After the Iraqi state was engulfed by the united forces, the world was finally at peace. Eventually, the world leaders created a sanction hold on the Middle East territory in order to prevent any sort of backlash due to the ISIS group being terminated.

The people were in uproar because the world had attained peace finally.

Now, they can devote their time to rebuilding the world and enhancing the next generation to produce better results.

At this time, not only the world attained peace but now they are focusing on building technology and at the spearhead of this technology boom is the world’s number one technology company, Kurogane Inc.

They’ve created an initial burst of new tech that can enhance the everyday lives of the entire planet. With the Full Dive technology, they’ve already begun to create machinery that can be operated through the brain to implement full safety and also accelerate the production rate of whatever project they are working on. This technology not only saves time, it is also creating a burst of technology to rise from the ground.

Even the infamous space project is starting to shift gears and Kurogane Inc is also at the head of that Space project. The Space Project will allow the human race to expand into the reaches of space and eventually make another world. Planet Earth is slowly declining as the resources are being depleted due to the war with ISIS and the efforts of everyday life.

While the world is celebrating the end of ISIS, the Kurogane Corporation has not yet stopped to enjoy the peacetime. They are nearing a breakthrough and first they need their first tester to test the 2nd generation specialized Dive pod that will fully transfer a person’s body into the new realm of the game, Infinity.

This technology is still in the planning phase and the test subject can also die during the experiment….

The first tester is the Black Dragon..

…

…

As I arrived home after a long flight travel from the Middle East, I successfully rappel down the rope and enter my backyard of my home in Niigata.

My garden was kept clean as they’ve been watered every day. My tea tree is continuing to bloom happily in the night sky and my vegetable garden is kept tidy...Seems like Takashi had kept my place running good these past 2 months…

Yes, Takashi was my agent but more so like my assistant. He is my agent that handles my personal business like taking care of my home and my pets. He does not know about my personal history as I am from the Nakamura clan. Takashi knows that I am the Black Dragon but he does not know of my personal background. He is faithful and he is one of the people that I trust outside of my family.

Takashi lives with me on the second floor but while he is my agent, he is also my alternate solution. I nicknamed him the “Sweeper” because he cleans up the people that I want to get rid of. Normally, I could’ve done it but after countless times of making people disappear, I got annoyed with the whole mess so I let Takashi handle everything. He is also my informant that delivers me information from the world before anyone knows about it. I gave him my security clearance from every country in the world so aside from me, he is the one that knows the world’s secrets.

I gaze at my garden and walk to my backdoor. I swiftly unlocked the door and enter the room. It was dark as there was no light but I knew someone was in there. I recognized this familiar presence but its been several years since I saw this person...I immediately turn on the lights and saw my younger brother…

Yes, my brother Keiji...He was sitting in the dark, waiting for my arrival after he heard about the end of ISIS and I can guess that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told him where my house was located at…

I smile at my younger brother who was tearing up from the reunion…

“So..my little brother..What brings you here to my home?”

“Aniue!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEEEEEEN!!!”

Keiji immediately runs up and tackles me. Normally, I would’ve stopped anyone from charging at me but this was my little brother. Even if he is a few inches shorter than me, he is big enough to charge me down.

I embrace my little brother and pat him on the head..

“Haha, Sorry that I haven’t been in contact these years..I knew you kept tabs on me until I disappeared 2 years ago..So, how is the family? How’s Hana-chan and mom and dad”

“*sob* they’re doing fine! I’ve been waiting Aniue! I was worried that something happened to you but I am glad everything is done now...I know about what the Prime Minister did to you..He should die for bringing you back into the battlefield!”

“Now now...Don’t worry about that. I got a neat treat for taking care of the “garbage”.”

“Hai..I wanted you to experience my new game, Aniue! I created everything because you had been living a life of turmoil...after training and going off into the world...subjugating and taking care of the trash..I wanted to give you a present after all these years...years of taking care of me and sis...I created a world for you to enjoy, Aniue!!”

“Hai hai...Thank you my little brother. Now, tell me the reason why you are here.”

“Ah, Aniue! The reason I came here was because of the 2nd generation Dive pod that you are getting! WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THAT ANIUE!? YOU MIGHT DIE DURING THE PROCESS!!!”

“Yeah yeah, I know. I already read the information about your ‘secret’ project on the flight over here. Still, I want to experience it. Where my body will enter the world fully...this truly is a new technology…”

“Aniue! THIS TECHNOLOGY IS DANGEROUS!”

