The next day when Wang Yu woke up again, his mother wasn't present. The doctor immediately arrived to checked on him. During the assessment, the doctor was astounded the whole time because the doctor knew that Wang Yu was only ten years old when he got into a car accident. Although Wang Yu didn’t have a fatal head injury, the accident should have an effect on his mental and emotional aspect. But contrary to the doctor's expectation, Wang Yu’s answers to his questions were calm and direct, so unlike to a ten year old boy. What’s even more astonishing was that he can clearly remember his past fond memories with his parents, his childhood milestones like going to kindergarten and of course the day of the accident. The doctor can see Wang Yu’s sadness when he narrated the events that day but the doctor wasn’t able to detect the hatred on his eyes.
The doctor did not plan for their conversation to go this far but it was just Wang Yu who honestly answered the question, “ What can you remember?” There was even a phrase before the question, “ You don’t have to tell me everything, just the things you want to talk about.”
With just Wang Yu’s behavior the doctor can tell that Wang Yu has already moved on and viewed his current situation positively. He can’t help but to admire how strong this should-be ten year old child.
After confirming that Wang Yu's vital signs being normal, the doctor gave Wang Yu a detailed history about the game and some basic information on what to do when he got there.
Immortal Heroes Online is the leading company in the planet. It officially started its operation seven years ago. Although its just a gaming company, its supporters came from different fields of industry, most notably the medical and sports sector. While it is known that Immortal Heroes Online developers don't have authority inside the game itself, it still has the power to deny access into the game. The game world is governed by an independent AI named Miracle.
Immortal Heroes Online has always been a free to play game with all its in-game features are available to every players given they have enough currency to buy an item, no cash shop system and no selling gold for credits NPC. As long as you have virtual gear with a Immortal Heroes Online chip on it, you can now gain access to your game character. More like a one time payment for the chip. Although the virtual gear plus chip was quite expensive which would cost at least two hundred thousand credits, it has a lifetime warranty so many gaming cafe invested on them. You can only have one character in game no matter if you changed virtual gears. So when it picked up much interest after a year of its launch, the company then started a funding campaign saying, " If the quota have not been met we will be forced to shut down." Or should we say, " We have hostages, now pay up." They also posted that they'll never sell their company to anyone. Like saying, " There are no room for negotiation."
" The nerve of them on playing terrorist is really admirable. What do they think of their game? Even though it's free to play they shouldn't go that far just to waste a year of one's effort."
" Bro don't be bothered with this crappy video game anymore, you should set your full attention into this coming marathon. I'm sure that if you spend more time in your training, you'll easily win this event. For the past year, your improvement has been heaven defying even with all your video game antics, how much more if you give it your all?"
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It arouse many criticism especially to the non-players who heard about the news but surprisingly most players kept their silence on the matter which mystified many since they are the one's most affected of the happenings. Unknown to many, the players were secretly raising funds to met with the said quota but because the deadline was nearing the players group was eventually forced to reveal the game's benefits to the general public.
The revelation was just too shocking, many who gave their testimony were famous athletes, most of them were rising stars just that year which made huge waves in their respective field of sports. They were called cheaters by fellow athletes but those who mocked them were soon shutten up because it was proven that their enhancement was due to natural cause and some even stopped taking legal body enhancing formulas. There is also improved health for the elderly and faster recovery for the sick. Although there are still no scientific explanation of the players body evolution that seems that nature just taking its course, but all this is attributed to playing Immortal Heroes Online. As their characters level up, their real life body condition would also improve.
The whole federation was intrigued by the revelation that it has become a global phenomena which lead to the easily completion of the ten billion credits quota. And as expected an influx of players came into the game. Because of the high one time price many still rejected playing video games would improve their lives so its enticement only affect the young ones, athletes, body enthusiast, military/police, and people who's jobs are physical oriented. And there's the Church of the Sacred Light the number one religion in the planet who discourage all it members from playing Immortal Heroes Online which constitutes a half of the planets population.
Now six years later the Immortal Heroes Online revolutionized human society where many superhuman exist.
After listening all of this Wang Yu had a sudden realization, " If this virtual reality game made such an impact then why does mother don't seem to be knowledgeable of it?" Wang Yu asked himself doubtingly. Because he knew that his family is sitting in the upper level of the society and his mother only heard it from Xu Ling. Wang Yu already had a bad premonition yesterday when he saw his mother wearing a rather ordinary clothes, although she still look beautiful, it is quite noticeable that she had neglected in maintaining her appearance as a Madam of a Wang Family and she was much thinner than he remembered. The tragedy may have some effect on her but he knew his mother, although she's quite naive but she's a strong woman that will not succumb, also she still have Xu Ling with her.
"Doctor, do you know who's paying my hospital bills?" Wang Yu suddenly asked.
The doctor who knew the background story was conflicted to answer but chose to tell the truth, "Well part of it is from your medical insurance and of course your mom is paying for the remaining sum." He didn't elaborate any further, afraid of touching on a sensitive topic.
Wang Yu didn't pursue his questioning because what he got is enough for him to understand how bad the situation was. Rather than feeling depressed, he was now much eager to get off this hospital bed as early as possible.
"Doctor please start the program." Wang Yu's eyes are filled with determination as tell this words.
Thinking of the situation of this mother and son the doctor felt pity and replied, "Ok, ...nurse put on the virtual gear on the patient carefully and when everything is in order, activate the console."
Soon Wang Yu saw a message box which is titled "Terms and Conditions", Wang Yu remembered the doctor said that it's just for formality purposes and needn't to be bothered reading it, so he checked the box "I have read and understand it" at the bottom of the messages box and clicked "I agree". After he clicked "I agree", Wang Yu felt a strong suction force pulling his soul away from his body. Others may not felt it because they don't have the ability to resist it but Wang Yu is different, he knew it was too late because he already agreed the contract and his soul strength is far from enough to revoke it. All he could do now is cry from getting scammed.