It was exactly as the creator, Logan Bell, had described it.

The sounds of the real world vanished instantly, and suddenly, I stopped feeling my bed, my clothes, and even my sense of smell. Everything became dark, and I felt small tingles from my head to my spine, as if they were small electromagnetic pulses.

After a few seconds, a white light appeared, along with an on-screen menu.

Create Your Character

I read the screen, and then the menu with a default character unfolded. However, what really caught my attention was an option that appeared at the very end.

Be Yourself

Driven by curiosity, I selected the option, and immediately a warning appeared on the screen.

If you choose this option, your character will look like you do in real life. Are you sure you want to proceed?

"Interesting," I commented aloud as I read the message on the screen. The idea of being able to represent myself in the game just as I am in real life was fascinating.

It would save a lot of time that would normally be spent customizing a character that you couldn't even see.

Moreover, I had confidence in my appearance; I wasn't ugly at all. I had had several girlfriends and considered myself a fairly good-looking guy with a decent physique. So why would I be ashamed to show myself as I am?

Without hesitation, I clicked "Yes" on the option, and suddenly, everything around me turned dark once again. But this time, something different happened. I wasn't given the choice to pick a location; instead, I was spawned in a predetermined location.

However, none of that mattered as I opened my eyes and found myself in the game world.

"I'm finally here," I exclaimed.

My heart was pounding with overwhelming intensity, and my body was flooded with emotions as I gazed at my new surroundings with shining eyes.

I felt like I could shed tears of pure excitement at any moment. I had waited so many years for this moment, and finally, I was here.

My eyes moved from side to side, exploring the amazing landscape unfolding before me. The view was incredibly futuristic.

I was inside a massive military base that seemed to stretch into infinity. Skyscrapers of monumental proportions reached for the sky, competing in height with the spacecraft soaring through the beautiful blue sky of the planet.

In the base, military NPCs dressed in impressive futuristic armor were coming and going, creating an atmosphere of frantic activity.

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of what I was witnessing. It was as if I had been transported to a science fiction world, full of advanced technology and endless possibilities.

But what surprised and excited me the most was the sight of an immense, majestic ship passing gracefully above the base. It must have been at least 5 kilometers in length, similar to the legendary UNSC Infinity.

The magnitude of that ship left me breathless, and I felt a wave of excitement coursing through my entire body. It was such a stunning experience that it made me feel like I could have an erection at any moment.

Around me, people began to appear in flashes of bright light. At first, it was just a small group, but then thousands and thousands of players began to materialize before my eyes.

Their reactions were as intense as mine, or even more exaggerated. Cheers of excitement filled the air as people marveled at their surroundings or set out to explore the massive base. It was something that simply couldn't be real, but there we were, all together in this amazing world.

The experience was so vivid and realistic that it didn't feel like a video game at all; it felt as if we were living in real life, in a place that transcended any bounds of imagination. It was incredible and overwhelming at the same time.

As I observed the players around me, I noticed that we were all wearing the same suits. They looked more like uniforms from a military academy, with a stylish twist. The suits had metal shoulder pads that emitted blue light points, indicating which faction the players belonged to.

Despite the initial surprise, I soon began to feel a little dizzy due to the overwhelming number of people around me. I decided it was time to move and start exploring more deeply.

The most surprising thing of all was the ability to move without worries, without having to fear running into a wall or stumbling over some real-world obstacle. The technology of the headsets was truly astonishing, allowing me to walk freely without restrictions. There were no limitations here, and that made it even more exciting.

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It didn't take me long to get used to the game's dynamics. At first, my steps were clumsy, but over time, I realized I could run and move with ease.

I explored the vast streets of the base, which seemed to stretch for kilometers and kilometers. NPCs were everywhere, and Humvee-like vehicles traveled the roads, some equipped with mounted turrets and others completely armored.

I had a burning desire to try everything, even to drive those vehicles. However, I knew there would probably be a tutorial or something to help me better understand the game's mechanics before venturing too far.

So, I decided to explore a bit more and see what opportunities presented themselves.

After walking for a while, I reached the exit of the base and found myself in a sprawling city that stretched before my eyes. It was an incredibly beautiful city, filled with skyscrapers reaching for the sky and smaller buildings scattered throughout the area.

Bustling markets were everywhere, and hundreds of NPCs moved through the streets as if they were real people, buying goods or simply strolling.

Military personnel patrolled the area, and defense systems were deployed everywhere, giving a sense of security amid all the activity. Furthermore, ships of all sizes were constantly landing and taking off, creating a fascinating spectacle.

I exited the base and headed straight for the city. I wondered how access to the ships would work or if there would be some kind of initiation ritual.

However, as I walked through the city, I noticed a message on my interface that caught my attention.

Entering Safe Zone

This message made me take a closer look at my interface.

I examined my interface, which was typical of an MMO. In the top left, there was an HP bar indicating my health, which was at 100/100, along with my level, which unfortunately was only 1. This left me a little discouraged as I still didn't know how to increase my level.

In the center at the top, there was a compass and numbers indicating the direction I was moving, a standard feature to help me navigate. In the bottom left, there was a square mini-map showing my location in the city and marking icons of stores and blue dots representing other players.

I didn't have any weapons or additional items; I only had what I was wearing, so there were no icons for weapons or equipment on my interface at that moment. Just above the mini-map, I noticed an icon of a person, which seemed to be the friends or group function, although I didn't have any friends or groups at the moment, so that icon remained inactive.

It took some time, but I finally arrived at the grand market. My amazement knew no bounds as I observed all the wonders that this game had to offer.

