Right now, we're celebrating the three-year anniversary of the iconic video game, Chronoverse.
When it first dropped, the trailer was so stunning that it could have overshadowed even the most anticipated releases. It was cinematic, intense, and brimming with promise.
If I recall correctly, it racked up a jaw-dropping seventy-eight million views in just one day. I can only wonder what that number stands at now.
Naturally, as soon as it became available for preorder, everyone rushed to grab a copy, and I was right there in the mix. Back then, I wasn't just a casual gamer.
I knew this game was something special. While everyone else was drawn in by the flashy main characters, the so-called "viable" picks, I thought that was a bit silly.
Looking back now, three years later, I can confidently say I made the right choice.
The marketing seemed to target females primarily, or at least that's what they convinced themselves.
But somehow, it ended up pulling in a lot of guys too, myself included. Even the sellers looked a bit puzzled at first, assuming all the men buying copies were just "gooners." Sure, some were, but not all of us.
That small percentage of us were genuinely intrigued by the story, the depth, the mechanics, and the overall quality.
The trailer had us hooked, promising a world worth exploring. Honestly, who could resist a game that looked that amazing on paper? That's exactly why I preordered it, why I stayed up all night watching streams, analyzing gameplay videos, and strategizing my approach.
I remember being at home, comfortably slumped in my gaming chair, when the final boss let out its last roar.
The screen lit up with a brilliant white, followed by bold text that stretched across the display:
"THE FINAL CALAMITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
GREAT WORK ACHIEVING THIS FAR."
I just sat there for a moment, letting the victory wash over me. Three years. Three whole years of grinding, optimizing routes, dissecting the lore, and pushing this side-character build to its absolute limits.
Three years that's the funny part. For most players, Chronoverse was just a whimsical escape. But for me? It was something entirely different. Something I desperately needed.
Because honestly, I didn't have much left.
A relentless virus had taken hold of me, gnawing away at my insides, piece by piece, day after day. I tried everything treatments, pills, clinical trials. I went through the whole exhausting cycle. Nothing could halt the slow decline.
So, I had to walk away from my career, my passion, my life. Martial arts.
The very thing I had poured my heart and soul into. I had dedicated my entire existence to martial arts, even snagging championships around the globe, but it all felt pointless once the infection hit.
Chronoverse became my only escape from the crushing reality that I might not have much time left.
So, I dove in, playing more than I ever thought possible.
Chronoverse wasn't just a game for me. It was the last challenge I could still tackle, and now that I had, I felt a flicker of triumph.
I let out a sigh. "Alright… let's see what everyone thinks."
I grabbed my phone and opened the game reviews.
A wave of opinions crashed over me, but one thing stood out. Over seventy-four percent of the reviews were negative, mostly one or two stars.
The rest? Positive, but buried under a mountain of complaints, spoilers, and a few diehard fans singing its praises.
I started with the negative reviews.
"The story is long… good, but annoyingly slow."
"Characters feel bland, lacking real depth."
"They LIED TO US. There's no fan service at all. Totally misleading!"
I exhaled deeply and leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling. "Yep… a gooner alert," I muttered to myself.
Some folks would buy a game solely for fan service, completely ignoring how great the mechanics or story might be.
What has this world come to? It feels like it's getting worse with every tick of the clock.
I have to admit, the game was disappointing, sure.
Even after three years since its release, I thought there would be at least a bit of recognition. But honestly, it was almost amusing. Players whining that a game centered on story, strategy, and exploration wasn't… flashy enough.
I clicked through some of the positive reviews. They raved about the narrative depth, the clever mechanics, and the world-building. That part, at least, felt rewarding.
But for the most part? Most people completely missed the point.
I shook my head. "People these days," I muttered. "Some things never change."
As I kept scrolling, a sudden sharp pain shot through my chest. I froze.
"…tch."
The phone nearly slipped from my grip as I leaned forward, coughing violently. When I pulled my hand away, I noticed blood on my palm.
I stared at it for a moment. Then I… smiled.
"Wow… my days have come."
The words slipped out before I could catch myself, and I cringed at the thought.
"…Damn. I sounded like an old man."
I wiped my hand on my shirt. "Whatever. I'm about to die anyway."
My gaze drifted back to the gaming monitor.
THE FINAL CALAMITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
GREAT WORK ACHIEVING THIS FAR.
A silly thought crossed my mind.
Maybe one more game wouldn't hurt.
"Yeah… one more."
I closed the results screen and went back to the main menu. The PLAY button pulsed softly in the dim light of my room, almost beckoning me.
My finger hovered over the mouse.
"…Why not?"
I clicked.
As soon as I did, the monitor flashed violently, text scrolling across it in jagged red letters:
"THE ENDING HAS BEEN STOPPED. THIS WAS NOT DONE BY THE TRUE PERSON. 90% OF CHRONOVERSE HAS BEEN DESTROYED."
The message repeated twice, each time faster than the last, searing into my vision.
I leaned in, blinking. "Wait… what the hell does that even mean?"
Then, another message appeared.
"HOWEVER, THE TRUE MEANING, THE TRUE GOAL HAS YET TO BE ACHIEVED. BECOME THE CALAMITY. BE ONE WITH THE CALAMITY. KILL THE CALAMITY."
I froze. My mouth went dry.
"…What the—WHAT THE FUCK?"
Before I could even process what was happening, the room around me erupted in a blinding white light. The walls, the floor, the ceiling they all disappeared into an overwhelming glare.
I felt a sharp pain in my chest return with a vengeance, as if my body, already weakened by the virus, was giving up on me. Everything I was faded away, leaving just my gaming chair, desk, and PC setup suspended in the void.
The last thing I remember before reality slipped away was the monitor still glowing, still pulsing, as if it were beckoning me to step into its light.
And then, there was nothing but silence.
I woke up slowly, my head throbbing and my vision all fuzzy. The first thing that hit me was the realization that I was lying on a bed. Panic surged through me, and I shot upright, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.
The bright light… I could still remember it, sharp and blinding, but now it was just a memory. Where had it gone? What on earth had just occurred?
I glanced down.
These clothes weren't mine. Not even close. I'd never wear anything like this. The person lying in this bed was decked out in some flashy rapper getup, black jeans and a crisp white T-shirt. My usual shirts and hoodies? Totally vanished.
I stumbled to my feet and caught a glimpse of a mirror across the room. My reflection stopped me dead in my tracks.
A stranger was staring back at me.
Light-skinned Black.
Black hair sharply streaked with white, like lightning framing his face.
Silver eyes, cold and piercing, almost intimidating to look at.
I opened my mouth. "Who… is this?"
Then, a small notification flickered into view in the corner of the mirror like some kind of system overlay:
[NAME]: Delvonte Vaughn
[AGE]: 13
[GENDER]: MALE
[TITLE]: The One and Only
SKILLS:
Skill 1: Visionary – Level 1
Skill 2: ????
I blinked at it, rubbing my eyes in disbelief. "Wait… hold on, what's actually happening here?"
Somewhere deep down, I realized… I wasn't me anymore.