An illusion?

Arden winced as he rubbed his jaw, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Leo, my friend, your concern is touching. But how exactly did you manage to find me out here?"

Still fuming, Leo thrust out his right wrist, showcasing a sleek, high-tech watch. "Remember this? I 'borrowed' it from the lab a few days ago. With this beauty, I can safely navigate up to Area 5 of the Verdant Forest."

Arden's eyes widened in recognition. "The Void Walker prototype? Leo, that's..."

"Necessary when dealing with your recklessness," Leo cut him off. "You do realize you were in a Level 3 zone, right? Without proper clearance or equipment?"

"Come on, Leo," Arden said, getting to his feet. "You know as well as I do that the official danger levels are often exaggerated. Besides, I had my gear."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Right, because your homemade gadgets are a match for the Council's strict Area classifications. Need I remind you that we're standing at the edge of an Area 3 zone in one of the most dangerous forests on Planet Nova?"

Arden dusted himself off, his curiosity piqued. "Speaking of which, have they updated the danger levels recently? Last I heard, they found a level 48 beast in Area 25 of the Verdant Forest."

"That's right," Leo nodded, his anger giving way to a more professorial tone. "But you know how it is with the unexplored regions. Who knows what's lurking in the depths of this forest?"

"True enough," Arden conceded. "Though I'd wager the real dangers start past Area 18. That's where the level progression gets... interesting."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"

"Well," Arden began, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "that's what I am hoping to find out one day."

Leo sighed, his frustration evident. "Arden, you know the danger levels range from 1 to 167, with 1 being the least dangerous. And 167 is just the last updated danger level that we know of. There are still many unexplored regions out there. For all we know, 167 might not even be the highest danger level in the world."

Arden nodded, "True, but—"

"And the Verdant Forest," Leo continued, cutting him off, "is one of those unexplored places. It's incredibly dangerous. Did you see the news last month? They found a level 48 beast in Area 25, an area they thought was fully explored!"

Leo crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Anyways, what exactly made you so confident you could handle level 3 beasts?"

Arden grinned, tapping the device on his wrist. It opened to reveal a capsule filled with an iridescent liquid. "Because of this. Last month, I upgraded the fuel for this device. Originally, it was only rated for danger level 2 areas, just one step above the lowest danger level. But now," he paused for dramatic effect, "it can handle up to level 3 zones easily and furthermost parts of Area 4 where some weak level 4 beasts reside."

Leo's eyes widened. "You're joking."

"Not at all," Arden continued, pride evident in his voice. "I've tested it thoroughly. It can defend against level 3 beasts easily and even take some hits from level 4 creatures. So, I wasn't that reckless... I guess."

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, a mix of exasperation and reluctant admiration on his face. "Arden, one of these days, your experiments along with your recklessness are going to get you killed"

"But not today," Arden quipped.

After a moment of tense silence, Leo's expression softened. "Well, since you're not dead, I suppose I should tell you – there's a package waiting for you back at the lab. Arrived this morning."

Arden's eyebrows shot up. "A package? From whom?"

Leo shrugged. "Didn't say. But it looked important."

"Well then," Arden said, brushing off the last of the cave dust, "I guess we'd better head back. Race you to the transport pod?"

Leo rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You're on."

ㅤ.---

Arden entered his cluttered workshop, a mysterious box tucked under his arm. He grinned, setting it down on a table strewn with half-finished inventions. "It was worth it," he muttered, eyeing the package with anticipation.

The parcel was unlike anything he'd seen before - a pristine white cube adorned with intricate golden patterns that seemed to shift and dance in the light. Arden's brow furrowed as he examined it. "This type of box... I've never seen anything like it."

As if responding to his voice, the box suddenly hummed to life. A soft blue light emanated from its surface, scanning Arden from head to toe. After a moment, there was a click, and the box gracefully unfolded like a blooming flower.

Inside, nestled on a cushion of what looked like liquid light, was a watch. It matched the box's color scheme, its face a swirling mix of white and gold that seemed to pulse with hidden energy.

Arden's eyes widened, his hand reaching out almost involuntarily. As his fingers brushed the watch's surface, it leapt into action. In a flash of golden light, it attached itself to his wrist, fitting perfectly as if it had been made for him.

"Whoa!" Arden exclaimed, stumbling back. He stared at the device, a mix of shock and excitement on his face. Before he could examine it further, a holographic display sprang to life above the watch face.

Curious, Arden tapped the glowing interface. A synthesized voice emanated from the watch: "Cannot enter the Oasis. Please take a comfortable seated position that will not affect the Player's health."

