The city of Neon Haven gleamed under a sky full of moving holograms. Giant screens painted the skyline with light, flashing one message across every towering building:
"Nexus Gaming Company presents… THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR ONLINE."
People stopped mid-step, eyes reflecting the brilliance of the display. The voice from the ad echoed through the streets, smooth and confident.
"A next-generation VRMMORPG built for those who dare to fight for glory. Launching in five hours—prepare your consoles, warriors!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Students in uniform raised their futuristic phones, watching the live countdown ticking across every screen in the city.
< 05 : 59 : 08 >
< 05 : 59 : 07 >
"Whoa," Jordan murmured, staring up at the sky-high screens. "Nexus really did it again."
"Of course they did." Ethan, his best friend since childhood, chuckled beside him as they walked toward the subway. "When does Nexus ever disappoint? They practically own the entire VR industry now."
Jordan grinned, brushing a strand of dark hair from his eyes. "Yeah, but my console's ancient. I doubt it can even run something this advanced."
"Relax, man." Ethan nudged him. "That old relic still works. You'll be fine."
They stepped into the mag-train — sleek, silent, and lit by glowing blue veins that pulsed along its walls. As the train shot forward, Ethan's phone chimed.
He glanced at the message and sighed.
"Working overnight again. Dinner's in the fridge. Love you." — Mom.
"Well," Ethan muttered, smirking, "looks like I've got the whole apartment to myself tonight."
"Lucky you," Jordan said, his voice amused. "I still have to pick up my sister from school."
"Then this is where we part ways." The train slowed. "Good luck, Mr. Babysitter."
Jordan laughed and waved as the doors slid open. "See you later, gamer."
The afternoon light burned golden when he reached the school gates. A familiar voice called out, bright and teasing.
"Brother Jordan! Over here!"
A small girl with ponytail waved from across the courtyard. Elira. His little sister — all fire and mischief in one tiny package.
"Let's go," Jordan said, smiling. "Say goodbye to your weird-looking friends."
She scowled. "You're the weird one! Look at your hair! Look at your clothes! No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."
"Wow," he muttered. "Didn't realize fashion critics came in ten-year-old sizes."
Elira stuck out her tongue, but her giggle ruined the act. The two walked home through the glowing streets, weaving through holographic advertisements that shimmered above the road.
"Mom! We're home!" Elira shouted, dashing toward the kitchen.
"How was school?" their mother called back.
"Great! Got an A+ in math!"
Jordan headed straight to his room, collapsing into his chair before his old desktop. The faint hum of its outdated processor filled the quiet. The countdown still glowed on the corner of his screen.
< 00 : 20 : 19 >
< 00 : 20 : 15 >
He groaned. "Twenty more minutes? You've got to be kidding me."
Scrolling through his feed to pass the time, he stumbled on a promo video from Nexus Gaming itself.
"Welcome, challengers, to The Ultimate Warrior Online. The first fully immersive VRMMORPG built for the elite of tomorrow. Compete to rise above every warrior, every monster, and every world. The final survivor shall be crowned… The Ultimate Warrior. And the prize? Nine point six billion dollars."
Jordan's eyes widened. "Nine point six... billion?"
He leaned closer, heart pounding. With that kind of money… I could buy Mom a new house. Get Elira into a real school. Maybe even start over.
The countdown ticked faster now.
< 00 : 00 : 03 >
< 00 : 00 : 02 >
< 00 : 00 : 01 >
< DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE NOW! >
Every device in the city buzzed at once. Players everywhere began to download. Jordan was no exception.
"Come on, come on…" He tapped his foot impatiently as the progress bar crawled forward.
< DOWNLOADING: 80% >
"Why does time slow down when I'm waiting?"
Finally—
< DOWNLOAD COMPLETE >
He exhaled. "Alright, let's do this."
Slipping into his VR suit, Jordan fastened the neural gloves and placed the sleek black helmet over his head. The hum of the power unit filled the air.
"Here goes nothing," he whispered, pressing the activation button.
The world blinked out.
When Jordan opened his eyes, he was floating in a white void — weightless, surrounded by silence that seemed to stretch forever.
