The year is 2150, and the game "Beyond Realms" had recently taken over the world.
A young man, Liam, arrives in Brook City, a second-tier futuristic megalopolis, only to realize that it lacks the grandeur he expected. The city swallows him with its vastness and complexity as he walks through its bustling streets.
Liam despairs as he discovers his money has vanished, a victim of a clever transport scam during his journey. Penniless, he finds himself lost in a sea of neon and concrete.
His eyes fixate on the imposing headquarters of Nexus Corp, the company responsible for the spread of "Beyond Realms." There, he hopes to find answers to the mysterious dreams tormenting him, dreams that led him to leave his hometown. The glass building gleams under the city lights, imposing and bustling, with people watching epic battles on screens surrounding the structure.
Navigating through the crowd, Liam finds himself next to a stylish young man. The guy, named Oliver Harrington, admires the virtual spectacle of a skilled player displayed on a screen near the entrance of Nexus Corp.
"Did you see that move? Dude... Simply amazing!" exclaimed Oliver, fascinated.
Liam, trying to maintain composure, comments with a discreet smile. "Hmm? But he just punched straight ahead, why didn't the other just dodge?"
Oliver, not paying much attention to Liam, shares his enthusiasm. "You're new here, aren't you? That's Ali Storm, one of the strongest boxers in Brook City. Even if the opponent wanted to dodge, he wouldn't be able to."
Watching the fight, Liam couldn't help but sigh disapprovingly. "Damn, this guy is just throwing brute force. If it were me, I'd apply a more strategic move. It's not just about strength; it's about timing, precision, understanding the opponent's movement. Could have exploited an opening there, a smarter footwork, something beyond just throwing punches like a raging gorilla. This is pathetic."
Liam's expression reflected the frustration of someone witnessing wasted potential. He saw martial arts as an art, a dance, or even a war, with controlled chaos and energy. Watching a spectacle without real technique left a bitter taste in his mouth. "This kind of fighting may impress laymen, but for someone who understands, it's like watching an idiot scribbling on a blank canvas. Purposeless, artless, utterly worthless." Liam, still discontented, continued observing, hoping to see a glimmer of true skill emerge in that display of random punches.
Oliver, surprised by the observation, responds with a relaxed smile. "Huh, a martial arts critic, eh? Here, what matters is the thrill, pure action. Strategy is for masters, but Ali Storm is here to entertain. If you think you can do better, maybe you should sign up for the battles. Who knows, you might become the next big name in Brook City, huh?"
Liam, undeterred, retorts. "So you prefer empty spectacle to true skill?"
Oliver, teasingly, replies: "Here, it's the city of entertainment, my dear. If you want art, maybe you're in the wrong place."
Liam, not letting himself be intimidated, shoots a challenging look at Oliver. "So you think random punches and shouts are the epitome of entertainment? True skill is an art in itself, something you and this blind crowd seem not to understand."
The discussion between the two attracts curious glances from the surrounding crowd. Oliver, now feeling the need to assert himself, responds with a skeptical laugh. "Art or not, people want to see action. And Ali Storm delivers that like no one else. If you're so confident in your skill, maybe you should show what you can do in the arena."
Liam, with a sarcastic smile, leaves a provocation hanging. "Who knows, maybe I will. But I guarantee it will be a lesson in true mastery, not a cheap show to entertain the ignorant masses."
Oliver, facing Liam's challenge, raises an eyebrow in defiance. "Oh, really? Think you can outdo Ali Storm? I'm willing to bet that if you enter the arena, you won't last more than a few minutes against him. If I lose, I promise to buy a round at the trendiest bar in Brook City. But if I win... well, I'll think of something." A glint of cunning passes through Oliver's eyes.
Liam, accepting the bet with a confident smile, responds: "Deal. Get ready to be amazed at what true skill can achieve. Just hope you're ready to fulfill your end of the bet."
As Liam walks away toward Nexus Corp, thinking he might have a decent dinner tonight even without money, a murmur of anticipation spreads through the crowd. The news of the challenge between a random martial arts critic and Oliver Harrington, the famous young master of the Harrington family, begins to spread like wildfire, creating palpable excitement.
The atmosphere buzzes with excitement and speculation as people prepare for what they believe will be an extraordinary duel.
