Alex Klein didn't need to waste time setting up a legal front—he had already registered a company months ago, back when he'd been dabbling with business ideas to satisfy his family. Now, that dusty piece of paperwork had real use.
He revived it, gave it a new name—Starlight Forge Studios—and officially tied it to their little office above Leon's garage. More importantly, he registered himself as a copy supplier on the Infinite Time and Space platform.
His rank? Beginner.
Suppliers in Infinite Time and Space were divided into tiers: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Special, and the rarest of all—Partner Level.
Each step up the ladder unlocked new rights. Beginners like Alex could only create experiential copies and design cosmetic items—fashion, skins, anything without stats or combat power. Revenue was split 50-50 with the platform.
But at Special level? The cut jumped to 80%. No restrictions on copy design. Suppliers could create entire worlds—dungeons, equipment, new classes, even main storyline arcs. In Aurelia's game industry, Special suppliers were treated like stars, and Partner-level suppliers were practically legends.
For now, Alex was just a beginner. But he didn't plan to stay one for long.
That afternoon, he dropped a file into the team's group chat.
"I've sent the design document. Take a look."
David, Lukas, and Clara opened it at once.
"Our first dungeon," Alex continued, his tone resolute. "We're entering the New World Theme Competition. That means the timeline is brutal, and the workload will be intense. But I believe—no, I know—that what we're building can win."
David's eyes lit up with excitement, but Lukas and Clara hesitated.
"Two months?" Lukas asked, frowning. "Mr. Klein, that's… cutting it close. You can't make a polished game world from scratch that fast."
Clara nodded. "Even with four of us, the odds are—well, slim."
Alex smiled faintly. "That's where I forgot to explain. I've already contracted a third-party studio to handle the heavy lifting—art resources, music, sound design. They'll deliver assets ready for use. All we need to do is assemble everything inside the Infinite Time and Space editor and bring my design to life. Think of it like… fitting the pieces of a puzzle together."
Lukas blinked. "So… we're not painting from a blank canvas?"
"Exactly," Alex said.
The programmer's shoulders sagged in relief, a grin spreading across his face. "Then two months is more than enough. Hell, we might even finish early."
David leaned forward eagerly. "Then let's see what you've cooked up, Boss. What kind of 'new world' are we talking about?"
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The title page of the document read one word:
Avatar.
David tilted his head. "Avatar? Like an avatar in a game? Doesn't sound like a 'world.' Most of the current competition entries are named after planets or continents. Ancient World, Prehistoric World, Kral Planet… that sort of thing."
But then he scrolled further, and his confusion vanished.
His eyes widened. "Wait… these aren't just avatars. They're cloned hybrid bodies—half-human, half-Navi. Controlled by neural link. The player literally becomes someone else."
The further he read, the more his face lit up. The alien moon of Pandora. Towering trees and bioluminescent forests. Floating mountains suspended in mist. A proud race of blue-skinned giants who lived in harmony with nature. And humanity, arriving in metal ships, armed with machines, hungry for resources.
"This…" David muttered, almost breathless, "this isn't just another world. This feels alive."
Clara leaned over, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Do you have any concept art or CG?"
"Better," Alex said. "I prepared a full promotional reel."
They slipped on their VR visors.
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A swell of ethereal music filled their ears as the stars opened before them. A massive blue gas giant dominated the view, storm cyclones swirling like the gaze of a titan. Orbiting close by, a lush Earth-like moon came into view.
Pandora.
The perspective dove downward, through atmosphere, revealing a sprawling jungle glowing with alien life. Towering trees scraped the sky, their roots twisting into massive arches.
A narrator's voice echoed:
"Are you Jack Sully? I want to talk to you about a fresh start… in a new world where you will be different."
Scenes flashed:
— A soldier in a wheelchair wheeling through a militarized base, warships and exosuits all around him.— Helicopters skimming past floating mountains draped with vines and waterfalls.— A Navi warrior drawing a bow beneath the luminous night sky, bioluminescent plants shimmering around her.
The visuals hit like thunder. Every frame bled wonder and danger, beauty and tragedy.
The reel shifted—machines bulldozing jungles, rockets tearing through the great home-tree of the Navi. Screams, fire, the clash of civilizations.
Then the unthinkable: countless Navi tribes gathering, uniting under a single banner. A host of flying beasts rising into the sky, diving into battle against human gunships and armored walkers.
The music swelled to an epic crescendo—then cut off. Silence.
The three tore off their headsets, stunned.
David jumped to his feet. "Boss—this isn't just good. This is a masterpiece. How the hell did you dream this up?!"
Clara's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining. "It's gorgeous. Emotional. I already want to fight for Pandora. To see whether the Navi can survive… whether Jack can save them."
Lukas, usually the cautious one, was grinning ear to ear. "I've built dungeons for years, but I've never seen a concept this polished. Alex, if we finish this, it could take the whole competition."
Alex only smiled, calm but certain. "Not could. It will."
For the first time, the team understood: they weren't just building a copy.
They were about to shake the entire world.