1st Floor · Neo Tokyo
In this game, every character has unique abilities, letting you choose based on your personality. You can be a hero or a police officer focused on saving lives, or you might decide to play as a villain or criminal who brings chaos. Sometimes, NPCs act as either heroes or antagonists. I picked the hero role because I want to feel strong instead of weak in this world. While rushing through the plaza of Neo Tokyo to grab some gear from an NPC shop, I overheard people chatting about party formations and real-life events. I was surprised to hear a guy trying to ask a female avatar out on a date, especially since avatars can represent any gender. This flexibility is one reason I usually keep to myself in the game, but everything changed when someone called my name from behind.
"Hey, wait a second!" a voice shouted from behind me. I turned around mid-run and saw a guy with short, golden hair highlighted by a black lightning bolt in his fringe. He wore a simple white shirt, an unbuttoned black jacket with a white lightning design on the back, and matching pants with two stripes down the sides. Even his single square headphone on the right ear had a little radio antenna sticking up.
I looked at the guy, who seemed to have just finished running, and asked, "Yes?"
He caught his breath and said, "You seem to know this place well. Were you part of the beta test?" I felt a bit anxious as I replied, "Uh, y-yeah," since I'm not used to talking to so many people, whether in real life or in-game.
"Awesome! Today is my first day. Can you give me some tips for the lower floors?" he asked, stepping closer, which made me a little uncomfortable. I hesitated, "U-Uh... I'm not really sure what to..." but he quickly interrupted me.
"Please, I really need your help! I'm Chargebolt, by the way. Nice to meet you," he said, pointing to himself. His enthusiasm made me smile. I reached out to shake his hand and introduced myself, "Okay, I'm Deku."
1st Floor · Neo Tokyo · West Fields
Chargebolt and I jumped on a train and made our way to some fields near Neo Tokyo that resembled the African Savannah after I decided to help him. He mentioned it was his first full dive game, so I suggested he start with low-level minions or animals. I never anticipated that his first encounter would begin with a...
"Ouch! My eggrolls!" he yelled in distress as a strange purple creature butted him in a sensitive spot, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Hey, Chargebolt, you do realize you're not sensitive to pain, right?" I chuckled as I watched him check himself and lament over his "eggrolls."
"Oh, you're right, my mistake," he replied, getting back up. My curiosity got the better of me, and I asked him about his quirk. This game has over a thousand abilities, each with its own skill tree, and as we gain XP, we unlock new powers. However, our combat skills reflect our real-life abilities. For example, if I faced a real-life black belt, I wouldn't stand a chance; I depend heavily on the system to help me in fights.
Chargebolt then said, with a spark in his hand, "When I logged in, I got Electrification." I rested my chin on my palm, thinking, and suddenly had a lightbulb moment.
"I have an idea! Try shooting electricity at that little guy with your finger pointed like a gun, focusing it to a single point," I suggested, gesturing animatedly.
He formed a finger gun and aimed it at the small purple creature, musing, "A gun, huh?" He concentrated his energy into his fingertips just as I had shown him, like water flowing through a hose. Suddenly, the energy shot out from his finger, stunning the little creature and draining its health points. Once the health bar hit zero, it burst into blue pixels, and a results screen appeared, displaying his experience points, coins, and items collected. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
"Woohoo! Yes!" he shouted joyfully.
I approached him and applauded, saying, "Congratulations." We exchanged high-fives, our hands raised in celebration. "That was impressive, but that minion is about as tough as boars in other games."
"Are you serious? I thought that was a mid-level boss!" he replied, his enthusiasm waning as he realized I was serious.
"Yeah, sorry about that," I said, gesturing toward the field. He turned to see more of those strange purple trolls emerging.
"What do you think? Isn't it awesome to use your body for actions that are impossible in real life?" I asked, earning a nod and a thumbs up in response.
"Hell yeah! Oh, that reminds me," he said to me. "You never told me the name of your quirk. What is it?"
I'm not entirely sure. The game calls it One For All, but to me, it simply means super strength, I explained while tapping my lip thoughtfully.
He asked, "Super Strength?"
I dashed toward a purple minion and exclaimed, "Watch this!" As I got close enough to kick it like a football, a strong burst of compressed air shot out, taking out nearby minions. When I turned around, Chargebolt looked like his jaw was about to drop.
