Behind a desk, in a messy room illuminated dimly by a monitor, sat a young man of messy disheveled black hair that greatly complemented his big eyes. On his head that was buried deep in thought, as he dazely stared at the shimmering blue panel before his eyes, rested a black headset.
[Congratulations earthlings you're now eligible to partake in The Tournaments of the Cosmos, experience new sceneries, meet distinct lifeforms and leap grand rewards your feeble minds couldn't ever imagine...]
[Do you wish to participate][yes][no]
[02:20:54]
The strange panels had suddenly popped up before every human above the age of thirteen. No one knew what it meant or who sent it, but one thing was certain, it wasn't a trick the current technology could accomplish given that even the blind could see it and that it's language differed with the one a person could thoroughly comprehend.
The fact that it didn't seem capable of forcing anyone in the so called tournaments or maybe it didn't want to, helped a little in the desipating of fear that'd settled in the majorities hearts after it's appearance.
This gave them a chance to accept or decline which majority did, leaving a third of the population, who'd given into the temptations of the grand rewards and adventures it talked about, participate, completely disregarding the potential danger that laid on the other side. Those who didn't have the courage to accept watched as their fellow kin turned to specks and dissipated.
Dre, a 17year old teen, spent most of his free time after school coupled up in his room gaming making it so that when the panel popped up, with his gamers mindset, the only thing that raced in it was when he was gonna participate. He didn't really have anyone to leave behind if he participated. His parents had died in a car accident two years ago, leaving him with a small fortune that propelled him forward, though he couldn't say he was satisfied with his life as it stood.
And now a chance like this had showed up he couldn't miss it for the world.
"You still there?" A feminine voice resounded through his black headset, drawing him back to reality.
On the other side was Stacey, his gaming friend and partner. They'd meet quite a while back online, and since then, without even ever meeting in person, quested together entering the top ranks of the best duo on different games.
And now they'd both made decisions to join the tournaments they believed was a gaming reality. They even went as far as to plan a meet up after ascending to the top.
"Yeah." Dre answered in a low voice, seemingly contemplating on his already made choice.
Stacey went silent for a minute before finally asking a question she'd held on for quite a while.
"What do you think the tournaments will be like?
"Don't know." Adjusting the headset, Dre continued "but I think they'll be hard considering the grand rewards being offered, though that's nothing compared to the odds we've overcomed since we teamed up."
"Yeah, I guess." She paused, her voice lacing with concern. " Don't be reckless, we don't know anything there and I don't think we'll have any do overs if we die."
Hearing that from her made Dre grin subconsciously. It seemed like there was a person who still cared for him after all. Clearing his throat he said.
"You know me, even if I'm reckless, I don't chew more than I could swallow, and please do take your advice."
"Why wouldn't I?"
With a smile he answered with another question.
"You ready?" Staring intently at the shimmering blue panel he added "In three."
"Yeah, see you on the other side."
Her voice faded in the background as Dre gazed at the timer on the panel almost as if he could hear it. Immediately after the three second mark hit he pressed the screen.
White light flushed in his small bedroom followed by dissipating specks.
-------------------------
In a white space that appeared to have extended infinitely, Dre materialised and immediately after, began observing it. Though there was nothing to observe, as the whole thing seemed like some kind of a white void with him being it's center. However before he could start contemplating on his situation a voice that was neither feminine nor masculine echoed.
"Welcome earthling, to the space between world's."
Perplexed, Dre tried to pinpoint the origin of the sound, but alas there was nothing else other than white, which piqued his curiosity.
"What are you?"
"First timers....not like anyone dares to do it a second time." The voice remarked in a whisper that Dre couldn't quite catch, before adding, "I'm the voice of the world."
"What?" 'Voice of the world, never heard of it' Dre pondered 'And what was that in the beginning?'
"Let's fill out that panel." Brushing off his question, the voice continued.
Overwhelmed by the words and a different panel before him, Dre completely forgot about the voice's previous mumblings.
...
[Name: -]
[Race: human]
[Tournaments rank:-]
[Level:-]
>Strength:-
>Speed:-
>Dexterity:-
>Endurance:-
>Mana:-
[Title: N/A]
[Class: N/A]
[Skills: N/A]
[Exp 0/100]
[U/P: 0]
[Gift box:N/A]
....
A smirk adorning his face, he nodded without stealing his gaze from the panel that greatly resembled a status screen of characters in video games.
"Name." The voice coughed it's patience running out.
Noticing this, Dre's smirk turned into a nervous smile as he scratched his head. He'd stared at the panel for quite a while, not believing his own eyes. Everything was really like a game.
"Dre Nightfall."
"Brace yourself." The voice somewhat impatient, initiated the next step.
'Huh! Dre hadn't had the time to react before he abruptly lost consciousness.
"What was that?" Waking up from what felt like hours of sleep, he glared at a random direction and asked, his voice raced with anger.
"Wait for it."
With those words, a wave of fatigue washed over him, almost as if he'd worked on a construction site for two straight weeks.
'What the?' Dre was more surprised, not by the sudden fatigue, it was peculiar, but couldn't really draw his attention more than the panel which was now partiality full with details.