The morning sun filtered through the dusty curtains of the small apartment in the middle of downtown Seattle, washing over a cluttered desk where cables entwined keyboards, cans of energy drinks, and two glowing monitors.
He was sitting on the edge of his bed, his dark hair mussed, his green eyes half-dead from yet another night without sleep. His eyes were dull with the look of someone who'd spent far too many nights in foreign worlds and far too few nights in the one that was his own.
But today, these weary eyes showed traces of happiness.
Today was the day.
Months of awaiting, and Blizzard Online, his most favorite VR game, had finally launched the special skin for his most favorite game character, Rivera Dalmenton.
She was reason enough to play it. Not to be famous, not to be on top, not even to earn the kind of pay that top players in the game received, no, Ethan played because of Rivera. Rivera, who was the most beautiful beast tamer in the online game, the goddess in human flesh.
And today… she would finally wear the new Maid skin he'd spent a thousand real dollars on.
"Worth every penny," he mumbled with a crooked grin.
The apartment was more command station than residence. The walls were blank aside from a couple of Blizzard maps and a calendar with nothing on it. Three computers sat working, with only the whir of fans providing any kind of conversation in the room.
The game consoles, VR equipment, and accessories were stacked on a high shelf, prizes from the previous era.
His parents left him enough funds before they took off on their never-ending world tour, leaving him behind with cash, silence, and far too much time on his hands. He had everything any gamer-for-life person would need in life, except for girlfriend.
In the corner of the room, his only living companion twitched its nose, a small white rabbit, sitting inside a glass-walled pen. He smiled faintly and tossed it a bit of lettuce. "You're the only one who doesn't judge me, huh?"
He gazed out the window. The world was happening out there: couples in love, laughing, joggers out for morning exercise, cars driving to work and to fulfill ambitions.
His gaze slid across the scenes of life until he noticed a couple walking by, holding hands with smiles so full of warmth, so full of life, it was almost strange to him.
He closed the curtain. "Yeah, that's not for me."
"Talking to girls? That was like fighting a raid boss without armor. Impossible."
His only real female interaction was with his mom and his rabbit, and the rabbit didn't talk back to him.
At school, he'd just had one friend: Albert, the class nerd who'd introduced him to Blizzard in the first place.
"Dude, it's like living inside your own world," Albert said, his eyes aglow with wonder.
He'd laughed at it before. But after one taste, he was hooked.
This was three years ago.
He was twenty-four now. No job, no college, no plan in life, only his gaming passion. But he didn't mind because in Blizzard, he was not a failure, he was a legend.
He stretched, cracking his neck, and smiled at the VR headset sitting on his desk. "Alright, Rivera…let's see the maid outfit."
He sat down, adjusted the neural connectors, and put on the sleek black headset to cover his eyes. The moment it was sealed, the world went dark around him.
A flicker of blue.
A chime.
And then-
> Blizzard Online - Log In
The recognizable voice echoed through the void as light encompassed him. The space ahead of him was revealed, a kind of celestial room with swirling nebulas and one hovering door. He extended his hand to grasp the doorhandle, and the glowing letters materialized.
> Loading...
2%
10%
41%
65%
79%
80%
100%
The void erupted with color.
He was in the core of Blizzard.
Polished marble flooring mirrored the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. The NPCs and players were in motion, with the avatars they controlled being stunningly beautiful.
His own avatar, BLANK . The Legendary Beast Master, was standing proudly clad in silver-colored armor with sophisticated rune carvings on them. The symbol on his chest sparkled: World Rank #1 Beast Tamer.
For an instant, he simply reveled in it. This was definitely more like home than the apartment had been.
"A familiar voice chimed in alongside him."
"Master, you're late again."
Rivera Dalmenton stepped out with a lovely pout, detail on her new maid attire so realistic, the fabrics rippling with real motion as she walked, and it gave Ethan's heart pause.
"Totally worth it," he whispered.
"Hmm."
"Nothing. You look perfect, Rivera."
She smiled, bowing in acknowledgment. "The flattery is excessive, as always, Master."
He laughed. The hours slipped by swiftly. There were battles to be won, raids to execute, exploration to be done. Every moment with Rivera was real.
And tonight, he achieved an milestone:
> Two of your beast have evolved to Mystic Tier!
"Heeelll yeah!" he shouted, punching the air in celebration. His two companions, an obsidian wolf and a feathered serpent, howled and hissed with triumph. He was now unstoppable with all his creatures being Mystic Tier.
Rivera smiled proudly and addressed him: "Indeed, you are the greatest beast master, Master."
He leaned back to soak in the glory. The HUD clock blinked.
4:03
"Damn. I lost track of time again."
He sighed and opened the menu, selecting Log Out.
And removed his VR.
The world became static light.
Instead of his apartment, something was wrong.
There was no PC or his pet.
Nothing but white.
Endless white.
It spread in every direction, an endless sheet of blank page space.
"Ethan, you're not thinking clearly right now."
He thought that he hadn't logged out yet.
He waved his hand, no interface. No logout option either. There was only silence.
"Okay, this is new," he murmured, feeling uneasy now. "System error?"
Then he spotted it: small specks of white light drifting toward him. They floated, shimmered. and began to sink into his skin. "What the hell..." The light extended, filling his vision. He felt his body melt away, his mind soar.
A sensation of falling, not through air, but through existence itself. And then, darkness. His mind was wavering, like a dying flame. Where am I? he thought dazedly. Does this mean I died?
There was only silence. Then, something happened. A heartbeat. His heartbeat. The darkness was parted. He gasped, his lungs seared by the strange atmosphere. His lids twitched open.
Light poured in.
But what he saw was not his room.