AT LATE EVENING
XAVIER
I pushed open the door to 'Eclipse Games', and the familiar jingle of the bell made me wince. Not because it was loud, just because it reminded me I was, once again, standing out like an idiot in public.
"Back again, Xavier?" The clerk's voice, tired but amused, cut through the hum of the shop.
I froze, a little too aware that he already knew me.
"Uh… yeah," I mumbled, shoving my hands in my hoodie pockets.
I was eighteen, with copper colored hair and green eyes, introverted to the bone, and had spent most of my life avoiding attention. The clerk raised an eyebrow.
"Something tells me it's not for your usual RPG habit."He teased.
I shuffled toward the shelf and grabbed the box I had been eyeing online for weeks: 'Omegaverse Apocalypse N18 - VR Edition.' The cover screamed danger and chaos, and my stomach flipped in excitement.
"Yeah, something different." I said, trying to sound casual but failing spectacularly.
He grinned knowingly.
"You and your taste for extreme games. Don't come crying when it ruins your sleep schedule."Clerk smirked.
"I probably won't." I lied, already imagining tearing open the box and getting home.
I paid, thanked him, and stepped out into the crisp afternoon air. My heart was racing, not from the walk, not from the clerk, but from what I was holding. A game that promised chaos, danger, and maybe a little thrill. I could barely wait to get home, set it up, and finally dive in. By the time I closed the apartment door behind me, I was practically shaking, the world outside could wait. Tonight, I was going to play a game unlike anything I had ever touched. I ripped open the box like a kid on Christmas morning. The headset, sleek and black, rested in its foam cradle, wires curling like snakes. I picked up the VR card, slipping it into the slot on the headset. A soft hum vibrated through my fingers, and a light blinked on.
"System online." A smooth, female voice echoed inside my head. My stomach flipped."
'Uh… hello?" I muttered aloud. It felt strange talking to something that wasn't human.
"Please enter your personal data to initialize your VR experience."The system said.
My brow furrowed.
"Personal data?" I repeated. "You mean, like name, age, gender?"
"Affirmative. Name, age, and gender are required for system configuration."The system said.
I blinked at the floating interface that had appeared in front of me, transparent, glowing letters hovering midair. My fingers hovered nervously over the virtual keyboard.
"Okay Name first. Xavier Stoneheart, age eighteen. Gender male." I paused at that last one, half expecting the system to blink red or something. "Wait, what does gender matter in a game? I mean, isn't it just appearance?"
"Gender is required for system alignment within Omegaverse parameters. Please confirm or re-enter."The system explained.
"Fine male. That's, that's fine."I groaned softly.
"Initialization complete. Identity registered."The system hummed approvingly.
"Okay, I guess that's done." I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed talking to a voice only I could hear. But it didn't stop there.
"Next: you must understand the societal structure of this world. Ranks are Alpha, Beta, and Omega. Your abilities, social interactions, and survival likelihood depend on your assigned rank."The system said.
"Wait what? Ranks? Like RPG stats?"I froze.
"Partially. Alpha denotes dominant traits, high strength, and leadership potential. Beta denotes average traits and flexibility. Omega denotes weaker physical traits, higher sensitivity, and increased vulnerability. Survival strategies must adjust accordingly."The system explained.
"So basically, Alpha rules, Beta survives if careful, and Omega…gets eaten first?"I rubbed my temples and added bitterly.
"Correct. Your survival will depend on understanding your rank and leveraging your abilities. Do you understand?"The system asked.
"Yeah I think I get it. Totally reassuring."I let out a shaky laugh.
My pulse quickened despite my attempts at humor. I could feel a strange thrill under the nerves. I was about to step into a world that didn't just hand you challenges it measured your worth by what you were born as, and for some reason, I couldn't wait to see how far I could fall. I hesitated for a moment, gripping the headset. The system's voice was calm, almost soothing, but there was something in it that made my stomach tighten.
"Initialization complete. Prepare for world entry."The system said.
Before I could ask a single question, a soft blue light bloomed from the headset, washing over my hands, my arms, my entire body. It wasn't like anything I had felt in VR before, it was cold, tingling, and real. My vision blurred, and I swore I could feel the floor falling away beneath me.
"What the-?" I tried to grab something, anything, but my fingers passed through the empty air.
A tug, gentle but insistent, wrapped around me like invisible hands. My body lifted, stretched, and then I fell. I gasped, eyelids fluttering, and blinked. The world around me was alive. Grass bent under the faint breeze. Trees towered, dark and looming, their leaves whispering like the echoes of a thousand voices. The sky was painted in bruised shades of red and purple, clouds streaked with gold. It smelled like rain, earth, and something wild, dangerous. I staggered to my feet, heart hammering, legs trembling. Then a soft blue screen flickered into my vision, hovering in the air like a hologram.
"Name: Xavier Stoneheart. Age: 18. Gender: Male. Rank: Weakest. Class: Herbalist. Skills: Basic Herb Gathering, Simple Potion Crafting. Survival Index: Low."The system said.
I stared, mouth slightly open, my own name, floating in blue light, as if the world itself was introducing me. My pulse quickened.
"Your body is now synchronized with your VR identity. All attributes, stats, and abilities are active. Survival depends on resourcefulness and caution." The system's voice whispered again.
"Uh, yeah, okay." My voice sounded strange to me, deeper, foreign.
I glanced at my hands, they were slender, pale in the weird sunlight, and shaking. The blue screen flickered, showing a tiny map of the immediate area, a compass, and an icon marking my position. I took a careful step forward, grass crunching softly beneath my feet. My body felt real, too real. Every sound, every movement, every breath was amplified.
"Xavier Stoneheart. Weakest rank, herbalist, and omega. Survival probability: minimal. Adapt or perish."The system said as if congratulating me.
"Great, just great. Totally minimal, huh? Perfect."I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself.
But beneath the fear, a thrill ran through me. I was here. Alive in a world that didn't care who I was, how strong I thought I was, or how careful I wanted to be. A world that would judge me by my rank, my skill, my instincts.