Tyler Freeman was gone. Forgotten. Erased.
But Tyler Halden was something new—harder, smarter, relentless. The city that tried to break him was going to watch him rise. The family that threw him away would regret it. And the legacy that was stolen from him?
He was going to take it back.
With interest.
The hum of cheap fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Tyler slouched in the creaky chair of his cramped dorm room, his worn sneakers propped on the rickety desk. A flickering holo-screen played the final moments of the Ancient Apocalypse global premiere broadcast. His eyes, hollow from exhaustion, lit with rare excitement as the announcer's voice boomed with epic flair.
"Step into a world where legends rise and the strong thrive. Ancient Apocalypse—the first fully immersive neural-linked MMO—releases tonight. One life. One chance. Real risks. Real rewards. Power, wealth, and strength—not just in-game, but in real life. If you die… you die. Do you have what it takes?"
Tyler leaned forward, mouth dry.
"Finally," he muttered. "A way out."
He'd heard the rumors—people who tested the beta came back stronger. Not just in-game—literally. Muscle density. Reaction speed. Even memory. One streamer solved theoretical equations at double speed after spending three weeks inside. The global corporations had lined up to buy access. Players who became legends in-game were hired in real life—mercenary companies, tech firms, even private governments.
It was the new frontier.
And Tyler needed a damn miracle.
He shoved his last slice of dry bread in his mouth, grabbed his duffel bag (mostly empty), and sprinted out the door toward the Crimora Megalux Mall, where the only authorized release hub in his quadrant was located.
Midnight. Outside Crimora Megalux Mall.
The line was long. Beyond long. People in sleek coats and urban-core fashion outfits stood casually under neon umbrellas. Drones hovered above, scanning for IDs and managing crowd control. Tyler arrived in a faded hoodie and shoes so torn he had duct tape wrapped around one sole.
As he took his spot at the very end of the line, a trio of college rich kids gave him a once-over and laughed loud enough for him to hear.
"Look at this guy," one sneered. "Did you crawl out of the maintenance tunnels?"
Another scoffed, flicking a vape cloud his way. "He thinks he can afford Ancient Apocalypse? That's 3,000 creds minimum. He'd be better off begging for a bootleg."
Tyler ignored them. He had 3,080 credits to his name. Every shift, every under-the-table job, every meal skipped led to this.
"Let them laugh," he muttered. "They'll be watching me from the sidelines soon."
The line inched forward for hours, the cold night giving way to an orange dawn glow. By the time Tyler reached the purchase console, his legs ached and his hands trembled.
"One standard-edition Neural Link Starter Kit," the AI assistant said. "2,999 credits. Confirm purchase?"
He stared at the holographic price, then down at the micro-credit chip in his palm. If he bought this, he couldn't eat for the next four days. He didn't hesitate.
Confirmed.
The console whirred, then ejected a sleek, black neural band. The logo of Ancient Apocalypse pulsed gently on its surface.
Tyler clutched it like treasure and ran back to campus with wind in his lungs and fire in his heart.
Dorm Room. 7:43 AM.
Tyler slammed the door shut, locked it, and dropped onto his mattress. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, tore open the packaging, and strapped the band around his head.
The moment it activated, he heard a click inside his skull—like a lock opening for the first time.
"Welcome, Tyler Halden," a smooth voice said in his mind. "Preparing sync. Please lie down. Close your eyes. This experience is life-integrated. Any stat boosts gained in Ancient Apocalypse will affect your physical body in the real world. Please note: if you die in-game, your brain will be permanently disconnected. You will not wake up."
A pause.
"Do you accept these terms?"
Tyler took a deep breath.
"I do."
"Good luck… Initiate."
The world went black.
A rush of sensation overwhelmed him. His heart raced, his skin tingled, and his spine shivered like ice water surged through it.
Then, his body vanished—and he was reborn.