Chapter 1: RE Into Deep Dive World

RE: Deep Dive World—or R.D.D.W—began development in the year 2070, at a time when the world was still struggling to survive in the aftermath of World War V.

To the public, R.D.D.W was introduced as a revolutionary MMORPG. A virtual world with near-perfect realism, where humanity could live, adventure, and build new identities without limits. A form of late-generation entertainment—an escape from a reality that was growing increasingly suffocating.

However, its true purpose was far greater.

After the global war destroyed infrastructure and rendered vast regions uninhabitable, humanity needed more than physical shelter. It needed an alternative reality—a space where consciousness could endure when the body and the real world could no longer sustain life.

Through full-dive neural synchronization technology, R.D.D.W allowed human consciousness to transfer completely into the digital world. Physical bodies were left behind in medical stasis, while existence continued within a virtual environment that felt more real than reality itself.

Within R.D.D.W, players did not control avatars.

They became the avatars.

Senses, emotions, pain, and exhaustion were reproduced with almost no gaps.

Everything proceeded according to plan—
until the real world was once again consumed by war.

The collapse of energy networks and primary data centers triggered a large-scale synchronization failure. To prevent mass death caused by sudden neural disconnection, R.D.D.W’s core system automatically activated Emergency Continuation Mode.

One absolute decision was made.

Logout was disabled.

From that moment on, R.D.D.W was no longer a game.

Death no longer led to respawn. Injuries could no longer be ignored. Every decision carried consequences that could not be undone.

The world still possessed cities, guilds, and kingdoms like any typical MMORPG. Yet beneath the surface, reality began to fracture. Dangerous zones emerged. The laws of the world weakened in certain areas, and remnants of system damage gave birth to threats not recorded in any official data.

In R.D.D.W, power was no longer determined by level alone.

Those who sank into fear would slowly collapse.
Those who chose to keep living—despite having no guaranteed future—would change.

Sometimes becoming stronger.
Sometimes losing parts of themselves.

Some time later, Himazuki Rei walked through the streets of Akibahara City.

His steps were calm—too calm for someone who had just learned that the exit from this world had been sealed. He had come to the city for one simple reason: to complete a quest he had missed on the first day.

That day, he had been in the hospital.

Along the streets, players moved about, busy with their own affairs. The city felt alive. Conversations echoed everywhere, and most revolved around the same topic.

The “Black Tidal Wave” event.

A large-scale event that would engulf the entire map in darkness. Monsters would spawn endlessly. A wave of destruction that ignored level differences.

“They say this one’s different.”
“There are rumors that entire maps will actually collapse.”
“Plenty of players died during internal testing.”

Rei listened to the fragments as he continued walking.

That event again, he thought flatly.
Hopefully this time, they won’t hold back.

He had participated in it far too many times already.

Unlike low-level players—around the twenties—who looked visibly uneasy. Many of them were still teenagers. Young faces that had yet to truly understand the permanent meaning of death in this world.

There were no age restrictions in R.D.D.W.

The developers’ motto was simple:

We never doubt any player—even if their requests sound strange.

Rei arrived at a guild building marked by a sign depicting cat ears.

The Cat Ear Guild.

The moment he stepped inside, a peaceful atmosphere greeted him.

“Oh, Rei-kun. You finally showed up.”

The guild manager—a bald, muscular man with brown eyes—offered a weary smile. His name was Hanzo.

“Looks like you’ve been busy as always, Hanzo-san,” Rei replied lightly.

Hanzo snorted.
“If not me, then who?”

Then his expression grew more serious as he looked at Rei.
“By the way… do you already have a party?”

Rei paused for a moment.

“Not yet,” he answered honestly.

Hanzo let out a long sigh.
“Don’t tell me you just heard about it. For this Black Tidal Wave, all players are required to have a party.”

“What?” Rei frowned. “Since when?”

“Who knows,” Hanzo replied. “They say it’s to reduce casualties. Or maybe… it’s those whales causing trouble again.”

He slapped the counter.
“Either way, you need to hurry. At least four members. Otherwise, you won’t even be allowed to participate.”

Rei lightly scratched his head.
“I’ll figure something out.”

He was about to ask about the delayed quest when a commotion erupted outside the guild.

“What’s going on?” Hanzo muttered.

A crowd of players filled the streets. Panicked faces. Holographic notifications appeared in rapid succession.

“I can’t log out!”
“The menu isn’t responding!”
“What kind of bug is this?!”

Then—
everything vanished.

In a single instant.

Silence engulfed Akibahara.

In the air, a black-robed figure floated. Slowly, the hood was lowered, revealing an elderly man with white hair and sharp yellow eyes.

“Remain calm,” he said gravely. “I will explain.”

His name was Merlin.

The owner of R.D.D.W.

His real name—Serizawa Hondo.

He delivered news that froze the entire city. War had erupted again in the real world. R.D.D.W’s main facility had been destroyed. Even he himself could no longer log out.

Panic exploded.

Yet Merlin continued, his voice lower.

“From this point on, you are free to do whatever you wish in this world. I will attempt to find a way out—though I myself do not know how.”

Rei stood in silence.

If it truly was impossible to leave…
then his body in the real world likely would not last much longer.

Strangely, that thought did not frighten him.

For some, this was hell.
But for Rei—

this was a second chance.

As time passed, players began choosing their own paths. Some set out to adventure. Some built settlements. Others isolated themselves in remote villages.

Unbeknownst to them, a great disaster was approaching.

Black Tidal Wave.

Meanwhile, Rei had no other choice. The quest he had accepted could not be canceled. Refusing it meant losing crucial points—and the chance to build a party, or even a family.

With steady steps, Rei left the city.

His destination was clear.

A dungeon near Citra Village.

He did not yet know what awaited him there.
But one thing was certain—

this small decision would change everything.