New Era City, Capital of Alpha.
Amazingly designed skyscrapers towered up to the sky with the sunlight reflecting from their glass windows. Abundant commerce filled the streets of the city alongside numerous restaurants, ranging from small-scale ones to high-class first-rate restaurants. One could see innumerable people coming and going from the streets, they were like ants that filled the places with their numbers.
There was a plethora of carefully designed modern to classical houses and apartment complexes, alongside luxurious mansions and a great number of four and five-star hotels that were built on different levels of lands, competing against each other.
The abundant and lush trees, the bountiful grasses, the beautiful and unique types of flowers; all the greenery and nature alongside the buildings added a hint of natural beauty to the modern yet classical New Era City.
Inside a rustic, clearly worn-down dojo, punching bags hung from the wooden ceiling alongside numerous wooden training dummies that filled the place.
At this moment, at the dojo's backyard, an old hammock tied between two trees could be seen swinging, with a figure on top who seemed to be sleeping.
"Ah, finally, there's none of that nagging voice around." the figure suddenly said.
As a refreshing breeze blew by, this place resembled a quiet picturesque scene that was taken from a classic movie.
As the hammock continued swinging, the figure's appearance could be seen.
He had jet-black hair that flowed along with the breeze and incredibly smooth skin that one would mistake for a woman's. He had sharp features with a perfectly sculpted nose and lips; he seemed to be around 19 years old.
Even with his eyes closed, one would find it hard to find a person with a face comparable to this young man's.
At that moment, the young man's tranquil expression suddenly disappeared as he abruptly opened his eyes.
He propped himself up and stared at the blue sky which he found quite dull at this moment.
As his true amber eyes, that could be said to be golden in color, stared at the firmament, a downcast sigh inevitably escaped his lips.
"Old master... where have you gone?" Jaden whispered.
He couldn't help but remember those times that he both wished to and not to forget at the same time.
As he held the hammock still, he leaned forward and extended his arm to the ground, grabbing a black, futuristic-looking helmet.
...
"Brat, come over here." said a slender old man with a long white beard.
This old man had his back straight akin to a sword and his cheeks had a tint of red, clearly suggesting his energy and vitality despite his age. His eyebrows were white and his short hair gray.
The old man beckoned at the familiar figure that was doing a punching routine in front of a punching bag.
"What is it this time, old master?" asked Jaden as he delivered a casual punch to the punching bag.
Thud!
As Jaden turned around, a hole that was clearly ripped open presented itself on the other side of the punching bag all of a sudden. The grains of sand flowing out from it could be seen.
Staring at the black helmet that the old man carried, a queer expression took hold of Jaden's face unconsciously before he shouted.
"What the! Master! Where did you stea—"
Wham!
Jaden didn't even finish his words before a resounding slap reverberated in the surrounding.
"Oh?" Surprised, the old man looked at the arm that blocked his palm before taking his hand back. His face turned a bit red, clearly embarrassed as he grinned. "Brat, just 'cos you've gotten a teeny tiny bit better, you plan to rebel huh?"
Jaden simply smirked in response before shifting his eyes onto the black helmet.
"Ehem."
Pretending that nothing just happened, the old man slightly coughed before extending his left hand, which held the black helmet, towards Jaden.
"A game will come out very soon. It's going to be unprecedented and will surpass all of its predecessors and peers," he said with a grin. "This is a gaming helmet specially dedicated to that game, and it's yours now! As for the gaming capsule, it's in your room."
Stroking his beard, the old man had a satisfied smile on his face, clearly expecting an awed response. "How is it, impressive no?"
...
Jaden couldn't help but laugh when he remembered his reaction back then. Stroking the black helmet, he sighed and thought. 'It's been almost a year since he disappeared... is he really not coming back?'
The helmet had no cords, and other than the letters [D-01] on its surface, a button, and a speaker, there was nothing else.
Taking out his touchscreen phone from his pocket, Jaden unlocked it as he looked at the time.
"It's noon," he said as he stared at the [12:00] clock on the screen. "It should be time."
Stepping out of the hammock, he started walking back inside the house and towards his room.
The room was pretty small but it was clean and tidy. There was barely any design or pieces of furniture other than the essential ones like the bed, chairs, and etc.
However, the one thing that did stand out amongst all others was the obsidian-colored gaming capsule right beside his bed.
Jaden walked towards it and stroked its sleek surface. The external was simple. There wasn't anything else except a small chamber for nutritional liquids and food that entered a tube that would keep the person healthy without feeling hungry while inside. Other than that, there was also a small screen with a shape that outlined a palm displayed on it.
Extending his hand, Jaden put his palm on the screen.
A second later—
Ding!
Whoosh—
The screen suddenly brightened as the surface of the gaming capsule started to slowly separate, revealing a small room that seemed to exactly fit Jaden's body.
Jaden took a deep breath before putting on the helmet and laying inside.
Whoosh!
A second later, the parted surface started closing.
'It's dark...' Jaden thought as a visor suddenly dropped down from above and covered his eyes.
Right then, two rays of light beamed out from the visor as it shot at Jaden's eyes.
And then—
[Ding!]
[Optical Analysis complete!]
[Identity confirmed!]
[Would you like to launch the game Everlasting?]
"Yes."
Although a bit surprised at the presence of the systematic voice, Jaden subconsciously agreed.
[Launching Everlasting now, please wait a moment.]
At that moment, gas similar to dry ice suddenly sprayed all over his face, forcing him to close his eyes.
And then—
[Ding! Loading Complete]
[Welcome to the Everlasting World!]