Dawn of a New Era

[16:32 | April 5, 2035]

Shin sat slumped over in his chair with the Zero VR device still over his head. He was still asleep, exhausted from his fight. While he was asleep, the megacorporation Pentrafil successfully conducted a coup on the CJP government and established its own.

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[2023]

Shin was only 7 years old when the invasion happened. Shin, Julie, and his father Wei lived together in Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu. His father was of Chinese descent while his mother was native to Japan. One night, sirens could be heard all over the city. Phones vibrated incessantly as the Japanese government issued an emergency notice to all civilians of an incoming attack from China.

Chinese soldiers made landfall with a beach invasion in Fukuoka. They were ruthless. Chinese, Japanese, and American soldiers clashed on land. However, China had made revolutionary developments in anti-ship missiles, stunning the world as they sunk American aircraft carriers and destroyers alike, making it difficult for the Americans to provide naval support. In their stead, the Chinese and Japanese airforces battled over air superiority.

With dwindling assistance from American forces, the Chinese military was able to seize control over most of the island of Kyushu. However, they were not able to completely rout the Japanese military.

The war devolved into battles of attrition as an unending conflict broke out along the few bridges connecting Kyushu to mainland Japan. Neither side was willing to give up. During this time, Chinese citizens moved to occupy and assimilate into the major cities of the island.

Using this opportunity, China made Kagoshima, the largest city on the island, the capital of a new administrative district of China. Eventually, the war was too costly for both countries and they negotiated a ceasefire. In the end, a peace treaty was signed which established the China-Japan Province or CJP.

Shin's family was torn apart. Wei remained loyal to the Chinese government despite his Japanese wife. During the occupation, Wei left the family without a word or divorce papers.

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[2027]

Years after the war, the cities were rebuilt and the CJP was flourishing. The scars of the battles remained only in the memories of those who experienced it first-hand. Pentrafil, an American biochemical and pharmaceutical corporation discovered deposits of a rare metal compound in the CJP. Its properties allow it to superconduct even at high temperatures. This revelation was extraordinary as it would revolutionize electronics, transport, and energy.

The new metal compound was named millium after its founder, Joseph Miller. Having laid claim to the only known deposits in the world, Pentrafil exploited millium to develop a monopoly over computers and other technological systems.

The company grew to an unimaginable size and became the world's wealthiest company valued at 102 trillion dollars. Governments kneeled before Pentrafil as it gained influence and purchased private militaries. This led to a massive boom in the CJP economy.

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[2030]

Shin and his mother moved to Kagoshima seeking a new life after the war. He was able to have a normal life attending public schools and making friends along the way. As he grew up, circumstances worsened as the CJP government created new laws to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the rest. Shin and Julie were just barely above the poverty line as his mother was the only source of income in the household.

On the other hand, Pentrafil's wealth allowed it to purchase telecommunications and electronic companies around the world. Without the IT systems required to run a modern business, other industries were forced to bend to their will - bringing other countries' infrastructure and economies into their sphere of influence.

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[2033]

Pentrafil was at the top of the world and continued to grow through its various business ventures in every industry. It was then that Pentrafil purchased Finale Game Studios to develop Mythos Online. Their final goal was to take over every country in the world to form one country under their rule. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, Pentrafil had manufactured the disease Hemoxythra in a lab, waiting for the perfect time to release it to the world. Their CEO, John Miller, devised the plan. He wanted to create a perfect world that he rules through Hemoxythra and Mythos Online.

In a world that relied on Pentrafil and its technology to function and with its disease ravaging society, he could force everyone to play his game. A virtual economy that he owns will rule every country on the planet.

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[02:31 | April 6, 2035]

Shin opened his eyes and found himself on the cold hard floor of the cave. Beside him was Adam; he sat with his legs crossed and hand over his face in exhaustion.

Adam noticed Shin open his eyes and leaned over Shin's head in excitement.

"You're finally awake! Thank the heavens! I can finally get out of here!"

Shin couldn't focus on his words as a panel with a video opened up in the middle of his vision.

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A man sitting in a chair facing away from the camera appeared on the video. The chair slowly spun around. Shin couldn't tell who it was initially, but the name John Miller appeared; the CEO of Pentrafil. He looked calm and confident.

"I, John Miller, am officially announcing that my company, Pentrafil, has full control over the world." He began.

"We created Hemoxythra. We developed it in a lab and released it onto the world… This was not an easy choice. I have full control over the China-Japan Provincial government and other countries kneel before me. Try as you may, but a vaccine or cure for Hemoxythra is impossible. We, Pentrafil, are the only ones who have the cure!" He said proudly.

"Offices, restaurants, tourism, transportation… They're all closed!" John Miller said while slamming the desk in front of him.

"The age of traditional commerce is over. We are the ones in control!" He continued while putting his hands together in front of him on the desk.

"The American dollar, the euro, the Indian rupee, Chinese yuan… All of them!" He slammed the table once more.

"All of them are obsolete." He said menacingly into the camera.

"If you wish to survive, you will play Mythos Online. Food, hospitals, and entertainment… All of it can only be purchased through Mythos Online's silver and gold currencies."

"Today, the world will adapt to a new age! A virtual age! The Pentrafil age!" John Miller proclaimed while standing up from his chair.

John leaned towards the camera once more with both hands on the desk.

"Or die defying it."