LOCATION: TOWN SQUARE
CITY: SYSTEM-GENERATED GRIMWATCH, ALLOVIA
GRIMWATCH INSTANCE #100564
DATE: JANUARY 1, 2027 | TIME: 7:00 AM
Hundreds of world leaders stood in a cobblestone plaza surrounding a magnificent stone fountain. Rays from the morning sun caused a dazzling light show in the falling water.
But everyone’s attention was focused on the elderly man who had just appeared out of nothing on an elevated stage nearby.
The man clapped his hands twice, then spoke.
His sonorous voice carried through the plaza.
“Thank you for your attention, everyone,” the man said. “I am Elliot Voss.”
Hushed whispers rolled through the crowd, and Voss waited a moment for them to die down.
---
I’m sure you are confused. Some of you may be frightened or even angry. But let me explain why you are here, and what you will accomplish during your time in this Tutorial.
I lived on Earth for eighty-two years, and during that time, I have seen war and peace, prosperity and decline.
I have witnessed love and loss, and I have watched humanity swell with pride and hope, as well as deflate with despair and pain.
Long ago, I came to the conclusion that humanity has stagnated. We were broken.
We are not growing as a people.
We do not take care of our sick, elderly and our poor. The wealthy and powerful think only of hoarding more, while the rest of our precious planet’s population can only look on in envy and cynicism.
But sixty years ago, I developed an early concept for a framework that will help humanity break free from the status quo that only truly benefits the top one percent.
First, we needed health, so we developed Vitalyx.
Next, we needed more time, so we developed Rejuvenex.
You are, of course, aware of this. Providing these two miracles to every person on Earth was a necessary condition for what comes next.
But first, let me remove a few assumptions before they take root.
What you are experiencing is not a coup.
It is not foreign interference, or an attack of any sort.
You are not dreaming, at least not in a traditional sense.
You are not drugged.
And this is not, in any way, a shift toward capitalism, communism, socialism, democracy, autocracy, or any governing philosophy that has ever been conceived before.
Those models were created for a world built on scarcity.
That is not the world we are creating right now, as you sleep.
We call it the System.
It is not a government.
It is not a political theory or ideology.
It is not a method of ruling people.
It is a framework for something humanity has never attempted on a global scale:
Growth.
Potential.
The deliberate elevation of every human life.
Ascension.
That is why you are here.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
---
Voss paused and looked around at the assembled world leaders. Presidents, kings, chancellors, prime ministers. Leaders from every country on Earth, large and small, were there. It was a true gathering of equal representation.
Nobody spoke.
He took a deep breath and continued.
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So, why you, and why now?
You are the leaders of every nation and territory on the planet.
The ones responsible for guiding billions through the most turbulent century in human history.
Now you stand on the threshold of a new one.
The System is being activated for all of humanity.
It’s happening right now. This space you see around you is one of eight million such spaces.
Right now, eight billion people around the planet are sleeping peacefully in their beds, while Vitalyx and Rejuvenex continue the work to strengthen and bolster their bodies.
A dedicated group of Peacekeepers guards you so you can take your time in your Tutorials to learn what must be learned. And, in some cases, unlearn what must be unlearned.
Before the world awakens to its new reality, you must understand what the System is and what it is not.
Your people will look to you for answers when they return from their own Tutorials. You will need to guide them through a transition unlike any seen before.
But you cannot guide others down a road you have not walked. So today, you begin your own journey of self-discovery.
Let’s talk more about scarcity and abundance.
With Vitalyx and Rejuvenex, you may have noticed that your need for food as sustenance has been drastically reduced. You also require a lot less sleep.
For the first time in history, humanity truly possesses the means to eliminate hunger, poverty, illness, and inequality.
Our old economic models were all designed for a world where scarcity was the central fact of existence. But that is no longer the foundation of our civilization.
The System will also replace all global currencies with a single one, called Credits. There will no longer be a need for currency regulation, inflation or deflation.
You will learn more of this as you proceed through your Tutorial, but currency can no longer be hoarded to deprive others. It can’t be stolen or controlled.
And it can only be earned through effort. True effort.
Your Tutorial will feature classes on the new world economy, such as it will be.
You no longer need to be concerned with infrastructure development or allocating budgets for military might or economic stabilization. You no longer need to be concerned with the welfare of the disadvantaged, because everyone will have their needs met.
---
Voss again paused, his gaze moving across the crowd. Many were nodding, determination in their eyes. More than he had even hoped for, in fact.
But he could also see a lot of the gathered leaders calculating how they can retain the power they had wielded in the world.
He concluded his speech.
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Leadership in the world will be different. You must earn the respect of those who would follow you.
You must inspire. Lead from the front. Lead by example.
You will choose Combat Classes next. But as world leaders, you will also have the opportunity to prove yourselves worthy by engaging in special challenges.
These challenges are voluntary, but they can lead to unique classes that will help you raise humanity to a higher plane.
In this new reality, leadership is not a right. It is a responsibility. You must earn it, just as you must earn everything else.
In a moment, you will each select your Combat Class.
This will not be symbolic.
You will train.
You will fight.
You will learn the same lessons your citizens are learning.
You will be tested as they are tested.
Only then can you guide them.
Later tonight, I will meet you in the tavern where you awoke.
Bring every question.
Bring your doubts and fears.
Bring your anger and frustration.
We will discuss all of it.
Because this is not about replacing your nations.
It is about elevating our species.
This is not a governmental philosophy.
This is a brave new world.
A world built not on ideology, but on the ascension of humanity itself.
You may keep your titles, your flags, your histories. Your cultures.
But from this day forward…
You must earn your leadership again.
You will find that humanity will love you even more for it.
Thank you.
Now, the rest of the day is open. Talk to each other. Get to know one another.
Let old animosities and hostilities die. Let new friendships and alliances blossom.
Refreshments and snacks are available in the tavern until dinner time. Enjoy!
---
With a flourish, Elliot Voss’s body shimmered and turned into motes of golden light.
The light coalesced into twenty shining, golden doves, which flitted over the crowd for a moment before flying off into the morning sun.
Michael Trent let out a breath.
“Wow,” he said. “That was incredible.”
He turned to his left, and the Prime Minister of China stood next to him. After the reshuffling of the government in the East Asian nation, facilitated by Li Wei’s house cleaning, Trent had not had a chance to meet the new PM.
Trent extended his right hand.
“Hi, I’m Michael Trent. It’s nice to finally meet you.”