Arden's brow furrowed. "Oasis? Player?" Despite his confusion, his curiosity won out. He settled into his favorite armchair and tapped the interface again.

Arden's eyes widened as the mask detached itself, transforming in mid-air into a sleek, futuristic device. As it moved towards his face, he flinched involuntarily, a flicker of fear crossing his features. Despite his usual bravado, the sudden animation of the object caught him off guard. The mask gently affixed itself to his face as a synthesized voice began a countdown: "Entering Oasis in 3...2...1..."

In an instant, Arden's surroundings dissolved. He found himself floating in what seemed to be an endless expanse of digital space. Streams of data flowed around him like rivers of light, forming complex patterns and structures. The "sky" above was a tapestry of swirling code and pulsing energy fields.

Arden marveled at the sight, a mix of awe and apprehension on his face. He appeared to be standing on an invisible platform, surrounded by floating windows displaying various metrics and options. In the distance, he could see other structures - some resembling fantastical landscapes, others abstract digital constructs.

Suddenly, a resonant voice echoed through the digital void: "Welcome, Player."

Startled, Arden spun around, his heart racing. "Who... who are you?" he called out, his voice wavering slightly. "And where am I?"

As if in response to his questions, something began to materialize before him. A round ball-like being appeared, adorned with fiery hair. Its body was a deep blue, while the hair was a darker shade, flickering like flames.

The being spoke, its voice calm and assured. "Greetings Player. I am your personal assistant, named 006. You are now in the digital stage before entering the game. This game, as you might wonder, is not like your VR technology or an illusion. Here, an artificial consciousness is created while your consciousness controls it, thus giving you the experience of living it as if it were real."

Arden took a moment to process this information. "So," he began slowly, "this is a game where I control this artificial consciousness to gain the feeling of what it's like inside of a game?"

"Precisely," 006 confirmed.

Arden's scientific curiosity kicked in. "What is your creator's purpose for this?"

006 replied, "To have beings have fun while trying to become better than their past selves."

Arden fell silent, his mind racing. Internally, he thought, "The way I am now, I believe I can't tell if it's a lie or not. Even if they are lying I have no choice but to bite the bullet. For now, I will go forward with it."

Arden fell silent, his mind racing. Internally, he thought, "The way I am now, I believe I can't tell if it's a lie or not. Even if they are lying I have no choice but to bite the bullet. For now, I will go forward with it."

And this feeling frustrates him. Being at the mercy of some powerful entities, not knowing what they might do to him, gnaws at his sense of control. This frustration ignites his ambition. He thinks, "I need to become stronger. I can't always be powerless in the face of those who are stronger than me."

After a moment of contemplation, Arden squared his shoulders. "Then show me this 'game' you speak about."

006 nodded, its fiery hair flickering with excitement. "Alright. Please be ready. The Game will start in 3...2...1..."

Suddenly, the whole scene began to shift...

Arden blinked as the digital world faded away, replaced by a vibrant, sunlit landscape. He stood on a massive platform suspended in the sky, with sprawling, crystalline structures jutting up from the ground around him. The sky was a striking shade of blue, and as a breeze swept past, he could feel the coolness against his skin. Everything felt real—too real.

"The feeling… it's incredible," Arden murmured, flexing his fingers and feeling the weight of his body settle into the ground. "It's not like any of the VR technology or illusions that I have experienced. It's like I'm actually here."

006's voice chimed in from above. "What you're experiencing is more than a simple VR technology or an illusion. This is a fully immersive world where your consciousness interfaces directly with the artificial body you control. Your mind perceives this world as if it were reality."

Arden marveled at the details around him. The texture of the platform beneath his feet, the warmth of the sun on his skin—everything was so vivid. "This isn't just some VR simulation," he thought, his curiosity intensifying. "It's beyond anything I've ever seen."

Suddenly, a low hum reverberated through the platform. Arden looked up, his gaze narrowing as a large, holographic screen appeared in the sky. Text scrolled across the display, listing various stats and options.

ㅤ

[ Welcome to the Game, Player Arden. Objective: Survive and Protect the core. Primary Challenge: Proof Yourself ]

ㅤ

Arden's eyes widened at the words "Proof Yourself." Something about the challenge lit a fire within him. His fighting instincts sharpened, and his mind focused. He clenched his fists and thought, No matter what this is, I'll think later. First, I'll see this through.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke aloud, his voice steady with determination, "Let's begin."