Breakthrough Online

In the year 20xx, the world was immersed in high-end technology, with advanced gadgets and devices seamlessly integrated into people's daily lives. From smartphones to smart homes, technology had become an integral part of society. However, amidst this tech-dominated world, a revolutionary VRMMORPG called Breakthrough Online emerged, captivating the masses. This game not only offered intense competition but also provided an expansive and enigmatic virtual world for players to explore, uncovering hidden secrets and potentially amassing great wealth.

Despite the prevalent belief that online gaming was a mere waste of time and detrimental to students, the creators of Breakthrough Online aimed to challenge this perception. Their goal was to transform their game into a second world for humanity, a virtual realm that would not only offer entertainment but also serve as a platform for learning and personal development.

And they indeed achieved their goal. Arsen, an enthusiastic player of the game, personally witnessed the tremendous success of Breakthrough Online. It had become a global phenomenon, attracting millions of players from across the globe who eagerly logged in every day to immerse themselves in its captivating and immersive world. The game had surpassed all expectations, marking a significant milestone in the history of online gaming.

During the early days of professional gaming, an average player had the potential to earn $1,000 per day, which was equivalent to half of the basic monthly salary of an ordinary worker. However, this statistic only applied to regular players. High-level players, on the other hand, earned significantly more. In fact, some professional players were able to secure lucrative contracts with companies worth up to $235 million, excluding the additional income they earned from the valuable monster cores they collected.

_

In front of the Gaming Shop, a display of consoles stretching in rows, stood a young man with spiky brown hair and a slender physique. Patiently waiting, he possessed an innocent-looking face that contrasted with his mischievous personality. This was Jack, one of Arsen's closest friends.

As Jack surveyed the bustling crowd, his eyes locked onto a young man with sleek black hair and piercing blue eyes, who stood significantly taller than him by at least 6 centimeters. Standing at around 171 centimeters himself, Jack immediately recognized his friend. "Arsen, over here!" he called out, his voice filled with excitement. "Many players are scrambling for the stock, but luckily, this place is flying under the radar. We can secure two consoles."

Arsen finally arrived, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. "Sorry for being late," he gasped, trying to catch his breath. "Let's grab the consoles before anyone else discovers this place."

Without hesitating, both of them stepped into the shop, where they were greeted by a middle-aged man with an extravagant mustache. "Good day, young men! How can I assist you today?" the middle-aged man asked in a polite tone, his broad smile reaching his eyes.

Jack took a step forward and spoke up. "We'd like to purchase the Console for Breakthrough Online."

The middle-aged man scrutinized the young men from head to toe, wondering if they came from affluent backgrounds. The thought crossed his mind as the console they were interested in was quite expensive. However, despite his observations, he couldn't discern any signs of wealth. Shaking off his initial assumptions, he reminded himself that as long as they had the means to purchase the consoles, it didn't matter.

"So, you're also interested in playing that new game. I have two consoles available," he said, revealing the two black VR helmets and four wireless gloves. "They're priced at $500 each."

Jack's gulp was audible as he realized the enormity of the $500 price tag. Meanwhile, Arsen maintained a calm expression, indicating that he had anticipated the console's cost before coming to the shop. Without hesitation, Arsen retrieved $500 from his wallet, and Jack followed suit. Unlike Arsen, Jack's hand trembled slightly as he handed over the money, as it represented his entire monthly allowance.

The middle-aged man's face lit up with a bright expression, clearly surprised by the fact that these two young men had the required amount of money. After accepting the payment, he handed over the two consoles and waved his hands in a gesture of farewell.

"Thank you for purchasing! Please, come back again!"

Outside the store, Jack cast a suspicious glance at Arsen as a sudden realization struck him. "Wait, Arsen. Where did you get the money to buy a console?"

Arsen responded with a disdainful smile, understanding that revealing the true source of the money used to purchase the console would not be ideal. He knew it was not a wise decision to use the money his parents had worked hard for. To divert the topic, he quickly changed the subject. "Your apartment is the only place where we can play. I'm sure you understand why, right?"

