(Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    Future Tech executives enjoyed drinks and snacks at the Digital Den''s VIP lounge while most clientele focused on watching the Arena Collegiate League match.


    "Future Studios will be incorporating the Battle Pass feature Vince suggested for War Online a year ago into Everlife Online, but I can''t seem to decide on a new major game mechanic," Kyle exined.


    "I feel like the Infinity Development Kit is enough for themunity to create new game modes, and Future Studios should focus on features only you can implement within Everlife Online. While working at Kandahar, I felt the mostpelling aspect of the MVR Visor was its potential in promoting amunal experience." Alexis replied honestly.


    "You''re right. Everlife Online doesn''t have to be only a video game. Oh, I know! Future Tech owns Instagram, so I''ll integrate social media hangouts into virtual reality as an optional experience for our users. Thanks for the suggestion, Alexis!" Kyle stated proudly.


    "Yeah! Like a virtual reality lounge where users can chat and meet with their social media friends within Everlife Online during their downtime. We can even implement body scanning using Infinity Unreal Engine''s Photogrammetry tools." Sarahmented excitedly.


    While they were talking, a young Korean-American woman holding a paper bag full of ice cream arrived at the table.


    "Thanks, Jessica! I''ve been craving Gto for the entire week. Where''s Rick?" Kyle stated.


    "He joined a gang of UT frat boys watching the ACL match downstairs. Rick said he''ll follow after the first game." Jessica replied in an unamused tone.


    "Sorry about that, Jessica. His attention span is as short as a small animal sometimes. I''m sure he''ll spend some time with you tomorrow or on Sunday." Sarah stated reassuringly.


    "I hope so. Hey, Heidi and Alexis, it''s good to see you two!" Jessica said, acknowledging the neers.


    "Our friend here is called Felix. He''s an FS officer usually stationed at the Dehdadi Base. He''s doing tests and trials for the in-development armor program." Heidi exined.


    "Nice to meet you, Felix. Vince and Alexis don''t speak much about our presence in Afghanistan. Do you mind sharing how life is there?" Jessica inquired curiously.


    "Aside from a few battles, Future Security primarily focuses on peacekeeping alongside the US military. However, Future Tech itself is heavily involved in the local economy like energy, education, and food infrastructure." Felix exined.


    "Most of the massive sr arrays we''ve manufactured are sent directly to Kandahar City. Our office there orders the most equipment out of all the Future Tech branches worldwide." Andreasmented.


    "I''m not privy to executive meetings but am curious when our maritime division will be ready to produce sea vessels for the FS Navy units," Felix stated.


    "Our zone at the Port of Houston requires further modifications to allow the manufacturing of advanced navy vessels and should take a month more of construction. But our Hyundai partners agreed to build cargo freight ships included with theirwsuit reparations, at least." Andreas exined.


    "Oh, I almost forgot about the East Asia debacle that happened back in March. Since the attempted corporate espionage urred, Vince had been on edge and only started to rx after our summer vacation a week ago." Sarahmented worriedly.


    "Don''t worry about it. The CIA and Interpol are coborating with Future Security with the investigation. Vince has heavily invested in Future Tech''s physical and cyber security wisely, so we''re luckier than most." Felix statedfortingly.


    "Do you know any of the FS Nethunters that work at headquarters? They''re so mysterious, and we rarely interact with them." Kyle inquired.


    "Anthony, the Director of Cyber Security, has always been secretive with his work. So it''s natural for him to extend his paranoia throughout the department. Anthony, Price, and I share a long history serving in the US military together." Felix exined in nostalgia.


    While they were conversing, a blonde young man sat down beside Jessica.


    "Who won the first game?" Kyle asked curiously.


    "It was close, but the University of Houston team edged them out during thete game. I expect a close best of five matches from both teams." Rick exined.


    Heidi introduced Rick to Felix because they hadn''t met before and ordered additional food and drinks from a waitress on stand-by.


    "What''s up with this War Online Arena thing, anyway? Marco has been telling me to y with him, but it''s a hassle to find free time at the Dehdadi Base, especially with the massive time zone difference." Felix asked inquisitively.


