Chapter 14: The Third Balding & Friendship is Magic?

May 11, 2010, 7:23 P.M. Location: The Mountain Dimension.

As he stared intently at the [Game Analytics], Sterling felt a wave of astonishment wash over him, his eyes widening at the figures displayed on the screen. The numbers were nothing short of staggering.

[Minecraft]

[1,070 Games sold - $21,400]

[Average time played: 9 hours]

[Peak of simultaneous players: 586]

In the span of just four days, Minecraft had sold nearly 500 units—an astronomical figure that Sterling had never dared to envision during the game's development.

Initially, He had anticipated that the launch of the multiplayer mode would boost sales by around 100 copies in a day, potentially breaking records. Yet, what he witnessed was an astonishing surge, with sales skyrocketing to nearly 200% of the total copies sold in a single day.

"These players are evidently very satisfied," Sterling mused, attempting to deduce the origins of this unexpected influx of sales. "It's likely that these new numbers stem from players convincing their friends to buy the game or from live streams showcasing the gameplay."

He reflected on his own experience, Recalling how he had been introduced to Minecraft through friends in his previous world. "It makes sense. Many players probably watched videos or streams but were initially hesitant to start playing due to the game's perceived complexity. However, with the ability to play alongside friends who can guide them, they decided to dive in and purchase the game."

Sterling considered the impact of the various game modes available on the Hypixel server. Titles like [Hunger Games] & [Build Battle] were designed for accessibility, Making it easy for newcomers to engage with the game's mechanics and enjoy themselves.

The recent launch of [Build Battle] mode had undoubtedly encouraged more players to explore Hypixel, especially since he hadn't yet integrated a [Creative] mode into Minecraft's Vanilla version.

The only place for players to experience limitless building opportunities was on Hypixel, Making it an attractive destination for those with a penchant for creativity.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Sterling contemplated the possibilities that the revenue from Minecraft sales could offer. However, he decided to let the funds accumulate for a while before cashing out and planning future updates for the game.

The current hype surrounding Minecraft was substantial, and he anticipated that while today's sales might peak, they would likely stabilize at a lower but still respectable volume in the coming days. Nevertheless, he felt a profound sense of satisfaction with the statistics before him.

---

May 11, 2010, 8:01 P.M.

POV: The Ancient One

In a secluded temple hidden deep within the Himalayas, A group of monks practiced stick fighting, their movements disciplined and fluid. These monks had dedicated their lives to serving the master of the temple, relinquishing their earthly desires for a time in order to cultivate their skills and wisdom.

Among the disciples, There existed a diverse array of intentions—some harbored pure aspirations, while others were destined to pursue darker paths in the future. Yet, one thing remained constant: their master, a figure shrouded in mystery, possessed immense power, making it nearly impossible for anyone on Earth to challenge her authority.

This master, Known by many names across cultures, was a woman of extraordinary capabilities. Despite her centuries of existence, her beauty remained undiminished, although the magic she wielded had caused all her hair to fall out, leaving her with a smooth, shiny bald head.

As she held up a necklace shaped like an eye, glowing with an eerie green light, a wave of confusion washed over her. "What is this? Why can't I see what's altering the timeline so drastically?" she pondered, a hint of fear creeping into her thoughts.

Today, During her routine weekly check of the timeline, she sensed a significant shift, but the cause eluded her understanding. All she could discern were fragments of the consequences stemming from this alteration. 

Fortunately, The changes appeared to be positive for humanity. Individuals who once harbored animosity towards one another were beginning to form friendships; conflicts that would have ended in violence were now resolving amicably.

This was unfathomable to her, as she had always believed it was humanity's destiny to engage in conflict and strife. Yet, something hidden was manipulating events behind the scenes, steering the timeline towards a more harmonious outcome.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" The Ancient One mused, Troubled by the unpredictable nature of the timeline she had always safeguarded.

Despite the power of one of the Infinity Gems she possessed, She found herself unable to identify the being responsible for this change. It was as if this entity existed outside the boundaries of her universe yet continued to influence events positively.

Frustrated, She drew upon her considerable magical reserves, Channeling energy into the Eye of Agamoto in an attempt to uncover even a hint of the identity of this mysterious force. After expending 80% of her magic, a single word emerged from the chaotic tapestry of the timeline: [Minecraft].

It was the only coherent term that stood out amidst the swirling confusion—a catalyst for this unprecedented shift. "What is Minecraft?" She asked herself, perplexed by the simplicity of the name.

"Have humans discovered a way to mine new ores and craft weapons? No, that doesn't seem plausible... Perhaps they've unearthed Wakanda and begun extracting Vibranium? That seems unlikely as well..."

She contemplated various hypotheses, each more outlandish than the last, but ultimately settled on the most straightforward explanation.

"Google, What is Minecraft?" she typed into her computer, her curiosity piqued as she sought to unravel the mystery behind this enigmatic force that had begun to reshape the destiny of humanity.

The Elder was taken aback by her Google search results, Which displayed the following bold proclamation:

[Minecraft is a magical game!]

This was the first link that appeared, leading her to a post on a site called Reddit. Intrigued, she clicked on it, eager to understand the nature of this phenomenon that had begun to alter the timeline so significantly.

---

[Minecraft is a magical game!]

