Hello everyone this is my first story that I'm writing based on a bunny plot that has been hopping around my head for at least a week and a half. You will find here elements from manga like Gamer and World Customize Creator along with mention of Sword Art Online. I hope for constructive criticism and advice to improve my writing. Also it would be wonderful to find a beta reader for this and maybe my future works.
Anyway enough of my ranting, sit back and enjoy.
Prologue: And So It Begins
Stuttgart, Germany, Earth 2022
"I would like to welcome all of you on the grand opening of Morpheus Sleep Entertainment System. This new revolutionary device will allow gamers all around the world to enjoy new gaming experience!" Tall, bald man with green tinted shades and black tuxedo announced from the podium of E3 2022 Hall. The audience followed every motion and word of William Glade the CEO of Black Star Entertainment. The rising star among the gaming companies.
It all started in 2016 when Black Star emerged after console market crash, their announcement of Direct Neural Link system that allowed people to literally become the character of the game. The potential of this type of device caught attention of several big shots from military and government. Any funding problems Mr. Glade might have had were resolved by generous donations from various government agencies worldwide and all of this for the promise of developing VR Training program using this device.
Seeing as Black Star didn't want to put all eggs in one basket they first concentrated on commercial product which they later named Morpheus and assured their benefactors that first they need to test product on general population so any bugs could be eliminated and improved system shipped to the military. With that type of insurance the programming and Cyber Neural pathways necessary for the Morpheus were being developed at astonishing rate.
"With this system you no longer need to waste and time during the day, you can get your daily dose of entertainment during a sleep, more importantly to those concerned about the safety of using Morpheus our team has developed a series of safeguards that upon any malfunction eject gamer into normal sleep cycle without any negative effects upon body or psyche. There will be no user death like in that manga many people mentioned." Flashes of multiple cameras punctuated William's speech. There was a general excited murmur among the audience following this grand event both those present in the hall and those watching via streams.
"But what is a gaming system without a game dedicated to use full potential of the system?" Now that question stirred the hive, both competition and customers were quite shocked realizing what CEO was pointing at.
"Yes, we have been developing the game along the device for the last six years. We spent a lot of our funds getting the rights necessary to utilize Warhammer 40k universe. Right now we have Forty thousand devices ready to be shipped to those lucky enough to win them in lottery that we are starting right now." There was a lot of action in the audience everyone started buying lottery tickets from Black Star's webpage. All 120 thousand tickets were bought in ten minutes flat.
"To those who are not chosen in first wave do not be alarmed, you will be supplied with Morpheus with second shipment ready in a month. After that we decided to sell it for half the price most gaming consoles nowadays are being sold. Yes my dear friends you will not pay more then equivalent of 500 dollars and best of all you get the game along with the device all installed and ready to go." Buying frenzy would be apt name for the general sentiment that could be felt among all those that followed this announcement. With tickets sold out a lot of people started placing orders for next shipments. Let's just say that manufacturing branch will be put under a lot of stress in the following months.
"I thank you all for your presence here and support you have given to our company, I hope you will enjoy our products as most gamers say good luck and have fun." William stepped back into the shadows of backstage smiling at the people before him. His smile turned into into the one full of mirth as he vanished from the sight of others. He lowered his shades and displayed the glowing red eyes, the same ones as those found in denizens of the Warp.
"The stage is set. Let's see how much havoc they can wreck upon my universe."
Dover, England, Earth 2022
"Fuck YEAH!" Loud yell shook an apartment flat to the foundations. On the third floor a 23 year old student danced in joy as a red 'You have been chosen' message was displayed on his laptop. Brown hair swayed with momentum and green eyes wide with joy. 1.85 meters of lithe athletic muscle moved with a grace between desk, old be and tacky wardrobe.
"What in seven bloody hells are you yelling for, you wanker?" Came a question from beyond the doors.
"I have just won a lottery that will make my life so much more fun." Michael Blackwell was the name of the student, 3rd year of electrical engineering student to be precise but that is not important.
"Now then…" Mike sat back and started reading on details of his prize. Apparently the system will arrive in 3 days and then he would need to read manual attached to the Morpheus.
"Wisps? Now that doesn't seem to fit Warhammer universe at all. Eh whatever I am hyped up!" Blackwell spun in his chair and laughed; lucky lady smiled upon him or did she?
3 days later.
"Upon attaching the device the cord will automatically will connect to user neural network and initialization process will begin. Warhammer 40k: Wisps will connect to main server where all users can interact with each other and tutorial phase of game will begin." Mike finished reading manual and looked upon the Morpheus which looked like futuristic helmet with a metal plate instead of visor and cable plugged into the contact where it was provide with necessary power to operate.
