Mira couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She stared at the email, rereading it for the tenth time.
A free VR gaming pod? Out of nowhere? For a game she'd never heard of?
Yeah, definitely suspicious.
Her first instinct was to delete it. The rational part of her brain was already screaming scam, scam, scam. But that one line at the bottom—"Even the unluckiest can be chosen for a miracle."
It felt… personal.
And that unsettled her more than anything.
Still, if this was some elaborate hoax, she wasn't about to fall for it. Mira cracked her knuckles, opened a new tab, and did what any sane person would do.
She Googled it.
---
A Game With No Digital Footprint
"Gods Game VR."
No results.
She frowned. That wasn't right.
VR games were still relatively new, but anything remotely advanced always made waves. Even beta tests got leaked onto gaming forums. But this? Nothing.
No website.
No reviews.
No news articles.
It was like the game didn't exist.
She tried a few variations.
"Gods Game Virtual Reality"
"Gods Game VR giveaway"
"Gods Game console"
Still nothing.
Her stomach twisted. This wasn't just weird—this was impossible.
Even indie games had some form of online presence. Some random company couldn't just make a full VR pod without it being all over the internet.
Mira leaned back in her chair, drumming her fingers against the desk.
Okay. So, what were the possibilities here?
1. It was a scam. But then why wasn't there any info online? Most scams relied on some kind of website or fake reviews.
2. It was a black-market prototype. Not likely. Advanced VR was still insanely expensive, and the technology wasn't even fully developed yet.
3. It was a prank. But who would prank her? She barely had friends.
4. It was real.
Mira shook her head. No. That was ridiculous.
But… what if?
A weird chill ran down her spine.
She scrolled back to the email, fingers hesitating over the reply button.
It was tempting.
Even if this was a scam, what was the harm in replying? It wasn't like she was giving them her bank details—just an address. Worst-case scenario, nothing happened.
Best-case scenario?
She got a free VR pod.
And for someone who had never won anything, that thought was a little too tempting to ignore.
---
Arrival of the Pod
Two days later, it arrived.
Mira hadn't expected anything to actually show up. She had checked her email once after replying, but there was no confirmation, no tracking number—nothing.
Which is why, when a massive black crate was wheeled up to her apartment door, her brain completely short-circuited.
The delivery guy barely glanced at her.
"Package for Mira Evans."
Mira blinked. "Uh… yeah, that's me."
He handed her a clipboard. "Sign here."
Her hands moved on autopilot, signing the paper before she could even process the fact that this was real.
With a grunt, the delivery guy set the crate down and left without another word.
Mira just stood there, staring at the box.
"…What the hell?"
She dragged it inside, heart pounding. It was heavy—heavier than she expected—but surprisingly quiet. No mechanical hum, no beeping, nothing. Just a sleek, jet-black exterior with a single golden emblem in the center.
A circle with a triangle inside it, surrounded by strange ancient symbols.
It didn't look like any tech company logo she had ever seen.
There was no brand name.
No instruction manual.
No wires.
Just a single small panel on the side with a handprint scanner.
Mira swallowed.
This wasn't normal VR equipment.
Her heart pounded as she placed her palm against the scanner.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then—
Beep.
The pod hissed, and the front panel slid open, revealing the interior.
Mira's breath caught in her throat.
Inside, the pod was… beautiful.
The inner walls shimmered like obsidian glass, glowing faintly with golden circuit-like patterns that pulsed with light. The seat was sleek and contoured, like something out of a sci-fi movie, with a helmet-like headpiece resting on a cushioned support.
And most unnerving of all?
There were no visible wires.
Mira had seen high-end VR rigs before. They required tons of cables, external power sources, and usually a separate cooling system.
But this?
It looked like something from the future.
A strange excitement bubbled in her chest.
Was this really happening?
She reached out, tracing her fingers over the glowing interior. The golden symbols flickered beneath her touch, almost like they were alive.
She didn't know why, but something in her gut told her—
This was going to change everything.