Chapter 1

Two simple steps stand between you and your exit from this game.

Step 1: As the prologue showed, you are destined to reclaim the lost territory of the human race. You must unite, form armies, fight, and explore space, as every piece of land recovered brings you closer to the coordinates now lost out there. Coordinates that point to my planet, the origin of this whole nightmare.

Step 2: Defeating me would be the key to freeing yourself from this world.

The massive military base we found ourselves in plunged into a tumult of desperate screams within seconds. Men and women cried out for their freedom, eager to escape this game that had them ensnared.

Many were frantically trying to access their menus in a futile attempt to find a way out of the game, but the escape option simply faded before their eyes.

"I should have never bought this game," I muttered nervously.

And so, in an instant, I was trapped alongside 40,000 other individuals in a VRMMO environment that stretched across vast space. However, let's rewind a few hours in the narrative to understand how we ended up in this unsettling situation.

----

March 23, 2025. Today, theoretically, should be a special day for me as it's my birthday, and I'm turning 20, although the significance of that number ceased to matter to me some time ago.

What truly occupied my thoughts on this day was the release of "Galactic Conquest." After a long 15-year wait, it was finally about to be in my hands. This game had been a legend, a promise of immersion and adventure in the world of virtual reality.

A game of magnificent proportions that simply thinking about it made me feel like I was getting a damn erection. Damn, it was a virtual reality game.

But this wasn't one of those mediocre VR titles I had seen in the past. The same company responsible for the game, in an unprecedented collaboration with ten other renowned companies, joined forces to bring this project to life.

Together, they not only developed the game itself but also custom-designed special headsets to provide a truly mind-blowing gaming experience.

The sensation of being immersed in the game is simply overwhelming, and it gets me hot with excitement. I envisioned exploring unknown worlds, piloting my own spaceship, and feeling the adrenaline of commanding an army in a virtual world where artificial intelligence pushed all the boundaries of what we knew. The possibilities were endless!

My goal was clear: to build a formidable army and establish a clan that would dominate every corner of the galaxy. The prospect of that feat made my heart race with excitement and filled me with uncontrollable anticipation. It would undoubtedly be a beautiful and epic experience, or at least, that's what I believed.

Moreover, the uniqueness of this game lay in its player limit: only 40,000 participants on a single server. It was a kind of "pilot test" for the companies, an opportunity to assess how people would fare in the game.

However, those technical details didn't matter to me in the slightest. From the first day of pre-order, I had purchased the game along with that coveted special edition headset, at a cost of $800.

The excitement I felt about it was indescribable.

"Uhmmm... Ahhh..." I sighed tiredly as I stretched, causing my legs to emit a sound of relief. Lately, I had been spending way too much time on my feet, and my boots were wreaking havoc on my feet.

However, I had no right to complain too much; after all, it had been me who chose to join the army for the paycheck, damn fool. Anyway, at that moment, I liberated myself from my boots upon reaching my room.

Toc, toc.

The sound at the door rang twice, grabbing my attention. I turned around and saw my mother, with a radiant expression on her face, standing in front of my room.

"Hello, Mom," I said, in a tired tone, longing to simply sit down on my bed. But she entered my room and enveloped me in a warm hug.

"Happy birthday!" she exclaimed with a big smile, radiating happiness.

"You're getting older every day. How exciting!" she exclaimed while clapping enthusiastically with a ladle in her hand. I smiled at her comment.

It had been 20 years since I was born, and this day, besides being my birthday, marked the release of "Galactic Conquest," bwahahaha! I planned to enjoy it to the fullest, even if it meant eating cake while playing.

However, suddenly, I came to a halt. Could I do both things at the same time? I decided to indulge in a good slice of cake first.

"Mom, that doesn't make me feel excited, in fact, it terrifies me," I replied, making a face. "Wrinkles, gray hair, and then you have to wear diapers... how gross!"

