[Unfortunately, I cannot share such information to you as a player or they will get spoiled. Please ask another question. So, do you have any other question?]
Okay, this is bizarre...
Midnight never expected that a single, simple word like "spoiler" could hold such importance in a situation like this.
"So, at the very least… can I know what this game is really about?" he asked in a flat tone, concealing the surge of curiosity bubbling within him.
His voice lingered in the air, and soon enough, a reply emerged from a female voice that sounded like a virtual assistant.
[You'll see it once you enter the game arena—or more precisely, the gaming facility designed and perfected by my Game Master. So, is there anything else you'd like to ask?]
He paused for a moment, deep in thought. Nothing about this felt normal. The situation seemed suspended between reality and dream, and Midnight still couldn't tell which one was more dominant.
But one thing was clear: he needed answers, and this was what he had to ask.
"Are there any questions you can answer?"
[Of course. I can address basic inquiries regarding the items and events you've experienced thus far. For anything else, you'll have to experience it firsthand. My knowledge does not extend to the details of future events. I can only access static data. So, do you have any questions?]
Finally, Midnight exhaled slowly. This was his chance.
Inside, he felt a spark of satisfaction. Perhaps this could be both a Q&A session and an opportunity to voice his complaints about all the bizarre occurrences he'd encountered since the beginning.
"That calibration process earlier… what was it actually for?" he asked.
[An excellent question. Calibration is necessary to ensure both the safety and comfort of the player before the game commences. In technical terms, your body must adapt biomechanically and neurologically to integrate seamlessly with the virtual reality system. This process also functions to prevent any physical or psychological trauma during gameplay. Your body needs to be in the most relaxed state possible before the game begins.]
"So that's what they meant by 'have fun,' huh…"
Yet it was precisely at that moment that the strangeness began to set in.
There was a glaring contradiction between "have fun" and the "potential for physical injury." Midnight felt that all this was far more serious than just a simple simulation.
Something was hidden beneath it all. Something deeper.
[That's all. So, do you have any other questions?]
He decided to probe further.
"This is my final question… When I entered this game, why did my body start glowing, feel empty—almost as if it were being pulled apart? And what is with these overly complex modifications to my hair and accessories?"
[Very well. I will answer them one at a time.]
[First, regarding your entry into the game world: your body underwent a molecular transduction process, during which your organs were enveloped by electromagnetic elements. This process adheres to the principle of homeostatic adjustment based on your body temperature and biological structure. As the transition occurred, an energy conversion took place—from electrical energy to light. The electrical impulses normally bound to your brain are purified, allowing your consciousness to be transferred entirely into the game world, free from external interference.]
Midnight fell silent. The explanation was scientific—or at least, it sounded that way. He recalled the sensation of his body trembling and seemingly floating at an extraordinary speed. Now, everything began to make sense… or perhaps it grew even more absurd? He was ready to dismiss it either way.
[Second, regarding your visual modifications—your hair, costume, and accessories. All of these stem from the personal preferences of the Game Master, who harbors a keen interest in character aesthetics. Their primary function is to indulge the user and create maximum immersion in the gaming experience.]
"…I see," he muttered with a note of dissatisfaction.
[So, do you have any other questions? If there are no further questions, you will soon be transported to your gameplay destination.]
"That's enough," Midnight replied flatly—though inside, he still harbored countless questions.
[Very well. If you require assistance during the game, contact me via the pause menu.]
[Enjoy your time here, Midnight.]
And, like the morning mist swept away by the wind, the female voice vanished—as if swallowed by the earth itself.
"Wait… pause?" he thought quickly.
That single word sparked a new doubt.
If this world can be paused, does that mean it's not entirely real?
Wouldn't something that can be paused, by definition, not be truly real?
Before he could ruminate further, a tube slowly emerged from the pristine white floor."So this is what they call teleportation…" he whispered almost to himself.
Suddenly, the white floor beneath him began to part, and a large tube rose from below the surface. It was about the size of his apartment door.
Its shape resembled a vertical capsule—transparent, with a sleek metallic casing that gleamed like a mirror. The tube was made of thick glass, surrounded by softly glowing blue metallic rings.
He reached out and touched the surface of the tube. It felt cold and solid.
"This glass… really feels like glass," he murmured.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
As soon as his entire body was inside the tube, a sharp mechanical sound rang out:
BEEEEPPPP
The capsule door closed automatically.
[CHECKPOINT SUCCESSFULLY SAVED. YOU MAY RETURN TO THIS LOCATION IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING.]
The same female voice returned—this time gentler and warmer.
"That's… actually very helpful and advanced," Midnight muttered.
This time, he wasn't being sarcastic.
A checkpoint like this would undoubtedly be useful—but… for what exactly?
To rewind? To avoid death?
In modern VR gaming, features like these are rarely used. Everything occurs in real time. There is no concept of 'going back'—only of moving forward.
Especially in an environment where every player can interact with one another as if they were truly present.
But before his thoughts could wander any further, the system voice chimed once again:
[YOU HAVE ENTERED THE INCUBATION TUBE. TELEPORTATION WILL NOW BEGIN.]
He thought, "Well, whatever. I suppose it's just part of the experience."
There was no point in overthinking it.
[INSTRUCTION: THE TELEPORTATION PROCESS WILL NOW BEGIN. PLEASE CLEAR YOUR MIND AND STAND TALL.]
Midnight drew a deep breath. He complied with the instructions dutifully, even though his mind was still teeming with countless unanswered questions.
Suddenly, his skin began to glow. Tiny pixels emerged from his pores, assembling into a luminous layer that extended from the top of his head all the way down to his feet.
[YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS WILL NOW BE TRANSFERRED TO THE SCANNED SKIN. INITIALIZATION PROCESS BEGINNING.]
He could barely register the voice—not due to its low volume, but because his mind had become completely empty, as if dissolving into a void.
[INITIALIZATION COMPLETE. ENJOY THE GAME. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.]
His body slowly disintegrated into thousands of particles of light.So weightless—as if his body were a mere shadow, not matter at all.
Like the silent crack of an unseen gunshot, his consciousness detached. His vision turned black. He tried to open his eyes… but he couldn't.
Yet, moments later, his eyes fluttered open. A new light greeted him, as if he had just stepped into the game.
"Like being reborn…" he murmured.
No, it wasn't a new light at all. It was a profound darkness—a stark contrast to the dazzling white of the room he had just left.
And now, an entirely different world lay spread before him.
Suddenly, the incubation tube opened.
Beams of light burst forth from every direction until they converged on a chair at the center of the space. A chair upon which a teddy bear sat regally, as if enthroned.
Compelled by an unseen force, Midnight stepped forward.
His footsteps echoed loudly—No, they sounded more like the synchronized march of many.Before long, the teddy bear stirred, its hand reaching out to grasp a microphone.
"Greetings, one hundred top players of Eden Zero…"
"WELCOME TO THE D-DRIVE GAME TRIAL!"