The morning sun greeted the world with its warm embrace.
Natz was at a prestigious university.
The University of Zuhraich.
A university inhabited by brilliant students.
Natz was one of its students, majoring in Pure Mathematics. Why? He didn't know... Only he knew.
Natz continued down the path and entered... the university lobby.
He kept walking... ignoring everyone. He didn't care.
Suddenly...
A hand tapped his shoulder. Natz turned... It was his friend, Zama.
"Whoa... My pride and joy, the Pro Player! How was yesterday?" asked Zama, his tone barely containing laughter.
"Are you making fun of me? Didn't you watch at the Arena?" replied Natz with a slightly dismissive tone.
Zama just held back his laughter, trying not to let it escape his mouth.
Natz grabbed the collar of Zama's shirt and started pulling him.
Zama panicked. "Hey... I'm sorry... I was just joking."
"Oh... I'm just joking too..." said Natz with a sadistic smile.
The terrified Zama yelled, "Help... Help..."
But no one came to his aid.
Natz dragged him all the way to the faculty room.
"Hey... Why are we here?" asked Zama.
"Keep me company for a bit... I need to submit an assignment," answered Natz.
Zama just nodded, afraid of being dragged again.
Natz knocked on the door.
And went straight in.
"Excuse me," said Natz.
He immediately looked for his Statistics lecturer to submit his assignment.
But he couldn't find him... Where was he? Well... I don't know... Just keep reading... You'll find out soon enough.
Natz searched... But couldn't find him.
"Looking for someone?" asked one of the lecturers.
"I'm looking for Mr. Archim... To submit my Statistics assignment... Is Mr. Archim here?" said Natz.
"Oh, you should have said! Mr. Archim is out of town... So if you want to submit or ask questions, please see his Assistant..." said the lecturer.
"Oh, alright, Sir. But may I ask... which one is the Assistant?" asked Natz.
Before the lecturer could answer, a voice chimed in from the back desk.
"Over here... to the back," said the Teaching Assistant.
Natz walked over, wondering to himself... A woman's voice... Soft?
Sure enough... the Teaching Assistant was a woman.
"Yes? What is it?" she asked.
"Oh, excuse me, Ma'am... I'd like to submit my Statistics assignment," replied Natz.
"Oh... You're Natz, right? Hand it here..." said the Assistant. "Oh, by the way, no need to be so formal... We're only two years apart. And don't take too many leaves of absence, okay? It's not good for your grades," she added.
Natz just nodded slowly.
"Alright... I'll check this. You may go," said the Assistant.
"Okay, Ma'am," said Natz.
"Oh, and my name is Clarissa," said Clarissa.
Natz just gave a slow nod.
Natz then left the room.
"Done, Pro Player?" asked Zama in a teasing tone.
"Yeah... Where to now?" asked Natz.
"To class, you idiot... Where else?" said Zama.
"Oh right... Hehe," said Natz.
The two of them walked towards their classroom.
Along the way... many people greeted Natz.
After a few minutes of walking... they finally arrived at their class... Geometry.
And then... they had their lesson for 2 hours.
Class was over. The two of them left the classroom... and were about to head home.
But...
In front of the classroom... Natz was stopped by a group of girls.
"Sweetie..." said one of the girls.
"Hey, what is this..." asked Natz.
"Whoa, I don't know, man... See ya... Handle it yourself," said Zama.
"Can we take a selfie? Please?"
The girls asked, creating a commotion.
"Su-sure..." said Natz.
Zama laughed at Natz from a distance... "Handsome people really do have a different aura."
After a few minutes... the crowd finally dispersed.
Natz walked over to Zama with a tired and exhausted expression.
"Whoa... Handsome people are really something else... It's insane," said Zama.
"Shut up..."
They continued walking, and along the way... Natz was the talk of the town... by both guys and girls.
The guys talked about his in-game mechanics. The girls talked about his incredibly good looks.
Natz felt quite uncomfortable...
"What's wrong with you? You should be proud, man... Skilled at gaming and handsome," said Zama.
"I'm just tired of it... Hearing it... Honestly... I want to separate my gaming life from my real life," said Natz.
"But being handsome is from the real world... What's up with you... Mr. Handsome," Zama teased.
Thwap
Zama winced in pain as Natz slapped his back hard.
"Just joking... Why so serious all the time," said Zama, still in pain.
They continued walking.
"Hey... Let's take a photo with Natz," said one of the girls in the cafeteria.
"Natz... Who?" asked another girl.
"You don't know, Clara? Natz is that super handsome Pro Player... And get this... He studies here," said the other girl.
"What's his major?" asked Clara.
"The major taught by Miss Clarissa..." said Claire.
"Hm... Which one? There are many..." asked Clara.
"Pure Mathematics," answered Claire.
"Oh... Alright then, let's go if you all want to," said Clara.
Clara looked around, only to realize her friends had already vanished.
"Huh? Where did they all go?" asked Clara.
"They already went over there... That's why you shouldn't ask too many questions," said Claire.
Clara made a sulky face.
"Where are you going, Natz?" asked Zama.
"To the game center... Want to check out some games," answered Natz.
"Alright then... Be careful, okay..." said Zama.
Natz nodded.
He got on his motorcycle... and left the place.
After a few minutes... Natz finally arrived at a large game center.
Natz got off his motorcycle and went inside.
Once inside... he was greeted by the store employees... as they were familiar with each other.
"Hey Natz... What's up?" asked the cashier.
"I'm just looking for some hype games... Got any recommendations, Yuki?"
"Hm.. Games that are hyped right now..." Yuki thought for a moment. "Do you play MMORPGs?" asked Yuki.
"Not really... I've only played MOBAs so far... But trying a new experience might be good," answered Natz.
"Well then... I have one... The game is called Terminus Horizon..." said Yuki.
"Oh... I know this game... It's trending in the gaming community, right?" asked Natz.
"Yeah... Because... This game is pretty much free... You can play however you want, even recklessly... As long as you don't go crazy first," said Yuki.
"Oh... No wonder... Alright then... Wrap it up," said Natz.
Yuki prepared the item... and Natz left the game center.
Upon arriving home... Natz went straight to his room and freshened up.
Then... after drinking a glass of mineral water... Natz put on his VR headset... And.
——
Welcome to the World of Terminus Horizon.
——