Lucky Clover

May 25th (2040) – Triangle

[Invicta Arx, The Unbreakable Fortress soaring through the skies of Morvath, a fantastical world! 26 kilometers high! 10 floors, 10 "Guardians," sword skills, and one objective: Reach the top floor and conquer the summit!]

I looked at my old smartphone with great interest. The official webpage for "Sword Dance: The Unbreakable Fortress" was displayed on the screen. The image of an immense structure flashed in golden hues: "Invicta Arx." The game's main stage: a virtual world.

"I never get tired of seeing this," I murmured.

I scrolled through the page, full of life and flamboyant colors. My gaze stopped at a certain point.

[The first players to complete the fortress will receive one million dollars in prizes. No more, no less. Immerse yourself in the adventure. The world's first VRMMORPG awaits you! May the edge of your sword take you to the highest point of this world.]

I clenched my fist tightly, remembering the excitement I felt with the first news about the game. Holy crap, I was more excited than ever before! I couldn't shake the hype. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner thinking about SDF, the abbreviation for "Sword Dance: Fortress."

It was as if something was calling me to the game, I couldn't understand it.

But who wasn't?

Gamers from all over Triangle and the world were fascinated by SDF.

Climbing the fortress wasn't just one person's dream, but thousands and thousands of ours.

A fantasy come true.

...

I delved further into the page. And who was responsible for all this?

This boom in science, games, and technology?

The answer was clear; it was that man.

Steven Téstela. President, founder, and principal shareholder of INNOVATION SAC, the company behind SDF.

A visionary.

Steven not only created the game, but he also laid the foundations for deep immersion systems. He created the world's first deep immersion interface: the highly acclaimed ESR, a machine that harnessed the brain's potential to induce, support, and connect mind-generated dreams (while sleeping). The ESR crystallized dreams into virtual, meta-stable maps, where users could perform all kinds of activities.

However, the ESR wasn't released to the market; it was mostly used as palliative treatment for terminally ill or disabled patients. People cried when they tried the ESR for the first time.

That happened five years ago. Then INNOVATION developed other test interfaces that didn't require "dreams." The Moebius Bridge (augmented reality) and the Quantum Gear (based on topological qubits).

Finally, they launched the third generation of deep immersion interfaces onto the market. The famous Spirit Reader: a machine that integrated the advances of the ESR, the Moebius Bridge, and the Quantum Gear.

The epitome of the "Virtual World" project.

A year had passed since then, a year of pure abstinence due to being poor!

Ha, ha.

But it didn't matter; I got my Spirit Reader last week (through sheer hard work). Just in time for the premiere of Sword Dance. The first game that exploited the full power of the Spirit Reader.

Evidently, the news all over Triangle was about the game: social media, streamers, politicians, TV, etc. The anticipation was higher than a mountain.

But there was a small and modest detail: there were around 1 million copies of the Spirit Reader in the world. However, the first version of the game couldn't accommodate so many players; the limit was 50,000.

This generated many doubts online. Who would be the first? How would they choose these people? What stance would the company take?

The scandal kept growing. But INNOVATION gave a forceful response.

We will hold a raffle among all users! The winners will get a copy of the game and the exclusive right to challenge the Unbreakable Fortress!

Fascinating.

Two months had passed since then.

And today—May 25th, 2040—was that day. The date of the raffle. The opening of Sword Dance: The Unbreakable Fortress, SDF.

"The wait is over," I muttered.

I put away my smartphone and looked through the window; dozens of skyscrapers rose in the distance. A tree-shaped structure towered above the rest: Triangle Lifetree, the tallest building in the world.

The breeze feels nice.

I yawned; I was in the literature club room at my school. The club president, Sylvie Chevalier, was serving me tea and cookies with a posture worthy of a princess. She nodded contentedly and sat down at the table, facing me.

"S-sorry for the delay. I couldn't find the cookies..."

"You took a while? I didn't notice..." I replied.

Sylvie was a 15-year-old girl who loved baking and reading, a beauty with red eyes who dreamed of being a novelist. She usually wore glasses and a coppery sweater. She looked like a bookworm.

"Mmh, you were probably thinking about that game," she murmured shyly.

"You're not wrong! Challenging that world is what I long for most! I want to see the Fortress with my own eyes!"

Sylvie's eyebrows rose slightly.

"I figured... I-I wonder if it's as amazing as you say..."

I looked at my legs: a non-invasive exoskeleton clung to them. This machine allowed me to walk properly. I couldn't stand or move without it. My legs couldn't support the weight.

"President, my reason is simple." I narrowed my eyes. "In Invicta Arx, I'll be able to move freely. My legs will take me anywhere! What more can I ask for?" I started to laugh. "Don't overthink it; it's good to try new things!"

"S-sorry, Edward."

I took a cookie. I took a big bite.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I made you talk about your legs..."

"I don't care if it's you. The president doesn't discriminate against me because of my legs or my albino hair. It's okay."

Sylvie adjusted her black glasses.

