Ray stepped through the shimmering portal, blinking as the scene around him shifted in a blink. Gone was the sterile CIA hallway; in its place, an enormous lecture room sprawled before him. High ceilings arched overhead, the walls lined with flickering consoles and holo-projectors. The space felt cold and practical, almost as if it had been designed more for function than comfort, with hundreds of chairs arranged in rigid rows.
A light flickered beneath his feet, illuminating a glowing path toward an empty seat. Ray followed it, his sneakers making soft scuffs against the sleek, metallic floor. As he passed by others, his gaze lingered on the badges strapped to their arms, each one humming faintly with a low-energy pulse. All the badges looked the same—sleek, black, with geometric symbols etched into them—but they pulsed at slightly different intervals, almost like heartbeats.
Ray slid into his assigned seat, eyes scanning the crowd. More than half of the seats were already filled with people—mostly around his age, though a few older folks were scattered here and there. Some fiddled with their badges, tapping them tentatively, while others stared blankly at the vast, empty stage up ahead.
Then, without warning, the lights dimmed. A sharp hum filled the air, and a soft blue glow flickered from the center of the stage. Slowly, a hologram shimmered to life—a middle-aged man in a perfectly pressed suit, his face etched with lines of experience. The hologram shifted, adjusting slightly until the figure seemed to make direct eye contact with every person in the room.
"Greetings," the hologram began, its voice perfectly modulated, clear as if the man himself were standing there. "I am Abraham, a Grade D AI assigned to the task of 'Protect Humanity.' For the next seven years, I will serve you."
The words hung in the air like a sharp command, and Ray leaned forward, his fingers drumming lightly against his badge.
"Seven years," Ray murmured to himself, as the sheer gravity of the situation finally began to settle on him. He was no longer sitting in a dorm room, barely scraping by in online games—this was real. Aliens, badges, and a ticking clock on Earth's survival.
Abraham’s voice pulled Ray out of his thoughts. “Your badge,” he said, gesturing with a sweep of his arm, “is more than an accessory. It is your life, your power. It will allow you to wield abilities that defy the very laws of your planet.”
As if responding to a silent command, Ray’s badge blinked, casting a brief light over his hand. He glanced down, curiosity getting the better of him, and tapped it lightly with his thumb. Instantly, a menu flickered before his eyes—a swirling mix of stats and unreadable text, all suspended in midair.
"Your badges grant access to what we call 'Cards,'" Abraham continued, "Powerful tools you will need to survive and thrive. Some are mundane—like weapons and navigation systems. Others are… more imaginative."
I, myself, am a D Ranked Card: Abraham."
"Titles and Cards are ranked from F to A, and badgeholders are often identified by the highest rank they possess
F grade only applies to cards. These are the most common, but don’t let the grade throw you off, F grade cards form the backbone of many police forces as well as armies.
D and E graded ranks are what I hope you all target and achieve. For cards, these are difficult to acquire, prohibitively expensive, however the abilities are very powerful and can change the tide even in war.
D and E graded Titles will generally take years of resources and training to acquire. However even the easiest Titles that can be acquired can allow anyone to live a life of luxury with minimal work. And even the most common D graded combat title can create a dangerous fighter that a weak nation can call a ‘superweapon’.
Then, we have the 'advancement' ranks of A, B, and C. These are increasingly rare and difficult to achieve. Advancement ranked badgeholders are typically only interested in personal advancement and accumulation of power. People refer to this stage as the true ‘game’. They are the ones who fight for influence and build great clans.
Advancement-ranked players typically inhabit the inner core, where wealth, resources, and Cards are abundant. Even the poorest mercenary company of the inner core would scoff at the HiYuDan trading company. New and rarer cards are discovered in the core each year. Rumor has it that the supermassive black hole at the center holds the key to creating your own cards.
Finally, there are S ranked badgeholders. These individuals defy classification, heralding great change and driven by missions that transcend personal ambition.
In addition every badgeholder possesses a racial trait, which is initially insignificant but develops as they perform actions that benefit and advance their race as a whole. This is the reason why races with powerful traits tend to be highly unified. Each trait is unique, and little is known about the human trait. You'll have the opportunity to explore it further in The Tutorial.”
Ray squinted at his holographic display. Deck Construction. Inventory Management. Titles.
Abraham continued to explain. “Titles are earned through feats of strength, intellect, or courage. They signify your achievements and help in your journey. Some will grant you abilities—others, recognition.”
In the seat next to him, a guy no older than twenty nudged Ray. “Pretty wild, huh?” He grinned, flipping through his badge's menu like he was swiping through a phone app. "I wonder what kind of title we can get first. Maybe something cool like ‘Pilot’ or ‘Commander.’ or…"
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"You will soon embark on The Tutorial," Abraham’s voice cut him off. “It is the starting point for all badgeholders. Here, you will earn your first Cards and Titles, and more importantly, you will face your first true challenges. Some will succeed, some will not."
"But remember the most important rule of the Tutorial," Abraham's gaze seemed to narrow, focusing intently on each badgeholder. "This is not a game. What you earn here, what you fight for—it's real. And whatever you fail to earn... you cannot keep."
