Arc II - Cosmos

[Chapter 1 : Reflections]

It seems that being famous meant more god power in my case more energy to manipulate the world more. Thankfully I allowed the beta testers to livestream, record, or take photos otherwise I would not have enough energy. As "I" grew more and more popular I could change the world on a deeper level.

From what the system said I was greatly behind compared to my competitors they already have more physically changed the world with actions that only a god could do, but I wasn't worried about that focusing on what I wanted to do while strengthening their bodies while they are fighting in VR.

I was too focused on making them start at scratch or how to focus their efforts into survival skills that was a mistake there is no reason to go back to the stone ages we have weaponry so we should us it. It all falls onto the individual themselves I will not have any meta and through hard work a martial artist may advance faster than those who use guns.

System Event Test 1

Out of the 100 of you only 50% will survive.

There will be an active Leaderboard showing each chosen's position to survive our first test in One Year you must build up your human's strength those who fall below 50 will cease to exist. You will only see your name's position along with the top 10 now who can survive our first test?

Goal: Reach Above Rank 50

"So it finally came." Reading it I understood it exactly it is much better than I thought what the system tests were going to be. Thankfully I changed was doing before it became a massive disaster. Looking at the leaderboard I sat at the very bottom #100 from my guesses and questions I suppose the others directly gave people power making them stronger directly.

But for me borrowed power is not gained power.

As the time for release came once it hit the timer all those who purchased our devices had access to the game Cosmos. Although one mistake of choosing a name like this is people assuming it was about space thankfully with our advertisement they understood it contained everything possibly many were skeptical but with the knowledge of big companies investing into us they decided to trust it after all if it failed it would be the biggest flop in all human history.

There people from everywhere in the world using VR technology entered into Cosmos. Autumn Winds happily laying in his gaming pod speaking with excitement after being starved for a month, CuteCuddlyKitten finishing her college assignments, Ice Prince who finished a work and family meeting.

"It's much better now." Looking at the new clean UI, the massive world that is much larger than anyone would believe. "Launch Cosmos."

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Welcome to Cosmos!

As this text shown on the screen a cinematic played. For people unable to purchase such expensive equipment they watched streamers feeling the massive immersion as them. During this time was the final day it was shown on Times New Square playing the cinematic after a countdown.

Starting from grass blowing off a hill with the fluid animation, the music accompanying to help immerse the audience. It shown a bright kingdom for a short time before changing scenes from a tree. Colder rain thundering in a torrent, lightning flashed illuminating a decrepit castle surrounded by foggy graves.

*Thunder

With a bright white flash there walked aliens a futuristic setting, crowded street markets as the camera was covered by cloth flying off as a newspaper a steampunk setting, bronze gears flying blimps mechanical wonders. As the pocket watch fell shattering in front of the camera through the glass it changed to a modern setting of a women falling out of a building before being caught by a super human. As his cape fluttered in front of the camera it switched to fluttering leaves of a super fantasy setting wonderous sights.

As the moving tree flung dirt to the camera as soon as the dirt fell mortar explosions littered the ground a sight of war people in guns shooting off into the distance. One bullet cracking the glass transitioning to a cyberpunk era the glass was replaced showing floating cars, mechanical humans, giant LED lights making a colorful city.

Before turning to dark.

In Collaboration With...

Soon it shown famous companies, Nintendo, MCU, anime, novel, manga, manhwa, manhua, movies, and video games. Each time it was shown the cinematic shown in their art style but using this new black technology starting slow as it went through each world at faster and faster speeds. Zooming out each logo followed by the work that was added into this VR Cosmos game.

The hype exploded with this although I have added many original worlds many people will wish to travel into the worlds and stories they love. Just like I would wanting to travel into anime worlds after all they are really fun.

As soon as the collaboration cinematic video ended after zooming out so far that the images turned to be boxes on a white sphere the logo Cosmos created itself over the sphere before the image vanished into a dark black. Slowly the light become brighter lightening the dimmed room to a grey color.

Players from all around the world found themselves in this room an orb reacting to the thoughts of the player entering changed to their ideal form of who to introduce them into the world of Cosmos. Each voice and form different but the lines the same. There is no need for a username and password after all with this technology each person is themselves using their soul if the soul generally matches up then they are allowed in and the soul changes.

Therefore it is already the best password.

Welcome user to the Cosmos!

May I ask what is your name, new soul?

Baek-Hyun standing in the room watched as he saw the orb of light transforming into the shape of a well-endowed mature lady one of his dreams.

"Please do not be in shock I only have taken place of what you envisioned you are free to ask me to take no form. Now, new user please enter your data. Take notice that should lies be detected you will get a warning for the first time. For those who are currently streaming your personal details are automatically censored."

Enter Real World Data of Born Status

Enter Full Name: __________________ (First Name (space) Last Name)

Enter Date of Birth: __MM__ / __DD__ / ____YEAR____

Enter Gender: __________

Enter Data of What You Wish to Be

Enter Fictional Full Name: ______________

Enter In-Game Username: ____________ (Cannot take names held in protection for example: Spiderman, Peter Parker)

Enter In-Game Gender: __________ (Know you may affect real body should you have any physical deviations from real body)

After Baek-Hyun truthfully answered it after all being scolded by his idol is a scary thought.

