A sigh of frustration escaped Zane Mercer as his phone vibrated against the marble countertop. Another alert—$200 million deposited into one of his countless accounts.
He barely glanced at the notification before swiping it away. It wasn't exciting anymore. It was just routine. He leaned back in his penthouse chair, staring out over the Los Angeles skyline.
The city stretched beneath him, an empire of lights and motion. Somewhere down there, people were hustling, grinding, struggling—just like he used to. Now, he had everything he once dreamed of. And yet, something felt off.
The TV flickered on, automatically tuned to the latest news. His name was everywhere. Again.
BREAKING NEWS: 19-Year-Old Tech Prodigy Zane Mercer Becomes Youngest Multi-Industry Billionaire
Zane exhaled slowly, already knowing what would come next. At just 19 years old, Zane Mercer is redefining what it means to be a self-made billionaire.
The young entrepreneur, who reportedly receives over $200 million in revenue each month, has built an empire spanning multiple high-growth industries, including AI, gaming, smartphones, and fintech.
{Reports suggest his IQ exceeds 250—some even speculate it's closer to 300 or beyond.}They always made it sound so effortless. Like he just woke up one day and conquered the world.
MercerTech – An AI-driven software firm automating industries worldwide.
Zen Mobile – A smartphone brand challenging Apple and Samsung with cutting-edge innovation.
Mercer Interactive – The company behind a best-selling video game with millions of daily players.
Mercer Capital – A high-frequency trading firm leveraging AI to generate billions.Zane turned the volume down, rubbing his temple. They had no idea.They didn't see the sleepless nights, the ruthless decisions, the moments where he had to choose ambition over morality.
They didn't see the backroom deals, the betrayals, or the things he had to do to win.The world saw a tech mogul, a genius, a legend.But Zane? He wasn't sure what he saw anymore.Would it ever be enough?His phone buzzed again—another deal finalized, another billion-dollar acquisition.
He should be thrilled. Instead, all he felt was an unsettling, empty silence.He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
Maybe he just needed a distraction. His company's new VR game had just launched—one of the most advanced ever made. He might as well test it out.Sliding on the headset, he booted up the game, letting the digital world consume him.
For the first time in weeks, something felt slightly interesting. Hours passed in a blur of combat, exploration, and strategy. But eventually, even the game lost its thrill.
With a sigh, he logged out and headed to his bedroom.A hot shower. A meal prepared by his personal chef. And then, finally, sleep.As his body relaxed into the massive bed, exhaustion pulled at him. But just before he fully drifted off, something strange happened.
A faint glow surrounded his body, subtle at first but growing stronger. His mind wavered between waking and dreaming—until suddenly, he was somewhere else. His body was the same—but the world around him wasn't."
His eyes snapped open. Dust. Wind. The air smelled of decay, rich soil, and something ancient. He sat up slowly, eyes adjusting to the dim, eerie light. He stood amidst the skeletal remains of a city—crumbling towers, shattered streets, and the lingering scent of smoke and decay.
Zane ran a hand through his hair, frowning. "Where in the hell am I" Did I fall asleep with the VR headset on again?
The thought made sense—at first. But then, his fingers brushed against the ground, and a chill crawled up his spine. It wasn't the smooth, synthetic texture of a high-end simulation. The dirt was too rough, too cold, clinging to his skin like it had weight, like it mattered.
Then came the smell—a raw, pungent mix of decay, rusted metal, and something unnatural. It flooded his senses, so sharp and invasive that his stomach turned. No game he had ever played replicated scent this vividly. No VR headset in the world could.
His pulse quickened. He flexed his fingers, pressed his palm against his chest—his heart was racing, too real.
He stood, glancing around. No loading screens. No UI. No startup sequence. His usual instinct was to pull up a system menu, but nothing responded.
Then—a chime, deep and resonant, vibrating in his skull.
A glowing interface materialized in front of him.
[Welcome to God's Game. Zane Mercer, You are now a Player.]