Earth, Year 4026
New York City is loud as usual today. People from other states or even countries might find this obnoxious, but for the residents, it's the sound of home. This does not include Nathan.
Nathan is originally from Louisiana, a very quiet state where nothing happens and no one stands out except for the Relix Family. Nathan's Father, Erik Relix, founded a multi-billion-dollar company based around the hit game, Onward. A game that broke history, the first ever full-dive MMORPG. A game where players can be anything; ever wanted to be a mage casting fireballs, how about the greatest blacksmith alive, the world's fastest assassin, most powerful Druid, or even a humble shopkeeper. In Onward, a player could have it all.
Erik poured his heart and soul into his company and the game so much that he didn't have time for his only son. Instead of giving Nathan time, Erik spoiled him with money. Naturally, Nathan coasted on his dad's success and money, becoming arrogant and selfish.
Nathan used his money and influence to make one of the largest guilds in the game and become the no.1 player in Onward. Conquering the hardest dungeons, gaining access to the most valuable loot, and obtaining one of the most coveted ranked classes, the Godly rank.
Nathan did all of this to gain his dad's attention with very little reward. His dad made him in charge of negotiations with the company and game. With no more motivation to play the game and without his dad's affection, he went under in life. Nathan turned to drugs, alcohol, and sex to enjoy life.
Erik sent him on one of these negotiations now. A negotiation with one of the major clans in the game about a new raid: while Nathan is on the way to the meeting, he starts debating skipping it to go to an underground party. The taxi starts making a weird hum as it stops for a red light.
"Driver, am I just drunk or can you hear that too?!" The driver just ignored the inebriated Nathan, knowing one slip of the tongue could cost him not just his job but his whole life.
The light turns green, and the hum gets louder and louder. Nathan presses his hands to his ears as hard as he can to suppress the noise, but it just gets louder. The taxi driver presses on the gas, and as he is about to cross the intersection, a supply truck rams into the taxi. Nathan's vision goeswhitet,e and the humming stops.
"Where am I?"