(S1) Chapter 6 - Hello world

  Henry opened his eyes to the dim ceiling of his small bedroom.

  For a long moment he simply lay there, staring upward, trying to process what he had V just done.

  Bram was gone.

  The character he had spent years building… erased with a single word.

  There was no undo button. No second chance. No I changed my mind.

  Just… gone.

  Henry exhaled slowly and pushed himself upright, pulling the VR helmet from his head and setting it gently on the dresser.

  “Time to move forward,” he murmured.

  His gaze shifted across the room. The silver VR capsule stood quietly in the corner, its sleek surface reflecting the soft light of the room.

  A faint mechanical hum vibrated through the air, steady and patient.

  Henry walked over and placed his hand against the cool glass. With a soft whoosh, the capsule opened automatically.

  Henry blinked. “Okay… that was pretty awesome.”

  Carefully, he climbed inside. The interior molded perfectly around his body, leaving just enough room for movement.

  Soft cushioning pressed gently against his sides, making it feel less like lying inside a machine and more like sinking into a cloud.

  He shifted slightly, testing the space.“Not bad…”

  After a few moments of adjusting, he spoke clearly. “Close capsule.”

  The lid lowered slowly, sealing him inside and plunging the world into darkness. His heartbeat thudded heavily in his chest as he waited.

  A faint blue light flickered to life above him. A scanner passed slowly over his body, moving from his head down to his feet. When it finished, the light vanished.

  A calm mechanical voice filled the capsule. “Welcome, Henry, to your personal VR Capsule. Would you like to modify your AI assistant?”

  YES / NO

  Henry swallowed. “Yes, I would. Thank you.”

  “Please select a voice profile. Male, female, or gender neutral.”

  “Female voice, please.”

  A brief pause passed before the voice returned — this time softer, warmer.

  “What would you like to name your personal AI?”

  Henry smiled faintly. “Layla.”

  “Personal AI Layla initialized,” the voice replied cheerfully. “Would you like to begin the tutorial?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Yes, please.”

  Bright white light flooded the capsule, forcing Henry to squint.

  “Welcome to your personal VR Capsule, designed specifically for you.

  “This capsule contains a biometric profile of your DNA, skeletal structure, neural patterns, and brainwave activity.”

  “Because of this, the device will only function for you. Attempted use by any other individual will result in automatic shutdown.”

  A mechanical arm extended from the side of the capsule, holding a lightweight oxygen mask near Henry’s face.

  “This capsule operates by synchronizing with your brainwave patterns during sleep.”

  “Using this method, you may remain inside the game for 15 hours of real-world time, equivalent to 75 hours of in-game time.”

  “For your safety, the system will automatically log you out when this limit is reached.

  “Please place the breathing mask over your nose and mouth when you are ready to begin login.”

  Henry pulled the mask over his face and adjusted the straps “Begin login.”

  “Login will begin in five… four…”

  A faint vapor drifted through the mask.“Three… two…”

  His eyelids grew heavy.

  The last thing he heard was—

  “One.”

  Darkness swallowed him.

  ?

  Henry felt as though he were drifting through endless black space.

  It didn’t feel like leaving his body.

  If anything, every sensation felt more real.

  Eventually, his feet touched something solid, making ripples spread outward beneath him as though he had stepped onto the surface of water.

  He stood slowly and looked around.

  Nothing.

  Just endless darkness.

  Then Layla’s voice echoed softly through the void. “Welcome, Henry, to your Mind Palace.

  “This space serves as your personal transition zone. You will return here before entering the game world and whenever your character dies.”

  “Would you like to customize the environment?”

  Henry didn’t hesitate. “Yes”

  “Please imagine the environment you would like to create.”

  Henry thought for a moment, thinking about a beach overlooking a sunset.

  The darkness began to dissolve.

  Orange light bled into the sky. Clouds stretched across the horizon as waves rolled gently against the shore.

  Warm sand formed beneath his feet.

  Henry stared in awe.

  The ocean reflected the fading sunlight like molten gold. Henry walked forward slowly in amazement and he dipped his fingers into the water.

  The water was cool to the touch, sending goosebumps up his arms.

  He laughed quietly. “Okay… this is incredible.”

  Curious, he tried again.

  The beach vanished. In its place appeared a cozy cabin.

  A stone fireplace crackled warmly against one wall. A small kitchen rested nearby, with a bedroom tucked just beyond an open doorway.

  Snowstorm winds howled outside a screen door.

  Henry approached the door and watched the snow swirl beyond it. The cold seemed to press faintly against the glass.

  He stepped back and dropped into the loveseat near the fire.

  The warmth washed over him as he leaned back, listening to the crackling flames.

  For a moment, he almost forgot where he was.

  “Environment complete,” Layla said.

  Henry’s eyes snapped open. “Oh—right.”

  He cleared his throat. “Yes. Please continue.”

  “This is your Mind Palace. From here you may receive phone calls from the outside world and browse the Horizon’s End forums.

  “You may return here at any time, except during combat.”

  “Are you ready to begin the game?”

  Henry stood. “Yes.”

  Please select a game mode

  ? Casual Mode

  ? Adventure Mode

  ? Real Mode

  Henry hesitated.

  Then he took a breath.

  “Real Mode.”

  The panels vanished.

  “Warning: Real Mode requires 90% pain synchronization. Injuries experienced in-game will be transmitted to the user at ninety percent intensity.

  “Are you certain you wish to proceed?”

  Henry swallowed. “Y-yes.”

  A glowing datapad floated toward him. “Please sign this waiver acknowledging that Horizon Technologies bears no responsibility for physical or psychological trauma experienced during Real Mode.”

  Henry wiped his palms on his pants and signed quickly.

  The datapad vanished with a pop.

  At that moment the world started crack, before shattering like glass.

  Henry felt himself floating as the sky burst open above him. Birds wheeled across brilliant blue air.

  A massive red dragon soared across the horizon before vanishing into the clouds. The wind rushing through Henry’s hair.

  Then he heard someone chuckle.

  Henry turned.

  An elegant man sat at the reins of a flying carriage.

  He wore a pristine butler uniform, his expression warm and welcoming.

  The horses pulling the carriage were enormous white creatures with powerful wings beating slowly against the air.

  “It’s always a pleasure to meet another traveler,” the man said with a polite bow of his head.

  “My name is Reginald. And you are, sir?”

  Everything froze. A message appeared before Henry.

  Please choose your name. Henry rubbed his chin in thought.

  He didn’t want Bram anymore, believing that part of his life was finished.

  After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Henry.”

  The world resumed moving.

  Reginald smiled. “That is a strong name, sir.”

  He gestured toward the carriage.

  “Please step aboard, Henry. I will escort you to the throne hall where you may choose your race and class.”

  Henry climbed into the carriage and Reginald snapped the reins.

  The winged horses surged forward, carrying them through the endless sky toward the beginning of a new life.