Welcome to Boundless Horizons

The city was eerily silent. Not a single car honked, not a siren wailed. Just an unnatural hush that pressed down on the normally bustling streets. 

The man, hair windblown and a frantic crease etched between his brows, sprinted like a man possessed, clutching a crumpled piece of paper like it held the cure for the apocalypse.

"Come on, come on," he muttered, lungs burning. Where were all the taxis when you needed one? This wasn't how today was supposed to go.

He skidded to a stop in front of a skyscraper that seemed to pierce the clouds. 

A sea of anxious faces filled the plaza around the entrance, all vying for a spot in the building's maw. 

He shoved his way through the throng, dodging briefcases and muttering apologies, only to be met by two security guards who looked about as welcoming as a pair of gargoyles guarding a haunted mansion.

"Whoa there, buddy," one guard rumbled, his voice thick enough to cut through steel. 

"Gotta screen everyone before they enter, company policy."

"Yeah, gotta get checked in," the man said, trying to project an air of importance that his crumpled clothes and frantic demeanor didn't quite support.

The other guard, a younger fellow with a bored expression, sighed dramatically. "Been here for hours already. Security checks started ages ago."

The man's shoulders slumped. 

"So, no chance of getting in then?" he mumbled, the disappointment evident in his voice. This whole thing was turning into a colossal headache.

"Probably not," the first guard shrugged, looking genuinely sorry. "Maybe try your luck with a cab?"

A snort escaped the second guard. "Yeah, save yourself the trouble."

Just as the man turned to leave, feeling defeated, a spark of hope ignited in his mind. He fumbled with his pocket and pulled out the crumpled paper, waving it frantically in front of the guards' faces.

The guards blinked at each other, confusion etched on their features. "Hold on," the first guard said, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise. "Is that...?"

"Sorry, mate," the second guard mumbled, sheepishly scratching his head. "Didn't see the invite at first."

The man simply shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips. He'd seen that kind of dismissive attitude before, and it never failed to grate on his nerves.

"Code?" the first guard asked, his voice softening a notch. He gestured towards a sleek keypad embedded in the wall beside the door.

The man mumbled the code, "003," and watched as the guard typed it in. 

A metallic whirring filled the air as a box on the side of the keypad sprang to life. It popped open, revealing a strange necklace adorned with a rectangular metal pendant. 

The pendant glowed an ethereal blue, like a futuristic key unlocking a world of secrets.

Kai snatched the ID necklace back from the guard, who squinted at the inscription like it was written in ancient runes. "K... A... I... what?" he mumbled.

"Kai," Kai confirmed, shoving the necklace under his shirt. 

"Short, right?" the guard offered, scratching his head. "Not much to go on with three letters."

Kai didn't waste time chatting. He practically sprinted into the building, leaving the hushed silence outside for the buzzing energy within. 

The vast central courtyard was packed with hopeful faces, all crammed around fifteen registration tables, each with a snaking line attached. 

Kai scanned them like a seasoned theme park veteran, searching for the shortest, fastest lane.

The second-to-last line, tucked near the fancy gardens, seemed the least intimidating. It was kinda shorter than the others, but honestly, all the lines looked brutal. 

"Ugh, fantastic," he muttered, accepting his fate.

***

Thirty students in cool, dark blue uniforms stood facing a stage in a big hall. They weren't wearing their usual clothes anymore. These new suits looked high-tech.

A big cheese named Joseph, from Nexus Tech, greeted them. He congratulated them for being chosen for a special program called "Boundless Horizons." 

There were 200 students in total, thirty each from Starfield High School, College, and University. There were also some students from other schools and some regular people who signed up.

Next, an old scientist named Professor Tanaka took the stage. He was the one who created Boundless Horizons and ran the science labs at Starfield. 

He explained the rules of the program and how they would be tested in a virtual world called Arcadia, created by the Boundless Horizons game.

"Time in Arcadia goes ten times faster than here," Professor Tanaka said seriously.

"To save time, head to your rooms on the second floor now," he added. "Everyone needs to go!"

The Starfield High School students got the best treatment. Each student had their own room, like a fancy hotel room, with a special pod to enter the Arcadia virtual world.

On their way upstairs, Mia greeted her friend Rena.

"Hey Rena!" Mia said.

"Mia! You scared me!" Rena replied.

"Sorry," Mia said. "Just wondering what you were thinking about."

"Just hoping we're in the same group later," Rena said.

"Me too. What room are you in?" Mia asked.

"Number 19," Rena said. "But it doesn't matter. We're stuck here for two months anyway."

The Starfield students were about to take a special final exam – a two-month adventure in a virtual world!

***

The chosen participants for the Boundless Horizons closed beta test program trickled into their assigned rooms, provided by Nexus Tech. 

Each room housed four participants, grouped based on their serial numbers.

Inside one such room, three participants sat facing each other on a couch, their eyes glued to a digital clock on the table displaying a countdown.

"Carl, Oceanic Ark," a well-built, older man broke the silence with an introduction.