"Sometimes I worry about how direct you are."

"It's better that way, right?" I retorted.

"Okay, y-you convinced me!"

I raised my eyebrows.

"About what?"

"A-about before, of course! My brother has a Spirit Reader. I'll tell him to lend it to me!"

It seemed like a terrible idea. I put my hand to my chin.

"Complicated. They're doing the raffle tonight; I don't think it'll happen."

"My brother is traveling. There won't be a problem."

"Ah, then perfect!" I leaned closer to her. "Let's team up in Invicta Arx!"

Sylvie started to laugh softly. She covered her mouth with her small hands.

"W-we have to win the raffle first, ha, ha."

"Ah." I hunched my back and took a sip of tea. "I-it doesn't matter. We'll do it somehow!"

"So optimistic..."

"That's what they tell me."

"Don't get too depressed if you lose, okay?"

"I don't even want to think about it."

"Ha, ha".

I checked my old smartphone for the umpteenth time, fourteen hours and ten minutes. It's time.

"It's late." I got up from my chair. My exoskeleton creaked a little. "I have to go. Send me your draft by message. I'll definitely read it."

"Wait."

The president got up from her seat, taking out a rustling paper bag. She handed me all the leftover cookies.

"Take the cookies, silly. I'm surprised you're not asking for them."

"It's just that I always take them," I excused myself.

"It's too late to pretend modesty."

"You have a point."

That afternoon, I said goodbye to Sylvie with only one thought in my head. Will I be able to visit the Unbreakable Fortress?

 ******

The walk home was uneventful. I arrived at the orphanage and spoke with Martha, the caretaker. I explained my plans: my stay at Haruto's house, etc. She was well-informed and accepted my selfishness.

Haruto was my boss, my friend, and a former member of the "New Genesis" orphanage. He hired me at his repair and console shop. I owed Haruto a lot, a straight-up guy with the character of an older brother.

"See you Monday, caretaker!"

"Take care, my boy. Don't forget to charge your exo."

I arrived at the shop at six in the afternoon—after wandering around for a while. My forehead was soaked in sweat, and my EXO's battery was around 15%. I rang the doorbell; a small drone emerged from the second-floor window.

"Hi, Max. Can you let me in?"

The robot looked like a sea slug with blue and black lines. It seemed like a most intriguing form to me; it even had antennas. The machine swiveled its graphene fins as if swimming in water. It was capable of flying.

"Zim, zim!"

Max's head started to flicker, and a slight click resonated at the door. The lock opened instantly. I adjusted my backpack and entered the house. Beyond the hallway was Haruto, sitting on a black cushion. He was eating pancakes with syrup while chatting with a dark-skinned woman wearing a maid outfit, Maia.

The lovebirds.

Haruto noticed my presence and immediately raised his hands. Maia stole a piece of pancake from her boyfriend.

"Come on in, Edward. My old lady made pancakes. We have to celebrate this!"

Ha, ha.

"D-don't say it like that, idiot!" she said, blushing.

Haruto was a young man with an intense gaze, black eyes and hair, and frugal Asian features: a broad forehead, slanted eyes, and a small nose. His profile didn't show a hint of laziness, sporting short hair and a clean-shaven beard. His thin glasses finalized his appearance: intellectual and detail-oriented.

I sat down on the nearby small table. The couple got along as well as ever.

"Do you want pancakes, Ed?" she asked.

"Yes."

Maia was super charismatic: an energetic girl with brown eyes and large, defined eyebrows. Her physique far exceeded the average: prominent hips and an athletic and beautiful figure. She loved maid outfits. She wore and made them like hotcakes.

I started eating the pancakes with great enthusiasm. The truth is, I was hungry. Haruto wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Hey, Ed, where were you? The caretaker told me you left the orphanage at three. It's six already."

I looked for something in my backpack.

"I went to look for a couple of these."

Two clovers rested intact between the leaves of a notebook: one four-leaf clover and one five-leaf clover. I rubbed my nose unintentionally.

"We'll need a lot of luck to win the raffle. This will help a little!"

Maia put her hands to her mouth.

"A f-five-leaf clover..."

"My treasure," I replied. "I was looking for it like crazy in the Rainbow Garden, ha, ha."

Haruto ruffled my hair.

"That explains why you have leaves on your clothes and hair."

"Y-yes."

I peeled off the five-leaf clover and handed it to Haruto.

"This is for you two. Two spots require more luck."

"Wait a minute. The probability of getting 'this' is extremely low! Are you sure?"

"Don't you want it?"

Suddenly, the brunette took my gift, looked for tape, and stuck it to her forehead. She flashed a big smile.

"Done. Thanks, Ed!"

"Don't jump the gun, thief!" Haruto retorted.

"It's for both of us, silly."

"And my part?"

"You just have to hug me, and that's it!"

"You convinced me."

