Sunlight streamed into my room, catching dust motes dancing in the air. I was already awake, propped up against my headboard, phone in my hand, casually doing my morning scrolling. The afterglow of Millie's visit had faded, replaced by the crisp, clear focus of a new day and a new plan.
I got a lot to think today, after Millie visit yesterday. The collaboration stream with Millie wasn't just a fun side project anymore, and since I decided to sign her as Meteor Studio talent, I had to take this chance properly.
"Sunday," I said, my voice still rough with sleep but my mind already racing.
"Let's define the primary and secondary objectives for the upcoming stream event…. Make it more organized,". I said.
"[Awaiting your parameters, Sir,]" her voice chimed softly inside my head.
"Primary Objective: Officially launch the 'Sael VT' artist persona…. We move from a mysterious one-hit-wonder to a serious musical talent with range…. We need showcase the new vocal piece and the classical piece…",
"[Noted.]"
"Secondary Objective One: Introduce Millie Kyleish as the first officially signed artist to Meteor Studio's new music division…. We need generate hype for her, build her brand and reputation as new musical genius, alongside mine."
"[Noted.]"
"Secondary Objective Two," I said, a slow grin spreading across my face. "And this is the big one... Use the peak viewership of the stream, at the very end, as the reveal platform for Meteor Studio's next major game title... We cross-pollinate the audiences. Music fans get a sneak peek at a game, and our core gaming fans get a killer musical performance.".
It was perfect, marketing strategy. Instead of just dropping a trailer on Vapor and hoping for the best, we created an event. Building a hype cycle within my own ecosystem. The stream wouldn't just be content; it would be a declaration that Meteor Studio was more than a one-trick pony. Since we are going to do it, better doing it properly, I got the Billie Eilish of this world, and I wanted to see her get to the same height as the version in my old world, so, let step properly and become the multi-media empire in the making.
With the strategy set, it was time to arm myself. I swung my legs out of bed and padded over to my desk, the cool floorboards a familiar sensation under my feet. I took a seat, and with a mental command, I brought up the familiar, sleek interface of the System's marketplace.
"Okay, let's go shopping," I muttered, my fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.
First order of business: Millie. I navigated to the music section. The categories were vast and bewildering, but my intent was clear. "Sunday, search for artist data packets. Filter by… female vocalists, alternative pop, early 21st century."
The list narrowed down. And there it was. 'Billie Eilish Data Packet.' The thumbnail was a stylized, ghostly image that looked eerily like Millie. The price: $10,000.
I didn't hesitate; there is no need to. "Purchase and integrate…" There was no flash of light, but a sudden, cool rush of information flooding my mind. It wasn't just her songs. It was her process. The whispered, intimate vocal production, the dark, minimalist beats, the way she and her brother Finneas built soundscapes from weird, everyday noises. It was a masterclass in a specific kind of artistry. I wasn't going to copy her; I was going to use this as the ultimate textbook to create something for Millie that would fit her like a glove.
Next, for me. I needed to show range. I navigated to the classical section. "Find Vivaldi. The Four Seasons. Complete composition and arrangement data….".
It was there. 'Antonio Vivaldi - Le quattro stagioni.' A paltry $500.I bought it instantly. The complex, beautiful strains of "Spring" filled my mind, every note, every flourish perfectly preserved.
Finally, I needed my vocal piece. I wanted something that would showcase the emotional depth and unique tone my "Charming Voice" and "Superstar Singer" skills could deliver. I found it: 'Joji - Glimpse of Us.' The price was a few thousand. I purchased it. The melancholy melody, the heartbreaking lyrics, the soulful piano—it all settled into my consciousness, ready to be performed, I liked the song, I always listened to it, this time I wanted this world to also feels and loved it.
I sat back in my chair, the new knowledge settling like a mantle across my shoulders. The music was ready. But the game… the game was the centerpiece, I knew that this move from will cause a lot of ripples, so better use the ripple to my advantage. I looked around my cramped room. I thought about the three VR Pods I would need, each the size of a bed. I thought about the monstrous, ongoing cost of server infrastructure, the need for a dedicated IT team I couldn't hire, the physical space I simply did not have.
