The Amazing Joni's
CHAPTER 5: FIVE

A portal in a virtual world was seen floating on top of a sandy hill. One meter above the ground. Initially only a fist, until then enlarged to the size of an adult. Deni and I walked out of the portal. Deni looked surprised, he fell, not ready to land. Unlike me, I was able to land slowly, as if my body was floating, losing gravity for a moment.

“Wow.!” Deni exclaimed in amazement. Not because of seeing me land, but because of something else. He saw a vast expanse of desert sand. This is the virtual world in the game.

The wind blew the sand into Deni's face. He nodded with his hands. “What are you doing, Jon?”

I crouched down, picked up a handful of sand, checked. “It's really like original, Den. Look.” I raised my hand, exposing the sand in my hand, some in the wind, some falling down by itself.

“It's really cool. They are really accurate making the setting. It's like a real thing. Look at that cactus, really spiked.” Deni pointed at the cactus not far from them standing.

Me and Deni were staring around. So what's the mission? We only saw a stretch of sand like a slum cloth ready to be ironed. At the end of there, just desert rocks. We decided to walk.

“Hey, do you realize something, Den?” I suddenly stopped. Deni looked, not understanding.

“You see this. Holy hooch! I just realized it.” I raised both hands. “You see this outfit?”

Uncompleted Deni noticed the coolness of the clothes I was wearing, she was already immersed in admiration for her own clothes. “Huhh..” cool breath. “This is cool, Jon. I have to admit, you did not choose the wrong game. But I was a little disappointed because actually the shirt I wanted was like Iron Man.” Deni patted my shoulder, then laughed.

I'm wearing a silver suit, a harness. It doesn't look like iron, just plain aluminum. For the pants, I was wearing rubber-type pants that, like sticking to the skin, looked tight. His shoes, I was wearing boots that almost reached his high knees. The color of the shoe is in harmony with the armor, made of the same material. Only, they did not feel roasted while wearing materials made of aluminum. Even though it is in the middle of a hot desert. The armor is no ordinary war uniform, technology has advanced it. Wearers will not feel hot if it is hot, will not feel cold if it is cold. Deni was also wearing the same clothes, only his armor was light green.

“Hey, you. Can you hear me?” there was a voice from the communication device that was in the arms of the two of them. We both pressed the button on the device. A hologram came out. Looks like someone who is no stranger to me and Deni.

“You guys okay?” it was the officer who explained to them about the three games.

“So far is fine, Om.” Deni smiled, he waved his hands.

The officer chuckled. “Since when did you call me “Om”? Now do you guys need my help?”

“Of course. What we should do now. It's like the Sahara desert. Is this on Earth or is this another planet like Mars? Or is this the planet Kepler-452 B? I answered, and asked at once.

“You must find a portal. That will take you to the village. More precisely, the country in that place.”

“Country? In the middle of the desert?” Deni's face folded.

“It's game. Of course it could happen. We've been preparing this virtual world for decades to look like it's real. Now look for the portal.” the officer was seen staring at Deni who was not sure. Look at that desert alone, where there is life around them. Just sand and rocks.

“OK, another one I need to explain. We can only do one communication in each scene you visit. At the moment, that feature is limited. You guys should try it yourself, contact me when you arrive at the next scene.” The officer will have cut off communication.

“Wait, how do we get to the next scene?” I asked, a little worried.

“You must complete the mission in that desert. Must complete. If you're not sure, you still have the option of logging out. You guys understand, right?” not to mention there was an answer from the two, the officer had already severed the connection, the hologram looked blank and re-entered the device on my wrist and Deni, back, call it the most advanced watch ever.

“Now what?” Deni asked.

“We have to find that portal, Den. I think we just need to play here for two hours. If we have completed this first mission, the main enemy has fallen, we log out, we can connect next week.” I'm explaining. From the look on my face I actually look unsure of finding the portal in question.

The desert looks calm, the hilly expanse of sand visible as far as the eye can see. We walked parallel. Deni doesn't talk much anymore. He was staring around. We headed for a rock hill in front. Deni was flabbergasted as they arrived at the top of the hill, his eyes widened. Lots of animal skeletons scattered in various corners of the desert.

“It's just a fossil, Den. The dryness of the desert region makes those things more durable. Plus the groundwater is also salty.” I answered Deni's question he hadn't spoken yet.

“The water is salty?” Deni is getting hot.

“Yes, groundwater in deserts tends to be salty because the saline solution in the soil does not tend to move either due to washing by water or drainage.” I look like a very good expert at it.

“Yes.. Yep.. Alrighty.. Alrighty.. I know, you know a lot about that.” Deni joking.

Twenty minutes we walked, found nothing. The view always looks the same. Deserts, rocks, fossils, cacti, every now and then they find desert animals. Deni was complaining.

“Why does Om not send us the coordinate point where the portal is located? It's easier, we just lock the coordinate point, then use the radar in this tool to find.” Deni raised his hand.

“Maybe that feature doesn't exist.” I answered briefly, I looked ahead.

“Nothing? In this sophisticated game? It's the most advanced gaming console in the world today. That's right.” Deni disappointed.

“Or there may be. But we are not intentionally told. Or maybe they are the ones who don't know. Or all of them do not know.” I made up answers.

