Chapter 2: I shall do anything for power
*Splish splash*
As the warm water cascaded over his body, Damien's thoughts churned. He leaned his head back, letting the droplets wash away the tension, though his mind raced with thoughts of the future. His plan wasn't foolproof, but it was something—fragments of Joe's diary were all he had to go on, a cryptic guide to a game that hadn't even launched yet: Origin.
Joe's diary had been detailed but also maddeningly vague. It ended abruptly, right when Origin was set to release. What lay beyond was uncharted territory, but Joe's notes hinted at the potential. The only solid pieces of advice Damien had taken away were concerning mysterious items beyond Legendary rank, some scattered insights into the game's mechanics, and one recurring, urgent recommendation: be the first to form a magic core. The reason for this wasn't clear, but Joe had written it was crucial, a massive advantage in the early stages of the game that could set someone apart from the rest.
"Be the first, or be left behind," Damien whispered, recalling the exact words from the journal. Joe had poured everything into Origin, both time and money, holding back only a few things: his house, a couple of cherished cars, key companies, and his chain of orphanages. Everything else? Liquidated. And now, Damien had done the same.
'I've put everything on the line for this,' Damien thought, watching the water swirl around his feet. 'I hope you keep your record of never failing me, Joe.'
The warm spray lulled his mind into a gentle haze, pulling up memories and motivations he had tried to bury. He was no stranger to risk, but this time it felt different. This time, it was everything.
With a heavy sigh, he let his head fall forward, letting the water soak his face. He spoke aloud to the steam-filled bathroom, to no one but himself, "Origin is inevitable."
The words had become something of a mantra for him, a belief that he held close ever since he'd read them in Joe's journal. It wasn't just a game. Origin had roots that went deep, far beyond the public eye, far beyond what anyone really knew. Virtual reality had come a long way since the early 21st century, but Origin was a culmination, the zenith of decades of technological evolution.
Damien's thoughts drifted as he recalled the history. Full dive VR had revolutionized entertainment 35 years ago with its ability to immerse players fully in a digital world. At first, it had felt like a dream—literally. Early versions of full dive gear had left people with a strange dual sensation, like living half in the game and half in reality. But still, the concept was revolutionary. Movies paled in comparison. VR gaming had grown to dominate all other forms of media, leaving cinema and television in the dust.
And then, Origin's hands, the mysterious company behind Origin, had introduced Pod technology. Pods allowed for full immersion, completely severing the connection to the physical body while inside the game. No more dual feelings—only the virtual. Sensory experience was perfected; it was as if you truly lived inside the game world.
And then they unveiled their trump card: time dilation. The Pods could manipulate the passage of time, allowing players to experience days or weeks in-game, while only hours passed in reality. It had been so advanced, so far ahead of anything else in the market, that some had joked aliens must've designed it.
'They didn't know how close they were to the truth,' Damien mused grimly.
Joe had often referred to Origin not as a game, but as something sentient, a force that could think, plan, and adapt. The diary had hinted at something more—something Damien couldn't quite define. Alive wasn't the right word. He still couldn't find the term after all these years.
'How much do I really believe this diary?' Damien asked himself, though he already knew the answer. He believed it more than anything else, enough to risk everything. And if it turned out to be true—if Origin really was what Joe hinted at—then Damien would make sure he rose to the top. There was no room for second place in this new world. It was all or nothing.
He clenched his fists, the water from the shower falling between his knuckles like rivers.
'I've lived in poverty and in wealth, and I will do whatever it takes to keep my power...and gain more.' His eyes hardened with resolve.
As he massaged soap into his scalp, the familiar fragrance washed over him, carrying him back to a defining moment in his past. One that had shaped him into the man he was today—driven, ambitious, unrelenting. That memory was always there, just beneath the surface, ready to remind him why he couldn't afford to fail.
He shut his eyes, letting the warm water soothe his skin, but his mind remained sharp, fixed on the future. Whatever came next, he would be ready.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone