[6] Snap back to reality

Logging off from 'Game of Kings,' the vibrant, medieval world of Lyrinthia faded away, replaced by the familiar, cramped confines of my UCLA dorm room. The stark contrast between the two realities was jarring. In GoK, I was a swordsman, a burgeoning force in a sprawling virtual empire. Here, I was just Wang, a college student in a world where AI had reshaped the job landscape.

I slumped onto my bed, the weight of reality settling in. My phone buzzed with a message from my roommate, Dan, who was also hooked on GoK.

"Hey, you done playing make-believe knight?" Dan's message read, his usual blend of sarcasm and curiosity.

I typed back, "Just logged off. And it's not make-believe, man. It's serious business in there."

Dan replied quickly, "Serious business? Dude, it's a game. You're not actually going to turn into a medieval lord."

I chuckled, typing my response. "You don't get it, Dan. It's not just a game anymore. It's how we make money now. With AI taking over damn near every job, GoK is one of the few ways left to earn a decent living."

Dan's reply was skeptical. "Turning virtual gold into real cash? Sounds like a fking fairy tale."

I sighed, knowing that explaining the intricacies of GoK's economic system to someone who hadn't experienced it was an uphill battle. "It's real, man. The in-game economy is linked to real-world currency. You farm gold in GoK, you can pay your real-life bills. It's that straightforward."

There was a pause before Dan replied. "So, you're telling me that playing a video game is now a legit career? What a time to be alive."

I let out a chuckle at his comment, then replied. 

"Think about it for a moment. What's even the point of even studying this business degree? Pay 50K in tuition each each for 4 years, just so we can flip burgers in the back of MC Donald's for 10 dollars an hour? Wake the fk up man, we are not going to be the next wolf of wall street, living in penthouse, partying with super models, that's for rich kids with too much money to spend."

Dan let out a resigned sigh and said: "Tru dat. This degree is getting us fking nowhere. Maybe I should give it a shot. Could use some extra cash and maybe drop out of uni while I am at it."

"Maybe don't drop out so fast. Gates dropped out and founded Microsoft, Jobes dropped out and founded Appple, Zuckerberg dropped out and founded FB, and if we drop out right now, we are only going to fking failures."

"So what are you suggesting?"

"Play the game as a side hustle. Once you become self economic sufficient from the game, then its time to drop the fk out of school." I said.

"You have it all figured out already huh?" He chuckled.

"Nah, I am just taking things step by step." I said.

"Did you see quarter finals for worlds for season 41 for league of legends? An NA team might actually have a chance of winning worlds this time!"

"Bet." I laughed.

As our conversation trailed off, I lay back, staring at the ceiling. The world outside my dorm room was changing rapidly, technology and AI reshaping society in ways we were still trying to understand. In such a world, 'Game of Kings' was more than escapism; it was a new frontier, a digital gold rush offering both risks and rewards.

"Go big...Or go broke..." I muttered under my breath.

Q: Would you drop out of school and pursue a career online?