"You promised we would split the loot between us Nira!! Why would you betray me like this!? You know how important this is to me!"

"Like anyone would believe your story... Why would anyone trust anyone in a game where it is everyone for themselves. Adrian, we have been companions for a long time, but that is all it ever was. When I sell this loot, I can finally get out of the dump I currently live in... If it is anything to you, I am sorry, I am, but I have to do this. For myself."

The cave flashed with a bright light, and only one person remained. A man clad in black leather armor was half propped up against one of the cavern walls. He was leaking blood everywhere and looked near death, but his eyes were blazing with life.

Adrian slammed his armored fists into the floor. Again, it had happened! Every time he thought he could trust a person, they betrayed him. This girl was only one among countless others, who had let him down. He had considered her a true friend, the only one he had, but now...

It had been like this ever since his birth. Born with progeria, his lifespan was doomed to be short. Only through modern solutions had he been kept alive this long, now his broken and frail body was shackled to a bed, by invisible fetters.

After he turned 10 years old, the only thing left to him was games. When he was born and diagnosed with the disease, his parents had left him in an orphanage. The state had taken care of him for nearly 20 years now. Normally, people were left to fend for themselves when they turned 18, but not Adrian. He could not, not with his good for nothing body.

In less than a week, his birthday would arrive, but with it, his last day on earth. His only hope till now had been to catch an item of unrivaled value in a game and sell it. If he did, he might be able to afford to transfer his consciousness to a braindead body.

Yet now... I... It's over. Why is fate so cruel to me? I, whose fate has dealt such a bad hand... have to die before I even turn 20 years old... Never shall I be with a girl, never could I go to school, and never could I play with friends. Now it also takes my last hope from me... Fine. I give up.

Out loud he spoke, "Log out".

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes. They were heavy as usual. Slowly the room came into focus. Staring into the ceiling, Adrian sighed deeply. I guess I will never get used to the feeling of leaving the game and going back to my useless prison of a body.

Flicking with his eyes, he ordered the retina scanner controlling the bed to put him in a sitting position. Slowly, he got into a comfortable position. He could hear pops as his back changed position.

Sending a thought to the computer he was linked with, a screen blurred into existence in front of him. After a few flicks with his eyes, he had gone over the most recent news. Nothing that could excite him. The last wild tiger in the world was dead. Just another species lost. It happened daily.

Earth was no longer what it used to be. Climate, wildlife, and nearly every other natural function were now controlled by humanity. Cloning diseased species, controlling weather and temperature. You name it. These days, nobody cared about natural things anymore.

Heck, the only thing scientists cared about these days was enhancing the human body. Not that Adrian cared about that. He had enough on his plate. Adrian would have approved if the research would someday make someone in the same situation live a better life. But now... He felt incredibly bitter.

With an internal sigh, he checked his email. It would usually remain empty. Few people had it, and even fewer sent him anything. Mostly it was well wishes, or some priest asking him what he wanted for his cremation. But today something caught his eye.

The title read; "Dear Mr. Adrian, we have an offer for you. - GAIAinc."

Not sure what to think, Adrian sent the open command.

The content of the mail was short but concise:

"Dear Mr. Adrian, we have heard of your situation as we went over potential personage that could be used in an experiment of ours. Do we hear you like video games? Well, we have an offer that takes care of both your problem and your love for video games. We are offering you to be the first person on earth to have your consciousness transferred into a game. More specifically our revolutionary VRMMO Grand Age. Think over it thoroughly, once you do the process, there is no going back.

We send you our best wishes and condolences should you not take our offer. - Miranda, assistant director in the developer department."

Adrian had to read the content over several times for it to sink in. With an internal scream of joy, the fire in his eyes began to blaze again. It appears fate had one more card to play! Living in a video game... Well, what choice do I have? It's this or death...

After a moment's hesitation, he began dictating a reply...