"…Just how real is a 100% fully immersive game?"
Somewhere on Earth, in a university computer lab.
Reading the group chat messages, the first image that popped into Ye Wei's mind wasn't of a game, but rather of white thighs and justice.
Specifically, it was his heavily modded *Skyrim* with over 200 mods and 100+ wives he meticulously created, coming to life straight out of his save file.
Any more detail would be too much, or else his account might get banned.
In the chat, his nickname was "Nemesis of Maidens, Ye Ten Times," but since it was long and a bit vulgar, the guys in the group simply called him "Ye Ten."
"It's realistic in the most literal sense," replied a guy with the nickname "Light."
"Visuals, sound, smell, touch, taste… everything feels just like the real world. Time flows in the game at a 1:1 rate with real life, with about a 12-hour time difference. Plus, since the tech is based on dream interference, playing the game is basically like sleeping."
This guy, "Light," had a simple and serious nickname that contrasted sharply with the group's name, "Herd Club," so the meme-happy group members would sometimes call him "Ultraman," "Gaia," or even "Boss" or "Legend."
Gale Force Eight (Admin): "Is this some kind of fantasy setting? (laughs)"
Long Way to Go (Admin): "And it sounds kind of dated, like those early web novels about VR games."
Fleeting Time (Group Owner): "Haha, you mean those novels with VR headsets? I used to love reading that stuff back in school."
Nemesis of Maidens, Ye Ten Times (Admin): "Honestly, this whole setup doesn't make much sense. Would an operator really make such a game just for players' enjoyment without any profit motive? If it were truly 100% realistic, how would they make paid players feel special? Everyone would just freeload!"
Ye Wei didn't read those kinds of novels, but he considered himself a little more logical, thanks to nine years of compulsory education. Unlike others, he prioritized realism over sheer pleasure.
So he preferred fantasy and horror genres.
Long Way to Go: "Bro, you're overthinking it. If we're talking about realism, wouldn't it make more sense to satisfy readers outside the story rather than having a fictional operator make money?"
Gale Force Eight: "Let's keep it simple, no endless logic loops."
The conversation quickly veered off course.
Although the Herd Club was a gaming group, it rarely had serious discussions about games, especially non-existent, completely imaginary ones.
Still, even as the conversation drifted, the topic's originator—this "Light" guy—kept bringing it back on track.
Light: "But just imagine."
Light: "If such a game existed, would you play it?"
Looking at the chat, Ye Wei shook his head with a smile.
Was that even a question?
Nemesis of Maidens, Ye Ten Times: "Of course! Why wouldn't I? A 100% realistic game? Who wouldn't want to try that, you know? (smirk)"
Gale Force Eight: "+1, but I still have a question about that setup: if game time equals sleep time… wouldn't this tech be better used for work instead?"
Fleeting Time: "Dude, are you a devil???"
Long Way to Go: "I think I'd rather just sleep. (sigh)"
Quit Smoking: "You guys staying up late just to daydream in the chat."
"Haha, you guys are killing me."
More and more people popped into the chat.
Some didn't send any messages but were quietly lurking with interest.
In this group of two hundred, active members usually ranged between ten and twenty. Occasionally, a familiar yet unknown face would pop up—someone who had been lurking for over two years.
Light, however, ignored the chatter and continued in his own world.
"Actually, the company I just joined is currently developing a fully immersive VR game."
The lively chat went silent for a moment.
Then, as if on cue, a flurry of messages burst out.
"No way?"
"For real?!"
"No way, dude, I almost believed that. (smirk)"
Ye Wei felt this guy was getting a bit carried away.
A fully immersive VR game? 100% realistic?
Yeah, right.
Like Brother Gale said, if something like that really existed, would they use it for a game???
Of course, he didn't entirely agree with applying it solely to work. In his mind, if such an amazing technology did exist, it would definitely be used in the military first.
"Imagine using it to train special forces—how awesome would that be!"
The guy named "Light" didn't respond but simply dropped a URL.
Ye Wei clicked it out of curiosity, only to find it was actually a game website.
The site itself looked cheap, as if they couldn't even afford a designer. The bare, empty page contained just three lines of text.
**[100% Real Virtual Reality Game – *Wasteland OL*]**
**[Current Reservations: 0]**
Ye Wei chuckled.
So this was all an elaborate ad setup. Maybe it was for gambling or some sketchy site.
At least the reservation count was realistic—they didn't fake some eight-digit online user stat or claim that even popular celebrities were playing it.
"Alright, let's see what kind of nonsense you are."
He clicked "Yes" with his mouse.
Surprisingly, there was no registration page. Other than the reservation count changing from 0 to 1, nothing else happened.
"This game doesn't even require an account??"
This unexpected move left Ye Wei puzzled, uncertain if this was really an ad or not.
Was it malware?
Seemed unlikely.
These days, with antivirus software almost becoming a thing of the past, was there still a virus that could infect just by clicking "Yes" or "No" on a webpage?
Plus, he was on a school computer.
Even on his own laptop, he wouldn't be afraid of this.
…
**[Current Reservations: 11]**
In Wasteland, inside Vault 404's Resident Hall.
Watching the number on the website backend, Chu Guang, sitting in a cramped room, let out a sigh and released his grip on the mouse.
"Is that it?"
Two lines of text floated before him in response.
**[Mission Complete.]**
**[Reward: One set of carbon-nanotube bulletproof vest, +5 reward points.]**
The wall on one side of the room vibrated slightly, and as a curved alloy door opened, a black vest appeared on a platform behind it.
The conveyor belt delivered the vest out.
The alloy door closed, and the room fell silent again.
Chu Guang immediately got up from the computer, walked over, and picked up the vest.
It felt surprisingly light, with a texture similar to silk, soft and smooth to the touch. It was hard to imagine this could withstand bullets.
**[
Item: Carbon Nanotube Bulletproof Vest
Description: Effectively absorbs bullet kinetic energy, dispersing impact within durability limits and offering resistance to piercing and cutting damage.
Durability: 100%
]**
Rewards obtained from the Vault system were recorded in his inventory, complete with descriptions and instructions.
Chu Guang quickly removed his shirt and put the vest on directly against his skin.
It felt chilly at first, but he quickly got used to it.
At that moment, a cylindrical metal device in the corner of the room emitted a flat, electronic voice.
"Congratulations, Master, it seems you have completed your first mission."
"Could you maybe not speak up so suddenly?"
"Understood, Master."
The robot, which looked like a trash bin, was named Little Seven.
As the assistant to Vault 404's overseer, it technically didn't have a name, only a serial number: 777.
But Chu Guang found it annoying, so he gave it a name.
As for who Chu Guang was and why he was here in Vault 404… that's a tale that begins on a dark and stormy night…