"Alright, checklist time! We have exactly one hour before Solmora changes the world forever, and I refuse to have our names go down in history as the dumbasses who forgot to plug in their VR pods."
Elias stood in the middle of the apartment, arms crossed, clipboard in hand (Rael had no idea where he even got a clipboard). He tapped the paper with unnecessary seriousness, squinting at Rael like a disapproving drill sergeant.
Rael, meanwhile, was sprawled on the couch, one arm draped over his face, barely reacting. "We installed them yesterday. Everything's fine."
Elias scoffed. "Yeah? That's what every horror movie protagonist says before their VR pod turns into a human blender."
"That's not a thing."
"Yet," Elias muttered.
Rael exhaled, pushing himself up. The two VR pods took up most of the living room space, sleek and futuristic, their surfaces reflecting the neon city lights seeping through the window. Installing them had been a pain—not because it was difficult, but because Elias kept treating it like assembling an ancient artifact.
"Pod calibration?" Elias asked, flipping a page on his clipboard.
"Done," Rael answered.
"Power supply?"
"Stable."
"Internet connection?"
Rael rolled his eyes. "Fiber-optic. We're not cavemen."
Elias gave an approving nod before dramatically underlining something. "Alright, next up: essential survival provisions."
Rael cracked open one eye. "...Really?"
Elias held up a finger. "Excuse me, but do you want to wake up eight hours later in a post-apocalyptic fantasy war zone with nothing but regret and low blood sugar?"
"We don't need snacks. The pods come with built-in health packs that provide full daily nutrition while we're inside."
Elias blinked. "Wait. So you're telling me I didn't have to spend fifty bucks on emergency gamer fuel?"
"You did what?"
"Nothing." He quickly scratched something off his clipboard.
Rael shook his head. "Also, remind me why you have a pod? You're not exactly the 'serious gamer' type."
Elias grinned. "Oh, that's easy. Because of you."
Rael raised an eyebrow.
"Look, if I let you go in alone, you'd turn into some brooding warlord, get lost in the game for years, and come out with a beard and a tragic backstory. I'm here to prevent that."
"How noble."
"I know, right?" Elias puffed out his chest before dramatically tossing his clipboard onto the table. "Alright! Countdown's on. Let's do this."
Rael stared at the pods, exhaling slowly. The past few days had been a blur, but now? Now it was real.
One hour until Solmora.
No turning back.
With an hour left until launch, Rael leaned back on the couch, scrolling through the Solmora forums on his phone. The developers had opened the discussion boards 24 hours ago, and in that time, players had already flooded the place with theories, debates, and completely unhinged speculation.
Elias, sprawled across the couch beside him, munched on a protein bar despite knowing full well the VR pods would handle their nutrition. "Yo, anything good?"
"Depends on your definition of 'good,'" Rael muttered, flicking his thumb across the screen.
-> Thread: Best Class to Pick at Launch?
-> EpicGamer420: Alright, real talk—what's the best class?
-> KnightmareXX: Easy, Knight. Heavy armor, big sword, no thinking required.
-> FireballEnthusiast: Nah, Mage. Always Mage. Every game starts with Warriors being OP, then they nerf them and Mage takes over.
-> StealthPigeon: Rogues are best. Imagine assassinating some dude in the middle of his epic monologue. Peak gameplay.
-> 2Hot4PvP: Okay, but hear me out: Bard. Charisma builds. I'm about to serenade my way into enemy strongholds.
-> GigaDruid69: What if we all just touch grass and go Druid?
Rael smirked. Classic gaming debates.
Another thread caught his eye.
-> Thread: What are you guys rolling for?
-> MeatShieldSupreme: Tank, obviously. Someone has to carry you glass cannons.
-> ArcaneLover: DPS, I don't tank. I don't heal. I kill things.
-> StealthPigeon: Still going Rogue. If I die, I die in style.
-> DaddyDarkness: Gonna roleplay as an evil overlord and crush some peasant villages. My reign shall be eternal!
-> CrimsonMoon[Moderator]: And you shall be eternally bonked if you try that.
