1 Prologue
The year is 1999. The year of mid parts and frosted tips. It was also the year before the new millennium.
Y2K.
Everyone thought that computers would take over and that the world would end with humans enslaved to technology.
Well they were wrong! Humanity lived on.
Well they were kinda wrong.
-
The year is 2100. New Years Day.
The amazingly popular game, DREAM ONLINE had officially returned from their week long silence. Players around the globe was ready to play once more but there was one issue.
When they put on their VR headset, they were met with this message that read, "PATCH NOTES 1: THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THE TUTORIAL.".
The game wouldn't start and this message was relayed over and over. No matter what you did the game would not return.
-
6 months into 2100.
"Dad!! We're almost there!! Get to it!! Get to the Fountain of Time!!" A young man could be seen running towards a fountain while dodging magic attacks and arrows. This fountain was surrounded by many guilds, all who were fighting for the chance to take ownership of it.
"Look out!!" An older man used his shield to block an incoming magic attack. He turns to the young man, he gestures for him to go on.
"Go!! I'll protect you until you go through! I will follow behind!" The older man continues to protect the young man. He blocks incoming magic attacks, incoming arrows and even defends against warriors running towards them.
The young man nods and begins using his mana to activate the fountain.
"Come on!!! Come on!!! Work dammit!"
He used up what little mana he had but it wasn't enough.
'No! It's not enough!'
He turns to the older man again. "Dad! I don't have enough mana! Let me take the shield! You try activating it!"
The man takes the shield from his dad. He tries his best to block all attacks.
The older man proceeds to do what his son was doing. He uses all the mana he had and tries activating the fountain.
After using everything he had, the fountain began emitting a beautiful blue light. The man turns to his son but what he saw made his heart stop.
His son was covered in wounds. Arrows sticking out of his body. The shield was shattered to pieces.
"Roman!!!" The father runs towards him. Picks him up and drags him to the fountain for whatever little protection he could get.
"I'm sorry dad. I'm just so weak."
"It isn't your fault! Here, you go first! I will follow behind!"
The fountain light begins to dim. The dad puts the young man's hands, Roman, into the water of the fountain.
Roman's vision began to get fuzzy. His dad embraces him once more.
"I'll join you there soon." The dad then takes out his daggers and screams a warrior's scream.
"AHHHHH! COME HERE YOU ASSHOLES!!!"
The dad runs onto the battlefield. Roman could no longer see him.
'I'm actually going back. I can save everyone. Little Clem. Mom. Jared. Dante. Anna.'
Roman felt like all that he went through the last few months was now worth it. He achieved one of his goals but now he had many more to do.
He was going back. He was returning to January 1st, 2099. One day before the VRMMORPG game DREAM ONLINE was released. This time around, he will come out on top. He will change everyone's destiny.
-
-
My vision suddenly returned. I blink a few times to get my eyes adjusted. I look and see that I'm staring straight up at a ceiling. It was the ceiling to my room.
I quickly get up and look at my alarm. It read 5:30 AM. In the right corner of my alarm it had the date.
JAN. 1, 2099.
"I did it… I actually made it back! The fountain worked!!"
I was so excited! I actually made it back. I wanted to celebrate. I tried getting up but then remembered something. My room was quiet messy during this time of my life. I felt nostalgic. I slowly check the room, taking in everything I saw.
The walls were covered with posters. Some of my favorite artists like Blink 2 Times and Sam Kim. There were some of my favorite games too. I saw posters of TT's TWD and even my rare poster of Street Sleepers 7!
My PC set up was right by my window. My bed was right behind it in the left corner of the room. The door to my room was in the right corner of the room. On the right side of the room, I had my fish tank that I set up with my dad years ago.
My clothes were all over the floor. I can't believe I use to live like this. Spending half a year in the new world really changed me. I got up and began cleaning.
After a few minutes.
"It's clean!" I picked up all my clothes and threw it into my clothes basket. I even vacuumed the carpet.
"Now before I truly forget." I remembered while cleaning that I should write down all the events that happened up until I was sent back to 2099. I could use it to my advantage if the timeline stays the same.
I take out my journal and sit by my desk. I begin writing down all the major events.
"January 2nd, 2099. At exactly 10 AM, the game DREAM ONLINE went public. Thousands had anticipated this game to be the greatest ever made."
"January 7th, 2099. It was on the news that 500,000 accounts were created, making it the fastest growing VR MMORPG EVER! At this point I still couldn't afford to buy a VR set, which had sky rocketed due to the high demand."
"March 1st, 2099. Reports of dizziness and mild headaches began plaguing the gaming community. According to many health sites and health specialist, they recommend to only game up to 3 hours a day."
"May 10th, 2099. Those who had been playing the game has shown signs of rapid physical changes. Not much else was made public."
"July 1st, 2099. Exactly 6 months into the year, scientists began warning people of the dramatic new changes with the earth. The tectonic plates began shifting at a rapid pace. They fear a new global catastrophe could occur if the plates don't slow down."
"September 21st, 2099. The government began a nationwide ban on the game DREAM ONLINE. Terror groups claiming to be setting up the world for the new world order has ties to the game."
"November 2099. Thanksgiving Day. Even with the ban, many players still played the game. The government decides to lift the ban."
"January 2100. Hell began."
I put my journal and looked at my alarm.
"It's 7 AM. It's time I took Little Clem to school."
I put on some clothes and head towards Clem's room.
