I know this one decision will completely turn my life around.
Players were popping into the Convergence Zone one after another, each arrival marked by a flash of light.
They were like stars blinking into existence.
One look, and I knew I'd be trapped here. Not because I had to—because I wanted to be.
Before long, the place buzzed with footsteps, chatter, and the restless energy of a crowd coming to life.
Despite its name, the area looked like a simple town: cobbled streets, plain storefronts, and a central fountain trickling quietly amid the growing noise.
A new life is waiting just ahead.
A new life for my loser self!
Yor stood frozen, stunned by the sheer number of them. He wasn't trying to get emotional, but his eyes were stinging on their own.
His heart was pounding.
Doki-doki.
Doki-doki.
Is he really witnessing history unfold before him?!
[Deimos Online]
Deimos Online was the world's first full-dive VRMMO—an unprecedented leap in gaming technology. Its release shattered records, selling over 248 million copies worldwide within just 24 hours.
It pushed the boundary between game and reality so far that it blurred. The graphics, the weight of sound, the sensation of the wind—it wasn't just immersive. It was indistinguishable from real life.
Powered by the revolutionary HALO full-dive system, players didn't just play the game—it became a refuge for those seeking a second life.
Because their life sucks.
Reality sucks!
Good graphics, but boring gameplay.
Yor walked over to a nearby fountain and leaned down, staring at his reflection in the water. The surface rippled gently, but he could still see his face—short, black hair falling around his ears and amber eyes looking back at him.
Ohhh! That's definitely me!
He wore basic starter armor—light leather with cheap metal plates. Around him, others had the same gear but customized with different colors and styles to show some personality.
Yor kept his face the way it was—he figured he was kinda handsome in his own way.
He walked as the wind stirred his hair and warm sunlight broke through the clouds. Even the grass smelled real.
I've been waiting for a game that I can play for the rest of my life.
I think... this is it.
I wonder if I can use my sense of taste here.
He turned his eyes to a potted plant beside him, plucked a small branch, and ate a leaf.
He bit into the leaf and immediately froze. The bitterness hit his tongue so sharply, it shocked him.
No way! I can actually taste it!
Suddenly, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He couldn't believe he could actually taste it.
"What the hell are you doing?"
A yellow-haired guy walked toward him—about 5'8", with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. He was disgustingly good-looking, like someone who didn't even need to try.
Yor couldn't make out the face—his eyes were too blurry with tears—but the voice gave it away. He quickly wiped his tears and cleared his throat.
"Someone told me that eating a leaf can give you an SSS rank skill," Yor said, deadpan. It was a blatant lie, but you'd never know it from his face.
Tsk. This guy always shows up at the most awkward times.
"Really?! Give me it!"
Ludwig snatched the potted plant straight from Yor's hands before Yor could react.
"Cheers!" he said, raising the potted plant a bit.
"Oh, I can feel power surging through me!"
Leaves were already in his mouth, chewed in a frenzy.
A few nearby players glanced over—some confused, some genuinely concerned—then quickly looked away.
"This must be the SSS rank skill!" he yelled, each word louder than the last. Bits of leaf flew from his mouth as he screamed, wild-eyed and shaking.
Then, without any warning, Ludwig suddenly lunged forward—trying to headbutt Yor, but the game instantly intervened.
A glowing message suddenly popped up in front of them:
[Attacking is prohibited during initialization.]
They both blinked, exchanged a look, and shrugged.
"Wait—why are you even here, Ludwig? You said you weren't playing," Yor asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I was joking! But I'll miss playing first-person shooters—"
"Don't," Yor said, cutting him off and pinching Ludwig's fat lips shut like a duckbill.
Ludwig let out a muffled noise, looking at him like bro, really?
"Look around you."
Ludwig zoned out while taking in the scene.
Some were crying, staring at their hands in disbelief.
But his mind suddenly shifted to the adventure ahead, and Yor's chatter faded into background noise.
"This isn't just another MMORPG you play," Yor said. "This is another reality—another life. You don't wanna skip this."
Yor noticed a grin slowly forming on Ludwig's face.
Yor let out a deep sigh. Ludwig was already zoning out, probably imagining leveling up or getting ahead of everyone.
"Another life? That's such a loser take," Ludwig said, snapping out of his daze. His eyes refocused—like a chameleon's, after drifting apart.
Then, suddenly—an uproar.
Players pointed their fingers at the ripples forming in the sky. The center of the ripple gradually opened, revealing a void. From that void, a star emerged and began to fall.
"The gods are watching!" they chanted again and again.
"That's her!"
Yor and Ludwig snapped to attention.
"Who's her? What's gonna happen?" Ludwig asked. He looked around, totally lost. Judging by the way everyone else was reacting, something big was going on—and only he and Yor had missed the memo.
"That's her—the star girl from every Deimos Online advertisment."
"She's the one whos gonna explain this big World Event that's about to happen after the initialization phase."
Yor glanced at the guy next to him. "World Event?"
"Yeah," the guy nodded, eyes still fixed ahead. "A test where the gods start choosing players—the best of the best—to be their champions."
A voice suddenly cut through the crowd.
"I-It's her! The magical witch girl, Winter!"