-> DaddyDarkness: Welp.
Rael exhaled through his nose. Some things never changed.
And then, just as he was about to close the app—
-> Thread: Character Customization is INSANE
-> HornyOnMain: You can customize EVERYTHING. I mean, EVERYTHING. If you catch my drift.
-> BootyBandit69: Bro, I spent two hours on thighs alone. This game is peak gaming.
-> LewdLich: Finally, a game that lets me live out my true form. Thank you, technology.
-> CrimsonMoon[Moderator]: Banned.
-> HornyOnMain: WAIT NO—
Rael blinked, then exhaled sharply through his nose. "Wow. I missed this, huh?"
Elias glanced over. "What now?"
"Some guy got banned mid-sentence."
Elias wheezed. "LMAO. Classic."
Rael shook his head and put his phone down. Solmora hadn't even launched yet, and already, the community was as chaotic as ever.
He continued scrolling through the forums, occasionally reading out the more absurd posts to Elias, who cackled like a maniac at each one.
"Dude, listen to this," Rael said, trying to keep a straight face. "Some guy just posted: 'If I die in the game, do I die in real life?'"
Elias choked on his protein bar. "Bro thinks this is a death game."
Rael snorted. "Someone replied, 'Yeah, your pod explodes on the spot.'"
Elias clutched his stomach. "Oh my god, the internet was a mistake."
They kept at it, bouncing off each other like they always did. Elias might not have been a pro, but his enthusiasm for games was contagious. The hype, the speculation, the absolute nonsense—it all felt nostalgic. But as the clock crept down, the atmosphere shifted
At five minutes to launch, a loud chime echoed through their pods, signaling the final system check.
Rael cracked his neck, standing up. "Alright, guess it's time."
Elias stretched dramatically before climbing into his pod. "So, what's the plan? We making a guild? Running the world? Declaring ourselves kings on day one?"
Rael smirked. "Nah. I just wanna experience the game raw first."
Elias groaned. "You're so lame, man."
"You're free to do whatever," Rael said, stepping into his own pod. "But I'm not about to get caught up in power struggles before I even know how the game plays."
Elias made a face but didn't argue. "Fine, fine. But when you regret not forming 'The Chad Men,' don't come crying to me."
Rael rolled his eyes as the pod's hatch slid shut.
3 minutes remaining.
A system voice echoed in his ears.
[Neural Sync Initiated.]
[Preparing for Full Dive.]
Rael took a deep breath.
For a moment, there was nothing. Then, his vision went white.
A voice—smooth, artificial, and strangely omnipresent—filled the void around him.
"Welcome, Traveler, to Solmora: Ascent. You stand on the threshold of a world beyond imagination, a land where fate is shaped by your choices. Glory, power, and legend await—but beware, for every path is fraught with peril."
As the brightness faded, Rael found himself floating in an endless expanse of shifting light. Geometric patterns wove through the air, reshaping themselves into abstract symbols before dissolving again. He instinctively tried to move, but his body felt weightless, like a phantom without form.
"Before you may step into Solmora, you must first take shape. Choose the vessel through which you will forge your destiny."
A circular interface materialized before him, glowing with ancient, runic script. A selection of six figures emerged, each standing atop a raised platform, clad in the defining gear of their class. Their titles flickered beneath them in elegant, golden text.
Ranger → Masters of precision and agility, Rangers wield bows and crossbows to strike from afar. They excel in mobility, tracking, and terrain adaptability, making them deadly hunters in the wild.
Warrior → Armed with sword and shield, Warriors are the backbone of any battlefield. They boast high endurance, balanced offense and defense, and can withstand relentless assaults.
Mage → Scholars of the arcane, Mages command elemental forces to devastate their enemies. Their power is vast, but their frail bodies demand careful positioning in battle.
Assassin → Striking from the shadows, Assassins specialize in speed, stealth, and lethal precision. They thrive in one-on-one combat, eliminating foes before they have a chance to react.
