Catharsis Online

A LITRPG HAREM

Prologue

Maybe it was because I had grown tired of listening to my boss’s whining voice. Maybe it was because I was overworked and overstressed. Maybe it was both of those things. Maybe it was none of them. But I finally accepted it. I finally went out of my way to buy it - the hit videogame. They said that you could be anything, be anyone, do anything, anytime, anywhere, any when. It provided you with that freedom to be a superhero, a supervillain, a Mafioso, a war soldier, a war criminal, a tailor, or even a soldier.

If you can picture it - you can be it. The slogan of the videogame lay emblazoned over the box. Below it, were a famous quote: Whether you think you can, or think you can’t - you’re right.

I snorted at it. I was never interested in this new era of gaming, in this virtual world. I preferred to live in the real one - but now, I was too stressed, too tired, and too backed up to question it. It was almost going to thirteen months since my last breakup, and I hadn’t been with a woman since then. They said I could do anything in Catharsis Online - and I wanted to see just how true that claim was.

“Engage Immersion.”

I put on the helmet, and then I closed my eyes, as I enabled the technology to work its magic.

Within seconds, a loading screen flashed on, and then it vanished. The fabled ‘single-load’ which made people love the game. I kept my expectations low however, and it would remain low until I saw something that changed that.

Welcome to Catharsis Online!

The Largest Online Simulation in the World!

Yes, yes, yadda yadda - get on with it.

[There are no Player Profiles found.]

Would you like to create a new character?

[Yes]

I selected the yes button, and I found myself immediately standing in front of what looked to be a giant mirror.

Would you like to keep your current [default] appearance?

[Yes]

“It’s a game where I can be anyone and anything - why the hell would I want to be me?” I rapidly pushed the no button.

Customize Your Character!

Age - 24 [Default]

Weight - Skinny [Default]

Height - Medium [Default]

Muscle Mass - Low [Default]

Appeal - Average [Default]

Athleticism - Poor [Default]

Sexual Prowess - Medium [Default]

Talent - None [Default]

I wasn’t sure whether to be insulted at the game classifying all of my real life attributes, or to be pleased that I could change them. I decided to settle somewhere in the middle.

Are these settings acceptable?

Age - 24

Weight Class - Lithe

Height - Medium-Tall

Muscle Mass - Medium-High

Appeal - Extremely-High

Athleticism - Excellent

Sexual Prowess - Extremely-High

Talent - None

I felt satisfied, almost. There was only one thing missing, which was the Talent. I had no idea as to what a Talent was supposed to be.

Talents

This refers to one ability you may pick which will put you apart from anyone and everyone else. The Talent is the most ‘unique’ thing about you, because it is the one thing which you are free to decide for yourself. Talents can range from supernatural abillities, to simply possessing extra-ordinary skill in mundane tasks, or to a personal character quirk.

One thing. I could choose one thing to be my Talent, and this one thing could be anything? Anything conceivable? Why didn’t I just go ahead and make myself a literal walking god? Could I even do that?

“Omnipotence.”

Error! Invalid Selection.

For several reasons, this Talent is no longer allowed in Catharsis Online