A soft, melodic chime echoed gently in a grey and teal designed room. In its center, a boy lay on a levitating mattress that floated serenely above a neon-pulsing platform.
The melody gradually grew louder, filling the space as, simultaneously, recessed lighting brightened, casting an ethereal glow. The combined effect gently coaxed the room's sole occupant from slumber.
"Ahhhh…" Rex yawned, stretching his arms to work out the sleep-induced tension from his drowsy muscles. "You have a visitor, Rex," the refined, feminine voice of Home, the house AI, informed him.
Rex glanced at his wall, where a section currently displayed a live feed of his visitor. It was Edward, his stepfather. As if on cue, Edward's eyes on the screen met his, brows raised in a clear indication of growing impatience—an expression so unlike him.
"Shit, he must have been waiting for a while," Rex thought, voicing it as, "He must have been waiting for some time!" With a quick hand gesture, he prompted Home to open the door. . .
"I didn't think you'd be able to sleep, knowing how excited you've been about finally logging into Cosmic Ascendance," Edward said, a surprised look on his face as he walked into the room holding a briefcase.
Rex's mattress gently descended, allowing him to plant his feet on the floor. He smiled warmly, welcoming Edward, a man he respected immensely.
Edward's gaze briefly flickered to a sleek white pod in the corner. Large enough to house a fully grown adult, its surface was seamless, without any visible crease or break. Its very existence screamed of a technology so advanced, even nature itself might struggle to compare to its stark beauty.
This was the revolutionary Cosmic Pod, the console through which players accessed the world of Cosmic Ascendance. Its launch had caused a global sensation. Standard virtual reality pods were already an expensive luxury; the idea of a VR game demanding its own unique console was mind-blowing.
Though its 25,000 Credit price tag wasn't as steep as existing high-end VR pods (which could cost over 100,000 Credits), it was still a luxury many couldn't afford.
However, the game developers, the elusive and mysterious Cosmic Corp, introduced a payment plan. This allowed gamers to purchase the Cosmic Pod on credit, with subsequent payments debited directly from their in-game currency.
Initially, most people suspected a catch, some hidden marketing ploy. But as time passed, the authenticity of the offer was continually validated. This, combined with the later discovery of the game's almost unreal beneficial effects on the physical body, ignited a global craze. Cosmic Ascendance had become a new, recognized reality for much of the world's population.
"How was training?" Edward asked, sitting beside Rex on the edge of the mattress. His eyes, however, remained fixed on the Cosmic Pod, a hint of worry etched on his face. Rex noticed Edward's concern as he recounted his experience at the dojo, including his trainer's generous gifts and advice.
"Big-Boned Ben likes you a lot," Edward commented, finally tearing his gaze from the pod to study Rex.
Rex's physique had undergone significant changes in the past six months since he'd registered at the dojo. He had always been an active kid, but his physical qualities had peaked under Big Ben's training. And the D-Grade Cosmic Essence? That gift practically screamed of Big Ben's high regard for Rex.
"You definitely shouldn't let down his expectations of you," Edward continued, unlocking the briefcase he'd brought in. It revealed five pill-shaped bottles containing a glowing, sea-blue liquid. Their glow and color were noticeably lackluster compared to the D-Grade Essence Rex had received earlier.
F-Grade Essence. Each bottle cost 25,000 Credits—no small sum. Rex's mouth formed an 'O' of astonishment as he looked at Edward. "Your seventeenth birthday gift, from me and Ella."
"This is the best birthday gift ever! Thank you so much." Rex's face glowed with happiness as he took out one bottle, oggling it closely. Very few seventeen-year-olds could boast of such an abundant stock of Cosmic Essence:
Five F-Grade Essences he had bought himself. Five F-Grade Essences gifted by his family. And one D-Grade Essence gifted by Big-Boned Ben.
"Let me show you how to load it properly," Edward said, kneeling.
His hand slid across a particular part of the pod, and a compartment opened smoothly. He slotted in the five Cosmic Essence bottles he had brought; the bottles were made from a special material that allowed the Pod to interact with them directly.
"Click." The compartment popped open again as Rex repeated the gesture, familiarizing himself with it. Edward wouldn't always be around to help him replace the Essence. He, too, was a Pro-level gamer in Cosmic Ascendance. Though not a combat-oriented player, his unique class allowed him to earn enough to comfortably care for Rex and Ella.
"You know it's 7:23 PM, right?" Edward turned, an inquisitive look on his face. Rex blinked. "...Seriously?!" In response to their conversation, Home was already displaying a digital clock on the wall: 7:25 PM.
Rex's in-game countdown to seventeen in Cosmic Ascendance was scheduled to end at 7:15 PM. He had slept for way longer than he'd planned. "Must have been the vanilla cake," Rex grumbled internally as he began to make his way to the bathtub, every pore of his being pulsing with excitement.
"I CAN FINALLY PLAY COSMIC ASCENDANCE!!!" "YESSS!!!!!"
Edward quietly excused himself from the room of the boy who had utterly forgotten his existence the moment he realized he could finally log into the world of Cosmic Ascendance. A soft smile played on his lips.
"Shhhhhhhhh!!!" Jets of water caressed every crevice of Rex's body as he showered. He fully intended on an extremely long debut gaming session and wanted to feel as fresh as possible, with no conceivable distractions.
[7:32 PM]
His clock read as he stepped out of the bathroom. Once his body was dry enough, he slipped on a pair of briefs and approached the Cosmic Pod.
'Zzzzzzzzzz…' With an almost imperceptible sound, the Cosmic Pod slid open, revealing the player's 'colt.'
Only he could unlock this part of the pod; it was directly registered to his biometrics. The level of encryption employed in the security of this player compartment was so high that even three years after the game's launch, no one had reportedly managed to bypass the biometric lock.
Inside the colt of the Cosmic Pod, a fluid mirage swirled—a high concentration of atmospheric gases designed to help cater to the player's physical nourishment during gameplay.
Rex lay down on the colt, his body feeling extremely refreshed as he did so. Every pore seemed to open in response to the high-density gaseous atmosphere.
"Klip!" A sharp clip sounded as the pod sealed shut. Rex barely registered the sound when his senses were assaulted by a strong wave of grogginess. His hands balled into fists as he tried to resist the sensation, his mind racing with anticipation.