Let me tell you a story of how all humanity was transported to another world.
"Hey David, are you going to play tonight?" James, one of my college friends, asked, his voice full of excitement.
"I'm not sure," I replied with a sigh, glancing at the clock. "I have work in the morning." My shoulders slumped, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me. I missed playing Albion Online. It felt like ages since I last logged in, my life now consumed by college and work.
I started packing my things, my mind drifting back to the virtual world I had once escaped to so often. I had no idea that tonight, everything would change.
[All humans will now be transported into a white space. Please prepare yourself!]
Before I could react, a blinding light enveloped everyone around me, including myself. Panic surged through me, but before I could even comprehend what was happening, I found myself in a pristine white room. A simple chair and table stood in the middle, a computer resting on the tabletop.
[Please sit down.]
The words appeared on the screen. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. But what choice did I have? I took a deep breath and sat down, my eyes locked on the screen.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice shaky.
[You are currently in a white room.]
'No kidding,' I thought, my mind racing. Was this some kind of elaborate prank?
[All of humanity will be transported to a new world. This new world will be like the game Albion Online.]
I froze, my eyes widening. Transported to a video game world? Eight billion people? This had to be a joke.
[You are to choose a wish before going to this new world. Please keep in mind that not all wishes are possible, and I will inform you if your wish is feasible. Please make your wish.]
I stared at the screen, my mind spinning. I had to think carefully. Albion Online was not an easy game. Survival would be a challenge. I needed an edge.
"Is it possible to wish for the ability to create any weapon or equipment?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
[Negative. The creation of that ability would disrupt the future economy and break the balance of power.]
I expected that. Something like that would make things too easy. I had to think smarter.
"How about having all equipment, weapons, and tools unlocked to the max level in the skill tree?" I tried again.
[That wish is not possible. Only one area can be unlocked to the full level. Would you like to wish for that?]
"No," I muttered, shaking my head. Having one set of maxed-out weapons wouldn't be enough. I needed something more versatile. An idea sparked in my mind.
"Does everyone have access to a map or minimap?" I asked.
[Yes.]
"Then I want my minimap to be different. I want it to show the location of people, even in the red and black zones, inside dungeons too. Also, I want it to show the color of the boss and mini-boss chests in the dungeons. Is that possible?"
[Affirmative. This wish is possible. Would you like to continue with this wish?]
"Yes," I said, a smile spreading across my face. This would give me a huge advantage in finding the best loot without unnecessary risks.
[Please prepare to be transported. Enjoy your new world!]
The white room dissolved around me, and I was suddenly standing in a dense forest. People surrounded me, looking bewildered and frightened. I took a deep breath, the fresh scent of pine filling my lungs. The screen appeared before everyone once again.
[Welcome to the world of Albion Online! Many of you must be wondering who I am and what is happening.]
[To put it simply, Earth was on the verge of destruction. The planet's core was dying. I took pity on humanity and created this new world. It's ten times larger than Earth and based on the game Albion Online.]
[You will soon receive a book with answers to your questions. Have a good life in this new world of yours!]
A book materialized in my hands. I opened it, flipping through the pages as the people around me murmured in confusion.
[Q: Does the death functionality of the game apply in this world? A: Yes.]
[Q: How can I contact people who aren't nearby? A: You can form a group and open the chat menu. You can also search for them using the "Player List" by entering their full name and date of birth!]
Relief washed over me. This meant that dying in the red or black zones wouldn't be permanent unless killed by another person. And the ability to find people would be useful.
'Inventory,' I thought, and a window appeared before me, displaying my inventory slots. I slipped the book inside, noticing a slight increase in weight. It was a strange feeling, but I'd have to get used to it.
I glanced at the map. All the zones were the same as in the game, but there were no cities marked. I sighed. We'd have to build everything from scratch. Crafting tools and equipment would be the first step.
Looking around, I spotted a tree. I clenched my fist, hesitating for a moment before punching it. Pain shot through my hand, but I saw the notification: [1 Rough Log obtained]. A few people stared at me like I had lost my mind, but a handful of them started doing the same.
'Looks like I'm not the only player here,' I thought with a grin. I kept punching trees and picking up stones until I had enough materials to craft a basic pickaxe and axe. With these tools, I could gather resources more efficiently.
As I continued to work, a voice called out behind me.
"Excuse me."
I turned to see a man with a small group of people. They looked at me with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Yes?" I asked, wiping the sweat from my brow.
"We were wondering if you could help us understand what's going on," he said, his eyes searching mine for answers.
I took a deep breath. This was going to be a long day.
To Be Continued…