《Humanity’s Next Steps》A True Work of Art
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A True Work of Art “It's simple, Mr. Mitchell. Sign the contract and climb a mountain. You’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.” “I’m doing what you asked. I’m wearing a neural recorder. I’ll sign the papers, but I want to see the deposit made first!” “No deal! We have legal counsel to notarize the contract and ensure your payment.” “Will I receive the ten million tax-free?” “That’s correct. And just imagine, a wealthy buyer will enjoy your experience over and over. You’ll carry a legacy of authenticity.” “Why not just simulate it? No one can tell the difference.” “They’ll know. Real experiences are the true value these days. Not those conjured up digital recreations that mimic reality. They’ve got no substance nor consequence.” “What about legal ramifications?” “None. The government supports our effort to revitalize the economy. With nearly everyone plugged in, virtual currency has become next to worthless. Your family will receive government-sanctioned cash money.” “What’s that?” “True wealth. Imagine owning real land, not just virtual real estate. We’ll reciprocate your genuine contribution with something equally tangible.” “I must admit, I’m scared… what if …” “Good. The more you feel fear, the better for our buyer. They’ll want to experience your anxiety. In fact — if we detect you aren’t scared for a single moment, we’ll cancel the contract. You’ll return to that overcrowded slum. Your only source of freedom will be the virtual abyss.” “Why can’t I climb now?” “No. We need your emotional build-up for the climax. Our connoisseur will appreciate its intrinsic value. In turn, your family will have real wealth.” “Very well … I’ll sign them … What’s this about dream recordings?” “It’s all about the process to watch your mastery.” “And an NDA, huh?” “Yes. No one else must know. They'll never understand what’s at stake, right?” “Yeah, sure.” — Frank signed the last page. ———— Frank experienced recurring nightmares of screaming and falling to his death. And others of him surviving but completely paralyzed and spoonfed by his wife. He tried plugging in for a respite. Still, in the VR world, his subconscious manifested his fears into a haunting paralysis inflicted on all of his avatars. On the night before the climb, he woke up screaming … “Frank, honey, is there something bothering you? Should we talk about it?” “Nah. I’m just trying to solve a problem in a world-building scheme.” “Frank, if you need to talk about it, I’m here. I can plugin and help if you need it.” “Kind of you to offer. Once I’m finished with this project, you’ll live like a queen!” “What?” “It’ll be a surprise for you. Just wait for me to finish.” “I can’t wait!” He kissed her lips — “Goodnight, my love." ———— Frank stood stark naked and shivered. The company had dropped him off along with a disguised escort by helicopter at the base of a high mountain. Freezing winds chilled his bones, and he could barely breathe. The escort handed him a two-way VR communicator, a respirator, and a headset, then instructed him to climb up a set of dangling ropes. Frank clawed at the mountainside while rocks crumbled, and dust fell. Midway up, the support lines snapped. “Look down, Mr. Mitchell, the fall, will definitely be painful and terrible. Your drop may feel like forever. See the jagged rocks. You might well become paralyzed. You’ll wish for sudden death, but most assuredly, it'll be excruciating as your bones break and shatter, and you can’t move. You’ll bleed out first!” “I can’t do this!” “Sure, you can. Ten million for your family. Out of the slums. A paradise awaits. All you have to do is reach the summit!” Frank saw virtual flashes sent to his mind, of a countryside cottage, and a large ranch with horses, land, and trees as far as the eye could see. “Think of your family, Frank. Don’t fail them. Don’t feel regretful for the rest of your life.” Frank climbed further up. Rocks cut and scraped his skin, and bugs crawled all over him — then he encountered a large seemingly impassable rock jutting out. “Climb it, Mr. Mitchell. You can do it. You must. Your family depends on you.” “I … I … can’t…” “Do it, Frank. Or we'll make your wife climb the rock. Did you miss that part of the contract? The fine print says if you fail, your spouse must take your place.” “No! I don’t remember that. You’re lying!” A detailed visual recollection of his signing the contract appeared in Frank's mind. It showed the fine print, which stated the terms precisely as the escort mentioned. “We’ve taken this experience from your own mind. You saw the fine print, but you chose to ignore it. However, you've agreed to its conditions.” Frank's mind received an artificially generated scene showing his naked wife climbing the mountain and crying out, while she struggled, gasped, and slid on the rocks. “Okay! Okay! I’ll do it!” Frank climbed up the giant rock and lost his grip — he fell backward into the air and cried out for help. Within seconds, he smashed into the jagged rocks below and felt a sharp pain in his back — then died instantly. ———— Mr. Chambers, an elite tycoon of VR industries, removed the simulation headwear, and wiped the sweat from his forehead, then placed it on the table. He experienced Frank’s journey through his signing the contract, climbing up the mountain, and falling to his death. “Brilliant! I want more! Where can I place an order for a bulk purchase? I have a big party coming up in a week.” “Only one experience per encoded buyer's signature. We’ll need a participant for each experience rendered. It’s difficult to find so many participants in such a short time. And much more expensive for such a large volume.” Mr. Chambers thought a moment and slammed his shivering fist on the table. “It’s worth it! This is a true work of art. Place the order!”
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The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons
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8 923Out of This World (Into a Time Loop)
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8 191I will Kill the Hero! With Fluff!
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8 130Dungeon Ship (Ash Rising)
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8 64Cornucopia of Hope
The graduating class of Hope's Peak Academy has been kidnapped sometime after their graduation ceremony. They wake up in a beautiful, plush mansion with no idea where they could be other than the name Our Mansion of Plenty. The physical barriers of steel plates and locked doors might not be enough to cage them, if it weren't for the malicious mechanical fairy calling itself The Fey and ruling their new lives with an iron--albeit tiny--fist. While being kidnapped is bad enough, the fact that this fairy brat is telling them to kill each other is definitely worse. Apparently, murdering one of your fellow victims is the only way to get out of this luxurious mansion. But nobody would do that...right? Cornucopia of Hope is a non-canon killing game completely alienated from the the canon universe of the Danganronpa games. The things borrowed from the games are as followed: Hope's Peak Academy, and the structure of 16ish hyper-skilled teenagers trapped in an enclosed space and being subjected to a motive, a murder, an investigation, a trial, and an execution of the presumed killer. There are no spoilers, tie ins, or previous knowledge required of the series to read this story!
8 169The War of Cinders - (Broken World)
"This world is as much the end of us, as it is the beginning of something completely new." - Unkown "My dear colleagues, esteemed thaumaturges and students, for over three thousand years we have endured the superstition of religious men, praying to so called gods, and calling us heretics. But today I am proud to tell you no more, because I will prove to all of you that these gods are nothing more than men with too much power!" This opening to a speech of the powerful Magi Suralzar was chiselled into the front gates of the greatest Thaumaturgical University of its time, for they have led to the most horrible and devastating catastrophe in human history.Now almost one-hundred years later the remnants of this world are thrown into another calamity, as the Sibalien Empire, led by Emperor Angus Bloomest the Third, seeks to subjugate each and every other nation for their almighty god. Follow a myriad of distinct individuals: A genderfluid Magi having lost their ambition, a steadfast Palladin who has only corruption on her mind, a lesbian Acolyte with more than a handfull of dirty secrets, a morally questionable Smith teaching a Golem? about life, a speach impaired assassin with out memory, . . .Each one of them has their own desires and motives, as they try to survive in these troubling times. They may have no knowledge of each other but their fates are about to intertwine in an epic world spanning adventure of love, hate, magic and the occasional murder.
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