Legendless
Netherworld Overlord
Ashley Brinks didn't know what happened.
It had begun when she had stood in that long line. The line that took over four hours for her to get to the front of. She spent most of that time playing a handheld game and nearly beat it by time she had reached the front. She had been hungry throughout most of the wait, but she refused to budge from where she was. If she lost her spot, who knew how long if would take to get to the front. The line seemed endless both ways. No she could eat later. But it was worth it in the end. Or so she told herself. Now she wasn't so sure.
Ashley had been waiting for this breakthrough in technology for some time. She had always loved video games and to apply to the chance to be one of the first few to test out a virtual reality game. She had read sci-fi and seen other things about the topic, but for so long it had not been an actual reality. Now Fusion Tech, a gaming company she rather liked, was releasing the first one ever. There was no way she was missing this chance.
They had announced all over that they were searching for beta-testers and Ashley was right on that. She hoped, prayed that she would be chosen for it. To not only get a chance to play, but to beta-test the whole game was exciting and almost surreal.
She went though the normal process of signing papers to say that she would not hold Fusion Tech responsible for anything that happened. It was a bit worrying beta-testing a VR game, but she had faith in them that they wouldn't put them at risk. But they had to make sure the testers knew the risks of what they were doing.
"Okay now Mrs. Brinks. Can you tell me what you want your character to be. This is important so if you get chosen we can make the character available to you. Here is a list of things you can choose from."
Ashley took the paper from the man's hand and scanned the list.
"You can take as long as you want."
But she had already waited so long. She circled a few things and made some notes. Being an elf would be awesome and she added in what she wanted to look like. She choose magic-caster as well. She had always been fond of that type. Then she added in her username of choice as well. She handed it back to the man and he smiled at her.
"You will be contacted within 50 days to report if you were chosen or not."
It was 37 days later that she got the call that she was chosen. Ashley was excited but she wondered at the people who would be chosen as well. She was not the only one and the thought of sharing the new world with others was not pleasant. She didn't like being around people nor having to work with a team as she didn't do so well, but she thought maybe it was big enough that she wouldn't have to worry.
She waited another fifteen days for the gear and game to arrive. This told her that the others had been selected as well. The letter she received informed her of when to log on in a few days to make sure that the others had gotten things as well.
When the days were up, she logged in, excited to start it all and get ahead of the others. But something happened. Something not right. The screen was black. Nothing happened.
Ashley went over it and called up the help desk. It seems she was not alone in her trouble as well. But sadly there was nothing they could do. Upset as she wanted to begin that day, Ashley reminded herself it would be worth it. She could wait.
This was when things went weird. Ashley went to sleep, but was woken up to the sound of...birds? She opened her eyes and blinked, looking around. She went wide-eyed and pinched herself.
"Wha...."
In front of her, instead of her room, was a field. Off to her right was a forest and to her left was a river. Further away curled smoke up she could not see the source. Somehow she was somewhere else. But that was not all. She felt...different. Looking down at her body, it was not longer her own. Somehow she was...well she wasn't sure.
Slowly Ashley stood and moved to the river. It felt weird, walking in some new body. As she looked at her reflected, confused, not believing this was real. Her reflection.
"It's my character."
Thankfully, she guessed, the voice that came from the body was her own. Well maybe a bit more deep, but it was surely her own voice. She looked back to where she had woken up. Others seemed to be laying there as well.
"What is going on?"
It had begun when she had stood in that long line. The line that took over four hours for her to get to the front of. She spent most of that time playing a handheld game and nearly beat it by time she had reached the front. She had been hungry throughout most of the wait, but she refused to budge from where she was. If she lost her spot, who knew how long if would take to get to the front. The line seemed endless both ways. No she could eat later. But it was worth it in the end. Or so she told herself. Now she wasn't so sure.
Ashley had been waiting for this breakthrough in technology for some time. She had always loved video games and to apply to the chance to be one of the first few to test out a virtual reality game. She had read sci-fi and seen other things about the topic, but for so long it had not been an actual reality. Now Fusion Tech, a gaming company she rather liked, was releasing the first one ever. There was no way she was missing this chance.
They had announced all over that they were searching for beta-testers and Ashley was right on that. She hoped, prayed that she would be chosen for it. To not only get a chance to play, but to beta-test the whole game was exciting and almost surreal.
She went though the normal process of signing papers to say that she would not hold Fusion Tech responsible for anything that happened. It was a bit worrying beta-testing a VR game, but she had faith in them that they wouldn't put them at risk. But they had to make sure the testers knew the risks of what they were doing.
"Okay now Mrs. Brinks. Can you tell me what you want your character to be. This is important so if you get chosen we can make the character available to you. Here is a list of things you can choose from."
Ashley took the paper from the man's hand and scanned the list.
"You can take as long as you want."
But she had already waited so long. She circled a few things and made some notes. Being an elf would be awesome and she added in what she wanted to look like. She choose magic-caster as well. She had always been fond of that type. Then she added in her username of choice as well. She handed it back to the man and he smiled at her.
"You will be contacted within 50 days to report if you were chosen or not."
It was 37 days later that she got the call that she was chosen. Ashley was excited but she wondered at the people who would be chosen as well. She was not the only one and the thought of sharing the new world with others was not pleasant. She didn't like being around people nor having to work with a team as she didn't do so well, but she thought maybe it was big enough that she wouldn't have to worry.
She waited another fifteen days for the gear and game to arrive. This told her that the others had been selected as well. The letter she received informed her of when to log on in a few days to make sure that the others had gotten things as well.
When the days were up, she logged in, excited to start it all and get ahead of the others. But something happened. Something not right. The screen was black. Nothing happened.
Ashley went over it and called up the help desk. It seems she was not alone in her trouble as well. But sadly there was nothing they could do. Upset as she wanted to begin that day, Ashley reminded herself it would be worth it. She could wait.
This was when things went weird. Ashley went to sleep, but was woken up to the sound of...birds? She opened her eyes and blinked, looking around. She went wide-eyed and pinched herself.
"Wha...."
In front of her, instead of her room, was a field. Off to her right was a forest and to her left was a river. Further away curled smoke up she could not see the source. Somehow she was somewhere else. But that was not all. She felt...different. Looking down at her body, it was not longer her own. Somehow she was...well she wasn't sure.
Slowly Ashley stood and moved to the river. It felt weird, walking in some new body. As she looked at her reflected, confused, not believing this was real. Her reflection.
"It's my character."
Thankfully, she guessed, the voice that came from the body was her own. Well maybe a bit more deep, but it was surely her own voice. She looked back to where she had woken up. Others seemed to be laying there as well.
"What is going on?"