Location: Earth
Place: Western federation
Year: 2034
At the atomic research center, Dr. Richard Harper, the chief scientist, was deeply engrossed in his research on atomic energy. As one of the leading figures in his field, he had made remarkable strides in advancing atomic technology.
He was currently working on Atomic-Scale Manufacturing, an advanced nanotechnology that could enable the construction of materials and devices at the atomic level, leading to breakthroughs in medicine, electronics, and materials science.
After completing his work for the day, Dr. Harper set off for home. His convoy consisted of two cars in front and one behind, ensuring his security and safety. Inside his car, he opened his laptop, revealing a glimpse into his personal life.
Despite being in his 30s and the youngest scientist to attain his position, Dr. Harper was still very much a teenager at heart.
He enjoyed watching anime, playing video games, and spending time with friends. On his laptop, various game icons were visible.
Although he had several games installed, he ignored them all and went straight to his favorite: Revenge of the Goddess.
This game, featuring a female protagonist, was popular among both male and female audiences thanks to its god-tier graphics and intense fight scenes, despite its somewhat clichéd story inspired by many Western and Eastern romance novels.As the game started, a breathtaking scene unfolded on the screen.
A dragon, a phoenix, and a wolf with wings circled above, while a wheel-like creature hovered ominously in the background. In the center of the scene, a devilishly handsome man held a beautiful woman in his arms, while another equally handsome man looked on jealously.
The woman's beauty was astonishing, leaving many to wonder how she could have been created, even with the help of advanced AI.
The game's window displayed a vast and immersive world. Despite being a game with a very big story—even Chapter One was 10 GB. To counter this problem revenge of the Goddess utilized cloud technology to store its data on different servers, allowing it to run smoothly even on cheaper devices.
As Dr. Harper immersed himself in the game, he momentarily escaped the pressures of his high-stakes career, indulging in a world where fantasy and reality blended seamlessly.In the car, Dr. Harper looked at the game's starting screen, smiling to himself.
He clicked on the "Start" button, and the game's world began to load.
"Welcome back," a text appeared.
He clicked "Start.
A world too realistic for a game emerged.A woman appeared, looking at him. He couldn't help but marvel at her beauty. The woman had black hair threaded with silver. Her eyes were a mesmerizing shade of emerald, her lips a delicate rose.
Her porcelain skin glowed softly, accentuating her ethereal beauty. She wore an elegant, flowing gown that seemed to shimmer with every movement.
As the car drove along, a bus accident occurred.All four cars stopped.
Dr. Harper didn't know what was happening outside, but his guards quickly went to rescue the injured and called for emergency services.
Four security personnel approached the scene while another five stayed inside the car as per protocol.
As the four of them neared the bus and searched for survivors, a man pointed toward the roadside bushes.
Confused, they looked in that direction, and their eyes widened in horror.
Suddenly, the sound of multiple gunshots rang out: "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" The four security personnel were killed before they could react.
The remaining security personnel attempted to reverse the car, but gunfire erupted from all sides.
To make matters worse, a bus was speeding toward them from behind.The armored car and the bus collided.
"Boom" An explosion equivalent to 5 to 7 TNT charges erupted, killing everyone, including the attackers.
*************
Inside the car,
Richard, who had heard the gunshots, was shocked and quickly asked the driver what had happened.
"What's going on? Why are there gunshots? Man, this country needs a gun law soon," he said with a nervous smile, trying to ease the tension.
But the driver replied in a cold voice, "Sir, please get down.
"Why—" Before he could ask further, the car was riddled with bullets.
Thankfully, the car was armored, but its windows were weak.The glass, already creaking, soon shattered, and the driver died.
Richard, terrified for his life, cowered in the corner of the car.But his fear was short-lived as the bus exploded, killing everyone, including him.