“I know but I still want to try entering that world. If I die then it means that my body wasn’t ready and I am willing to accept that consequence of losing my life and don’t worry...I haven’t done much with my life...I haven’t gotten married or met any loved ones yet...so if I do die...no one should miss me...and if I do, you have to take care of our parents and Hana-chan. Also, do not tell them about what I am about to do because even if I left, Mom and Dad are still heartbroken and they wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of what I am about to do.”

“An-aniue!! Don’t do it---”

“Keiji..listen to me...Let me do this. I already steeled my resolve and you must watch over my decision. If I die, don’t tell our parents until Hana-chan gets married. If she’s married then they’ll be happy and then you can tell them of my death. Also, if you get married before Hana-chan, then of course you can tell them. I want them to be happy as proud parents first before they even find out about their first son’s death. Now, look at me Keiji. Stop crying. You are an adult so start acting like it!”

I patted my little brother on shoulder and his eyes were bloodshot from his tears…

“Aniue...I am going to miss you. If anything happens, I will do everything that you say...Ichi-niisan...I hope everything is a success for you...I know you’ve wanted to be free for a long time…”

I smile at Keiji because it’s been a long time since he’s called me that...My little brother...please take care of everything if I disappear…

“Haha, alright. But before I do anything, did you see Takashi here, Keiji?”

“Ah, your agent...No I did not see her--I mean him around…”

Her...what does Keiji mean by her...maybe he might be confused by another person...Takashi is my confidant..oh well..

“I see..well, let’s get some food to eat and I’ll review some online stuff about your game, Keiji.”

“Alright! I miss Aniue’s cooking!”

“Haha okay! What do you want for today.. My gourmet special, Broiled crab legs with Sake and Suzu Kosho Sabayon! or a special Ginger Pork dish with my variety sauce!”

“Snow crab! Please aniue! I want some snow crab! It’s really hard to get fresh snow crab in Tokyo…”

“Haha alright!”

I smiled at Keiji who was happy to eat one of my dishes.

Before I even cut anything, I sharpened my knives and then I finally begin to cook...

I quickly prep the frozen snow crab and prepare my kitchen to be used. I took out my authentic crafted custom chef knife and began to chop the vegetables that I had already prepared. I will be making a vegetable side dish and while doing so, the sticky rice will be cooking in the process. The vegetable dish is already being prepped and the crabs are going to be broiling at the same time.

I quickly whip out my traditional sake that I homebrewed and I began to pour the mixture along with the other ingredients. With the ginger, lime juice and sake mixing in, I began to prep the egg yolk and whisking the remaining ingredients.

While doing so, the crab legs are being broiled to a perfect temperature and it was nearing completion.

I mix the Yuzu Kosho and salt until mixed with the other ingredients and I continue to watch over the broiling crab legs.

Soon, the legs were done and the rice has yet to be done.

Next, I prepare some more side dishes and even prepare some miso soup to eat with the crab legs.

Keiji was infatuated with the smell as it engulfed the entire room with a citrus/crabby smell. It was quite flavorful as Keiji’s mouth was watering from anticipation and even Takashi came down from the second floor as he was smelling the wonderful aromas from above. Takashi sat across from Keiji on a cushioned chair and Keiji was laughing inside…

‘I wonder if Aniue...nah He still hasn’t figured out that Takashi is actually a female...Aniue always refers Takashi as a male...but her name is actually Hiromi Tanaka...oh well..I wonder what expression he’ll have when he finds out that Takashi is a female hehehe!’

I look at the area where Takashi sat at and where Keiji was sitting at too. I smiled at the two and continued to prepare my dishes.

I made sure to prepare a third set for Takashi as he came down. I sensed him being here but it was surprising that Keiji came into my house without seeing Takashi...oh well.

I made three dishes of Broiled crab legs and called those two to my dining table so everyone could eat together.

As usual, Takashi would sit across from me because he seems a bit shy. I don’t know...maybe I smell...well, I didn’t shower yet since I just got here...I will have to shower after this…

Keiji sat next to me and finally we spoke in unision…

“Itadakimasu!”

…

“Itadakimasu!”

…

“Ita..daki..masu…”

All three of us said our respective words and began to eat the food that I cooked. Takashi was still emotionless but he had a slight aura of glee as he ate the food. Keiji was devouring my home cooked food because he says it is so much better than those gourmet chefs that were hired for his restaurant.

I smile at the surrounding environment because it was completely contrast from what happened 18 hours ago in the Middle East. I really enjoy this peaceful environment...a life of bloodshed and meaningless deaths is so stupid...I prefer to live a life of harmony with my family…

After eating, Takashi bid farewell to me and Keiji and went to his room on the second floor. I look at Keiji and spoke…

“Alright! Let’s check online about this game you created, little brother!”

“Ah! Aniue! No! Let me tell you the basics! It would be much funner if you did not know anything about Infinity before entering the game!”

