Year 2025,
Shinghai Providence, in the city of Westveil , along the streets of Lowbranch, where many poor families reside, Rian and his family were having dinner. It was night, and the smell of stinky tofu filled their small home.
Rian's father, Jonas Valen, gave him advice between bites. "Study hard, Rian. Don't end up like me." His mother, Elara, nodded in agreement, supporting her husband's words, while his little sister played quietly with her food.
Johan Valen looked at his son with a soft yet serious gaze. "We have sacrificed everything to let you two study and become people society will respect," he began, his voice calm but firm. "Rian, I don't have anything against you playing that game, but think about it."
He sighed and continued, "We've already spent money on your sister's school fees, and what's left is for your last year of college. After that, you'll graduate and get a nice job. Then you can enjoy your life. But if you spend that money to buy the pod to play the game… can you even earn money through it?" Johan questioned, his concern clear.
Rian spoke up weakly, barely meeting his father's eyes. "Dad… we can make money through that game," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "I saw it on the news on the way back from college. It's the first game where we can feel almost everything like it's another world. And the game is called Everlasting."
His words hung in the air, the name of the game echoing with a sense of promise and uncertainty.
Johan leaned forward, his brow furrowing as he asked, "But if you can't earn money, then what?"
Rian's voice grew firmer as he responded, "Dad, I want to try the Everlasting game. If I can prove that I can earn enough money to help run this house in one year, will you let me keep playing? And if I can't… then I'll work with you later on."
The room fell silent as Johan considered his son's determined words, the weight of Rian's decision hanging between them.
Rian's mother, Elara, couldn't hold back any longer. She shook her head and spoke up, her tone both frustrated and concerned. "Dear, please give him a good beating. That'll knock some sense into him, make him realize that playing games won't earn him any money."
Her words were sharp, cutting through the tension in the room, but behind them was the worry of a mother who feared her son's future slipping away into something uncertain.
Johan sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as he spoke. "Alright," he said, his voice steady. "But I'll give you six months to earn $10,000. If you can't earn that much, you'll have to sell your gaming pod and come work with me. No excuses."
Elara looked at Johan with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "Dear, why would you agree to this? Please tell me he'll continue his studies."
Their little sister, Lila, watched the unfolding drama with concern. She didn't want her brother to abandon college and chase after a game where earning money was so uncertain. Though she had heard about Everlasting and many of her friends were excited to play, she understood their family's financial situation and didn't want to add to her parents' stress.
Rian's face lit up with determination as he said, "Thank you for your permission, Father. I'll make sure to earn that much money in six months." Without another word, he bolted out of the house, heading straight for the supermarket where the gaming pod was on sale.
As Elara watched him run off, she turned to Johan, her eyes pleading. "Is this really the right choice?"
Johan's expression was resolute. "Let him experience the life where one has to earn money to support a family. That's when he'll truly understand the value of learning and studying for something greater." His voice was firm, carrying the weight of his belief that hardship would teach his son important life lessons.
Lila looked up at her father, her worry evident. "But, Father, isn't $10,000 too much to expect? That amount could feed us for around a year, and you've asked him to earn it in just six months. I mean, even your salary isn't that high."
Her concern reflected the heavy burden placed on Rian, and she hoped her father would reconsider the challenge given its difficulty and the strain it might cause.
Johan looked at Lila with a determined expression. "Sometimes, you need to expect more to achieve more. Without this kind of challenge, he won't push himself hard enough. I want him to work hard, even if it's through playing games, because the toughest tasks are accomplished through hardships."
He hoped that by setting such a high bar, Rian would learn the value of perseverance and dedication.
As Rian hurried through the streets, his excitement grew with each step. After about half an hour of brisk walking, he reached the only shop in town selling the Everlasting gaming pod.
He approached the shop manager with a sense of urgency. "I want one gaming pod for Everlasting," Rian said.
The manager eyed Rian's worn clothes with skepticism, clearly doubting whether Rian could afford the high-priced pod. Nevertheless, he maintained a polite demeanor. "Yes, please wait here while I prepare the bill for one pod."
As the shop manager left to prepare the bill, Rian's attention was drawn to a TV mounted in the shop. The screen displayed a news segment, which announced, "The most realistic game ever made for mankind—whether you call it a world or a VRMMORPG, Everlasting offers an unparalleled experience where you can feel everything as if it were real."
As Rian waited, the TV broadcast continued:
"Let us tell you everything we know about the Everlasting VRMMORPG game.
First, the company behind this groundbreaking game is Eclipse Technologies. They are pioneers in creating the world's first VRMMORPG, revolutionizing the gaming industry.
Second, the game has seen tremendous success, with 56 million gaming pods sold globally. The sales alone have made Eclipse Technologies worth millions of dollars.
Third, Everlasting boasts a massive world with nearly infinite landmass, offering expansive and immersive world-building.
