Finally! Alone at last.

Jacquie was so excited, you'd think it was her unit we were setting up.

I literally had to shove her outta my room.

I looked at the helmet in my hand. I was growing to like the barebones look.

No ostentatious designs, no obnoxious bells and whistles, just the elegant lines of the unit itself.

Well, enough of that. Let's get the ball rolling

I got on the bed trying to find a comfortable position.

Okay, Eric. Breathe in, breathe out.

I put the helmet on.

Here goes nothing.

Welcome to VitaGear

Configuration set

Ready for usage

VitaGear Prime

Loading plugins

please wait...

Downloading Resources

please wait...

Logging in

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

Suddenly an intense light shone out erasing the text in front of my eyes. Dizzying patterns displayed itself in my field of vision.

Then everything disappeared!

I felt myself falling.

"Eeeeeekkkkkkkk!!!!" My "manly" roars of rage resounded all over the environment.

Then I felt a force underneath me. I wasn't falling any more.

I slowly opened my eyes. Oookay, that wasn't so bad.

I found myself floating in mid air. I looked down and saw the floor was just a feet away.

I extended my leg to the ground and the force let me touch down.

I looked around and saw nothing but space. It was eerie. It feels like I was the only person in the planet.

Please don't let me get stuck here. Please don't let me get stuck here. Please don't let me get stuck here.

I repeated like a mantra.

"Welcome to the Loading bay. Please state your name." I jumped a bit as, a voice suddenly sounded out.

I tried looking around but saw nobody.

Sigh, better just go with the flow.

"Eric Lamarque."

"How would you like me to address you?"

"Just Eric."

"User Eric, would you like to review the tutorial for VitaGear?"

"Not at the moment. Just answer a couple of questions. First of all. What is this place?"

"This is the loading bay. It serves mainly as your lobby. This will be your starting point whenever you login with your VitaGear. This is also functions as your app repository. You are able to designate location and visuals of downloaded apps. You are free to customize the environment to your taste or load preset environment packages. Additional items for customization is available for purchase."

Perfect. I was getting tired of the empty space scene.

"By the way, do you have a name?"

"Default designation is Lilith. User Eric is free to rename this unit."

"No need. Lilith, bring up preset environment packages."

"Loading preset environment packages..."

"Woah..."

Floating windows surrounded me. Each with pictures of set backgrounds.

Hmmm... Now what will it be... Roman coliseum? I don't think so. Medieval throne room? Nah. Strip joint?!? Hmmm... That's a possibility. I hovered my hand in front of the window and dragged it closer. The picture inside the window started to move much like watching TV. Oh, yeah. Look at the girl with the big b...

"A cautionary warning user Eric. Guest will be able to view your loading bay anytime you answer or make a call. Please choose with caution."

I immediately pushed the window away.

Oh my god! I feel like I just dodged a bullet there. I don't even want to imagine what Jacquie's reaction would be if she saw that. Whew.

I quickly picked the most common room I could find. I didn't even want to look at the others anymore.

"Lillith, load man cave environment package."

"Loading environment preset package man cave"

The whole place lit up like a Christmas tree.

I couldn't help grinning like a fool.

This is more like it. I looked around my man cave. A wall mounted 65" TV was the center piece. 3 smaller monitors on each sides of it completed the setup. A coffee table with various snacks was in front of it. A massive leather couch was behind the table.

I also see a fully stocked mini bar and a fridge. On the other side of the room was a pool table and a bookshelf.

I turned the tv on. Apparently it gets live feed from outside.

I went to the minibar and looked at the selection.

I grabbed a frosty soda and took a gulp.

What the...

It tastes like water. I opened a different one with the same result.

"You need to purchase items from the VitaStore to take advantage of the full sensory immersion feature, User Eric."

Sigh, I knew it was too good to be true.

I went to the bookshelf.

Strange, there's only 1 book. I grabbed the book from the shelf.

Transcend: Online

This must be my app repository. Good thing I noticed, I almost forgot what I was supposed to do.

"Lilith, how do I load up my apps"

"You can manually open the book in your shelf or verbally deliver your order."

I opened the book. The pages shimmering with light dancing in the air.

With a flash of light a shimmering portal appeared in front of me.

Cool!

With a final look at my man cave. I stepped forward.

A bright light shone out, momentarily blinding me.

When I regain my vision, I was standing in front of an altar.

I leaned forward, to study the altar. Various runes were inscribed on it.

"Congratulations mortal, you have transcended!" A disembodied voice boomed out, making me jump. "A new land awaits you. A land filled with wonder and magic, but also filled with danger and chaos. The world of Terestia! And you will write its history. Whether a hero or a devil you shall be, time will tell. To prepare you for this journey. I, Junos, father of the gods, grant you a boon! I allow you to choose the vessel you will harness in this new world. May wisdom guide your hand."

Jeeze... thanks a lot for the scare.

With a rumble, four large mirrors emerged from the ground. I abandoned the altar and inspected the mirrors. I studied the one nearest to me.

I can see my face and the outline of my body is the same, but I was wearing a different outfit. A homespun tunic underneath a leather vest adorned my upper body. Simple brown trousers and leather boots for my lower portion.

I reached out to touch the surface of the mirror. A window appeared beside it.

Human

The youngest of the four main races but also the most common.

Although, without the benefits of being graced with the natural endowment of the other races,

humans' adaptability bring them their edge.

Choose Human

Yes / No

I withdrew my hand from the mirror.

