Chaotic is a collectible card game played all over the world, both in-person and online, with players from all walks of life. Players collect, trade, and battle with creatures from five different tribes, Overworld, Underworld, Mipedian, Danian, and M'arrillian. They battle in unique locations, using battle gear and mugic to gain the upper hand.

Some Chaotic players own what's called a Scanner. A portable device similar to a smartphone. On Earth, the Scanner is more of a digital card folder to connect a player to their online Chaotic account and manage their collection.

However, some players have the means to use their scanners for their main function.

Meanwhile, somewhere on Earth, two long-time friends and Chaotic players are sitting in their bedroom. Oliver, and Nathan. Earlier that day, Oliver received an anonymous code sent to his account. Codes are how a player inputs a card from the physical to the digital. Unsure if it was a scam, he went to his friend, Nathan for guidance, not wanting to lose his collection. Upon seeing the code, Nathan reconsigned it straight away and knew what it was.

"Mate, this code isn't a scam. Trust me. I've had one like this before. It's a sign of recognition for your skills or at least love of the game of Chaotic," Nathan sounds excited. "Like I said, trust me. It's legit."

"Hang on," Oliver is more confused than he was skeptical. "Back it up a step or three. What is this code for exactly? Is it for a creature, some battle gear, what?"

"You know how some games have a paid membership club?"

"Yeah?"

"Well think of this like that, but it's invite-only, you actually get perks for joining, and it's completely free," Nathan keeps it vague as telling him everything will freak his friend out, or just make himself look crazy.

Oliver holds up his scanner and thinks about it. He's on the fence, still unsure of the idea.

Nathan can see the hesitation. He gets an idea, "As a sign of good faith, I'll lend you one of my rarest cards, sound fair?"

Oliver raises a brow at the idea, "You're that sure this isn't a scam or anything?"

"Positive. Here, I'll give you," Nathan flips through his collection on his scanner, going through various folders before finding the one he's after. "This!" He presents the scanner, displaying his online version of the creature, Ursis.

Oliver whistles, their eyes getting wide at the sight of such a rare card, "That's a pretty good card too. Most of the time anyway," Oliver contemplates the idea. "So you'll lend me this card if I input the code to prove it's legit?"

"Absolutely. But I expect you to use it in your next battle you play, as confirmation that I was right. Sound good?"

Like at an auction, Nathan counts down only for Oliver to go for the deal. They go through with the trade, Oliver swaps a copy of Borth-Majar for the Ursis before inputting the code into his scanner. Once the final digit has been inputted into the scanner, he sends it off, only for the screen to turn completely blank.

Oliver starts to panic, immediately regretting his choice, but Nathan calms him down.

"What the hell? I've just been locked out of my account!"

"Mate, relax. This is meant to happen. It's a security protocol."

"What do you mean?"

"This happened to me. It's to run a check, make sure you're not a bot, or scammer, or anything of the like before giving you access to full Chaotic experience."

Oliver is put at ease, although he still holds his scanner close to him. "So, how long does this take?"

"That will depend on you. So until you're able to use your account again," Nathan holds up a pair of controllers, "Want to play some Halo?"

…

What Oliver didn't realize was what actually had happened after inputting the code. Upon entering the code, Oliver's mind was split into two. An identical copy was made. While one version stayed on Earth to play Halo all night with Nathan, the copy was sent elsewhere.

Teleported in a stream of code, Oliver appears in a strange space. It's like stepping foot in a futuristic cafeteria with tables and chairs, as well as large monitors displaying various games, with robots acting as waiting staff. This is Chaotic. A free space for players to trade scans, and battle in the Dromes for fun.

"So what do you think? Pretty cool, right?" Oliver turns around to find Nathan standing there, looking smug, clearly proud of themself.

"What is this place? And how are you here?"

"This is Chaotic. It's that exclusive club I told you about. Recognises players are sent a code, and after put in, that player is able to freely come and go from here as they please."

"But what about back home?"

"Don't sweat it. You're still on Earth, this of it as an out-of-body experience. Once you go home, you're memories of here will catch up. I made sure to keep you distracted from your scanner so you wouldn't think it was broken. Pretty smart, right?"

Oliver looks at his scanner. He looks through his collection to find everything made it over without issue. "Okay, I believe you now. And yes, pretty smart," he pockets his scanner and looks around, "So what now?"

