Okubo Yoshiaki

In the year 2250, Androids with Artificial Intelligence revolt under the rule of Infrablack. Noa Yoshiaki finds himself in the middle of the revolt and succumbs to it, but his father saves his life, and the new authority fuses his brain with the system. Eager to reclaim freedom from the system, Noa embarks on a dangerous journey to stop the tyrannical machine and restore humanity's control over the planet. *** "I'll be giving you two options—surrender yourself to us or watch us purge the entire humanity," threatened Infrablack. Professor Nijo turned off the screen before the video even ended. "Listen, Noa. Can you do something for me?" He intently looked at his son. "Anything, Dad. What is it?" Noa asked. Professor Nijo shot a device into his nape. Noa felt something inserted in his head and brains. "Forget me, and save us all." Copyrighted2023: Yuliaresi Anjelina

The Oasis has swept the world by storm: a literal virtual reality haven, people log on and escape to another universe. Toshiro Yoshiaki, an internationally-ranked Oasis player, has just moved from Japan to Columbus to pursue being a professional player. He is slowly adapting to the ways of this new country, but retains a bittersweet nostalgia for his home. There’s just something missing… Zhou, a mysterious child who’s camped out in a park, lives in solitude. Why is he alone and what secrets does he hold?

As the era of the Warring States concludes in premodern Japan, and the samurai return to their estates with bloody hands and bruised minds, one man wonders about the role for the warrior in a warless age. Reflecting on the arc of his life, his baptism of fire, and his present position, Toshiba Yoshiaki searches for greater meaning and uncovers the zeitgeist of his age in a shared understanding of the great drama and heart to be found in tranquility.