"Guide?" Ethan glanced down, flexing his hands. Scars from years of combat training marred his knuckles. He kicked experimentally, feeling the familiar twinge in his injured leg. "This… this is my real body."
"The Neural Helmet scans your physiology to replicate it perfectly," the guide explained. "Do not doubt its precision."
Ethan swallowed hard. Hospital-grade cellular mapping in a consumer device? The Blue Star Alliance’s technological leap was staggering.
"Your in-game identity is locked to Ethan Gray," the guide continued.
"No aliases?"
"None permitted." The guide gestured, summoning a holographic map. "This world spans 3,600 times Earth’s surface. Choose your personal space—red zones are occupied."
Ethan zoomed into a snow-capped peak cradling an alpine lake. "Here."
Location Confirmed: Frostspire Summit
The void dissolved. Ethan plummeted alongside countless other players—meteoric streaks painting the virtual sky.
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Frostspire Summit, Personal Space
A log cabin materialized lakeside. Ethan shivered, breath fogging in the simulated cold. Through the window, distant cabins dotted the glacial expanse.
"Upgrade your dwelling via the interface," the guide prompted.
Ethan’s panel flickered:
- Basic Cabin: Free
- Mountain Villa: ￥10,000
- Celestial Spire: ￥10,000,000
He selected the villa. The cabin warped into a sprawling estate, courtyards dusted with virtual snow.
Incoming Call: Luna Reed
"Invite me!" Luna’s hologram shimmered. "This realism is insane!"
The guide interjected, "Your contacts are preloaded. Approve access for visitors."
Ethan blinked at the list: neighbors, gym buddies—even the fruit vendor from his apartment complex. He authorized the family and Luna.
Courtyard Gathering
"Brrr! Why’d you pick Antarctica?" Henry Xu stomped snow from his boots.
Benjamin Xu, now clad in a parka, chuckled. "Check the interface. Training halls, livestream hubs—even a marketplace."
Luna’s parents marveled at the frozen lake. "It’s like we’re here."
"Combat simulations are in the training valley," Benjamin said, tapping his temple. "League’s gathering data to refine the Protocols. But hey—160 years? I’ll take it."
Luna pulled up a livestream panel. "Look! Players are already broadcasting their training."
"Old hat for me," Benjamin winked. "Esports champ at 18, streamer at 40. This? This is next-level."
Cedric Reed nodded. "Social media’s obsolete. Boardrooms, classrooms—all migrating here."
Training Valley
Ethan materialized in a mist-shrouded gorge. The guide gestured to ten hovering tomes.
"Genetic Ascension Protocols—five male, five female variants. Study carefully."
Ethan flipped through holographic pages, equations dancing like fireflies. Muscle fiber optimization. Neural recalibration.
"Begin when ready," the guide murmured.
Somewhere in the digital ether, seventy billion others did the same.