The moment they placed the virtual helmets over their heads, the café faded away, replaced by a vast, endless white space. For a heartbeat, all was quiet, until a massive screen appeared before them, illuminating the void with a single message: "Create New World."
Garrick's eyes sparkled with excitement as he pointed at the screen. "Wow, we can create our own world? That's amazing!"
Elena looked around in wonder, feeling slightly disoriented. "Where are we? It's like we're floating in nothingness." Her voice held a mix of awe and curiosity.
Kaden, their leader, tried to calm them down. "Relax, everyone. Let's take this one step at a time." He studied the big screen, guiding them through its options. "Looks like we can choose how we want this world to work. Survival mode seems like a good start—what do you think?"
The group nodded in agreement, enthusiasm building. As they navigated through the options, they quickly picked up on the interface, though it felt foreign. After a brief discussion, they decided to name their world "The Crimson Vanguard World," a fitting tribute to their team name.
"Alright, everyone," Kaden said, a smile spreading across his face. "We're about to dive in. Let's create our world!"
With a final confirmation, the screen dimmed, and in a flash, the white space melted away, transporting them into a new realm. They blinked, adjusting to the vibrant colors of a lush forest. The air was filled with the chirping of blocky birds, the distant rustle of pixelated leaves, and the earthy scent of Minecraft's cube-like world.
The group gasped as they looked down at themselves, their appearances transformed. Gone were their usual forms, replaced by blocky bodies and pixelated textures.
"What… happened to us?" Kaden stammered, looking down at his boxy arms. His face and hands were now the familiar blue of Steve, Minecraft's default avatar, as were Garrick and Ronan's.
Lyra and Elena mirrored each other's surprised expressions. They, too, had transformed, now resembling Alex, the female counterpart in the game. Yet, despite the changes, they could still recognize each other thanks to a few defining facial features and their unique hairstyles, which remained intact.
"This is insane!" Garrick laughed, twirling around in his new form. "I feel like a walking cube!"
Elena chuckled, raising a blocky arm. "I can't believe it. We're actually inside this world, as… characters! This is going to take some getting used to."
Kaden tried swinging his fist experimentally at a tree, wincing as he realized his strength didn't match his usual abilities. "It looks like we're going to have to play by this world's rules."
The group started exploring, taking in the pixelated plants and trees that surrounded them. They felt a rush of wonder and thrill with every new discovery, pointing out blocky animals, quirky landscapes, and even the texture of the ground beneath their feet.
"What do you think we're supposed to do here?" Lyra asked, curiously tapping at a tree. Her hand made a repetitive, almost musical thumping sound as she broke a few blocks of wood from the trunk.
Garrick, never one to wait for instructions, called out excitedly, "We're adventurers! Let's just dive in and figure it out as we go."
Following his lead, the group started gathering resources, each of them marveling at the peculiar mechanics of the game. Ronan punched the grass, discovering seeds; Elena and Lyra collected flowers, giggling over the strangely soothing simplicity of the task. Eventually, Kaden suggested they build a base to shelter them for the night.
Together, they gathered enough wood and started building, though their inexperience showed in the lopsided structure they assembled. Soon, they had created their first shelter—a classic, wooden block house with a few hastily placed windows.
The five of them took a step back, examining their work with a mix of pride and laughter.
"Well… it's something," Ronan said, grinning. "I think it has a kind of… rustic charm."
Lyra stifled a giggle, pointing at the crooked roof. "I think we accidentally made a house that looks like it's about to fall over."
Kaden chuckled, patting the walls. "It's our first home! We'll improve as we go."
As night began to fall in their new world, the group huddled inside their cozy, clunky shelter, feeling a unique sense of accomplishment. They couldn't believe how real it all felt, as if they were actually living inside this blocky realm. For a moment, they forgot the reality beyond the virtual world, fully absorbed in the shared experience.
Elena glanced around, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "This is… unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's a whole new adventure."
Kaden nodded, determination etched into his pixelated face. "Let's make this world our own. The Crimson Vanguard is just getting started."