PROLOG: WINDOW TO THE SECOND WORLD
The room was far too spacious to be called just a teenager’s bedroom. It resembled more like a VIP suite in a world-class private hospital. Various state-of-the-art medical equipment stood neatly arranged in the corners of the room, their digital screens glowing softly, displaying stable heart rate and oxygen level readings. Although everything was sterile and luxurious, the smell that always clung to the air remained the same: a sharp mixture of antiseptic and expensive medicine that stung the nose.
In that dimly lit room, time seemed to move more slowly. Only the monotonous ticking of the wall clock reminded everyone that the outside world was still turning.
On the specially imported medical bed, a twenty-year-old young man leaned weakly. His body was extremely thin, almost like a fragile wax statue. His collarbones protruded clearly beneath his expensive silk pajamas. His skin was pale, almost translucent, revealing a network of bluish-purple veins underneath. His once thick hair was now reduced to a few thin strands due to repeated chemotherapy.
Leukemia.
One word that had stolen everything from him overnight.
The disease had been gnawing at his bone marrow for nearly two years. His body was so weak that even lifting a glass of water felt like lifting a heavy rock. However, behind the frailty of his physical form, his eyes still burned bright. There was a fire in them that refused to be extinguished.
That morning, a ray of dawn sunlight managed to slip through the gap in the thick velvet curtains. The golden light fell gently onto the wool blanket covering his long-numb legs. The young man tilted his head, letting the warmth touch his gaunt cheek. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring a sensation he rarely felt anymore.
At least I can still see the morning, he whispered to himself. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
He knew he was lucky. Extremely lucky. Out there, many leukemia patients had given up because of the cost of treatment. But his family was one of the richest in the country. His father brought in the best medical team from abroad. His mother had turned this room into a private hospital. His genius older brothers in the business world never stopped searching for a matching bone marrow donor. Even his spoiled younger sister willingly spent her free time here just to keep him company.
They never gave up. Their love and wealth became a solid fortress. Because of them, he was still holding on.
After enjoying the morning light, the young man shifted his gaze to the high-spec digital tablet that was always in his hand. It was his window to the outside world. His only way to "run" when his legs could no longer carry him.
Games had been his escape for a long time. In the online world, he was no longer a sick young man to be pitied. He could become a knight, a wizard, an adventurer whoever he wanted. Free from shortness of breath, exhaustion, and pain.
His trembling index finger scrolled across the screen. Suddenly his eyes widened as he saw the headline flooding every platform that morning.
[BREAKING NEWS: IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION]
OFFICIAL LAUNCHING: SECOND WORLD ONLINE (SWO) — THE REAL SECOND WORLD!
His heart beat faster. He immediately opened the article and read it with full attention.
Second World Online (SWO) was not just an ordinary VR game. It was a new generation Full-Dive technology from Chronos Tech that used direct nerve stimulation and quantum artificial intelligence. The player’s consciousness was truly transferred into the game world while their physical body remained asleep.
For the young man, those words sounded like a miracle. Someone paralyzed in the real world could run and fight in SWO without any limitations.
There were two types of consoles offered:
Eye-Glass Type — The standard, lightweight, and affordable version. It looked like futuristic black glasses.Game Capsule Type — The ultra-luxury version shaped like a fully enclosed sleeping pod. Its price was ten times that of the Eye-Glass, but it was equipped with a life support system, 24-hour medical monitoring, automatic nutrition, and muscle stimulation to prevent atrophy.
The young man stared at the photo of the metallic black Game Capsule with the shiny Chronos Tech logo. His eyes sparkled.
Suddenly the bedroom door creaked open. His mother entered carrying a tray of porridge and medicine, followed by his father. Shortly after, both of his older brothers and his younger sister also came in. The usually quiet room instantly felt alive.
But the young man’s attention immediately focused on what his two brothers were pushing in: a large cylindrical black pod with a gleaming silver logo. The highest edition Game Capsule, complete with medical integration.
He was stunned. His mouth opened slightly in disbelief.
"Your father and brothers know how much you love games," his mother said gently while stroking her son’s increasingly bald head. "We’ve already hired the best technicians from Chronos Tech to connect it with your medical equipment."
"This capsule will take care of your body here, while you can be free in there," added his eldest brother with a proud smile.
"That’s right! So don’t hesitate anymore, Brother! Go and become the strongest in that world!" exclaimed his younger sister enthusiastically while clenching her fists.
The tears he had been holding back finally fell, wetting his gaunt cheeks. In the dimly lit luxurious room, a new spark of hope was born.
A great adventure in Second World Online awaited him, fully supported by a family that never gave up.
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