Yi was at the back of the restaurant pressing a few keys under the handle.

The device beeps with red light. "Damn it! They changed the password already."

He then bangs on it instead, a worker peeked out and said, "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to Arnold. Is he there?"

"He left early today because of his stomach. You better leave, boss will scold me if he sees me talking with you."

"Right, thanks."

Yi went sprinting, going past dozens of buildings and heading inside an elevator. His shirt was soaked, laying his back on the metal wall, inhaling long breaths.

When the elevator opened, he dashed to a door ahead and pressed on a bell.

An old lady pulled the door handle. "Oh my, what happened to you?"

"Just a sweat. I've been running around town. Is Arnold here?"

"He just headed to the gaming center an hour ago. I told him to stay until he recovers from that stomach ache but he said he rather "grind" Ha… just like his father, so reckless."

"Alright, thanks, gran, I'm gonna go and meet him." Yi ran toward the elevator, clicking the button.

"At least stop by and have a glass of water!" she said.

"Maybe next time!" He said, the elevator opened, and he swiftly hopped inside and left.

She shook her head and said, "I guess all men are reckless nowadays."

…..

"Ugh!" Yi tripped in front of a building, decorated with cyan neon lights. He pushed himself up, but his arms stuck halfway and he dropped again.

His head was spinning, guts felt like it was attempting to escape his throat.

"Damn it!" He crawled to the building. Glass door slid open when he's closer.

Everyone near the entrance stared at him.

Yi kept crawling and swung his hand on the counter and lifted himself. "Where is the VR room!"

"Uh… It's at the far end," said the male net manager, pointing to his right.

"Thank you, he walked past rows of computers with his hands on the wall and ignored the watchful eyes around him until he reached the stairs.

The net manager was watching him from CCTV. Yi then went past rows of arcade machines until he reached a dead end.

A metal wall in front of him slowly slid open, he stepped in and the door slammed shut, surrounded by rows of rooms with large screens showing the player's experience inside.

He stepped ahead to a screen where a familiar character in mechanical armor was dual wielding a pair of guns, blasting a giant drone's leg. "Arnold?"

His eyes then moved to a screen device attached next to the room's metal door written: [Swipe Your Card Here]

"I need a card? How?" Yi looked around.

A teenage boy walked out of a room next to him. Yi raised his hand and said, "Hey, excuse me, I would like to enter that guy's room. Can you teach me how to do it?"

The boy smirked. "New guy, eh? Are you sure you wanna go there? That game this dude is playing is very hard, it was meant for athletic people."

"And… you don't seem like one," he said, holding back his laugh.

"Yes I'm sure," Yi said with a serious expression.

"Okay then, your choice. Do you have a membership card?"

Yi shook his head.

"Seriously? How are you even here?"

"Ha… never mind. Do you see that machine next to the exit?"

Yi nods.

"Go make your VR ID Card there. You need to pay monthly to keep it active. First-timers get a month free trial. Good luck."

"Thanks!" Yi turned towards the machine but then the teenager said, "Ah, I think you need to know this. If you wanna meet that dude in that room, you two need to be at the same place in-game."

"Got it, thanks again." He then headed to the machine. The teenager smirked and walked out of the exit.

Yi was greeted by a screen written: [Place Your Hand Here]

He did as told, his hand was scanned and it showed a picture of him in the top left corner of the screen, age and full name on top, and two empty panels in the middle.

Yi stood there for a moment and recalled something.

,,,,,

In the restaurant, Arnold was munching his burger like a savage with his holographic phone in his other hand, after the last bite, he locked his eyes on Yi on the other side of their table and said, "Yo, bro. Help me will ya?"

"What is it?" Yi said with a mouthful of rice.

"Could you help me think of a nickname for my character? My brain is jammed right now."

"Sure, how can I help?"

"Which do you think is best? SharpShooter? Nah, that's too common. Oh! Bullseye? Hmm… I think that name is taken."

"How about RedTarget?" Yi scooped another mouthful of rice.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Oho! Good idea!" Arnold typed it on his phone.

"All set! Thanks, bro! I'm so glad I taught you how to write."

"Heh, no problem."

Arnold snapped his fingers. "Oh! Have you thought of your nickname yet?"

"Mine?" Yi blinked.

"Yeah! Like when you decide to make your own character what will you name it?"

"I'll think about that later. I don't know when I will have time to play games." Yi said, finishing his meal.

"Alright, but make sure it sounds fresh and resembles you, alright!"

"I will."

,,,,,

Yi then tapped on the keypads filling the panel with the name BXSkeleton. "The password will be… DreamChaser19."

[ID Creation Successful]

[Please Take Your VR ID Card Enjoy!]

He pulled out his card and quickly headed to Arnold's room, swiping his card.

