《Nephilim's Fall (Nephilim Online Book 1) [LITRPG]》


 [1] Cold Reality

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, thanks.¡± I say to the nurse that¡¯s re-arranging my pillows. She moves back to her cart and pushes it outside the room, to carry on her rounds. I use my arms to push myself further into the pillows before plugging my headphones into my phone and replaying the video I¡¯ve been watching on repeat all day. The latest presentation for the new ¡°NewReality¡± MMORPG. Nephilim Online.


    A man is on a stage, facing a crowd of journalists. As he begins to speak, his name appears at the bottom of the screen. Sam Paul - Nephilim Online Technical Lead. ¡°Good afternoon everyone. To cut it short and as to not waste your time, I¡¯ll be blunt. Nephilim Online is to be delayed for 3 months.¡± The journalists immediately begin talking over each other and shooting their hands in the air. Sam lazily points at one of them.


    A woman with mousy brown hair starts speaking. "It''s fair to say there''s been considerable excitement around Nephilim Online. The grand promises about it being a ''NewReality'' game rather than a Virtual Reality MMORPG that we''ve seen before. However, will there be any game play footage provided before the games release? We actually know very little about Nephilim Online and given the gaming industry''s history of over promising and under delivering, consumers are understandably concerned".


    Sam takes a moment to digest her statement. "That''s a fair statement." He pauses. "And yes, you will see Gameplay. Right now, actually."


    Exclamations of shock arise from the audience as other Nephilim Online staff members bring a reclining char and a full-head headset on stage. Whilst they do this, I see a black screen with the Nephilim Online logo descend from the ceiling.


    Sam picks up the headset. "This is the NewReality Interface Gear. We call it N-RIG for short." He pauses again. "Who wants to be the first person outside the company to try Nephilim Online?"


    He smiles as the audience all jump to their feet as one, shouting for his attention. He looks back at the woman with the mousy hair who raised the question. "How about you? it seems fair, it was your question after all."


    She quickly rushes onto the stage and sits in the chair. As the staff begin briefing her and connecting her up, Sam begins explaining more about the game world.


    "The reason we call this a NewReality game is because that is what it feels like. Inside that N-RIG, everything gives a sensory input directly to the brain. Touch, taste, sense, even pain. This pain setting can be reduced or turned off if you prefer. However early testers have preferred to leave it on, its a useful indicator in combat scenarios when you''ve been hit. The world is ever evolving and developing by itself, with or without player interaction. Because of this, it''s rare that the same quest line can be completed by more than one player or one group. Every player will have a unique experience of the game. Despite this, the game''s system is consistently generating quests for players, so it''s impossible to run out. We call this the Evolving Quest system."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Behind him on the screen, the journalist selected has been taken through a quick intro by the on-stage staff and transported into the game via a premade character. As she wanders through the digital world, the audience gasps as a dragon flies overhead. Although it appears far away, it''s close enough to make out the incredible detail on the creature. Sam smiles.


    "When I say it''s a living, evolving world, I don''t just mean the non-player characters that you''ll find populated the various towns and cities. each monster has its own needs, wants and goals. Dragons want to protect their treasure hoards, wildlife want to eat and mate. Nephilim Online is truly a New Reality. Are there any questions?"


    A small man stands up and speaks into his microphone. "Is it true that the game is being delayed due to potential health issues related to the hardware involved with maintaining an interface between the player and the game?"


    Sam sighs at the reporter. "Those rumours have been swimming around since the game was first announced. It''s true that there have been issues with the hardware but I have to stress that they are in no way related to the health of our players." He clasps his hands together. "We recognize however, that the news of this delay is frustrating, especially for our early adopters. To hopefully ease this news, we are opening pop-up locations across the country to allow people to try the game in its current form. Behind him I see a screen roll down with a list of locations. "We hope to see you there".


    The video playback stops and I put my phone down with a defeated sigh as my doctor Stephanie approaches. "Something wrong, Michael?".


    I look up at her. She''s in her fifties, with shoulder length brown hair. A pretty face worn down by age and the stresses of working in a high pressure environment. "It''s this new game coming out. I just found out it''s been delayed. I was hoping to get a chance to play it before...you know."


    She frowns. "Unfortunately, keeping you alive is more important. I wish there was another method but this is the best chance we have of helping you."


    Of course, I don''t know why I expected any other response. I have a degenerative disease that''s slowly causing me to die. I''d tell you the name of it, but frankly, it''s a long, complicated name and I don''t actually remember it. I''ve been in hospital for the past year. In order to keep me alive, they''re hoping to slow down the progress of the disease by inducing a coma. So no Nephilim Online for me. "They''re actually opening a pop-up location where you can try the game in this city soon." I leave the hint hanging in the air.


    Stephanie shakes her head. "That''s not possible either. You know that."


    She''s right of course. I''m hooked up to a bunch of wires and tubes that monitor my body and handle my uh, delicate functions. I lie back, dejected.


    Stephanie finishes up whatever checks she wanted to do before saying goodbye and leaving my room. The bonus of having a rare disease is that you get your own sanitised white box away from the other patients in the hospital. I pick up a book that Stephanie left for me. She said it was a classic from her youth, but frankly, it''s trash. It''s about two cancer patients and they go to Amsterdam or something using make a wish. I don''t know, I skimmed it.


