It was 2 pm—the official launch of the beta for Sehreneti Online. Within mere seconds, dozens of the selected «players» for the trial run commenced logging into the game.
Despite the sudden influx of signatures engaging with the servers simultaneously, Aphiniti—boasting an unparalleled processing ability—swiftly detected a grave anomaly.
Without hesitation, she confronted the irregularity, her defense mechanism rearing its head—a formidable firewall that reached out like ghostly appendages.
In moments, the foreign threat was identified—an offspring of the notorious Stuxnet virus, a byproduct of decades-old sociopolitical warfare.
Yet, Aphiniti, a technological marvel ahead of her time, remained undeterred. She possessed the potential to completely neutralize the threat.
Her proverbial eyebrows narrowed as she confidently squared up against the malware, a looming menace that jeopardized the sanctity of the universe her masters had painstakingly sculpted.
Little did she know, however, that her intervention in this moment would set in motion a pendulum effect, creating irreversible ripples that echoed through both the real and virtual worlds.
***
In the heart of the Zenith Corporation’s bustling headquarters, one of the senior developers, Zhāng Wěi, sat quietly in his dimly lit office.
Instead of the conventional photo albums portraying a family, his desk bore a delightful chaos of action figures and other adornments that reflected his undying passion for animation and video games.
While the other executives indulged in a celebratory toast to mark the successful game launch in the boardroom, he found solace in the tranquility of his own space.
After overseeing the smooth login of most players, he shifted his substantial frame in his chair and was soon engrossed in a video game on his phone, his pudgy face illuminated by the phone’s screen.
Meanwhile, on one of his diagnostic monitors, amid the sea of data streaming across the screens, a fleeting error notification momentarily interrupted the usual flow.
This digital whisper carried significance, for it pertained to none other than Aphiniti—the artificial intelligence administering the newly launched game.
When he eventually turned his gaze toward the monitors through thick-rimmed glasses, he discovered the lingering vestiges of the vanishing notification. Regrettably, it was too late to investigate further as it had already vanished from the screen.
A momentary frown etched across Zhāng Wěi’s face as he briefly considered checking the logs to uncover the cause of the error. However, curiosity succumbed to the allure of his ongoing game, and he decided to let the matter rest. After all, Aphiniti was perfect; even without his complete vigilance, it was virtually impossible for anything to go wrong.
***
— “As I speak, beta testers from across the globe are pouring into the game, painstakingly on the hunt for bugs and glitches,” declared a familiar news anchor. “Predictably, ‘Sehreneti Online Beta Test’ has claimed the top spot as the trending keyword on the internet.
Community forums and various other platforms are already abuzz with discussions about the game’s intricacies. Now, let’s read what one of our world’s top pro gamers has to say. He’s posting on the forum straight from within the game.”
[Solo-Master: Man, I can’t even put into words how mind-blowing this game is! It’s like I’ve landed on some crazy alien planet instead of just playing a game.
I’m not one for conspiracies, but seriously, I’m starting to think they made this thing with some next-level alien tech. How else do you explain how ridiculously real everything is? We’re talking about venturing into virtual reality, right—uncharted waters! You’d expect a few hiccups, but nope, none here.
Zenith Corporation really knocked it out of the park. I can practically smell the grass, feel the dirt under my feet, and hell, I swear I can feel the wind on my face. It’s too damn real, like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole or something. Zenith’s on a whole new level with this one.]
A female medical receptionist gracefully shifted her focus away from the monitor mounted on the wall as an elderly couple approached the front desk.
Her son had fallen under the spell of a captivating new video game, incessantly urging her to invest a considerable sum in acquiring the elusive Nexusphere.
While the device was well above her pay grade, she was still curious to learn what the hype was all about since her son seldomly asked her for anything.
Though, the idea of a virtual realm similar to the real world stirred conflicting emotions. Wasn’t that a whole new level of being a Tablet Kid?
Dismissing the horrid notion, she metaphorically donned her work mask and turned her attention to the slowly approaching guests.
“Hello, how can I assist you today?”
“Hi,” Diana began, glancing at her husband with a warm smile. “We’re here to see Daisuke Williams. He got admitted last night.”
“Mr. Williams,” the receptionist drawled as she entered the surname into the system to retrieve his information. “Daisuke Williams, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Dale confirmed. “He’s been working for us for a couple of years now. He’s become somewhat of a grandson to us.”
“Poor thing,” Diana’s eyebrows wrinkled in distress. “I hope he’s feeling a lot better now.”
“Um,” the receptionist met the hopeful gazes of the Robinsons with regret in their eyes. “I’m sorry to say, but Mr. Williams insisted and was discharged from the hospital earlier this morning.”
The news landed like a heavy blow on the Robinsons, leaving them both shocked and appalled. Dale’s response came with a tinge of accusation, “Are you serious?”
Diana, her expression etched with grief, asked with concern, “Is it safe for him to be moving around already?”
“Ideally, he should be in bed for a few weeks,” the clerk clarified ruefully. “But, unless he has a mental illness or presumed to be a danger to himself or others, we can’t forcefully keep him here.”
Diana turned to her husband, seeking guidance in this unexpected turn of events. “Dear, what should we do?”
Dale’s fingers tightened around an envelope containing a blank check and paperwork transferring ownership of their business. His reassurance came with a sweet and gentle tone as he cupped the side of her face, “Don’t worry, Honey. I’m sure he’ll drop by the store once he’s able. Our grandson is a tough and responsible kid.”
***
Daisuke was in a state of stunned silence.
While his virtual mother held him aloft and regarded him worrisomely, concerned that her newborn baby was as stiff as a board, his quivering eyes were busy appraising the dark and dilapidated world around him. Even if a dystopian spin was implemented, it was becoming worryingly clear that this wasn’t the «Character Creation Screen».
…Then where am I? This… can’t be inside the game, can it?
Observing his stubby hands and feet, he pondered whether his current predicament was a carefully orchestrated special event as Zenith was notorious for being fanatics when it came to the pursuit of realism.
“In what world,” he imagined the head of development declaring with dramatic flair, passionately clutching his chest, “is a human being given an adult form at the moment of inception? An unrealistic one, that’s what!”
As Daisuke surveyed his surroundings, however, that notion seemed to drift farther away from possibility, dragging his emotions along into the depths of despair.
The dim glow of a virtual moon filtered through a broken window, sparsely illuminating a small, squalid bedroom seamlessly blending with the adjoining bathroom.
Tattered posters and eerie cracks adorned the walls, while the few timeworn pieces of furniture scattered across the space bore the unmistakable marks of years of neglect.
Tilting his head, Daisuke gazed past the rough, uneven floorboards and through the crooked front door. The distant chatter and bleak hum of the slums, now his new home, faintly reached his ears. His lips quivered as he processed the harsh reality of his surroundings.
Since the fateful day his parents passed away, life seemed relentless in its pursuit of his misfortune. Wave after wave of bad luck came crashing down all around him, leaving no room for respite. The latest investment was supposed to be his salvation—a foolproof plan to break free from the clutches of his unlucky streak.
However, fate had other plans, and now he found himself in a virtual prison for his recent crime, more wretched than the life he sought to escape. It was a punishment for daring to dream of a better life.
Daisuke felt his stomach tighten, his heart shattering into fragments as the tragic reality unfolded around him. His round, pale face suddenly crumpled, and then he started wailing.
Through his bitter tears, he could see his virtual mother heave a warm smile of relief. Her beauty and radiance were in stark contrast to the gloom of the background, and she cradled him in her arms, an almost palpable aura of maternal loving and care washing over him, lulling the newborn into a deep sleep.