"Anya, Last Bastion," a silver-haired young woman glanced at the man in his twenties across from her.

"Jack," the young man she addressed muttered, his gaze fixed on the countdown timer.

After their brief introductions, an awkward silence settled back in the room. Everyone remained focused on the digital clock and its ticking countdown.

This countdown wasn't just present in each participant's room, but also broadcasted on holographic displays scattered across major cities worldwide.

When the clock reached zero, it signified the moment each participant would enter the pod and be transported to Boundless Horizons.

Nexus Tech had a daring plan – to live-stream every activity of the participants, from entering the game to their journeys and adventures in the virtual world of Arcadia. 

This show wouldn't be limited to television screens; it would also be displayed on every hologram board around the globe, turning the participants into celebrities before they even set foot in Arcadia.

****

Two hours later, Kai was still stuck in the queue, his energy fading with each miserable inch forward. Everyone around him looked equally beat. The wait had become a slow-motion torture of boredom and anticipation. 

The line finally started moving a little faster, a spark of hope flickering in Kai's eyes. 

Just as he thought he might actually reach the front soon, the person in front of him snagged the registration officer for a mind-numbing ten minutes. Kai wanted to scream.

With only one dude left ahead, Kai could finally see the source of the delay. The officer offered the guy a chair and a registration form. "Fill this out, please," she said in a bored voice.

The guy just stared at the form like it was some alien message. He scratched his head, completely confused.

"Uh, sorry miss," the guy stammered, "but I can't really..."

"You gotta fill out the form to register," the officer explained, trying to be patient. "It's how we get everyone's info."

The guy looked bummed. "But... could you maybe help me out a bit?" he pleaded. "Don't wanna hold everyone up."

"There are other people waiting, you know," the officer said, a hint of annoyance creeping in.

"Yeah, I get that, miss," the guy insisted, "but registering is important – I just can't fill out the form myself."

The officer was getting frustrated. "Well, you can't register without filling out the form, dude."

An awkward silence hung in the air. Then, it hit the officer like a lightning bolt. "Wait, you can't read or write, can you?" she blurted out, surprised.

The guy sheepishly nodded. The officer realized her mistake, grabbed the form back, and snagged a pen.

"Hey, you in the back," she called out, bowing apologetically to Kai. "Really sorry about the hold-up."

Kai, exhausted from the wait, just nodded. He was way too tired to talk. 

The officer spent the next few minutes filling out the guy's form. 

Turns out his name was James, an orphan living on the streets. He wouldn't shut up about his boss and why he wanted to register, despite the officer's attempts to shut him down. 

Kai finally reached his limit. He leaned forward and tapped James gently on the shoulder.

"James," he said calmly, "it's getting late, and, you know, other people are waiting?"

It took a few taps before James finally stopped talking. 

He shot Kai a dirty look, kinda pissed, then grabbed his stuff and disappeared through the door behind the officer, clutching his stamped registration form. 

Relief washed over Kai as the line lurched forward once more. He finally reached the desk, his legs shaky from standing for what felt like forever.

Kai's efficiency with the registration form was impressive. He completed it with such speed and accuracy that it almost appeared effortless. 

As he returned the form to the registration officer, a red light began to flash on the monitor in front of her. A crease formed in her brow as she reviewed the data displayed.

"There seems to be a discrepancy, sir," she stated professionally, her voice betraying a hint of concern. 

"The system indicates that an individual with the name K...A...I has already registered. Duplicate entries are not permitted within the system."

Kai frowned slightly. "Excuse me? I haven't registered before," he countered, his voice firm yet polite. 

The unexpected delay was starting to gnaw at his already frayed nerves. He'd been waiting in line for hours, and the last thing he wanted was a bureaucratic roadblock.

"The system reflects a prior registration under the name K.A.I.," she confirmed, her voice laced with a hint of apology. 

"Unfortunately, entering identical information twice isn't possible. Perhaps there was a technical error?"

"Kai," he corrected, a hint of frustration evident in his voice. 

"That's my actual name. It's spelled K-A-I." He wasn't sure why the system was glitching, but the whole situation felt bizarre.

"My apologies," she said, a touch of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "Please forgive the oversight. I'm Emily, by the way.."

"Thank you, Ms. Emily," Kai responded, his tone softening slightly. 

He reached under his shirt and retrieved the ID necklace he'd received from the security guard earlier. 

Holding it out to Emily, he clarified, "This was provided by the security personnel at the entrance in exchange for the invitation letter I received from your company."

Emily's expression shifted slightly, a hint of surprise replacing the earlier awkwardness. 

She took the necklace from him, examining it with a professional scanner embedded in the desk surface.

 A holographic display materialized above the surface, resembling an oversized ID card.

It displayed a picture of Kai, his face etched with a hint of weariness from the long wait, and detailed his complete registration information.

"Mr. Kai, I sincerely apologize for the confusion," Emily said earnestly, relief washing over her features as the error unraveled. 

"The system clearly identifies you as participant number 003."

