Prologue: Start

"Three!"

Lights swing forth, dimming and adjusting, focusing and brightening.

"Two!"

Cameras turn and zoom in, capturing everything inside their lens frames.

"One!"

Audio is checked, values raised and lowered, volume optimized.

"And we're live!"

Music starts playing as the program starts broadcasting to their respective channel. The camera view revolves around a chair and small couch, with two men seated in them respectively, before zooming in at a comfortable distance. The studio that they were situated in was a very organized and well kept place. The floors and walls were made of a deep, rich stained wood. The chair and couch seemed very modern, the cushions a very light beige color and square, with very new age style. Situated between the chair and couch's armrests was a small table with two glasses of water on top of it. A carpet was on the ground in front of them both, a very simple pattern adding to the charm of the room. The location of the are was in a slight depression of the floor, a stair leading up to the proper floor directly centered in front of the couch. Windows close to each other in the background showed that it was late at night.

One of the men sitting smiled brightly into the camera. He was fairly handsome, with sharp features and a somewhat feminine appearance. He had black hair that was combed back, and was cleanly shaven. He wore a blue suit that was very form-fitting, showing his thin build. The man straightened the cards he held in his hand and waved before speaking.

"Hello Japan, as you know i'm Takeshi Kitano, and this, is Game-Flash News, where you can be informed of anything technology and game related. As our motto states, 'Reporting News in a Flash, As interactive as a Game'."

He paused for a few moments to straighten his cards again, as the studio audience clapped and cheered some, before talking again.

"As many of our wonderful viewers might of heard, there have been rumors going along about a wonderful thing, that is, the development of a brand new Virtual Reality Game. Now, I know this might not sound too exciting, with the few games that have been released, and the many other forms of use for the VR, but this is different. What makes it different are a host of things, but the main quality that separates it from the rest is that this game is being made by the very same company that made the VR, Trivate Inc."

With this, the many members of the audience gasped, shock evident to all the viewers.

"Yes, i'm just as shocked as you all are, as for the past five years after the release the company has had a taciturn silence towards the media, with but only slight information and rumors circulating. But it is true, all the rumors are true and more. And to completely confirm this, we have a very special guest with us right now. Please welcome, Kajiyama Susumu, the head developer of 'New Life'!"

A resounding applause thundered through the studio as the aforementioned man stood up and waved. He was of average height, dressed in a lab coat over a dress shirt with tie and slacks. He had a good deal of stubble on a somewhat rugged face. He had a very serious disposition due to his looks, but he smiled brightly to contrast that. As the applause died down and he sat down, Takeshi turned to him leaned forward, and shook his hand.

"Mr. Kajiyama, it's a pleasure to have you here. Now please, before it drives our viewers - and me - crazy, would you mind answering some of our questions?"

"Of course! That is why i'm here." Kajiyama smiled at Takeshi and nodded.

"Okay, so one of our first questions is, what is the premises of the game?"

"Well, the whole idea of this game is to start a 'New Life' so to speak, just as the title says. The setting of it is within the world of Lyel. There are two Major Continents, with a smaller Third Continent. It is a world of Swords & Sorcery, Magick and Might, a life of survival."

Takeshi seemed impressed with this, as so did the crowd. While a very vague explanation, it seemed to grasp the attention of everyone, for a valid reason. There hadn't yet been a VR game entailing that of a fantasy setting.

"That sounds absolutely wonderful. Now, would you be so kind as to kindly explain the different features that set it apart from other games? What makes it tick, makes it shine?"

"I'm glad you asked. 'New Life' has a feature we call "Synthesize". When you create your character, you first make your 'Background', the story of your character leading up to now. The world and AI controlling and monitoring it will incorporate it. Its special function is that while keeping the basis of your input, it will modify and improve upon it, making a complete history of your 'Character'. This is both a fixed and random action, to allow all players to be equal in power. It will add both Tragedy and Joy to your life in the game. Due to the element of random selection, some might have more Pain and Sorrow than others, but that is a part of the fun. After choosing your 'Race' and name - though you can have a randomly chosen name if you choose so - you are put someplace into the world relating to your 'Background'. As you find yourself near a settlement, you finally start playing. Here comes the true essence of ''New Life' and the "Synthesize" system. You are removed of your memories of the world outside of the game, outside of Lyel, and they are replaced with those of your 'Character'. You remember things from Lyel, from 'your' New life. And then, you live. You accomplish goals, learn new things, all this and much more. When you reenter the regular world, you retain memories of your adventures in Lyel, along with your 'Own' memories. It is almost 100% realistic except for the fact that you still have some ability to think and know outside of the game, such as the ability to check 'Status' and relating things. Otherwise, it is completely dependent on interaction in the world and its inhabitants. Npc's aren't programs but people, with lives and dreams. Also, like them, if your 'Character' dies, they are permanently dead. Their legacy, if any, is left to the world, recorded, or hidden, left to rot. You can then create a new 'Character'."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