The room's metal door slid open. Inside was a human-sized red-lighted chamber.

He stepped inside and the door shut. Thin lasers touched him from all sides from his head down to his feet, Yi's body is now equipped with a visor, vest, gloves, and pair of paddings.

The chamber was raised inside an empty room and Yi's vision changed to another place, greeted with a menu screen.

[Welcome to W.A.R.P BXSkeleton]

[Please Select Your Theme:]

Yi reached his hand to Future, it dispersed and new selections appeared.

[Select Your Role:]

"This is amazing… What can fighters do?" He reached his hand to the Fighter role.

(Balance in both offense and defense, specializing in attacks.)

[Select This Role?]

"Yes." The text is converted into energy particles absorbed into Yi's body.

Shelves rose from the floor, storing energy swords. Small energy shields. A spiked metal ball with extendable chains hanging to the sides, the selection was endless.

But Yi locked his eyes on a shelf hanging a set of mechanical gauntlets and boots.

"Do these weapons also have a description?" He grabbed a gauntlet, his vision showed a description of the weapon.

(Close Combat Set)

(Best DPS Combo weapon. Complicated upgrades, but packs a punch with good speed. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW USERS)

[Equip This?]

Yi raised an eyebrow. "What is DPS? Never mind, this weapon will do. Yes."

The weapon teleports into his hands and legs, along with headgear and light metal armor. Yi smiled and threw a few punches and kicks. "Weird, it feels so real. I can feel the weight of this weapon."

A robotic female voice then talked through his visor. "Preparations are almost complete. Would you like to use your original look or create a custom character?"

"I want to keep it."

"Preparations Completed. You will be sent to the tutorial area."

Yi furrowed his eyebrows. "Tutorial? I have no time for this! I need to find Arnold fast!"

"Request Denied. New players must master the basics before starting their journey."

"Outrageous! Can't I start the tutorial later?"

"No, the basics are set to priority for newcomers."

"Damn it! Fine! Let's get this over with."

"Teleporting in 3. 2. 1."

Light circles around him as he flashes and appears inside a steel tunnel.

"Welcome to the tutorial area. Walk around and press the button behind to begin."

Yi turned back with a red button on a wall, he took a few steps and pushed it.

Sounds of sirens surrounded the room, and spikes came out of a wall in front, moving toward him.

"Ah!" Yi ran, and the floor under his real body moved along with his feet, making him stay in the same place inside the VR room.

The wall moved faster every second and a large hole appeared. Yi tripped down and was stabbed with multiple spikes inside the hole and his body dispersed.

His vision went dark but a text appeared in front.

[You Died]

[Retry?]

Yi touched his whole body and breathed out. "What is this game… I'm not used to all this… That hole is too big for me to jump."

Yi took a deep breath and hit "yes' and flashed back to the beginning.

"I need to do it, mom's waiting for me." The button was pushed again. He dashed and jumped when he was near the edge.

And fell into an endless void.

[You Died]

[Retry]

His head is heavy, dropping to one knee, and taking large breaths, his body is not responding.

Bane's words echoed in his mind as he clenched his jaw.

"Damn it! I'm too tired!" Yi punched the floor.

"Is there really no place for weak people in this world…?"

An image of his mother when she was younger and in good health flashes in his mind. Her smile was like an angel seeing it put his heart at ease.

Tears forced their way out. He pulled the visor and wiped it before putting it back on. "No… he's wrong…"

Yi hit yes.

"Even the weak deserve to live!" A locked icon appeared in his vision, it unlocked and expanded into a text.

Weapon Ability Unlocked

Fire Jet: Release a burst of flame from the user's wrists and feet.

"What? How do I use this?"

The female voice then said, "Have any questions? Just say "System" including your commands and I'll answer your call."

"Okay then… System, how to use Fire Jet?"

"Focus on wrists and feets similar to moving body parts. Stronger flames require higher concentration, calling the skill's name also increases concentration."

"That easy?" Yi raised his fist, facing the floor.

Flames shot back and his knuckles landed on the floor, leaving a slight dent.

His mouth was agape at it. He then ignited his feet and stumbled. "W-woah!"

"Alright! Let's try this!" Yi pushed the button.

He jumped and dropped his back on the floor both arms and legs facing the wall. "Fire Jet!"

Yi clenches his teeth as his body grazes against the floor with his back heating up.

He stopped close to the edge and quickly got up, crouching with his arms aimed at his back and both legs locked on the floor. "Fire Jet!!!"

Yi flew across with large flames. The wall got stuck in the hole. He shut off his flames and tumbled against the floor.

"Ha… ha… I did it…"

System then sounded in the room.

"Mobility tutorial completed. The combat tutorial will begin at 10. 9. 8."

"Wait, combat? I can't move my body any more than this!"

"3. 2. 1. Preparing Arena.