Chapter 1: Rebirth!

"Dawn Online: The Second Life of Fantasy, Excitement, and Wonder."

Seeing the title of the "VR" product–a "Virtual Reality" game–he felt it resonate with something within him as he stared at his monitor.

However, virtual reality had evolved from just an ocular augmentation to something that was able to completely augment all senses of a person's mind, allowing them to fully immerse into new settings.

But, even above that, "Dawn Online" was touted as an experience that was quite literally a new reality.

Reading the article, it seemed like less of a game and more of a ticket into another world entirely. As he scrolled down the page, he clicked on video embedded on the page:

["What is Dawn Online?" – Answered by Haru Takeshiro, the lead developer and creative head of Dawn Online, and founder of SAMSARA Studios.]

[INTERVIEWER: Mr. Takeshiro, we've heard you talk about how Dawn Online isn't categorized as a game. Can you explain what you mean by that?]

[Haru Takeshiro: Of course. Dawn Online is exactly what the name of the product tells you–it's a new life; the 'dawn of a new journey.' When ordering the product, you're given three options to choose from: a fantasy world known as "Arcadius", occupied with mystical creatures and magical elements; a world filled with technological advancements centuries ahead of our world; or a vast intergalactic setting with many worlds to choose from.]

[INTERVIEWER: Wow, that's quite some variation there.]

[Haru Takeshiro: (Nods) After our customer selects the setting he wants, the product will arrive within a few business days. When putting on the special headset, it's clear that they're ready to move on to the New Life.]

[INTERVIEWER: That's right…It's a "one-way ticket" of sorts, isn't it?]

[Haru Takeshiro: Correct. Dawn Online is catered for those unfulfilled with their current lives. Be it they're not where they desire to be economically, they're plagued with sickness, or simply tired of this life. In Dawn Online, you get a second chance at a life guaranteed with excitement. Whether you become a knight in Arcadius or a cybernetic soldier in the advanced world…You'll be fulfilled.]

With those words, he clicked off of the video with quivering eyes as his hand shook.

To him, he was already sold.

Sitting there on his desk chair with the curtains to his room sealed shut so that not a single ounce of light could get in, he looked at the "ORDER" button for only a second before clicking it.

It wasn't cheap in the slightest, but it didn't matter.

That was the allure of "Dawn Online"; what made it a bombastic topic in the world: once you logged in, that was it–your new life was cemented.

My name is Ethan Bellrose. Throughout my entire life…I've lived in pain. The sun blisters my skin, the smallest collision cracks my bones, and the outside air is like the plague to me. If I was asked to list what was wrong with my body, it'd be easier to list what was right with it.

…I've never had any friends. I've never enjoyed anything, truthfully. Everything I do is agonizing.

I'm done with this life. I want something else. Is this…it? "Dawn Online"? He wondered.

After ordering it, he researched it further, but there weren't exactly "reviews" of it as those who had already entered "Dawn Online" had fully committed to those second lives.

…You can't come back once you go in? It's a big leap, but…what do I have in this life, anyway? He thought.

–

With a body like his, all he could do was stow away in his room like a bear in a cave, gaming all day or watching anime. Or sometimes, more "explicit" anime.

As he didn't have any reason to fund anything that actually mattered for a social life, the shelves in his room were stocked with anime figurines–mostly of cute girls, but there were some gundam builds here and there.

It's not like there's a difference between "3D" or "2D" girls for me–both are impossible for me to reach. Damn, that's pathetic, isn't it? All my life and I haven't even got to grope a tit or feel a cheek…What a miserable life, he thought.

There was no sadder life. Perhaps he wasn't the single most unfortunate soul in this world, but he simply loathed his own existence. Every breath was pain, every step was agony, and every aspiration was crumbled to dust.

Sports? Impossible. He'd be broken in half by the first minute.

Relationships? Impossible. He was nothing but skin and bones with a rotten personality to boot. Through-in-through, he was a pessimist.

From the very start…I was stripped of a proper life. I wasn't given a chance. "This was the hand I was dealt"--yeah, it sure was. What a shitty hand it was. Sometimes…I even blame my parents for this. "If my mother was able to give me a healthy body, I wouldn't have to live like this" or "If my mother just aborted me from the start"...Seriously, I want out of this life. Enough is enough. It's either this "Dawn Online" or, well…He thought.

–

[3 Days Later]

Ding. Dong.

The package had arrived. He sat through every second since ordering it, waiting with what little patience he had to exit this painful realm of existence.

Just getting up from his chair was a cautious effort as he reached over, grabbing a cane to assist himself with walking.

He was hardly nineteen, but he walked as if his bones were made of close; fearful of tumbling over.

The sound of his cane pressing against the wooden floorboards reverberated against his ears as if constantly reminding him he was sickly; unable to properly experience life.

