Thank all that was good and holy, the pain only lasted a few agonizing seconds. The haze began to seep away like a flow of water, and vibrant colors peeked through Jake’s vision, a stark contrast to the sterile environment of Grid Eight.

He stood in the midst of a lush green meadow at the edge of a towering wood. He had never seen trees so gigantic in all his life, and his family had visited the redwoods when he was a kid. But these trees were something else entirely. To his right, they towered hundreds, maybe thousands of feet, like a tangled web of skyscrapers.

On his left, a wall of cliffs shot into the air and in the distance, he could make out a rushing plume of mist at the base of the largest waterfall he had ever seen in his life. It cascaded from a cleft in the cliffs with a distant roar.

The meadow was alive with sound, the buzzing of bees and the chirping of birds and the rush of a soft wind through the grass. Jake had spent the majority of his life in the city. Of course, there were parks, but they were always crowded. Nothing he had ever experienced could compare with the unadulterated beauty of this place.

It felt like a dream.

His mind began to slowly understand that he was in the midst of a game world unlike anything he had ever experienced.

These graphics are incredible! This can’t be virtual.

The cerulean sky was filled with soaring birds. By the size of their wing span, Jake guessed they were eagles or condors or something, but they were too distant to tell.

A black one veered with a smooth arc and headed in his direction, growing larger and larger as it neared, spanning at least fifteen feet. It swooped down, just above the meadow, and headed straight toward him.

As it neared, Jake realized it was not a bird at all. It had dark leathery wings, long talons, and a dark and hideous humanoid face. Just when Jake realized this gigantic ugly creature was attacking him and he should probably drop to the ground, he also realized he could not move.

In fact, he had not moved an inch since he’d arrived. It should have been obvious, but he was too distracted by his new breathtaking environment. He was stuck and this flying demon-thing was going to claw his eyes out!

But just as it reached him, the creature lurched back, slowing its descent, and came to a hard and slightly clumsy landing in the meadow, directly in front of Jake.

The thing was even more disgusting up close. Two large yellowish fangs protruded from its upper jaw. Its eyes were bloodshot and there was a distinct smell about it. Not quite pungent, but like the smell of food left too long in the fridge on the verge of decay.

It opened a blood red mouth, and to Jake’s amazement, it spoke.

“Welcome to the realms of Pantheon, whatever you are.” Its voice sounded like gravel in a meat grinder.

“Er, I’m Jake. I’m human.”

Does this game not have humans in it?

“Wrong. You are nothing. Not yet, anyway. Or haven’t you bothered to look at yourself?”

Jake looked down at his hands and feet, and to his shock, found that there was nothing there at all.

Well, that would explain why I couldn’t move.

“Before you soil your nonexistent pants,” the creature said, “I will remind you that you are nothing. Yet. You must choose.”

“Choose?”

“Do I need to spell this out for you?”

Of course! Jake thought. It’s a game. I haven’t created my character yet.

“Pantheon is a product of Virtuality Corporation, and it is the greatest advancement in MMORPG gaming.” The creature’s voice shifted to a duller tone, as though it were tired of repeating the same information over and over for every new player. “To enter the realms of Pantheon, you must first create your character.”

A holographic display emerged from the air, hovering before him.

In even the best virtual games Jake had played, the display had come as a pop up in front of his vision. It was distracting as hell until you got used to it, but this…

One by one, a series of avatars displayed themselves, hovering in three dimensions:

First, a dwarf with a smithing hammer. Then an elf drawing an elegantly carved bow. Followed by a grey-skinned orc, nearly as ugly as the flying monstrosity that had welcomed him to the game. There was a human man, a cherub, a hideous chimera, and the list went on.

Each avatar looked so lifelike. Jake could even make out the weave of the fabric of their clothes. Skin and hair had as much distinction as any real person, maybe more. Their skin did not shimmer unnaturally the way it did in all the VR games he’d played.

This is incredible!

In fact, it seemed far too impressive to be true.

