Reality 1

Several programmers were running around in a facility located in the heart of China, trying to make sure the start of the new immersive Virtual Reality Multi-Massive Online game went off without a hitch.

"Moderators to your stations. The game goes live in 3...2...1..." yelled the floor manager in charge of the beta test. He nicely dressed man stared as the game made a load announcement even heard in this monitoring room.

**Welcome everyone to Cyber Horizon**

**You have been selected to be the first group of consciouses downloaded into this virtual environment. If you look....**

The manager turned down the volume until the computer's announcing couldn't be heard. Most of the moderators were shocked as they watched the first batch of consciouses enter the game. The moderators soon got ahold of themselves and started to announce as players died.

A thin girl wearing a hoodie and glasses declares, "Player 86 and 88 died within the game." On the screen in front of the girl was five players ranging from Player 86-90. The moderators didn't bother saying the player's names because they're supposed to stay detached.

A scientist bust through the double doors and yelled, "Boss, we have a problem."

The floor manager turned to him and looked at his name tag. "Doctor Chen, what is going on we just began the beta test of the first 100 players."

Panicking, the man said, "I know most of the players that have died within the game have died in real life."

This news didn't even phase the manager. Looking at all the moderators who froze in place when they heard these people were genuinely dying. They began to whisper among themselves.

"I can't believe they tested this game early."

"I heard they forced the volunteers to participate."

"Poor souls."

Slamming his fist onto the table, the manager yelled out. "The beta test will continue. All those unable to stomach this test, you can walk out now." The manager stared at that in front of him. If the manager wanted the promotion, this beta test had to be carried out until the Director calls it.

All the moderators shut up real quick. They knew the Chaos Cooperation doesn't allow its employees to quit. They disappear. People still work for them because they give the best salaries, benefits, and family plans in all of China.

Back over at the young lady's desk, only two players, Player 87 and Player 89, remained. Player 89 was a girl from Japan. The moderator clicked on her profile to see her info.

Name: Aiko NakamuraBackground: Aiko ran track, performed gymnastics, and swam on her high school team. At the age of eighteen, she contracted cancer and volunteered her mind and body for an insurance policy out of China. In doing so, her family gets a one-time payment of 53750 yen.

"Poor girl," whispered the moderator.

Overhearing her, the moderator in the cubicle next to her leaned over. "Don't let anyone hear you talk like that. Our floor manager, Mr. Li, doesn't allow for emotions in his moderators."

"Thank you for the reminder. My name is Jing."

"Long," replied the man next to her. He turned back to his computer and started typing his report on his people.

Seeing him get back to work, Jing decided to look at her other player but opened his console window instead. Player's console windows allow the moderators to see from the player's perspective in the game.

The player was standing in some barn with a tiny green goblin leaping towards him. Player 86 pulls out his dagger and throws it at the incoming enemy. Gripping onto her chair, she mumbled under her breath, "Come on..." The knife triggered the player's skill, and the blade insta-killed the creature. "...yes." Realizing she cheered, she looked around, and luckily everyone was to emersed into their work to hear her.

She pulled her legs into the chair, and she wrapped her arms around them. Before she knew it, she got to live in Cyber Horizon through the man's eyes. She wished she could be in the fantasy world instead of reality she was stuck in. After seeing the goblin NPC change class, she knew it was time to get back to work. She opened up her reports and began to analyze the two players still alive.

---------------------------------------Report 1 - Moderator 18 - Jing QingyuanPlayers 86, 88, and 90 perished in the first minute of the Goblin attack. They didn't even react to the monsters and died instantly. Players 86 and 88 couldn't handle the in-game death and died in their game pods. Player 90 is on stand-by for the next conscious upload.

Player 86 acted right away. After teaming up with Player 53, Player 86 survived the goblin attack and escaped to a nearby farm. A group of goblins attacked the two players. Player 53 died, but 86 survived completing his second quest. The next day Player 86 achieved the hidden class of Monster Mage. He also tamed an NPC goblin and unlocked a concealed class for it too. I think this player's chance of survival to Day 7 is 61%.

Player 89 reacted slowly but escaped the attack only to get chased down by a group of goblins. A group of male players instantly stepped up to protect her. The four of them created a party and completed three character quests. Finding shelter in a cave, she unlocked the hidden class, Priestess, by having such devoted players protecting her all night while she slept. The new class gave her healing abilities allowing her to support her teammates. I think this player's chance of survival to Day 7 is 90%. ---------------------------------------