"RAIDS ONLINE... ... ... LINK START!"
Upon starting the game, at the expanse of a minute that is the loading sequence, a spectacular view of a dark gray world can be seen.
It's a scene of a person standing at the edge of the Moon, staring at the reality of the world it once knew. That scene gave the realization that the spectacular view is nothing but a dreadful truth. A demonstration of what the Earth is destined to become.
What used to be a world full of life has become desolate filled with nothing but the ruins of its remains and the monsters that devour all lifeform living on it. The water that gives the world its blue color has become gray as well as the green lands that turned to dark.
It was a minute of despair, yet at its last second, a feeling of overwhelming desire to take back what was lost and bring back life to the world they once knew surged within those who had seen that spectacular and dreadful view that lies before them.
Or as that is what all the players have felt at the beginning of the game.
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"Are you sure it was okay for me to receive that expensive gaming console?"
"Jeez... It's not the 21st century anymore. No one is using the term 'gaming console'. At least call it 'VR Gear' or virtual reality gear."
"It's fine for me to use that term since I'm not a hardcore gamer like you."
"Argh... Again, the term is professional gamer not hardcore!... Don't associate us with a word that sounds like a pervert."
"Pfft... Hahaha, only a pervert will see it that way... Hahaha."
Before starting the game and logging in to the RAIDS ONLINE, Luel and his brother, Nedd, who is 5 years younger than Luel, return to their house in the countryside.
To recover from his poor body condition caused by anxiety and depression due to the stress of his past jobs, Luel decided to escape the busy environment of the capital city and go back to the countryside.
After spending a few days cleaning their house and greeting their neighbors, acquaintances, and relatives, it's time for Nedd to go back to the capital city. Since their parents are living a retirement life traveling abroad and their eldest brother is living in the capital city, Luel will have to live on his own.
Living on his own has both pros and cons, considering that Luel is someone who's trying to recover from his stage of anxiety and depression. Yet Luel's family still decided to let Luel on his own since it was the first-ever decision that Luel chose himself after his 2 years of medical treatment.
"Just don't whole up inside your room or the house. Make sure to spend time outside."
"I know."
"I'm leaving the car in the garage, so you should drive it in a stroll sometimes."
"Didn't I say I'm never driving again."
"And most of all, give it a try using the VR Gear. After all, eldest brother paid for that."
"I said I will... You have to leave now or you won't catch the last bus."
"Jezz... Don't make it sound like you're leaving at the far end of the world."
"Just go already... Don't forget to message me when you arrive home in the capital."
"I will... And one more thing... Take your time and recover well, we'll be waiting for you as long as it takes."
"Mhm."
With those words, Luel watches his brother waving goodbye like the sun that is about to set on the horizon, disappearing at the end of the road that leads back to the capital.
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Going back inside, Luel has realized how big and empty the house is now that he's all by himself. The reality that he's alone started to sink in his mind making his anxiety and depression slowly start to engulf him.
His pulse started to rise as his heartbeat became faster. His hearing becomes sensitive, making the silent sounds of the rustling leaves as loud as a truck horn. In the next moment, voices that sounded like screams started to ring in his head.
Luel began to panic. He ran towards the kitchen to grab a glass of water and drink it with his medication that was always in his pocket. Yet the medicine didn't immediately take effect. That's why Luel bowed down on the kitchen sink and let the water from the faucet drown his head.
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A few minutes have passed, and Luel's anxiety attack has started to come down.
"FAQ... What the heck is happening to me..."
Luel sits down on the floor and leans his back on the wall. As he tries to calm his breath with his head and clothes drenched in water, Luel starts to think about how to deal with his anxiety and depression.
"Fine... I'm gonna eat dinner and start playing RAIDS ONLINE."