Ding-dong!
The bell rang earlier than Deckard expected. When he opened the door, two technicians in work uniforms stood there, holding a sleek, metallic object between them. Behind them, a woman in a business suit, her hair tied back in a ponytail, offered a professional smile.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Haymond,” she greeted. “Jennifer from Nexus Co. We’re here to set up your new gaming pod.”
Deckard felt his cheeks redden. He hadn't expected the rep from Nexus to be so pretty and to be his age, to boot. He cleared his throat and stepped aside.
“Come on in,” Deckard replied, still surprised by their speed. He’d only sent the email a few hours ago.
As the three people stepped inside, Deckard felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He wasn't used to having people over—not since Andy.
“Where would you like us to put the pod, sir?” one of the technicians asked.
“Uh… give me a moment.” Deckard glanced around his apartment. He’d been so engrossed in reading about Terralore that he hadn’t considered where the pod would go.
After a moment’s deliberation, he pointed to a corner. “Over there should work.”
“Very well.” The technician scanned the room, then suggested, “We can install the pod in a vertical configuration to save space.”
“Please do,” Deckard agreed without hesitation.
As the technicians set to work, positioning the pod in the corner, Deckard's excitement dimmed. The glossy, futuristic machine clashed with the modest surroundings of his small living room, making the space feel even smaller. He noticed Jennifer discreetly glancing around, her expression neutral but her eyes betraying a hint of surprise. Deckard imagined her thoughts: Is this really the apartment of a former world champion?
He couldn’t blame her. A better place was out of reach; the second-place prize money wasn’t enough to afford anything more. Years of falling just short of Savvy in the finals had taken their toll, not just on his reputation but on his financial stability. Even after Savvy retired, the prize pool had shrunk, another sign that Nova Cardia was fading. With his mother’s medical bills piling up, this cramped apartment was all he could manage.
As Jennifer finished surveying the room, she joined Deckard in watching the technicians work. “We at Nexus were thrilled when we received your email, Mr. Haymond. You’re quite a name in the card gaming world.”
“Please, just call me Deckard,” he replied, waving off the compliment.
“Deckard, then. Are you familiar with how the pod works?”
“I’ve used one before, but I’ve never owned one.”
“This model is top-of-the-line. It offers full immersion with sensory feedback—taste, smell, touch. It’s designed to make the game world feel as real as possible.” Jennifer’s pitch was smooth, professional—undoubtedly polished through countless presentations.
Deckard nodded, half-listening. He knew she was hoping he’d promote the product online. “Thanks.”
“The pod is preloaded with nutrient solutions that will sustain you for up to a month. You can sleep inside the game; it will keep you nourished and prevent muscle atrophy. There’s even a cleansing feature to keep you fresh. We’ve included a discount coupon for refills.”
Deckard mentally noted the details, though he suspected he’d remember only half of it. He wasn’t planning to stay inside for a whole month, after all.
Jennifer’s attention shifted to his trophy cabinet. “Are these your trophies?”
Deckard followed her gaze, smiling uneasily. “Yes, they are.” The cabinet was filled with silvery and golden cups, colorful ribbons, and plaques. The sight of them was bittersweet; it still felt surreal that he was leaving Nova Cardia behind.
“This will look great on the company’s website. How about a photo with your trophies?” Jennifer suggested, already pulling out her phone.
Reluctantly, Deckard posed beside the cabinet, offering a smile that felt more like a grimace.
“There we go,” Jennifer said, satisfied with the shot. “I’ll tag you in the post.”
“Thanks.”
“We’re all set,” one of the technicians called out.
Jennifer turned back to Deckard. “Just a reminder: as per the agreement, please make a weekly post about your experience. It will help more fans discover our incredible game. Enjoy AstroTerra, Mr. Haymond!”
“Thanks,” Deckard replied, a bit too eager to see them out.
He closed the door behind his visitors, relieved to have the apartment to himself again.
He approached the pod, now standing ready in the corner. As he neared, the machine hummed softly and the door slid open, revealing a space lined with a soft, purple gel-like material.
