I woke up today, ready to face another day. But today wasn't just any day—it was the day when everything would change. Today was the day Final Life Online would launch its server for the first time.
Sitting up, I stretched my arms and began to move around, warming up and getting myself ready. A smile crept across my face as I waited for the time—10 o'clock. That was when the game would go live. I had been preparing for this day ever since I was born here, or at least since I realized what world I had been reincarnated into.
This world—the world of Final Life—was set on a futuristic Earth where technology had advanced so much that people found joy in small things like cooking, horseback riding, or manually driving cars. And today, another innovation was about to rock the world.
For the past decade, esports had dominated entertainment, and now a new game was about to take center stage. Final Life Online, a fully immersive game, promised to simulate all five senses at 100% realism.
I kept my eyes locked on the clock as the time for the game launch crept closer, my heart racing with anticipation. The final countdown had begun. Ten minutes left.
I stood up and made my way over to the sleek, egg-shaped VR capsule that stood in the center of my room. The futuristic design was smooth to the touch, its metallic surface reflecting the soft glow of the dimmed lights around me. With a deep breath, I opened the capsule and settled inside, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
"Log in," I whispered.
As soon as the words left my mouth, the capsule lid slid shut with a quiet hiss, sealing me in. A cool, gel-like fluid began to rise from beneath my feet, gradually enveloping my body. I watched as it climbed higher and higher, until it completely submerged me, leaving only my face free. It was strange, but oddly calming, like being suspended in weightless liquid. My heart rate slowed as I felt the fluid hum around me, syncing with my body.
Then, darkness.
When I opened my eyes again, I was somewhere else. The transition was so smooth it was hard to tell when reality had slipped away. I found myself standing in a massive room, its tall, arched ceilings extending into infinity. Soft, ambient light filtered in from above, casting everything in a dreamlike glow. In front of me was a large, ornate mirror, its golden frame gleaming. As I approached it, my reflection became clearer—and I realized it wasn't my real body staring back at me.
It was my avatar. Tall, with features I could mold to my will. It was a blank slate, waiting for customization.
Looking around, I noticed shelves upon shelves of thick, ancient-looking books lined the walls. The room felt like a grand library, filled with hidden knowledge and potential. I could sense that this was the Avatar Creation Room—a space where I could shape my identity in this new world.
Suddenly, a soft tinkling sound caught my attention. I turned, and there, floating gracefully in mid-air, was a small fairy. Her wings shimmered like glass, catching the light as she fluttered towards me. She was delicate, yet radiant, with long silvery hair and a warm smile that made her seem approachable.
"Hello, Traveler!" she said in a voice as light as a breeze. Her glowing form hovered in front of me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she gazed at me. "Welcome to the beginning of your journey. I am here to guide you."
I looked at the fairy and gave a nod. "Explain what I can do here?" I asked, curiosity evident in my voice.
The guiding fairy fluttered slightly as she nodded in return, her wings shimmering with a soft glow.
"There are only two things you must do here," she said, her voice light yet firm. "The first is to select your avatar. The second is to receive the Seal of Inherent Trait." She gestured toward the large mirror in the room. "Please, customize your avatar and input your name."
I nodded again and stepped toward the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, a blank canvas waiting to be shaped. I focused, imagining how I wanted to appear in this world. Black hair, blue eyes, and a build that looked both strong and agile—a perfect balance. I took my time, adjusting every detail, ensuring that my avatar reflected the image I had in mind.
It felt empowering, sculpting this virtual body to my real specifications. After a few more adjustments to my physique, I leaned back to take in the final result. It was tempting to go further, to make everything flawless—but the fairy's earlier words lingered in my mind.
The more drastic the changes to your avatar, the heavier the penalty when inheriting your powers in the real world.
With that in mind, I decided to keep it simple. I only changed superficial things—hair color, eye color, and skin tone. Cosmetic alterations wouldn't have an impact on my abilities later on, so I left everything else untouched. I wanted to minimize any potential drawbacks that could hold me back.
As for my name… it was clear to me. "Blade," I whispered, inputting it with a small, satisfied grin.
The fairy appeared beside me again, hovering effortlessly. "Good," she said, her voice filled with approval. "Now, let us begin the engraving of your Seal."
Out of nowhere, she pulled out an ornate stamp, nearly as large as she was. It shimmered with ancient markings as she held it above her head. The fairy drifted down towards me, and before I could ask any questions, she pressed the stamp onto the back of my hand.
A sharp sensation pulsed through me as the mark burned into my skin. I glanced down and saw a glowing seal, intricate and otherworldly, now etched onto my hand.
"This seal is your unique ability, one that belongs to you and only you," she explained. "However, it will remain dormant until you reach level 500—a very high threshold." She paused, as if to let the weight of her words sink in
"And when you reach that level, you will be given a reward," she said. I nodded, though I already knew what the reward was. After all, that reward was nothing but information about the true purpose behind this game.
From everything I had read, there were only 11 people who had ever reached that level. Not only did the experience required to level up increase drastically the higher you went, but you also had to face a trial every 100 levels. And, perhaps most daunting of all, each person only had one life. If you died even once, all of your progress would be reset—unless you possessed a rare item known as the Rebirth Coin.