Jack nodded in agreement, aware of Arsen's parents' disapproval of his gaming habits. "Yes, we can play at my apartment. But can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"What made you decide to play this game? I'm pretty sure it's not the kind of thing you wake up in the morning and randomly decide to do," Jack asked curiously.

"I just feel it. Let's go, it's hot here."

---

The duo arrived at the apartment, which, although small, was fully air-conditioned. While Jack's parents were not wealthy, they had enough money to provide for their son's needs. The apartment consisted of a small living room and bedroom area.

"We still have 2 hours until Breakthrough Online officially starts," Jack reminded Arsen as he unboxed the console they had purchased.

"Is that so? Then let's just find out how to operate the console and what its other function is." Arsen suggested as he opened as well his console.

Inside the red box were a gleaming VR helmet and two wireless black gloves. As for the console's operation, it followed a similar pattern to other VR games. However, the console's functionality differed significantly from other consoles in this world. Specifically, this console featured a function called Immerse Percentage, which measured the player's body and brain activity. A higher Immerse Percentage indicated better performance. However, this particular console had an Immerse Percentage of only 77.98%.

Aside from the manuals and references of the area that could be found inside the game, they didn't see anything.

Arsen and Jack utilized the remaining time to scour the internet in search of information about Breakthrough Online. Aware that beta players had already been exploring the game prior to its official release, they hoped to uncover useful insights from their experiences. However, despite their efforts to visit various websites and forums, their search yielded no significant results. It seemed that the beta testers were intentionally keeping the information hidden, likely to gain a significant advantage once the game was officially launched. Arsen couldn't blame them, as he understood the intense competition and how rapidly the rankings in the game fluctuated, with the leaderboard changing daily.

Why does he know about this? How he could not, the ranking of the players could always hear in the news report. At the same time, their in-game names could be seen on the billboards. He was not blind or deaf to not see those things and hear the reports.

"In the end, we can't get anything." A sigh of disappointment came out of Arsen's mouth.

Bam!

Jack slammed the desk. "Fuck those beta testers!" He cursed them before adding these words. "We can't do anything at this point aside from exploring the game by ourselves. Let's get ready."

Finally, the long-awaited moment had arrived. Arsen and Jack carefully placed the black VR helmets on their heads and donned the wireless gloves. Before them, a vibrant blue screen displayed a countdown, signaling the imminent opening of the game.

12 seconds...

11...

10...

"In any case, what in-game name would you choose, Jack?" Arsen asked, recognizing that in a game like this, it was common for players to create unique in-game names and alter their appearance to prevent others from recognizing them or spreading information about them.

5...

4...

"Jack V. This is my one only in-game name," Jack replied.

"Let's meet inside the game then."

2...

1...

Swoosh!

All of a sudden, a white light flashed in his eyes. It was dazzling but not to the point he can't read the text appearing right in front of his eyes.

System: [Binding bank account]

Success!

System: [Player Immersion]

Success!

System: Welcome to Breakthrough Online! In order to secure that there are no existing bugs, you will be teleported to a Greenfield! You have 5 minutes before the character's evaluation.

---

Suddenly, a human-shaped white light materialized in the midst of Greenfield, revealing Arsen's character. His appearance remained the same, but he was awestruck by the sight of the clear blue sky above him and the gentle caress of the cold breeze against his skin. The scent of flowers filled his nostrils, and the melodious chirping of birds serenaded his ears. It was an incredibly tranquil and soothing experience. Arsen closed his eyes, fully immersing himself in the

After savoring the scenery for a few minutes, Arsen refocused on the main purpose of his presence in this virtual world. He began by walking, running, and jumping, testing his movements and engaging his senses. To his surprise, the sensations in this world mirrored those of the real world. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought he was actually there, not in a virtual realm.

