Purchase and Character Creation
"Phew… finally bought it!"
Emerging from a bustling supermarket, a figure clutching a sturdy plastic bag filled with purchases lets out a relieved sigh. Brown hair tied back in a ponytail sways as they move, dressed in a light blue long-sleeve shirt and black jeans, darting through the city streets.
This is Azusa Gojo, a first-year university student in Tokyo.
"I've been cranking extra shifts at work, saving up for this day. Man, it's finally paying off…!"
Today, Azusa purchased a game and the gear needed to play it.
"I'm pumped! Hold on, Shangri-La Frontier!"
Shangri-La Frontier, or Shanfro for short.
Released a year ago in spring, this full-dive VR game boasts 30 million registered players, a monstrous hit. It holds the world record for the most simultaneous players, with its rare low ratings drowned out by overwhelming praise. Universally hailed as a "god-tier game," it's a cultural phenomenon.
Set in a medieval world infused with sci-fi elements, players become pioneers, living freely in a vast, open world—that's the essence of Shanfro.
"Home sweet home… not that anyone's here."
Back at a modest Tokyo apartment, Azusa wastes no time preparing to dive into Shanfro. Full-dive VR games, for casual players, mean lying still on a bed or floor. During play, the body is defenseless—no eating, no drinking, no bathroom breaks. Azusa recalls news stories of players hospitalized for heatstroke, some fatally, after summer VR sessions.
Spreading out a futon, Azusa silently reviews the game and VR gear manuals, uses the bathroom, chugs water, munches on a trusty CalorieMate, locks the door, secures the chain, and cracks a window.
"Gear? Check. Software loaded? Check. Startup test… all good!"
Setting an ID and password, Azusa dons the VR headset and sinks into the futon.
"Here we go… VR newbie, but I'll manage. Probably."
With a mix of excitement and nerves, Azusa's Shanfro adventure begins.
A pristine white void materializes, displaying the title screen. Entering the freshly set password and hitting confirm, a button for new character creation appears.
"Character creation, huh? Male, obviously, but what vibe… Whoa, so many options?! Like, 50 at least!"
Azusa is floored by Shanfro's customization depth. Hair color, eye color, accessories, skin tone, build, race—endless choices that could paralyze with indecision.
But Azusa is prepared.
"Nah, I've known what I wanted from the start."
Since missing Shanfro's launch last spring, Azusa has been planning this moment, refining their character concept.
"Based on real me, fixed hair color, odd eyes—right blue, left red. Male, human, height bumped to 185 cm, 10 cm taller than me…"
Gazing at the completed character—their Shanfro avatar—Azusa lets out a proud huff.
"Now, job and origin…"
In Shanfro, jobs determine weapon or magic aptitudes, while origins come with stat boosts and penalties.
"Not as wild as character creation, but still a ton of choices."
Warriors excel with physical weapons but flunk at magic. Mages shine in spells and MP but flop in physical combat. Among the myriad jobs, one catches Azusa's eye—
"…'Backpacker.' A support role, huh?"
Backpacker
Carrying weapons, armor, and supplies single-handedly, they trade with others or aid pioneers in need. On their back, they bear someone's hope.
"Carrying hope… that's badass. I'm sold."
The description sends a shiver down Azusa's spine. Backpackers reportedly have a higher item inventory limit than other jobs.
"If I'm a Backpacker, maybe I should focus on quick moves, passing weapons, or throwing? Yeah, throwing sounds good."
Scouring the origins, Azusa narrows it down.
First, Native: Boosts to stamina (STM) and strength (STR), but some NPCs are hostile, affecting dialogue and affinity.
Next, Explorer's Child: Starts in an exploration area with a bonus to item drops in scouted zones.
Finally, Merchant: Bonuses to NPC trading, with price fluctuations, starting in a town.
"…Alright, Explorer's Child. Makes grinding materials easier."
Origin set, Azusa inputs a player name.
"Name's Pepper. Done."
Hitting the final confirmation, the game cues up. As the prologue rolls, some might skip it to jump into action, but Azusa, valuing world-building, watches intently, soaking in the BGM and scrolling text.
In ancient times, an era called the Age of Gods existed. Great divine beings wove life for posterity, then vanished. Time passed, and we, their heirs, spread across the land as they wished, spinning the grand tapestry of life…
Now, we trace their legacy through history and ruins. You are a pioneer. Arriving with the eastern wind, you may fall time and again, yet press forward… and perhaps fade with the wind.
What is your purpose?
Will you entrust your life to a single blade?
Or peer into the abyss of magic, aiming for its heights?
Or perhaps choose a path beyond battle. All exists here. All resides within you. Step forward—carve out the unknown, the future, the possible. That is the mission of those born in this land, children of the Age of Gods.
Azusa Gojo, now Pepper, begins their Shangri-La Frontier.
To Shangri-La Frontier!
Note: Azusa starts Shanfro around April, three months before the original protagonist, Rakuro Hizutome, who begins in July.