In a bustling market, a young boy skillfully cooked various seafood dishes at his makeshift stall. Customers eagerly purchased freshly caught fish displayed on the stall, their scales shimmering with pearl-like water droplets, indicating their freshness straight from the ocean. The market was alive with vendors competing loudly, each trying to outsell the other with spirited shouts and enticing offers.

As evening descended, the bustling energy of the market gradually waned. The young boy had worked tirelessly throughout the day, packing up his stall as twilight settled in. Making his way towards the outskirts, he walked for about half an hour until he reached his home—a weathered, single-storey building that exuded a sense of age. Setting up his stall outside the side of his home, he prepared to rest after a long day's work.

Entering his house wearily, he murmured in a tired, low voice, "I'm home."

No one replied....

Of course no one did. His parents had tragically passed away in an ocean accident when he was just 15, leaving him as their only child. Now, three years later, he still missed them deeply. Fortunately, they had left him their home and enough savings to sustain him for some time.

He stripped off his clothes and headed straight for the bath, eager to wash away the sweat and grime accumulated from the day's work. After cleaning up, he stood before the mirror, drying himself off, his reflection staring back at him.

Alois Keke is of medium height with a wiry build, reflecting his active lifestyle on the island. His skin is a warm bronze tone from hours spent outdoors under the Pacific sun, complemented by a sprinkling of freckles across his nose and cheeks. He has tousled dark brown hair that falls onto his eyes, which are a deep shade of brown, often reflecting his curiosity and intensity.

After briefly admiring himself, he dressed and began browsing the internet on his mobile for local news. Articles of all kinds regarding Nauru caught his eye.

Nauru, a small island nation, lives up to its name in every way—especially its size. It holds the distinction of being the smallest democratic country on Earth, home to just 13,000 inhabitants. Its capital, Yaren, serves as the heartbeat of this diminutive nation.

On the outskirts of Yaren, sparsely scattered houses line the coast, including the one where Alois lived. His home was modest, comprising only three rooms: a kitchen, a bedroom, and a combined toilet and bath.

Anyway, back to the news. As he scrolled through articles, he quickly found what he was looking for—it was the most talked-about topic worldwide. The headline read:

" Genesis Frontier "

A new game had launched worldwide, but it wasn't just any game—it was a full-dive virtual reality experience! News coverage speculated wildly on how the game could potentially reshape the world, alter destinies, and even allow players to ascend to god-like status and rule over others.

Despite the hype, concrete information about the game and its creator was nonexistent. People only knew three things for certain: it was a VRMMORPG, accessible solely through a helmet, and scheduled for release on September 1st.

Today was 31 August, 2050.

The helmets were sold globally, including in a small place like Nauru! Motivated by the game's promise of reshaping destinies and the potential to earn real-world money through his success in the game, Alois saw Genesis Frontier as his ticket to a better life. He believed that excelling in this new virtual world could provide the financial stability and excitement he desperately sought. Despite his limited resources, he remained mindful of his spending, having used only 40 percent of his parents' savings in the past three years with his forward-thinking mindset.

After browsing for a while on his mobile, he set it aside and glanced at the helmet resting on the nearby table. He imagined the possibilities the game promised, his mind wandering to fantasies of adventure and financial success. The helmet looked like any other ordinary helmet, and without prior knowledge, he wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from the standard ones.

He sighed, reminding himself, "No daydreaming," before heading to the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner for himself. As darkness had already descended outside, the soft glow of the kitchen lights cast gentle shadows around him. After finishing his meal, he returned to his mobile for a while until his eyelids began to grow heavy with fatigue.

________________________________________

The next day....

Alois woke up early and went through his usual morning routine. However, today was different. He decided to take a break from his regular trips to the market or fishing in the ocean. It was a day he had set aside for himself, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life's journey.

He donned the gaming helmet and settled onto the bed. Pressing a button on its side, he felt his consciousness gradually fading into the unknown. When he regained awareness, all he could see was a single line of text suspended before him, surrounded by complete darkness.

[ Welcome to Genesis Frontier!! The game will launch soon. ]

He looked around and saw nothing but darkness, yet it strangely gave him a soothing sensation. He felt as if his entire body was floating in this comforting void.

He kept floating in this void until it was only 5 minutes to 10 A.M. Then the line of text suspended in front of him changed. It now read :

[ Welcome to Genesis Frontier. The game will launch in 5 minutes... ]

The text updated:

[ Welcome to Genesis Frontier. The game will launch in 4 minutes and 50 seconds... ]

As time passed:

[ ...2 minutes remaining... ]

Finally :

[ Genesis Frontier has launched! Embark on an epic journey and forge your own destiny. ]

[ Will you rise to break the shackles of your predetermined fate, challenging the very fabric of destiny itself? Or will you succumb to its powerful grip, becoming a mere pawn in its grand design? Your choices will shape the future. The frontier awaits your courage, strategy, and resolve. Embrace your power, rally your allies, and write your legend in the annals of Genesis Frontier. The adventure begins now. ]

[ Do you wish to enter? ]

"Yes!!" exclaimed Alois with excitement and determination. His consciousness slipped away once more, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an entirely different scenery.

( Author's Note : I've also published this novel on RoyalRoad. If you wish to donate then you can do it on RoyalRoad. Cheers !! )