Today is April 20, 2096.
Shen woke up early, the anticipation of the day weighing heavily on him. The Axon Gear was scheduled to arrive today, and he could hardly contain his excitement. He tried to calm himself by sticking to his daily routine, beginning with his morning workout. His muscles tightened and relaxed as he moved through a series of stretches and exercises, the familiar burn helping him focus.
Afterward, he stepped into the shower, feeling the hot water ease the tension in his body. Still, despite his best efforts, his mind kept wandering to the Axon Gear. "It's already noon, where's the delivery?" he muttered to himself, glancing at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time. His patience was wearing thin, but then, as if in answer, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the quiet house.
He dashed to the door and flung it open, finding a delivery man standing there with a wide smile. The package in his hands was unmistakable—Shen's Axon Gear had finally arrived.
"Hello, sir," the delivery man greeted, holding out the box. "This is your Axon Gear. We apologize for the delay. This area is a bit isolated, so it took us longer than expected to find your place." His tone was polite, even apologetic.
Shen couldn't help but smile in return, his irritation melting away now that the package was here. "No worries, as long as it's here now." He signed the receipt quickly, eager to get his hands on the gear.
"Thank you for your patience, sir. Enjoy the game," the delivery man said before leaving.
Shen barely closed the door behind him before tearing into the box. Inside was the Axon Gear—sleek, futuristic, and slightly intimidating. The helmet was designed to fit snugly, with several intricate wires and sensors that would attach to his head, allowing full immersion into the virtual world. Next to it, the manual lay open, detailing how to set it up.
He carefully followed the instructions, attaching the necessary wires to the correct spots on his scalp. Lying back on his bed, Shen took a deep breath, his heart racing. This was it. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the experience.
Moments later, a strange sensation washed over him. It felt as though his consciousness was being pulled away, sucked into a vast emptiness. He was drifting in a void—weightless, detached from his body. Then, slowly, a semiconscious state took over, not unlike lucid dreaming. Shen felt aware, but not quite in control.
When he opened his eyes, the world around him had changed completely. He was floating in an endless white space, a stark contrast to the dim room he had just been in.
"Hello, User 4693," a voice called from behind him, making Shen flinch. He spun around to find a ball of light hovering in the air. "I am the AI assigned to guide you through the character creation process."
Shen's breath caught in his throat. This was unlike anything he had ever experienced—the world, the AI, it all felt so real, so tangible. He opened his mouth to respond, but the AI continued before he could speak.
"To access your character screen, simply imagine it, and it will appear," the AI explained in a monotone voice. "Please note that during character creation, you can only choose your appearance, race, and starting location. Everything else, including your abilities and progress, will be determined once you enter the game."
Without warning, a character screen materialized before Shen, displaying an array of races for him to choose from. The variety was overwhelming.
Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Demons were the main races, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Then, below them, Shen noticed the more monstrous races—Goblins, Orcs, Vampires, Dhampirs, and other creatures typically relegated to fantasy lore.
Shen's eyes lingered on the Demon race. "It would be so cool to play as a Demon," he thought, imagining himself wielding dark powers and terrifying other players. "But humans… they're versatile, adaptable. And I won't be boxed into any one style of play."
After a few minutes of consideration, Shen finalized his decision. "I'll go with the Human race. It's a safe bet, and I can't go wrong with flexibility."
As soon as he made his selection, the AI spoke again, "User 4693, please select your character name before proceeding."
Shen didn't have to think long. "Ashen," he declared, choosing a name that felt both familiar and distant—a nod to his real name, but distinct enough for the virtual world.
"Character creation complete. Good luck, User 4693," the AI chimed before vanishing into the void.
Suddenly, a feeling of weightlessness hit him again, as though he was being pulled into another dimension. The sensation of falling intensified before it all went black.
When Shen—or rather, Ashen—opened his eyes again, he was standing in a vast, open field within the game. The air smelled fresh, the wind rustled through the trees, and the sky above stretched infinitely. For the first time in his life, Shen felt an exhilarating sense of freedom.
[Status Window]
Name: Ashen
Race: Human
Hit Points: 50/50
Mana: 25/25
Attack Damage: 5
Magical Damage: 5
Physical Defense: 5
Magical Defense: 0
Job Class: None
Sub Class: None
< Strength: 13>
< Agility: 18>
< Intelligence: 5>
< Vitality: 5>
Skills: None
Titles: None
Ashen marveled at the interface, the status window hovering in front of him like a holographic screen. He inspected his stats, noting that his agility was his strongest attribute. "Not bad," he thought, already planning out his character's development.
The world felt astonishingly real. The immersive technology of the Axon Gear allowed him to feel the subtle differences in texture, the wind brushing against his skin, even the weight of his footsteps on the ground. Everything was designed to mimic reality as closely as possible.
His gaze scanned the horizon, wondering what challenges awaited him in this new world. For the first time in a long while, Shen felt something more than just excitement—he felt a sense of purpose. In this game, he could forge a new path, free from the burdens of his past. Ashen was no longer bound by the limitations of the real world.
The journey had just begun.