"Incredible, incredible, incredible!"

There were all kinds of items, from a katana that shot fire with every strike to flamethrowers and heavy armor.

Unfortunately, my current level didn't allow me to use any of these amazing items.

This game had all kinds of things, including a katana that shot fire with every strike, flamethrowers, and heavy armor. Unfortunately, I didn't have the required level to use them.

Despite my disappointment at not being able to use these incredible weapons and armor, I couldn't help but feel like a little kid exploring the world.

I dodged people in my path as I tried to visit as many stalls as possible, but I quickly realized that everything was damn expensive.

Furthermore, there was another factor at play: I didn't have a single credit in my account.

I decided that this would be just the first day, or perhaps the first week of my adventure in this game. I was determined to study it in detail, play all weekend, and find a way to make money within this virtual world. I would search for tutorials, learn the game mechanics, and develop my strategy for success.

With renewed determination, I told myself, "I will be the best of them all!" with an excited laugh, "Bwahahahaha."

After running around the city, I felt tired, not physically, but mentally due to the intense exploration I had undertaken.

I decided to take a brief break and sat on a bench in a spacious park, enjoying the view that stretched before me.

The park was full of activity, with people and NPCs alike enjoying the space. Children played with enthusiasm, and the view of the park itself was simply beautiful.

In the center, a large fountain emitted a soft murmur, surrounded by statues scattered throughout the area. Trees stood majestically in all directions, providing shade and a peaceful atmosphere that invited relaxation. It was a perfect place to recharge before continuing to explore the city.

"Fhuuuu...." I exhaled tiredly as I caught my breath. "This is incredible," I murmured to myself, my heart still beating rapidly, and excitement coursing through my virtual veins.

However, I was abruptly pulled out of my awe by a message that took me by surprise.

"You are being transported by the game administrator. Please do not move."

"What...?"

My voice broke in confusion as I watched with wide eyes a dim, bluer-than-the-sky column of light starting to surround me. My vision blurred, and eventually, I couldn't see anything at all.

Questions flooded my mind as the light faded, and my vision began to return to normal. However, what I found upon fully regaining sight wasn't the beautiful park I had been in minutes ago.

Instead, I was surrounded by military personnel. Towering skyscraper structures loomed before me, and I quickly realized I had been transported back to the place where I had started the game.

"Is the tutorial about to begin?" I wondered mentally.

My eyes widened as I looked around, trying to make sense of the situation.

Surprise and confusion were written on the faces of everyone surrounding me.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that they all wore the same uniform I had seen when I entered the game. Moreover, HP bars appeared above their heads, clearly indicating that everyone in the base was a player, just like me. It seemed like we had all been teleported back to the "starting base."

The base was packed with the 40 thousand people who had bought the game.

Excitement was evident on the faces of all the players surrounding us. There didn't seem to be signs of annoyance or panic, and many players began to socialize with each other. Some hugged each other, sharing the excitement of being in this video game.

However, as time passed and nothing else happened, some players started asking their questions.

"What's going on here?"

"Why were we transported back?"

"Is this part of the tutorial?"

Questions hung in the air, and we were all eager to get answers about why we had been teleported back to the game's starting base.

The anxiety in the air quickly escalated when someone exclaimed in concern, "I don't see the logout button."

These words triggered chaos among the players, and everyone, including myself, began frantically checking our menus.

Sliding my hand down on my interface, I accessed the inventory window, but there was nothing there. Without paying attention to that, I hurried to look for the arrow that would take me to the settings options and scrolled my finger down, exploring all the options in search of the logout button.

My thoughts turned into a mix of anxiety and fear as I muttered, "It's not here."

The possibility of being trapped in a virtual world like in the anime "Sword Art Online," where 10 thousand people were trapped in a video game, began to loom in my mind.

"Please, let this not be happening," I internally prayed that this wasn't really happening.

I tried to find a logical explanation for this situation, thinking that maybe it was a first-day glitch or a game bug. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so foolish as to trap 40 thousand people in a video game like this.

My thoughts continued to spiral, considering the implications of being trapped in a virtual world as vast and complex as the galactic game we were experiencing. The idea that everyone in real life would go mad trying to get us out, and the magnitude of the situation was overwhelming.

I tried to find a logical and reasonable answer, but uncertainty and fear were taking hold of me.

I tried to calm myself down and convince myself that I was overreacting. My mind was searching for any logical explanation that could dismiss the idea that we might be trapped in the game. Maybe it was just a system glitch or a temporary issue that would be resolved soon.

The murmurs and complaints of the players echoed amid the uncertainty that gripped everyone.

Among the comments, someone's voice expressing frustration with the server moderators emerged: "Damn GMs! They can go to hell!"

Amidst the confusion and discussions, I managed to hear.

"Look up!"

Everyone present turned their gaze to the sky, and out of nowhere, a bluish hologram appeared.

It was someone with a skin resembling the game's enemies, possibly the "Yoters." The figure was imposing and terrifying: it had two eyes, a mouth similar to those of the Shangeli from Halo, and a thick neck that looked even more intimidating due to the armor it wore.

The hologram floated in the air, offering no explanation of what was happening. The momentary silence that gripped the crowd was broken by increasingly audible murmurs and concerns.

The hologram was suspended at approximately 100 meters above us, allowing it to have a complete view of all the players gathered in the base.

Meanwhile, we could observe it clearly, and its presence was becoming increasingly unsettling.

At that moment, a message appeared on our interfaces.

System Announcement.