The year was 2053, July. Ash lay on his bed, watching the holographic news on the roof through a chip implanted in his head—an invention born a couple of years after the launch of a game called "Chronicles of the Chronoverse."
Galactic News Network
The anchor was sitting alone, reading viewers' comments.
"This year has been amazing in the advancement of the new nanotechnology department."
"Today joining us is Alpha, one of the most powerful players in Sector 21."
"So, Alpha, I heard you are going to show the new mech technology designed by AstraTech”
"Yes, Matt. Let me show you what it can do. As a high-level player, I can assimilate 45% of my real game power in real life. I'll be fighting with a level 3 player wearing the mech."
The new player entered, and with a simple click, he donned the mechanized suit that covered him entirely.
Matt was astonished by the speed at which the mech enveloped the person.
"My, my, this is going to be something amazing."
The level 3 player appeared to be no more than a prime athlete in terms of physicality.
As everyone expected, Alpha, with his real-world superpowers, could easily crush a building with a light punch. Yet, to everyone's surprise, when he punched the person clad in nanotech, the level 3 player didn't even flinch and seemed completely unharmed.
Ash's interest waned after that, and his mind wandered back to the past three decades.
******************** 30 years back ****************************
He reminisced about the time when he lived with his loving family—his mother, Emily; father, Thomas; grandparents, Margaret and James; and his beloved sister, Ish. Back then, he was a confident and accomplished individual, excelling in both mental and physical aspects.
The day of Chronoverse's launch was etched vividly in his memory. Excitement filled the air as Ash and Ish prepared to immerse themselves in the virtual world.
"I can't wait to go in!" Ish exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Soon, Ish. Just two more minutes. Prepare your VR capsule; I'll set it up for you," Ash replied with a warm smile.
Their room, adorned with joyous family photographs, had two VR capsules resembling cocoons, awaiting their eager occupants. As the countdown reached zero, they both dived headfirst into the boundless wonders of Chronoverse.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
******************** 5 years after the launch of Chronoverse ****************************
As time passed, people began to realize that Chronoverse was no ordinary game. It had far-reaching consequences that extended beyond the virtual realm. Time flowed differently within the game, with one hour in Chronoverse equating to only thirty minutes in the real world.
Moreover, players experienced evolutions in their genes, influenced by their actions and experiences in the game. Astonishingly, some of the abilities acquired in the virtual world started to manifest in their real lives, albeit in a limited form initially, gradually improving with time and experience.
Ash was alone for the weekend as everyone else went to another state to visit a new amusement park known as StellarWorld Park that had just opened, equipped with many features inspired by Chronoverse.
However, tragedy struck, shattering Ash's world forever. In a heart-wrenching terrorist attack, he lost his entire family, leaving him devastated and forever changed. The attack was brutal and carried out by a group calling themselves Cosmic Dominion. It was a cruel act committed by those who had unlocked their genetic potential. The incident left no survivors, and the organization's name was etched into everyone's minds.
******************** Present time 2053 ****************************
Now, after three decades, the world had undergone an awe-inspiring transformation. Technology had advanced exponentially, rendering traditional phones and televisions obsolete. Instead, people opted for AI chip implants, allowing them to summon personal AI assistants at will, along with status windows displaying their in-game statistics and achievements.
Ash, now a distinguished scientist and engineer, worked at HyperCore Technologies, a renowned organization dedicated to the development of Warp technology—the ultimate dream of space travel.
Today, he noticed a newly installed VR capsule in his office. Fueled by curiosity, he decided to reenter the virtual world of Chronoverse while he was entering he thought about the first time he was going in, he relived memories of his mechanic days on the planet Celestria of the Aetheria system—an advanced world abundant in mystical life energy, often referred to as "mana." The planet's inhabitants harnessed this energy for various purposes, making it an intriguing place.
As he prepared to immerse himself in the VR experience, an unexpected disturbance occurred near the Warp Drive installation. A sudden distortion in space materialized, unleashing a lightning ray that struck Ash's heart. His consciousness was abruptly whisked away, leaving his physical body lifeless, and the distortion in space closed just as quickly as it appeared.
When Ash regained awareness, he found himself in an unfamiliar and fragile body, wracked with excruciating pain. His mind was splitting apart, and his body felt emaciated, as if he hadn't eaten in a long time.
"What just happened to me? Where am I?" he wondered, bewildered by his current situation.
His soul now inhabited the form of a teenage boy with jet-black hair and dark eyes. He gazed into a nearby mirror, staring at the face of a stranger—a malnourished young boy whose body seemed to have endured prolonged neglect.
As he glanced outside, he saw the bustling city of Elysium Prime, where the people were on strike due to air quality issues.
"Aetheria? Why am I on this planet?"
“I think I read about this strike in the Aetherian church libreary I remember because it escalated to another scale after a year”
“But it was supposed to haven before the launch of Chronoverse”
“What is happening to me??”
Ash called out, "Status." The status window appeared before him, displaying his current state:
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
│ Status:
│ - Level: 1
│ - Species: Homosapien(92%)/ Aetharian(7.8%)/unknown(0.2)
│ - Job: None
│ - Health: Fatigued
│ - Items: None
│ - Time: Star Date 40021 (2021 Earth year)
│ - Abilities: None
│ - Currency: 3 Cosmic Credits
│ - Skills: None
│ - Quests: None
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
It was undeniable—he had indeed journeyed through time.
"What have I become?" Ash questioned, observing the unique combination of his species components.
"The system has never shown anything like this."
He contemplated the idea of returning to his original time, but the yearning to see his family again and change the future filled his heart.
"I will protect them this time," he declared with newfound resolve, armed with the knowledge of the future. His journey through the uncharted depths of the Chronoverse had just begun.
"HUhuhu"
A sudden chuckle escaped his lips, a mix of excitement and determination intertwining in his heart
The possibilities were infinite, and he was ready to embrace them all.