1 Prologue

In the year 2200, the world that was once crafted by creative minds was now just fingertips away. With just one click, everything you want will be in your grasp with just a blink. It was the world that was once dreamt of by the people but now its the reality. Everything is at its best.

Every move by the people involves technology. And most of their works were done by Artificial Intelligence, they were smarter than humans. And the massive productions of A.I. made a huge difference to the world and made the word "employment" a history and they began to think that being a human is a handicap. And because of genetic modification, some humans began to get mad and insane; they've experimented with their body, conducted various tests to defy the laws of humans. They halted the natural aging process, attaches their bodies with robotic types. And now even mortality is a thing they wanted to expunged.

And living with a great mind means fortune. This era is what they called the Future beyond the future. It was the era of the Programmers and Engineers and even doctors.

But little did they know that their creativeness will soon meet its end.

In the middle of 2200, a virus emerges. It attacks the people with robotic features in their body. And only 25% of the population didn't patronize this advancement. It was named Zero, a contagious and transmitted disease that even 25% of the population weren't safe. It was attacking the brain, it was slowly eating the brain cells until you become slaves of the virus. Some die but most of the people become Artificial Intelligence that wasn't working; they become dazed and a robot that wasn't in motion.

Even with the advancement of everything no cure has been found. People began to pray, they began to regret defying the laws. They began to question medical science and the technologies around them.

It was unfortunate.

People began to hide.

The cities that were once overpopulated by the people, not even a single soul can be seen.

The endless cheers, songs, and laughter by the people become a deafening silence.

And the world that they once love becomes their greatest fear.

And on the darkest day of the world, a single light was shimmering. It was shining like the world wasn't at its end.

They were part of the 25%, Gregor Montavani, even with his great mind he didn't patronize being a cyborg. He was a renowned programmer. The creation of virtual reality games made him admired by the people. Gregor was ruffling her daughters her as he smiles.

He clearly knows that the world is in its chaotic state by now. But he cannot contain his happiness especially that his light was standing before him.

In their facade, a lot of screens were attached to the wall. But a large screen that was way bigger than the humans were dominating it all. "Krystal, honey, take your seat over there," Gregor said as he points the gaming chair in front of the screen.

Krystal Montavani. Daughter of Gregor Montavani, a seven-year-old girl who loves alpha testing her father's latest works.

The little girl was squealing in excitement as she took a seat. Her eyes were sparkling as she looks at her father, "I'm excited, Daddy!"

Gregor once again ruffles her hair. He kneels in her front and with all his heart's content he stared at his daughter. "I love you," he mumbled.

Gregor gently rested his forehead to Krystal's. "I love you more, Daddy."

Krystal was clueless about the pandemic happening in the world. She was roaming her sight, the place was supposedly dark yet the computer screens were lighting the room. Beneath her were large pipe-like cords with different colors; green, blue, and red.

She awed when she saw binary and other codes that had been input into the small monitors around the big one. In her front was the biggest one, she quizzically looked at her father as she reads the text in the monitor, "Virtual Love?"

His father, Gregor, sincerely smiled. It was created exclusively for his daughter because it was the only thing that he thought to save his daughter from the darkness. Virtual Love was created because of his lifetime love for Krystal.

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?"

"Why does it say 'Virtual Love'?" Krystal asked.

Gregor kissed her forehead, "Because I love you so much. That I will do anything just to keep you breathing,"

"What do you mean by—"

"Can you do me a favor, sweetie?" Gregor asked.

"Yes, daddy."

Once again, Gregor ruffled his daughter's hair, "Can you keep playing until daddy's home?"

"Are you going to leave?" Krystal asked. Her eyes began to manifest sadness. "Are you going to leave Krystal alone?"

"Listen, sweetie. Daddy needs to do some errands. It is important." Gregor said, trying hard to convince his daughter.

"Are you going to come back?"

"Yes,"

"Promise?" Krystal asked. His father smiled, "You don't want promises. But I swear daddy will be back."

Krystal smiled and hugged his father tightly. As they parted, Gregor carefully gets the helmet; it has a lot of chords at its top, just like the pipe-like chords it contains red, blue, and green colors. He gently put it on the top of Krystal's head. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Okay. As my Alpha Tester, I need your honest opinion about my game." Gregor joked and winked.

Krystal giggled and thumbs-up to her father. And when Krystal decided to close her eyes, Gregor clicked the start button on the screen. It was loading when he turned his back and sighed.

At the side of the room, he began to change his clothes. He even put on a Hazmat Suit, a piece of personal protective equipment consisting of impermeable full-body clothing worn to protect against hazardous materials. He was gently putting his N-95 mask and another gas mask to protect his whole body.

With a single ring on his phone, he answered it, "Yes, this is Gregor Montavani."

"Are you ready, Sir?"

"Yes,"

"Will wait for you outside,"

"Wait for a moment. Thank you," Gregor said as he ended the call.

He was being summoned by the world of the experts. And as a renowned programmer, his ideas were needed to find the cure in the Zero Virus. The loading screen reaches the hundred percent when looked back to the screen, even under his mask he sadly smiled.

Krystal was displayed on the screen, she was sleeping under a tree and some rays of sunlight were seen on her face. Virtual Love wasn't a game, it was prevention for the Zero Virus that Gregor created. It was Krystal's new world, where she can create all the things she wanted. As Krystal was in deep slumber, a pink touch-pad slid off on her hand, and at the back of the touch-pad the word, 'Freyja' was written.

"I'm going to miss you, sweetie," Gregor mumbled. He sadly exited the room and locked it.

And as soon as he left, Krystal's slowly opened.

"Welcome to Virtual Love, Krystal."

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