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The news of the Gundam game launch sent shockwaves across the internet. The very next day, StreamHub announced the upcoming broadcast of the Gundam anime—adding fuel to an already roaring fire.
Fans worldwide were ecstatic. The anime and game launching simultaneously? This was the kind of news dreams were made of.
But then the latest chapter of the Gundam manga dropped.
And fans around the world collectively plunged into grief.
In the climax of the Second Battle of Jachin Due, the Archangel found itself outmatched in its confrontation with the Dominion. The enemy ship's positron cannon was about to fire—a killing blow that would destroy the Archangel and everyone aboard.
Mu La Flaga, piloting the Strike Gundam, threw himself into the cannon's path.
He blocked the blast. Saved everyone on the Archangel. Saved Captain Murrue Ramius—the woman he loved.
And then he vanished into the vastness of space.
Mu La Flaga's sacrifice was epic. Heroic beyond measure. And it absolutely shattered the fanbase.
Social media erupted with desperate pleas: Can Mu be revived? The official accounts of both Stormwind and StreamHub were flooded with petitions begging for his return.
Mu La Flaga was undeniably one of the most beloved supporting characters in the entire Gundam series. The ace pilot known as the "Hawk of Endymion" had been brought to vivid life—distinct personality, crucial role in countless classic battles, extraordinary piloting skills that won over fans everywhere.
"I am the man who makes the impossible possible!"
That line had become a catchphrase for countless fans. But no one expected that the last time this man made the impossible possible... it would cost him his life.
His death was heartbreaking. Devastating. But precisely because of that, the emotional impact pushed the story to new heights, driving the narrative to its most powerful climax yet.
When Alex had first watched Gundam in his previous life, he'd shed tears over Mu's sacrifice. He'd felt that same desperate hope—please let him come back.
But it was exactly that regret, that sense of loss, that had seared the story into his memory. Even now, years later, he remembered every detail of that moment.
This was why tragedies were remembered. Feel-good stories were pleasant in the moment, but they faded. Pain left marks.
So when Alex arrived in this world, he'd briefly considered changing things. Preventing Mu's death. Giving fans the happy ending they craved.
But after much deliberation, he'd decided to keep the original storyline.
Because he believed this regret would motivate fans here to seek closure in the game—to fight for redemption in a way the story never allowed.
In the Stormwind building, Alex sat in his office watching the Nexus new product launch event.
Nexus was the VR operating system and smart device brand that stood alongside Infinite Realms at the top of the industry. Both belonged to the same parent company—a tech giant that had started with VR operating systems and remained the undisputed leader in the field, holding the most advanced and essential patents.
In some ways, they were like Microsoft from Alex's previous life. But they also controlled core hardware technologies for VR devices and manufactured their own smart devices under the Nexus brand—making them simultaneously like Apple.
Except they were more powerful than either company had ever been. Nearly every VR smart device on the market ran their licensed operating system. Many of the most important chips were supplied by their manufacturing arm.
This was why Infinite Realms dominated the global gaming market. They controlled the terminals.
To this day, Nexus-branded VR devices remained the best-selling and most popular on the market, commanding the vast majority of market share. Their operating system covered over ninety percent of all devices.
Even Horizon Technologies' Flying VR devices ran on Nexus-licensed software.
The annual Nexus product launch was nearly as anticipated as the Infinite Realms Carnival itself.
This year, Nexus unveiled over a dozen products spanning virtually every smart device category in people's lives—including the latest VR gaming pods and accompanying game suits.
According to the official presentation, the new game suits could achieve more realistic tactile feedback, thermal sensations, and other physical responses, allowing players to experience unprecedented immersion.
In the past, Alex had always been excited watching Nexus launches. But this year? He felt drowsy. Nothing surprised him.
It reminded him of watching Apple keynotes in the last few years before he'd transmigrated.
Honestly, this year's dozen-plus products showed minimal technological innovation. Portable devices got more portable. Performance devices got better performance. And prices kept climbing—not exactly friendly to ordinary consumers.
Alex understood the reality all too well. In any tech sector, once a company controlled the core infrastructure—especially chip technology—competitors faced an almost impossible climb. A single restriction on chip supply could choke out an entire company overnight. He'd seen it happen before, in his previous life's smartphone wars. The patterns repeated here in VR.
And in this world? The situation was similar. Core VR technologies remained concentrated in the hands of a few major players. Catching up was genuinely difficult.
"System upgrading..."
Just as Alex was lost in thought, a voice he'd nearly forgotten suddenly spoke in his mind.
Upgrade? The system can upgrade?
Alex blinked in surprise. This system had barely made a sound or shown any changes since it first bound to him.
If he hadn't needed to occasionally download art resources or rewatch favorite movies and shows from his previous life, he would have genuinely forgotten it existed. Forgotten he even had a cheat.
A progress bar appeared before his eyes, slowly climbing from 1% toward 100%.
"Update complete. System upgrade complete!"
"Congratulations, Host, for successfully completing the first stage of your mission. A reward is waiting to be claimed. Would you like to claim it?"
The system's emotionless voice continued, and a reward dialog box popped up on Alex's interface.
A reward?
Alex's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this at all.
With a mix of surprise and anticipation, he clicked to claim it...