Rect (of the Yuuki family) is a powerhouse in electronic equipment manufacturing. Since gaining the support of the Kuse Group and successfully surpassing the major manufacturer ARGUS, it secured the development rights for the next-generation full-dive gaming machine, the "NERvGear," and its reputation has been soaring ever since.
The so-called "NERvGear" is a gaming helmet specifically designed for virtual reality (VR), but it boasts a generational leap in performance compared to the VR glasses previously on the market, claiming to offer a futuristic, sci-fi-like experience.
According to information disclosed at the press conference, the device generates multiple electric fields to directly transmit sensory signals to the brain while simultaneously blocking motor nerve signals sent from the brain to the body, achieving a "full dive" where the user's consciousness completely enters the virtual world.
In other words, it's a dream machine that you'd only find in online gaming novels!
Previous VR glasses and helmets could only stimulate players through sight and sound, and the level of realism was unimpressive. This "NERvGear," however, can fully immerse a person in another world, achieving a level of realism that is nearly indistinguishable from reality.
The appearance of this device is nothing short of a revolution for the gaming industry!
It has only undergone beta testing so far, but industry insiders are already singing its praises. Every major gaming company resting on its laurels is scrambling not to be left behind, launching their own "full-dive devices" (in PowerPoint form, at least).
It's foreseeable that for the next three years, the discourse in this industry will be completely dominated by the "NERvGear"!
And the birth of the "NERvGear" is mainly credited to two people—
The genius scientist and game producer, Akihiko Kayaba!
And the angel investor, the rational monster, Kuse Ryu!
One is a quantum physicist with technology that transcends the era; the other is a chosen capitalist who has never made a mistake. Just putting these two names together is enough to draw attention, and the "NERvGear" itself is a miraculous creation that will redefine the very concept of a "game."
Who knows what kind of waves this machine will create in the gaming world—no, in the entire world—once it is truly released!
At this moment, inside the Rect head office, staff bustled about in a flurry of activity. The faces of everyone present wore a mixed expression of excitement and nervousness.
In the main hall of the planning department—
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. Employees who had been chatting and laughing moments before composed their expressions and quieted down. Whatever they were working on, they stopped, parting to form a path on either side like troops awaiting inspection.
Several directors and managers walked out from within the hall. Among them was a seemingly ordinary middle-aged man with a weary air about him; this was Akihiko Kayaba.
And all eyes, including those of this genius, were fixed on the entrance.
The sound of steady, rhythmic footsteps approached, and the figures of Kuse Ryu and his entourage came into view—
Swish!
Over a hundred employees bowed in unison, the arc of their bows strikingly similar, as if rehearsed countless times.
In an instant, the Rect headquarters had become Ryu's domain!
Akihiko Kayaba was one of the few who didn't bow. He simply inclined his waist slightly as a sign of respect. He quickly glanced around, adjusting his glasses, which glinted with a white light:
No matter how many times I see it, I can't help but marvel at this young man's presence. I'm respected too, but it's clearly not the same thing.
Kayaba was a rather pure academic who had never cared much for politics or personal relationships. But even someone as reclusive as him could clearly sense the weight that "Kuse Ryu" carried in the world of capital.
Buffett's annual return rate was merely twenty percent, yet countless people revered him as a god of stocks. This wasn't because his profits were the highest, but because facts had proven time and again the accuracy and stability of his judgment.
Ryu was a monster on another level: he not only possessed frighteningly high rates of return but also hit the mark every single time, having never made a serious strategic error.
As long as we're on this ship, our Rect will be as solid as a rock—at least ninety percent of the leadership here must be thinking that.
"Welcome, Lord Kuse!"
"Everyone, it's been a while. Thank you for having me today."
Ryu was gentle and courteous, greeting the head of the Yuuki family with the etiquette of a junior. However, he ignored the other directors who were staring eagerly at him and enthusiastically sought out Akihiko Kayaba, who was hiding in the back.
"Dr. Kayaba, long time no see. You're the same as always, wearing a white lab coat no matter the occasion~"
"I don't pay much attention to such things. Aren't you dressed rather casually as well, Mr. Kuse?" Kayaba, though reclusive, was not timid. He responded to the pleasantries with a placid expression.
"Time is of the essence. Let's get down to business, Mr. Kuse."
"Of course."
—
"Is this the prototype?"
Ryu asked with great interest, looking at the silver game pod, which was as large as a B-class car.
Akihiko Kayaba shook his head slightly. "No, the prototype is this room itself. The game pod is merely the terminal that interacts with the human body."
"And the 'NERvGear' we are preparing to launch is a simplified version that utilizes quantum technology and has sacrificed most of its performance."
"To optimize this down to the size of a helmet... Remarkable." Ryu made no secret of his admiration for Kayaba. "You are the only one in the entire world who could do this."
