A Player Of My Own Creation

After being tumbled endlessly through a kaleidoscope of spiralling colours and unhinged mosaics, Trent finally came to an abrupt halt, revealing another realm as the colours dispersed like dust produced by his sonic stop.

Trent, who had been biting his lips all this while, slowly released them as he surveyed his surroundings; his eyes scanning every square in the billions of grey grids that enveloped him. He wasn't at all surprised, for this was the loading interface/lobby every gamer would witness before they emerged into the real game. But the smile on his face was one of self-pride. 'I created this,' he thought.

Although the grids appeared to be 3D to him, any gamer logging in at that moment would see the same, however, they would perceive and see Trent as one of the countless grids while feeling as though they were the center of attention.

Trent chuckled to himself. He had designed this interface intentionally. Making a gamer feel like the protagonist of the entire experience was the best way to foster competition and, by extension, boost sales.

The memory of his ruthless murder haunted him momentarily, and Trent clenched his teeth once more.

Suddenly, a real HUD interface surfaced before him, spreading as far to both ears like the windshield of a car. Blue and red lines moving at its transparent ends before the intricate designs came together to convey the information intended. Trent simply licked his lips, awaiting its instruction. He had already encountered this when testing the game. He had tested it like a hundred times, using a well equipped Vyle facilitated VR gear. 

But here he was, in the game, with no bodily gear or VR console. He was really in the game.

[You're here, Trent] The interface spoke.

"Woah, woah, woah," Trent replied, raising both palms. "A gamer shouldn't hear the backdrop voice until he is in the world," he indicated, noticing a change in his game.

[How short is your memory? Didn't I say I would grant you a system?]

Trent's eyes widened. "Oh! Goddess?"

[Yes, Goddess] The system replied ironically. [This system will directly merge with that which comes with the game] [When you surface, it would be your HUD, your loadout, your everything]

"I see..."

[Choose your Paradox name, Trent. That'll be the last time I'll call you that]

Trent let out a soft growl, watching as the system displayed a text box with a blinking cursor. He made a pensive sound, looking up at the surrounding grids as he pondered a name.

Surely, he wasn't going to reuse his old name, Templar. A player's in-game name (IGN) gets globally displayed when they're on a killing spree or have executed a headshot. And if he was going to seek revenge on the management of Vyle, he'd have to go by a new name so they wouldn't become suspicious and leave the game to save their lives. Because Trent was certain they'd be playing. 'They will be,' he thought. 'Everyone is battling for the world's riches, however, Vyle is battling for something else in the Paradox.'

The system waited patiently until Trent said wryly, "Crusader."

[Crusader?]

He shrugged. "That's what I could think of."

[Seriously, I'm sending you on a lethal and dangerous mission, and you want to go by the name Crusader? Are you here to offer religious peace?]

"I've always used the name Templar. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head."

The goddess took a moment before replying. [You will go by the name Nightingale]

Trent didn't protest; he accepted the name quietly. It sounded uniquely fitting to him, and it came with an intriguing description. The system made a cheerful remark and proceeded as his name swiftly appeared in the text box, styled in Algerian font.

The system quickly displayed more elements and information that somewhat deviated from the standard processes, if Trent were to comment. Perhaps it had to do with him being a special player.

:[IGN: Nightingale]:

  \Lv. 1500/\Likes. 0/\Leader Board 200+/

:[Rank: GrandMaster]:

      \Crests. 0/

:[Clan: The Knights of The Vale]:

               \Lv. 0/

Trent's face contorted into confusion. He was already at the highest level attainable in the game? And part of a clan? Even Grandmaster as well?

"Isn't this like cheating? Is it a mod? I haven't played one game yet, and I'm at level 1500 and Grandmaster?"

[To be feared, you have to be fear]

[You are not a simple gamer here. Embrace it. I am giving you this status]

Trent gulped. "And the gaming clan? I thought I'd be operating solo, a one-man army."

[You will be. But you could choose to also need social influence with gamers to infiltrate the chaos. The extreme weaponry and credits I will grant you won't do the job alone.l]

Extreme weaponry? Extreme credits? Was this system really going to give him what he was thinking?

[Yes, I will, Nightingale]

The first icon, displaying his name, level, and rankings, was activated, revealing a more comprehensive system listing. And Trent, who had thought that he wouldn't be impressed, found himself with his jaw dropped.

-:-:—Nightingale .1500.—:-:-

{Games Played: 0}

{Wins: 0 MVP: 0}

{Weapon Mastery: All Weapons Mastered}

{Paxcoin: ∞}

{Neoncredits: ∞}

{Individual Mastery: All Crimson Knight Skills Mastered}

Did Trent just see infinite Paxcoin? 

Paxcoin is like a virtual currency exclusive to the Paradox universe, similar to the scarcity and decentralized nature of Bitcoin but with a twist—it could only be obtained within the game's ecosystem. One Paxcoin is close to around $12,000 in real-world currency! And with a million Neoncredits equaling one Paxcoin, the system had just catapulted Trent into the ranks of the virtual elite, effectively making him a billionaire.

'What a shame,' he thought. 'I'm dead and can't even enjoy it.'

The system had also granted him Neoncredits which is the primary means of exchange for Paradox Unbound. This system was giving him everything he needed?! All weapons acquired and mastered? All Crimson Knight Skills mastered? Trent couldn't believe he was gonna game in his best skin and utilizing its abilities...mostly, its [Execution]!

[Everything I have granted to you to fulfill my will on the Paradox and to bring justice to your murderers]

Trent nodded, acknowledging the pact he had made with the goddess earlier.

[Now, we would have to give you a new look]

[A look that matches the name Nightingale really well]