The air was thick with anticipation as the black curtain loomed behind Prince Tarif on stage, signalling that something monumental was about to happen. The crowd's whispers began to ripple through the convention hall, those who had gathered from all corners of the world buzzing with excitement. A select few in the audience even exchanged glances, recognizing faint echoes of the past.
"Isn't that the girl from the leaked video?" someone murmured.
"Yeah, you remember? That project. The one that went viral—three students with this insane new tech."
The conversations bubbled under the surface, the excitement growing more palpable as people started to put two and two together. This was it—the next step in the journey that had begun with a small final-year university project. NexaCorp, born from a flash of brilliance, was now on the verge of revealing its groundbreaking invention.
As the murmurs of the audience continued, Prince Tarif's voice cut through.
"And now, it is time for one of NexaCorp's original visionaries to take the stage. Please welcome Hye-su."
The moment the spotlight shifted to Hye-su, the room fell into a tense hush. She walked confidently toward the podium, dressed in sleek yet understated professional attire. Her calm yet determined expression reflected years of preparation for this very moment. She was no longer the unsure student from years ago. She was now a leader, standing at the helm of something extraordinary.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Hye-su began, her voice steady but powerful, cutting through the silence. "What you are about to witness is not only the unveiling of our latest project but the culmination of years of hard work, countless hours of innovation, and a dream that started long before any of us truly understood its potential."
Her presence on the stage seemed to ignite a flurry of murmurs again—people in the crowd recalling the leaked footage of three students, exhausted yet determined, presenting their project to a board of professors.
"Is that her?" they whispered. "The girl from the video? Is this what they've been building all this time?"
But Hye-su was undeterred by the whispers. If anything, they fueled her confidence. She had waited for this moment, and nothing would shake her now.
"Years ago," she continued. "Our project was leaked. What you saw then was a prototype—a glimpse of something that we hadn't fully grasped ourselves. But today, I'm proud to stand before you, alongside my incredible team, to show you what that project has become."
The atmosphere was electric. The audience leaned in, eager to hear more.
"This is not just the next step of our project," she said, a small smile forming on her lips. "This is an entirely new beginning."
The whispers died down as the crowd focused, hooked by her words.
"When we started this journey, we didn't know how far we'd go. We faced setbacks—doubts, challenges, and more than a few sleepless nights. But what drove us was a belief. A belief that what we were creating could change the world."
Hye-su's voice softened, but the intensity in her eyes grew.
"And now, we stand before you with something that is no longer a dream, no longer a prototype, but a fully realized, immersive experience that will redefine how we interact with technology, gaming, and reality itself. I present to you, NexaRealm."
The buzz in the room hit a fever pitch, people now realizing they were on the brink of witnessing the unveiling of something extraordinary.
Hye-su gestured toward the centre of the stage as the black curtain slowly began to rise, revealing the next stage of their project: the first generation of the Realm device. It was sleek, futuristic, and miles beyond the rough, clunky prototype that had once been leaked to the world. The audience gasped at the sight of it—a head-mounted device that looked less like a helmet and more like a streamlined accessory, the kind you'd expect to see in a high-budget sci-fi film.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hye-su said, her voice brimming with pride. "This is the first-generation Realm device. Our team has spent years refining this technology, taking the vision from its early stages and transforming it into a fully functional, cutting-edge system."
The spotlight shifted to the device as it hovered on a display stand, slowly rotating to give everyone in the room a perfect view.
"The first thing you'll notice is the size," Hye-su explained. "Unlike the original prototype, which was heavy, this model weighs just under 500 grams, about the weight of a high-end pair of headphones. It's light enough for prolonged use without causing discomfort."
She motioned to the headband-like structure that wrapped around the device.
"The design team focused on comfort and usability. The headgear is fully adjustable, made with soft padding and memory foam that adapts to the shape of your head over time. We wanted this to be an immersive experience, not a burden to wear."
A technical display lit up behind her, showcasing the intricate internal components of the Realm device.
"Now, let's talk about the battery life," she continued. "With a fully charged device, you'll have approximately 8 hours of continuous use before needing a recharge. The Realm uses a quick-charge system that gets you from zero to 100 per cent in under 45 minutes, thanks to our integrated energy-efficient cells. You'll never be tethered to an outlet for long."
The audience was captivated, some already whispering amongst themselves as they took out their phones to note down key details.
"One of our greatest achievements," Hye-su added. "Is the system's ability to deliver incredible graphics and processing power without overheating. It's powered by a custom-built AI chipset that ensures smooth gameplay and real-time responsiveness, even in the most intense gaming scenarios."
As she spoke, the screen behind her showcased footage of the device in action—virtual landscapes bursting with colour and detail, characters moving fluidly as if they were alive, and immersive combat sequences where players interacted with their surroundings as though they were truly in the game.
The Realm was no longer just a gaming accessory; it was a portal to another world.
"And now, let's talk about its core functionality," Hye-su said, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "The device isn't just wearable technology—it's an interface between reality and the digital world. With its intuitive controls, powered by a mixture of neural inputs and eye-tracking technology, you can seamlessly transition between the virtual environment and reality. Your movements, thoughts, and interactions within the game are instantaneously processed and reflected in real-time."
The crowd was hanging on every word now, fully invested in the possibilities.
"Of course, safety has been a top priority," Hye-su added. "The Realm is designed with built-in fail-safes, ensuring that users are never overwhelmed by the experience. We've worked closely with experts in neural interfacing to create a system that is both exhilarating and secure."
As she finished, the screen behind her flashed one final image: a player fully immersed in the NexaRealm, wielding a sword against a towering digital foe, their actions perfectly mirrored by their avatar in the game.
"This," Hye-su said, her voice ringing with confidence. "Is the future of gaming. And it all begins with the Realm."
As Hye-su finished her presentation, the room erupted into murmurs of awe and speculation. The Realm device—once a mere dream, a college project that had been prematurely leaked—was now standing before them, fully realized. The crowd's energy was palpable, a mix of curiosity and excitement as they pondered the possibilities of the new world it offered.
Hye-su took a moment to let the buzz settle before glancing at her team behind the scenes. Evie, Daniel, Prince Tarif, Matthieu, and her fellow creators, Hae-won and Jin-ho, were all watching the unfolding reaction with anticipation. They had all worked tirelessly for this moment, each contributing their unique skills to bring the project to life. And now, it was real.
With a final smile, Hye-su took a step back, allowing the spotlight to focus once again on the Realm device itself. The lights dimmed slightly, and the screens shifted to a montage of gameplay footage, showcasing NexaRealm in all its glory. The landscapes were vast and rich with detail, and the combat sequences displayed the kind of fluidity and responsiveness that could only be achieved through years of painstaking development.
The audience's murmurs swelled again as they watched the potential unfold on the screen before them. Some had already begun recording the event on their phones, eager to share the groundbreaking reveal with the rest of the world.
As the final scene played out, Hye-su took a deep breath. This was it. The start of a new era—not just for NexaCorp but for the gaming industry as a whole.
When the footage concluded, Hye-su's voice replayed under the video again, her voice calm but filled with quiet confidence.
"This is just the beginning," the video played, captivating the audience. "The Realm device isn't just a tool for gaming. It's a gateway—a new frontier for how we experience reality, how we interact with virtual worlds, and how we push the boundaries of what's possible."
The room went silent, hanging on her every word.
"With NexaRealm, we've crafted an experience that transcends the limitations of traditional gaming. It's not just about playing a game—it's about living in one."