125. Virtual World

July 23, 2010.

Fortunately, no one noticed my short absence, so I calmly returned to the RV, took my seat, and we continued on our way.

Unfortunately, before the end of the day we did not have time to get to Los Angeles, and we had to stop at the campsite where we spent that night.

I was very exhausted after yesterday's 'fight' against lightning, so, in the end, I slept until almost noon, and did not even notice that we were on the road again.

- Why didn't you wake me up? - I asked, rubbing my sleepy eyes.

- We tried, but you were sleeping so soundly that you didn't even react when I brought you breakfast. -Grandpa replied that, as always, he was driving an RV.

- Something happened? - Ashley asked worriedly.

- Not. It's just that the process of binding to the Cloth was more tedious than I thought, and I needed to restore the lost energy. - I lied because I didn't want my family to know what I did last night.

- Are you sure? - Gwen asked a little suspiciously, obviously not believing my excuse too much.

- Yes, don't worry. Let me show you something interesting. - I said, and to change the subject, I showed my laptop.

- Is it 'Sumo Slammers'? - Ashley asked, noticing that on the screen was the game she recently gave me.

- Yeah. - I said with a smile, anticipating their future reaction when I told everything.

- And what's so interesting about this stupid game? - asked Gwen doubtfully, who never liked this media franchise.

- In the game itself, there is nothing special and you are right, it is stupid ... - I began to say, but I was interrupted by the indignant cry of Ashley, who loves this game.

- HEY! How can you say that? This is the masterpiece of all time.

Completely ignoring Ashley's displeasure, I continued to explain: - But look what's happening on the screen.

Having moved the laptop closer, I pointed to the monitor, on which one could see that the events of the game were unfolding in their own way, without my participation.

The game played itself. Now, according to the plot, the final battle of the protagonist of the story, Sumo Slammer Ishiyama, against his archenemy the Shape-Shifter Kenko, has begun.

The most interesting thing was that on the side of Ishiyama, a man fought who should not be in the game, and who looked suspiciously like me.

- It's you? How so? - Recognizing me and not understanding how it happened, Gwen asked.

- You hacked the game and created your own character in the game? - Ashley asked.

- Not. This is not a character, this is my clone. I answered shortly.

- [Hello girls.] - My clone voice came from the laptop after he crushed Kenko in one move using only martial arts.

- Were you able to send a clone to the game? Ashley asked in shock.

- Yes. I was able to obtain a sample of that lightning from Anur Transyl. As Vaalet said, it has very strange properties on our planet. With a little experimentation, thanks to lightning, I was able to improve one of my aliens, and now he has a very strong connection with the virtual world.

Whereas before, the Virus only had normal control over electronics and computer systems, now he is practically the God of the virtual world, and everything connected with it. And of course, now he can send things from the real world to the virtual one, and vice versa. - I said with a little bragging. Still, I feel proud that I managed to do it.

- It's incredible! - Ashley exclaimed, perfectly aware of the prospect of such an opportunity.

- This is true. - I said with a smile, and then added: - Last night, I sent a clone to this game to check if everything is working correctly, and it seems that everything is even better than I originally thought.

For us, this game seems like an ordinary, unremarkable Action/RPG, with not very good graphics, but for those who live inside, it's a real world. Virtual of course, but the same Ishiyama, considers himself an ordinary person, and for him everything that happens in the game is part of life.

- That beats me. - Rubbing her head, said Gwen, for whom all this seems much more complicated than magic.

- Hurry, I want to go there. Send me to the game. I want to meet Ishiyama and beat up Kenko. - Ashley demanded impatiently, for whom the dream was coming true.

- Okey, okey. I, in any case, told you about this to ask if you would like to plunge into the virtual world of this game? - I said, looking at Ashley and Gwen.

- You are still asking. Of course I want. You have no idea how much I dream of getting into the world of Sumo Slammer. - Ashley said happily, shaking with impatience.

- Do I have to? I'm not particularly interested in this game. - Gwen asked with a disgruntled face.

- Of course, you can refuse, but this virtual world is a good training ground, where you can fight virtual opponents without worrying about their lives and damage.

At the same time, since this is a game, it has game conventions, such as an HP bar, spare lives, and much more, which will make everything, on the one hand, more interesting, and on the other hand, safer.

It will be much more effective than regular training and you will earn valuable experience in dealing with many opponents. - I said.

- Come on, Gwen, don't be a jerk. I'm sure it will be fun. You'll like it. Besides, we haven't fought anyone for a long time. - Ashley said with a smile, looking pleadingly at Gwen.

