The sun had set over the city of New York, cloaking it in a familiar darkness, contrasting with the echoing life that thrummed beneath the night sky.
As many called it the City of Dreams, the Big Apple shone brightly under neon signs' glow, casting a soft light over the concrete jungle.
Each streetlight above painted a golden trail on the pavement, shadows dancing like faraway stars among the hectic crowd—after all, it was Downtown Manhattan.
Beyond the intricate maze of one-way avenues, loud chatter of the crowds, and honking car horns, a local gaming store stood as a beacon of suspense for a select group.
The warm light of the storefront spilled onto the sidewalk through the glass windows where a small gathering of friends awaited the midnight release of the latest sensation in virtual gaming: Crowns of Legacies, affectionately known worldwide as CoL.
The crisp air was sharp as it fell against their skin, filled with the earthy scent of autumn mingling with the sweet, sugary aroma of nearby food stalls.
Excitement hummed, amplifying the thrill of the impending digital adventure as the clock ticked, each second heightening the eagerness in the air.
The windows were plastered with pictures of fictional characters wielding swords and magic, each more fantastic than the last.
It was a world where the rules of reality bent to the player's will.
Among the eager faces of the crowd stood Johan Heylel, a man tall enough to see over the heads of offensive and defensive linemen. His dark and curly hair framed piercing brown eyes, betraying a quiet storm within them.
I don't get it. Why does everyone here find so much joy in this? Johan thought as his eyes scanned the people waiting in the long line.
He crossed his arms as he pondered, listening to their energetic chatter. Despite the infectious energy that seemed to crackle through the line, he felt like an outsider in a world that yearned for virtual adventure.
The year was 2035, but the game that revolutionized the industry launched in 2029—The Virtual Odyssey, TvO.
It offered players something they'd never had before in gaming: unprecedented immersion. It allowed players to engage in a world where the senses blurred and the boundaries between reality and the digital realm dissolved.
For most, it was a dream realized, but for Johan, it felt like a step too far for humanity—a venture into a reality he preferred to keep at arm's length.
As his friends animatedly debated character classes and battle strategies they would use in the game—curiosity began to boil within him.
Though he had no intention of purchasing the game and had only been there because his friends dragged him out of his studio apartment, a small part of him longed to share in their camaraderie.
To dive into the universe that so captivated his friends had some appeal, even though it was a world that had never fully enticed him.
Beside him was Maya Reselda, her long midnight-black curls cascading down her back like a waterfall of shadows. Her emerald eyes sparkled with innocent excitement as she adjusted the colorful pins and patches that flooded over her leather jacket—a vivid reflection of her adventurous spirit.
To the front of them, Jake Armstrong and Christopher Abis formed a dynamic duo, contrasting each other in every way yet inseparable.
With his rugged good looks and confident demeanor, Jake exuded a strength that hinted at years spent pursuing physical excellence.
Chris, slender and sharp-witted, wore glasses perched precariously on his nose. His passionate arguments about character classes and builds illustrated the depth of his enthusiasm for CoL and gaming overall.
Sarah Sage was at the forefront of the pack. A fiery redhead whose determination matched her loyalty. Her freckled cheeks flushed as she focused excitedly on the prize awaiting them inside.
"Come on, Johan! You've got to get in on this!" Jake exclaimed, giving him a playful shove that nearly knocked him off balance.
The glint in Jake's eyes urged Johan to join the fray, but he remained steadfast. Johan shrugged, shaking his head slowly as if trying to shake off their keenness like water from a drenched coat.
He thought they didn't get it, watching their faces light up joyfully at the thought of him spending his hard-earned money on the game.
Suddenly, a loud bang from above drew Johan's attention upward. The streetlights flashed with an odd intensity, and the night sky transformed into a canvas of shifting colors—waves of green, pink, and purple danced across it like brushstrokes from an unseen artist, rippling with a supernatural glow that made the stars seem to come alive.
"...What the hell? Did you guys see that?" Johan muttered but got no response. His words had fallen short, drowned out by the optimistic chatter surrounding him.
No one else seemed to have noticed the celestial display, and for a moment, he felt as though he alone were standing apart from reality itself.
Must be my eyes playing tricks on me, he thought, trying to shake off the unsettling sensation creeping into his mind. But before he could dwell on the event further, Maya's voice sliced through his thoughts.
"Johan, you're getting the game. First, we pre-ordered it for you, and you're already in line. Secondly, we bought you the system for it ages ago. It's just collecting dust now at your place. So unappreciative."
"...Damn," Johan scratched the back of his head. He knew she was right; it was their birthday gift for him, and he knew there was no winning now that Maya brought light to it. "Fine, I'll get the game, alright?"
"Maya, that was a damn good point! So unappreciative of him!" Chris mentioned, but their excitement quickly shifted focused as Sarah shouted, "Look! They're opening the doors!"
As the line began to surge forward, a touch of intrigue ignited within Johan. Was it from the conversation with his friends about the game or his longing to end his solo gaming nights? Who knew?
"If this game sucks, you all owe me big time."
Sarah laughed, "Don't worry. You'll love it."
"And if not, you can always blame me," Maya said, nudging him with a chuckle. Johan laughed and replied, "I'll remember you said that."