Ray swallowed hard, glancing around the room. The other badgeholders—some excited, some nervous—seemed to shift in their seats. The guy next to him straightened up, his bravado fading slightly. This wasn’t just a training session. This was the real deal.
Abraham continued, “You all will be humanities Pioneers. Representing some of the best prepared players Earth has to offer. Do not look down on your abilities, each one of you were chosen for a reason. You will find things to come more naturally than you expect.”
“As Pioneers, should you survive and prosper, you will find yourself at the forefront of your human race. However, do not take your duties lightly. We expect in order to properly fend off HiYuDan and her allies we need at least 3 loyal B ranks. This task is far harder than you can comprehend.”
“Should you fail, you’ll become homeless. No planet to call home. Friends and Family left at the mercy of a ruthless corporation.”
Ray gulped.
Abraham reassured them, “But each step you take, each badge you send home, puts us another step closer. Remember you aren’t the only ones responsible for the fate of the planet. All Eight billion of you are. And as long as each one of you makes your contribution Earth will be strong enough to negotiate.”
Abraham extended his arm, and with a flash, a holographic badge appeared in the air above him. It twirled slowly, casting soft shadows across the faces of the new recruits.
"It’s time. The best way to learn is through experience. Let us begin the oath of the stars so you may enter the game. Place your badges over your heart," Abraham instructed, his voice softer now, almost reverent. "Repeat after me."
Ray held the small, black badge against his chest, feeling its warmth spread through his shirt. The words appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the dim room.
“I, Ray Han, descendant of the stars,” he whispered, the words tumbling from his lips almost without thought. “Solemnly pledge to defend the weak and fight in the stead of those who cannot.”
The badge seemed to pulse with life as he continued, the air around him thick with a strange energy. He felt the weight of it all pressing down on him—his responsibility, his future. By the time he reached the final line of the oath, he wasn’t just repeating words anymore. He meant them.
“I vow to combat the atrocities of slaughter and slavery, to bring peace to the galaxy, and to shield it from its invaders.”
As the final words left his lips, Ray felt the badge warm against his skin, a steady, rhythmic hum that almost mirrored his heartbeat. Then, everything went dark.
Alone in the empty auditorium, Abraham pondered the earthling racial trait once more, a subject he had been contemplating frequently over the past weeks.
---
"Ray," a robotic voice called out.
Ray found himself in a pristine white expanse, with nothing in sight but a floating keyboard and his badge, which projected a colossal sign that read, "Start the tutorial? Y/N."
Ray pressed the 'Y' button, and the projection changed.
Select an alias: [ER]________
Ray grinned, considering the opportunity to select a rare username. Perhaps he could finally claim a coveted three-letter or even single-letter username! Ray pondered for a moment but ultimately decided to seize this chance to choose a username he had always wanted: Wanderer.
Next, his status screen appeared, looking quite sparse.
Handle: [ER]Wanderer
Name: Ray Han Titles: None
Traits- War – Rank: Racial, Lvl 0
Description: You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you, I break nations in pieces; with you, I destroy kingdoms.
The human racial trait intrigued Ray. Why War? Ray reflected on humanity's history of conflict and bloodshed, as well as the modern-day wars of capitalism and commerce. Humans thrived on strife; it wasn't enough for them to be content; they also had to be better off than their neighbors.
The screen displaying Ray's personal information vanished, replaced by a set of instructions on how to use mental commands to store and access various functions of his badge. Ray tested out his inventory, but found it empty.
He then decided to read the message that Matterhorn had left for him.
"Things are changing quickly, and there are many things I can't be honest with you about. Although I will pressure you to send back Energy Credits to Earth, you need to focus on your own development for the first few years.
Here are a few code words. If I refer to you as 'My Son,' you are in danger. 'Raymond' means what I am saying is a lie; I will use this only if it is extremely important. 'My Nephew' means that I am in danger and need your extraction."
Ray pondered the message carefully. Why would Matterhorn create a system that could potentially betray his government? Matterhorn seemed like a loyal guy, so what worried him? Curious, Ray attempted to store the paper in his badge. To his surprise, the paper disappeared as he pushed it into the badge.
The screen changed again, revealing a countdown clock displaying 10 hours and a note: Currently in transit. Please sleep before The Tutorial starts.
Ray glanced to his side and noticed a comfortable bed. Sitting down, he found it firm and familiar, much like the one he had at home.
Ray reflected on the day and couldn't believe how much his life had changed in just a few hours. As a 20-year-old college student, he had never imagined that he would be embarking on a journey to defend the Earth and fight for the greater good. But now, he was determined to make the most of this opportunity and become a powerful player in the game. He wanted to acquire rare titles and cards, and explore the open universe, and maybe even own a spaceship. And most importantly, he wanted noobs to look up to [ER]Wanderer in awe and respect.
With a smile on his face, Ray drifted off into a deep sleep. Excitement, curiosity, and determination all swirled in his mind as he dreamed of the adventures that lay ahead. As he slept, the countdown on his badge continued, ticking away the hours until the start of the tutorial. Tomorrow would be the beginning of his journey.