Logging Into VR and Meeting The Protagonist

Looking down at the hi-tech device in my hands, I frowned.

"So...I really am here, huh?" I scoffed in disbelief, "To think I'd actually be transmigrated into some weird Manhua hardly anyone knows about," I dropped the glasses-like device on the coffee table in front of me before standing up and picking up the instructions next to where I put the so-called Login Device.

Reading through the instruction manual - I was glad mom made me learn Chinese for those family visits right now - I stopped at a specific sentence before sighing and putting the paper down.

Stripping off my clothes, I walked over to the box which the Login Device came in and reached into it. Reaching around blindly for a few seconds, I grabbed the only other things I could feel in there and pulled them out before laying them down on the coffee table next to the Login Device.

Four cuffs which gloves attached to two of them and socks attached to the other two.

Sighing again, I shook my head and slipped them on.

Why was I doing all of this? Because I had to get into that game. Yuan World or whatever it's fucking called. Because in a month, reality is going to be turned upside down and the game world will assert it's dominance over the actual world. Basically, everyone gains their game character's powers and abilities which leads to a punch of superhumans running around on Earth. Chaos ensues, if you couldn't already figure that out.

Then, if I remember correctly, super clans begin popping up all over the world and making themselves the Law. Judge, Jury and Executioner. Which means anyone in those clans/gaming guilds, is practically above the law. They can do whatever they want.

If I want to make sure I don't get the short end of the stick, I need to get into Yuan World and become a top-class player. Because if I don't...I'm pretty sure I'll die in the coming months.

With the hi-tech gloves and socks on, I picked up a sensor, switched it on, and began scanning my body. I went from my right sock to my right glove and then my left sock to my left glove. I did a few other scans and then eventually, the thing had a full scan of my body. Height, physique, facial features--all I had to do was input my weight, hair color, eye color and skin tone and I'd have a perfect replica in the game world.

...This technology is pretty wild, huh? As to expected of a world that has incredibly immersive VR.

Slipping the gloves and socks off, I picked up the Login Device and walked to my room, leaving behind my discarded clothes. Getting into my room, I closed the door behind me and collapsed on my new bed.

Holding the Login Device above me, I looked at it as I thought. I'd woke up in this world a few hours ago, this box with the logo and name for Yuan World written across it and I was already adapting - that wasn't exactly normal but I already knew I wasn't normal. I mean, who starts training in martial arts as soon as they can walk? A guy who loves 'em and had a crazy grandpa who loved 'em just as much and wouldn't let his grandson become a pansy just because they'd moved to America.

My life has always been about martial arts. Fighting. But when could I ever use it? Even some of the gentler uses for martial arts would count as brutal assault and get me thrown in jail. And that was if the other person just didn't have a gun to shoot me with. It hurt to think that the thing I loved so much could be beaten so thoroughly by such a simple device like a gun.

But hey, that's reality. It ain't anime; knowing how to punch and kick someone doesn't make you invincible. It does make you pretty good in a bar fight though.

Those thoughts aside, I put the Login Device on, resting the glasses on my face and flicking a switch on to the side of the device. They whirred to life, the nearly transparent glass going completely blue as I felt my vision go white, then red, then black before I found myself in a room looking at a screen. A keyboard popped into existence in front of me.

It kinda reminded me of VRChat.

My body, which was completely opaque, was stuck in place and I couldn't move anything other than my neck which allowed me to look down and see my body. The physique was the same - tall, broad, muscular - but it was transparent and I could see the grey floor behind me through my own chest.

Pretty freaky but I didn't get weirded out - this was a game, after all. I tested out my hands a little and found they responded to my thoughts just like they did in real life.

Fucking hi-tech stuff. I don't understand it and I doubt there's any actual science behind how it works.

I chuckled to myself and brought my hands to the keyboard and mouse and turned my attention to the screen. It asked me about my addition information and I filled it in: my name for the game, eye color, hair color, skin tone, weight, etc. I went through the form and filled it out before pressing the 'Completed' button at the end.

