In the heart of San Francisco’s modern ChinaTown rests an imposing manor. Draped in the darkness of the violet sky, the large manor glistened against the full-moon that shone with enrapturing grace. Grandiose architecture of an age long gone and ruined stood in stark contrast to the steel, glass, and illuminated apartments that loom five stories tall.

Across the once immaculately trimmed lawn that had turned to rot and overgrown vegetation, the stone and steel manor carved with decorations from centuries past lay dormant. Dozens of rooms stand dark and lifeless in face of the thriving nightlife that wandered past the manor with glee at the opportunity the Friday night presents.

Through the darkness of the manor and open garden grounds though, remained a sole light that shines like a flickering firefly against the emblazoned glory of the pale moon. The light comes from a drab room in the very heart of the manor. In the room, is a lone young man.

Slick hair the color of crimson blood hangs snuggly against his lean frame. The healthy and tanned face of the individual in his late teens could be seen illuminated by the handful of lamps that flood the room with a torrent of light. It was excessive to the extreme, as if the young man was scared of the dark.

In the roughly calloused hands of the young man that are scarred with innumerable marks and cuts, lies a futuristic helmet. The helmet is a slick white and dark grey that is able to encapsulate a person’s entire head. Even where an opening for the eyes should have been, was only a white band of material that completely blocked off a user’s sight if they were in it.

It is Titan Inc’s patented NeuroWare Helmet. A construct over six years in the making that would allow any user of the device to access a world of untapped potential and unimaginable adventure. Six years in the making, and now finally complete. The announcement of the device sent shockwaves throughout the world. With the device, life was no longer the same. Donning the device would allow one to connect to the Titan’s Virtual Network. Replacing the Internet over 15 years previously, the V.N. had only grown in scope as years passed, now connecting everyone and everything in the world. Whether you wanted to visit Paris in the comfort of your home, work and oversee a construction project while on a river cruise, or even stay conscious and work or entertain yourself even while your body slept. It was all possible with the V.N.

Now though, something much more amazing was being released.

Ascension Online.

Designed by Titan Inc for over eight years, the launch of the greatest Virtual Reality game ever was finally going live. Having been in development for two years longer than the NeuroWare Helmet, many individuals speculated that the helmet was made directly for the game rather than any other reason. They were right.

The NeuroWare Helmet would allow any person, anyway in the world, connect to Ascension Online and experience the greatest achievement in humanity's illustrious history. A virtual reality MMORPG that guaranteed 98% realism and fully took your mind into a new world of myth, magic, and monsters to explore the limits of what one could ever hope to achieve.

The game, already registered with over 400 million people, was set to launch at midnight tonight on North America’s West Coast Standard Time . Which was in exactly 12 minutes.

Turning the futuristic helmet in his hands as he stared at his reflection, the young man remained stoic as he mulled over what to do. With a sigh, he put the helmet down on the immaculately made bed. Free from holding the helmet, he moved his hands to rest on the wheels of his wheelchair. With extremely dexterous movement, his fingers traced against the wheelchair as he pushed himself forward with the exact amount of power needed to reach the ancient oaken desk in his room. There, bare of anything else, rotated a virtual note. With keen eyes that let the golden hue in them exude powerful, the young man read over the letter for the third time that hour.

Dear Tyler, 

It has been over a month since we last spoke. I would offer my well wishes, but I know you wouldn’t accept them, you grumpy grump. Still, if you feel the need you know you can message me at any time of the day and I will answer right away. For anything at all. No matter how small. Okay?

WAIT! Before you close this message after reading that, you NEED to hear me out. Staying in the Mori Manor for the last year in deluge and depression has ruined you. I miss the man who stood at the pinnacle of the world and laughed in the face of all adversity. So, I have a gift for you. I only sent it at the last possible moment as I knew you would decline otherwise. In the box is a NeuroWare Helmet. With it, you’ll be able to access Ascension Online. I know you’ve heard of it, and I know YOU know what the game can do.

Don’t let the past cloud the future. What happened cannot be reversed, but that doesn’t mean all is lost. Your dream can still be reached. Join the game. Rise high and fast and show the world why you were the ‘Demon’ of the Combat Sports Association. Or don’t. Remain in your family’s manor as you wither away and life goes on around you. Watch as your memory in the world fades and your legacy dies just as your life did in that accident. The choice is yours.

I look forward to seeing what you choose, Tyler. Or, should I say Akuma?

From your best-est friend in the world, Claire. <3 <3 <3

Turning away from the virtual letter, the young man known as Tyler Mori felt a twitch arise in his lips as the barest of smiles appeared. It was the first in a long time one appeared. Sighing once more, Tyler turned his gaze to look at the wall before him. In the spartan and immaculately clean room that was devoid of anything non-essential, the wall stood as a defiant monument of glory. Swords, of various designs and sizes, were attached to the wall as they hung between numerous pictures and awards that depicted a glory of another life. Awards for ‘Champion’ of various tournaments from all over the world gleamed in vibrant colors that created a beautiful rainbow’s myriad. The pictures, over three dozen of them, all showed the figure of Tyler Mori wielding a sword. Every picture showcased him as he posed dominantly before a crowds of over a hundred thousand people that stood in awe at his figure. In the pictures, opponents lay littered on the floor as blood was strewn across it, giving the scenes a sense of deadliness. It was made only more eerie by the duraplastic mask he wore that resembled a demon with its red color and impish horns. 

Gripping the wheelchair with hands that shook slightly, Tyler pulled away from the wall and towards the bed. There the NeuroWare helmet rested and waited to be donned.

With a torrent of emotions that did not surface to his face, Tyler Mori’s eyes remained trained on the helmet as thoughts of his past collided with the feelings in his heart. With finality though, he shut them all down and looked inward. He reached out and felt what his gut and natural instinct told him. It had only failed him once before it in his life, and now he put his trust in it once again.

Minutes passed in absolute silence as Tyler sat in his wheelchair. Then, as the clock struck 11:58 PM, Tyler’s golden eyes shone with a fervent light that was not there previously.

Like lighting, his hands darted out to grab the NeuroWare Helmet. With none of the hesitation that was previously present, Tyler donned the helmet and hit the power button on the side of the device as he directed his body toward his bed and laid down on it.

After finding a comfortable spot, Tyler directed his eyes toward the screen that appeared his vision. Blocked off from all sources of light and with only a small amount of sound entering the helmet, Tyler remained completely immersed in the NeuroWare device as the startup screen was displayed.

Initiation Process Commencing...

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Initiation Process Complete...

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Please Register User to Device

At the prompt, a feral smile graced the fierce visage of Tyler as he spoke in a voice hungering for something primal and violent.

“Tyler Mori”

‘Tyler Mori’ Registered as User...

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Please Selection Action...

As the words faded away, a screen of muted white appeared with a number of symbols on it. Instead of pursuing the various icons of the NeuroWare Helmet, Tyler focused instead on the timer that lay in the corner of the display. It took only seconds for the time to switch from 11:59 pm, to 12:00 AM. As the time switched, a once greyed out icon shone to life. A gold and black symbol of a crown. The symbol for Titan’s Inc Ascension Online

“Enter Ascension Online.”

Just as he spoke the words, the world around Tyler faded as light was sucked away and darkness greeted him in its embrace.