Lassen was sprawled out on his favorite armchair, a novel resting on his lap. His eyes lazily wandered to the ceiling, reflecting his habitual mix of boredom and mild curiosity. The system's familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[Host, the game is ready. Everything has been programmed according to your specifications. Would you like to try it?]
He cracked open one eye, showing a flicker of interest.
"Already? Not bad. I suppose I should be impressed."
[I exist to impress you, Host. Connect via the interface and explore everything you've envisioned.]
An illusory screen appeared before him, displaying a detailed map of the game's world. With a casual flick of his hand, Lassen clicked the "Start" icon and was immediately immersed in a stunningly crafted universe. The graphics were vivid, the environments brimming with life, and the sound design was perfectly attuned to the atmosphere. He found himself in a small village, surrounded by NPCs going about their daily routines.
For a while, he wandered through the vibrant landscape, interacted with villagers, accepted a few quests, and marveled at the depth of the system's work. However, after an hour, Lassen dropped the controller with a loud sigh.
"It's gorgeous, really. But it's also unbelievably dull. There's no one else here—just me and these brainless NPCs."
[As always, you find a way to complain] the system replied with a familiar tone of sarcasm.
"It's supposed to be a multiplayer game, right? Where are the players?"
[There aren't any yet, Host. You're the first to access it.]
Lassen groaned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Fine. If I want people to join, I'll need to start with those close to me. System, call Alex and Adrian."
Moments later, Adrian entered the room, his usual composed demeanor intact, followed by Alex, who looked up from his phone, eyebrows raised.
"You called, Master?" Adrian asked.
Lassen nodded.
"Yes. I need you two to buy powerful gaming PCs and join this game."
Alex frowned, clearly puzzled.
"You want us to play a video game? Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Lassen replied, crossing his arms. "I need real players to test it. You're my guinea pigs."
Adrian, ever loyal, nodded without hesitation.
"Of course, Master. I'll handle it right away."
Alex, however, looked less enthusiastic.
"Master, I'm the CEO of SpectraSys. I have an entire company to manage. Why me?"
"Because I said so," Lassen replied with a grin. "If it's too much for you, hand over the title. Adrian would make an excellent CEO."
Alex sighed deeply.
"Fine. But don't expect me to be good at this sort of thing."
[Finally, some teamwork. I'll ensure your performance is recorded for posterity] the system interjected.
Alex shot a glare at the illusory screen.
"This system is seriously starting to annoy me."
---
A few hours later, Alex and Adrian sat at their newly acquired gaming PCs in a separate room, fully logged into the game. Lassen, still in his armchair, observed the screen through his interface, giving commands like a general orchestrating a battle.
"Adrian, head to the blacksmith in that village. Alex, gather resources to build a house."
"Why am I building a house? I'm a CEO, not an architect," Alex grumbled.
"Because you're terrible at combat," Lassen retorted with a smirk. "And Adrian, be careful. You're about to provoke the bandits."
Adrian, focused as ever, responded calmly.
"I'll handle it, Master."
The hours passed, filled with Alex's exasperated groans and Lassen's sarcastic instructions. Despite the game's richness and captivating design, they quickly realized its potential was stifled by the lack of a player community.
After a particularly frustrating quest, Alex turned to Lassen.
"Master, this game is incredible, but it needs more players. Otherwise, it'll become monotonous."
Lassen nodded, acknowledging the point.
"You're right. System, connect the game to public servers. Alex, organize a marketing campaign to attract players."
Alex let out another long sigh.
"More work for me. Fine. I'll take care of the promotion. What do you want to call the game?"
"Let me think… System, any suggestions?"
[Realm Eternal. It encapsulates the vast and immersive world you've envisioned.]
Lassen nodded approvingly.
"Not bad. Alright, Alex, make sure everyone hears about Realm Eternal. I want to see thousands of players online."
Alex left the room, already drafting campaign ideas, while Adrian remained engrossed in completing his in-game mission. Lassen, however, leaned back with a satisfied smile as he watched the illusory screen.
"This game might actually be fun."
[Let's hope so, Host. Otherwise, I fear for the safety of this armchair.]
Lassen burst out laughing.
"True. Poor armchair. Now, let's see what Adrian's done with his village."