Chapter 0 (Prologue): Before the Beginning
“I knew I shouldn't have trusted them” I angrily grit my teeth as I cursed, shrinking back into my chair. I was called in to attend the meeting for continued collaboration between the game I created and the company that funded it.
I could only watch as the game I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into got taken away. I was the founder of Battalion, now one of the leading virtual reality games on the market. When I first created the game in the year 2028, it was well received as one of the few VR games with high amounts of freedom and realism. There was very little competition at the start, and, as the game grew older, more and more VR games popped up that were similar to mine. That being said, with the addition of updated features and content, securing player loyalty was a cinch. Ever since release, even until now in 2035, it’s still at the top of the monthly most played VR games.
But now… As I looked around the office at the executives, some looked away with guilt, but most of them stared back with sneers in their eyes. As if they were mocking me for lacking business skills.
I sighed and stared at the contract I had signed. Although Battalion was successful, it needed large amounts of money for development. As the sole designer devoting my life to this, it was natural that I was required to outsource certain projects, as I could not do everything by myself. And that outsourcing required money. Money that I obtained from this group through the contract. However, the contract we signed had one line different than before. There was a small space in between every paragraph so my eyes just glanced over it, but now after sprinkling a little water on the paper, the black ink started to reveal itself.
“Upon signing this contract, I, the creator, relinquish all authority to the game known as “Battalion” to the financial group “Limitless”, huh…” I muttered in low spirits. Although I could try to fight this out in court, I knew it was futile. I had no way to prove anything, and even if I did, they had the money and the better lawyers.
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“Don’t worry, we aren’t THAT black-hearted.” One of the leaders of the financial group chuckled as he told me, “We can at least give you a few million as a ‘thank-you’ gift.”
As those words fell, they felt like stabbing me over and over as they rang in my ears. My eyes grew misty, making it hard to see. The pounding in my chest grew so loud, I almost thought it would burst. Constant negative thoughts swarmed my consciousness, and, almost out of reflex, I loudly banged my hand against the table as I stood.
“You guys will regret this.” I barely managed to growl out before hastily walking out of the meeting room.
As I stormed out, all of the leaders except one burst out laughing. She watched calmly as I made my way out, her face was a little downcast. Having uncontrollable anger, I did not notice and heard the jeers and challenging comments as I left.
Upon reaching the elevator my vision had slightly cleared, and I pushed the button to go up. I grew anxious by the second, wanting nothing more than to get out of this place. Upon hearing the “ding” and the mechanical voice saying, “door opening, floor minus-25”, I immediately rushed in. Luckily there wasn’t anyone inside. I immediately voiced out through gritted teeth, “elevator floor 0”
“Now heading to floor 0,” the cold mechanical voice replied. After a few seconds, the doors opened with a ‘ding’ after which the voice sounded again. “Door opening, floor 0. Thank you and have a nice day.”
Upon hearing that, my blood pressure skyrocketed. Although I knew it was an automatic response, in a fit of anger, I punched the wall before keeling in to hold my fist. “FUCK that HURT!” I yelled. Everyone in the lobby turned their head to watch the commotion. As the pain cooled the anger slightly, I made my way through the lobby without a word. Upon noticing multiple people staring at me, I felt my anger rising again as their faces in my head warped into the gloating faces of the leaders.
My vision grew hazy again, and, as I reached the door, it slid open automatically and said, “Thank you for visiting Limitless Financial Group. Have a wonderful day!”
I stood there like a statue for a few seconds, before my tense body relaxed and my body started falling forward. I could not see anymore and my hearing was growing faint. I heard a few shouts from behind, before I completely lost consciousness.
Later that day, breaking news reported that Alexander Brenton Phillips, the creator of one of the most popular VR games, had passed away at the age of 45.