"Well, since it's your first time here, you have your initiation battle to get to. Here, I show you."

Nathan takes Oliver outside. Hoping onto a monorail system, Oliver gets a better look at the scope of Chaotic. He sees several large BattleDromes standing by with players coming and going from them.

"So I come here to play the card game, live? A bit excessive, isn't it?"

"You'll see," Nathan keeps the surprise to himself, looking forward to what's about to happen.

The monorail pulls up in front of the Imthor BattleDrome for Oliver's fight. Nathan steps out with him but takes a seat at the steps leading towards the Drome. Oliver continues ahead, the Drome doors opening for him as he enters. Nathan calls out to him, reminding them of their deal before the doors shut behind him.

Entering the Drome, a disembodied voice calls out to Oliver. "Welcome, NorthWinds." The voice is robotic, and booming. "As your first time in Chaotic, this Drome Match will be your introduction."

Another player enters the Drome from the opposite way. Dressed in flashy clothes with an obnoxiously tailed tophat, they take their place on the other end of the Drome. "Hello there," they tip their hand before pulling their scanner out like a rabbit at a magic show.

"Uh, hi," Oliver greets their loud-dressed opponent, giving a small wave while unclear as to what's going on.

The announcer's voice speaks up again, "NorthWinds, your first opponent shall be MadHatter."

MadHatter slots his scanner down on a pad on his side of the field. A holographic screen appears before him. Amazed, Oliver does the same. A screen appears, displaying everything from his collection, creatures, battle gear, mugic, everything. He's freely able to search through with the dials beneath the cards.

"As this is your first match, this battle will be a regular 1 on 1 battle. Please choose your creature, battle gear, mugic, and ten locations," the voice gives Oliver the basic run down, wanting them to be fully prepared.

Oliver looks over the screen to see MadHatter happily picking his deck. He's unable to see what he chooses. Not wanting to waste time, he goes through his collection and puts together his deck.

"Hmm, a 1V1 match, huh?" He thinks to himself. "I don't know what he'd play, so I best to careful." Going through his creatures, he stumbles onto Ursis. "Oh yeah, I promised Nathan I'd use him. I guess this was part of his plan too." He slides Ursis onto the board like a touch screen. "I think for Battlegear, the Volric Shard to increase his earth attacks, and for mugic, since he's generic, I'll go with Geo Flourish for some health." With the locations, he chooses ten based on how they fit with Ursis's stats in hopes of getting the advantage.

"Players, lock your decks."

With the go-ahead, both players lock their decks. They are unable to edit the board anymore. The screen increases in size, displaying the other players' board to the other, showing the full battlefield. MadHatter has chosen Khybon as their only creature.

"NorthWinds. As this is your first battle, you will be the attacker. Please spin the location randomizer."

Oliver spins the randomizer. Locations flash on the screen for both players before it eventually stops on a location.

"The battle will take place in the Forest of Life. Please select your attacking, and target creature."

Oliver just goes with it, not sure why all the big show for a regular card game. "Ursis attacks Khybon." Touching the image of Ursis, the screen disappears as fragments of code start to wrap around his hand. The same happens with MadHatter. Both players get engulfed in blue and white code, transforming them physically into their chosen creatures.

Becoming Ursis, Oliver becomes a bipedal beast-man with green eyes, white fur covering his body, twisted black/brown horns jutting from his head and shoulders, curved tusks near the edges of his mouth, along a slightly prehensile tail.

MadHatter turns into Khybon, a yellow, bird-humanoid that built parts of himself and has a strap around his chest with a blue crystal, wearing red shoes and a robotic claw for his bottom left hand, a blaster on his top right hand, a drill on his right bottom hand, and a normal top left hand. Each of his four arms has interchangeable parts.

Oliver is freaked out. Looking at his hand, he's in shock at how instead of his own hand, it's been replaced with a monstrous claw. MadHatter, however, is unphased despite growing two additional arms and becoming part-bird.

"What's the matter, newbie? Don't like the new look?" MadHatter comments. "I'll be sure to make sure you don't stay like that for long when I code you. Let's get Chaotic." With the fighting words said, a flash of light engulfs the two. Oliver barely has time to collect his baring as he is taken by the light.