Chapter 19: The World Stands Still

The day had finally arrived. The culmination of months of preparation, countless hours of development, and layers of secrecy. Eclipse Veil was ready for the world. And I wasn't going to settle for a simple game launch, no press conferences or gradual marketing campaigns. No, this needed to be something that would shake the entire industry, no, the entire world.

As the sun began to set, I sat in my base, staring at the final command screen. Every building, every factory, every console was prepared. My AR consoles were about to go live, and the world was completely unaware of what was coming.

Argos chimed in. [Adrian, all systems are online. The drones are in position, the holograms are synced, and the servers are prepped for the launch. The broadcast will be seen globally, as planned.]

I smiled, fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Let's give them a show they'll never forget."

With a press of a single button, it began.

....

Across the world, every digital screen, televisions, smartphones, billboards, tablets, flickered for a brief second. Then, without warning, they all displayed the same image: a sleek, dark screen with the words "Eclipse Veil" etched across it in glowing, electric blue letters. The words pulsed, capturing attention immediately, as if the whole world had been summoned to watch.

People froze in the streets, cafes, and offices. Television broadcasts were cut off mid-sentence. Ads on billboards flickered out. There was nothing but silence for a heartbeat. Then, a cinematic trailer began to play.

A vast world unfolded on the screen: lush forests, ancient ruins, towering mountains, and sprawling deserts. The visuals were so crisp, so vibrant, it was almost as if viewers were being pulled into the world themselves.

The camera zoomed through the landscapes, showing players battling with energy-enhanced weapons, solving puzzles using the world's mysterious power source, Azura, and encountering strange and dangerous creatures that lurked in the wilderness.

My voice echoed over the visuals, narrating as the trailer transitioned to show in-game footage.

"In a world where energy is the key to everything, only those who master its secrets will survive. Welcome to Eclipse Veil, the future of gaming."

As the trailer played, I began unveiling the true innovation: the hologram consoles. The footage zoomed out to show sleek, minimalist devices that projected solid holograms of characters, maps, and menus into the air. Players manipulated these structures with their hands as though they were touching physical objects. The next scene showcased a player pulling a glowing sword from thin air, no controller, just hands interacting with solid light.

"No wires. No limits. No screen," the voiceover continued. "For the first time, enter a world without boundaries. With the new AR console, powered by holographic light, experience the future of augmented reality."

Screens across the globe flashed specs, features, and capabilities. Players would be able to walk through virtual environments right from their living rooms. The holograms were tactile, responding to touch, and allowed for an immersive, untethered experience unlike anything before.

"Introducing the AR console: Augmented reality at your fingertips. A seamless fusion of the real and digital worlds. Eclipse Veil is just the beginning."

The trailer ended, leaving the world in stunned silence.

....

In cities around the world, New York, London, Berlin, Tokyo, and Lagos, the reaction was immediate. People stared at their phones and screens, jaws slack, unsure if what they had just witnessed was real. Some rushed to gaming forums, typing furiously, others called their friends, trying to make sense of what they'd just seen. It was everywhere, news channels scrambling to cover what had just happened.

But I wasn't done.

Suddenly, across dozens of cities around the world, a strange glow appeared. It started with a faint shimmer around the buildings I had purchased in secret.

Then, in an instant, each one erupted into a pillar of blue light, shooting high into the sky. It was Azura. I had synced the hologram technology with the Azura energy in the pocket universe to trigger this moment. The blue light cut through the night like beacons, visible for miles.

On every screen still displaying the Eclipse Veil logo, the camera feeds switched. Drones captured the surreal sight of these glowing pillars from the sky, broadcasting them live. People rushed to their windows, climbed rooftops, and stared in awe as the mysterious blue lights marked the locations of my production facilities around the globe.

In Africa, a factory in Johannesburg lit up the night sky, the blue pillar reflecting off nearby buildings as onlookers gasped in disbelief. Crowds gathered at the base of the facility, watching in awe as drones hovered overhead, capturing every angle.

In Nigeria, a similar scene unfolded. In Lagos, the glowing factory became the talk of the city within minutes, with local news stations scrambling to get reporters on the ground.

Across Europe, in cities like Berlin and Madrid, the spectacle repeated. In the U.S., New York's skyline was suddenly punctuated by the same radiant blue light, shining over the city like a signal to the future.

....

As I watched the reactions in real time, I could feel the buzz of excitement building. The world was captivated, and no one had seen it coming. Everything was playing out exactly as I had planned.

[Adrian, the global media is beginning to react. News stations are speculating on the lights and the AR consoles. Social media is experiencing a massive surge in discussions.]

"Good," I said, satisfied. "Let them talk."

I turned my attention back to the screens. Eclipse Veil was officially launching, and with the AR consoles now linked to the production sites, the demand would skyrocket. I would control every aspect of the supply chain, and no one would be able to keep up.

The holograms were a game changer, but they were just the start. My true goal lay in the pocket universe, the future of human interaction, of exploration. But that would come later. For now, I would let the world bask in this new era of gaming technology.

I stood, feeling the weight of the moment settle over me. "Argos, keep the feeds going. We'll let them take it all in."

[Understood. We are receiving requests from multiple news organizations for statements and interviews. How would you like to respond?]

"Tell them nothing for now. Let them wonder."

The world had changed in a single night, and I was the one holding the key to its future. With Eclipse Veil and the AR console, I had taken the first step in reshaping reality itself. And no one could stop what was coming next.