"Sandbox?... It's been a while since I played one of those open-world games. But I'm not expecting much, since it was Lily who sent this to us," he thought.
Carlos and Robinson seemed to agree: Lily's game recommendations had a consistent track record.
The games she suggested usually failed to achieve commercial success, often leading to the shutdown of the studios behind them.
Motivated by that realization, he went back to the WhatsApp group to see the others' responses.
[ Robinson: nothing special, just another generic VR game ]
[ Carlos: I agree, looks like another typical Lily-style game ]
[ Victor: you guys know I hate this kind of game. It's always the same. I'd rather play a simple strategy game or fortress builder ]
[ Lily: shut up, virgin. Go play your little house-building game ]
[ Robinson: uh oh... ]
[ Carlos: hahaha ]
[ Victor: stop hiding behind your money and we'll talk 🥵 ]
[ Carlos: 👀 ]
[ Robinson: 👀 ]
[ Lily: 👀 ]
[ Lily: [https://youtu.be/6mu4WK1s9cE?si=OCLG5dTsCII5TL2-](https://youtu.be/6mu4WK1s9cE?si=OCLG5dTsCII5TL2-) ]
When they clicked the link, Victor and the others were taken to a viral video — a meme:
♪ But the chaos is in my pocket and it feels good ♪
Unable to establish meaningful communication with Lily — whose sense of humor clearly clashed with his — Victor decided to stop replying.
Frustrated by their incompatible perspectives, he impulsively tossed the phone onto the car seat and stepped out.
After finishing parking, Victor picked up the phone from the passenger seat.
Upon entering the building, he was met with a low hum of overlapping voices. Though audible from inside, the sound was faint to anyone outside.
— Guys, as promised, I brought a book for us to discuss today. Has anyone read *The Outsider*, by Stephen King? What did you think? asked the host, raising the book.
The question sparked a wide range of opinions, showing just how differently everyone interpreted the story.
Some based their thoughts on the TV adaptation; others leaned into the literary aspects.
Putting the topic aside, Victor climbed the stairs to his room.
With each step, the phone vibrated more intensely in his pocket, as if mocking his attempt at peace.
He sighed, shut the door firmly, and turned the lock, sealing himself off.
He took the phone from his pocket and tossed it onto the bed.
Sinking into the leather armchair, he put on the virtual reality headset and prepared to dive in.
The room's dimness, reinforced by thick curtains, set the perfect mood for escape.
∆∆∆∆
The virtual immersion gave Victor a warped sense of time, as if the sand in an invisible hourglass flowed at its own rhythm.
When he took the headset off, reality hit him hard. His senses scrambled to adjust: squinting at the light, disoriented, stretching limbs, and letting out a loud yawn, his body seeking to readapt.
He grabbed his phone and opened the messages.
[ Lily: MAYDAY, MAYDAY 🚨 the servers are live! Let's gooo. Let's pick our classes based on what the team needs ]
[ Carlos: writing it down 📝 ]
[ Robinson: 📝👀 ]
[ Victor: SAY IT, I'M LISTENING 📝👀 ]
[ Lily: Carlos, since you're in the military, you'll obviously be our tank. Robinson, you can go archer or any ranged class. Victor, go with a fighter or some melee-focused class. And I'll be the LEADER and also the fairy-type mage 🧚♂️ ]
[ Carlos: 📝✅ ]
[ Robinson: ✅📝 ]
[ Victor: 📝✅ ]
∆∆∆∆
Back to the present…
— I'll go with Fighter class… but I'm curious what Lily would do if she saw me as a ranger or tank. he said, smiling.
The Writ system took a brief moment before resuming normal operation.
— Choosing the Fighter class will significantly shape the progression of the character *Yumi*. The fighter's skills, talents, and development are unique and cannot be replicated by other classes. Given the permanent nature of this choice, we recommend that you consider which playstyle suits you best. said the AI.
Victor nodded.
— Yes. he replied.
— Yumi, your choice of hometown is crucial. Each of the three options presents a unique environment, with distinct culture, economy, and geography. This will influence the opportunities and challenges throughout your journey. Analyze them carefully. concluded the AI.
¶• ETÁN:
A regional reference in metallurgy and high-quality forged weapons, combining ancient techniques with modern innovation.
¶• IMI:
A research hub for advanced alloys and armor, home to the world's greatest engineers and scientists.
¶• LLUI:
A pharmaceutical and zoological complex, specializing in beast taming and the development of rare medicines.
"I like how they spread players across cities! That gives each place its own life and keeps the game economy balanced."
Victor thought it over. Each city offered distinct advantages. His choice would shape his entire path.
— Pick randomly. he said.
— Okay, player Yumi. Your starting city will be selected at random. replied the AI.
The screen flickered. In an instant, he was transported to the chosen city.
But the immersion was broken when, out of reflex, he removed the headset to check his phone.
[ Lily: I spawned in LLUI. If anyone picked the same city, I'm at the main gate waiting. Don't take too long. ]
[ Lily: My nickname is: Red Butterfly. Add me 🙌🫂 ]
[ Carlos: I picked Etán. I'll be at the main gate too. My nick: Shaolin Pig Slayer 😴 ]
[ Lily: What the hell is that name? LMAOOOOO ]
[ Carlos: My name is Shaolin Pig Slayer and I'm gonna be the top 1. Period 😎🙌 ]
[ Victor: I also spawned in Etán. My nick is Yumi. Add me and shut up already. ]
[ Robinson: I'm in the same city as Lily. My nick is Empolo-Man ]
∆∆∆∆
Back in-game, Victor took in his first impression of the city.
The central square was a social hub — players laughing, exploring, ignoring rules. NPC guards patrolled the area.
The atmosphere was chaotic yet alive, reflecting the complexity of *Glory Through War*.
Victor walked through the market district, watching the interactions. Then his attention shifted to his own avatar.
Standing at 5'7" (1.70m), he had a casual charm. Black spiky hair framed a serious face with light blue eyes.
He wore a faded white hoodie, worn-out shorts, and a red boxing glove with a hand-drawn dragon on it.
"All pretty standard for a VR MMORPG. Now let's try to add—"
GIND!
Three friend requests:
¶• Red Butterfly
¶• Shaolin Pig Slayer
¶• Empolo-Man
He accepted all three and headed toward the main gate.
The gate, made of massive wood adorned with arcane symbols, stood tall and imposing.
The courtyard buzzed with noise: laughter, chatter, clinking armor. Players of all classes gathered, sharing expectations.
Among the crowd, one figure stood out: a tank clad in silver armor, arms crossed, shield on his back.
— Carlos? Victor asked, approaching.
The man turned.
At 5'11" (1.80m), with navy-blue hair flowing to his waist, porcelain skin, and deep black eyes, he was striking.
His armor gleamed under the forge's light. The helmet obscured his eyes, revealing only a cold shimmer. Shoulder plates shaped like dragons, articulated vambraces, and a chainmail hauberk covered his muscular frame.
A long scarlet cape flowed behind him. His shield, shaped like an inverted teardrop, was red with a golden lion crest. His short sword, made of Damascus steel, had a white bone hilt and a functional guard.
— Don't break immersion, Yumi. My name here is Shaolin Pig Slayer. Or just Shaolin. he said, giving a thumbs-up with his left hand.
Looking at a man built like a fridge wearing nearly two meters of gear, Victor couldn't help himself:
— With that name... it's *hard* to feel immersed, you airhead! Yumi shouted.