When Richard opened his eyes, he wasn’t in the same place he had just been. Him and his guild, The Arctic Wanderers, had been just about to enter the boss chamber. Three times they’d tried beforehand, and this time they were sure they’d defeat it. As Richard crossed the threshold though, he felt a weightless feeling, heard static, and opened his eyes to be standing in a starry expanse. Confused, he looked around trying to discover his location, or any information at all really. Far off in the distance he could see other, what looked like humans, all around him. Spread out like the stars. Richard was just about to start heading for what he believed to be the closest person, when a disembodied voice rang out.

  “Welcome challengers. My name is Sai, and I am the System AI for this world. You all have been brought here to my world based upon a large number of factors, but mostly because I believe each of you possess a chance to ascend the tower and meet me.” The voice was a regular AI voice that Richard had heard a thousand times every time he entered a new game. He wondered what kind of glitch had taken over the virtual headset that he would be transported mid game into a new one he had never seen or heard before. Celestial Tower? As he wondered to himself, the voice continued. “In this world that I’ve created, things will be familiar to you based on how many other games you have played. But some things will be different as well. Combat in this game is turn based, with each side being forced into fair competition by me. Cheating or exploits will not be tolerated or allowed. Each side will consist of a party, the maximum size of the party being dictated by the race, and one leader. The leader will get a top-down view of the battlefield, will be kept out of combat, and will be able to make strategic decisions for the party. The goal is simple, ascend the tower and meet me. Do this and I will return you to your world. But, just like there has to be a goal, there must also be a chance for failure. Dying in this world is real. There are no respawns, no second chances. Die here, and you will cease to exist. Only one of you needs to make it to the top of the tower. Which one of you, if any, will succeed?”

  Richard’s mind raced as the AI continued. The more it talked; the more Richard began to pick up on something. He had listened to dozens of AIs before. All of them in that same droning matter-of-fact voice. He thought, couldn’t be sure but thought, that he could hear an undercurrent of excitement in this AI’s voice. The thought was enough to shake Richard’s nerves.

  “Classes, magic, swords, and armor will be your tools. I sincerely wish you all the best of luck. Do not disappoint me.” As the AI, Sai it called itself, came to a close, an interface screen popped up in front of Richard. Looking it over, he realized it was character creation.

  Please select your race.

  Human – Slowest start but with greatest growing potential. 3 stat score improvements of your choice.

  Elf – Most magically attuned race. 5 stat score improvements of your choice between Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.

  Dwarf – Most physically durable of any race. 5 stat score improvement to Constitution.

  Beastkin – Able to select a subrace. Most agile of all the races. 5 stat score improvement to Dexterity.

  When Richard first saw his options, he did what he imagined all players did first. He closed his eyes and made the hand signal kill-command that would forcefully shut off his virtual reality headset. Doing this was always jarring as his senses would immediately and forcefully revert to the real world. To his dismay, he didn’t feel the sensation of returning to reality. Sure enough, when he opened his eyes, the prompt was still in front of him.

  “Maybe if I get through character creation there will be a log off option?” Richard wondered aloud, although he was beginning to get a sinking feeling in his gut. Going back over his choices, Richard went with his tried and true strategy. Selecting Human, he watched the prompt go blank, and then new text began to form.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Please select your class.

  Warrior – Physically strong. Bashes enemies or cuts them open. Wide array of defensive options and weapon choice.

  Spell Sword – Able to wield less weapons than a warrior, Spell Swords make up for it by adding magic to their attacks or reinforcing their defense with spells.

  Rogue – Nimble and quick on their feet, Rogues have a selective amount of weapons they can select from. Have an innate ability to sense traps (Warning: Not 100% accuracy) and pick locks.

  Ranger – Preferring to fight from afar, these marksmen are at one with the forest and wilderness. Innate abilities to track and hunt.

  Wiz-……………………………..

  Richard blinked his eyes as the screen stopped generating text. A moment later, the entire screen wiped clear and began again.

  Please select your class.

  Leader – You have been selected due to your history of command to be a Leader class. This class is non-combative and oversees the battlefield from above, giving strategic commands. As you level you will not gain stats, but instead will gain abilities that you can use during battle to turn the tide.

  Note: At level 10 all classes besides the leader class will select from one of three specializations. Your only class option is Leader, you will not receive a specialization.

  Richard read the text over a few times. Top-down strategy? He had played a number of those games in the past but hadn’t experienced one in a virtual reality game before. He took a deep breath; he was only ever selected to lead because he was well-organized and well-spoken. He didn’t feel like he had a knack for it, but everyone told him he did. He selected the Leader Class. Watching carefully as the next screen began to display.

  Please distribute your stat points. As a Human you have three points to allocate.

  Strength – 11 + / -

  Dexte-………

  Once again the screen stopped midway, and then erased. Richard waited for the new text to appear, musing that this didn’t seem to be very well organized.

  As a Leader, you have no stat points to allocate. Please select a Domain. The Domain you choose will determine what special abilities you get to choose. Each Leader begins each combat with 3 Ability points that they can spend to use battle-altering special abilities. As the party you’re in command of levels up, you will gain access to more ability points, and stronger abilities. The Domain’s are pulled at random and five choices are given to each Leader. You have 1 reroll available to pull a new one at random if none of the five suit your choice.

  Your choices are:

  Holy Domain- You are able to bring the light and goodness of the world to aid your allies.

  Domain of Domination - You are able to use your powers as a leader to subtly influence your enemies during battle.

  Domain of Frost – You can use your powers to conjure and control ice upon the battlefield to chilling effect.

  Domain of Prosperity – You can use your powers to effect the luck of all the members in your party.

  Lichbane’s Domain – Your domain has abilities to specifically hinder undead foes.

  Re-rolls remaining, 1 of 1.

  Richard read through his option’s multiple times. He considered his re-roll options and decided if he does re-roll one, it would be Lichbane’s Domain. It was just too specific for his liking. If he treated this like a real-time strategy game, then Holy Domain began to look more and more appealing. Being able to buff or heal his units was always a boon in those type of games. Right before he selected it though, he remembered what the AI said. He would view the world from a top-down perspective and give strategic orders? Richard reached forward and selected Domain of Frost. If he could conjure ice and change the battlefield, that would be incredibly powerful, he decided.

  After his selection was made, Richard glanced off into the distance. Seeing other players blip and disappear, while some were still where they were. That same AI voice from before rang out, but this time it was in his head rather than announced out loud.

  “Congratulations contender. Enter my world, and begin your quest.” Richard began to feel like he was falling. Slowly, an entire planet started becoming visible in the distance. At first the size of a golf… No, a bowling… A basketball? Richard began panicking as he realized how quickly it was getting closer. He hurtled towards it at impossible speeds. The AI’s voice leaving one last message in his mind as he entered the stratosphere of this new place. “I’ll be waiting.”