1 Nexus of Ascendance

"Finally! It's here!" Saad threw his hands up in the air as he exhaled, his brown eyes shimmering with excitement as he stared at the enormous box. The time it took to ship it here and the money he lost twice had almost led him to give up on his dream. Luckily, he discovered a reliable source through a gamer friend, and now, here it was. After months of waiting, his dream was about to come true. Saad couldn't wait to unpack it and finally play the infamous Chimerical World System, popularly known as CWS. It wasn't the first of its kind, but it was undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind VR game. No one could deny that the game was unique, offering an experience unmatched by any other game due to its intricate and in-depth game system.

With great care, Saad carried the medium-sized delivery box inside, being especially cautious while climbing the stairs. He still couldn't forget the incident when the aggressive guy from the floor below had knocked into him on the stairs, causing his XnoX box to fall from the third floor. Thankfully, this time he managed to get his box safely to his small apartment. After closing the door, he took the box straight to his bedroom. Saad shared this place with two of his friends, who both opposed the idea of buying this ridiculously expensive game, but Saad had other plans. He saw CWS as his ticket to finally escape poverty and make some money.

What made him so hopeful about the game? The reason was simple: CWS had unique characters. Just like every baby born in the world is different, the same applies to the characters in CWS. Saad carefully unpacked the body suit and related equipment, laying them out separately on his bed.

Ronald & Siesta Corporations, commonly called RS, had designed two separate sets to play this game: the Standard set, which contained the body suit, headset, and haptic gloves but had a lower "immersion" rate, and the Premium set in the form of a full capsule, known as the "VR pod," with a longer life and a 100% "immersion" rate. Saad didn't quite understand what this "immersion" rate meant, as reviews suggested that there was no significant difference in the overall game experience.

While the body suit might not have as much life as the premium capsule, he was confident that he would be able to earn enough to buy the premium set by then.

With determination burning in his eyes, Saad held the body suit, its high-quality material enticing him. He believed that he would become famous and earn a lot of money, and everything would finally go well. With that thought, he took off his salwar kameez and donned the body suit.

It felt strange to wear something so skin-tight, and he felt rather self-conscious and embarrassed as every curve of his body felt exposed. He hadn't realized he had put on so much weight. Nevertheless, he had shut the door, ensuring his privacy, and could now peacefully start playing the game.

Saad's heart raced with anticipation as he donned the haptic gloves and connected the wires, eagerly setting up the body suit. With a deep breath, he flipped the switch, half-expecting an electrifying jolt, but to his relief, nothing of the sort happened. The body suit came alive, its once black fabric now adorned with mesmerizing patterns resembling tribal markings, and mysterious symbols aglow with the brilliance of a cosmic dance. As Saad closed his eyes, he felt the surge of energy flowing through him – the game was about to begin.

When he opened his eyes again, a surreal sight awaited him. He found himself transported to a realm that seemed to blend ancient Greek temples from historical epics with an otherworldly, futuristic twist. The architecture soared to magnificent heights, emanating an aura of grandiosity that sent shivers down his spine. As he looked down, he was amazed to see his own body, or rather, the virtual representation of it – a form composed of shimmering gold and amethyst particles, akin to a celestial being.

Time seemed to defy logic in this fantastical world, as the cycle of day and night passed in the blink of an eye, each transition bringing forth a celestial dance of suns and moons. White marble pillars, intricately carved with enigmatic symbols, adorned the landscape, adding an air of mystique to the environment.

"Wow. This is just-" Saad began, but his words were unexpectedly completed by someone else.

"Amazing, right?" The voice was a symphony of elegance and precision, echoing through the ethereal space. Saad's heart skipped a beat as he turned to face the speaker, gripping the railing for grounding.

Before him stood Aeorn, an enigmatic figure with features that transcended the boundaries of reality and imagination. The character was a perfect fusion of masculine and feminine grace, leaving Saad utterly captivated by the artistry that breathed life into Aeorn.

"Aeorn," the NPC introduced himself with a lowered gaze, "Welcome to the enchanting world of Chimerical World System." His voice held a musical quality that matched his celestial appearance.

Saad felt like he had stepped into a surreal dream, where the lines between the real and the virtual blurred. Saad's eyes widened as he beheld the magnificent six wings that sprouted from Aeorn's back. They look real. As real as anything could get. Right side's wings gleamed like freshly fallen snow, representing purity and light, while the others, as dark as the night sky, exuded an aura of mystery and depth. With every step, the feathers gently ruffled and shimmered, creating an ethereal dance that heightened Aeorn's enchanting presence.

Saad found himself captivated not only by the androgynous beauty but also by the iridescent silver hair and obsidian eyes, adorned with thick silver lashes. He couldn't help but blush in the presence of such an extraordinary being.

The brooding NPC seemed to have a keen sense of Saad's thoughts, effortlessly deciphering his awe. "If you keep wasting your time gawking at me, you'll miss out on the best souls," Aeorn said in a voice that carried a hint of somber intensity, snapping Saad back to reality.

Indeed, the challenge in CWS was unlike any other game – players didn't create their own characters. Instead, each day, a fresh set of new characters would be released, waiting to be chosen by players. The unselected characters would then become NPCs, forever inaccessible to those who missed the chance.

Eager to begin, Saad pleaded, "How do I start? Please, let's get this initiation of 'possession' started quickly."

Aeorn sighed and turned, motioning for Saad to follow. "Follow me," he said in a brooding tone, gliding through the corridor with an otherworldly grace, leaving Saad to catch up. "I waited for you in the nexus of ascendance, but you kept dawdling, so I had to come and get you," Aeorn said, giving him a solemn side-eye. Saad could only muster excuses as he hurried to keep pace with the captivating NPC.

Saad's frustration grew as he complained, "How would I have known that I need to go to the ascension hall? I read no such information! Isn't this a super ultra-game that defies logic? Couldn't you show one window that would give me directions?" He felt his point was valid, especially since this was his first time playing an authentic VP game, and the realism was mind-boggling. Talking and reasoning with AI felt ridiculous, and he wondered why he even bothered explaining himself.

"Look down," Aeorn responded without showing any emotion. Saad furrowed his brow and followed Aeorn's instruction, spotting faintly glowing arrow markings on the floor. "But you make a fair point. We really underestimated the intelligence of humans," Aeorn added, seemingly toying with him.

The NPC's arrogance was starting to get on his nerves, and Saad couldn't help but grumble, "Hey! Aren't you really rude for an NPC? What were they thinking programming you like this? As soon as I start the game, I'm going to file a complaint."

Aeorn actually snorted in response, as if mocking him. "Unfortunately for you, I'm very popular," he said with a hint of arrogance, making Saad even more annoyed. He reminded himself that Aeorn was just a collection of graphics and data, but his personality felt irksome.

Finally arriving at the Nexus of ascendance, Saad tried not to be affected, but the grand room left him awestruck. A hole in the ceiling allowed silver dust to gently descend, giving the room a surreal aura. Multicolored crystals adorned the space, standing in a pond with water that reflected the same colors. The beauty of it all, with pink roses adorning the surroundings, was breathtaking. As Saad approached the pond, Aeorn surprised him by pressing his palm against his back, offering a rare display of kindness.

"Step inside, don't be scared," Aeorn said reassuringly. Although Saad knew he wouldn't drown, the realism made him hesitate before eventually stepping into the pond.