"Champion online: where you can be anyone you want!"
Holden stood there puzzled as a game came on the screen depicting hyper realistic 3D. Being able to customize your costumes and make a background even catered to your specific character in general.
"You can use our personal VR product here at FUSHION GAMING! Or any general VR "Virtual Reality" gaming device to enjoy our game."
Looking at the package in front of him he had a deep feeling inside him what was inside of the box. An aching feeling in the pit of his stomach as he turned to face what was inside ready to pull the tape off.
The news anchor woman stood outside a popular local shop showing a large crowd of people who were camping out in the middle of the day. Women and men waving at the camera with huge tired smiles on their faces.
"Are you ready to take a dive into this new surreal world?" She asked.
"You bet the hell I am!" The man shouted.
Laughing and shouted could be heard in the background as the crowd attempted to dive in front of the reporter. She only gave them odd looks as they nearly pushed her down only to see a man in front of his vision in the background.
A dirty old man with scraggly tired face and black stubble on his face. Pale green shirt speckled with patches of faded white as though splashed with bleach and ragged jeans reminding him of his dream suddenly out of nowhere to gawk at the screen intimidating Holden.
His eyes staring into his soul he felt his mind being watched from the other-side. Taking the remote he flicked it at the television quickly shutting it off.
"What…was that…"
Holden was unsure how else to respond. He didn't know what else he could now other than open the box taking a pair of scissors and gliding it along the line. Removing the packing tape he finds a grey metal box inside.
Taking it out of the styrofoam peanuts and dumping the filling content on the coffee table. He finds a small circular gold plated key with a hole through the middle.
"Strange."
Unlocking the small padlock attached to the silver metal box Holden noticed on the top a large card stock reading: Enjoy! Champion Online! Please give us feedback once you have sampled the product more thoroughly.
The letters were golden raised lettering while under was braille and many other languages descending on the sheet. Placing it down he finally gets a look at the gaming cover showing a man in bronze armor holding a gigantic sword.
Healers and wizards placed behind him dressed in beautiful and colorful pieces holding staffs. To Holden looked normal overall.
"Looks normal enough, but…" Holden smiled.
Walking back to his room lugging the weird container the package held and his newly given game for what looks like was free to him. Checking online he was amazed at the price thinking why would someone give it to him for free?
No one would give such an expensive thing to a random kid off the street. It's not like he is a TuberYoube creative type who had work reviewing games. He was no one to anyone in the whole entire world.
Opening the case he noticed another card reading: you learn your repayment later.
A shiver sent down his spine told him automatically this wasn't free at all and they will expect something of him down the line. Will he meet the person who donated this to him inside the game he thought?
Placing the game inside of the system he quickly boots it up positioning the cheap VR helmet on his head to get a glimpse.
At first only darkness. Something made his head spin as a sudden wave of nausea hit him making take device off swiftly gawking down watching the screen start up from the small illuminated crevice below him.
"Maybe I was staring too directly?"
Sticking it back on he realized it was just playing impromptu battle scenes with a knight and his trusted side kicks swung, battered and rammed against a large six winged dragon covered in iridescent red scales almost purple in color reflecting against the shine of sun.
Holden was mesmerized by the graphics and the promise of a more fulfilling game to play other than silly cheap crap games from GLEAM or whatever was free to use. For once given an exciting and expensive experience though curious what awaited him.
[Welcome to Hero Online! We promise an uplifting encounter preparing you for what it takes to be able to accomplish as you wish in this reality!]
He wondered what he would become in this world. Possibly having the widest range of classes possible he pondered the opportunities that will unfold to him and the people he would meet here deep inside this realm of existence.
[Please continue to customization]
The screen began glitch from it's regular screen to blue and black chunks splitting the display into bite sized blocks of data and pixels. Holes and missing spaces between could be seen in the programming or a film being eaten by the heat of the projector.
His ears were pierced by a screeching noise that enveloped his ears, but he couldn't close them as the VR set tightly and securely placed around for a full surround system for hearing alone.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Holden screamed out in pain trying to knock the apparatus off his head to notice it was stuck. It wouldn't budge no matter how much he did it.
"Why won't it come off?!" Holden shouted.
[Holden: Male…age 18]
"Shut up already!"
[Occupation…NEET]
"I really don't need this right now!"
[Default class…Reaper]
"But I didn't even get to chose my class!" Holden argued.
[But…you aren't a hero Holden]
"What?!"
[You have much bigger responsibilities]
"What do you even mean by that?" He yelled.
[Loading…loading…loading….]
He found himself already placed inside of a costume already made for him. Holden was in awe as he stood frozen inside the musty foggy mausoleum dressed in a shredded black hoodie that twisted at the end.
Black jeans and brown leather waist belt on his hip equipped with a small knife. His shoes were merely rags sewn together.
[Level 1]
"Only level one?!" Holden shouted.
[You will be instructed how to carry out from this point on….we are now located in the Shadow Territories in Xeasinet far from usual landing area's]
"Xeasinet?" Holden asked.
[I will guide you for a short while, Master Holden]
"I guess this will be okay…"