For those of you who are curious of the answers, here they are in their respective order: 'William', light brown, black, sunkissed tan, 91kg/200lbs. The rest of the details were my bank details, so I won't be showing you guys shit.

After completing the miscellaneous details, my avatar completed itself and became fully solid looking. No transparency here!

Then, I found myself in a new location. The starter location.

I was clothed in basic gear, a black and white shirt with black pants and accompanying black sneakers. I didn't have a weapon on me, neither did I have anything, actually. I was a true newbie, through and through.

I looked around and people began flashing into existence - this was the very opening for Yuan World, after all. I'd timed it well enough anyway.

Looking away from the bunch of players who were either doing stupid shenanigans with their friends or basking in the general aura of the gigantic city around us. Skyscrapers stretched up into the sky, like pointy fingers trying to poke the sky. Advanced flying cars and transport vehicles flew through the air above us, weaving in and out of the giant buildings.

I didn't blame the people showing awe at this. It was brilliant. The design, the graphics, the fact there was legitimately no lag despite this game being an entire open world...It was worthy of people's awe.

VR hits different in Manhuas, Manhwas, Manga and Anime, huh?

Looking off to the side, I saw a billboard and walked over to it as it was what I needed - a map!

Seeing I was in the place aptly named 'Starter Location', I looked over the map before I found what I was looking for. 'Qing Hai Training Center'.

"Not too far, huh...?" I mumbled to myself before memorizing the route and blasting off into a sprint. I got a few people call after me as I either narrowly dodged them or forced them to throw themselves out of the way; they seemed quite angry as well, actually. I wonder if there was a challenge option between players in this game? It was never really shown or talked about in the Manhua.

Like the map showed, it didn't take long for me to arrive at the training center and I reviewed the information I had on the combat system for this game as I slowed to a walk.

1) The game didn't have jobs or professions, like fighter, tank or healer. 2) Instead, it had a variety of weapons and the weapon you chose would decide your combat style. A heavy weapon would be focused on strength and have high attack power but they'd be slow, but a light weapon would be fast and agile but they'd have lesser attack power. Unless they got a very good weapon, that is. 3) Items and skills matter. You can have stats as high as the sky and still lose to someone with better equipment and skills.

But most importantly, 4) What separates the top-players and the rest below them, is [Ki]. Ki, is a metaphysical energy, and in this game, it's used to increase attack power and make you a more potent attacking threat.

To get this game-changing energy, you need to reach 100% proficiency in a weapon that truly suits you.

Which, is exactly why I'm heading to this training center.

As I got to the entrance of the training center, the doors automatically slid open for me. Inside there was a pretty barebones room - a wide are, with the right-most wall covered in practice dummies you could use to hit with the weapons you could get from a nearby screen. The screen looked somewhat like an ATM and the blue screen was filled with boxes, each box containing a weapon of some kind.

My attention, however, was on the only person inside the training center. He wasn't tall but I wouldn't call him short either - he was about 5'9" and his build was slender but broad and muscular enough to show that he was definitely a dude. His hair was black like mine but his eyes were an unusual light grey.

Protagonists, am I right?

Unlike me, who had very watered down Asian features due to only really being a quarter Chinese, this guy had very traditional Asian features. I'd even say he looked good-looking - protagonist aura, once again.

As I walked in, he didn't pay any attention to me. He just kept hitting the wooden training dummy with a very hi-tech, futuristic Katana.

So...this is Liu Ye*, the original MC of this world, huh? He gives off a bit more of an intense aura in real life.

(*A/N - His game name is Ye and as such, that's what the MC will refer to him as. His real name is Liu Ye/Yi. The translation is a bit weird. I'll be using Liu Ye when necessary.)

Putting that thought aside, I figured I could introduce myself later after I'd completed my own goal. Working over to the ATM-looking thing, I scrolled through the weapons, hoping they didn't discriminate against unarmed martial artists. They wouldn't, would they? This a Manhua, so they need to give the option, right?

