Alex stared at the notification for a long time, frozen in place. Smoke & Sorcery. The title hovered before his eyes in shimmering silver letters, framed by thin tongues of flame that drifted lazily in the bluish virtual void. He reread the message, as if hoping that on the second glance some hidden detail would reveal itself. Revolutionary game. Full immersion. Exclusive to this headset. A second life.
The words struck him in an odd way like a whisper, half promise, half temptation. Alex blinked, trying to shake off the heavy pressure weighing on his thoughts.A game? Seriously? This is what they're offering?
He gave a slight shake of his head, though there was no one around to notice. He was here for work, for opportunities, for survival and now this invitation glowed before him, gleaming like bait in dark water."Smoke & Sorcery…" he murmured under his breath. It sounded almost poetic. Almost dangerous.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the browser panel. The familiar blue VR search grid unfolded before him, panels spinning in place like cards in a magician's trick. Slowly, Alex typed the title; each letter appeared as a bright glyph, then dissolved into the interface:Smoke & Sorcery game.
Instantly, windows flared around him—reviews, teasers, endless forums buzzing with heated discussions. Headlines leapt out at him: "The Future of MMOs?""ArcanePulse promises a true second life.""Why Smoke & Sorcery will change everything."
He selected the first article, and the panel unfolded before him like a scroll:
The long-awaited project from ArcanePulse, Smoke & Sorcery, promises to redefine the concept of immersive gaming. Developed in partnership with VirtuLife, the title uses full neural synchronization technology, delivering unprecedented realism in both physical sensations and social interaction. The game was announced alongside the VirtuLife headset, but after months of refinements and a closed beta, its release was delayed. Insiders claim the delay was strategic: the developers aimed to ensure a stable, highly engaged player base for diving into a unique world…
Alex's eyes skimmed the text, catching on certain phrases: a new universe… dynamic economy… limitless player freedom…"A new universe…" he whispered.
The words stirred something old within him something almost forgotten. Memories began to rise, like bubbles breaking the surface of water. He was nineteen again, hunched over a laptop in his dark room, the screen glowing like a secret lantern in the night. Legends of Fandor that was the game. The MMO that devoured entire nights, stealing hours without him even noticing. The thrill of stepping into a vast world, forming alliances, raiding until dawn. He remembered the rush when his guild finished the final dungeon, the chaos of PvP battles, the feeling of belonging to something greater than himself.
Back then, the game wasn't just entertainment it was a refuge, a place reality couldn't reach him. No bills, no grades, no constant anxiety about the future just the rhythm of quests and the glow of digital brotherhood.
Alex exhaled slowly. Years… he thought. He had sworn off games after graduation, told himself there was no time, that adult life demanded sacrifices. Work, responsibility, survival—there was no room for fantasies.
And now… now it's different, isn't it?
He glanced at the swirling Smoke & Sorcery logo at the top of the article. The game had been announced with the headset but launched later… He vaguely remembered the hype, the flood of ads promising "absolute immersion." He'd ignored it, focused on work. Decided he didn't need distractions.
And what did that give him? Courier jobs, long shifts, tiny pay and a layoff because of a machine. He let out a bitter chuckle. Progress, huh?
Alex kept scrolling, letting the information wash over him in waves. Player discussions. Beta-tester leaks. Screenshots cities rising from mist, characters in gleaming tuxedos and tailcoats like molten silver, creatures carved from nightmares and starlight. And everywhere, the same phrase repeated like a mantra: Not just a game a world.
Alex felt a strange weight in his chest. A world, he thought. Something whole, something meaningful, when everything else feels fractured and cruel.
But doubts began to seep in, quiet and insidious. What am I doing? I'm broke. I need a job, not an escape into dreams. If I start playing again, then what? Weeks thrown into a digital void while reality collapses? The thought cut sharp, like broken glass.
He could almost hear his father's voice: Do what needs to be done, even when you want to give up.
Do I need this? No. It's a whim. Irresponsible. Stupid.
And yet… another thought whispered, softer but more insistent: What do you have, Alex? Another rejection from some faceless algorithm? Another night in that rotten apartment, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to pay the electric bill?
He slowly clenched his fists, feeling the phantom texture of the VR gloves against his palms. He remembered that feeling of purpose. That's what games used to give him not just distraction, but direction. Goals, systems, rewards. Complete a quest grow stronger. Fight get better. Everything made sense. In games, effort brought progress.
And in life… what does effort bring now? Layoffs and automated apologies.
