3026 AD, July 7th—Divine Descent's global launch day.
The first light of dawn seeped through the windows of Dr. Cole's clinic as Karen sat beside Ella's cot. Her breathing was steadier now, her cheeks flushed with a faint, healthy pink—the GX-07 was working. Marcus had checked her vitals an hour earlier, his eyes wide with awe.
"The GCV's gene corrosion has slowed," he'd said. "It's like the virus has gone dormant."
Karen's grip on the neural bracelet tightened. 1 hour, 5 minutes.
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Ella's forehead. "I'll be right back. Promise."
She mumbled in her sleep, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Karen slipped out of the room, grabbing his tactical jacket from the chair. Marcus was in the waiting room, cleaning medical tools, and he looked up as Karen passed.
"Be careful," the doctor said. "Divine Descent isn't just a game. The Consortium's invested too much for it to be harmless."
Karen nodded. He already knew that.
By 8:55 AM, he was back in the tin hut, sitting on the floor, legs crossed. He closed his eyes, pressing the neural bracelet's activation button. A cool hum spread across his skin, and his consciousness blurred—then snapped into sharp focus.
He was standing in a sunlit meadow, tall grass swaying around him, the air smelling of wildflowers and fresh earth. A tiny, winged sprite fluttered into view, its voice like wind chimes.
"Welcome to Divine Descent, Ghost Wolf! Let's create your character—no takebacks, so choose wisely!"
Karen's lips curved into a faint smile. He'd played enough underground games to know the drill, but Divine Descent's immersion was unlike anything he'd ever felt—like stepping into a real world.
"Class?" the sprite asked.
"Warrior," Karen said. "Max strength, minimal defense."
"Pain threshold? 10% to 100%!"
"10%." He wasn't here to suffer—he was here to win.
"Name?"
"Ghost Wolf."
"Perfect! Now, let's assign your starting stats—25 points total!"
Karen dumped 10 points into strength, 5 into agility, 5 into 体质,and 5 into spirit. A warrior built for brute force, fast strikes, and just enough stamina to outlast enemies.
The sprite clapped its tiny hands. "Character created! Teleporting you to 新手村 (Novice Village) 49554—enjoy your adventure!"
A flash of light, and Karen found himself in a bustling village square. Wooden cottages lined the streets, NPCs wandered around, and hundreds of players milled about, chattering excitedly. The air hummed with energy—hope, ambition, hunger for power.
A notification popped up on his HUD: Guild Invite from Wings of Liberty—Accept?
He tapped "Yes."
Instantly, a voice echoed in his ear—Jason's. "Ghost Wolf! Where are you? We're at the village gate, near the blacksmith."
Karen navigated through the crowd, his eyes scanning for threats. Even in the starting zone, rival players eyed each other warily—guilds were already staking claims, marking territory, sizing up enemies.
He spotted the Wings of Liberty guild tag easily—bright blue, emblazoned with a soaring eagle. Jason stood there, flanked by five other players: a tall archer with a mohawk, a stocky shield bearer, two mages in flowing robes, and Sophia, her in-game avatar as sharp as her real-life self—chestnut hair tied back, leather armor, a sword strapped to her waist.
"Took you long enough," Sophia said, but there was no bite in her voice. She gestured to the group. "This is the core team: Hawk (archer), Tank (shield bearer), Blaze and Frost (mages). They're the best I could find—but they're not you."
Hawk nodded in greeting, his bow slung over his shoulder. "Heard you're the one who took down three Rossetti thugs with a broken pipe. Impressive."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Tank rumbled, crossing his arms. "Talk is cheap. Prove you're worth the GX-07."
Karen ignored the jab. "The Forgotten Catacombs. Let's move."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Straight to business. I like it."
The group set off, leaving the village behind. The path wound through a forest, sunlight filtering through the trees, and Karen kept to the rear, his eyes sharp for ambushes. He'd learned long ago that the biggest threats weren't monsters—they were other players.
Sure enough, ten minutes later, a group of players jumped them—six men wearing the Rossetti guild tag: red and black, a serpent coiled around a sword.
"Morgan's lapdogs!" one shouted, swinging a axe at Sophia.
Karen reacted instantly. He darted forward, drawing the rusted 新手剑 (Novice Sword) from his back, and parried the attack. The Rossetti player stumbled, and Karen drove his sword into the man's chest—-28 damage popped up above his head.
"Stick to the plan!" Sophia shouted, drawing her own sword.
Blaze and Frost unleashed fire and ice spells, freezing and burning enemies. Hawk loosed arrows, picking off mages from afar. Tank raised his shield, blocking attacks, while Jason hacked at enemies with a dagger.
Karen moved like a shadow, darting between enemies, striking fast and hard. He targeted weak points—necks, wrists, knees—using his agility to dodge blows. The Rossetti players were tough, but they fought like a disorganized mob. Karen took down three before the rest fled, bloodied and defeated.
Tank let out a low whistle. "Okay, you're not completely useless."
Karen sheathed his sword, his breath steady. "The catacombs are ahead. Stay sharp—they won't be the last ones."
Sophia nodded, her eyes glinting with respect. "Lead the way, Ghost Wolf."
As they approached the catacombs—dark, stone tunnels carved into a hillside—Karen felt a familiar fire in his chest. This was where he belonged: in the fight, in the struggle, in control of his fate.
The neural bracelet hummed faintly against his wrist, a reminder of why he was here. For Ella. For the GX-07. For the right to choose.
He stepped into the catacombs, the darkness swallowing him whole.
Behind him, the Wings of Liberty team followed.
And the game began in earnest.