Marcus Harper had only one word for his new life: "perfect". It didn't take him long to adjust to being a billionaire, especially since his lavish penthouse seemed to spoil him at every turn. From automated systems that brewed his morning coffee to the skyline view of Tokyo glittering beneath him, Marcus felt like he was living in the opening scene of a corporate tycoon drama.
"Honestly," he mused, sipping from a gold-embossed coffee mug as he lounged on his absurdly comfortable sofa, "even if I 'didn't' cross over to the New world, this would still be worth it. Thanks, Truck-kun. You were oddly violent, but you delivered."
He chuckled to himself, reflecting on the bizarre chain of events that had landed him here. A knock—a soft, professional series of raps—echoed through the penthouse. Well, not quite a knock; the security panel flashed, alerting him of a visitor. Simultaneously, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, seeing a message from the reception desk: "Your package has arrived. The installation team is waiting at the door."
"Oh, 'that: package," Marcus said, his grin stretching ear to ear. He set his mug down and practically bolted to the door. Standing outside were three uniformed technicians, each holding parts of a gaming setup that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie.
"That's right," Marcus said, stepping aside to let them in. "A week's passed, and the game released today. My neural nano-interface arrives right on time."
The technicians gave polite nods as they carried the equipment into his dedicated gaming room. Marcus led the way, swinging open the double doors to reveal a space that looked more like a futuristic command center than a recreational area. The room was spacious, with dim ambient lighting and sleek black furniture that seemed to absorb the light around it. A large, custom-made gaming pod dominated the center, waiting for its final pieces to be installed.
The team worked efficiently, assembling the neural nano-interface with practiced precision. As they finished, one of them handed Marcus a sleek manual, which he barely glanced at. "All set, Mr. Harper," the lead technician said. "Enjoy the game."
"Oh, I will," Marcus replied, his excitement barely contained. As the team left, he closed the door and turned to face the gaming pod. It gleamed under the soft lights, its interface ready and waiting.
He wasted no time. Marcus slipped into the pod, adjusting himself against the ergonomic seat as the neural interface activated. A series of soft beeps filled the air, followed by the familiar hum of advanced technology booting up. The sleek helmet connected seamlessly, and as the launch screen for YGGDRASIL appeared, Marcus felt like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Let's do this," he whispered.
The interface welcomed him with a warm glow, guiding him through the setup process. Marcus's excitement grew as he reached the first major decision: race selection. He scanned through the options, each more fantastical than the last, before settling on a choice that made him grin.
"Ogre," he said thought. "Althought Heteromorphs offer better stats I'll Still go with a Demi-human species its better than humanoid species and has more class options than Heteromorphs. Perfect."
The screen shifted, showing a 3D model of his chosen race. Broad, powerful, and towering, ogres were built for strength. Marcus smirked as he customized the appearance to his liking: deep crimson skin, glowing amber eyes, and sharp, intimidating features that screamed dominance.
Next came his class. "Let's see… Swordsman," Marcus said, selecting the main class with confidence. It was a natural choice for a race like ogres, whose physical prowess made them formidable on the battlefield.
With his primary decisions made, Marcus moved on to fine-tuning his stats. The system allocated points generously, reflecting the ogre's natural advantages. He prioritized strength above all, followed by endurance and vitality. His starting stats stood out:
| Stat | Value |
|-------------------|-----------|
| Strength | 45 |
| Endurance | 35 |
| Vitality | 30 |
| Agility | 20 |
| Intelligence | 15 |
| Magic Resistance | 25 |
Satisfied with the build, Marcus moved on to the final step: naming his character. He mulled it over, wanting something grand and memorable. After a moment of inspiration, he typed out the name:
"Dawnfyr Luminark."
"I was never good at making up names," Marcus said, admiring the dramatic, noble ring to it. With everything set, he clicked Confirm. The screen faded, and a soft glow enveloped him as the game prepared to launch.
When Marcus opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a sprawling grassland under a bright, azure sky. The air was crisp, and the distant sounds of wildlife filled the atmosphere. He glanced down, marveling at his avatar's muscular form. His crimson skin gleamed under the sunlight, and the massive sword strapped to his back felt satisfyingly real.
"This is incredible," Marcus said, his voice deeper and more resonant in his new body.
But before he could start exploring, a thought struck him. "Wait, the in-game store."
He opened the menu, navigating to the store with practiced ease. His eyes lit up as he browsed through the seemingly endless catalog of items. Weapons, armor, potions, cosmetics—everything he could ever want was just a click away.
Grinning, Marcus began adding items to his cart with much joy. A legendary sword that glowed with an otherworldly aura? Check. A full set of custom armor imbued with magical properties? Check. Rare crafting materials? Check.
By the time he was done, Marcus had bought so much that even his immense wealth barely made a dent. He leaned back, laughing. "This is what peak gaming feels like. Money really does buy happiness."
Hours seemed to pass as he explored the store, indulging in his newfound freedom. It wasn't until the sun began to set in the virtual world that Marcus realized how much time he had spent shopping.
"Okay," he said, standing tall and stretching. "Enough preparation. Let's see what this world has to offer."
With his inventory overflowing and his stats shining, Marcus took his first step into the untamed world of YGGDRASIL.
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