Chapter 3
Chapter 3.
[The Emergence of an Unprecedented Virtual Reality Game!?]
[The Splendid Debut of God of Savior!]
The first virtual reality game.
God of Savior, bearing that title, was loud from the very start.
When the news broke that a game considered a joke had actually been released, various gaming communities exploded.
“???”
“Wait, it was real?”
“A real virtual reality game?”
The aftermath was significant.
From gamers enjoying VR games to PC game users, and even ordinary people with no interest in games.
Everyone heard the news of God of Savior.
It was bound to happen.
“VR is virtual reality. Why is everyone making such a fuss? It's not like VR is new.”
“Is VR really virtual reality? The meaning might be, but honestly it's too shabby to be called virtual reality. The 3rd generation is somewhat better, but up to the 2nd generation, it's better to just call it 4D.”
“I heard someone tested the device, and they say it's a real virtual reality game like in novels?”
“Whoa, the device isn't even a helmet but a capsule. Is it really a virtual reality game?”
Because unlike the VRs released so far, it bore the title of a true virtual reality game.
It was bound to attract attention, whether as aggro or whatever.
“But can it come out with current technology?”
“Isn't it just an upgraded version of the 3rd generation?”
Even the game company's response was fast.
Before such doubts could fully grow, they spent a fortune to recruit additional testers, and the testers proved it to be true.
[It was an unforgettable experience... That place is another world and reality.]
[It was ecstatic. A vividness like reality, high AI like humans, and even the beautiful scenery of another world... It's on a completely different level from the VRs released so far.]
[I am terminally ill. I am grateful to have experienced such a game before I die. The only regret is that by the time this game is released, I will probably have left this world.]
One might expect at least one person to criticize, but they were all unanimous in their praise.
Some even shed tears of emotion and shared sad stories, so curiosity was bound to grow.
“No, just how amazing was it?”
“Whoa, I know that person. They're somewhat famous in the UK, but it's my first time seeing them so moved.”
“They said it was their last gift before dying?”
Considering that not only ordinary people but also somewhat famous figures participated in the test, it was a trustworthy reputation.
Before long, people's doubts vanished without a trace, and anticipation took its place.
Some were so thrilled by the thought that the virtual reality game they had dreamed of might have actually appeared that they couldn't sleep.
Not only Korea but the whole world waited for the official open of the virtual reality game.
However, not everyone looked forward to it with such anticipation.
[Virtual reality games are the descent of Satan.]
[Virtual reality games bring death!]
[The safety of the unprecedented virtual reality game, can we really trust it?]
[A capsule-type device rather than a helmet-type device... There is still insufficient data on its effects on the human body...]
Those who had consistently thought of games as the devil's temptation since the PC game era.
With the emergence of a game on an unprecedented scale, various anti-game organizations began to rise up.
Even among them were mixed some experts.
Unlike the 3rd generation helmet-type devices that went through numerous data, the opinion was that the newly released capsule-type lacked data.
The momentum of the people who had been rejoicing was bound to wane a little.
Even experts were expressing concerns, and their opinions were quite reasonable, so it couldn't be helped.
“They say you might die playing the virtual reality game. Something about a brain overload causing problems.”
“They say there's not enough data yet?”
“I don't know? An expert said so. I'm anxious, so I'll just watch for now.”
Rumors gradually became distorted, and before long, a story was spreading that you would die if you played GoS.
-God of savior
Was that why?
When God of Savior first officially opened, everyone hesitated.
The capsule, which was several times more expensive than the helmet-type device, and the rather expensive game price also played a part.
However, it was precisely in times like this that people with a spirit of challenge shone.
“Hello, bros! It's hot these days with GoS opening, right? There's a lot of talk about it being a game of death or a new brain-torture device, so I'll try it myself and review it!”
“Everyone wants to play GoS, right? But you can't because you're anxious. I know how you feel~. So! This Jin Jin-jara will play it! I spent a whopping 10 million won, so please subscribe and like!”
They were none other than Newtubers and BJs.
Always thirsty for content, there was no way they would miss this opportunity.
That was the beginning.
“Yes, bros, I've connected to the game. For now, there's nothing strange. Let's go to the village... Whoa...”
“Is this... really a game? Seriously? You're saying that scenery is virtual?”
“No, this is crazy? The sensation of the wind brushing by is so vivid.”
Through personal broadcasts, the overwhelming vividness of GoS spread across the world, captivating people in an instant.
A quality on a different level from VR games so far. AI more human than humans, and senses where the five senses were vividly realized.
Kwoooaar!
“Whoa! The pressure is no joke.”
Adding the icing on the cake, when combat footage with monsters shouting right in front of them was included, people no longer hesitated.
Safety? Die from playing a game?
“That's bullshit. I'm completely fine right now.”
“Holy shit! That's definitely a scheme by the Wetube bastards trying to eat the rankers. Look at me. I'm fucking fine right now!”
“If you don't play this, it's a real huge loss. I'm going to play the game. Good luck.”
Now, you'd be an idiot not to play the game out of such worries.
And indeed, countless people connected, but there was nothing wrong.
Side effect occurrence rate 0%.