“You are probably wondering why they let prisoners like you play a game like this,” the flying creature said.

Jake jolted, forgetting it was right beside him. If that was even possible, considering he had no physical body.

“Er, yeah,” Jake said. “That’s creepy. How did you know?”

“Your kind always want to know,” he said in a monotone. “The prison camp you work in is owned by the parent company of Virtuality Game Studios.”

“Yeah. So?”

“So, anytime a new technology is introduced, it needs testing. And who better to test than prisoners no one cares about anymore?”

Jake felt a pang of guilt at this. A reminder of the terrible thing he had done. But he pushed the image of the girl away for now.

“You really are one of the slower inmates to arrive here,” the creature said. “In more ways than one. I am running out of time. You’re not the only new arrival, you know. Now, choose your race, will you?”

The holograph cycled through the races again: dwarf, elf, orc, chimera, halfling, human, merman, cherub, and on and on through creatures Jake was not fully familiar with, until the final being—god.

God? That sounds badass!

As though responding to his very thoughts, the image of the large and muscular luminescent being flashed red, and a loud beep filled his ears.

A prompt hovered in front of his vision in the form of a glowing red orb. It flashed, and an animated male voice spoke.

[What are you, a total dunce? God status can only be attained by the most advanced forms of all races. Whatever race you are, your current achievement status lies somewhere between an earthworm and the dirt it shat out behind it. Better luck next time!]

The notification vanished with an echo of laughter that seemed to rain down on him from the heavens.

The dark flying creature crossed his wings in front of him. “Oh, don’t mind me,” he said sarcastically. “I’ve got nowhere I’d rather be or anything.”

What is with the snark in this game?

“Anyway, we can limit this to things I can actually play?”

The beast nodded, and the display narrowed, removing god and several of the more impressive monstrous races, including werewolf and dragon shifter, which he assumed required in-game achievements.

Jake focused on the choices before him. It was unfortunate they didn’t provide any background information about any of these races.

It would be nice to know what strengths they have for skills and whatnot.

Impressively responsive as always, a new window appeared beside the avatars and the cycling races paused.

Dwarf

Description: Before you start to imagine yourself an ax-wielding warrior riding a battle hog, you should know that the dwarves of Pantheon take more after the diminutive craftsmen of old Norse tales. They are cantankerous and rather useless in a fight, but they make up for it in their ability to craft items of unmatched quality.

Development Ratings: Strength - 30%, Dexterity - 50%, Agility - 20%, Constitution - 25%, Charisma - 20%, Creativity - 50%, Wisdom - 30%, Intelligence - 40%

Jake was not sure exactly what those ratings meant, but all the lowest ones seemed to relate to physical abilities, except for Dexterity. Between that and the general description, it told him enough to know this was not the sort of character he was looking for in his new life. Being able to construct powerful weapons was a handy skill, but Jake had never been one to sit still in a dark shop for hours on end, nor if he was honest, had he ever been someone able to work well with his hands.

“Go ahead and remove races poorly suited to combat.”

The creature rolled his eyes. “Should I remove you while I’m at it?”

Jake glared at him. “Next.”

The selection cycled. The human reminded him of a Roman soldier, dressed in bronze-plated armor. He had ripped muscles and wielded an enormous broadsword.

Human

Description: While generally weaker than orcs in terms of brute strength, and while they are usually slower and less agile than elves, humans make up for it with their cunning, their ability to acquire an abundance of skills, and their unmatched ambition. Humans are capable of great sacrifice and great cruelty. Wherever they gather, remarkable things are bound to be accomplished for the Glory of the gods. Whether for good or evil is up to you to decide.

Development Ratings: Strength - 45%, Dexterity - 30%, Agility - 40%, Constitution - 50%, Charisma - 35%, Creativity - 30%, Wisdom - 35%, Intelligence - 30%

Jake had always liked being a melee warrior in these types of games, though in truth, he’d spent more time playing games with assault rifles than swords.