He sighed and opened another article automatically:
In Smoke & Sorcery, death isn't the end. Every player choice shapes a unique destiny, forging a world where politics, trade, magic, and war intertwine. Unlike traditional MMOs, there are no preset paths. You can be a hero, a villain, a tycoon, or a thief. Build kingdoms or burn them to ash. The only limit is your ambition.
Alex stared at those words. The only limit is your ambition.
He almost laughed. Reality is full of limits hard, merciless ones. Rent. Bills. Layoffs.
And here, in this glowing invitation, was a world without those chains.
Thoughts circled like vultures. Maybe this is more than an escape? Maybe… it's a chance? Games aren't just games anymore not like that. They're economies, platforms, ecosystems where people earn real money.
He'd read stories about streamers, about those who build businesses inside virtual worlds. Could he do that? Start over, there, where smoke and sorcery rule?
A cold voice of doubt cut in: You're not one of them. You're not an influencer. You're the guy a robot replaced.
He bit his cheek, tasting the metallic tang of frustration.
A countdown timer pulsed in the corner of his view: 47 minutes until launch.
Alex slammed the panels shut. The glowing windows folded into darkness, leaving him alone in the blue silence of the VR hub.
He hung there, staring at the reflection of his avatar in the void a dim silhouette of who he used to be.
Do I really want this? To go back to what I gave up years ago? To risk it all for what? Pixels and promises?
But deep down, beneath the cynicism, something stirred—an ember of excitement he hadn't felt in years. A memory of adventure, of possibility, of nights when the world seemed vast and open, not cramped and suffocating.
Once more, he whispered the name, slowly, like an incantation:"Smoke & Sorcery…"
And for the first time in days maybe weeks he felt neither fear nor anger.
He felt… curiosity.
Alex opened the main menu, fingers hovering over the glowing icon pulsing like a heartbeat.Pre-launch: character creation.
The pause lasted only one breath.Then he touched the icon.
The world exploded with light.
It wasn't the cold, sterile glare of a VR menu. This was something else dazzling, almost alive. Silver patterns raced across the blackness, spiraling like runes on the pages of ancient books. The explosion of light transformed into a torrent of images sparks, embers, plumes of smoke and suddenly, before Alex's eyes, a world unfurled, as grand as a 19th-century engraving.
First came sound. A low hum, like the distant roar of machinery. Then smell. Not just a synthetic fragrance, but a real, saturated one: a blend of scorched metal, oily grease, and spicy smoke. Alex inhaled and felt warmth. This isn't an illusion, flashed through his mind. This is… real.
Out of the steam clouds, the outlines of a city emerged. Towers of black iron crowned with copper domes. Bridges of dark stone suspended over canals where barges laden with glowing crystals drifted slowly. The sky was heavy, crimson, smudged with smoke, and through it, like living fantasies of Jules Verne, sailed giant airships droning with a deep bass.
And suddenly, the city sprang to life. Below, on cobblestone squares, steam engines roared. Chains clanked. People in long military greatcoats, with rifles and gleaming bayonets, marched down the streets alongside iron behemoths striding on pistons, gears spinning within their chests. Their joints creaked like ancient doors, and jets of steam erupted from their exhaust pipes.
"Welcome to Smoke & Sorcery."
The voice sounded directly in his head—clear, emotionless, yet with a rasp, as if filtered through an old gramophone. Alex flinched and looked around, trying to locate the source. But there was no time. A transparent panel appeared before his eyes with thin, engraved-like lettering:
Time until official launch: 00:36:37.
Beneath the timer, text popped up:
Before the world fully unfolds, you may create your character.
Instantly, everything changed. The colossal city seemed to freeze, turning into a backdrop, while before Alex rose a mirror-like surface black as obsidian. He saw his reflection the default avatar: a faded figure, an outline without a face.
Then ripples ran across the mirror's surface, and icons manifested in the air, like floating holograms but styled as brass plaques with engraved letters:
RACE & APPEARANCE.
Alex felt a tremor in his fingers. This was no longer just a menu. It felt like a ritual.
"Let's see what kind of world you are…" he murmured, swiping his hand over the RACE icon.
It flared with a copper light, and a whirlwind of images burst open before him. First, humans stern, in doublets and greatcoats, with mechanical prosthetics and long blades. Then elves: tall, pale, with eyes glowing like amber fire and gear-like crowns at their temples. Next, dwarves but not the fairytale kind: covered in tattoos, wearing soot-stained leather aprons, pipes tucked in their belts, and bulky mechanisms strapped to their backs.