At the entrance of Nexus Corp, Liam realizes the immensity of the glass and neon-lit building. A giant screen displays epic battles of "Beyond Realms," further fueling the crowd's anticipation. As he approaches, he notices a line of enthusiastic players, all eager to enter the arena and showcase their skills.
Liam, however, feels lost amidst the complexity of the place. Hesitating, he looks at Oliver, who is still watching from a distance. With a sigh, Liam turns back to the stylish young man.
"Hey, buddy, can you give me a hand here? I have no idea how to get into this arena," Liam says with a sheepish expression of confusion.
Oliver, letting out a laugh, responds: "Ah, of course, you're new to this, huh? Come with me; I'll show you how things work around here."
The two walk toward the entrance of Nexus Corp, while Oliver explains the procedures for participating in virtual battles. Liam, still a bit lost, observes the building that doesn't resemble the dojos of his family and wonders how the duels here might be conducted.
On the way, Oliver casually asks, "Hey, haven't caught your name yet. What is it?"
Liam, with a friendly smile, replies: "I'm Liam Mercer. I came from a village in the mountains."
Oliver, surprised, comments: "Village in the mountains? That explains the 'out of place' vibe. I'm Oliver Harrington, from the Harrington family. Welcome to civilization, Liam, haha."
As they reach the reception of Nexus Corp, Oliver is recognized by the receptionist, who greets him with a shy smile. "Young Master Harrington! How may I serve you today?"
Oliver, with a knowing look at Liam, responds: "I'm showing Liam here how things work. He wants to get into the action."
The receptionist, still smiling, looks at Liam and asks, "So, ready to join the fun?"
Liam, feeling a bit more at ease with the laid-back atmosphere of the people around, replies with a nod. "Sure, why not? Let's see what the fighters here are capable of."
The receptionist, with a friendly smile, checks some information in the system. "Great! Liam, right? What's your experience with Beyond Realms?"
Liam, intrigued, asks, "'Beyond,' what?"
The receptionist, with a puzzled face, patiently explains to him: "You're here without knowing anything about this place?"
Liam nods, and in the background, we see Oliver bursting into laughter.
Surprised by Liam's lack of knowledge, the receptionist explains with patience: "Beyond Realms is an extremely popular virtual game. Here, people can enhance their skills, participate in challenges and virtual duels. It's like a mix of martial arts, magic, and strategy, all within an incredible virtual universe."
Liam, scratching his head, admits, "Well, nobody in my family ever told me about this. But since I'm here, why not give it a try?"
Oliver, still amused by the situation, approaches Liam and comments, "This is going to be interesting... I want to see if your attitude earlier was just arrogance or actual skill."
The receptionist, realizing Liam's ignorance, hands Oliver a holographic screen. "Please fill in some basic information to create your account in Beyond Realms. Just give your name; you need to come up with a username and choose a class to participate in the free demo we offer at Nexus Corp."
[Name: Liam Mercer]
[Age: 19 years]
[Username: Viper]
[Class: -see more-]
Liam, intrigued, takes the device and starts filling in the information. As he does so, Oliver watches with curiosity. "Going to choose which class?"
Seeing the limited variety of classes with tacky names, Liam thinks for a moment and responds, "I guess I'll stick to family traditions. I'll go with the Martial Artist class."
Oliver, with an approving smile, comments, "Martial Artist, huh? Seems like we'll have a traditional warrior among us. Can't wait to see your skills in action."
Liam, with the screen filled, hands the device to the receptionist. "Ready for action. Let's see what this virtual world has to offer."
The receptionist, satisfied, takes the device and connects it to the system. Meanwhile, a hint of disapproval crosses her eyes. "Good luck, Viper. I scheduled a duel in the temporary arena for you. Good luck... you're going to need it."
Liam, having no idea what awaits him, feels a mix of excitement and nervousness as the receptionist guides him to an area with various virtual reality capsules. He observes other players preparing for their own challenges, each immersed in their virtual world.
The receptionist points to an empty capsule and says, "Enter here, Viper. Your duel is about to begin. Hope you're ready to face the unknown."
Liam swallows hard, but with determination, he enters the capsule. As the lid closes, he finds himself immersed in complete darkness. Gradually, he begins to feel the transition to the virtual world, a unique sensory experience. Darkness is replaced by a digital landscape, and Liam finds himself in a vast and mysterious environment, ready to confront the unknown.