], just like how Assassin swings their Dual Daggers, it was still cssified as a "Skill," not just a raw attack, which meant even though it didn't require DP (or Mana in ames), it was still very much tied to the Casting Time and Cooldown.

  'Well, this is one reason Catalyst is cssified as more plicated than others.'

  As if supp my expnation, a holographic s dispyed the [Skill Tree] that focused on the [Ice Lancer] appeared before me.

  Ice LancerCreate ice projectiles to deal damage 100% to the target, which be stacked up to three times

  Cooldown 5s

  Damage Output and performance based oability, Reflex Skill Evolution UtilityGrade B to unlocrease summon stacked limit to 5Grade A to unlockGains pierg when user's HP is 80% upGrade S to unlockRemove Casting Time and Cooldown timeGrade SS to unloent speed +10% for 0.5s when hitGrade SSS to unlo critical hits, the target is Frozen for 2sEvery disadvantage came with its advantages; because [Ice Lance] was cssified as a "Skill," it had its own upgrades like this. It might seem niche, but if, for example, my Grade Css reached SSS, just one [Basic Attack] could give me an upper hand, no?

  Additionally, Catalyst had Crowd-trol (CC) Skills that could slow enemy movement, freeze, stun, or immobilize them, among other effects. It also had Area of Effect (AoE) abilities that could deal damage or apply effects to multiple enemies within the area.

  'But everything I said is biased, anyway, because I chose Catalyst. Whereas other Csses have their own OP-ness. Like the Swordmaster that thick as hell. And raising Grade is a challenge...'

  Satisfied with reading, I waved my hand, and the s disappeared. Stepping closer to Noir, I said, "Then?"

  "Then summon an ice projectile." She stretched her hand out to me. Instantly, a single, pointed ice cycle teimeters long appeared steadily above her palm. "Focus on the Floating Hss and visualize the iing."

  plying, I kept my palm under my on and trated on it.

  When I trated, a faint, shimmering magic circle appeared in my palm, its pattern glowing with a soft blue light. The air around my hand became colder. Slowly, a shard of ice appeared above the magic circle and crystallized, matg the shape of the one Noir had summoned.

  I aligned my hand with the target and moved my wrist to send the ice shard flying. It shot through the air with a soft hissing sound, leaving a trail of frost behind it.

  Stab!

  It hit the red drone five meters ahead of me; since I already uood the fual ws of the Floating Hss, it wasn't too hard like before.

  Noir observed my successful hit, nodding slightly. She then poiowards a distant red drone, signifitly further away than the previous one—around twenty meters away.

  "Now, try aiming for a farther target."

  Nodding, I refocused on my on, then to the distant target. Another ice projectile hovered in my hand. And with a fident movement of my wrist, I sent it s through the air—

  Woosh!

  —but missed.

  Hmmm, this wasn't surprising.

  Not that I suddenly became a dumbass or anything; from this distance, factors such as gravity, wind, and even the slightest hand tremor could alter the trajectory. That said, the principles that applied to le sniping in the real world were in effect here, which means...

  '...Exterior Ballistics.'

  Of course, snipers overcame that w with the help of scope for precise measurements. But for me, using Css Catalyst, there was no such thing as a scope or the like; I just relied on my judgment and the Floating Hss's respoo my ands.

  Thus, estimating these factors was more challenging.

  But things like this were still on me.

  As I mentioned, I knew... and had seen brief footage from people who had pyed this game. The PvP ducted. Monsters fought. Challenged Dungeons and missions. Seeing it all and their teamwork, position, and different Csses made me more aware of what happened.

  Whicluded situations like what happened here.

  'And personal experience also helpful.'

  I again positioned my hah the Floating Hss and focused oing another ice shard. This time, I used my fingers as a rudimentary sighting tool to visually measure the distand aween myself and the target. Extending one finger, I envisioned a curved trajectory ating for the ice shard's drop over distance.

  Taking a deep breath and adjusting my aim slightly higher to pensate for the drop, I flicked my wrist again to send another shard flying.

  Stab!

  The shard arched at the target.

  "Impressive. Quicker to adapt than most."

  "Nah." I looked down at the ground before log eyes with Noir. "I guess I just got used to it."

  'Yeah, as a dog traio lurk in the shadows...'

  D.N.A.