Don't Own the DXD or whatever other nonsense I eventually add in this fic, Only The Oc
'thought'
"Speech"
"Tvs, Radios, and Text via book or newspaper... when those are around..."
My beating heart has calmed... the sheer terror I felt has left... but... Mittelt still hasn't moved from her spot beside me. We may not be shivering in terror, clutching each other close, but we are still shoulder to shoulder.
"Sooo." I begin, glancing to the girl still in my grasp. "It's about time, yeah?"
The blonde fallen nods once.
She turns the Tv on once again, causing my heartrate to briefly skyrocket, but... she had already taken the movie out of the DVD player and utterly destroyed it. We are fine.
A small breath leaves my lips as she connects her laptop to the Tv and quickly tabs into the stream for the various game-related things being released this year, livestreamed directly from some place in the United States.
"-And with that, let us move onto our next announcement... one that I have a feeling both those at home and those who came here have been waiting for... for a long time~"
The screen shifts, showing a man slowly walk out onto a stage, much to the immediate cheers of dozens of people off screen.
He closes his eyes slightly, smiling as he waits for the rigorous applause to come to an end.
Ah. That guy. Some random mook fallen from R&D division fifty one. He was selected to be the spokesman for this little event as One: honestly, the Grigori wouldn't take even the slightest hit in productivity if something were to happen to him. Two: he isn't powerful, as I'd imagine a Cadre getting on stage would be pretty unsettling. Three: he's relatively good looking and decently charismatic. A professional ass kisser.
He knows how to work a crowd.
"Hello." He waves. "My name is Mark Zaminiel, and I am happy to be here today as the spokesman for Eden Interactive. It truly warms my heart to be able to present something of this magnitude to you all today..."
The large screen lights up behind him, showing a spinning image of the Eden System... and the crowd ERUPTS.
After around five seconds, he gestures to the screen. "I am proud to present... the Eden System. What started as a dream, six years ago, has finally come into fruition and our very first prototypes are now complete. As of this moment we are ramping up production, and I am happy to say that the Eden system will be available for purchase relatively soon."
The camera seems to scan the crowd briefl-
I lean forwards. "Is that fucking Sirzechs Lucifer?!"
Mittelt's eyes widen as she quickly looks through the screen. "It... is?!"
"It looks like he's there with his little sister." I mutter.
"I know. I know. Incredible right. But, now... I should talk about pricing. The eden system can be yours... for ten thousand dollars." Our spokesman begins as he slowly walks. "It's a lot of money, I am aware, HOWEVER!"
The man grins. "The Eden corporation has taken it upon themselves to purchase numerous locations across the world. America. England. Germany. Russia. Japan. France. And that's just to name a few. In these locations, you will be able to temporarily rent use of the Eden System for just ten dollars an hour!"
This causes the crowd to begin cheering and whistling yet again, and after waiting for them to finish. The man smiles. "Now, ten dollars for just an hour might seem like a lot for some people, but... allow me to go over some of its features."
"The eden system's outer shell is comprised of our patented nano-carbon steel alloy that makes the pieces both incredibly light for its size... but also incredibly durable! The Eden system is shock proof, water proof, fire resistant, radiation resistant, airtight with included ventilation and air tanks, is capable of withstanding thirty seven tons of crushing force, and, to top it all off, is bullet proof to anything below an armor piercing anti-tank rifle." 'Mark'- his last name is his actual name- lists off. "It is equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, water level detectors, Geiger counters, motion detectors, and cameras that allow the person within the Eden system to keep an eye on their surroundings while they are inside."
"Now, I know that might seem a little excessive... but the human body is at its weakest when it is sleeping, and the inventors of the Eden system wanted to make this system as safe as physically possible. The creators cut zero corners when it came to safety. Any potential scenario has been thought of and prepared for."
The image of the egg-like device behind him opens up.
"By stepping into an Eden, you step into an entire new world of possibilities... Everyone wants more time, right? More time to have fun, more time to learn, more time to just... think... with Eden you can accomplish that as one hour outside here, as we are now... equals four hours inside the
world of the Eden!"