Hmm... I better check the other options before deciding.

I walked over the other mirrors checking one by one.

I was now green, with bulging muscles, and dressed only in loin cloth and rough hide boots.

"Grrrrr...." Baring my teeth.

Heh. This might be fun. Striking a pose and flexing my reflection's muscles.

I touched the mirror in front of me.

Orc

Bestial and savage, orcs are paragon of physical might.

With a culture based on the survival of the fittest,

they are blessed with extreme strength and constitution.

Their only deficit is their shockingly low intelligence.

Choose Orc?

Yes / No

This would have been good if not for the tusks coming out of its mouth. Imagine the drool. Ugh.

I went over the next one.

I was now wearing a green chaleco, leather pants, and boots with tassels.

I never knew I was such a pretty boy. Aside from the long ears, my face was clean shaven and smooth as a baby.

Elven

The eldest race.

Elves are long lived, hence incredible amount of knowledge are available to them.

Although cursed to be physically weaker than the other races,

they offset this with their high intelligence and natural affinity with the elements.

Choose Elven?

Yes / No

I moved on to the last one.

I dunno about this one.

I was now 4 feet tall, with a wide compact body. Not fat but heavily muscled. I was also now sporting a great beard that goes down to my chest.

Just looking at it made me scratch my cheek.

Dwarven

Dwarves are an old, hardy race living in their underground cities.

With the extreme environment forging them,

dwarven constitution is superlative,

making them highly resistant to the elements, diseases, and even poison.

Choose Dwarven?

Yes / No

I don't think so. Too short.

I went back to the human mirror.

If I'm going to spend a lot of time with this I better just choose the body I'm most used to.

"I choose Human!"

[DING]

Cosmetic Alteration available

I was already chomping at the bit to play and I'm really not that concerned about appearance.

"No need."

"Record your moniker, hero. It will be entered in the Annals of heaven!" Junos' booming voice resounded once again.

A tablet floated in front of me. looking at it closely it was actually a keyboard!

"Myst."

I typed in the name I usually use with my games.

" A noble name fit for glory. And now hero, go forth and make your mark in this new world!"

[RUMBLE]

"Woah!"

The world around me shook. Cracks appeared everywhere.

"Oh shit!"

I frantically looked around. I wanted to run but there was nowhere to go.

"This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real."

I felt the tremors growing worse. I crouched and covered my head. I closed my eyes. My heart racing.

"This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real."

[BOOM]

I felt the shock of the explosion. I kept expecting my body to be torn to pieces.

Surprisingly, there was no pain.

I waited for another minute, making sure it was over.

[Giggle]

"How long are you gonna stay like that?" A coquettish voice full of suppressed mirth said.

I opened my eyes. I looked around me.

I was in the middle of a square. Lots of people around. Amused glances towards me.

Great. Just great. I left one world because I didn't want to be the center of attention and here I am again. Sigh.

I straightened up. I looked at the girl in front of me.

She was an orc, about 2 meters tall. I was dazed with the disparity of her voice to her appearance.

She smiled at me. If you can call it a smile.

"Don't worry about it. We've all been there. Probably just the developers' way of welcoming us."

"Yeah. I think, I'd rather be unwelcome." I grumbled.

"No need to be embarrassed. It happened to all of us. I once saw a guy bawling his eyes out and crying for his mommy."

I started feeling better about myself.

"Really?" I beamed at her hopefully.

"No, not really. I was just trying to make you feel better." She laughed. "Anyway, welcome to Terestia." She turned and walked away.

Nevermind. I looked around me, trying to process my surroundings.

Everything felt so real. So alive!

The bustling people, the town, even the animals.

I got near a boy and a puppy playing.

The puppy was so cute, I couldn't resist touching it. I looked at the boy asking for permission to pet the puppy. He just smiled at me.

I went down on one knee to pat the puppy's head.

It licked my hand. I couldn't help but smile and scratched behind its ear.

It whined in appreciation and laid down to show me his tummy.

A wide smile split my face. I started laughing.

This is soooooooooo cool!

I stood up and started running.

Greedily taking in the sights.

Various people busy inside the shops. Shopkeepers taking inventory of their wares. Customers haggling with them for some items. And even some people just window shopping.

I took a deep breath and noticed mouth-watering smells wafting from nearby food stalls making my stomach grumble.

I stopped a bit to take a look at some.

Various finger-foods were being offered there from kabobs to even pizza.

And then there were the soldiers armed with their spears and swords patrolling around the area. Kinda reminds me of mall cops.

I ran towards a large gate with tall guard towers on either side. Soldiers armed with bows and arrows manning them.

After a while a wide prairie full of grass and flowers unfolded before me. Oh my god. It was so real. So full of life.

I even saw a graceful deer prancing about.

And those cute bunnies bouncing about with their bushy tails. Just begging to be hugged.

I went near them. Chasing them around and laughing like a loon along the way.

"HAHAHAHAHA."

I noticed one that was bigger than the others. It was about as big as a medium sized dog.

Awwww.... Look at him with his wound red eyes and wittle button nose.

I pounced at it and grabbed it.

"Hiya there wittle bunny. Whose a cute wittle bunny? Whose a cute wittle bunny?" I crooned at it.

Big and fluffy. I hugged it to my chest.

This is sooo coooool!

[SNIKT]

"Hello new worl..." I exclaimed, as I raised my arm with the bunny.

Are rabbit supposed to have claws?

"Yaaaaahahahaharrrrgggghhh....."

You have died...