“No point in delaying this,” he muttered to himself.
Deckard stepped inside cautiously. The gel conformed to his body, enveloping him in a sensation of weightlessness. The pod’s interior lights dimmed as the lid was sealed with a soft hiss. The boundaries between reality and the virtual world began dissolving, and the outside world faded away.
*
Deckard found himself suspended in a void of darkness. The sudden disorientation hit like a wave, his mind struggling to reconcile the stark contrast between his apartment's familiar comfort and the void's unsettling emptiness.
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System Calibrating: 17%, 29%...
He hadn’t used a gaming pod in years, not since the technology first emerged. He preferred the tactile feedback of his keyboard and the feel of the cards in his hands. Gaming while sleeping never appealed to him—he liked his dreams. In them, he could still see his dad and Andy.
The calibration progressed quickly, adjusting his biometrics to ensure his in-game movements mirrored reality.
Calibration complete.
The inky blackness around him began to illuminate, bright points of light gradually coming into focus. Stars, he realized. For a few moments, nothing else happened. Deckard attempted to look around, twisting his view in all directions. Then, beneath him, a beautiful blue and green sphere appeared amidst the dark void: Earth.
A loud, booming voice reverberated through the emptiness as soon as he saw his home planet.
"Welcome... to AstroTerra."
A meteor suddenly streaked across the sky above him. It was ugly, alien, and massive, barreling toward Earth at an alarming speed. Planetary defenses activated in response, and energy blasts lit up the void as they targeted the meteor. The explosions as the barrage struck the massive rock were so realistic that Deckard felt the force reverberate through him.
Despite the bombardment of energy beams and cannon shots, the meteor continued on its path, seemingly unstoppable. The onslaught intensified until, finally, the meteor began to crack and shatter into smaller fragments. The smaller meteorites rained down on the planet’s atmosphere, turning into fiery streaks that showered the Earth.
“This was the day that fire rained down from heaven,” said a calm voice beside him. Deckard turned in surprise to find a blonde woman standing next to him, gazing at the scene with an air of distant melancholy. She was as tall as he was, with an ethereal presence that made it seem like she could see everything happening on Earth in vivid detail. Weirdly, she kind of reminded him of the Nexus rep who had just been to his apartment.
“The fire changed everything,” she continued. “First, we discovered that none of our technology worked as well as it used to. Our cities’ defense shields, jets, tanks, computers, satellites, submarines... all became obsolete and worthless. Our robots, once our loyal servants, went rogue and turned on us. Then, the sightings began—alien monsters, strange creatures. Reports of war and burning cities followed. The animals, once mute, began to speak, some developing extraordinary mutations. We hoped they would help us defend our world, but we had mistreated them for too long. They refused to assist us. Finally, in our darkest hour, our potential awakened.”
Deckard suddenly felt a lurch in his stomach as the ground dropped away beneath him, sending him hurtling toward the planet’s surface at impossible speed. Despite the gut-wrenching sensation, he couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer realism of the virtual reality. It was breathtaking.
“Our children began to exhibit incredible abilities,” the woman’s voice continued as images flashed before him—humans performing extraordinary feats. “Superhuman strength. Unbelievable speed. Telekinesis. Energy manipulation.”
Deckard had always been into card games but still knew how MMORPGs worked. This was probably an introduction to the game’s various classes. First, he saw a towering man clad in metal armor wielding a massive hammer, smashing a robot to pieces—a warrior, undoubtedly. Next, a figure appeared and disappeared rapidly, slashing through a robot’s arm with a blade—likely a rogue or thief class. A woman then caused rocks to levitate before hurling them with force against a machine, tearing it apart—perhaps a caster class. Finally, another figure was shown healing allies and creating energy shields—a support or healer, most likely.
“The rock that fell from space… we now call it Astro. It changed us. It changed everything. We later learned that the rock was made of congealed reality itself. When it fractured upon impact, the very fabric of creation splintered, and now the world is divided. Perhaps, one day, we can reunite reality and bring peace to our planet.”