“Fine fine...I guess Robert wouldn’t mind if I did not know anything...he could just teach me in the game...anyways, what are these basics…?”

“Okay! Aniue, if this succeeds, then you will enter the continent of Elreim. It is the middle continent and also the continent that majority of the world will be starting in. When you first enter the state of virtualization...wait...you have a 2nd generation...well, I do not know what will happen in the initial phase when you start up because it is still experimental...but when starting out...you still enter a world where you can do practically what you want! Of course, you need the necessary skills and stats to perform the actions you want! Just like a game!”

“Ah..like those old school MMORPG games?”

“Yes, Aniue! Also, the concept/goal of the game is to become the ruler of the continent BUT there is a reason why I made the world...because it is truly a world that can expand to infinite possibilities...and with those possibilities Aniue...one can actually venture off into space...no one knows this...but the Infinity Game is literally another world that we are continuing to gaze upon. That world is going to be our destination...this secret is something I only know because I was the one who discovered it...in Infinity...it is a new world and we’re going to make the 2nd and 3rd generation Dive pods to be able to transfer the citizens of Earth to Infinity...that world is constantly expanding...and people still do not know that the game can change immensely if you were to play it like real life...already, some people are beginning to change their game flow as they took my advice...but Aniue...I know you will be able to change that world...you already changed this one...so, I want you to enjoy that world...whether you change it or not...It is entirely up to you, Aniue…”

“Hummm...I see, well this is exciting in a sense. The resources are abundant in that world so people can achieve things that they could not do here...it certainly is a new world, Little brother...I can’t wait to try the game...oops, I mean the new world...one with infinite possibilities…”

“Aniue...please be safe...the 2nd generation dive pod is still experimental and you will experience everything at 100% capacity...because your actual body will be transferring to that world…”

“I see...well, Keiji..you don’t have to worry...I will continue to move on! ah, I will shower first. So, Keiji you can wait until I am done...I am guessing you are going to stay here for today--”

“Ichi-niisan, I am going to live with you whether you like it or not. As your little brother and the head leader in the 2nd generation project, I will watch over you...Aniue…”

“Fine fine! Just take the other room beside Takashi’s room on the second floor. There’s nothing in there. I am gonna go shower before we get this little experiment going!”

I look at my little brother and I patted him on the shoulder and quickly made my way to the shower. On the way, I grabbed my training garb to wear because it would be weird to enter the new world with bloodstained clothes…

Well, entering the world with a training garb is weird in itself but it’s better than going into a world in a military uniform or in a business outfit...and I don’t want to enter that world with my gear either…

…

…

After showering and scrubbing my body from the bloody mess, I dressed up in my training garb and headed to the room where the Dive pod is located at.

Near the pod, there was a informational projector and multiple cords that were linked with the Dive pod. Keiji was sitting on a desk chair next to the project with a white lab coat. His appearance was more manly and quite serious.

It’s good that my brother takes this serious.

The dive pod had various lights flickering as Keiji was beginning the startup of the Dive pod. He looked at me and smiled…

“Aniue, are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

I quickly assess my body for any impartial thing but everything was fine. I entered the capsule-like dive pod and Keiji was waving at me behind the pod’s door on the otherside. I smiled at him and closed my eyes as Keiji was beginning the initial phase of the ‘Drop’.

As I sit in the capsule, there were various clicks that came from outside but suddenly, everything went silent. I opened my eyes but all I saw was utter darkness. It was a void-like space where nothing existed. Its as if my conscience was floating in a realm of darkness.

I constantly looked around and found nothing.

I was literally floating in nothing and I could not hear anything. My senses were feeling dull as if something was nullifying everything around me.

I wanted to know what was going on as I started into the darkness but nothing happened.

Time was irrelevant there but lucky, I had my internal clock. Several hours had passed yet nothing happened. I was beginning to think that I had died. If I were to float in this void space for eternity...eventually, I would go crazy…

I began to shake in terror as the darkness had consumed me. I could not do anything but then...a voice could be heard…

Initial Phase complete

Body scan complete

Mind transfer complete

Matter transfer complete

Bzzzt…

The body scan has detected that you are an unregistered user. With the capabilities of the 2nd generation Dive pod, would you like to register?

YESNO

Yikes, this is weird but I guess I’ll follow this voice...this weird panel appeared in front of me...I should choose yes...even though I’ve been in this void for several hours...it feels great to hear a voice aside from mine…

I selected the option, YES and everything flashed white…

As I stood in the white void, there was a floating panel that said the words…

Welcome to Infinity, where the world is up to you. With infinite possibilities, you can become anything you want.

“Welcome to Infinity...haha...everything worked…”

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