This is too real. Terrifyingly real.
Players were spawning rapidly in the starting town—one after another, in steady bursts of light—until the plaza filled with footsteps, voices, and flickers of movement in every direction.
Yor stood frozen, stunned by the sheer number of them.
I'm not trying to get emotional, but my eyes are stinging on their own.
My heart's pounding.
Am I really witnessing history unfold before me?!
Deimos Online was the world's first full-dive VRMMO—an unprecedented leap in gaming technology. Its release shattered records, selling over 248 million copies worldwide within just 24 hours.
It pushed the boundary between game and reality so far that it blurred. The graphics, the weight of sound, the sensation of the wind—it wasn't just immersive. It was indistinguishable from real life.
Powered by the revolutionary HALO full-dive system, players didn't just play the game—they lived it.
Yor walked over to a nearby fountain and leaned down, staring at his reflection in the water. The surface rippled gently, but he could still see his face—short, black hair falling around his ears and amber eyes looking back at him.
Ohhh! That's definitely me!
He wore basic starter armor—mostly light leather with bits of cheap metal plates over the chest and shoulders. The armor looked like the kind given at the start of the game: nothing fancy, just enough to survive early battles.
Around him, other players wore similar cheap, starter gear, though each looked a little different. Some had bright colors, others added cloth wraps, symbols, or small decorations—since the game let players customize their outfits, even the weakest armor had a bit of personality.
He walked around as the wind stirred his hair. The sun flared through the clouds just right, like a real sun—warm, not the usual baked-in game lighting. He could smell the grass. Actually smell it.
I've been waiting for a game that I can play for the rest of my life.
I think... this is it.
Ahh...I'm gonna cry.
The ground crunched beneath his boots with a texture that didn't feel canned. He looked down at his hands—feet, old scar on the knuckle, even the weird way his thumb curved.
I wonder if I can use my sense of taste here too.
He turned his eyes to a potted plant beside him, plucked a small branch, and ate a leaf.
He bit into the leaf and immediately froze. The bitterness hit his tongue so sharply, it shocked him.
No way! I can actually taste it!
Suddenly, a single tear rolled down his cheek. He couldn't believe he could actually taste it.
"What the hell are you doing?"
A yellow-haired guy walked toward him—about 5'8", with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. He was effortlessly good-looking, like someone who didn't even need to try.
Yor couldn't make out the face—his eyes were too blurry with tears—but the voice gave it away. He quickly wiped his tears and cleared his throat.
"Someone told me that eating a leaf can give you an SSS rank skill," Yor said, deadpan. It was a blatant lie, but you'd never know it from his face.
Tsk. This guy always shows up at the most awkward times.
"Really?! Give me it!"
Ludwig snatched the potted plant straight from Yor's hands before Yor could react.
"This'll make grinding so much easier."
Leaves were already in his mouth, chewed in a frenzy.
A few nearby players glanced over—some confused, some genuinely concerned—then quickly looked away.
"Oh, I can feel power surging through me!" he yelled, each word louder than the last. Bits of leaf flew from his mouth as he screamed, wild-eyed and shaking.
Then, without any warning, Ludwig suddenly lunged forward—trying to headbutt Yor, but the game instantly intervened.
A glowing message suddenly popped up in front of them:
[Attacking is prohibited during customization.]
They both blinked, exchanged a look, and shrugged.
"Wait—why are you even here, Ludwig? You said you weren't playing," Yor asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I mean, this is the first-ever VMMORPG to exist—with graphics so realistic you can't even tell if we're on Earth. Nobody wants to miss out on this. This game is being live-streamed on social media. It's even on the news right now.
I even saw you—I swear I saw you on TV before I logged in. You were crying while looking at the sky, like —"
"Don't," Yor said firmly, cutting off Ludwig's blabbering.
"I know you're the kind of player who skips cutscenes, doesn't read quests, and skips tutorials just to get ahead of others quickly,"
he said, then gently turned Ludwig's head with both hands, guiding it to look around.
"Look around you."
Ludwig blinked repeatedly, trying to take in the scene around him. His eyes wandered over the crowd—some people were crying while staring at their hands and bodies in disbelief.
His mind shifted to the adventure ahead, and Yor's chatter became nothing more than background noise.
"This isn't just another MMORPG you play," Yor said. "This is another reality—another life. You've gotta enjoy it, man."
Yor noticed a grin slowly forming on Ludwig's face.
Yor let out a deep sigh. Ludwig was already zoning out, probably imagining leveling up or getting ahead of everyone. He wasn't listening. Of course he wasn't.
I should've known better. Ludwig always likes to compete. That's how he enjoys the game.
Then, suddenly—an uproar.
Yor and Ludwig snapped to attention.
"What's happening?" Ludwig asked.
Players pointed their fingers at the ripples forming in the sky. The center of the ripple gradually opened, revealing a void. From that void, a star emerged and began to fall.
The crowd slowly moved toward the center of the town square, the uproar settling into a hum of amazement. Eyes followed the falling star, wide with wonder, as people pushed and jostled for a better view.
It was falling toward the town, and as it descended, cracks began to form across its surface. Rays of light peeked through the fractures, pulsing brighter with each second.
The crowd erupted in excitement—some players stood frozen in awe, others shouted and cheered.
Just before the star hit the ground, it cracked open—
Revealing a very charming girl, mounted gracefully on a floating broom.
She appeared massive, a glowing hologram hovering high above the plaza, easily visible to every player below.