The elf was appealing too. The tall olive-skinned man was athletic and imposing.

Elf

Description: Sure, the elves are lovers of nature, and there is no doubt that their isolation from broader society has often left them with something to be desired in the personality department. But their affinity for magic and speed, along with their ability to bond with wild creatures, offers plenty of opportunities for Glory.

Development Ratings: Strength - 35%, Dexterity - 50%, Agility - 50%, Constitution - 30%, Charisma - 25%, Creativity - 30%, Wisdom - 40%, Intelligence - 40%

“Anytime now,” said the flying creature.

“You know—er, what’s your name, anyway?”

The creature rolled its dark eyes. “Azmar. I am a servant of the goddess Nymoria, tasked with preparing her newest servants for entry.”

A goddess, hmm?

“Well, Azmar, what are the stakes of this decision exactly?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Azmar groaned as though he’d rather die than answer the question. “The race you choose will dictate the sort of quests you receive in order to win Glory for Nymoria. ”

“How about some specifics?” Jake was getting a little annoyed with Azmar’s stand-offishness.

“It appears you’ve already passed on the dwarf, so I won’t bother wasting my time further on them. Elves are reclusive by nature. They prefer to exist with their own kind, and generally only get involved in greater quests when it serves their people. They win Glory in many ways. Through a devotion to the natural world, through magnificent hunts, and through territorial conflicts with the orcs. Orcs take on characteristics of their environment, and the environment is dictated by your pre-loaded affinities.”

“My affinities?”

A new window hovered to the right of the character selections.

[Your character attributes can be developed throughout the course of your experiences in Pantheon. However, your entry abilities are based on the affinities for skills you had when you arrived. Some abilities can be developed more easily depending on your chosen race.

For example, your Craftsmanship abilities are naturally a Level 2, with a developmental rating of 15%. While a dwarf will naturally develop at 50%, or a combined rate of 65%, your poor natural affinity will make this skill difficult to level up quickly, resulting in a lower amount of Glory achieved for your patron deity, Nymoria.

Thus, it would not be in your best interest to choose Dwarf.

Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera…]

The prompt vanished.

“That’s great,” said Jake. “But what are my other affinities?”

It seemed all he needed to do all along was voice his desire for this information. A stat sheet appeared in the space before him, and the avatar selections faded into a blur behind it.

Current Attributes for *whoever you are*

◆ Physical Attributes

Affinity Levels

Strength - 5 (+30% Development)

Dexterity - 8 (+45% Development)

Agility - 5 (+30% Development)

Constitution - 5 (+30% Development)

Description: You wouldn’t be caught dead in Fight Club, and you’re not exactly an Iron Man triathlete. You’re reasonably fit, but nothing to write home about. Probably just the fortunate result of decent genes and a high metabolism… you should really work out more!

◆ Mental Attributes

Affinity Levels

Charisma - 5 (+30% Development)

Creativity - 2 (+15% Development)

Wisdom - 4 (+25% Development)

Intelligence - 7 (+40% Development)

Description: If there’s a creative bone in your body, it’s probably the coccyx. You take life way too literally. You’re not exactly a meat head, but you never really applied yourself. You could probably learn something, if you didn’t waste so much time with these damn VR games.

Jake shook his head. The deprecating style of this game was going to get a little annoying. Some of its conclusions hit just a little too close to home. And the part about wasting time on games took on a whole new light under the circumstances.

But he might as well make the most of it. This game might be the only chance he had for any semblance of a real life. And the information was actually really useful.

“All right, thank you.”

The stat page vanished.

“Now, Azmar, show me the orcs.”

Jake learned that orc abilities varied by their environment. Woodland orcs were light and agile and skilled hunters. Cave orcs were scavengers, tended to be on the slower side, but were skilled climbers, possessed uncanny night vision, and had a keen sense of smell. There were similar variations in mountain, desert, and swamp orcs. Each fitted with characteristics for greater success in that environment. For example, desert orcs bore a strange carapace that protected them from extreme temperatures, while mountain orcs had thick hides with fur.