After returning the necklace, Emily continued with clear instructions, her voice now radiating helpfulness. 

"Please proceed through the door behind me. Continue straight ahead, and at the third fork in the corridor, turn left. You will encounter a series of doors. The final door requires presentation of this ID necklace to the security officers stationed there."

A wave of relief washed over Kai as he finally received proper guidance. 

With a nod of acknowledgment and a grateful smile, he rose and proceeded through the door behind Emily, eager to navigate the unknown that awaited him within. 

The initial hiccup had been frustrating, but at least it was resolved. Now, the real adventure could finally begin.

Kai practically sprinted down the hall, Emily's instructions echoing in his head. Every turn he made felt like an eternity, his anticipation building with each step. 

Finally, he reached the end of the corridor and spotted two imposing figures in black suits guarding a large metal door. 

Relief washed over him as he approached. Flashing his ID necklace, the guards exchanged a brief glance before silently opening the door and gesturing for him to enter.

The room that greeted him was vast and mostly deserted, save for a few janitorial staff meticulously cleaning the expansive space. 

Towering screens lined the walls, each one a portal into the virtual world of Boundless Horizons. 

Kai caught glimpses of other participants already engrossed in the game – some engaged in thrilling hunts, some browsing bustling marketplaces. 

A pang of guilt and frustration shot through him. "Dang it, I'm late," he muttered under his breath, the excitement he felt earlier tinged with worry.

Suddenly, a voice startled him from his self-reflection. "Excuse me, sir, can I help you?" A young woman with a bright, professional smile stood behind him.

"Uh, yeah," Kai stammered, caught off guard. 

"I'm participant 003 for the beta test." He fumbled slightly as he presented his ID necklace, feeling a bead of sweat roll down his temple.

The woman's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a look of surprise. She took the necklace and examined it quickly before retrieving her phone and making a hushed call. 

Kai fidgeted nervously, the silence in the room amplifying his anxiety. 

After a brief conversation, the woman ended the call and turned back to him, her expression a mix of concern and apology.

"You're really late, mister..." she began, her voice gentle but firm.

"Kai," he offered, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Right, Mr. Kai. You're over five hours behind everyone else," she explained, her brows furrowed. 

"They started the program a while ago. You need to get to your room right away and use the pod to enter Boundless Horizons as soon as possible."

Relief flooded Kai. There was still time. He wasn't completely out of the loop. "Thanks," he said, his voice laced with gratitude. 

"Where do I go?"

The woman gestured towards the elevators at the back of the room. "Take this one. Top floor. You won't miss it."

As the elevator doors slid shut, she added, "You're about two days behind the other participants, Mr. Kai. They've already had a head start in the game."

A knot of worry tightened in Kai's stomach. Two days? He'd have to catch up fast. 

Reaching the top floor, he followed the woman's directions and found room one. It wasn't just a room; it looked like a luxurious apartment in miniature, complete with a comfy-looking sofa, a well-stocked refrigerator, and even a compact kitchen area. 

Three of the pod-like chambers lining the walls were occupied, their occupants presumably already deep within the virtual world.

Kai found the last empty pod, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. 

He scanned his hand on the designated panel, and with a soft hiss, the pod's lid smoothly opened. It looked surprisingly comfortable, more like a high-tech recliner than a cramped capsule. 

Kai climbed in, settling himself into the padded interior. 

A wave of anticipation washed over him as he closed his eyes, ready to finally begin his long-awaited adventure in Boundless Horizons. 

With a reassuring click, the pod sealed shut, and Kai was engulfed in darkness. 

A gentle chime resonated within the pod, followed by a clear, synthesized voice. 

"Welcome, Mr. Kai. You are the hundredth participant to embark on a groundbreaking adventure in the world of Arcadia."

"Are you prepared to commence?"

Kai's voice, laced with a thrill barely contained, echoed within the confined space. "Absolutely."

The world dissolved into a blinding white, then solidified into a stark, white chamber. 

In its center stood a woman of breathtaking beauty, her attire reminiscent of classical Greek statuary.

Startled by her sudden appearance, Kai instinctively retreated a step.

"Greetings, Mr. Kai," the woman spoke, her voice melodious and refined. 

"I am Athena, your guide before your integration into the world of Arcadia."

She offered a serene smile. "Currently, Arcadia enjoys a state of tranquility. However, a future of discord looms on the horizon."

"You and your fellow Earthly immigrants will be entrusted with a critical mission: to safeguard Arcadia from the impending darkness." Athena's smile held a hint of urgency.

"Now, it is time to determine and establish your fundamental identity." 

A holographic display manifested before Kai, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the registration form he encountered earlier.

"You have the freedom to utilize your true name or an alias that will serve as your primary identifier within this world." Athena explained further. 

"Each attribute and statistic displayed within your status window will be calibrated according to your present physical condition."

"As a token of welcome, ten bonus attribute points are available for immediate allocation. You may choose to distribute them amongst your current attributes or reserve them for future enhancement."