"That was amazing!" Chargebolt exclaimed.
"And risky. Using my power costs me some HP, which hurts my avatar. That last hit took away 5% of my health, so I stick to melee combat," I clarified.
"Still, that's a really cool power!" he said, giving me a thumbs up, which made me smile.
Are you ready to keep going? I asked.
"Absolutely! Let's do this!" he replied, full of enthusiasm.
The next few hours flew by as we took down minions, eager to rack up XP and Col. Eventually, we decided to head back to Neo Kyoto, strolling to a park where we settled on a bench to watch the sunset.
"I can't believe we're actually in a game! Just look around; it's the work of a genius," Chargebolt exclaimed. "This is incredible and makes me grateful for the time I was born, you know?"
I shrugged it off, replying, "It's not that big of a deal."
He insisted, "Come on, it's my first full dive! I rushed to get all the gear as soon as I could afford MHO and even joined a friend in line to snag one of the 10,000 physical copies. I guess you could say I was lucky." I was impressed by his enthusiasm. "But you, my friend, were even luckier to beta test it; only 1,000 people got that chance," he pointed out.
I scratched my head, pondering if I really was that fortunate. "Yeah, I suppose I was," I admitted.
"So, how far did you get in the beta?" he asked.
I thought about my experience in the beta and realized, "After two months, I still couldn't get past floor 10." Since I didn't have anyone to team up with, I was mostly going solo. However, I now feel confident that I can reach that level in a month.
With a smug grin, Chargebolt said, "Sounds like you're really into this."
I replied, "Absolutely! MHO was on my mind throughout the Beta Test, day and night. I feel like a completely different person here, unique and powerful, ready to take on anything." I noticed his face light up as I shared my thoughts.
As we watched the sunset, Chargebolt said, "I get what you mean."
I then asked, "So, are you ready to take on some more minions?"
He replied, "Definitely! But I gotta mention, I'm really hungry." Just then, my stomach growled, and he added, "I need to log out."
I agreed, "Yeah, I'm getting hungry too. It's a shame the food here barely fills you up."
He smiled and said, "That's why I ordered a hamburger for 5:30 PM."
"Wow, you really seem ready for this," I remarked, feeling impressed.
"Of course! But first, I need to grab my burger and fries," he replied, patting his stomach.
"Right, my mom should be back soon with some Katsudon, so I should head out too," I told him.
"By the way, I was planning to meet a friend from another game. So... If uh...you know, if you're interested when you return, you could add him and join us," Chargebolt offered. I hesitated, not wanting to decline but feeling awkward about chatting with new people online. Chargebolt noticed my uncertainty.
"No pressure, man. We can always do it another time," he reassured me.
"It's okay. I'll think it over. If you need anything else, just message me," I said, extending my hand for a shake.
"Thanks for everything! Catch you later," Chargebolt replied as he turned to log out.
I suddenly remembered I needed to pick up some extra gear, so I started heading to the nearest store. As I walked, I reflected on my day and realized I might have made a friend in My Hero Online, which brought a smile to my face just as I heard Chargebolt's voice behind me.
"Hey, that's strange. Where's the logout button?" he asked, catching my attention. I turned to him, puzzled.
"It should be there," I replied, approaching him. Typically, a player's main menu is hidden from others to keep their stats private, but I watched as Chargebolt leaned in, searching for his menu.
"Nope, not here," he said, raising my concern. I opened my own menu, only to be shocked to find the «Logout» button missing as well.
"What the heck?" I exclaimed.
Chargebolt chuckled, "See? Even the game master isn't responding to me."
I shot back, "This isn't funny! Don't you think it's strange?" My tone was sharper than I intended, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
Chargebolt raised his hands apologetically. "S-Sorry about that, man. But it's just a bug, right?"
I replied, "If we can't log out, this game is going to face serious problems." Chargebolt pondered for a moment, but before we could continue our conversation, a loud town bell rang out.
Chargebolt spun around, looking up in confusion. "What the heck is that?" I opened my mouth to respond, but suddenly, we were surrounded by a bright blue light that teleported us back to the plaza where we had just met.
"AGAIN, WHAT JUST HAPPENED????!!!!!" Chargebolt exclaimed, clearly panicking.