That causes genuine uproar. The man looks especially pleased with himself as he crosses his arms and waits for the shouts to die down.
"Thanks to our patented technology- I honestly can't even begin to understand how the creators accomplished this, I'm just a spokesman- the Eden system pulls you into a dream applicable state, where you shall be taken into the world of Eden."
"Now. I should be the first to tell you. This dream applicable state is not sleep. You should not even for a moment consider it sleep. A person within an eden is using just as much brain power as someone who is fully awake even while doing nothing... this is why the creators have created an artificial cutoff to boot users from the system after a certain period of time has elapsed. The Eden system also carefully monitors your health as you continue to play, and, if a medical emergency happens, will contact the nearest medical facility for immediate assistance."
"We have officially partnered with both the incredibly popular instant messaging and Virtual Voice service Impsquire, and the online Media Titan, Youtube. The Eden's one to four time acceleration has caused minor difficulties for us in this case, as we have pondered how to implement both livestreaming and chatting to our games. I must be forthcoming with you. Anything recorded within the game naturally looks like it is at four times speed. We, at Eden Interactive, thought that this made any enjoyable viewing experience nearly impossible. Thus, we have artificially slowed any live footage you might see being played 'live' to one fourth of its normal rate, inadvertently creating a larger and larger delay as the stream goes on. In addition, with Impsquire, we have disabled any and all vocal contact between the people within Eden, and those outside... they may merely send instant messages to and from the game."
"That being said." He continues. "There is no issue connecting device to device. Once you enter an Eden system of your own, you will be able to watch something truly live with no delay and be able to enter a call with your friends regardless of if you are nearby, far away, or even playing different games entirely!"
"I believe that this is enough time speaking on the overall system itself. Now for something that should interest you... more." The white haired man smirks. "Eden Interactive has been quite tight-lipped on any further projects we have planned for the Eden system... and, well, now that the system itself is complete, perhaps we should take a step back and evaluate the... launch titles?"
This causes another large shower of applause and shouting of excitement.
"Eight applications shall be launched with the Eden System... completely free of charge... Allow me to show you into our world!" He gestures to the massive screen behind him.
The first showcase is fairly boring. It's basically just a customizable movie theatre allowing people to watch youtube on the 'big screen'.
Of course, with this now being public, I am fully expecting some offers from some streaming services... hell, maybe Hollywood itself, where they beam movies right into the Eden the same day they hit the theatre.
The next showcase is a simple game called 'Restauranteur'. Basically, it's a cooking game.
Originally we had an idea to have it just be like a 'food tasting' game, but that would probably make a few legitimate businesses mad at us, thus instead we made it so they had to make it themselves.
We also sell DLC recipe books for fairly cheap, but the main tagline is 'experimenting is expensive. Why spend more for something you might not like?'.
It was pretty well received, all things considered.
The next game is basically just a glorified Vr Chat.
After that, there was a trailer for the spy game. It's by no means complete, but there was enough for an action trailer.
It turns out that making a game is far easier if you don't make it open world... who knew!
I made a few 'spy gadgets' for them, and the missions can be completed in multiple ways, with achievements- which unlock further gadgets- if you do the missions a specific way.
Those are just the basics of the game, but the trailer itself didn't touch on it.
Just a jazzy number of someone in a gun fight with numerous armed guards before doing the classic 'shoot a rope to send themselves rocketing into the air while holding the other end' thing. Then some more stealthy and disguise gameplay.
THAT really blew them away.
After that, I totally stole the idea for Obra Dinn. Genuinely incredible game. I'll probably make that into a series of mysterious cases.
Then there's a game to appeal to the male fantasy...
'Wreck it' where you just demolish the FUCK out of things. Starting small, but slowly getting bigger and better tools and targets.
After that, 'Learnia', that game that promises to teach any subject in a 'fun and memorable way'.
