The Code of Bamboo Forest

Gaming With the Code of Mystery

"Welcome to [Bamboo Forest]. Please enter your name."

After this pop-up opened and I entered my name, I was immediately transported to a dark room. I already experienced it though so I didn't thought it was weird at all. I saw a timer counting down from 30. After the countdown finished, I came out from the darkness. I am in a forest full of bamboos surrounded by walls. Actually, when one bamboo splits, one person will also be teleported to this forest from the room of darkness, that is what I have experienced and observed.

"Phil, you are finally here huh."

"Oh, it's just you, Angel."

"What do you mean it's just me?! I can't believe it! Hey, I have a question. Why is this game called Bamboo Forest anyway? Is it because we spawn in a forest of bamboos?"

"I've got the answer for that. You see how the players spawn to this world?"

"Yeah. When one bamboo splits, one person spawns in. It is really simple."

"There is a legend about the creation of man. It is said that the first man and woman emerged from a bamboo when it split. If I remember correctly, that legend came from the Philippines. The first man is called 'Malakas', which means strong, while the first woman is called 'Maganda', which means beautiful in Filipino language."

"Wow, the creator of this game must be a Filipino then."

"Yes, you are right. The SUMMAX Games Co. is a company by Filipinos. Their president, Johnson de la Cruz, is a Filipino himself. I heard he is the one who suggested the setting of the game. This bamboo forest is a large forest surrounded by walls to accommodate 20,000 players. There are 100,000 players which means there four other bamboo forests out there."

"Wait, how do you know all this things? There are no news about that in the Earthnet. There are also no info about the creator being a Filipino."

"That is because I am from the future. I keep telling you yesterday but you did not believe me. Do you believe me now?"

"It can't be. You just heard that info from the company didn't you? No need to hide."

"No, I'm telling you, I am from the future."

"Oh, really. Then guess what will happen next."

"Let's see. Oh, I know. An NPC will appear above us after that bamboo splits up."

Angel waited patiently for the bamboo to open, but I didn't even need to wait. I am confident of my answer. But what happened baffled me. Suddenly the walls began to crumble, then the NPC I'm talking about suddenly appeared on the sky above us.

"What the! How?! My prediction was supposed to come true."

"Ok Mr. Time Traveler, I see that you have travelled time, in your dreams, hahaha."

"Fine, fine. I admit that I am wrong but I'm still telling you, I travelled through time."

While we are still talking, the NPC suddenly spoke.

"Welcome to Bamboo Forest, 100,000 players. This game is developed by SUMMAX Games Co. The objective of this game is to survive and make civilizations in the whole world. Beyond this wall is an environment with no man-made structures, just the nature. You must survive in this environment. Before you can make a civilization on an island, you must first defeat its guardian. Also take note that time passes here differently. One week in this world is equivalent to one day in the real world. The game will start with a surprise, so please patiently wait until the walls are broken. To learn about elements, please approach the center bamboo."

With the information the NPC have given to us, Angel understood the game. For me, I don't need that information because I already know about this game and world better than anyone. Angelis became excited to choose her element so she pulled and walked towards the center bamboo.

"Dear players, the first step in this game is to learn the spells and commands. Now, please repeat the command I'm about to say. [FERQUIS PERFECTUS CODE 1 - ELIGENTUM]. This command will make you choose your element. There are five elements which are water, fire, earth, air, and perfect. The command I have just taught you is one of the PERFECTUS commands. There are only 12 commands for each element, which totals to 60 commands. For you to beat this game, you must build a civilization in the Instremum Island and beat its guardian, the Instremum Warden. Good luck players!"

Just as the NPC ended its speech, the crowd are filled with excitement. Angel also seemed to be excited, but there is a problem. She doesn't understand any words of the NPC at all!

"Hey Phil, what do we need to do?"

"Hah? When are you going to learn both listening and understanding?"

"Well, sorry about that. Now, tell me, what are we going to do?"

"First, we must choose our element using the command [FERQUIS PERFECTUS CODE 1 - ELIGENTUM]. That command will make the element chooser screen appear in front of you. Now try it while I choose my own element. [FERQUIS PERFECTUS CODE 1 - ELIGENTUM]"

"Alright. [FERQUIS PERFECTUS CODE 1 - ELIGENTUM]"

The moment I finished chanting the command, the element chooser screen appeared. I thought of choosing the same element I have chosen in the past to perfect my skills on that, so I chose the AER element.

"Hey Angel, have you already finished choosing an element?"

"Yeah, it was simple. By the way, what element did you choose, Phil?"

"Hmm, me? I chose AER. How about you?

"Oh, I chose PERFECTUS. It seemed like it was really easy to learn so I chose it. Hahaha."

"Are you an i***t!? You are really a noob aren't you. The PERFECTUS element is the weakest element of all as it only have 3 commands."

"Huh? But didn't the NPC say there were 12 commands per element? Why should this command have only 3 commands."

"I don't know. What I know is that PERFECTUS is useless. There are only three commands known. One of them was ELIGENTUM, the command the NPC taught us. I can't remember the other two."

"Wait a minute, why does it seem that you are really knowledgeable about this world?"

"Didn't I tell you already, I am from the future. Of course, I know about this game. I have played this game in the future."

"Okay Mr. Time Traveler from the future."

Just as Angel continue teasing me, one unknown girl approached us.

"Hey you, girl in white suit, are you from the future too?"

"Oh please, no. Why would I come from the future? Time-traveling isn't even possible. He is the one who claims that he came from the future."

From the time she approached us, it felt like I met her somewhere in the future.

"Wait, when you asked Angel about coming from the future, you said 'too'. Does that mean you also came from the future?"

"Try to guess, green boy."