In a world where earth had stopped all wars and embarked on an era of great technological expansion. What seemed to lay only in fiction had been made possible with human ingenuity. Space exploration... Was no longer a distant dream.
Growth comes with a cost. The growth of mankind empowered their need for energy. It empowered the need for food and the need for resources. Sustaining a population of 15 billion humans was by no means. An easy thing.
When rational fear for Earthland took root... The original mother planet of the human race. They turned to the stars for solutions.
Dyson spheres. Special mega structures floating within a star's orbit. Absorbing stellar energy to supply humans with all their energy needs. It was a clean form of energy. And the absorbed stellar energy was 10000% of humanity's needs. Therefore the satellites had to be turned on and off to prevent over-accumulation.
Earthland had been reduced to a ruin in the past. And the humans had learned from their mistakes. Turning the world into a housing planet instead. And in turn. Trees had become incorporated into the buildings. Cutting down a tree may even get one arrested.
As for inhabitable planets that cost too much to be terraformed. They were the ones who had been reduced into mining sites.
Overall. Humanity had progressed far. The virtual world included. VRMMORPG had been used to solve territorial conflicts or disputes over a certain subject. No one fights with their fists. They fight in virtual realities so that the problem of deaths occurring to violence should never happen.
And it was understandable. In virtual realities... You can keep killing someone with no repercussions and shake hands later in the real world while saying "Good Game.".
In this perfected world... No unnecessary violence was present. And everyone helped each other soar. But some bad apples still exist. Hidden like snakes underneath the grass.
Patiently awaiting the day of reckoning
-----
A room devoid of light. Shrouded in eerie silence that would in turn make anyone who lingered far too long unable to keep themselves calm. Tension was rising in the air as within the room's center, sitting around a metallic table, occupying the four main directions were four men dressed in full, nightly cloaks.
And then the silence broke.
BAM!
Slamming his arms unto the table. The black-cloaked man sitting to the north of the round table gnashed his teeth. Attracting the attention of three others.
"A beta tester died... Dominic Remington had been run over by an unregistered relic truck." His voice was grim. Said in between gritted teeth as the cloaked person to the east gently patted the northern one's back.
The man to the north shuddered. Feeling the gentle pat of one of his colleagues. His body rapidly shifted to the left as he glared menacingly at the one who tried to comfort him.
Scowling. He worded out his frustrations. "Damn You, Dan! How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me? The other two understand that! Why can't you?"
Dan rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to comfort you. And Deus. It's just a touch. It's not like I'm sexually harassing you or anything,"
Dan... The one seated to the east merely shrugged before tilting his head sideways. Much to the ire of the explosively tempered Deus. Whenever conflict arises in the group. It was always. Always Dan who goes out of his way to make sure their talks wouldn't be influenced by emotions or goes out of topic.
The man to the west had initially been playing around with a glass of wine. Shaking it a little but he had stopped upon hearing the death of tester. His fingers growing soft and weak. The glass of wine fell off it. Only to be caught by the cloaked individual to the south.
"Lyon... Usually, you do not let things slip out of your attention. What's on your mind today?" The man to the south questioned. Dan looked over. Casting a curious glance at Lyon while Deus lost his rage and calmed down. His attention attracted by the silenced robed man.
Sighing. Lyon formed a bridge with his fingers. Set his elbows unto the table and leaned forward before resting his chin on the finger bridge. "Nothing... Just a pity that my favorite beta tester died."
Lyon's words sent the three into a fit of pondering. It was rare. Rare for something or someone to catch the former's attention. And those that had caught his attention either fell into misfortune or found gold.
The person was after all... A slightly insane individual. But the ideas in his mind could rival artists in creativity.
"Dominic Remington huh... Certainly... He is interesting. I had investigated his background and it was revealed to me of his status. A man who ran away from home since young. Crossed countries and eventually started his living at an internet cafe at first..." Pondering out loud. The man sitting south of the table started tapping the cold, steel surface with his fingers. A gesture that had become a habit.
Throwing his arms up into the air. Lyon burst into a fit of giggles. "Exactly!"
"That's why he's my favorite... Nui. His playstyle is a bit too violent and creative. Makes one wonder where all that violence comes from."
"And he certainly sounds dumb at times. Yet I've seen the man tear apart monsters at least ten levels higher than him. Have you seen a man cheese a boss before? In a game where cheese strategy is almost impossible due to the intelligence of the monsters?"
Seeing that Lyon was starting to bramble about something. A person this time. Dan clapped his hands to stop things from going too out of topic.