    "Oh, you know Marco? We spent an entire week together out at sea on The Longhorn. He has a knack for ying initiator archetypes in Arena Mode. But, a simple answer to your question is digital sports. Think professional football, but it''s a video game instead." Rick exined.


    "The APL is currently the most prominent sports spectacle in the world, considering Vince invested heavily in plenty of media outlets for promotion and providingrge sums of cash for the prize pools," Kyle added.


    [Boomer moment. It''s not my fault the FS veterans aren''t interested much in new school sports like the APL.] Felix pondered.


    "Marco is training the previously disabled soldiers at the FS Barracks'' rehabilitation center. So let''s y some unranked matches whenever y''all are free." Sarah suggested.


    "Oh! You should try ying Everlife, which was just released a week and a half ago. I''m confident you''ve never yed a video game as next-gen as Everlife." Kyle stated proudly.


    "Alright, I believe you. Does it y simrly to War Online?" Felix inquired.


    "Completely different. War Online is yed in isometric view while Everlife is yed either through third-person perspective or, preferably, first-person view in the Hypervisor. You can use the HV Game Controller, mouse & keyboard, Hand Gestures, or third-party controllers for inputs." Kyle exined in detail.


    "ying in first-person VR could easily give you motion sickness cause you''re not moving in real life, so be careful. You''ll see the enormous warning when switching to VR mode while ying Everlife on the Hypervisor. Oh, There''s a new mod called yerunknown''s Battle Royale you should try created by a talentedmunity modder." Rick stated passionately.


    [These guys are really into video games, huh?] Felix thought in amusement.


    "As a badass paratrooper, you''ll love it! Let me exin. One hundred random yers are dropped from a Super Gxy flying above an unpopted Everlife City. Practically naked warriors attempt to find weapons, armor, and medicine to survive attacks from other yers and the dangerous gas that entirely covers the map in forty-five minutes—that shit''s crazy, man. Future Studios invited yerunknown for an office tour next week to award him an Infinity Modding Community prize." Kyle stated excitedly.


    [That sounds more fun than getting shot by armor-piercing rounds in real life.] Felix thought.


    The Digital Den''s VIP lounge also included private gaming booths like those on the first floor. Kyle and Rick invited Felix and Andreas for a quick Battle Royale match while thedies continued eating and drinking at the table.


    "Jessica, Sarah, Both of you were students of Dr. Taylor Miller, correct?" Heidi inquired.


    "Yes! She''s a brilliant teacher and mathematician. Unfortunately, I haven''t seen her for some time, but I know she works at Future Tech VR." Sarah replied honestly.


    "Ms. Miller has been busy coborating with Robotics and SpaceX with our current armor and spacesuit programs. I agree she is quite the intelligent woman." Heidi stated.


    "She even raises her six-year-old son by herself. So I asked her to hang out with us more often but quickly realized she had more responsibilities than Heidi and I," Alexismented.


    "What has her department contributed to the armor program? I''m aware of her work with VR, but what does that have to do with spacesuits?" Jessica asked inquisitively.


    "It''s primarily confidential information, but what I can say is that we''ve applied her initial progress in deep-dive VR into new in-development armor products," Heidi exined.


    "Ms. Miller mentioned how difficult it was for deep-dive users to interact with apletely digital world seamlessly. I wonder how her technology is utilized in non-gaming situations." Jessica replied curiously.


    "You won''t have to wonder about it for too long. Testing the SpaceX spacesuit will take us a week tops, and then we''ll proceed with production for our astronauts." Alexismented.


    Half an hourter, the group of four emerged from the booth full of excitement from almost winning a group battle royale match and reaching the top three teams.


    "ying that game in VR mode was insanely thrilling. The only thing that could improve the experience is using my body as the input instead of a controller or rtively simple hand gestures." Felix stated.


    While talking, they heard the crowd on the lower floors cheering wildly because the University of Texas ACL team won the historical first match 3-2 against UH.


    [Video games are more entertaining than I gave it credit. Interesting.] Felix pondered while watching UT students celebrating their school''s victory.


    Statsst time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Te, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: ssen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Fivepany coborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Te, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)