Fourth, the game features many hidden classes, including some that are categorized as exclusive hidden classes, adding depth and mystery to the gameplay.
Fifth, players can earn money through Everlasting. That's right - you can generate income by participating in this virtual world.
Sixth, the game's servers will officially open the day after tomorrow at 8 AM, marking the start of this new virtual adventure.
Seventh, numerous strategy game guilds, including those from games like Empire Wars, will be establishing their presence in Everlasting, adding a competitive edge to the gameplay.
That's it for today's show. Stay healthy and energetic, folks. Goodbye!"
The broadcast ended, leaving Rian even more excited and eager for the game's launch.
As the show ended, the shop manager returned with the bill and handed the slip to Rian. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the amount: $5,000. With his promise to earn $10,000 in six months to support his family, the cost seemed overwhelming. Despite his anxiety, he reluctantly paid the bill.
Seeing the payment go through, the shop manager's smile grew even wider. "Please, sir, fill out this form," he said, handing Rian a document. "You'll need to provide your name, scan your fingerprint, and your address."
Rian looked at the form with confusion. "Why do I need to scan my fingerprint?"
The shop manager explained, "It's to ensure that the pod is recognized as yours and that only you can access the game with it."
Rian was taken aback by the advanced technology, impressed that it had reached such a level of sophistication. He completed the form, marveling at how far technology had come.
After filling out the form, Rian handed it back to the manager, who responded with a smile, "The gaming pod will be delivered to you tomorrow at 5 PM. Please wait patiently."
With the purchase finally complete, Rian left the shop and started the journey back home. As he walked, his mind buzzed with excitement and curiosity. He wondered what class he would be assigned in Everlasting and how he could leverage it to earn the money needed to meet his father Johan's challenge. His thoughts were filled with strategies and possibilities.
Upon reaching home, Rian was immediately bombarded with questions from his little sister, Lila.
She eagerly asked, "How much money did you spend on it? When will the gaming pod arrive? Did you find out anything interesting about the game?"
Her questions came in a rapid-fire barrage, reflecting her own curiosity and excitement about the game.
Rian answered Lila's questions with a tired but determined look. "Well, the gaming pod cost about $5,000. It will arrive tomorrow around 5 PM. As for anything interesting about the game, I'll share that with you later."
Lila's eyes widened in shock as she heard the cost. She lost her footing and fell to the ground, staring up at Rian with a mix of disbelief and frustration. A moment later, she began to shout, "Did you really just buy a gaming pod that costs $5,000? Are you out of your mind, brother? Don't you see how we're living? Why would you spend that much money on something like this?"
Her anger and concern for their family's situation were evident, and her reaction underscored the weight of Rian's decision.
Rian spoke with determination, "I know what I'm doing, and I'm confident I'll make this work. Just trust me on this. And you can buy whatever you want later on, okay?"
His tone was firm, aiming to reassure Lila despite the tension and her visible distress.
Lila reluctantly accepted Rian's assurance about the gaming pod, though she still had reservations. "If you can't make it work, I'll be the one to play the game," she declared.
Rian, with a teasing smile, replied, "Oh, but only I can use that pod. It's registered under my name and fingerprint, so you won't be able to play on it."
Lila's face turned bright red with embarrassment and frustration. She began to hit him playfully, her cheeks flushed. "I don't want your crap right now! Just leave me alone, brother!" she said, pushing him away and turning to sulk in her room.
The next day passed uneventfully until around noon, when Rian took care of his college departure formalities and then picked up Lila from school on his bicycle. After arriving home, he did the household chores and anxiously awaited the arrival of the gaming pod.
At around 6 PM, the pod was finally delivered. It took up a third of the living hall, and both Rian and Lila were thrilled. Elara, though more reserved, smiled at her children's excitement and felt a sense of happiness for them.
Rian quickly set up the pod, plugging it in to start charging. As he read through the manual, he discovered that the pod had a built-in battery, ensuring that even if the power went out, the gaming experience would remain uninterrupted for about 10 hours. This feature eased some of his worries, making the wait for the game's launch feel a bit more manageable.
As Rian opened the pod, a warning message appeared, stating that a drop of blood was needed to verify the account owner. The manual confirmed that each person could only create one avatar or character, which would be permanent and non-reusable.
Despite the initial concern that this rule might favor the wealthy, Rian learned that all players, regardless of their financial status, had an equal chance to obtain a good class or stats. The system ensured a level playing field, so every player's success depended solely on their skills and choices, not their ability to purchase multiple pods.
After Rian provided a drop of his blood, the pod system responded, "RIAN VALEN, owner of account detected. Please enjoy your game."
With a soft click, the pod door opened automatically, inviting him inside. Excitement and anticipation filled Rian as he took a deep breath and stepped into the pod, ready to begin his journey in the world of Everlasting.