There had been no precedent before it. Three months ago, A game company called Harmony Stars had come out of nowhere and had created the first full immersive Virtual Reality game where you could feel, smell and move just as if it was your real body. The game itself was based in a medieval fantasy setting and was called [Ascension of Souls]. The company that made the game was shrouded in mystery and when the servers opened, the game was met with controversy: The Character Creation was limited, people were not able to adjust their appearances at all and playable races were determined by [Affinity], something that nobody had been able to determine what it meant or how it was calculated. There were innovations that were met with earth shattering applause: Any player who had a disability was capable of playing without a handicap. Those that were wheelchair bound could walk, the blind could see and those with genetic mutations like dwarfism or diseases like Parkinsons could be free of their difficulties while in game. The open world concept alongside the novelty of a Full VR game, Soul Ascension quickly reached the top of the charts despite the hefty cost of the headset and or ring required to play. 

A young boy awoke on a bed in a white room, a faint huff of air escaped his pale lips as frustration and despair washed over him as his nightmare continued even after a long rest. He lacked the strength to lift himself, muscles atrophied from the mysterious illness that racked his body. His once emerald green eyes were slowly fading into a milky white as even his vision deteriorated day by day, he could barely see now and if this illness persisted another month, he would be blind….if he lived that long. The hospital he had been living in for the past 2 years had been like a prison to the boy, confined to a room where he was destined to wither away and disappear. His only family was his big sister who worked while attending school, paying for his hospital bills instead of taking care of herself. 

*BZZZZZZ*, the sound of a door being unlocked jolted the boy from his depressing thoughts as a soft voice called out "Leone? Are you awake?". The voice was tinged with pain and sorrow despite trying to remain cheerful. 

"Sis?! What are you doing here? Don't you have school today? Did something happen? What's wrong?!" The boy began to panic, unaware of why his sister was there, the pressure of the unknown possibly hurting his sister made him attempt to get up despite his own fragile body screaming in protest. 

"Leone! Calm down! There is nothing wrong! I am just here to wish you a happy birthday and to give you a present! How can I not give my baby brother a present on his birthday!" she laughed but Leone could hear the hiccup in her voice, she was trying not to cry when she looked at the shell of what was once her healthy and happy brother. 

Leone, stopped his struggle as he collapsed back onto his pillow, a faint sigh of relief escaping him before he turned his head in the direction of his sister "You shouldn't have wasted the money on me Sis. You should return it and get something for yourself. That would be the best present for me" He smiled faintly, his chest heaving a bit as he huffed for air. 

"Little brother, you are lucky you are sick, otherwise I would have smacked you upside the head for that one!" she grumbled "You are the only family I have in this world so you can't stop me if I want to spoil you!". The sound of a chair screeching on the linoleum floor meant that his sister had dragged a chair closer to him. "What I got you was a headset for that new game that just came out a little while ago. Rumor has it that some people have had diseases that have improved while playing. I know it is unlikely but if there is any chance, I want you to take it! I have already asked the doctors and they have agreed to try it. 

Leone's already furrowed eyebrow scrunched up a bit more hearing such unscientific nonsense and how his doctor had so readily agreed to such a crazy idea but he couldn't bring himself to say no to his sister who had sacrificed so much for him already. With a sigh, he then smiled and softly said "Fine, you win sis…..Can you help me set it up? I have no idea what I am looking at, I don't have my glasses" He said jokingly, trying to liven up his sisters' mood even if only for a little. 

The small joke elicited a soft chuckle from his sister who murmured "What a fool…Alright! Your beautiful and magnanimous sister will lower herself to help you this one time. Be grateful~!", her voice picking up a bit as she shot back a small joke of her own before helping Leone put on the VR helmet. 

When the helmet covered his head, Leones already faint vision went completely black as a visor covered his eyes. "Once I leave little brother, just say 'Game start' and you should be in the game. Good luck, I know you will make me proud~!" his sister said with a cheerful voice. Leone couldn't help but sigh softly, not wanting to betray her expectations but at the same time wondering what was the point of such a pointless endeavor. The sound of his door opening and closing soon after meant that his sister had left. With nothing to lose, Leone took a deep breath and said "Game…Start"

From the door, Luna looked at her little brother and waited until he had entered the game before she turned to leave. The cute and innocent demeanor she had shown to her brother disappeared from her face like a fog, a frosty expression gracing her features as she walked down the hospital halls. The halls grew quiet as she passed by, eyes glued to her in a mixture of awe and a hint of fear as the young woman gave off an intimidating presence as if there was a wild beast beneath the surface despite her seemingly average height. The rumor about changes happening because of a single VR game was more than just a rumor, she was living proof of that herself. It was potentially a small blessing that her brother's eyes had deteriorated to near blindness as she did not wish to worry him with her own changes. Her brown eyes had recently turned a crimson red reminiscent of blood and her hair had lost all pigment, becoming a snow white. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm to the point where blood trickled from her hands as she left the hospital. Looking up at the sky "Please god ... .Don't let him die" she murmured as she placed her final bet on a miracle.