She chuckled softly. "Oh, don't exaggerate, dear. Look, I'm 40, and I still feel and look like a 20-year-old woman," she said, twirling around enthusiastically.

But I couldn't help feeling differently about it. "You go to the gym and are one of those fitness women. I, on the other hand, am more like a tank dog. When there's a fight, I fight, but in my free time, I look like a bum," I admitted with a touch of pride, although my mother ignored me, which offended me.

"Okay... There'll be cake this afternoon, so get yourself presentable to greet your aunts and uncles," my mother told me as she headed to the kitchen to finish preparing the meal.

Once my mother left, I closed the door to my room and turned on my computer monitor. The screen came to life, revealing my wallpaper, an impressive image from "Halo 4." The temptation to dive into that world was also strong.

"Maybe I should play some 'Halo' too," I pondered to myself as I toyed with the idea.

Anyway, I opened the web browser, and several windows automatically popped up. Among them, one stood out, displaying the live stream of the official event, where the latest updates were being presented just before the video game's launch.

We came face to face with the mastermind behind this entire phenomenon. This man took on the project that remained unfinished after the tragic departure of Yoritaka Soshu and brought it to life. Allow me to introduce you to Logan Bell, the visionary director of 'Galactic Conquest.'

The stream began to play, and on the screen appeared a young and surprisingly beautiful journalist. But what truly captured my attention was the figure of Logan Bell, the man behind all of this.

I deeply admired him. The scene unfolded in a large room filled with excited people.

Logan smiled as he heard the cheers and greetings from the crowd.

"Thank you very much, Seraphina. But I didn't do this alone. This is thanks to all the companies that were there supporting me and, above all, thanks to all of you who always believed in my vision. I love you, guys. Without you, this wouldn't have become a reality in such a short time."

The audience erupted in cheers and applause, and I couldn't blame them at all. Logan Bell was undoubtedly a genius, and the love and support he received were more than well-deserved.

"So, Mr. Logan, how do these wonders work?" asked Seraphina, the journalist, as she picked up one of the augmented reality headsets. "Because we all know they're not like conventional virtual reality goggles."

"It's great that you ask, Seraphina," Logan Bell replied enthusiastically. "These are augmented reality headsets. This model is the Yoritaka Mk1. The headset features a unique interface, a fully immersive interface that covers your entire head and face completely."

Intrigued, I leaned in even closer to the monitor, listening attentively as Logan explained how the headset worked. It was evident that I wanted to understand how this innovative technology could take the gaming experience to a whole new level.

"Inside the headset are signal transceivers," Logan Bell continued, leaving everyone in awe with his explanation. "These transceivers send electronic signals that are capable of directly accessing the user's brain. Thanks to this, the user doesn't need to rely on their eyes or ears to see and hear, as these experiences are transmitted directly to their brain. Furthermore, this mechanism also accesses other essential sensations, like touch, taste, smell, and yes, even pain."

My eyes remained fixed on the screen, utterly captivated by the description of how this revolutionary headset worked.

"When you put on the headset, you simply fasten the contact strap under your chin and say the 'Immersion' startup command. The sounds of the real world vanish, and you find yourself trapped in darkness for a few seconds. Then, you appear in a virtual room where you can choose your starting point and begin the game," Logan concluded.

My excitement for this game grew even more upon learning about the incredible innovation and depth of immersion it offered.

My enthusiasm was overflowing, and I wasn't the only one. The 40,000 people who had managed to acquire the game were equally thrilled by what we were hearing.

After the explanation of how the headset worked, they moved on to talk about the story that comprised the game.

Players would live in a land set hundreds of years in the future, in an expansive galaxy where not only the solar system was populated. This immense galaxy housed over 400 planets, each with unique climates and environments. Each planet was a completely different world, and it was rare to find similarities among them. The promise of exploring such a vast and diverse universe was simply fascinating.