"Alright let's do this." He smiled and stripped to the boxers. He laid down on his be and put the helmet on his head.
"New user detected… Connecting…" Pleasant feminine voice sounded and then Mike felt a prick at the base of his neck then darkness took him.
Somewhere in the Warp
Countless balls of light started to appear and float in the chaotic waves of the Warp. From time to time their shine increase just to dull moments later. Black ball of light soon joined its brethren and spun in lazy circles.
"Welcome to commander creation interface. Please choose your faction and customize commander avatar." Ethereal voice reverberated in Michael's ears. Seven symbols appeared before his eyes. Each with description of the faction it belonged to. Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Necrons, Tau, Chaos, Eldar and Orks.
"Hmm so its more like RTS? Well from what I remember guards are just average joes, so they get raw end of any deal in this universe. Might as well improve their odds." At first Blackwell was astonished his voice sounded like chorus of different voices with varying pitch, but soon grew accustomed to this phenomenon. He touched imperial two headed eagle and was instantly moved to a dark room with generic bald human male in black trenchcoat and officer cap.
"You have 100 visual points available for commander customization , it is possible to convert visual points into skill points at the exchange rate of 3 to 1." So three visuals make it one skill point. Not half bad deal as far as Mike was concerned.
Blackwell decided to forgo trenchcoat and instead dressed his avatar in black and tan dragonskin tactical outfit he remembered from one game. He only though of this outfit and it appeared on his commander, now that opened new avenues of experimentation. Ten minutes later and dozen of ridiculous clothing articles later he came to conclusion that there is no limit to the content. Or rather the limit was one's imagination. Think about something and it appears. Blackwell decided to finish process with polarized set of goggles and face wrapped in bandages. As for the head gear he picked up black beret with radio headset.
Having used up 87 points Mike added emblem to his clothing one black and red striped scorpion on beret. He definitely like that one. Next step was the voice. Blackwell went for a deeper version of his own voice. That process knocked down his remaining points to 9. New imperial officer, believing in 'Waste not, want not' rule, converted it to 3 extra skill points.
"Commander visual and skill points will be awarded with each new level player will gain." So tutorial handler as Mike dubbed the voice, gave more information and also introduce the rpg aspect of the game.
"Points can be used to also modify army appearance and unit specifications." If that worked the same way commander creation did, well let's just say it will be interesting.
"Please allocate skill points to desired abilities. Points remaining 13." Now that proved to be a problem, there were no skills that Micheal could see unless….
"Encouragement. Improve unit dps and boost morale." Lo and behold an icon of hand clenching rifle appeared. That ability improved all infantry rate of fire by 20% and gave 33% of their morale back. It cost him 2 points.
"Sky eye. Vision of designated area." Imagination sure is great weapon in this game. That skill took care of his recon problems that he may have. Displays 1 kilometer radius of area concealed by fog of war for 10 seconds. With that one it took his skill points down to 7. Mike understood the more powerful ability it was the more points it will take to create and improve.
"Strafing run. 3 bomber craft will strafe enemy units in line." Heavily disruptive ability as description depicted and costly too. Knocks down and suppresses enemy infantry in 80 by 4 meters area. Deals 200 damage to unarmored units, 120 to armored vehicles. Cost of 4 points.
"Rapid deployment. Decrease reinforcement time." Last 3 points were invested into sustainability. Blackwell knew his units were not the toughest ones in the game and also quantity is quality of its own right? This skill reduces squad reinforcement time by 45 %.
"Those 3 extra points sure made this a little bit easier." Mused Blackwell and looked upon his work. All in all it presented itself quite nicely. Mike decided to finish the creation phase and enter the game proper.
As if on cue he was moving through the void, all around him thousands of light spheres were hurtling in every direction. Soon his black ball of light punched through invisible barrier and into the material plane. That action sent shockwaves throughout whole universe.
Holy Terra, Golden Throne. 30 minutes later.
"Have you come here to gloat again Khorne?" God Emperor questioned blood soaked abomination of chaos prince. Soon in the immaterial plane surrounding the place other deities and players in the universe appeared. Gork an Mork orkish patrons, Tzeench, Slaneesh an Nurgle remaining chaos princes, Deciever and Nightbringer of C'tan, a consciousness of Eldar farseer and Tau ethereal caste.
"As much as I would like it is not my goal, this time." Khorne replied crossing his black armored arms.
" We have a big problem."
Here it is, I will try to post a chapter once a week, but no promises.
Also I hope to find a beta reader for future chapters.
Pax.