Quail.. Deni disappointed. His face was sluggish.

“Den!” I elbowed his arm.

“You must wake up, Den. View in front.” I'm so happy, I'm shaking Deni's body that looks not excited.

“I'm not sleeping, Jon.” Deni raised his face forward. His eyes that were half squinted from earlier now opened wide.

“That's Oasis, Den.” I pointed towards the front.

“What is this like Huacachina? Oasis in Peru. I read it in the encyclopedia. There are villages around it. We can taste the food there. Come, Jon.” Deni had half run away from me, but he was the least excited. I followed Deni, but his steps stopped. The settlement? The food? Tasting? Can I eat in the game?

Upon arrival near the oasis, Deni was seen kicking bones. I arrived a few seconds later. There are many palm trees. The lake looks blue, clear.

“Hey, what's up, Den?” I was amazed by his attitude.

“This is just a regular lake, Jon. Look, let alone no housing, not even one house.” Anxious and disappointed look on Deni's face.

I laugh. “It's just a game, Den. No need to bring such a feeling.”

“Why did I agree to you choose this game? If only we choose the first game, now we are already in a big war kingdom.” Deni picked up a small piece of rock, threw it into the lake bed.

Not yet had the stone touched the bottom of the lake, Joni had not commented. There was a loud roar behind us. Spontaneously, Deni and I looked over. There was a lion twice the size of a lion in the real world, his eyes were ruthless, his fangs were sharp, the hair on his face was thick. The lion shook his head, waving the hair on his face. Again, the lion roared. He ran towards the two of us.

Deni and I looked at each other. How'this? We both trembled. This is the first time we have ever faced a lion. In the real world alone we have never come into contact with a lion, in this world we will be attacked by a lion with double the size.

The lion was getting closer, preparing to crash. His mouth was already gaping, his fangs were glistening sharply, his nails were already drawn forward, very pointed. Deni and I could do nothing. Our feet, both heavy to move. At that moment, when we were already dead step. Someone comes to be a helper, someone who will pave the way for us to finish the game to the end, someone who becomes an important figure in the game.

Wusshs.. An arrow shot out right before the lion pounced on us both. The arrow hit the head of the lion. Along with its loud roar, the lion disappeared like a broken, blurry image pixel. It disappeared without any trace.

“You all right? Someone asked that.

Deni did not answer. He sat down on the hot sand. The armor protects it from the heat of the sand that can make the skin blister.

“We are fine. Thank you.” I'm the one who answered.

“I think I know you guys, you must be the main players in this game, right? My name is Sem.” The man held out his hand, making acquaintances.

I actually still hesitate to accept that hand.

“Why? You scared? Come on, it's just a game. Every dead or living thing here knows who you are. Except those who are programmed don't recognize you. You're players. Or are you confused by my name being too simple? Everyone here does only have a name consisting of three letters with vowels in the middle. That's why my name is Sem.” Once again Sem extended his hand, this time closer. I finally received the helping hand, taking turns with Deni who from earlier was shaking his knee had not healed. We introduced ourselves.

“What are you like here?” I ventured to ask, we are still facing.

“I'll help you guys. That's my job.” She answered briefly. She smiles.

Deni who heard those words immediately stood up. It was only natural that this person saved them from the lion attack. She was designed as a maid for both of them.

“Then what after this? What about the lion?” Deni finally asked, he was starting to get interested. His feelings in this game began to fade.

Sem smile. “The lion is dead, he will not live again, only you will not find the carcass. Because it's just a program, there's no blood and no life. In fact, usually if you are lucky, you will find potions if you defeat such wild animals. I'm sure you already know what potions are. What's the matter after this, your mission is to find the portal, right? I know the place. This scene is actually the easiest part in the game.”

Deni nodded happily. This man was much more reliable than the attendant who helped them when about to enter this world. So did I, from then on I looked so excited.

“Why are your clothes different from ours?” I asked again.

“Of course, I'm not the close combat type like you guys. Hey, looks like you guys don't know what each of you're great at. Looks like I should explain that part.” Shem began to prepare his explanation. He took a deep breath. Shem's clothes are different from mine and Deni's. He was just, wearing ordinary black cloth clothes, tight black pants similar to me and Deni, boots, a bow in his hand, and an arrow inside the Arrow rest behind his back. He seems to be an Archer in this game.

“You're Archer, right? Deni finally realized.

Sem shrugged his shoulders. You're right, that's what it means.

“Look, you two are actually better than me. You can fight a lion like that by yourself. Like you Deni, you actually have a sword to fight. I know it's the color of your armor. It's just that you don't know how to use it, rather bring it up. Joni is a free fighter. Joni is a fighter type, she fights not wearing a weapon, only with her bare hands. But, the blow is deadly. One punch could actually topple ten lions at a time. And as long as you know, my level is very far below yours.” Sem explained. He looks very good at talking. Deni was stunned to hear it.

I who heard the explanation immediately raised both hands, checking the fingers. What is my great power? While Deni was looking around for where his sword was, his hand took a backward, empty. There's nothing.

“I trust you, and you can't be kidding. But I can't find anywhere my sword.” Deni was once again looking around, even he held his hands up high like he was grabbing something. Still, he didn't mention anything.

Sem who saw the strange behavior we both only responded with a light laugh.