[Hi guys, This is my first time posting something on the r/Games subreddit. Last night, I was bored and started looking for some livestreams to kill my boredom, but honestly, I was pretty tired of just watching people play shooting games or war games with Captain America. Seriously, do you only play games like this until today?]

Anyway, while I was looking for something fun to watch, I saw a livestream of someone I had never seen before. There were 1,000 people watching that live stream of a game called Minecraft.

This is a game I have never seen before. Initially, I thought it was just another boring shooting game, but upon reconsideration, the name didn't seem to fit that genre, so I decided to give it a try and watched some of that live stream.

That was the best decision I made that night! The livestream was hosted by a player named "NedTheKing." At first, I thought he was just another egocentric gamer, but once I entered the stream, I witnessed a square character building a castle with nothing but his bare hands!

This player earned my respect; He often mentioned that his dream was to be a king, and in this game, he had the freedom to construct a castle and fulfill that little dream of his. It was genuinely moving.

What truly astonished me was that I initially thought I was watching CGI or a game cutscene, but no! During the castle construction, that square character interacted with the chat, almost like an interactive movie.

This captivated me, So I sent a message asking if he had anything besides the castle, and to my surprise, he answered by climbing the highest tower and turning the camera away from the wall... Guys, he had built a gigantic farm with several animals, which he claimed was meant to feed the people of his kingdom!

I asked him where the people of his kingdom were, and he told me he planned to buy a server so that others could join once the castle was finished.

I was confused, as I had no idea how he would bring people into such a magical world.

Eventually, He switched to [Multiplayer] mode. There was a massive city bustling with hundreds of players! Everyone was laughing, chatting, and enjoying themselves in the lobby.

[Minecraft is magic! I just purchased the game and hope to join in on this magic with other players too.]

---

After finishing the post, The Elder found herself alarmed. If she were to claim that she was the second most powerful magic user on Earth, then no one would dare assert themselves as the first. The implications of people apparently traveling to another dimension unsettled her, for she believed that even she could not orchestrate such an event, nor grant so many individuals such freedom.

Driven by her curiosity, she searched for "NedTheKing" on Google and soon discovered his Twitch page, which fortuitously revealed that he was currently online, playing Minecraft. 

As she gazed at the number of spectators, she was astonished to see that there were 1,400 viewers tuning in to watch him play. The number was steadily rising, indicating that within a few hours, it would likely swell even further.

On the livestream, She observed a small square man navigating through an abandoned city, wielding a stone axe. As he opened a chest, laughter erupted from him and the viewers alike.

"Guys, I managed to find a diamond sword! We're going to win this game!" Ned celebrated, His enthusiasm infectious. The chat exploded with cheers and encouragement as viewers expressed their excitement over his good fortune.

The sword glimmered in a translucent blue hue, its beauty captivating and exquisite.

After admiring the sword, Ned sprinted toward the center of the map, glancing at a compass that pointed him in the right direction. After a few tense minutes, he encountered another little square man. This opponent bore inferior armor and appeared fatigued, clearly having just emerged from a prior battle.

"Looks like he fought someone else recently; it's just the two of us left! This is our chance!" Ned exclaimed, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he charged toward the weary competitor.

The man remained oblivious until it was too late. Ned's sword struck him, causing his character to blink red—a game mechanic designed to indicate damage without instilling fear in those averse to blood.

The competitor died with a look of surprise, and a notification popped up before Ned.

[Congratulations, Player NedTheKing! You have completed 37 wins and claimed third place for the most wins on the entire server. Do you wish to appear in the Ranking?]

"Absolutely!" Ned replied, excitement radiating from him as he was teleported back to the lobby.

In the lobby, hundreds of players mingled—some snacking on virtual fruit while others sat on the floor sharing stories. There were also players advertising their own servers. To any outsider, it might have appeared as a peaceful city from a distant realm.

However, Ned paid little attention to this ambiance. Instead, he dashed to the villager that guided players into Hunger Games matches. He noticed that one of the villager's bodyguards had changed; now, a player donned a yellow jersey and shiny bronze armor—a set not typically available in the game. Above the player's head, the name read:

[NedTheKing]

"It's me, guys! I'm here too!" Ned shouted, his excitement palpable as he drew the attention of nearby players. They looked on in confusion, but as they realized he shared a name with one of the Hunger Games' bodyguards, comprehension dawned. Soon, players began to converge around him, eager to congratulate him on his recent achievement.

The Elder watched this spectacle with growing amazement. As she absorbed the live stream, she attempted to open a portal to this dimension, hoping to glean insight into its workings. Yet, despite her extensive knowledge and power, she found herself unable to pinpoint its location. It was as if this realm existed outside her understanding, elusive even to one of the most powerful beings in the universe.

Realizing that there was an underlying force at play, she came to a startling conclusion: the creator of this game possessed power that eclipsed her own.

This revelation stirred a mixture of discomfort and curiosity within her. With an open mind, she resolved to explore this game called Minecraft, motivated by the need to understand its implications for the safety of humanity.

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Author's Note: Hello! I hope you like this story! But before that… I'll be taking a short period of time to relax. I will be writing Chapters during this time, Also I'd like to I am not a writer & doing this is not my strong suit. But still, I tried… So thank you all for reading this far.

P.S.: I'll be editing old chapters for mistakes & info dumps for the ones I see that have too much. Again thank you all for reading this far.

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