He figured that maybe the game wouldn't be so bad after all if he was with his friends.
But, after picking up his copy of the game and exiting the store, Johan felt his unease return.
Something felt off about the moment—something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
The group began their walk, intending to return to the apartment complex to play the game, but Johan's eyes fell on a shadow lurking in the distance.
Though he could not see the figures face, covered as it was by a baggy hood, Johan could feel its gaze sending a shiver down his spine.
"Yo, guys. Don't look," Johan whispered, not wanting to draw attention to the figure. "Be chill, but I think we have unwanted company."
Jake glanced back, his expression hardening as he spotted the person strolling behind them. "You know them?"
"Damn it, what are you? An idiot? I said don't look," Johan scoffed. "Why the hell would I know who that is? But they've been following us since we left the store."
Maya, ever wise, caught the tension in Johan's eyes. "Do you think they're up to something?"
"Who knows? But for now, I say we keep an eye on them," Johan declared, his attempts to stay calm failing to the growing suspicion that continued to boil up from his gut.
Still riding the high of their purchase, Sarah attempted to wave away their concerns. "You guys are just being paranoid. It's probably nothing."
"Says you," Chris replied, earning a slight elbow to the abdomen from her.
Johan desperately wanted to believe Sarah was right, but his instincts screamed otherwise. As they continued walking, the hooded figure rapidly closed the distance between them, matching their pace with alarming precision.
Suddenly, the hooded figure lunged forward, a sharp blade in hand, but concealed just enough to avoid unwanted attention: "Don't move, and don't make a noise."
The voice was that of a man, venom dripping from his words.
Johan and his friends froze; the man's sudden aggression caught them off guard. Jake, ever the group's peacemaker, spoke, his voice steady: "Hey, man, just take it easy. We don't want any trouble. Is it the game? Here, you can have it."
Jake offered his copy of CoL, but the hooded man was uninterested in negotiation. He walked through the group with a terrifying aura until he stood directly before Johan. It was like a storm of hatred and desperation emitted from his body.
"...You..." he hissed, pointing the blade at Johan. "I've always hated you."
"...Me? Do I even know you?" Johan asked as he stared down the knife, his anger simmering beneath the surface of his skin.
But before the conversation could continue, a voice shouted, "He's got a knife!" and the hooded man faltered, startled by the voice and crowd turning their attention to him.
He took one final look at Johan before spitting in his face and sprinting through the crowd.
For a moment, Johan stood still, rooted to the spot, wiping the spit from his face. His heart raced, disbelief washing over him, the weight crashing down on him. The world around him became a blur of sound and motion as irritation and humiliation roiled within him.
"Hey, you alright?"
Jake's voice cut through Johan's haze, but he couldn't respond. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by the injustice of the situation. The audacity of the hooded man ignited a fire within him that burned hotter with each passing second.
Without thinking, Johan took off, driven by a primal need for retribution or, in simpler terms, revenge.
"Johan! Stop!" his friends called for Johan to stop, but he had already left them far behind, weaving through the crowded streets until he found the hooded man, who continued to sprint ahead.
The chase led him through narrow alleys and busy sidewalks. The hooded man maneuvered around the obstacles in his path, shoving people to the side if he had to. Johan's breath came in sharp gasps, his legs burning with effort as he pushed himself to close the gap.
Finally, with a sudden burst of speed, Johan caught up, tackling the hooded man. The impact sent them both crashing onto the pavement. Johan pinned the hooded man down; his fist clenched as he blacked out, unleashing a flurry of blows to make him pay for what he'd done.
But before he knew it, Jake and Chris were by his side.
"Johan! Ease up!" Chris yelled, dragging him off the man.
Johan watched as the hooded man struggled beneath Jake's hold, and the night erupted into even more chaos. The crowd's murmurs blended with a distant wail that took some time to make out: police sirens.
"...Shit... Someone called the cops. We need to get out of here," Chris warned as the flashing red-and-blue lights drew closer, bullying their way through traffic.
In a desperate motion, the hooded man used all his might and shoved Jake off him. He reached into his pocket and drew a gun, aiming it directly at Johan.
The gun glinted ominously under the billboard lights as he stared down the barrel.
"Are you for real?!" Johan growled. "You think pulling a gun on me will make things any better for you?!"
"Say another word... I dare you..." the hooded man threatened, this time his grip on the gun tightened, and his finger twitched dangerously close to the trigger.
Jake's eyes darted around the area as the crowd began to scatter at the sight of the weapon. "Johan, don't tempt him... He's not kidding..."
But regardless of the warning, in a split-second moment, the gun fired, and Johan's world descended into slow motion.
The bullet emerged from the gun in a graceful arc. Its silver casing illuminated as it sliced through the air. Johan's eyes locked onto it, the sharp metallic whine of its trajectory piercing right towards him.
He could see every detail, from the bullet's rifling marks and wobble as it sped toward him to the light's fleeting reflection dancing across its surface.
Time stretched endlessly as the bullet was about to close the distance, but then a blinding light engulfed Johan, consuming everything around him in an intense radiance.
The world warped and blurred, the sensation of being pulled through a vortex encircling him as reality faded into the light.