Ryota Kurogane stared at the cracked ceiling of his tiny room, tracing the lines of decay that symbolized his life. It was 3 AM, but he couldn't sleep. His mind swirled with thoughts of unpaid bills, his mother's worsening illness, and his sister's uncertain future. The hum of the refrigerator and the sound of his mother's shallow breathing in the next room reminded him of the crushing reality he couldn't escape.
At 22, Ryota had taken on responsibilities no one his age should bear. After his father's death, the burden of providing for his family fell entirely on him. His part-time job barely covered their basic needs, and with university fees looming, the weight on his shoulders was unbearable. His sister, Saki, was still in high school, full of dreams that Ryota was desperate to protect. But with his mother's medical bills piling up, he felt like he was running out of options.
His eyes drifted to the small device resting on his desk—a sleek silver ring, deceptively simple in design, yet capable of connecting him to another world. Vanguard Genesis. The name lingered in his thoughts, a beacon of hope in his bleak reality.
Unlike traditional VR systems, Vanguard Genesis technology had advanced to the point where a single, state-of-the-art ring could directly link the player's consciousness to the game. But there was a catch: the player had to be in a resting position, either sitting or lying down, for the system to work. It was cutting-edge tech, accessible only to those who could afford it or, in Ryota's case, were willing to risk everything for a chance at a better life.
Ryota had saved up for months to buy the ring, his last-ditch effort to escape the never-ending spiral of poverty. The game wasn't just a pastime, it was his only shot at redemption. Vanguard Genesis was more than a game; it was a full-dive experience, where players entered a virtual world indistinguishable from reality. And more importantly, it was home to the Grand Tournament, an Esports competition that promised life-changing prizes. Winning could pull his family out of poverty for good.
But getting there wouldn't be easy. The competition was brutal, and Ryota knew he wasn't the only one fighting for survival. With players from all over the world, each one just as desperate, the stakes were higher than ever.
Still, what other choice did he have?
Ryota stood up and walked over to his bed, the silver ring glinting under the dim light of his desk lamp. He slid the ring onto his finger and lay down, heart pounding as he pressed his thumb against the tiny sensor embedded in the band.
The ring's internal mechanisms activated with a soft hum, and Ryota felt a wave of calm wash over him as the neural link connected to his mind. Within seconds, the cold reality of his cramped apartment faded, replaced by the vibrant world of Vanguard Genesis.
He opened his eyes to a landscape of towering cities, lush forests, and endless horizons. The game's beauty was breathtaking, its realism so detailed it was easy to forget this was a virtual world. Ryota flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of his sword at his side, the rough texture of the earth beneath his boots. Everything felt real, so real, in fact, that it was hard to believe it was just a game.
But Ryota knew better. This wasn't just a fantasy; this was his battleground. In this world, he wasn't a struggling student. He was Raijin, a warrior destined to rise. But for now, Raijin was just another low-level player, struggling to make a name for himself in a sea of elites.
"This has to work," Ryota whispered as he gazed at the sky. The Grand Tournament was only a few months away, and if he was going to stand a chance, he needed to train, earn in-game currency, and start building a reputation. The prize money was his only hope of paying for his mother's treatment and securing a future for Saki.
As Raijin appeared in the starting city, the vastness of Vanguard Genesis stretched out before him. The towering structures, the bustling streets filled with players, NPCs, and traders, it all felt overwhelming. But Ryota had no time for distractions. He wasn't here for fun; he was here to fight for his future.
Gripping his sword, Raijin took his first step into the unknown. The road ahead would be long and dangerous, both in the game and in the real world. But if there was even the smallest chance to change his fate, Ryota wouldn't let it slip away.
This was his last hope.
And he would fight for it with everything he had.