At the end of his explanation, the entire studio audience started cheering and applauding. Even Takeshi was clapping. As the cheering started to die down, Kajiyama took a sip of water before setting it back down onto the table.

"I am just overwhelmed at all of this. This is a revolution in the world of Virtual Reality. A whole new world seems to be opening before us. Now, how difficult is the game? What are the 'Races ' that you can be in 'New Life'? What are the 'Classes'? And what is the time ratio of the game to ours, if there is one?"

Kajiyama chuckled at the rapid fire questions, and the agreement of the crowd to them, before taking a moment to answer them.

"Well, in terms of difficulty, there will be crime, death, war, and poverty. Monsters are very populated in the world, but they aren't so easy to kill. They threaten everyone, as they truly are 'Monsters'. They are faster, stronger, more agile. Some are strong in Magick, have sharp cunning and intellect, and need specific steps to defeat them. It might take a while for a player to be able to kill even the weakest one. In fact, Leveling is very hard to do in the game. I don't expect to see anyone over level 10 in even one year. To Level Up, you need to have experience, to have the ability to be considered stronger on your respective 'Class[i]'. In fact, you don't have a [i]Level until you do find a 'Class'."

The whole room was hushed in stunned silence as he started to explain about some of the finer details of the game.

"Now, there are three Races so far, but there are more, but they need to be discovered. And even if you discover them, you won't be able to turn into them, unless you make a new character. As for Classes, there are Sections, such as Mage, Warrior, and [Rogue. Within

these Sections are a few Branches, and some of them are already attainable, while others need to be sought ought. There are even some 'Hidden Classes'."

Taking another breather and a sip of his water, Kajiyama let his words sink in before finishing to answer.

"And the time ratio is six hours to every one of ours(6:1)."

"Well Mr. Kajiyama, I think I speak for everyone in saying that this sounds like the epitome of gaming, and can't wait for it."

The audience roared it's approval to these words while cheering loudly, chanting the game's name.

"Well, I must be going soon, but I do have something to say. In three days on our company's website we will be hosting a lottery. After one week, we will announce a winner who will not only be given a New Specialized VR Machine that we made for 'New Life', but given special accommodations, and a week early access to the game. We'll be using footage from him along with other clips to showcase the game on its day of release. As a bonus, if the winner has interesting enough adventures, we will broadcast them, paying them a wage, though this is dependent on many factors. Anyway, I must be going."

"Thank you for your time sir!"

"No problem, it's my pleasure."

He stood up and shook the Host Takeshi's hand, before exiting off to the side.

"Well you heard him here folks, the most anticipated game, as you can all agree, will be coming out very soon, along with a lifetime chance for free access and other perks. Now, lets switch over to..."

The news went on with their regular program, but everyone's mind was on this 'New World', and the lifetime chance to win greatly. That is, everyone but one...

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Author's Note: Hello everyone, thank you for reading the very beginning of hopefully a budding series of my creation. I take much influence from the light novels of Korea, China, and Japan, and enjoy them immensely, and I hope I can write something just as good. I do apologize for any mess-ups with Japanese names, places, and all of that, as I am not that knowledgeable about it despite my great interest in novels from there. I also apologize for any grammar mistakes and the like. Please rate and review, and tell me your thoughts. I will say here that at the earliest I will be doing weekly chapters, most likely bi-weekly to monthly though. Unless I have inspiration lighting up like a firework.

Also, could someone help me with creating the status tables, notices, and explanations/info boxes that i've seen in other stories? It would be a great help. Anyway, see ya next chapter!