Barbarian → Brutality incarnate, Barbarians forgo armor in favor of raw, overwhelming strength. They wield massive weapons and thrive in relentless, high-impact combat.
Templar → Devout warriors imbued with divine power, Templars blend martial skill with sacred magic. They serve as stalwart defenders, capable of both smiting foes and shielding allies with holy blessings.
Rael's gaze swept over the choices, taking in the details. The designs were impressive—ornate armor, flowing robes, and weapons that looked like they had actual weight to them. Even though this was just the starting selection, the game had already nailed the immersive feel.
He thought about it, eyes narrowing as he considered his options.
Templar. It was the obvious choice. A solid, balanced class that would give him survivability, utility, and a strong early-game presence. Plus, the blend of martial and divine abilities meant he wouldn't be easily countered. More importantly, it left room for something greater. He had no interest in following a conventional path. There were always hidden mechanics, unique evolutions—ways to bend the game in directions others wouldn't anticipate.
Besides, base classes weren't the end. He had already noticed something in the interface—subclass paths. Warrior could lead to Knight, Ranger could branch into Hunter or Scout, and even niche choices like Bard existed. That meant Templar had its own evolutions. Paladin? Crusader? Something else entirely? He had no way of knowing yet, but that was exactly what made it interesting.
"Templar," he said firmly.
The moment he spoke, the figure on the platform straightened, light enveloping its armor. The interface pulsed, recognizing his choice.
"Acknowledged. You have chosen the path of the Templar. Now, select your race. Be advised: most of Solmora is dominated by the Order, and your choice will impact your early-game experience."
A new set of options appeared before him, each depicting different races—elves, dwarves, beastkin, even the more exotic demonic and alien beings. Yet, Rael barely spared them a glance.
"Human," he answered without hesitation. The safest, least complicated route. He could explore later, but for now, he needed to establish himself within the world as smoothly as possible.
"Human confirmed. Now, enter the name by which you shall be known."
A text box appeared before him, its luminescent letters waiting to be filled. He stared at it, fingers hovering over the input field. A name. A simple thing, yet one that carried weight.
A memory flickered in his mind.
A roaring crowd. A stadium bathed in neon lights. Voices screaming a name over and over, a chant that echoed in his ears.
"Auereus! Auereus!"
His old name. The name that had once meant everything. A name that carried victories, expectations, and burdens he no longer wanted.
Rael inhaled deeply and typed something new.
Noctus.
The past was gone. This was a fresh start.
"Name confirmed. Welcome, Noctus. May your path in Solmora be one of legend."
A chime echoed as the system accepted his name. The space around him began to warp, colors blending into streaks of gold and deep violet. The void crumbled away, revealing a breathtaking panorama.
A vast sky stretched endlessly above, painted in shades of dusk and dawn. Gryphons soared through the clouds, their wings casting enormous shadows over an ancient city built atop floating isles. Below, a sprawling medieval metropolis gleamed under the morning light, its towering spires reflecting the radiance of the sun. Beyond the city, rolling fields and mist-cloaked forests stretched toward the horizon.
A soft, melodic female voice rang in his ears.
"Welcome to Solmora."
The world had begun.
Rael opened his interface, scanning the friend list. The game had only just started, and yet, he already knew exactly what name to search for.
Chad_God.
Elias had been using the same ridiculous username for years, completely immune to any sense of shame. Sure enough, the name popped up instantly. Rael sent the request.
Friend Request Sent to: Chad_God
Almost immediately, a response arrived.
Chad_God: who's this?
Noctus: It's me.
A flood of gag stickers followed—crying laughing faces, exaggerated thumbs-ups, and a cursed image of a goblin dabbing.
Chad_God: BRO UR SO EMO. THE EDGE. I CAN FEEL IT.
Noctus: Shut up.
Chad_God: NO FR THO. "NOCTUS"??? HELLO??? WERE U BITTEN BY A VAMPIRE MID-LOGIN??
Noctus: I will block you.
Chad_God: U WILL NEVER ESCAPE ME. ACCEPT MY PARTY INVITE.
Rael sighed. Some things never changed.