1 ESCAPE - 1

In the year 2130, on Earth, the world was still recovering from the devastating Third World War that had lasted for a staggering 25 years, beginning in 2035. The war would have been much shorter if not for the discovery of a remarkable new material on Mars. Dubbed "Illuminati" due to its radiant glow, this material revolutionized human technology, propelling it forward by more than a century.

The applications of Illuminati seemed boundless, with numerous untapped potentials waiting to be explored. However, the focus was primarily on harnessing its energy for powering new weapons, leading to the emergence of a space race in the midst of the ongoing global conflict. Surprisingly, the United States became the first nation to venture into space, fueled by its citizens' high taxes and limited government assistance.

India followed closely as the second winner of the space race, thanks to a specific political leader who had championed India's space agency from the beginning. Additionally, Russia provided significant financial, political, and genuine support to India, considering the risks involved in expanding their own space program. China also joined forces with India, resulting in Russia and China securing the third position, while Europe settled for fourth place.

These developments caused significant changes within the United Nations, with five nations becoming permanent members of the council: the United States, India, Russia, China, and a unified Europe (incorporating France and Britain into a single union). The war itself witnessed less destruction than expected, as the nations chose to demonstrate their new weapons' capabilities in space. The conflict largely revolved around Russia's territorial expansion, reclaiming lost territories from the disintegrated USSR.

Although some nations voiced condemnation of Russia's actions, they refrained from actively intervening, primarily concerned with safeguarding their own resources. However, tensions escalated when Russia's ambitions extended beyond its neighbors. Ultimately, a massive war erupted between Russia and the United States, drawing in smaller nations who decided to align themselves with one side or the other. Unfortunately, many of these smaller nations perished, while India, China, and Europe, strategically neutral and with ties to both superpowers, managed to avoid direct involvement.

The aftermath of the war yielded significant gains for these three countries. India acquired new regions, including Pakistan, after deploying anti-nuclear weapons fueled by the Illuminati material. They also secured Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, establishing a strong foothold in the region. India's accomplishments extended beyond warfare, with their cricket team clinching four World Cup victories—a source of immense national pride.

Europe experienced exponential growth and harnessed the newfound technology to develop innovative creations, including new flavors of tea. China, on the other hand, focused on enhancing its defensive capabilities, unveiling a groundbreaking forcefield technology aptly named the "Great Wall of China." While China did not gain new territories, its impregnable defense system solidified its position as a formidable stronghold.

Meanwhile, one notable outcome of the war was the complete obliteration of North Korea after the supreme leader threatened to launch a nuclear attack on both America and Russia. Their ill-fated attempt to possess even a small amount of the Illuminati material resulted in their utter destruction.

By 2060, the Third World War finally came to an end, leaving two nations with nothing but devastation and wasted resources. However, by 2080, the colonization of Mars and the Moon had begun, ushering in the year 2130.

Peace had somehow been restored, with the memories of past events fading away alongside the individuals who had witnessed them. Remarkably, the Russian President had managed to survive by transforming himself into a cyborg through military experimentation. Only 50 countries remained on Earth, and they divided Martian regions among themselves. The five great nations that had emerged from the Third World War seemed to coexist harmoniously, at least on the surface.

The new generation born on Mars displayed unique physical attributes and strength, attributed to the Illuminati material. While this change was mostly positive, as disabilities were rare, few people harbored concerns. In the beginning of the year 2130, the United Nations made an announcement, introducing a secondary group of countries to the Security Council: Japan, Korea, Australia, and Africa.

Japan and Korea earned their spots due to their technological advancements in the year 2130. Australia and Africa, on the other hand, were viewed by some as mere gap-fillers. However, unbeknownst to the general public, new resources had been discovered in these two nations on Earth, allowing the five great nations to benefit from their abundance.

Shortly after the announcement, Korea and Japan unveiled a joint venture—a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VR MMORPG) called "Escape." This revolutionary game immersed players in a world where they had to find a way to escape, but the specific method remained undisclosed. "Escape" garnered immense attention due to its unprecedented realism, allowing players to experience all their senses as if truly living in the game.

In the year 2100, a technology emerged that involved embedding nanotech wrist implants in all individuals across nations. These implants served as digital copies of their owners, enabling various functionalities such as money transfers, calls, and holographic internet browsing. While some criticized this as an invasion of privacy, the nations argued that privacy had long been a thing of the past.

Given this technological backdrop, the launch of "Escape" became a momentous event. The starting stats of players were determined by their physical attributes, augmented by a bonus of 100 points. This meant that the strongest individual in the real world would also possess unrivaled strength in the game, while the fastest would retain their swiftness.

Excitement filled the air as people registered for the game, underwent physical tests, and submitted their fees. Exactly one month later, each registered player received their long-awaited VR headset.

Ted, a young man residing in Indian territory on Mars, stood eagerly in his room, eagerly unwrapping his package, filled with anticipation for the immersive adventures that awaited him in the world of "Escape."