Author Note:
Hello, this is my first time publishing a Fiction, I hope you guys enjoy it.
English isn't my main language but I worked hard to not make any mistakes, if there are some in this or in the future releases, please let me know in the comments (:
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NUMRA
Prologue
The year is 2189. Virtual Reality is now as commonplace as videogame consoles were in the past. My name is Seth. I am a Game Developer and I am currently working on a VRMMORPG game, named Numra Online.
VR technology has achieved huge advancements considering its humble beginnings. Some might go as far as to say that it’s akin to ‘The Matrix’ while immersed. Seeing that we connect through our nervous system, we can feel, touch and make use of any of our five senses in-game.
This could be considered a dream come true for gamers. Especially for those that play my game since, for example, if your character had four arms, you'd be able to move them like they were your own. At first, it’s hard to get used to controlling another limb, one that you previously did not have. But it was amazing nonetheless.
Maybe it’s because it’s not my first time, considering I work while immersed, but it all just feels natural to me. My job as a Game Developer is to expand the world of Numra Online. I am able to create content from inside the game, be it spells, lore, buildings and even change any of the game’s settings.
***
Time to log in.
Seth got in his VR capsule. It closed above him, connecting to his cerebral and neural functions. He selected to join the game and waited for the [Welcome] message with his eyes closed.
Hmm, what should I do first when I go in? Maybe I should finish creating the quests for the new map. Or maybe just make a Special Event, after all, it’s been awhile since the last one. I wonder what the others are up to. Maybe I sh--
[WARNING: System Overload]
What?
A glaring red system alert popped up in front of Seth’s eyes, followed by alarm sounds, breaking his line of thought. This was the first time something like this had happened to him. Virtual Reality capsules were state of the art machines, really expensive ones at that, so they weren't known for malfunctioning.
A system error? Should I just try aborting it?
"Abort!"
Nothing changed, so more worries clouded Seth’s mind as time went by. Aborting the operation should've ended all of the capsule's processes and connections. In his many years working as a VR Game Developer, he had not even once heard of a situation like this, and adding up the head aching sound and brightness, he lost his calm while trying to repeat the command, in case it didn't compute in the middle of all that madness.
"Abort, you piece of crap!"
The alarm and messages ceased altogether, along with the entire capsule, after the second command, putting Seth slightly at ease.
... Did it work?
Then suddenly, the VR capsule started again. As the loud sound of the capsule vibrated through his body, his vision became black as his consciousness faded away.
-- Seth began to slowly blink his eyes, as if waking up from a deep slumber.
"Uhmm. What happened?"
Some time seemed to have passed since the incident and a few minutes later, Seth composed himself and began to analyze his situation.
I'm inside Numra? So... I logged in after all?
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Seth was lying on top of a grass hill, spread on the ground. His body rested beneath a giant tree that could have easily surpassed the size of a 8 storey building. His eyes gazed at the clear blue sky, reaffirming the idea that he had actually gotten in.
Yes, a world as beautiful as this, could only exist in VR.
But not every VR Game was like this. The size of Numra Online’s world exceeded that of Earth by six times, and the size continued to grow as more areas and maps got added to the game. It had no advanced technology and used magic instead, therefore it had little to no pollution. The world was truly a work of art made by the hands of all the dedicated developers. It came to the extent that they sometimes even bet who among them could make the most awesome scenario. It was something to be expected of the most played game in history.
"[Show System Interface]"
Even though he said the command loud and clear, nothing happened.
Hm, why isn't my interface showing? Maybe the error did cause something. Perhaps I should log out and call a technician to take a look at my capsule. Better safe than sorry.
"[Log out]"
Seconds passed and nothing happened.
"... Is this a joke?"
Seth grew irritated; the frown of his eyebrows and his repetition of commands revealing his agitated state. He attempted every forced-logout method he knew of, even using his own powers as a Developer to try and kick himself out of the game. Nothing seemed to work.
After thirty minutes of failed attempts, he tried to contact his coworkers as a last resort. He didn't want to bother anyone to go out of their way for him unless it was of real need. Also, not exhausting all of his options would make him look pathetic before his subordinates as the Head Developer, even more as someone of his caliber.
He attempted to see the list of all of his coworkes that were online, but it failed to show, like everything else.
Every command I issue... Something must've definitely happened to my capsule to make it unable to get me out of here. Yes, that’s it!
If his super expensive VR Capsule broke or started to present problems, someone in real life could fix it, then it would be all fine. That is, if he could contact someone.
I'm inside the game, I can feel it, but why can't I get out? Maybe I should try something else.
He then got up. Game Masters and Developers had no particular form, they had to set and change it at will. Currently, he was in a young human male body, not so different from his real one, the perfect camouflage so that he wouldn't be disturbed by the players as he performed his work. It was the same as the one he had used the last time he logged in.
My body is the same as last time... Then, what about my powers?
"[Flight]"
The moment he muttered the spell, his body began to slowly lift from the ground and in a few seconds he was already 200 meters in the air. From there he could see the many cities of the Human Realm that surrounded him. It was truly a magnificent view.
There seems to be nothing wrong with my powers, so then... why can't I leave? A bug?
Despite it's huge size, it was rare to find a bug inside Numra, and even when it was found, it was quickly patched up by the Development Team. The possibility that something as huge as this was affecting the game was a direct hit to Seth's intellect.
A bug of this proportion? Too unlikely to happen. Perhaps I got stuck inside the game? Nah, this stuff only happens in novels... right?