Welcome toAetherion.
A world with no end, no limits, a fantastical world that bridges its users to feel the same as reality. Fully materialize in a world created with precision. Explore the horizons, forge your path, and cement yourself in this world.
An ImmersiveReality.
Where all of your senses can be engaged. See how the sun shine its light to the world of endless horizons, hear the rustling leaves as the wind blew in a lively forest, and feel the chills of an icy mountain or the smoldering heat of volcanos. Even the scent of fresh morning dew in the fields. This world isn't even real but its so vivid you would forget it.
Adventure BeyondBoundaries.
Aetherion is not just an adventure game. Fight and hunt bosses whose power will test your skills, body, and brain. Engage in a dynamic combat that rewards how quirky you are in fights. Join guilds, trade, craft items, and participate on epic quests that shape the world around you. Aetherion allows you to find your own patch and challenge it in infinite ways.
…
Aetherion. Not just a game. Not just an escape. A world reborn, and it's calling your name.
Every time the ad would run, I told myself I'm not gonna watch it. But my gaze always drifted back. As someone who plays games. It's a world that must be tried. Even some highschoolers has the opportunity to. What about me?
The sounds of the traffic have been loud in the morning. But today, it has been quite noisy as I pass some trucks, its blocking the street while its lights are blinking. Its men are shouting instructions to unload the heavy packages inside. Each package has the logo of SolinTech—the giant conglomerate in South Korea that manufactured the Aetherion immersion capsules.
I slowly blinked and even slapped myself if this is all real. A capsule room will be opened at the second floor of the building. Here deliveries are usually a bag of beans, ingredients, machines, or furniture. Not these over-the-top tech machines that cost more than my whole life.
As I open the glass door of the cafe, the hiss of espresso machine greeted me. The owner — Mr.Han is behind the counter, not even bothered with what's going on outside as he makes himself coffee. His eyes followed the direction I'm pointing to which is the ceiling.
"Oh that?" he asked with a casual tone.
I nodded. "That's some capsule equipment right, looks like we'll have some neighbors."
"No, not neighbors. Just an expansion." he grinned, as he sips from the coffee that he made.
I blinked in shock. "Wait, you're opening it?"
"Mm," he hummed, placing a cup gently onto the saucer. ""Games change faster than coffee trends," he said, chuckling as he polished the counter. "Twenty years ago, it was PC bangs. Now? Capsules. You can't stop waves like this—you ride them."
"One week from now, the second floor becomes a capsule room. Dozens of brand-new immersion units, straight from SolinTech's factory. Walk-ins, sessions, the full Aetherion experience."
The words hit harder than I expected. I just can't be amazed how entrepreneurs think. I'd seen capsule lounges advertised online, usually in bigger districts, usually run by faceless chains. But here, right above the café I worked at—it felt unreal. Also, with the expansion of the server with limited the number of capsule rooms here in Seoul then not only will it fill up immediately the cafe and the arcade will boom in customers as they wait in line. Can't help but put my hands on my head and be mind blown. Mr. Han grinning while sipping coffee as I understood his business plan.
Mr. Han leaned on the counter then, lowering his voice. "Before we open, I need someone to put the machines through their paces. Make sure nothing's broken in shipping. Nothing faulty. The tech's safe—don't worry about that—but SolinTech hardware isn't cheap. If one of these capsules dies on launch day, I'd rather know now."
I looked around and see that we are the only people here in the cafe. "So… you want me to test them?" Part of me wanted to laugh it off. Me? Testing capsules? I was just a barista with calloused hands and a good sense in the arcade. But another part of me—the one that lingered on every Aetherion ad—burned hot at the thought. Am I really gonnna reject this offer?
"Exactly." His smile deepened, almost like the answer he is only waiting is 'yes', "I'll pull you off barista duty for two weeks. No apron, no coffee trays. Your only job will be playing Aetherion inside those capsules. Explore the world, fight bosses, do anything what your mind can think of. If I am even younger by ten years I will even do it myself."
I looked at him, waiting for the laugh that he would give out but Mr. Han's tone was very stern, steady, as a matter of fact.
"You've got it, Dani. Do you think I wouldn't notice what you've been doing during your breaks. You got the focus, the persistence to get when you set your sights into it. That's exactly what I need. Think of it as… quality assurance. A chance to step into the game before anyone else here does."
I swallowed, my mind tugged between disbelief and a creeping, dangerous excitement. For two weeks, no café work. No steaming milk or wiping counters. Just me… and Aetherion.
Mr. Han just decided himself and pointed upstairs. We left the cafe and went to the staircase at the side of the building.
As I follow his very steps at the stairs, the voices of the movers became much louder and with my excitement too. The space is kinda lacking still but it will pass after the week preparation is over.
And then I saw them. The capsules lined up, it dominated the room roaring to be used. But it's not yet ready, some checks should be done first. The mover's who are also the one managing the capsule are checking if there are something wrong at the outside of every machines but it doesn't look like it. Am I just a sacrifice?
It wasn't just equipment. It was a fleet. A doorway, multiplied by dozens, each promising door to a new world.
Mr. Han stepped ahead, resting his hand on the nearest capsule. "First-generation Aetherion immersion units. Seoul won't get another shipment of these for months. And here we are," he laughed boasting his wealth.
With a full room of these capsules, how rich is this old man even is.
I let out a low whistle. "Looks like we are in the future already."
He chuckled. "We are, wait until you went in."
The movers are about to finish, rolling the empty crates back to the staircase. Mr. Han exchanged a few words with one of the guys, and I continue to explore this and be amazed with how majestic these are.
Mr. Han called me, "Dani!"
"Ones already calibrated. Hop on already."
He really didn't even give me time to prepare, I thought I will be scheduled to do it later in the day but one of the capsule's lids are already lifted, the interior glowing faintly with its lights. Waiting.
Mr. Han dragged me and pushed me to sit already. "Think of this as your first shift at your new job."
"I'm still gonna get my salary right?", I laughed nervously, wiping my palms against my jeans before stepping closer. The capsule's interior is heavily padded, built for comfort, shaped like a reclining chair and also like a massage chair.
"You're sure these things are safe? I mean my family is waiting for me" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"SolinTech built them," he said simply, as though that answered everything. "If it isn't safe, it shouldn't be expanding their playerbase"
My hand twitched toward the release latch—but then Mr. Han's voice cut through the rising panic. "Breathe. The first time always feels heavier than it is."
I obeyed. Darkness pressed against my lids as the faint hiss of hydraulics filled my ears. The lid lowered with a soft thunk, sealing me in. A brief weightlessness spread through my limbs, followed by warmth, followed by—
Nothing.
"Huh?" thinking that it might be one of the faulty ones I might face.
And then—
Warmth spread through my veins, tingling at my fingertips, my skin dissolving into something both weightless and sharp. Sound faded, then roared back—wind. My eyes burned white before the haze cleared, painting color so vivid it felt like sight had been reborn. Grass bent beneath me, each blade sharp enough to cut. The sky was too blue, too endless. My brain screamed that it wasn't real, but my body disagreed. Every nerve insisted it was.
Aetherion.
My heart hammered in my chest. The ad's voice echoed faintly in my mind. Not just a game. Not just an escape.