[Do you want to finish the trial? Yes/No]

His five senses were functioning perfectly, and he noticed no signs of any technical glitches. In addition, Arsen had already explored various features in the system, such as the map, friend list, and inventory. Without hesitation, he clicked "Yes" on the prompt displayed on the screen.

Swoosh!

In an instant, Arsen found himself transported to a new location enveloped in darkness, punctuated by flickering white lights. The sensation of being suspended in the air gave him the impression of being amidst the vastness of the galaxy. As he absorbed the surroundings, his attention was captivated by a brilliant golden light that dazzled his eyes. Moving swiftly, it headed directly towards his position.

As the golden light reached his location, a stunning woman with long, silky green hair and dressed in an elegant white gown materialized before him. Her beauty was undeniable, and it was clear that men would be captivated by her presence. Arsen couldn't help but acknowledge her allure, but his attention quickly shifted as she began to speak to him.

"Good day, Immortal! I am Geina, the Spirit," Geina greeted with a gentle voice. "I am here to evaluate your attributes, guide you in selecting your class, and assist with modifying your appearance."

As Arsen stood beside Geina, he could sense the immense power emanating from her. "Please, evaluate me," he responded in a polite tone, being cautious with his words so as not to provoke the spirit.

"I'll start then."

At this point, Geina proceeded to explain the evaluation process. It became clear that the player's in-game attributes were influenced by their real-world attributes. The only distinction was that players would receive an additional +15 free attributes, which could enhance their chosen class. This feature was necessary in a game filled with formidable monsters, as the extra attributes would help players compete effectively.

Arsen now understood that the players who had great strength or speed in the real world could be useful in this game.

Right after, Geina positioned her soft hand over Arsen's head, releasing a gentle glow light that eventually coated his body. Arsen closed his eyes, feeling a mild heat coming from her hand.

Ding!

He just opened up his eyes after a dinging sound went to his ears and saw a blue screen that had a black border occurred.

System: Evaluation Completed!

_______

•Name: <Please Select> Level: 0

•Title:

•Class: <Please Select>

•Body: Immortal. Body Tempering Stage.

•Mind: Calm Waters.

_______

•Health Power: 100/100

•Mana: 30

•Stamina: 20

•Mental Strength: 45

•Luck: 6

______

Strength: 9

Vitality: 5

Dexterity: 7

Agility: 12

Intelligence: 15

_______

Arsen was impressed with his mental strength. If he guessed it correctly, the mental state was the clearness of the player's mind. A player has a high mental state could not easily affect by the fear effect provided by the monster. Moreover, the attributes he possessed were quite low, only his Agility and Intelligence reached double digits. Well, he already expected this since he was not athletic or somewhat, he was just a nobody.

Luck. This attribute will help the player increase the chances of getting valuable items after killing monsters. Or maybe, while opening the treasure chest.

About his body type? Arsen had no idea about that.

"Please choose your name carefully, Immortal." Geina reminded him, then added these words. "Also, select your class. You can depend on your attributes if you are having a hard time choosing."

In this game, there were seven classes Swordsman, Summoner, Warrior, Ranger, Mage, Cleric, and Brawler. Warriors can be Tank and Berserkers at the same time depending on which attributes they raised.

Arsen simply nodded his head in agreement. At this juncture, he only based on his Agility and Intelligence. With these two, it was obvious he can be Assasin or Mage. Mage classes obviously could deal high damage and cool as well. However, Arsen was not the type of guy who liked standing on the side, so he chose the Assasin Class. If he remembered correctly, Assasin Class was one of the dangerous classes since Assasin could kill its target despite the fact it was protected by thousands of players. Back then, Dark Star was the number one Assasin and managed to become number four on the leaderboard.

Now, his main problem was choosing his in-game name. Different names appeared in his head such as Ice Fang and Speed Star. Both names were cool, however, something was missing. It should be meaningful... After thinking for several minutes, he made up his mind.

"I will choose Arc Blood."

"Now, I will send you to Kalin for the orientation and world enlightenment."