"--"

His breathing was heavy from just the slightest exertion of himself physically; his physique was malnourished, to say the least. Skin so pale it was almost transparent, with hair just as deathly white, reminiscent of the snow he could only ever experience from his window.

It was a journey simply to get to the front door.

But alas, he reached it after some minutes, repeatedly hearing the doorbell be rung by the delivery man.

As he opened the door, the impatient delivery man seemed to feel guilty once seeing the one receiving the package.

"Err, deliver for 'Ethan Bellrose'?" The middle-aged delivery driver said, holding the package.

He nodded, "...Yeah, that's me."

Talking strained his throat, which was dry, sore, and laden with ulcers, this resulted in his voice coming out hoarse.

"Just sign right here…"

The delivery driver handed him the pen as he weakly gripped it with his quivering, thin fingers, slowly dragging it along the paper before leaving his signature.

"Here you go. Have a…a good day," the delivery man nodded to him.

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It was clear that the delivery man knew what that package was, and what the sickly young man's intentions were with it.

He closed the door slowly, tucking the package beneath one arm while marching forward, guiding his cane with his other hand.

As he slowly ventured to his room at a snail's pace, the familiar hum of an engine approached with headlights peaking through the curtains of the living room window.

–It was a silver car pulling into the driveway; one he knew well.

Mom…He thought.

This prompted him to begin moving faster, though it was hardly something he was capable of doing.

There was a good reason for him to pick up the pace: he bought the "Dawn Online" gear behind his mom's back. The money wasn't an issue, but the device itself–a piece of technology that assured a mother that she would never see her son again if he entered into its hold.

Still, he moved forward frantically, ascending the steps as he heard the engine turn off and the car door open in the driveway.

"...Huff…"

The light exertion to him was nothing less than a marathon as he stumbled up the stairs, before–he missed a step, falling down harshly against the wooden steps.

Crack.

"Nghh…Gkk…!"

It was hardly a fall that would merit a scratch or two on normal people, but it resulted in lacerations on his skin that was as durable as paper, fracturing his bones that were as brittle as glass, but he forced himself up.

…I have to. I have to. I don't want this anymore. She won't let me leave this world if she finds out…! He thought.

He crawled up the steps, eventually picking himself up as blood spilled from his nostrils, stumbling over to his room as he managed to push through the door.

Behind him, he closed it, flipping the lock just as the front door to the house opened.

"Ethan! Ethan, what was the delivery driver here for?"

–His mother's concerned voice called out from downstairs, as he stood with his back to his door for a moment before moving forward.

He frantically tried to open the box, but his weak grip couldn't budge the tape.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Hearing the footsteps of his mother throughout the house, he looked around, scrambling his hands over his desk as he luckily found a pen, which managed to suffice as he stabbed it into the tape.

"Ethan!"

The footsteps began to ascend the stairs.

"Ngh…!" He clenched his teeth.

Mustering what little strength he had, he sliced the tape, finally opening the box–

What laid in there was nothing less than the holy grail to his eyes; the object in which his wish could finally be granted: the pearly-white headgear with the "SAMSARA" company name etched onto its side,  with a black visor; it was sleek, but heavy, at least for his meager strength.

He quickly took it out, scrambling over towards his bed before dropping the headset in his frantic rush.

"Ethan–! What're you doing?!"

The sound of the headset falling seemed to fully prove his mother's suspicions as the doorknob began to jiggle.

He didn't respond, focusing solely on picking the illustrious headgear up and plugging it into the outlet.

"Ethan! Open this door right now!"

Ignoring the pleas of his mother, he laid down in his bed, gulping as he slid the headgear over his head with the black visor dulling his vision.

Click.

He pressed the power button.

It began to hum, starting up as he could feel the warmth of its lights and electrical signals beginning to make contact with his mind.

[Welcome, New User. Begin consciousness transfer the recommended way, or the expedited route? WARNING: the expedited route can lead to unexpected errors.]

[Once you enter Dawn Online, you will be unable to exit. From the moment you enter, your current life will cease and your new one shall begin.]

It was daunting now that it was right before him. There was no teetering the line between two lives—he'd have to make the choice here and now: stay or abandon his current life.

But, it wasn't even a choice to him. There was no hesitation from his desperate lips.

"...Expedited!" He said impatiently, hearing the door be slammed against desperately.

Listening to the hums of the headgear as the visor began to light up, he felt his consciousness beginning to sway as the virtual reality gear was preparing to pull him into the fantastical, digital world.

Just before it could take him away, he said his last words–

"Goodbye, Mom."

–With that, the world around him faded with the monotone, feminine words of the SAMSARA headgear speaking into his ear.

[Complete.]

[…Booting Up…]

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