The era conquest game isn't ready yet, so it isn't shown.
And now... the finale.
"Now... I am a firm believer in saving the best for last... and it appears that those behind the scenes share my vision." The man states. "Allow me to tell you something about the Eden System... it... was not the first creation of Eden Interactive... no... the creation of the Eden System was merely a result of the desires of two people who wanted to make a game... a sole game. Their hopes and desires compiled, every setback merely making them more and more tenacious in their quest to realize their greatest work."
"Everything in this showcase... it is just an afterthought to this creation. Each and every game and application shown off today... were merely filler compared to this!"
"Today... I present to you... the greatest secret of Eden Interactive... the world's first true Virtual Reality MMORPG... domain of magic."
Once more. Cheers.
The screen behind him darkens, showing a large storybook. The pages yellowed and aged. It slowly opens, revealing a cloudy sky that looks to be nothing more a black and white drawing.
The camera is pulled in, tanned clouds gently beginning to move as a narrator begins speaking.
"In a land far far away, lies the kingdom of Fiore. A small peaceful nation of seventeen million and a place filled with magic."
The drawing begins to clear up, gaining color, the clouds becoming white and parting as the camera seems to swoop down, crossing over the land like a mighty eagle, drifting on the gentle wind.
"Found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, magic is merely a tool a mundane part of everyday life... but for some, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to it's practice."
"These... are the wizards... banded together into magical guilds, they apply their skills in search of fame and fortune... many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. Each and every one treading the treacherous path to betterment. Fighting monsters. Finding lost objects. Completing quests."
The camera seems to quickly approach a sole town.
"However... this life can be dangerous, and not all guilds are in good relations with each other..."
The whistling wind in the background seems to fade as the camera further picks up speed.
*BOOM*
A massive explosion rips through the town as the camera stops just at the source of the conflict.
"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR HURTING MY FRIENDS AND BUSTING UP OUR GUILD HALL, BLACK STEEL!" A pink haired teen roars as he blasts forwards, fire clings to his body as he lashes out with numerous swift punches cloaked in fire.
Across from him is a man in a black biker-like jacket, he has long black hair that goes to his lower back and what looks like metal studs all over the bridge of his nose and his eyebrows.
He weaves through a few of the punches, but blocks the remainder with his forearms as his skin turns grey.
"FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!" The pink haired teen roars as a large magic circle appears around his hand. The fires around his fist seem to intensify as his fist makes contact with his opponent's forearms with a resounding clang, the force of the blow causing the dark haired man to slide across the stone tiles.
"Geheheh. If that is all you've got Salamander, I'm going to be sorely disappointed." He takes a deep breath, causing Natsu to do the same. "IRON DRAGON..."
"FIRE DRAGON..."
""ROAAAAAR!""
A torrent of flames meet a cyclone of sharpened metal pieces. Slag is shot in every direction as the camera passes under the two attacks, zooming off into other parts of the city.
It now shows a battle between a blue haired woman with a Russian-style Cossack hat, she lets out a low growl as she swings her arms forwards. "WATER SLICER!"
Thin blades of water rocket across the empty city street, a red haired woman in armor ducking past them as they shear through a metal street lamp, it falls with a low creak, the glass shattering as it makes contact with the stone below.
With a bright flash, the red haired woman's armor changes. "REQUIP!"
Numerous swords appear around her, spiraling rapidly as she jets towards the blue haired woman who just stands there.
She takes the attack, the blades slashing through her chest without any resistance.
The blue haired woman is cleaved in half at the waist. But instead of perishing, she simply turns, her top half reconnecting with her bottom half with a quiet sloshing noise, her wound appears clear and calm. "Such attacks will not work upon Juvia... for she is a water woman..."
"IF you are made of water... I should just use elemental attacks, then." The red haired woman frowns as with a flash a spear appears in her hands. Electricity crackles around the blade of the spear as she kicks off the ground. "I will defeat you!"
The camera moves on, coming to a fight between a green haired man swaying back and forth and a humongous white-haired man who is being restrained by large hands made of earth.
