The crackling of the fire provided Vega some good background noise to finish up his last journal entry.
For the past year, he hopped from sector to sector, visiting each of their nature reserves and journaling everything and anything that caught his interest.
He didn't just stop at journaling though, during his second week he happened to chance upon an instant camera that printed the pictures he took.
Now, at the end of his journey, his notebook was packed full of not only memories but pictures that cemented those memories into something tangible.
Nearing the end, this notebook served to be his most prized possession. It was the accumulation of his life's dream.
Although he hadn't originally thought of adding pictures, he was glad to have found that camera for sale when he did.
Vega didn't have a lot of cash handy, but due to the extreme focus on Altera, real-world items became extremely cheap.
It was for that reason that he was able to buy a pristine vintage camera for an incredibly low price.
Although Altera landed humanity in hot water, he was grateful that, due to its influence, he was able to fulfill his dream much earlier.
'As of current, it's 10 p.m. EST, December 31st, 2079. The time of reckoning is soon to be.
Very cringe again, but the internet has a particular naming sense. Ever since the 2020s brain rot era, the internet has become a very peculiar entity.
Although I'm in the wilderness, I'm almost 100% sure that I'm the only one who's not currently in Altera.
As the month passed, I noticed fewer and fewer people outside on the streets. When I walked through the city of New York, I could practically count the number of people I saw with just my hands.
I can't say that I don't understand, though. Playing Altera is humanity's only clue on what's going to happen next.
But what's the point of grinding for .5% of a level when you could enjoy Earth for the last time.
Even though a year has passed, there's been little to no clues as to what's about to happen next.
Honestly, I think If people weren't able to log into Altera with just a thought, people would eventually kind of forget about it.
Either way, humanity's end or its new beginning is on the horizon. The current time is 11:00 pm EST. I think I'm going to miss Earth.'
After jotting down his final thoughts, Vega placed the notebook on the ground near him.
The fire was still alive, flickering as the cold, harsh wind tried so desperately to put it out.
Vega wondered if it was a good idea to go to sleep before Altera Version 4.0 would be released. Ultimately, though, he decided it would be best not to.
Having already set up his sleeping bag, he laid down in its warm embrace. The surrounding terrain was a bit bumpy, but the year of being in the wilderness helped him become numb to the small rocks.
As he lay down, he stood face to face with the night sky with which he had become so familiar.
He gazed upon the galactic disk of the Milky Way galaxy, enthralled by its incomprehensible size.
Although he knew it was best he stayed awake, his eyelids began to droop with extreme heaviness.
So, despite his best effort, the exhausted Vega fell asleep under the night sky's coverage.
***
He dreamed a strange dream, one where he lived in the age of a galactic era. He explored unknown planets where oceans covered the world. Not only that, but he saw floating islands that seemed to hover in the air as they defied physics.
It was a strange dream, but it was one where he got to live out his dreams beyond his wildest imagination.
He wanted to continue dreaming, but something kept nagging at him. A faint voice of sorts calling his name.
[Vega] [Vega] It whispered.
In this dream of sorts, he began looking around in confusion. The voice seemed so familiar but yet also so strange.
[Nod if you can hear me!]
Although still not lucid, Vega nodded in response.
[Good, I've caught you just in time.]
[Listen to me. You must remember that you do not belong in that universe.]
[As long as you hold your identity close, my blessing will keep you safe.]
[Remember this Vega. You are my chosen. Never forget where you came from.]
***
When he finally awoke from his dream, the starry sky no longer greeted him. Instead, all he saw was a simple white ceiling.
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't dreaming, and as he expected he wasn't.
He got up to see that a lady was sitting at a desk not so far away from him, patiently waiting for him to sit down.
In this white cubicle, there existed only the desk and the two chairs on which Vega and the mysterious lady were to sit.
"So? What is this?" He asked.
"Just choose your starting point and your chosen item, please." The lady replied.
After a reply, a small window appeared before his eyes, displaying the countless possible starting locations for Vega.
Despite researching a bit of Altera beforehand, none of the starting towns from the game seemed to match up with the ones shown here.
Having no other option, he simply chose one at random.
"I'll choose the starting town of Cleargate and what's this about items…?" Vega asked.
"One item from the tutorial or one from your reality. You've got a minute left, kid." She sighed.
"I'll take my memory book then," Vega replied without a single thought.
"Alright, off you go then."
With a single clap, Vega disappeared from the white cubicle as another poor soul appeared lying on the ground.
***
[Name: Vega Kiran
Age: 19
Level: 1
Title: True Earthling (Unique)
Class: ???
Species: Human
Strength: 8
Constitution: 7
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 12
Charm: 8
Skills: ???
Bloodline: ???]