Prologue
In the year 2012, James Halliday and Ogden Morrow released a realistic immersive 3D video game through their rebranded company GSS. Free to play, one time sign-up fee. Over time the OASIS became much more than just a game, it became a new reality. People did business in the virtual world with their avatars, kids went to school inside the simulation, people had jobs in this alternate life. The economy now revolved around a video game and it's credits, now worth more than legal tender.
When James Halliday died in 2040, he left a recorded message for everyone inside OASIS, his video last will and testament. If anyone could solve his puzzles and find his easter egg, they would inherit his fortune and control over OASIS. His easter egg hunt involved finding keys to open a gates in sequence. That moment was when the first frenzy erupted. IOI, the previously subtle and quiet company, rolled out with a force that could be compared to any real standing army. With it's sole purpose of hunting for Halliday's easter egg and obtaining the control over the OASIS and GSS. Before, IOI just exploited the system and data mined, they also used their resources to control economies and items like a ruthless cartel. IOI rerouted a majority of their companies resources to legitimately taking over the OASIS. They were far from uncontested. Large guilds, alliances and powerful soloist, coining the title gunter, the colloquial shortening of egg hunter, and they worked tirelessly against IOI to find the treasure for themselves. After a short six months of searching with no result the frenzy died down. Everyone was stumped on the first riddle, no progress made. No one really gave up, but no one was trying nearly as hard as they used to.
Five years passed, five whole years of absolutely no progress and suddenly, in the middle of the night in a particular dungeon, two separate individuals get the first key and clear the first gate. That's only a fraction of the story, and this is not a retelling.