1 The Name's Worldwide VR Game, Because Names are Overrated

Finally. The new VR game, Worldwide VR Game was being released today at 10:00 AM in the morning. It was currently 9:30 AM, and John was preparing himself for the opening of the greatest games in VR history. Yes, you heard that right. While the name Worldwide VR Game wasn't that impressive or creative at all, the game itself certainly was.

The game was set in an alternate history of modern earth, where magic and the supernatural world existed, and magical beings roamed the world. It was a world where the development of technology stopped after the Middle Ages due to the overwhelming influence of magic and supernatural power.

Guns and bombs were replaced by long range and AoE spells. Armies of soldiers had their roles taken over by powerful summoners, who shamelessly spammed zergling rushes. Yes, it was that kind of world.

John had been waiting for this day for a long time. Ever since the VR Game Corporation had announced the release of the Worldwide VR Game, he had been studiously following all their posts and updates, eagerly awaiting the release of the game.

He had played the VR Game Corporation's last game, Countrywide VR Game. John was actually quite famous in fact. He was known as Flashing Sky, a famous player in Countrywide VR Game, ranked 9th on the leaderboard for the game. In fact, he was one of the few top rankers currently not affiliated with any company or organisation, and various guilds and groups fought over him.

John declined them all, but promised that in the next game VR Game Corporation released (Which was only months away) he would definitely decide on a group/corporation to join. Everyone instantly stopped bothering him, and began to prepare for the next game.

He was quite relieved too, and also began his own preparations for the new game. Now John sat in front of his VR Game Cabin Device, a cabin shaped pod which he would lie to enter deep immersion.

Yes, the naming sense for every single product was horrific. While the creator of the VR Game Corporation was an acclaimed genius in various fields, he wasn't exactly the sharpest crayon in the box when it came to names.

This could seen in his twitter username, and all other social networks. The creator's username was VR Game Corporation Creator. Such a name needed no more explanation as to why all his creations where so poorly and uncreatively named.

Not to mention, his marketing team and PR department must have been tearing their hairs out at his naming sense.

John sat on the couch in front of the VR device (He called it that in his head) and waited impatiently for the final few minutes of the countdown.

"John? Is that you?" He heard a voice from outside his room, as well as hurried knocking.

"Is that you big sis?" John replied slowly. "Yes, so open the door. The game's nearly about to start."His sister quickly said.

He sighed. Anna was also a ranked player in the last game, reaching the 23rd rank on the leaderboard. She was known as 'lil Star, which was strange, considering that she was his real life big sister. They had both agreed earlier on to keep their original usernames, and VR Game Corporation has a strict policy on usernames. Each username was unique, and duplicates were not allowed.

It was the reason why there were hundreds of thousands of kirito variations, ranging from kyrito to kiritoXxXswordmaster. Of course, if you liked your username you could apply for a username transfer, which was what he and his sister did.

John reluctantly unlocked his door, and his big sister, Anna came flying in. "It's so good to see you," Anna said affectionately, pulling on his cheeks. John grimaced, his face contorted in an expression of distaste. "It's good to see you too Anna, although it isn't like we just saw each other merely twenty minutes ago."

"Aww, don't be like that. Your big sis just wants to see you before we both enter into the game world. Let's meet up, yeah?" Anna asked playfully, her face stretched out in a massive grin. "Don't forget to help me power level, little bro."

John smirked at that. "So your main intention in visiting me last minute was to beg me to power level you?"

"Yup," she said shamelessly. " What wrong with asking a little brother for help?"

"What's wrong," John gritted his teeth, "Is that last game, I grinded my ass off and you got me to power level you as well. This game however, is going to be different. If we don't spawn in the same place, I won't be able to help you."

"Well how about this," Anna said with a conspiratorial grin. "If I manage to guess where you spawn or meet up with you within one week in real time, you'll help me power level. Deal?"

"Sure," John replied half-heartedly. "Although I doubt you'll be capable of finding me, since the game world is three times the size of earth."

"Don't worry about. I'll track you down and force you to help me as always. I did it once, and I'll do it again." Anna shrugged, her face one of confidence.

John shuddered, thinking of the last game, Countrywide VR Game. Anna had managed to get him to promise to power level her as well, on the condition that she found him or met him within a weeks time. She had also succeeded in finding him, and he spent the next couple of days dragging Anna around, letting her ride the Exp train. However, Worldwide VR was three times the size of earth. Surely, it would be impossible to find him right? He certainly hoped so.

"I'll be playing a pure mage character this time, Anna." John said with a sense of finality. "This time, I'm not touching a weapon or a martial arts manual. No way. Not now, not ever".

"Oh?" Anna replied, a curious expression on her face. "Really now? After this long, you really think you'll be able too? Although you have exceptional magic control, you still can't solo it without a weapon or martial arts."

John's smile widened. "I've been practising. This time, I'll bulk up on crowd control spells, as well as more single target spells. I'll also be picking a group to join this time."

"That's good," Anna sighed. "Last time, you stubbornly soloed the game because you wanted to prove that you could. It'd be nice to fight alongside you."

"What, so you could leech Exp from me?" He shot back.

"No, dummy, it's because I'm your big sister and sometimes I also wan't to be by your side. And partly because of the Exp as well," she added hurriedly. "Don't forget your promise."

John laughed amusedly. "Sure Anna. See you in the game world."

He turned his mind back to the VR device. The countdown read 1 minute, 21 seconds. As the John watched the timer slowly tick down, he began to admire the cabin. It was coloured rose-gold, with a single digit serial number engraved onto the side. It was a privelige afforded only to the top ten in the last game, Countrywide VR Game. For other obscenely rich players or top 100 rankers, a silver VR device was available. Otherwise, you were stuck with the standard plain white.

John lifted the VR device's cabin door open, and he climbed in and prepared himself for the immersion. The door shut on him with a hiss, and he gazed out of the circular glass window present in the door, staring at his ceiling.

He could hear Anna walk away, probably to her own VR Device. The sound of her footsteps was gradually grew softer, replaced by beeping noises, which slowly grew in volume.

There it was. The sound of the final countdown, slowly reaching its end.

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

He was then abruptly plunged into the darkness, the world disappearing before his eyes.