They all gathered here to discuss what to do about the release date. Not gush about a player. Much less, the cause of their headaches.
"Shut it, everyone... Focus on the topic. Not just the death of a beta tester."
Pa! Pa! Pa!
Deus glanced at Dan as his fists further tightened. His knuckles popping dangerously that it made Nui stand up to be ready to restrain a certain someone. Just in case things get violent.
"You just had to remind me didn't you Dan? Damn. Because of that stupid moron who got run over. We have to postpone Reverie's global release. It's hard enough to register players into Reverie. And now that one of the registered players died I have to tamper with the code again!"
BAM!
Lyon slammed his arm onto the metal table. "Oh, joy! A wonderful Idea Deus! Let's just do that so the players dying to get a taste of THE game would become toxic. That's suicide!"
Those sarcastic words alone nearly tipped Deus' temper. Having him grasp Lyon's robe and heft him up with two arms.
Deus... Was bigger and taller than everyone else in this room. His muscles were hidden under that dark robe.
"Shut it, clown! I didn't want to do this either but this event leaves me with no choice! Hey Dan! Back me up! Since you're the voice of order, you could understand what I am thinking no?"
"For once... I agree with Deus." Dan nodded.
"THANK YOU!" Deus let go of Lyon who silently sulked in his seat.
"But what about the incoming players? They're the reason we're launching Reverie!
Worry gripped Lyon's heart. He felt anxious. Anxious and dissatisfied with the situation.
He had initially been looking forward to the players finally playing Reverie so he can have lots of fun torturing them with quests and erratic random encounters.
Seeing that the group was starting to grow resentment for each other. Nui pinched the bridge of his nose. Sighing. He called for everyone's attention.
"The reason we're launching Reverie is because we have to. Do not be mistaken or get too obsessed with the players. They're just tools in the grand scheme of things. We just need them to play the game that's all for "profit". They can certainly wait."
"I... Fine... Go ahead and delay the thing for three months. Three months! I'm not taking any more than that!" Helpless. Lyon could only agree.
"That's good to hear. I can keep on working on Reverie's system then." Dan nodded.
Deus was satisfied too but a certain annoyance came back to his mind. Making his calmness vanish once more. "Three months is enough to determine if any untold changes would happen to Reverie. But... Shit."
"Any problems Deus?" Nui asked. Tilting his head to the side.
Deus fell silent. Debated whether or not to tell Nui. Their leader of that inconsistency within Reverie's mechanics but in the end, he spilled the beans.
'Better say it now. Or get in trouble later.'
"There's an anomaly within Reverie. Trying to find that slippery eel is troublesome. But it would only take me time to do so. And once I find that anomaly. I am going to deal with it accordingly."
"You're the voice of judgment after all... Your temper is fiery but at least you take your work seriously." Nui nodded in approval. Deus was a person who has obvious anger issues but he does his job well.
"Is that an insult or what?"
Shrugging. Nui laughed lightly. "Depends..."
"Lyon... If you're still unsatisfied and feeling put off by the postponed release. I am giving you free rein to go as wild as you can with the quests, events and expansion packs"
"Really? I get access to implement the super-secret ancient deadly packs and unleash it upon the NPC's to conjure up a good crusade for the players?"
For once. Nui became tongue-tied. He could feel that giving Lyon free reign was a bad idea but after weighing the pros and cons. And their relationship as friends. He could only suck it in.
"Just... Make sure it does not go out of bounds. Yes... You can even put high-level monsters or areas near the starting places. But don't make it too high leveled. And do not unleash the big 2 yet."
"Oh, joy! Thank you voice of authority!"
"Shut up... Do your job voice of discord. Else I and Deus would cut your salary." Deus laughed and flashed a thumbs up at Nui.
"Right. I'm satisfied now. No complaints."
"Then I reckon that concludes our little meeting?"
""Yes!""
"Good. Now go back to our jobs. We have to prepare for the influx of a few billion players. Luckily, even with that many players. Lag wouldn't be a real problem."
One by one. All the members left. All except for Nui who took of his hood. Revealing a handsome, bald man underneath it.
His eyes emitted a kind, gentle light. Healthy tanned skin was prevalent throughout his whole body and a red cinnabar dot was present on the space between the man's sword-like eyebrows.
At the moment. The man seemed to be lost in time. Spacing out by himself.
"I just hope the players don't start wailing in agony once Lyon goes mad with his priveledges." Nui sighed. Stood up. And finally left.