The game had no name when it first appeared. No developer claimed responsibility. No announcement preceded its arrival. One day, a single terminal was found in a small, unknown internet café, displaying nothing but a blank screen with the words:
"Do you want to take the risk?"
An unfortunate passerby clicked yes.
The program went worldwide in the blink of an eye. The mysterious terminal vanished without a trace.
But it had already spread.
Rumors swirled. Some called it the work of a rogue AI—an experiment loosed upon humanity. Others believed it a message from an unknown civilization, a digital artifact beyond human comprehension. Theories abounded, but one truth stood firm:
The game existed.
And it was unlike anything the world had ever seen.
A full-dive virtual MMORPG—requiring no hardware.
No headset. No neural links. No rigs.
One simply had to connect… and reality would shift.
On that fateful morning...
Joshua stared at the rejection email.
The words blurred, but he didn't need to read them. He already knew what it said.
"We regret to inform you that we have chosen another candidate."
The fourth rejection that week.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. A degree in mathematics—a subject praised for its logic and challenge—and yet here he was. Jobless. Staring at an inbox full of polite refusals.
"Too many applicants."
"Not enough experience."
"Graduate of a lesser-known university."
Excuses.
At first, he tried to stay optimistic. He would find something. There was always something.
But the longer he searched, the clearer the truth became:
The world had changed—and he had failed to change with it.
Companies didn't just want degrees. They wanted connections, clout, presence. They wanted people who had built reputations and influence—things no résumé could prove.
He let out a bitter chuckle.
Ironically, the most "successful" career today wasn't researcher, engineer, or even doctor.
It was player.
A professional gamer. A full-dive VR superstar.
With millions of fans and brand deals, top gamers were like rockstars—commanding the world with a single stream.
Joshua used to be one. But he gave it up. Focused on the "real world." Spent his college years sharpening his mind with numbers, formulas, theories—things that once mattered.
Now?
He stared at his computer screen, at the countless tabs filled with job applications.
One by one, he closed them.
And opened a new one.
The screen flickered. Then went black.
A single sentence appeared:
Do you want to take the risk?
He didn't know why he clicked.
Maybe it was frustration. Maybe desperation. Or maybe—just maybe—he was done fighting against a world that no longer made sense.
His mouse hovered.
The words flashed again.
"YES"
Joshua exhaled.
And clicked.
—
Somewhere, in an unknown corner of the world, something stirred.
A new player had joined.
And the game had just begun.