I suggested, "Maybe someone has a teleportation quirk?" As I turned to look around, I noticed we weren't alone; other players were also being transported to the plaza. They were all dressed as superheroes or villains, equally bewildered and confused about their sudden arrival and inability to log out.
"This can't get any stranger," Chargebolt remarked, running his fingers through his hair in disbelief. Out of nowhere, the sky shifted to a deep red, and an unseen force encircled the plaza. We turned to see a couple attempting to escape, only to be repelled by the barrier.
"Are you serious?! I was just joking!" Chargebolt exclaimed, scratching his head even more frantically. "It really can't get any weirder than this!"
Just then, the barrier's ceiling started to drip what appeared to be blood, which began to coalesce into a towering figure draped in a red cloak that obscured his face.
"I'm done. I'm so done," Chargebolt said putting down his arms to his side.
"Who or what is that?" I asked myself until the figure began to speak in a voice that sounded so familiar.
"Attention, players. I welcome you to my world," the figure said.
"What's he mean by that?" I said mentally.
"My name is Toshinori Yagi, and I currently oversee this world," declared the figure in the red hood, prompting a gasp from me as I stood frozen in place. The murmurs of the crowd around me were palpable.
"Most of you have likely noticed that the logout button is missing from your main menus. I assure you, this is not a glitch; it is an intentional design of My Hero Online," the individual claiming to be Toshinori Yagi explained.
"He's joking, right? This can't be serious!" Chargebolt exclaimed beside me.
"You cannot log out of MHO, and no external force can disable the NerveGear or remove it from your mind. If anyone attempts to do so, a transmitter within the NerveGear will emit a microwave signal that could result in brain damage or death," Yagi stated, inciting a wave of panic among the crowd. While some appeared skeptical, it was clear to both Chargebolt and me that this was no ruse, as we had witnessed someone earlier unable to leave the plaza due to the red barrier.
"What a load of crap. The guy must be nuts right Deku?" Chargebolt turned to me for confirmation.
No, he is not. The transmitter of the headgear emits pulses akin to microwaves. If the safety mechanism fails, there is a risk of brain damage, I clarified to him. Since acquiring the NerveGear, I have conducted thorough research on its functionality and the realism it provides.
"Couldn't someone just cut the power or..." Chargebolt began, but I interrupted him. "That won't work because the NerveGear is equipped with an internal battery," I stated firmly. His expression revealed an increased level of distress.
"No way. This is totally crazy," Chargebolt exclaimed, panicking once more, but he fell silent when Yagi resumed speaking.
"Despite my warnings, some players' relatives and friends have attempted to remove the NerveGear, a decision that is regrettable, to say the least. Consequently, there are now 213 fewer players than at the game's inception. Both Musatufa and the real world have lost them," Yagi explained, as screens materialized around him, displaying reports of those who had perished.
"213???!!!" I cried out in horror as well.
"No way! This can't be real!" Chargebolt exclaimed, gripping his head with both hands again.
"It's important to understand this: in the game, there's no way to revive someone once they're gone. If your HP hits zero, your avatar is permanently deleted," Yagi explained, taking a brief pause. "And the NerveGear will fry your brain at the same time."
I immediately recalled kicking that minion earlier, which cost me some HP. The thought of losing all my HP and bursting into tiny, digital blue pixels quickly took over. Fear and anger surged through me as I clenched my fists tightly.
"Now, there's only one way out for players: you have to win the game," he continued, pulling up a menu that displayed a large map of the Musatufa tower. "You're currently on the ground floor, floor one. To reach the next level, you need to escape the dungeon and defeat the boss. You must conquer the boss on floor 100 to finish the game."
"Clear 100 floors? That's totally impossible," Chargebolt shouted, saying the one thing that made me fall silent. "Even the Beta Testers never reached that level!"
Yagi caught our attention once more, saying, "I've added a little surprise to each player's item storage. Take a look!" Curious about his words, I quickly opened my menu and navigated to my item storage, where I noticed something new.
"A Mirror?" I exclaimed, recognizing the item. As I tapped the icon, a real mirror materialized in front of me, landing in my hands. I gazed into it, looking at my avatar's reflection when suddenly, a bright blue light erupted from Chargebolt.
"CHARGEBOLT!" I yelled, but before I could react, the same light enveloped me, making me gasp. Despite the brightness, I noticed everyone around me was bathed in that same blue glow. As the light faded, I cautiously opened my eyes, regaining my sight.