"Non non Fairy Tail fly." The green haired man smirks. "You are going to stay right there..."
With a warble, a pillar of stone rises from the ground beside the bulky man. It slowly shifts and morphs, becoming a white-haired girl, looking a bit younger than both 'Mirajane' and the 'Fairy Tail Fly'.
"Big brother Elfman?" The new figure whispers. "Why did you kill me?"
Stone creeps along the restrained figure's body as he lets out an agonized wail.
The green haired man let's out a quiet laugh, coming out as a near silent 'fufufu'. "Ah... my greatest spell."
"Did you know? Those turned into stone by my Merci La Vie... they are in ceaseless torment. Painful memories drawn to the surface as their body loses mobility."
Elfman's wails increase as the screen crackles, changing to black and white, it is hazy, his screams muted in the background as the girl who the stone creation seems to be based on appears on the screen, standing protectively in front of a punk girl with white hair who seems to be battered and bruised. there's a slight fuzz to everything as if it was behind a VHS filter.
Across from the two girls is a large beast, standing at over fifteen feet tall, it has ape-like proportions, a wild white mane of hair, a large scar rests under its eye. Two horns jut out above its brow as large, feral, heaving growls leave its mouth.
Suddenly the point of view changes.
"Big brother... I know you're in there." The small white haired girl calls out. "Please... you have to-"
*CRACK*
The girl is backhanded, the punk girl behind her letting out a scream of horror. "LISSANA!"
The screen violently shatters as if it were made of glass. An ominous choir picks up as a brass orchestra loudly blares in the background.
Stone cracks as the man rises to his feet, his body seems to shift and change as a tremendous magic circle appears below him, much to the horror of the green haired man.
"Takover: Beast Soul."
"W-What?!"
Elfman's body grows larger and larger, eventually looming over the man in the form that had taken the life of his sister...
"GROOOOAAAAAAHHHH!" It roars, voice echoing off the very buildings around him. Windows shatter, leaves are blown away.
The camera zooms off yet again, darting through the buildings for a brief moments before rushing towards a large menacing castle-like building that sits atop large mechanical legs. It looms in the water, the lake underneath flowing outwards in all directions.
The camera slips through a shattered window.
Inside, there are two figures. The first, an extremely short balding man with white hair and a mustache.
The other is a tall and lanky man with dark lipstick, maroon hair, and green eyes.
"Makarov. I see you have recovered from having your magical energy scattered." The taller man states. "How annoying."
The smaller man doesn't say anything for a moment. "Jose... you have broken my guild hall, hurt my family and have brought your misguided inferiority complex to Magnolia... not only involving my guild. My children. Who have done nothing to you... you have involved those who do not have magic at all."
"I will give you one singular opportunity. Apologize." The wizard slowly raises his hand, fingers posed as if he were about to snap his fingers. "Take your guild... and leave this town. You already will be forced to face the magic council for your crimes, but... this does not have to be the end of your guild. Stop now."
"THE ONLY THING THAT WILL STOP WILL BE YOUR LIFE!" The taller man shrieks, shadows billowing around him as he swings his hands forwards.
"Very well..." The older man whispers. "I invoke..."
*Snap*
"Fairy... Law..."
There's a blinding light... then nothing.
The narrator appears yet again.
"Magic. While inherently dangerous, it is a wondrous thing." The voice continues scenes flash by, a gentle Celtic theme playing in the background. "It can be the source of much sadness... but also incredible joy."
Natsu dancing on a table while numerous people cheer him on with mugs of alcohol raised high.
Erza fighting a fire breathing wyvern, blocking its flames with a large shield.
A black-haired figure in black and white robes staring out over the edge of a cliff towards utterly beautiful scenery. Birds of all sorts fluttering around.
A ghost of a smile appears on his face.
A flower beside him wilts.
The next scene is of a little blue haired girl letting out joyous laughs as she floats under the effects of a small tornado.