She had shoulder-length, pin-straight cyan hair and starry eyes that shimmered like actual constellations. Her entire appearance sparkled—whimsical and radiant. She wore a flowy black witch costume, accessorized with gold earrings and bracelets.
"I'm literally star-struck," Ludwig muttered, wide-eyed. He immediately rushed closer to get a better look.
"Hey, hey! We can still see her from here!" Yor called out, reaching out to grab Ludwig's arm.
Without hesitation, Ludwig pushed through the crowd, weaving between people and narrowing the distance.
Yor scoffed and shook his head.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed across the town, silencing the crowd.
"Fwaa! Good day, ladies and gentlemen! I am Winter—your humble guide!"
She raised a hand with flair. "I'm here to break down some bad news: we're shutting down the game..."
She paused for dramatic effect.
"Just kidding! You're still in the customization screen—well, technically, since there is no screen. Oh, and by the way, I'm just one of many versions of me floating around to assist millions of players. Multitasking magic, baby!"
Winter continued, "The real reason I'm here is to tell you all that the system will assign your starting region—at random.
Gasps and murmurs spread across the area.
"The region you get influences the difficulty of your quests. Each region is ranked from one to seven stars."
"Choosing seven stars means the difficulty will be very high—expect tough challenges and hard quests. However, if you succeed, your growth and rewards will be abundant. On the other hand, one star means easier quests with less challenge, leading to slower but steadier progress over time."
"Shortly after players are sent to their assigned regions, a major World Event will occur—often a war, invasion, or realm-wide crisis. This is more than just chaos; it's a test. During these events, the gods themselves will be watching. If a player distinguishes themselves, a god may choose to align with the, granting powerful blessings or divine quests."
She snapped her fingers.
A flying slot machine appeared in front of every player, humming and blinking.
The crowd fell into silence. Tension thickened the air.
Winter, leaned forward with a teasing smile. "By the way—your lives don't depend on this. Why do you guys look so troubled?"
A guy in the crowd raised his hand, catching Winter's attention.
"Yes? The guy with the ginger beard!" Winter called out.
He lowered his hand slightly but kept his eyes fixed on Winter, genuinely curious.
"Why don't we get to choose the region? Why does it have to be random?"
Winter tilted her head slightly, smile still intact.
"Before I answer... what did you feel about it?"
People began mumbling and Yor overheard two girls nearby.
"What a waste of time," one of them said, rolling her eyes.
"The majority voted for it, in case that ginger guy didn't know," the other muttered, clearly annoyed.
The ginger-bearded player held up his trembling hands, palms soaked with sweat.
"Nervous. My palms are sweating right now. I really want something easy to medium... So, can I please be an exception?" His voice wavered. His expression pleaded.
Winter's smile faded. Her glittering eyes dimmed slightly.
"Fuu... The unknown is what keeps us awake. Don't you agree? It's thrilling, exciting, nerve-wracking. That's what the majority of players wanted—based on the survey."
She crossed her legs.
"Think about it, If everyone chose a seven-star region, the player population wouldn't be evenly distributed. Some areas would have little to no income. NPCs might migrate, maybe even commit crimes. Poor NPCs…"
"T-That's reasonable, but I—"
"Ahh! Bro, she already answered your question! Can we just get on with this? I want to start already, man!" Ludwig snapped, scratching his head in frustration.
Yor lowered his head and sighed.
"No! It's my right—" The ginger guy tried to explain, but before he could finish, the crowd erupted into loud shouts, drowning out his words.
"Dude, shut up!"
Everyone around the ginger guy became angry. No one wanted to wait. Their hands were itching for the adventure ahead.
Ignoring the racket in the background, Winter hummed softly to herself as she calmly rummaged through her pocket.
She pulled out a pendant watch.
The second hand ticked steadily—
Twenty seconds left before she automatically turned to ash.
"Alright, everybody! Eyes this way, please!"
Winter snapped her fingers, and upbeat music filled the air. In the blink of an eye, the quiet town transformed into a dazzling casino. Neon lights flashed in sync with the beat, while flying slot machines twinkled and chimed in perfect harmony.
Winter was twirling around on her broom as she glittered like a disco ball.
"Ayee! The moment you've been waiting for is here, ladies and gentlemen! You only have 10 seconds to pull the lever. Everybody! PULL!"
Her last word—"Pull"—echoed loudly, evoking a sense of urgency among the players.
Some didn't hesitate and pulled the lever right after Winter told them to. Others held on to the belief that if they held hands while pulling the lever, they would be teleported to the same region.
Yor stroked his chin, deep in thought.
So, the stars represent the difficulty of a region. If that's the case, I'd prefer 2–3 stars. I don't mind if my progress is slow—after all, I'm here to have fun.
He stared blankly at the slot machine in front of him as its reels spun wildly.
"Hah!" Ludwig grinned like he was ready to take on the world. He slowly pulled the lever, and the machine clicked and whirred. After a few seconds, the reels slowed one by one. He held his breath as each reel clattered into place.
The first two stars appeared... then three more... and finally, the last two glowing stars clicked in.
"Jackpot!" Ludwig shouted, fists clenched tightly at his sides. He burst into a triumphant laugh as the slot machine blared music and flickered lights.
"I win!" he added, turning his eyes to Yor.
Ludwig's jaw dropped when he realized Yor also got seven stars. They looked at each other in shock—so did everyone nearby.
"...Oh shit."
They disappeared into thin air.