- Oh, okay. Why not. Send us. - Gwen said with a sigh, yielding to her friend's persuasion.

- Fine. Several changes will be made to the virtual world to justify your appearance in this world, as well as your abilities. To make it more interesting and not too easy for you, at the very beginning, you will not have any strength and you will have to fight hand-to-hand. For winning a level, you will get back one of your abilities, and so on until the final level, where you will get all the powers back and you will have to fight Kenko. - I said, restarting the game, thereby killing my clone. But since he's an Echo-Echo, he didn't care.

- Fine. I can not wait. - Ashley said enthusiastically.

- Now, this really sounds interesting. - Gwen said with a smile, in which the fighting spirit woke up too.

- That's it, you can start. I'll make sure everything is in order, but don't relax there and stick together. Maybe it's a game, but there you can die for real. - I said as I turned into the Phantom Virus.

So I decided to name the enhanced Virus. Considering what system lightning comes from, which changed it, in my opinion, this name is very appropriate.

- Don't worry, this isn't our first rodeo. - Ashley said with a grin.

- As you say. Good luck to you. Oh yeah, when you finish the game, try to take Kenko's armor with you, which gives him shape-shifter powers. I'm wondering if it will function in the real world. & I said, and then shot the girls with a small lightning bolt.

This lightning did not harm them in any way, but only converted them into computer data, which went to a laptop, or rather, to the virtual world of Sumo Slammer.

- Are there any problems? - I asked loudly into the microphone of the laptop so that the girls could hear me inside the game.

- [No, everything is okay. We're already at the first level.] - answered the virtual Ashley, who looked to me only like a not very well-detailed video game character dressed in a kunoichi costume.

- [So strange to not have magic again. Disgusting feeling.] - Gwen said, who, like Ashley, lost all her powers.

Although, they still have the Tattoos, but they will not work until the girls find special tokens at levels 5 and 8.

- Since everything is in order, then have fun fighting with virtual samurai. - I said, noticing that a bed of opponents was advancing on the girls.

- Are you sure it's safe? - gave a voice to Grandfather, who all this time only listened to our conversation and did not interfere.

- Yes. I checked everything several times and did not notice any problems. As long as they are careful, there will be no problems, especially with their abilities. But, of course, I'll make sure the girls are okay. I don't screw up anymore. - I said seriously.

- If you follow, then it's good. But, I have to say, it's a very interesting idea. Girls will definitely benefit from this virtual training. - Grandpa said sincerely.

- Yeah, I think so too. They just lacked the opportunity to gain combat experience, in a safe environment, so that they could even more adapt to their strengths and learn how to work as a team. Initially, I thought of building training droids for them, but this option is even better. - I said honestly.

- I'll feel better too if I know girls can stand up for themselves. - Max jumped with a smile, nodding his head.

- They are strong, they just lack the experience of real battles. They almost always fought droids or weak opponents, whom they always defeated with sheer force, without tactics or training. For all the time, they had only one difficult opponent, Hex, who made them seriously sweat. Hope, training in the game will teach them many tricks of the battle, and they will only get better. - I said.

- You are right. We only have an hour and a half to go, what are you going to do while the girls are having fun in the game? - Max asked.

- I have one idea. - I said with a smirk, a little mysteriously.

Using the virtual world of Sumo Slammer as a training ground is certainly good, but you can create your own virtual world. When I said that the Phantom Virus became the God of the virtual world, I was not joking, because as long as he is inside virtual reality, he is virtually invincible.

And as befits a true God, the Virus must have its own world, which he can manipulate as he pleases. More precisely, I can, and I don't have to worry about the rules of the real world and worry that the higher beings of the universe will come after me.

Despite the acquired power, the Virus is still limited by some rules and laws of the virtual and real world, and cannot do many things. But if I create my own virtual world that will meet all my desires and requirements, then, with the power of the Virus, I will truly be a country there by an almighty God.

Since Kevin Flynn was able to create a virtual world that was practically indistinguishable from reality, then I can do it too. Although, of course, I will try not to make his mistakes.

And what will happen if I connect this world with the Omnitrix, it's even scary to imagine. At the very least, this is a chance to get rid of the Codon Flow binding. And as a maximum... in general, you can imagine the prospects, right?

Although, at the moment, it is not the time to dream about what is not yet, but you need to get to work, and start creating a virtual world, with which Morgana will undoubtedly help me.

After telling Max I was going to watch a movie, and taking Ashley's laptop since mine was busy, I set to work modeling my future world. This will take a significant amount of time, but it's worth it. Can't wait to see the finished result.