Huge space bases, gigantic ships, and never-before-seen weaponry were available to confront the aliens known as the "Yoters." These invaders had declared a fierce war on humanity, pushing it to the brink of extinction. The solar system had become the last bastion of humanity, and there began the epic of the game.

However, what truly captivated players about "Galactic Conquest" was the freedom it offered. While the fight against the Yoters was the starting point, it was not an obligation. Players were free to forge alliances and fight alongside other players or even other species. In this vast universe, everyone was free to choose their own path and decide how they wanted to explore and conquer the galaxy.

In this intriguing world of "Galactic Conquest," there was no room for magic. Instead, it was governed by a system of levels and skills that depended entirely on the choices of the players.

The available skills were surprisingly diverse. Some of them enhanced gameplay, offering advantages like increased speed, greater endurance, or formidable brute strength. However, there was also a set of utility skills that opened up a range of possibilities: you could become a looter, a builder, a ship repair expert, a weaponsmith, an armor crafter, or even an artifact inventor. Furthermore, there were more mundane yet equally valuable skills, such as cooking, fishing, music, or vehicle mechanics.

The promise of this skill system was just a glimpse of what was to come, as most of the details would only be revealed as players delved into the game. The anticipation in the room was palpable, as we all yearned to explore this universe.

There were still a few hours left until the game opened at 10 p.m., and I needed to find a way to pass the time, or my desperation would threaten to consume me completely.

I sighed deeply and decided that the first thing I should do was take a shower. After all, I had spent the whole day drenched in sweat and felt like a deadbeat.

Swiftly, I found a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. Under the warm water, I let thoughts about the game and the possibilities it offered flow through my mind as I waited for time to pass.

---

My large and close-knit family had gathered around me, forming an affectionate circle, as they sang the "Happy Birthday" melody together.

My younger sister held her phone, recording the precious moment, while my mother stood by my side, with a radiant smile, joining in the song.

My aunts and uncles, brimming with joy, also sang the birthday song, and my grandmother held my little cousin in her arms, who, in his own way, tried to join in the celebration.

At that moment, the game took a backseat, and I was fully immersed in the reality of the moment. Turning 20 only happened once in a lifetime, and my mother was genuinely excited to celebrate it with me.

I can't deny it, I felt extremely happy. The joy of having my family gathered and sharing this day with me was unparalleled.

After finishing the birthday song, my mother enveloped me in a gentle hug and gave me a tender kiss on the cheek, gestures that filled my heart with warmth and love.

"You've stopped being my special baby," she squeezed me tightly, momentarily leaving me breathless. But then, her tone turned affectionate and maternal. "But it doesn't matter because I'm your mother, and I'll always be here. And be careful, because if you don't bring me grandchildren, I'll cut your marbles," she jokingly threatened.

Suddenly, her hug changed again, this time becoming a squeeze that was choking me. I struggled to speak as my breathing became difficult. "M-mom... M-mama," I managed to stutter with difficulty.

Finally, she realized she was squeezing me too tightly. "Damn, sorry, my little one," she said with an innocent smile, releasing the pressure and allowing me to breathe again.

Sometimes, I was a little scared of my mother's unpredictable personality. I didn't know how she would react to situations, like her comment about grandchildren.

How do I tell her I don't want kids?

After dinner, it was time to cut the cake. It was chocolate, my favorite flavor, and it was delicious. We had a joyful time, laughing a lot. My mother even got emotional and started crying, saying I was growing up too fast.

The hours flew by, and soon it was approaching the game's launch time, 9:50 p.m. My aunts and uncles had left an hour ago, my sister was in her room talking to her boyfriend, and my mother was chatting animatedly with some friends in the living room.

As for me, I was dressed in my pajamas with the game headset already in place on my head. My nerves were on edge, and my heart was pounding. I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself for what would come next.

Time passed slowly as I waited for the crucial moment. My emotions were at their peak.

Finally, after a long 10-minute wait, 10 p.m. arrived. Without further ado, I uttered the keyword that would trigger my immersion into the game.

"Immersion."