This was a figure hard to see even in the 3rd generation of VR, and the experts who had strongly opposed it were all beaten down and driven out.
People rushed in like a tidal wave, as if pouring out what they had been suppressing all along.
300 million concurrent users worldwide.
1 billion users playing the game.
Now, GoS was no longer just a game.
From media like movies and dramas to sports like soccer and martial arts, and even celebrities like singers.
All industries had been swallowed up by virtual reality.
It was possible because GoS was that highly free and diverse.
Truly another world.
But even so, the flower of MMORPG was still combat.
Combat videos of giant guilds were the most popular and generated the most revenue.
And when it was revealed that many of those who became the protagonists of that stage were veterans of 'Demlok', attention focused on Demlok, whose service had now ended.
“They say Execution Guild's Myeolsal is from Demlok?”
“They say there are tons of Demlok veterans within the top 10,000?”
“Even that Myeolsal wasn't Demlok's rank 1.”
“Huh? Then who the hell was rank 1?”
And that attention naturally had to head towards Demlok's high rankers.
The wall that even Myeolsal couldn't overcome.
A legendary figure who never gave up the ranking even once after achieving 1st place.
-Kaiser.
The moment that figure's name was revealed, countless people looked for Kaiser.
It was bound to happen.
Partly out of curiosity about the identity of the one higher than Myeolsal, but GoS was ultimately Demlok's sequel.
There were bound to be many similar aspects system-wise.
It wasn't for nothing that Demlok veterans were taking ranker spots in GoS.
Then what about the man who was the overwhelming 1st place?
-Kaiser? He is a god.
-Not just a simple expression, but truly a god. He has never been defeated.
-The skill tree he created was innovation itself. He was the creator of the meta.
-Even the crappiest thing became a jewel shining brighter than anything else after passing through Kaiser's hands.
-15-man raid? To Kaiser, it was just a minor boss.
-I guarantee that Myeolsal wouldn't even last a minute standing before Kaiser.
-A minute my ass... I bet my friend's left ball it's a 10-second cut.
-Is Myeolsal some household dog's name? He was one of the strongest mentioned even in the Demlok days. I think that's a bit of an overstatement.
-True, Myeolsal is a bit of an exception. Didn't the two never have an official 1-on-1?
-How audacious! How dare you doubt the god!
-Ah, ahh....
As Demlok users who remembered Kaiser worshipped him like a god, the curiosity had to grow even more.
Each and every achievement was so wondrous that one might think it was an exaggeration.
“Just how well does he fight?”
“No, I mean, is his movement invisible to the eye?”
With such curiosity, people naturally searched for videos featuring Kaiser, and everyone was astonished.
Control more precise than a machine, combination tables of countless skills, and combat videos that were beyond overwhelming—violent enough to inevitably mesmerize people.
“What is Kaiser doing right now?”
“Why isn't he starting GoS?”
“Kaiser, I want to see his play in a virtual reality game! Ah, that is already an art. Watching his battles brings inspiration.”
“Find Kaiser!”
People searching for Kaiser was a highly natural course of action.
Kaiser.
It was truly an instant for these three syllables to dye every community and the green window's real-time search keywords.
Even foreigners were looking for Kaiser, so that was saying everything.
However, Kaiser himself did not appear.
A month passed,
Two months passed,
And even when it exceeded 6 months and reached a year.
“At this point, isn't Kaiser dead?”
“Kaiser? Ah, that Demlok rank 1?”
“I am curious to see him start the game... but what does that matter now? It's already been over a year. Even if he starts now, he'll just be an extra, right?”
“You never know. Maybe he actually started long ago but is hiding because he couldn't take a rank.”
“Hey, Execution Guild raid starts soon. Everyone get ready to ride the link.”
People no longer looked for Kaiser, who had vanished without a trace.
Occasionally, a few missed him, but more people watched those who currently ruled GoS.
And as more time passed, about 2 years... to be exact, around 1 year and 6 months.
[Breaking News) Execution Guild succeeds in legendary raid boss Avtartel raid!]
-Whoa, look at Myeolsal's class... he's totally flying.
-He is a legend... Isn't Myeolsal the strongest as an individual?
-No no, Myeolsal just has good star quality, Cheonocheon Guild is the real deal. It's not for nothing they're Cheonocheon.
-Honestly, I like the top 10 guilds too, but I like the Empress too much. She moves alone like a noble wolf. Isn't she literally a one-man army?
-True... Even the top 10 guilds can't act carelessly against someone like the Empress.
No one could be seen looking for Kaiser in GoS anymore.
He was forgotten.
Because there were too many stimulating and majestic absolute beings to remember some hero of the past.
They no longer cared about a figure of the past who had disappeared into history.
Just as he was forgotten by everyone...
“Loyalty! Staff Sergeant Kang Do-hyun! I have received the order to discharge as of April 11, 2023!!”
Army 51st Division Battalion Commander's Office.
A young man, Kang Do-hyun, wearing a military cap over his now somewhat grown hair, was saluting.
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
Kang Do-hyun, 23 years old.
1 year and 6 months since entering the military.
And 1 year and 6 months since the virtual reality game God of Savior was released.
Kaiser, it was the moment he finally took off his military uniform and returned to civilian life.