Arkadia's Release

97

"This morning, Marcus Young, New Life's CEO just announced the release of the world's first VR MMORPG, Arkadia.

More than half a million copies have already been sold and the game servers will be online tonight at midnight. Marcus Young gave us a message for all the players of Arkadia:

"Be ready, this is more than just a game.""

98

"The world of Arkadia is a place full of wonders and beuatiful places but it is also the home of terrifying creatures and bloodthirsty demons"

99

"If you think that Arkadia is just a game, you will not go far. In this world, everything is possible, the AIs we created are adanced enough to make you feel like they are alive. This is my warning to all players."

"Be ready"

100

*inhales* *exhales*

After finishing his workout and turning off the tv, Ethan began to walk in the direction of the shower.

Ethan is just like every other 20 year old man in the world, he is no criminal but he's no saint either. If someone in the streets was getting robbed, he wouldn't go out of his way to help. Unlike most people of his age, he isn't lively, happy, in love or something else, he is uncaring and cold. He just doesn't feel a thing. He lives in Paris and he is a bartender. His flat is neither big, nor small, It's enough for one person.

As he was getting inside the shower, he looked outside the window and saw a massive crowd down the street in front of a gaming store. They were all in line on the sidewalk, waiting their turn. Probably to buy Arkadia.

Ethan didn't see why they were all this excited and frankly, he didn't care. With his salary, he didn't have enough to buy the game and the devices needed to play in VR, that was one of the reasons he didn't care.

After taking his shower, he looked at the clock and saw it was 3.00 PM, his shift begin at 6.00 PM so he still had time before having to go to work. He took out a small notebook and began writing his journey in it. He's been doing that for 2 years, he remembers everythings that happened during those 2 years but weirdly enough, he can't remember the previous 18 years of his life before those 2 years.

He remember waking up in the street, on a bench with a bag full of different things like a passport, a driving licence and even a gun. He still has the gun but he hid it under his bed. Those 2 years were not easy for him, he didn't have anywhere to go and he had no money. Thanks to his look, he didn't have too many problem getting a job as a bartender.

He isn't Godlike good-looking, but he isn't ugly either. He is half asian and he has long black hair tied in a pony tail, red ruby eyes and a sharp face. His eyes are always half-closed like he is sleepy. He's got a goatee and the beginning of a mustache. All in all, quite handsome but ladies are not at his feet.

After writing his day in his notebook, he took his coat and went out, once he made his way outside his flat, the sight of the massive crowd all lined up in front of the store was the first thing he saw. He sighed and turned right in the direction of the park.

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"Sir, the announcement was made"

"good, proceed with the second part."

"Yes sir" After answering, the man took a list of name and began to call them one by one.

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2 hours later.

After walking for 2 hours, Ethan began to walk in the direction of the bar where he is working. On his way there, he noticed a lot of people walking with bags in hand. What caught his attention was the big logo of New Life that was printed on every bag he saw. He looked around him and most of the stores around were different branch of New Life, cosmetic store, game store, clothes store and even food store.

'New Life sure is Big' He thought as he continued to walk. The roads were crowded at this time but he had no problem getting through the crowd. And even with all this crowd he would be early to his work.

*riiiinnnng* *riiiinnnnng*

His phone began to ring, taking it out to see who was calling him, he saw boss written.

"Hello?"

"Hello Ethan, can you come early today, there are already a lot of people and Theo can't manage that many people alone."

"Yeah sure Elodie, I was already on my way anyway."

"Thanks"

After hanging up he put his phone inside his pocket and continued to walk but just a little faster. Once he arrived in front of the bar, he saw quite a lot of people. At least more than they were used to. He went directly inside the changing room and put on his bartender suit. After getting ready, he went behind the bar and began serving the client.

Once Theo saw him, he sighed and said "Finally, the help is here. thought for a second that i'd have to serve them all alone" he finished with a chuckle.

"If Elodie hadn't call me, you would have served them all alone." Ethan said with no emotion whatsoever in his voice.

"Guys!! there's no vodka left. Make sure to warn the client." Ethan turned around and saw Elodie right behind them. He nodded to her and went back to his work. "Always so serious, aren't you. Well stay after your shift, i have something to give you two." Theo said as he watched Ethan emotionless face.

Elodie is blonde girl, not ugly, she has green eyes and a round face. Her chest is not flat but they are not big either. She is a pretty girl.

During his shift, some girls tried to flirt with him, but he only responded with a little smile. Even though it's a fake one, the girl didn't notice it and one of them even winked at him. 6 hours later, at midnight, when Ethan finished his shifts, Theo went to him with a bag. The bag had the same logo as all the others in the street. "Here, it's the new game Arkadia." He said while handing me the bag.

"Why?" Ethan said while grabbing the bag.

"I'm friend with someone working in New Life and he gave me 3 copies of the game and since i had no one to give it to others than you or Elodie." He said with a little smile. " And I know that you don't do much outside work. At least now you have something to keep you busy."

Ethan stared at him for a while " Thanks" After saying this, he began to leave. "Oh by the way, i'm also giving one to Elodie, so we can play together, feel free to send a message if you want to plya with us." Ethan just nodded to him and left.

Once home, he left the bag on the couch and went inside the kitchen to make himself something to eat. He made some pasta with Pesto sauce, during those two years, he found out that he loved pasta. After eating he sat down on his couch and stared at the bag for quite a long time.

unless you think an hour is not a long time so. He took whatever was inside the bag and put it on coffee table. The game and some sort of helmet? goggles? It looked like cyber glasses but with sensor on the glasses' temples. The glasses had a cable connecting them to the disc player. All in all, not hard to understand how to make everything work.

He still took the manual and read it, what he read inside the manual was the same thing he thought he had to do with all the stuff before him. Plug in the Disc player, connect it to the glasses, make sure you are connected to the internet and finally install the game. But he saw one last instructions that surprised him.

-put the chip on your neck-

He hesitated a little when he saw this instruction but he had nothing to lose. No familly or other thing. So if this turn out to be an evil AI trying to control the world, well, tooo bad. He put the chip on his neck and began the installation of the game.

"I hope it will be interesting."