"Yes, Fiore is quite the special place... one ripe for adventure. Freedom. And betterment."
"All one needs to do... is look."
*FLASH*
Written in cursive font is a title screen.
"Domain Of Magic~"
The screen darkens.
Then there's a date.
Christmas Eve of this year. Six months away.
There is immediate uproar, people of all sort cheering and just going absolutely crazy.
Our speaker waits for the voices to die down before he continues. "Yes. This is our big secret. Domain of Magic. An entire new world of possibilities."
"Yes, Domain of Magic will be coming this Christmas. However. Clearly it would be quite reckless to jump into things like this. I mean, we have had no Alphas. Nor betas. Which, is why I am pleased to announce the Eden interactive giveaway!"
"That's right. This coming Christmas season, we are going to be giving away ten thousand Eden systems. Register online for a chance to win. But that's not all. These ten thousand lucky winners, from December first to December fourteenth, shall be granted eight- out of game- hours for our beta test!"
"There are more details on our website, plus the registration, so I highly recommend for you all to check it out!" He continues. "Next on the docket. Is the fact that we are now accepting pre-orders for the Eden system. Pre order bonuses include special VR Chat skins, including special toggle-able skins which you can apply to some of your other skins-"
Numerous images are shown behind him, the first being a floating halo and floating wings, then a bipedal lizardman, the pink haired wizard from the trailer, the red haired knight woman from the domain of magic trailer, and just a legitimate fucking dragon.
"Unique background themes for the Theatre mode ranging from horror to magical."
It shows a dark and creepy basement with a projector pointed at the wall, then a lavish floating island with a holographic screen projected from the top of a crystal ball.
"There shall be a Unique recipe book for Restauranteur."
It shows a few incredible looking food items.
"Sticks of TNT for all your destructive needs in 'Wreck it'."
The screen shows the image of a first person POV of someone igniting four sticks of dynamite taped together and hurling it at a rusty car.
There's an explosion on the screen that utterly shreds the vehicle.
"For our innovated action shooter, 'The Spy and the Liar', you are given a unique gadget!"
It shows a figure shoving their hand against someone's chest and sending them flying backwards with a blue pulse of energy.
"-and, for our glorious Domain of Magic, a unique magical item called the ring of embers!"
It shows a person in-game punching with their right hand, a small puff of fire exploding from their hand.
"But, we are aware that it is quite... annoying... to have content that is locked behind a preorder, that's why, at any point in time after you have made an account for our system, you may purchase the 'Preorder Dlc' where each and every one of these items will be unlocked for you at a price of ten dollars! this will allow you to make use of your pre-order bonus even on rented systems or newly purchased systems."
Our spokesman checks his watch. "Well, I believe we have sadly run out of time. A shame. But. Before i leave there is one final thing I need to announce."
"While I have been giving this presentation, outside, a few of our technicians have set up six Eden systems... where now, after this exact moment, you may go and try out a five minute- or twenty minute in game- demo of some of the characters from our Domain of Magic trailer!"
This causes a few people to stand up immediately, causing the man to wave his hands gently. "Now, now, please be orderly. Each one of you will have an opportunity to play, as the Eden system will be here for the entirety of the remaining days of Gamescon."
He does an elaborate bow. "Thank you all for sticking with us for this time. Have fun~"
I turn, looking to Mittelt who is still next to me.
She looks to me.
"Well. We did it." I blandly observe.
"Yep." She nods.
"Now what?" I ask.
She fights off a small yawn and wipes an eye. "Well, I'm going to bed."
"Yeah. I've been up for like... sixteen hours and this point. Probably for the best to hit the hay." I agree with a slow nod. "See you tomorrow Mittelt."
"See ya, Suzutsu." She waves as I stand, balance breaker, then walk through a portal created by a device my sacred gear makes.
Next chapter we might have some Rias Pov as she freaks out in-game.
That'll be fun.
Plus, Suzutsu completed his half of the bargain. now it's time for things to 'start falling into place' like the god said.