The fluorescent lights of the city hospital cast a sterile, pale glow. A doctor in a white coat regarded the young man on the examination bed with a mixture of professional detachment and genuine pity.
"Mark," the doctor said, voice gentle but firm, "your condition—Cystic Fibrosis—is treatable. With proper medication and therapy, you could live a full life. The cost… it isn't insignificant, but it's manageable. Around thirty thousand dollars a year. Are you certain you want to refuse treatment?"
"Yes."
Mark's face was pale, but his resolve was unwavering. He nodded firmly, forcing back the storm of fear and frustration inside him. "I voluntarily refuse treatment."
"Son, you can't be serious!" the doctor said, turning to Mark's parents, whose faces were etched with silent grief. "How can you—"
"Doctor," Mark interrupted, sharp. "This is my choice."
The doctor sighed, a rare mix of compassion and helplessness in his eyes. Life and death were part of his daily routine, but cases like this were unusual. A treatable disease, a lifetime of medication costing a small fortune… For a family like Mark's, choosing treatment meant financial ruin. The world was full of people like him—offered lifelines they could never afford. Mark was just one of many.
"A terrible waste," the doctor muttered, leaving after Mark signed the release forms. His steps were heavy, drained of energy.
"It's my fault," Mark's father whispered, shoulders slumped under the weight of helplessness. "Your grandfather… your uncle… they went the same way. Why does fate keep punishing our family?"
"Dad. Mom." Mark looked at them, forcing a brave smile. "Listen. For the time I have left, I don't want to spend it lying in a hospital bed, attached to tubes, torturing myself and everyone I love."
His mother dabbed a tear from her cheek, trying to smile through trembling hands. "Mark… is there anything you want to do? Anything at all?"
Mark hesitated. Selfless denial would only deepen their guilt. His eyes drifted to the window, where a massive advertisement plastered a skyscraper across the street.
ASCENDANT: Realms Unbound.
The game was being hailed as the next evolutionary leap in virtual reality, a true full-immersion experience. Rumor had it that even governments were backing the project. And, by cruel coincidence, its global launch was tomorrow.
A game.
A bitter smile curved his lips. Once, he had been a die-hard gamer. A top-of-the-line neural interface gathered dust on his desk. But survival had crushed the desire to play. Now, with professional gamers and corporate sponsors poised to dive into Ascendant, a small spark of hope flickered. Perhaps, at least, he wouldn't miss out on a game he genuinely wanted to explore.
"Dad, Mom," he said, voice steadying with a flicker of conviction, "reality's been cruel. But for my final chapter… I want to find the person I used to be."
By 2:30 PM, shortly after returning home, the installation crew arrived. Ascendant required a specialized neural-interface pod. Thanks to government subsidies, the cost was reasonable: $2,888.
On the eve of launch, Mark scoured the internet for leaks or beta guides. There was nothing.
"Tight security," he muttered, excitement rising. He had no job to distract him—he could pour all his focus into this game, a temporary shield against the harshness of reality.
The next morning, 9:30 AM, he climbed into the pod.
The world blinked out for a heartbeat before his eyes opened inside a breathtaking palace floating among the clouds. Ethereal mist swirled around his feet, giving the illusion of standing on air.
> SYSTEM ALERT: Welcome to Ascendant: Realms Unbound. Proceed with character creation?
A crisp chime sounded.
> Yes.
A figure appeared in the hall—a perfect digital replica of Mark: lean, upright, and wearing a simple gray tunic. He saw no reason to alter his appearance.
> SYSTEM ALERT: Avatar confirmed. Please assign a character name.
> Kaelen.
Kaelen. A new name, a new beginning. He desperately needed Ascendant to be a genesis, not an epitaph.
A massive vertical roulette wheel appeared, divided into seven colored sections. The smallest sliver, radiant gold, seemed almost invisible.
> SYSTEM ALERT: Proceed with Trait acquisition? (Traits are influenced by neural patterns, physiology, and psychology.)
This was his chance. Every account got one Trait; deletion didn't reset it. Grades ranged from D to SSS. A high-rank Trait wasn't a guarantee, but in a globally launched game, it could be a miracle.
> Yes.
He poured every hope, every ounce of will, into that single command.
The needle spun.
"Just… an A-rank. Please," Kaelen whispered. But it landed squarely in the largest section: D-Rank.
Of course. Real life never gave miracles.
He started to curse—but the needle moved again, creeping past D, C, B, A, S, SS… until it landed on the impossible sliver of gold.
> SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Congratulations! You have acquired the [Unique SSS-Rank Trait: Miracle Engine]. Luck +2!
"Yes! Finally!" Kaelen gasped, his chest tight with exhilaration.
He opened his skill panel. There it was:
[Miracle Engine] (Unique, SSS-Rank)Description: Ignore all external requirements and restrictions. (Does not apply to quest objectives.)
It wasn't a combat boost. Its power was… unique.
"So I can bypass any level lock, craft materials I don't have… even cash shop paywalls?" he murmured.
A single thought froze him.
The cash shop…
If payment counted as an external restriction… could he?
> SYSTEM ALERT: Ascendant: Realms Unbound will open at 10:00. Please stand by.
The wait was agony. Kaelen paced the palace, heart pounding. At 9:59, he hit 'Enter World'.
> SYSTEM ALERT: You have entered the map [Humblebrook Village]!
[Humblebrook Village] (Safe Zone)Description: For the weaker races of man, the village walls are the only protection against the wilds.**
A cascade of light greeted him as thousands of players poured into the village. Chaos erupted.
"Whoa, these graphics!""I can smell the ale on that NPC!""Back up, buddy! You're in my way!""D-Rank Trait. My life's over!"
Kaelen ignored the crowd. Amid the chaos, he opened the in-game store.
First thing he saw: Starter Pack Special – Only 10 Gold!