Thankfully, they gave the option and I clicked on it. A pair of gauntlets appeared and I slipped them on. They weren't too fancy - they were just gloves that reached up to my elbows and had protective padding in parts. The knuckles, from the feel of them, were padded with metal.

Clanging my fists together, I smiled and walked over to a training dummy of my own.

I settled into a horse stance and threw a simple punch at the mid-mass of the training dummy.

[Proficiency raised 0.01%+]

[Proficiency raised 0.01%+]

[Proficiency raised 0.01%+]

[Proficiency raise...]

[Profici...]

. . .

[Unarmed Gauntlets Proficiency Reached: 100%]

[Congratulations Player William has obtained Ki. Attribute 'Supernatural Potential'* and Energy Gauge** adjusted ratio to 1:1. Remaining Energy: 4/5.]

(*A/N - In the Manhua this is originally called Wisdom but that makes zero fucking sense. This isn't a magic fantasy game. It's a sci-fi game. Supernatural Potential fits the theme way more.)

(**A/N - Same as the other one, in the Manhua this was referred to as Knowledge Strength or some shit and it sounded way too dumb so I just changed it to Energy: because that's what it is. It represents Ki and how much he has.)

An aura of yellow flowed around me, imbuing me with a source of energy that made me feel like I was suddenly being charged by a generator instead of a human heart. The fact the game makes me feel like this...is weird - I mean, shouldn't it feel like nothing? Or is the game that immersive. Probably something plot related.

Ye looked at me from the corner of his eye, shock coming from his grey eyes as well as envy.

Chuckling, I held out a hand, "Name's William. I assume you know about how to get Ki, huh?" I asked, keeping my voice calm as I continued with a cocked eyebrow, "How you find out?"

That froze him up.

He turned from the dummy and rested against the sword in his hands - he'd started on the Katana proficiency before I began mine, so it's only natural he'd be onto the next weapon by now - and gave me a wry smile, beads of virtual sweat travelling down his face, "I heard off of a friend of mine. He's a game developer on the team for the game and he gave me a riddle a few weeks ago and I cracked it earlier today. How about you?"

"Oh, me? I'm from the future and missed out on getting Ki the first time. Didn't wanna miss out on it now that I can get it," I answered nonchalantly and the answer hung in the air before Ye froze up even more than before. His eyes shook and he hastily held up the sword in his hand.

But he wasn't very threatening. In fact, he was shaking at the thought of fighting.

He still hadn't gotten over his anxieties at this point. I hate to take advantage of him but this Ye is infinitely easier to deal with than the one after he gains his confidence and full resolve.

Nodding, I gestured to him with a gauntleted hand, "Yeah, I'm just like you," I admitted before pulling up his profile and sending him a friend request. That stopped him again. He stopped shaking and just looked at me all confused. I sighed and took off one of the gauntlets and held out a hand, "We both know what's coming. I have confidence in being able to protect myself. But two incredibly strong people are better than one, right? It's the logical thing to do to team up," I recounted my reasoning to the still frozen Ye before clicking my tongue and scratching the back of my head, embarrassed, "God, I sounded like my gramps when I said 'logical thing'."

Things went silent and honestly, it could go either way at this point. Like a coin still in the air, the side it would land on wasn't yet decided. Ye could freak out that there's someone else like him or he could actually feel relief that there's someone else like him.

Luckily, it was the latter as he lowered his weapon and let out a sigh, his legs seeming like they'd lost all strength as he looked over at me before holding out a shaky hand.

"The name's Ye," he introduced himself and I smilingly shook his hand. It was his turn to look confused as he questioned me, "William? Isn't that a foreign name? What're you doing on the Chinese server?"

"I wasn't born in China but my grandparents were. I was over here visiting their graves around this time and decided to stick around while I played Yuan World," I shrugged, lying to Ye.

I was here because I was here. Whoever transmigrated me put me in China and that's that.

But, as per usual with lies, I mixed in the truth. My grandparents were buried in China, as per their requests.

