The year is 2026. 3 years after the invention of the full dive system, and sentients have created the very first virtual world of its kind. A full open world. The beta version of the game lasted over a year, pulling players of all kinds of backgrounds into its embrace, all species of sentient beings.
Today, the game officially launches worldwide…
"This is MMO network, bringing you all day coverage of the hit Beta game, Sacred Sword Online, otherwise known as SSO, on the day of its full release!" A young woman exclaimed, "Max, you were a Beta tester! What are your hopes for the new players?"
A young cat man in glasses said, "Well, I hope that they enjoy the game of course! During the Beta, the complexity of the world amazed me. The NPC AI is astonishing, almost like they were real people. You can get into really intimate conversations with them, even if they are non player characters." The camera man showed the long line of future players, ranging all sizes and species.
In his room, a 15 year old human boy was watching the stream. He was also a former Beta Tester. He tuned out the stream as he struggled to press the off button on his computer. He picked up the headgear on his desk, labeled Rem Helm, and shakily placed it on his head.
"Link, Start!" He shouted. His vision blacked out, and he felt like he was flying through space. Stars flashed by him until everything went white. A senses check was activated, and then he logged in.
He opened his eyes, and he was in the town square. Other players were appearing everywhere, and some looked like they did not know where to start. He did, though.
He slashed his right hand down, activating the menu. He clicked the item button, and he selected his only weapon, a Gladius. It appeared in a flash of light and he sheathed it quickly. He marveled at the feeling of leather, and the cold smoothness of the metal. He headed towards the place where the first quest giver was.
He had started the quest, and was just about to head inside the bandit's hideout when he heard someone calling out to him.
"Hey! Wait up," the boy turned around, and a muscular rhino man was standing there. "You look like you know where you're going. Did you get the first quest?"
"Yeah, I did. Why?" the boy asked. "I was wondering if you could help me out. Do you mind teaching me the basics of how this game works?" the rhino man asked. "Yeah, I guess I could help you," the boy said. "Thanks. The names Ghorn," the rhino man said. The boy shook his hand, and said, "I'm Kiette. What's the first thing you need help with. You've already accessed the menu, right?"
Ghorn nodded, and said, "Well, I'd like to learn the basics of magic and swords. Also, when in a fight, does using your body as a weapon do damage?" Kiette nodded, saying, "Ok. You mean like punching and kicking by using your body as a weapon, right?" Ghorn nodded.
"Yeah. A lot of players, myself included, used a combination of sword and fist. It makes for a good combination in this game, except with mace users," Kiette explained. "Why is it not so good with mace users?" Ghorn asked, and Kiette explained, "Well, a mace has a large knockback onto the enemy. It makes it harder to hit them when they fly too far from your reach."
"Any way, do you know how to equip your items?"
Ghorn nodded, and used the menu to equip a large, slightly curved, one handed sword.
Later, after they had entered the dungeon, they were fighting the boss together. Ghorn had learned how to use his sword and even how to use magic almost immediately. "How come there is no magic language system in this game?" Ghorn asked. Kiette said, "The system is designed to be open, so it does not use a language. Instead, it uses your intention and focus to control how the spell works."
They had beat the boss, and now where outside. The sun was setting, and Ghorn said, "Wow, they really went all out. The graphics are impeccable, and the attention to detail is staggering."
Ghorn had equipped the leather armor that the bandit boss had dropped.
"Any way, I'm famished. Too bad eating here can't feed you in the real world. I need to log out." Ghorn said, "Oh, but before I go, I have a couple of friends who I logged in with. Maybe later I should introduce you to them." Kiette agreed, and Ghorn slashed his hand and opened the menu and clicked options.
"Where'd the logout button go?" He said. Kiette frowned, "It should be the last thing on the options." Kiette opened the menu, and gasped. "Well, it's not just you. I don't have it either. Did you call the Game master?" Ghorn nodded, and said, "He ain't picking up. This could be bad. If people are unable to log out, what is going to happen to us in the real world? Don't you think we should be worried, Kiette?"
Kiette shook his head, and said, "No, the head gear automatically sends a signal to our body to exercise our bodies every fifteen minutes. It also allows an outside source to feed us. I'm more worried that the server people don't have any idea of what's going on right now."
They heard a loud whistling sound, it repeated about three times. They were engulfed in a bright white light, and suddenly found themselves in the plaza. People where teleporting and some where terrified.
"Someone forced a teleport." Kiette said. The plaza was almost completely full. There was a scream, and several people pointed to a mass of shadow collecting above the plaza.
"What the hell is that?" Whispered Ghorn. Kiette saw a man inside the darkness. He knew immediately who it was. "That's the game master, and the creator, Mario Diesmali."
"Then you think he knows what's going on?" Ghorn asked. "I have no doubt about it. I bet he is going to tell us right now." Kiette said.
"My name is Mario Diesmali, and welcome to my world." Mario said. "I have no doubt that many of you have noticed an item missing from the menu bar," he accessed the menu and clicked options, showing the missing log out button. "I assure you, this is not a bug. It is how SSO was meant to be. You can not log out of Sacred Sword Online, and no one in the real world may attempt to do so. Should they try, the REM Helm will send a signal to the nanobots in your brain, absorbing your mind and sending your consciousness to one of my lab's computer database. Your nanobot's will no longer send any signals to your muscles, and you will no longer be able to eat. Your bodies will waste away until they die. The same shall happen if your HP falls to zero." several people cried out in protest, "The only way to be revived is through extremely rare revival items. When revived, your nanobots will reactivate, rebooting life support."
"I have given you a gift in your inventory. I suggest you use it," he finished. He disappeared into nothingness.
People opened their menu, and equipped the item. It was a obsidian mirror. Suddenly their bodies transformed into what was obviously their real world appearance.
Kiette looked over to Ghorn. He had nearly doubled in size, and he had orangish hair and a beard.
"Kiette, is that you?" Ghorn asked. Kiette looked at himself in the mirror, and saw his own pale face. He was rather thin, but not hideously thin. He had to mentally hold back tears, angry that he had been forced back into a body that had caused him so much loneliness.
"Yeah, this is me," He sighed. People were starting to panic. There was only one way to escape: Beat the game and its two hundred worlds. The Beta's had only gotten through 20.