Combat Realm

Virtual Combat Realm, or VCR, was one of the most popular E-Sports to come out of GameIn.

It was one part RPG, and one part team deathmatch. Players got thrown into an enormous, ever-changing world of sci-fi and fantasy, and given the chance to earn skills, loot, and weapons, which they then use in tournaments against other players. The best part was that every match was televised. Even people without GameIN rigs could watch nightly battles or quarterly tournaments.

Sawyer spawned into the middle of a huge castle-town bustling with players and NPCs. His model was, of course, just a VR version of his real-life body. It was the default setting on all GameIn rigs to simply use your mental self-image as your avatar. Some games allowed you to customize your character, but VCR wasn't one of those. Sawyer was just himself wearing simple peasant gear - a plain blue shirt, black pants and brown boots. He saw that all the other players around him were wearing almost the same thing, just in a variety of randomly-chosen colors.

VCR was played in cycles, with each cycle starting and ending at a set time. When a cycle completed, the team with the most points won. Since a cycle was about to start, the plaza in which all players started was packed.

Sawyer looked up. In the sky was a giant clock, ticking down the seconds until the cycle began.

BA-DA-DING!

A simple chime played in Sawyer's head like a phone ringing. He opened his social menu with a mental gesture and answered the call.

"Yo, Sawyer! I didn't know you played VCR." It was one of Sawyer's friends and gaming buddies, Noah.

"Oh, hey Noah," Sawyer responded via mental-link. He didn't need to say the words out loud, Noah would hear them loud and clear through thoughts alone. "I actually just spawned in for the first time. I've only ever seen the replays on social media. I haven't tried playing yet."

"Ah, a noob! Cool cool. If you want to play teams, you can join the trio I'm in - although I guess then it would be a quadro... or is it foursome? Well anyways teams is the way to go in this game. I've played solo before and it's just not the same."

Sawyer thought about it for a moment. He wasn't super close friends with Noah. They had shared a couple of classes together in high school, and played games together pretty often, but he didn't really know a ton about the guy. Then again, did he need to know a ton about him to play a game with him?

"Sure, okay. If you don't mind a scrub on your team, I'll join."

"Sweet! I'll send the invite and tell the other guys you're coming. Meet us near the guild hall. That's the big building with the green roof in the main plaza. Right under the bell tower."

It wasn't difficult to find the guild hall. Noah waved as Sawyer entered the absolutely packed room. He and two other guys pushed through the throngs of people to the entrance to meet him.

"Sawyer, these are my teammates, Mark and Emmet" Noah said, gesturing to the two that had followed him.

Mark was short and stocky, with an unkempt beard and long wavy dark hair. He reminded Sawyer of a fantasy dwarf... but taller. Emmet was pale, blonde and visibly awkward. Like an elf, but more pimply and nervous.

"Nice to meet you," Sawyer said, offering each of them a friendly smile and nod. "I'm Sawyer. Looking forward to learning the ropes from you guys!"

Mark grabbed Sawyer's hand in both of his and shook enthusiastically, gripping too hard. "The pleasure is mine, my good sir!" Sawyer noted that his hand was especially moist and warm.

Emmet gulped and nodded again, mumbling something like, "You too..." which didn't really make sense.

Noah stood between them and clapped them both on the back. "Well I'd tell you a little about the game, but it looks like-"

BING! BING! BING!

A virtual bell tolled in every player's mind, sounding a major announcement. A male voice came through next, like a loudspeaker.

"Participants:
The cycle will begin as soon as this message is over. All teams will be teleported to a random location within the VCR world with starter gear, one skill point and one class point.

"You will have one in-game week before the first round tournament. This will be a PvE tournament in which teams compete for monster kills. You do not need to return to the starting plaza to enter the tournament. Simply activate your telestone wherever you are at the designated time, and you will be teleported directly to the tournament grounds. Afterwards you will be teleported back to where you were prior.

"Remember that pain sensations are dampened in VCR, but not nullified. And **** will result in an instantaneous respawn in the starting plaza, except in tournaments where you will be respawned directly to the tournament spectating area.

"Please be aware of VCR's code of conduct and report violators in your menu.

"Cycle begins in 3... 2.. 1... START!"

There was a flash of light and the world disappeared around Sawyer. When it reappeared, fading in like a thick fog quickly dissipating, Sawyer found himself - and his new team - in the middle of nowhere.