“Welcome to AstroTerra,” the blonde woman said, her gaze fixed on him. “In this time of great loneliness and uncertainty, we thank you for your willingness to fight for humanity’s survival. Please ask any questions you may have. I will do my best to answer them,” she prompted.
There was only one thing that Deckard truly cared about right now.
“Tell me about Terralore.”
“Terralore is a card game that is very popular in the world of AstroTerra,” she explained, her voice softening as if sharing a secret. “The cards hold remnants of a lost technology.”
“Lost technology? What kind of technology?” Deckard asked.
“No one knows for sure.”
Deckard stared silently at her for a long moment, processing her words. There was lore hidden here. He took mental notes, planning to dig deeper once he was more familiar with this world.
“Where can I find new cards?”
“There are many ways. You can buy them, steal them from other players, hunt animals and creatures that occasionally drop them, or complete quests that reward you with cards.”
“How many cards are there?” he asked, seeking to verify what he’d read online.
“No one knows for sure. New ones are discovered every week.”
Deckard bit his lip, the uncertainty gnawing at him. A card game where the whole card base wasn’t public knowledge? That was unheard of in his experience. Nova Cardia released the complete list of cards with each new expansion. The game had always been about mastering every card and every strategy. But the possibility of facing unknown cards in a tournament was unsettling.
“Okay. What about classes? How many are there?”
“There are four basic ones: warrior, rogue, esper, and medic. Each can branch out into different specializations. Legend says there might be hidden or unique classes if you search hard enough.”
“Any hidden or unique classes related to cards or Terralore?” Deckard pressed.
The NPC again shrugged. “No idea.”
“Do I have to choose my class now?”
“No. You can only choose a class at level 10. In theory, you could play the entire game without choosing a class, too, if that’s your preference.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Will that be all? Any further questions?” she asked, her tone polite and patient.
Deckard thought for a moment but then shook his head. He had learned enough for now. The rest, he would discover on his own.
“I will send you on your way, then. Enjoy AstroTerra.”
The world around Deckard shifted again, the stars and space fading away as he was transported back to the dark void. Earth once again floated in the distance, a serene, blue-green orb in the vastness of space. A series of windows popped up in front of him.
Please select your character’s name.
“Deckard.”
Please choose your race.
Three options materialized before him: Human, Lizardman, Skyling. The Lizardmen were tall, muscular hybrids, somewhere between a man and a crocodile, while the Skylings had elongated noses, almost beak-like, giving them a bird-like appearance. Deckard opted to keep things simple and chose the human race.
Please choose your physical features.
Deckard selected the randomize option, and the system presented him with a character model that wasn’t too far off from his real appearance. The avatar’s height was average, his face slightly altered, and his eyes a striking shade of blue. The most significant difference was the absence of his usual glasses, but he didn’t mind that. A character window appeared beside his avatar, detailing his current stats and equipment.
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Name: Deckard
Race: Human
Level: 0 (0/100)
Affinity: [Empty]
Alignment: Neutral
Relationships: [Empty]
Titles: [Empty]
STATS
Hp: 105
Ep: 105
Weight: [Light] - (2/30Kg)
Running Speed: 100%
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
EQUIPMENT
Right Hand: [Empty]
Left Hand: [Empty]
Head: [Beginner’s Hat]
Top: [Beginner’s Jacket]
Gloves: [Empty]
Bottom: [Beginner’s Trousers]
Shoes: [Beginner’s Shoes]
Cape: [Empty]
Accessories: [Empty]
SKILLS:
Stat Bonuses: [Empty]
Passive: [Empty]
Active: [Empty]
Would you like to start your journey at a random starting point?
“Yes.”
The darkness suddenly gave way to a blinding light. As the light faded, his surroundings came into focus.
He stood on a serene beach, the gentle surf of waves lapping at the shore. Around him were huts made of wood and the occasional palm tree swaying in the breeze. It was time to start his journey in AstroTerra.
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