Akihiko Kayaba didn't offer any modest pleasantries, calmly accepting the praise—because he thought so himself.
At that moment, the head of the Yuuki family, who had been nervously awaiting inspection, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Ryu's satisfied expression. "Would you like to experience it for yourself?"
Ryu readily accepted. "I was just thinking I'd like to try it, but I won't interfere with your work schedule, will I?"
The atmosphere instantly lightened. "Of course not! Your feedback is extremely important!"
After taking off his jacket, electrodes were attached to his body to monitor vital signs. The staff then brought over interaction modules one by one, assembling them on Ryu's body like ancient squires dressing their master in armor.
Once everything was ready, Ryu lay down in the inner chamber, which could adapt to his body shape. The helmet's faceplate slid down, plunging his vision into darkness. This was followed by an imperceptible vibration and the sound of rotating bearings as the titanium alloy shields of the inner and outer chambers closed completely.
—Vmmm!
There was no overly intense stimulation, only the feeling of a faint electric current sweeping through his body from the nape of his neck in an instant, gone before he had a chance to process it. Then, Ryu's vision suddenly brightened!
"Hm?"
He instinctively wanted to cover his eyes but paused, realizing there was no discomfort. When he looked around, the magnificent and beautiful scenery of an alien world momentarily took his breath away.
His perspective was from an open cliff. In the distance were rolling mountain ranges, their snow-capped peaks and the boundless sea of trees creating a silent, awe-inspiring spectacle. There were black dots soaring freely between the mountains, the faint roars of dragons heard occasionally, and a massive fortress floating in the sky... a fantasy world!
"Is that Aincrad, the map area for SAO?"
Ryu moved "his own" hands and feet, then squatted down to carefully observe the wild grass by his feet. Finally, he grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground, slowly crumbling it and letting it fall through his fingers in the wind...
Flawless!
The physical sensations were almost identical to the real world. Only after extremely focused observation could one notice tiny discrepancies like jagged edges!
If he hadn't known beforehand and hadn't studied it closely, he would never have realized this was a game!
At this, even Ryu, who knew the "plot," couldn't help but feel excited.
Akihiko Kayaba truly was a rare genius. No wonder that even after he caused such a massive incident, similar games continued to emerge one after another.
This was the steam engine of the gaming industry, destined to usher in a new era!
Thinking that Akihiko Kayaba's "dream" was destined to be destroyed by him, Ryu felt a trace of pity, despite knowing how insane the man was...
However, the image of a golden coin flashing in his mind reaffirmed his conviction:
So what if he's a genius scientist? In my hands, he'll still have his surplus value (Destiny Coins) squeezed out!
"AI assistant, open the dungeon and monster encyclopedia catalogs."
[Affirmative.]
With administrator privileges, Ryu eagerly began selecting scenes, equipment, and monsters. Since he had a rare chance to experience it, he naturally wanted to enjoy it to the fullest:
This is way more satisfying than your average AAA title!
However, as soon as Ryu, wielding a magic sword, engaged a monster, he immediately sensed something was wrong. His expression changed drastically—
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!!
An emergency alarm blared from within the game pod. Various indicator lights began to flash wildly. The on-site staff and corporate directors stared, dumbfounded and panicked.
"A problem? What's going on?!"
Ruri's almond-shaped eyes widened as she glared at Akihiko Kayaba, her gaze filled with killing intent. "Stop the machine now, Lord Kuse is still—"
Beep!
Before Ruri could finish, the staff had already successfully opened the pod hatch. A figure sat up from inside.
Crr-unch~
With just this simple movement, the equipment attached to his body made a sound that made the developers' faces pale. The once-sturdy modules became loose, as if they had just been smashed with a sledgehammer.
"Lord Kuse! Are you alright!"
"It's good that you're alright... We will find the cause of the malfunction as soon as possible. It absolutely won't affect the helmet's release!"
"Huh, this module is made of high-strength composite materials... Impossible, even if we put a gorilla in there..."
"We are so sorry! For something like this to happen at this time—"
Ryu raised his hand to silence the terrified directors and smiled magnanimously. "It's fine. It's not a problem with the machine—my experience was wonderful. It's just that I might have gotten too excited, and my heart rate and everything probably spiked."
"I-Is that so? That's a relief..."
Ignoring the capitalists who looked like they had just survived a disaster, Ryu's sharp and burning gaze fell upon—
Akihiko Kayaba, who was standing beside Ruri.
The lab-coat-wearing Kayaba subconsciously took a step back, feeling an inexplicable palpitation in his heart. He averted his eyes, not daring to meet Ryu's gaze.
'Kayaba, you're more valuable than I imagined. I'll have to replan your ending now.'
A bright smile couldn't help but spread across Ryu's lips, his heart pounding with excitement.
—This machine can actually amplify the [Demon Brain]!
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