"Are you alright, Deku?" Chargebolt asked, his voice reaching me. "Y-Yeah," I stammered, rubbing my eyes. When I turned to him, I was startled to find I was looking at someone entirely different.
"Wait, who are you?" I asked, taking a step back.
"I'm just me. And you are?" the person replied. I was taken aback by my reflection in the mirror. I looked exactly like myself—black hair, matching eyes, and the same height as in reality.
"Wait, that means..." I said, glancing at the blond-haired guy, who mirrored my surprise.
"Is that you, Deku/Chargebolt!?" we both exclaimed simultaneously.
"But how did we...?" Chargebolt began, prompting a memory of something I had read.
"The scan. The NerveGear setup has a high-density signal device that captures facial features," I explained. "But how did it determine my height and body type?"
"When I first put on the NerveGear, it had me do a calibration," Chargebolt said, gesturing to his arms. "Didn't it ask you to touch your body all over like this?"
"Oh, right! That's how it gathered our physical data," I recalled, realizing I had done the same thing.
Chargebolt held his head in confusion, questioning the purpose of their situation. "What's the point? Why would anyone do this to us?" he asked, while I simply pointed at the hooded figure.
"I think he's about to explain," I replied, directing our focus to Yagi.
He began, "You're probably wondering, 'Why?' Why would Toshinori Yagi, the mind behind NerveGear and My Hero Online, put you through this?" Yagi continued, "My ultimate goal is clear. I achieved my aim of controlling the fate of a universe I created with My Hero Online. The tutorial is over, and the game has officially started. Good luck to all players."
With those final words, he disappeared, leaving an eerie silence in his wake. My hands tightened into fists as I realized this was no longer just a game; the virtual world was Yagi's creation, and he was a genius. As a long-time admirer, I believed every word he said. Losing in this game meant real death. Suddenly, a girl's scream pierced the quiet, and chaos erupted as people began to yell and flee. Seizing the moment, I dashed away when I noticed the barrier that had trapped us was gone.
"Come on, Chargebolt," I urged, pulling him along as we sprinted into an alleyway.
"I'm heading to the next town, and I need you to come with me," I said, my tone serious.
"Huh?" he replied, clearly puzzled, and I couldn't blame him for that.
"If what he said is true, we need to become as strong as possible to survive. Once the game starts, there's only a limited amount of money and experience to gain," I explained, unfolding a Floor 1 map. "The areas around Neo Tokyo will soon be cleared out by hunters, so we should move to the next town quickly to gather resources more easily. Don't worry; I know all the routes and the places to avoid."
"Thanks, man, but..." Chargebolt hesitated, looking down. "You remember that friend I mentioned?"
"Yeah?" I replied.
"Well, he can handle himself, but he probably has more friends with him back at the plaza, and I can't just leave them behind," he said. That made me think; that it wasn't just him, but maybe two or even one more.
Chargebolt gave me a thumbs up and said, "Sorry, I can't ask a guy I just met to risk his life for a bunch of strangers, can I? So don't worry about me... just get to the next town." I admired his choice.
"Alright, if that's your decision, I'll head out. But if you find yourself in trouble, just message me, okay?" I replied as I turned to leave.
"Sure thing, man," he called back.
"I'll catch you later, Chargebolt. Take care," I said before continuing on my way.
"Deku!" he shouted, making me pause. When he didn't follow up, I kept moving.
"Hey, Deku!" he called again, prompting me to stop once more. "Uh... you look better like this."
I turned back at his words. "You look way cooler than your avatar," he added. No one had ever called me cool before, and it filled me with pride and happiness, so I decided to return the compliment.
"Yeah, and that face suits you way better too," I replied before turning back and taking off. I ran for a bit until the sounds faded away, and when I looked back, Chargebolt was nowhere to be seen, just an empty street. A wave of regret washed over me, but I quickly shook it off and kept running. Thoughts of my mom and the outside world filled my mind as I sprinted out of the city and into the open fields. Suddenly, a purple minion appeared in front of me.
"I got this... I can do this... This world can't beat me!" I encouraged myself as the creature charged at me. I leaped into the air and delivered a flying kick, making it vanish. "I WILL SURVIVE!"