There were more variations than in many games, but the ugly creatures all seemed to fit the typical mold. While the idea of becoming some sort of orc raider was intriguing, it did not quite feel right.

Perhaps it had something to do with the girl he’d killed, but even though none of this was real, Jake felt an obligation to choose a more noble creature.

Besides, this game was so realistic, he’d probably smell like sweaty orc ass.

The cherubs could fly, which was really interesting. But their combat skills left much to be desired, and their affinity for study and music was a little off-putting. Jake didn’t have anything against a celestial choir boy scholar, but it wasn’t exactly how he wanted to spend his free time after what he assumed would be a grueling day’s work in Grid Eight.

In the end, he did what most people with Level 2 Creativity skills would do.

[You have selected the race, Human. Do you wish to proceed? Yes / No]

“Er,” Azmar’s gravelly voice interrupted him before he could voice his assent. “You probably shouldn’t do that.”

Jake glared at the creature. “Why not?”

“I don’t really give a damn, and your kind never listen to me anyway, but your affinities are not greatly suited for that race.”

“Are you telling me I’m not fit to be human? I am human.”

Azmar shook his head. “You’re currently nothing. And you are fit to be a perfectly average human, but you don’t exactly have the affinities to be a Spartan warrior or whatever it is you have in mind. Your intellect is decent. Strength is okay. Charisma is mediocre. Your Dexterity is your only good attribute, and the human developmental rating is only 30% for that. Do whatever you want. It’s your funeral.”

Jake paused for a moment. The human avatar in Jake’s view had begun cycling through a number of nationalities, and all of them looked badass. These natural affinities were not his favorite part of the game, and if anyone from Virtuality ever asked for feedback, he intended to lay into them.

He sighed. “Fine. Give me the damn elf.”

[You have selected the race Elf. Do you wish to proceed? Yes / No]

“Yes,” Jake said. The human avatar blinked and became a tall and much less muscular man. It cycled between the bright dawn elves and the brooding dusk elves. The elves were categorized by clan rather than nationality, and after some inspection, he made his decision.

[You have selected a dusk elf of Maldan origin. The Maldan largely originate from the Isle of Malda in the Arien Sea. They were once a mighty clan, known for orc conquests and explorations. But their organized society reached a sudden end when the Isle of Malda was destroyed in a volcanic eruption. The survivors are a hardy people who wander the realms of Pantheon in search of quests, with the hope of one day rebuilding their society.

Now you must choose: Male / Female]

Jake selected Male and the avatar settled as a tall Maldan man, with tan skin and dark hair that reached slender shoulders. He looked a little stronger than Jake did in his true body. The man wore hide breeches and a rough spun tunic.

[Please choose your name. This will be the name you will be called in the realms of Pantheon.]

“Um, just Jake is fine.”

A blaring horn filled his ears.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asked, glancing over at Azmar.

“You are not allowed to use your true name, for security purposes.”

“Why? Not like I couldn’t just tell everyone anyways.”

Azmar glared deeply, drumming the talons of his feet on a rock.

“Whatever, all right… how about Thor?” The Maldan history gave him a little bit of a Viking vibe—elf version, anyway.

But the horn blared again.

[Very original. You’re only the bajillionth person to choose that name. Perhaps in your own world, there is a different connotation for the name, Thor. But in Pantheon, most people with that name end up as mediocre bakers or cow feces.]

“Fine, how about… um… Gunnar.”

The avatar hovered toward him, and then flashed. He looked down and saw that at last he had arms and legs. And he could move!

He took a few steps and marveled at how natural each movement felt.

A basic character sheet appeared in front of him.

Gunnar Ashwood

Servant of Nymoria

Glory: Level 1

Character Traits

Race: Dusk Elf

Clan: Maldan

Character Stats

Health - 50 / 50

Stamina - 40 / 40

Mana - 60 / 60