Realization struck his eyes as he nodded, seeming understanding something, "And you got caught up in the disaster before you could return home..." he trailed off and I decided to let him build the story up on his own - he was only helping me solidify my lie.

"Yep," I gave an aggrieved look, "I only stayed here for a month and a few days - then people got superpowers from a game and laws, order and society practically crumbled in on itself. You know how hard it is to book a plane ride to America when that type of shit happens?" I scoffed, chuckling at what I was saying before shaking my head. Ye, however, was just staring dumbly at me, so I gestured with my chin at him, "What's? You feeling ill or something?"

"No..." he weakly nodded his head before giving a wry smile, "Just...what you're saying is really cementing in that you're telling the truth. You'd have to have experienced it all to know as much as you do right now. I was still half-expecting you to be pulling some kind of prank," he gave a tired laugh before finishing, "But no, you're telling the truth."

Or I'd have to be a reader of the Manhua this entire situation is based off of. Both work.

Giving him a wry smile of my own, I clapped him on the shoulder, "Cheer up, man. Look at it like this: we've both got an ally who knows what's gonna happen now. Dealing with this all on your own would suck majorly," I laughed, trying to lighten the mood and Ye laughed along with me, nodding his agreement.

"Yeah," he chuckled before looking curiously over at me, "Were you a top player before? I never heard of you," he asked and though he didn't look suspicious of me, the feeling was there in his words. He was testing me out.

"Top player? Me?" I scoffed, shaking my head in the negative, "I was a casual player. Too busy practicing martial arts in real life to worry about practicing them in a game, you know? But who can blame the past me for not knowing his life relied completely on leveling up in some VR game," I scoffed, kicking the floor in fake frustration.

Ye sighed, "Yeah, tell me about it. I was a casual too," he said, his tone sad and downtrodden before he looked up at me and raised a fist, "But we're gonna become top players this time, right?"

Ah, the classic Manhua trope: becoming best friends in impossibly quick record time.

Smiling, I lifted my fist and bumped it against Ye's, "Hell yeah, man. Let's show 'em what a pair of past-casual can do," I joked and Ye cracked a smile. I jerked a thumb to the dummy, "Oh yeah, I heard about a skill you can get by reaching 100% proficiency in all 18 melee weapons. If you don't figure out what weapon unlocks your Ki, it'll mean your suited weapon is a ranged weapon. I hear the skill helps smoothen out the weakness to ranged weapons."

"Really?" Ye looked at me, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

"Yep," I nodded, "Take this knowledge as an olive branch. A showcase of my sincerity, if you will," I explained, hoping to speed up his proficiency gain. If I remember correctly, a day or two into his grind, he has second thoughts. Hopefully this helps keep his resolve up.

I gave him a serious look as I continued, "Remember, Ye, getting Ki is your top priority. No matter how long it takes. With the two of us, leveling to a respectable level won't take long either."

Ye looked over at me, the emotions in his eyes complicated before he nodded and showed a sincere smile, "...Thank you, William. I'll keep at it," he said but then he stopped and seemed to realize something again, "Wait, you said martial arts, right? Then you know how to fight and stuff?" he asked, hope brewing in his eyes.

"Sure I know how to fight," I nodded, "Wouldn't be much of a martial artist if I didn't, would I?"

"Can you teach me how to fight? Please?" he asked, nearly begging me. Ye had his own pride, I know that, but getting strong meant more to him than pride at the minute. And helping him get over his anxiety now would save time later...Ye would also owe me big time...

That settles it.

"Sure thing, man. Can't have my partner in this fucked up reality not know how to fight, right?" I said with a laugh, one that Ye responded to with a wry chuckle while he nodded in agreement.

But that wryness disappeared soon enough as he looked at me with intense eyes, "Then let's start now! Time is of the essence!"

[Player Ye has accepted your friend request.]

[Player Ye has challenged you to a friendly duel (No Death). Do you accept? Y/N]

And with a smile, I pressed 'Y' as I slipped my gauntlet back on and saw a countdown begin.

Time to whip Ye into fighting shape.