    Actually, hold on.


    What''s the point in dying if you don''t get to get free stuff out of it?


    I pick my phone back up and start making a search. ''Nephilim Online contact details''. I hit return and scroll until I find the right email address. I begin typing, my thumbs flying across the touch pad.


    "Dear Sam Paul. My name is Michael, I''m a huge fantasy MMO fan and I need some help¡­"

 [2] You what?

    Several days later and I''ve still not received a response from Sam Paul or any member of staff from the Nephilim online team. I shouldn''t be surprised, they''ve probably received hundreds if not thousands of emails all saying the same kind of thing. I clench my fists. There''s probably no chance I even got through the spam filters.


    I''m interrupted from my thoughts by the sound of opening doors as Stephanie enters the room. Visits from her are a daily occurrence, she keeps a close eye on my health and monitors me closely.


    "Good morning Michael!" she greets me with a smile.


    "Morning" I respond.


    Stephanie starts taking my blood pressure, checking my temperature and doing general Doctor-y things "How are you feeling today? Any changes?" she asks as she flips through some notes.


    "Actually, I''ve been feeling pretty terrible."


    "In what way? All the stats I''m looking at seem normal for you"


    "I think I''m suffering from Video Game Withdrawal." Stephanie rolls her eyes.


    "I''m serious!" I protest. "That new game is being demoed in this city today. If you could maybe just pay them a quick visit I''m sure you could convince them to come to the hospital and let me try it out. They''d lap up the easy promotional material."


    She snorts. "Not happening Michael. Too many germs, too much to organise."


    I huff. She looks at me with a seriousness that I normally only see from her when she''s in hardcore Doctor mode, like when she told me they were planning on inducing me into a coma.


    "Why is this game so important to you?"


    Ha, that''s an easy one.


    "Three hundred and sixty two, three hundred and sixty three, seventy two, twenty one." I reply.


    She raises an eyebrow. "I assume those numbers have some significance.


    Damn right they do. "That''s the number of ceiling tiles in my room, the amount of days I''ve been here, the amount of times you''ve visited me and the amount of other people who have entered and left the ward I''m in, respectively."


    "I thought I visited you daily?" She says.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "You do. On my first day here you checked in on me again just before I went to sleep to double check I was comfortable."


    She taps a finger against her chin, deep in thought. "What does all that have to do with why you want to play this game?"


    "Because." I feel a cold anger. "I''ve been here for three hundred and sixty two days, over those days I''ve seen you three hundred and sixty three times, counted the ceiling tiles more than I can remember, and seen twenty one other people get to leave the hospital. A break from reality would be really nice right now."


    She looks taken aback at how venomous my tone of voice has gotten. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down a little. "I''m sorry Stephanie, but I''ve been led here for nearly a year, and now you want to put me in a coma that I might not even wake up from. This would be possibly the last thing I ever get to enjoy."


    She seems placated by my explanation. "Ok" she says.


    "OK?"


    "OK. I''ll see if I can get in contact with the game company and get them to come here."


    Holy shit. Holy shit. "Thank you thank you thank you!" I stammer. Finally. I should have tried the pity route first, I''d have saved so much time! "Sorry for getting angry with you."


    She holds up a hand. "No, I understand what you''re going through" She furrows her brow. "Well, not understand, but I can sympathise with your frustrations. It''s easy to forget that when I leave the hospital and go home, you''re always here."


    You don''t have to remind me!


    "I''ll see if I can organise it with the head of the hospital for you. But I can''t make any promises." And with that she starts to make her way out of the room. I close my eyes and lean back in my bed.


    I need a nap.


    ***


    It''s dark when I wake up. The digital clock next to me shows the time in bright red.


    21:39


    It''s not uncommon for me to wake up around this time. The illness takes itws toll on my body, so I''m always exhausted. They tried to set me on a regular sleeping pattern but all it did was make me feel worse.


    The door to my room opens. I look over to the doorway, confused. I''m not normally due a check up at this time. What gives?


    Two figures walk into the room.


    "I believe he''s in here." One says. Sounds like an older man? The light flickers on and I squint against the brightness.


    "Can I help you?" I say, still partially blinded.


    "I should hope so," the other figure responds. "And I was also hoping I could help you." As the light clears from my eyes I can finally make out his face. No way.


    "Hello Michael" the man says.


    "My name is Samuel Paul, and I''d like you to be my new tester for Nephilim Online."


    "You what." Smooth, Michael, very smooth.


    He takes a seat on the side of my bed. "I hear you''re in a rather...unique situation."


    What''s he on about?


    I try to make sense of what he means. "You what?" Why do I keep saying that!?


    "I hear from Alexander here that you''re due to be placed into a coma soon to help treat an illness?"


    I look at the other man who came in with Sam. I recognise him as the head of the hospital. Why would he know the head of a video game? "Yeah, that''s right."


    "I''ve also heard from your Doctor Stephanie that you''re absolutely dying to play Nephilim Online before that happens." He grimaces. "Sorry, poor choice of words."


    I sit stunned as what he is implying sinks in. "Are you telling me that you''re going to let me play the game!?"


    He laughs and leans towards me. "I don''t just want you to play Nephilim Online" he says with an almost maniacal smile.


    "I want you to live it."


    "...you what."