Chapter 0: The End of the Real World, the Beginning of Everything

The room was silent.

Not a silence that brought comfort, but one that pressed down heavily—
as if the air itself refused to move. On a narrow bed, a black-haired young man lay half-sitting. His hair was unkempt, his face pale, and a breathing mask covered part of it. An oxygen tube connected the mask to a tank beside the bed, releasing a soft, repetitive hiss without end.

His name was Himazuki Rei.

On the small table near the bed, medicine bottles were scattered carelessly. Some were empty, others still sealed. Beneath them, a transparent folder lay open, displaying medical records he had already seen far too many times.

Diagnosis: End-stage lung cancer.
Cause: Toxic gas exposure following an industrial incident.
Estimated remaining lifespan: extremely limited.

Rei drew in a breath.

The tightness returned.

“—khuk…”

The first cough was restrained. The second made his chest feel as if it were being crushed from the inside. By the third, a burning sensation climbed up his throat.

“—khk!”

He covered his mouth. When he lowered his hand, a red stain was clearly visible on his palm.

Blood.

Rei stared at it for a few seconds, then looked away. There was no shock. No panic. Only calm acceptance—as if his body were merely confirming something he had known for a long time.

The real world had long since lost its peace.
War, toxic gas, and land no longer fit for habitation had become everyday sights. Even the sky was rarely clear anymore.

Yet in the corner of that room, there was one object that stood apart from everything else.

A full-dive VR device.

RE: Deep Dive World—or R.D.D.W.

A virtual world created as a refuge for humanity. A place where war existed only in stories, and life could begin again.

“Just one more time…”

With slow movements, Rei removed his breathing mask. His chest immediately felt heavy, but he ignored it. He placed the VR device over his head and leaned back.

His eyes closed.

“If this really is the end…”
“…I want to feel alive. At least once.”

His consciousness faded.

When Rei opened his eyes, he was no longer in that narrow room.

A vast blue sky stretched endlessly above him. The air felt clean and light. His breathing flowed freely—without pain, without resistance. His body felt healthy, something he had not felt in a very long time.

He stood up.

White hair fell before his eyes. When he caught his reflection, a pair of clear blue eyes stared back at him.

But Rei’s attention was quickly drawn to the scenery around him.

A lively, bustling city. Players moved through the streets in every direction. Laughter echoed from all sides. Children ran about with cheerful faces, playing alongside NPC children without fear—without any concern for war or destruction.

Everything felt comfortable. Peaceful.

In this world, players were free to choose their own way of life. To become adventurers, merchants, explorers—or simply live quietly.

Of course, that freedom had limits.

Cheating was forbidden.
Illegal trading was forbidden.
Slavery was forbidden.
System exploitation and illegal EXP boosting—were forbidden.

Beyond that, the world was open.

Rei gazed at the scene in silence.

So different from the real world—where peace had long vanished, replaced by toxic gas and dead land.

For many people, R.D.D.W was merely an escape.

But for Rei, it felt different.

He knew—

This was not just a place to run away to.
This was the end of the real world.

And at the same time,
the beginning of everything.