In the not-so-distant future, the world is not what it once was.
Massive population growth has led to the development of countless Super Cities brimming with technological marvels. Pollution Control Regulations helped prevent the lands from being filled with poison, but the boundaries of the wilderness had been pushed far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Now, all that remains of nature are a scattering of houseplants, a few public gardens, and well-guarded reserves that only the rich can enjoy.
To optimize housing capacity, the countless buildings that soured into the sky and dug deep into the earth possessed little to no aesthetic. Natural art and beauty had slowly and surely become a luxury of the wealthy. At the same time, ordinary people could only enjoy artificial displays on digital screens.
There was no lack of jobs thanks to AI-managed career quotas, nor was there a lack of food thanks to automated farming. By virtue of drone-building teams, every person had a roof over their head and the essential commodities they needed to survive. The world’s people had long unified for the sake of advancing their species. Thus, even geopolitical turmoil had become a thing of the past.
Like so earth had become a paradise without strife…
Yet despite all this, the people of the world were unhappy. Perhaps it was due to humans’ insatiable greed or their innate need for a challenge; regardless, surveys showed the overall satisfaction of people around the globe was slowly but surely falling.
Many people theorized how to resolve this and fill the endless void within the human heart. Scientists, philosophers, and religious leaders all debated endlessly on why people were not happy. And as they squabbled, one man chose to do something about it.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The inventor and entrepreneur Marcus Ludus and his company patented the first complete neuro-link virtual reality system. Industry leaders speculated how he would use the technology for technical training, device design, and civil engineering models were all associated products. However, no one had expected his company, The Ludere Corporation, to shut its doors for five years.
When Marcus Ludus finally reentered the spotlight, it was to make an announcement that would change the course of human history. After five years of hard work and fussing over the most advanced technologies of the modern world, he and his company were revealing a new product. It wasn’t a training simulation or a design tool…
It was a game, a game called Eden.
And with its release, Marcus left the world with a few words that would be etched into eternity:
“For too long, we have locked ourselves within our ivory towers of technology and deprived ourselves of truly living the lives we have been given. That is why I offer the world a key to the chains we have bound ourselves with and a chance to escape this dull reality. Eden is a world of endless possibilities where you can live out your dreams. It is a second chance at life where you can be anything you want to be. It is a place of fun and fantasy, a place of laughter and cheer, a place for amusement and passion. People of Earth, today I present you with The Ultimate Game.”
Many believed these words were just bravado; however, this impression soon faded. Half the global population had a Ludere Headset within a year, and the average daily usage exceeded 5 hours. The people of the world were infatuated by the Virtual World which Marcus had created.
Eden was a place of endless nature and historical marvel, a never-ending work of art one could explore endlessly. One could truly be anything in this world and feel its wonders as vividly as the real world. Many argue that Eden was better than reality because it offered the impossible. In this world, there was magic.