But then… Alex nearly cursed aloud.
Following them were orcs with dark-green skin, their massive bodies draped in thick metal plates, eyes full of hate glowing through fearsome helmets.
A voice, as if from deep within a brass pipe, accompanied each race:
"Humans - masters of improvisation, whose cities rise to the sky on gears and smoke. Elves - keepers of ancient charms woven into steam mechanisms. Dwarves - are creators, builders of underground blacksmiths the size of mountain ranges. Orcs - the nightmare of every civilization…"
Alex paused. His heart hammered. Everything felt so… tangible. This world didn't just beckon—it called to him like an old friend.
"Okay," he exhaled. "Let's start with race." Race was the only fixed point. Alex chose Human. The System voice quietly reminded him: "Human characters have no class restrictions. Everything depends on skills and equipment. Your mastery and gear choices will determine your path."
The next step was appearance. Alex was surprised when a list of presets inspired by famous artistic images appeared before him. He selected a young man. Soft features, golden-brown eyes, skin with a faint amber hue, and hair the color of sun-bleached straw. Alex took time adjusting the appearance. After a while, he said slowly, "Yes… let it be so."
A transparent holographic outline of the character's body filled the space before him, every movement reflected instantly, as if he were looking at his own reflection in a mirror. Alex swiped his hand across the screen, watching the figure come alive, changing expressions, posture, mood.
Next, the System informed him: "This game world embraces randomness. Your spawn location will only be determined upon game launch." Alex had no choice but to accept this.
Now came the turn for a name. Alex felt a flicker of excitement: the System voice warned again that the name must be appropriate and readable. He typed "Arian Liar," and the System quietly approved the choice. The virtual world responded with a faint shimmer in the air, as if welcoming a new player.
"Character created," the voice intoned. "Setup complete. Prepare to enter the world of Smoke & Sorcery."
And then the void around him shattered like fragile glass. The world fragmented into millions of shards of light and smoke, each becoming part of a new, vast space. Alex found himself atop an expansive observation platform. Below him sprawled a city too vast to take in at a glance. Its buildings soared into the sky, reaching towards the clouds. Huge pipes from steam engines belched thick smoke that drifted slowly over streets and squares, mingling with the glow of magical lanterns.
Alex felt a faint vibration beneath his feet. In the distance, a powder cannon boomed an ear-splitting, sharp sound and smoke billowed in the air, leaving the scent of soot and oil. He saw ordinary soldiers with swords and spears fighting alongside enormous steam-powered automatons, each movement a blend of mechanics and magic. Massive steel machines stomped heavily along the causeways, scattering foes, but fighters with inhuman agility dodged their blows, landing precise strikes.
An interactive hologram appeared before Alex. The System voice announced: "You may survey your surroundings, explore cities and creatures, meet inhabitants, or embark on quests immediately. The world of Smoke & Sorcery lives and evolves without you, but your contribution shapes your story. Remember: all limitations that exist are created only by you."
Alex took a step forward. His gaze was riveted by figures both fantastical and menacing. Enormous wolves with fur gleaming like silver passed down the street as if guarding someone. In the alleys, magical shadows flickered beings woven from pure energy, eyes shining like crystals.
The city seemed to breathe on its own. Traders with crates of rare herbs and magical ingredients flowed across the square. Children chased flying mechanical birds. Streets were lit by lanterns burning not fire, but magical energy. Every sound from the clatter of hooves to the whisper of spells was distinct, as if the world were simultaneously vast and intimate.
The System spoke again: "Starting gear determines your character's capabilities at early levels. Everything else depends on your actions. The world reacts to you: skills, reputation, economy, politics, relationships with other players and NPCs all forge a unique path."
Alex felt a strange, almost physical thrill. He saw there were no boundaries here, except those he set for himself. His breath caught, his heart beat faster, and his fingers instinctively reached for a sword. A sense of possibility surged within him a feeling, for the first time in years, that he could truly create something of his own.
He stopped on the observation platform, surveying the surroundings. Though it seemed he was in a god-mode, able only to observe without interacting with the world. Alex slowly inhaled the virtual air, and the System quietly reminded him: "Only seconds remain until the official launch." "ATTENTION USERS: LAUNCH OF Smoke & Sorcery IMMINENT IN 10..9..7..3...2...1 GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW WORLD!!!"
In that moment, darkness engulfed Alex…