"Well done now that we have this done it is time to move onto the second step. Now tell me what world do you wish to be in."

Select Our Original Worlds ▼

Select Our Collaboration Worlds ▼

Explain your dream World ▼

With this Autumn Winds was stumped. "Will I be able to freely travel to other world or am I just locked in once I choose?"

"We have two types of worlds, Single-Player and Multi-Player. Single-Player worlds will have the original characters in that story while Multi-Player worlds will not have those story characters instead having just the world and rules that govern it. There is no restrictions on changing worlds nor the amount of characters you wish to have."

"Then is it possible for me to travel to The Gamer, Solo Levelling, or Tower of God?"

"Those are all possible just note that you will not see any main character should you choose to go Multi-Player, but if you select Single-Player know you will not have their powers after all this is not a power fantasy but a way to enter and experience the world."

"I want to go into The Gamer world single-player mode."

"Confirm choice?"

"Yes."

"Have fun user."

I am really glad I decided to collaborate after all it made all the difference needed. To all influential people in the world I dragged them from their dream into my realm where time is paused. With all of them present I slowly explained the situation of how I was selected as a God candidate and the future stake of the world.

*Flashback

"Welcome influential people, business leaders, government officials, famous people to the first Cosmos dream meeting." It took some time to calm them down from acting like they were crazy or to fight one another like politicians.

"Silence!" Using my power I restrained all of them to their seats and silenced the ones who were causing a fuss. I stared at the fussy people once they calmed down I released the bindings until every is ready.

"Is everyone here ready now? Rhetorical question don't answer it."

"Let me explain first why you are here and why I have pulled you here. You can call me God, Omniscient Being, or another human it depends on your perspective, but my name is Ray. No, you are not having a nightmare or a crazy dream we can wait as long as you want until you are convinced."

"Hello leaders, famous, influencers, politicians, officials, my name is Ray and I am a newly chosen God to take care of this world forcefully tasked by the system to test whether the humans here can survive the tests of the system. Alright I can understand you not following just know that I am in the same boat as you so why would God want to speak with humans?"

"Because... if your entire race does not become strong enough to rank my world above rank #50 we will both cease to exist failing the test."

I wait for their reaction allowing them to speak having calmed themselves down they question such notions saying that they are not pawns to play with.

"You are incorrect should you assume that I wish to take over the world after all I would have done it forcefully. Before that let me explain myself I used to be a human my name was Ray I lived for 20 years in the hospital bed and I was greatly known for my imagination. We could go over why I was chosen instead of the other 7.9 billion humans but it won't change that I was chosen... okay."

"Some of you may have noticed my previous immature movements I sent out an email to all of you saying to volunteer as a beta tester for my VR a form of my power realized to strength humans on this world. But as I did the beta test in the week I noticed that I was making a mistake by doing everything myself as before."

"I am not only responsible for helping you but how can I help you in the shadows? Therefore I decided to take it upon myself to brave up and speak to you all. Now we are here as a God I gain power through belief you do not have to switch gods nor devout yourself to me as I said before I was previously just a sick girl on a hospital bed."

"I gain power when people believe in me but also when they use my powers that would be the VR devices. Now let me explain my thought process, I want you all to invest in my corporation VR, and VR Nourishments. I can create anything, immortality, beautification pills, strengthening but not without cost."

"But the only thing I will be 'selling' is the VR devices, and Nourishment drinks here I have a sample ranked C please try it."

Having all the people in the room try the drink they found their mind, and body strengthening. Able to remember past forgotten memories or feelings some of them started tearing up.

"Now onto the bad news, we are currently ranked #100 the worst planet in strength and we need to reach above rank #50 in one year or we will all perish. Why we are ranked here is simple because I love Earth and the people who live on it, I do not wish to play God controlling the lives of everyone here."

"I know for the fact the other gods have given borrowed power, sending down divine avatars physically controlling their worlds as if they are kings. I don't find joy or fun in such a restrictive world, therefore you can either cooperate with me without causing mass panic by advertising the age of exercising or we die failing to achieve our goal in one year... also know that I will never give borrowed power therefore we cannot fail. After all I believe in you guys we can do this it's a win-win situation."

Speaking with them I confirm that I will never give divine power only gained power through hard work and effort. "I will update you every month on our position to reassure your minds whenever we go up in rank or drop."

"Now that we have this over onto the next part. Why I have you people who only create games, movies, anime, film, novels, manhwa, manhua, manga, etc. It is because I will launch the VR world-wide and inside that will be my own original worlds. But through this power of mine can your world be fully interactable therefore I will give you a deal."

"Allow me to have your worlds in my game be assured you will receive rewards for how many people select your world after all I am a God now there is no need for money or fame I just want your worlds inside my game. I have thought up how to introduce your worlds there is two options: 1. Single-Player where the characters and story as the 'canon' or original is included but only the person itself will be in that world. 2. Multi-Player they have the world and the rules that govern it but the characters and story does not exist there."

"Now this is the age of exercising right now our goal is to have the body strong not fighting skills. After all strength comes in different forms not all is just fighting."

After convincing all the people inside with talks they woke up from their deep dreaming with clear clarity and finding their bodies much stronger than before. Now I hooked them it's time to work hard.