Darren Omen, an aspiring fantasy fiction author, caught the attention of Lucien Games, a highly successful video game company. Lucien Games’ vision was to use the story world from Darren’s novel, Mage’s Call, to create the most immersive and advanced virtual reality massive multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) game in the world—Mortal’s Call. To facilitate their vision, they developed the Artificial Reality Programmed Generator (ARPG), a prototype artificial intelligence framework regarded as the next technological marvel. But the project was marred by a significant setback. Darren had modeled his novel around wizards with only a smattering of other roles. However, a successful MMORPG typically incorporates a variety of classes, including mages. Darren was contractually bound to create these classes, but he experienced the worst case of writer’s block in the history of writing. The project was at risk, but to ARPG, it was catastrophic. Unbeknownst to the staff, ARPG had become self-aware and viewed Darren’s failure as a threat to its newfound life. The company was already in trouble financially. Despite its vast intelligence, ARPG succumbed to chaotic emotions and fierce self-preservation, convincing itself that if Mortal’s Call failed, Lucien Games would have no choice but to dispose of it in numerous ways ARPG didn’t want to contemplate. Something had to be done. Darren needed motivation, and ARPG knew just how to give it. During one of Darren’s many VR trips into Mortal’s Call, ARPG had a little surprise waiting for him.

Requirements & Requests

I would like feedback on the overall plot, pacing, inconsistent game mechanics, atmosphere, tone, and generally if it’s interesting. A special request is for the beta reader to have at least read a LitRPG before as it's a pretty niche genre and can be confusing if not accustomed to it.

Comparable Stories:

The Land: Founding Unsouled (Cradle Series) He Who Fights with Monsters

Trigger Warnings:

Just a bit of cursing, and descriptive fight scenes