The battle royale game… my dream of creating a new Fortnite, PUBG, Modern Warfare… it was a beautiful, and perfect for this rich world, but it is also an impossible castle in the sky. To try and build it now would be financial and logistical suicide. It would bankrupt me and likely fail under the weight of its own ambition.
I had to be smart. I had to pivot.
"Sunday," I said, my voice firm with decision. "Scrap the battle royale project plans… Sadly, it had to be shelved for now… financially we can't afford it…"
"[Acknowledged... May I inquire as to the reasoning?]"
"The infrastructure isn't there yet… We don't have the space, the machines, or the money to do it right... And if Meteor Studio is going to release a game, we do it right, or we don't do it at all." I stood up and started to pace, the ideas coming faster now.
"We need something that will blow the doors off the industry, something that will make Silent Hill look like a warm-up act… We need something with immense depth, staggering scale, and a universe so compelling they'll be talking about it for decades."
I stopped pacing, the answer clicking into place with absolute certainty.
"We're going to give them a universe. A dark, Gothic, insane universe they've never seen before. We're going to give them war. We're going to give them…"
I turned to face Sunday's sphere, my eyes alight with grim purpose.
"Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine… That's our next title… it was time to bath this world with hyper masculinity…".
I fell back into my chair, the name hanging in the air between Sunday and me like a declaration of war. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. Just saying it aloud sent a thrill down my spine, a fanboy's glee mixed with a creator's terrifying excitement.
"Sunday, run a full spectrum analysis on the current gaming market…. Search for any IP, any title, any concept remotely similar to this: a far-future, Gothic science fantasy setting. Themes of eternal war, religious fanaticism, giant powered armor, aliens like green-skinned brutes called Orks, and malevolent cosmic gods…."
The holographic sphere pulsed, data streams flowing around it like a digital river. "[Scanning all registered intellectual properties, game databases, and media archives. Stand by.]"
I didn't need to wait, I knew the answer, This world had competent sci-fi, sure. They had their space marines—clean, polished, optimistic soldiers fighting generic bugs or aliens. They had nothing that tasted of blood, oil, and incense. Nothing that preached that there was no peace, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods.
"[Analysis complete,]" Sunday reported. "[No direct correlations found. The core thematic elements—specifically the fusion of extreme religious dogma with hyper-advanced technology, the concept of a decaying, million-world empire, and the specific xenomorph classifications you mentioned—are absent from all recorded media. The closest approximations are generic military science fiction titles, which lack the… philosophical depth and tonal darkness you describe…. Conclusive result: No work title had been found to carry any resemblance to Warhammer 40 000 works…]".
A savage grin spread across my face. "Perfect…. They're not ready, they have no idea what's coming for them…."
I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees. "This isn't just a game, Sunday. This is a culture. It's a universe so vast and so detailed that people back in my world devoted their lives to it. The lore… it's a masterpiece of over-the-top, brutal, satirical tragedy. It's so grim it loops back around to being hilarious, and then just keeps going until it's terrifying again. And it's cool as fuck…. The Space Marines aren't just soldiers; they are eight-foot-tall, genetically engineered demigods in tank-sized armor, wielding chainsaw swords and rocket-propelled hammers. It's the coolest shit imaginable. And this world is a barren desert for this specific kind of cool."
Talking about it wasn't enough. I needed it. All of it. I couldn't just buy the blueprint for one game. I needed the entire bible.
"Sunday, access the system marketplace. I don't want a single game…. I want the source code. I want the everything."
The interface reappeared. I navigated past the skills, past the individual blueprints, deep into a section simply labeled 'Franchise Packets.' It was a list of names that made my heart ache with nostalgia. And there it was.
Warhammer 40,000 Franchise Data Packet.
The description was a thing of beauty: [Complete archival package. Includes but not limited to: Core Rulebooks (1st Edition to current), Codexes for all factions, Black Library literary catalogue (novels, short stories, audio dramas), full game asset libraries for all digital titles (Dawn of War, Space Marine, Mechanicus, etc.), musical scores, concept art archives, and full cosmological/historical timeline. CAUTION: Data mass is extreme. Integration may cause temporary cognitive disorientation.]
The price: $1,000,000.
I didn't even flinch. This wasn't an expense; it was the single greatest investment I could possibly make. A million would bring me returns that could reach billions down the road.
"Do it," I commanded. "Purchase and integrate… Full integration."