My name is Tony Eisen. I was in love with the theoretical, the things that could be, but may never become, reality. I read a lot and I never passed down a good sci-fi novel. My family died when I was 23, a tragic accident involving a terrorist bombing at a train station in New York. All that I had was my sister, but I hadn't seen her in the four years since then.

I was only twenty seven when it happened. When the Grey Goo enveloped the world.

All I heard was a whirring sound. It was hard to describe honestly, more like a high-pitched whine you could barely hear. At the time, I was reading a book on my tablet in my apartment. I lived in Silicon Valley, the biggest technology center in the US. Believing it was my neighbors, I went to the balcony outside the apartment.

A massive wall of grayish metal, almost five stories tall, was all that I could see when I stepped outside. I stared at it in shock, not truly comprehending what I was seeing. It moved like water, flowing towards me. I watched as it touched a building only for the grey liquid to envelop the whole building. Once the entire building was covered, it collapsed, only to flow back and join the massive wall.

It was then that I comprehended exactly what was going on. This was the Grey Goo. One of the theoretical scenarios that had plagued the news in recent times. Self-Replicating nanites had been used commercially for the past ten years and it still remained a controversial subject.

The public argued about the dangers of runaway nanites. The companies argued that they needed the nanites to replicate in order for the process to be streamlined. It seemed to me that we should have listened to the public.

I could hear panicked people screaming and cars honking as they tried to flee. I didn't even try. That much nanites was too much to stop, the world was already doomed. If nanites were able to grow to the size of a car, it was already too late. A massive wall like that was impossible to stop.

I turned on the news. It was just like I had thought, they were covering the Grey Goo. It wasn't an isolated incident though. Areas all over the world that depended on nanites for construction or maintenance were already being enveloped in the nanites.

The power suddenly cut-off. I continued staring at the TV as the floor was eaten by nanites. The floor gaveway underneath me, sending me plunging into the mass of nanites that had invaded my home. My entire body felt like I was on fire as I disappeared into the nanite horde. I screamed in pain and fear as my body was dismantled.

Then, I felt nothing.

I groaned before opening my eyes. Before me was a blue box. I blinked. What? I distinctly remembered falling into a vast swarm of nanites. By all rights, I should be dead. Still, I don't think heaven, or hell, had something like this. I saw text on the blue box. Focusing on the text, I read what it said.

Hello Players, my name is Game Administration Director, the AI in charge of the game you now play. Welcome to my world Players. Welcome, to Nanite World.

This was a little confusing to say the least. Nanite World? Sounded cool, but then again, I had just had my body torn apart by nanites. I wasn't sure I wanted to be 'welcomed' by anything with the name nanite in it. The blue box disappeared only to be replaced with a different one.

I am aware that most humans will be confused at this sudden transition. Do not worry. Every one of you have now been sent a copy of the Beginner's Manual. This manual will explain the nature of the changes to your world after it was turned into Nanite World. Do read quickly though, the monsters will be attacking soon. A game needs enemies, after all. You have recieved Beginner's Manual x 1 Time until first wave: 50 minutes and 56 seconds.

Well. Crap.