< ENTER YOUR USERNAME >
"Username? Uh… Jordan Lethal."
< USERNAME ACCEPTED. WELCOME, JORDAN LETHAL. >
In an instant, his body shimmered and reformed inside a massive chamber surrounded by millions of others — all players, all confused.
"What the hell is this place?" someone muttered.
Then the air vibrated. A tall, translucent figure materialized before them — part machine, part man. Its body pulsed with blue light and shifting metal, and its voice resonated deep within their minds.
"Welcome, Warriors… to the dawn of your legend."
The murmurs fell silent.
"I am Hakuri, Overseer of this realm. From this moment on, your lives belong to The Ultimate Warrior Online. This is not a mere game. This is survival."
Jordan's pulse quickened. The words felt heavy — too real.
Hakuri's voice deepened, almost reverent.
"The lands before you stretch beyond imagination. Deserts that burn. Oceans that devour. Forests that hunt. Cities ruled by tyrants and merchants alike. And among them… players like you, who will kill for a single coin."
He paused, scanning the crowd.
"Your strength will be measured by Levels — five thousand in total. Each level is a step forward, a test of your resolve. With every rise, your power will evolve — strength, agility, intelligence, and spirit. Unlock abilities unknown to mankind. Some will control fire. Others will command shadows. Some may even cheat death itself. But beware—power demands sacrifice."
The players whispered in awe.
"Earn XP through victory. Gather Gold Coins and Diamonds to forge weapons and armor. Face NPC rulers. Slay monstrous bosses. And remember—your greatest threat may not be the beasts you face, but the players beside you."
Hakuri's eyes glowed brighter.
"Each warrior has nine lives. Lose them all, and your journey ends. The weak will fall forgotten. The strong will ascend. So rise, and prove your worth. Conquer all five thousand levels and claim your destiny as…"
His final words echoed like thunder—
"THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!"
And then he was gone.
A blinding light swallowed the chamber. Portals burst open across the floor, sucking players into different regions. Jordan stumbled forward, tumbling through a swirling vortex before crashing onto scorched ground.
Sand. Smoke. Silence.
< WELCOME, JORDAN LETHAL. CURRENT LOCATION: ASHEN PLAIN WASTELANDS. >
He squinted at the wasteland stretching to the horizon — a cracked, dying earth under a copper sky.
"Great… first world, and I'm dropped in hell," he muttered.
Another screen appeared.
< STATUS WINDOW >
* Username: Jordan Lethal
* Job: None
* Title: None
* Abilities: None
* Level: 1
* XP: 0 / 1500
* HP: 100%
"So, I've got nothing. Perfect."
He sighed. "Weapons? Armor?"
The screen flickered again.
< INVENTORY EMPTY >
"Are you serious?" He groaned, rubbing his temples. "At least tell me there's a shop."
The system chimed.
< PERSONAL SHOP ACTIVATED >
Dozens of glowing weapon models appeared in front of him — rifles, blades, even plasma cannons. But only one item was available for Level 1 players:
* Normal Twin Knives
* Cost: 1200 Gold Coins or 5 Diamonds.
"Guess I don't get a lightsaber yet." He smiled faintly and pressed Buy.
Light shimmered, and two short silver knives materialized in his hands. He swung them experimentally — light, balanced, deadly enough.
"These will do for now."
The system blinked again.
< BALANCE >
Gold Coins: 300
Diamonds: 50
"Alright," he muttered. "So diamonds are the rare stuff."
He looked around. The wasteland stretched endlessly, dotted with ruins and strange, moving shadows.
"System, show me the map."
< DISPLAYING MAP >
A vast holographic map expanded before him, scattered with glowing icons. His current position blinked red.
"There," he said, zooming in on a cluster of lights. "A village — Morleen Village. If I'm gonna survive, I need XP, a job, and some gold."
He sheathed his knives, staring at the distant horizon where the twin suns burned.
"This is it," he whispered, determination hardening his voice. "The beginning of my journey."
Jordan started walking, each step sinking into the dust. Behind him, the wind carried the faint echoes of other players' screams — the game had already begun.