Lea finished customizing her avatar's appearance. Her virtual form shimmered to life like a cinematic 3D projection—arched brows, full lips, and gray-green eyes alight with curiosity. Her arms and torso transformed into sleek synthetic fibers, and a knee-length cloak billowed as if caught in an unseen breeze.
"Welcome, Explorer Lea." The AI's calm voice resonated in her mind as a multi-line holographic tutorial floated above the meadow:
Tutorial: Step 1 – Press "Status" to view basic information – Press "Inventory" to check your items – Press "Map" to survey your surroundings
Lea reached out and tapped the "Status" icon. Instantly, a small panel hovered before her eyes, displaying her avatar's metrics:
Name: Lea Age: 18
Health: 100/100
Stamina: 100/100
Class: Scout (Movement +10%, Stealth +5%)
She nodded, then touched the "Inventory" icon. Only two items appeared—a small Stone Shard and Tutorial Card #1. A prompt informed her that she needed 10 Maintenance Points to unlock the next mission.
Rolling up her sleeve, Lea inhaled the simulated air. Its faint sweetness brought memories of the old world. The grass beneath her feet felt soft, and she heard tiny creatures rustling in the distant underbrush. There was no mechanical hum here—only her breath and the gentle whisper of the wind.
Glancing up, she noticed thin wires overhead carrying imitation clouds. To her right, skyscrapers soared into a light mist, their tops disappearing among floating platforms and cranes at work. Magnetic rails carried supplies with a soft, rhythmic hum.
A whisper echoed in her mind: "Explore the nearby wooded area to earn 5 Maintenance Points."
Turning left, Lea spotted a belt of pines and shrubs under a simulated canopy. She took her first step onto the soft earth, leaving a fleeting footprint that faded moments later.
A digital chime sounded, and +1 MP (Maintenance Point) appeared in the corner of her vision.
Lea smiled, both excited and cautious. Venturing deeper, she plucked a wildflower resembling white chamomile with pale green stems. Instantly, +2 MP (Collected Wildflower) illuminated her HUD.
"3/10 MP so far," she murmured. A prompt advised, "Use the Map to set waypoints or explore freely." Lea opened her map to see icons for trees, a compass, and a small blue marker indicating an NPC by a nearby lake to the north.
As she studied the map, a familiar whisper returned:
"Are you truly ready to break free?" Lea blinked. The dark silhouette flickered again—this time on the distant skyscraper's surface, its red eyes piercing before vanishing. Her hand trembled, but her resolve held firm. She smiled and retrieved Tutorial Card #1:
Tutorial Card #1: "To win, first understand your environment. Engage all your senses and remember to analyze deeply."
Bolstered, she followed the NPC icon toward the lake. The path led through short grass dotted with flat stones engraved with ancient glyphs glowing faintly blue. Suddenly, +1 MP (Investigated Ancient Glyph) updated her total to 4/10.
The glass-clear lake lapped against a pebbled shore, and wind chimes tinkled across the field. At the water's edge, she met her first NPC—a boy avatar in light-blue robes, short-cropped hair, and clear blue eyes, labeled "Mio the Data Scout."
Mio bowed politely.
"Greetings, Explorer Lea. I'm Mio. If you seek a new path, find the Signal Beacon west of this lake—it will guide you to the City Center."
Before she could reply, another chime sounded:
+1 MP (Spoke with NPC)
Her MP count rose to 5/10—halfway there. Placing her hand over her heart, she whispered, "Thank you, Mio. I'll go with you."
Mio smiled and projected a small holographic map, revealing a shortcut through dense undergrowth and a glass-bottomed bridge overhead. With a tap, Lea set her waypoint. The AI's voice chimed:
Maintenance Points 5/10 — Next task: Find the Signal Beacon to earn the remaining 5 MP.
Lea gazed from the grassy field to the dark forest. Clutching Tutorial Card #1 in her inventory, she reminded herself to "analyze deeply." With renewed determination, she stepped into the woods, each footfall taking her beyond the limits of her former life into the promise—and peril—of Eden 3000.