 ******

The raffle started on time, seven o'clock at night. INNOVATION prepared a whole spectacle with live music and guest artists; with redeem codes for other Spirit Reader games and battle skins. All streaming platforms broadcast the raffle (in more than nine languages). TV, social media, radio, etc. The world watched the countdown with bated breath. Triangle fell silent for a few minutes. My heart was beating a mile a minute.

Start already!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zero!

The image of a table with thousands and thousands of divisions appeared on the screen. Each grid housed a digit, and each digit represented a Spirit Reader that housed a unique and non-transferable account. Suddenly, the codes started flashing like traffic lights, and the winning numbers appeared on an immense list, one by one.

They piled up at an exorbitant speed: 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, and finally 50,000. The raffle ended in less than five minutes. The winners were more than defined. The presenter's voice resonated vehemently.

[At this moment, we will send a message to all raffle participants. If you receive the word "Victory!", you have won a spot for Sword Dance! If you receive the word "Defeat!", you have not. Thank you very much for participating in the raffle. And don't be discouraged. The game will expand its capacity in the next 3 months!]

We stared at the holographic window with expressions full of hope. Haruto hugged Maia tightly. Maia put her palms together as if praying. And I looked at my Spirit Reader with optimism: its helmet shape—inspired by games like Halo and Crysis—seemed fantastic to me.

Suddenly, one of the helmets beeped; a small photon screen appeared on the scene.

[Victory], it said.

Holy shit!

That green helmet with military motifs belonged to Haruto. There was no doubt. Haruto had obtained a copy of Sword Dance! Awesome!

The three of us approached the window.

"It's the message!" said Maia, hugging Haru with all her might. "You won, Haru! You won!!"

"How envious!" I clenched my fists. "Well done, man! You won a spot!"

The lucky guy couldn't believe it.

"This exceeds my expectations. I never win anything in raffles like this."

"Ha, ha," I replied.

"Cheer up, silly. You won!" she exclaimed.

"I'm happy. In fact, I'm going to cry!"

We were as startled as kids on Christmas: the excitement and laughter grew with each passing second. However, the scene stopped when a message appeared on Maia's helmet, a small word: "Defeat."

Followed by a message for me:

"Victory."

No freaking way, dude.

I was speechless for a moment. I didn't know whether to celebrate or feel sad for Maia. The only thing I couldn't hide was my smile, my joy. The brunette watched me with an ironic expression, ruffling my hair with her porcelain hands.

"Don't hold back, Ed. You got a spot fair and square. Jump for joy!"

"B-but..."

"Don't overthink it. We have to celebrate this! Open the snacks, Haruto!"

"Maia."

That afternoon, I screamed like never before. I did it! I made it!

My obsession and my longing! A world where nothing could stop me, not even my legs.

Triangle was celebrating. We approached the second-floor window. Thousands of fireworks exploded in the distance, flooding the sky with a fanfare of extravagant colors that stuck to the retina. Immense holograms tinted the skies of Triangle: game animations and 3D images.

Ah, I wonder if the president got a spot...

Small tears escaped my eyes. I wiped my face.

"What time do the servers open?" Maia asked.

"At 8 PM," Haruto replied.

"You'd better get ready. It's almost time."

"Yes!" I replied.

I noticed that Maia and Haruto wanted to chat alone, so I moved away from them.

"I'll go get ready. I'll see you there."

"Okay."

I entered the third room on the left: Maia and Haruto's bedroom. My boss had prepared an extra bed beforehand, a simple foam mattress. More than perfect!

I sat on the bed, took off my sneakers, and started to disconnect the machine that supported my legs. The process was tedious, but I was used to it. I removed the supports and the twin motors. My work was done in 5 minutes.

"Alright, let's put on the helmet."

I put my head into the Spirit Reader without any trouble. The front lens gave me an extended 360-degree vision: left, right, front, and back, everything was visible, with zoom and environmental data, such as temperature and dust levels. It seemed most intriguing to me.

So light, and soft!

And the image quality is tremendous.

The device was practical in every sense. It could be connected by cable, Wi-Fi, or mobile data, although the cable was the safest option. The battery had a support of up to 12 hours at maximum performance. Two tenacious Quantum Key series processors provided the necessary power to the system. The seventh-generation holographic engine granted it everyday autonomy.

Temperature, stable.

Heart rate, stable.

Brain activity, stable.

Perfect! All that's left is to log in.

Haruto and Maia entered the room a few seconds later. The 23-year-old held a bottle of water in his hands. He handed it to me.

"Hydrate, Edward. We'll be playing all night!"

I shook my head.

"I'm okay. I don't want to go to the bathroom."

"You have a point," he smiled.

Maia sat on Haruto's bed.

"I'll be watching the live stream. Send me a shout-out if you see the camera."

Haruto's expression changed slightly.

"I'll say this: 'My girlfriend is the most beautiful woman in the world.' Pay attention."

"I-I don't think you're capable," she murmured.

"You'll see."

She took Haruto's helmet and put it on his head. She pushed her beloved onto the bed.

"S-shut up and play. The night is short."

"Whatever the boss says."

I stifled a laugh and entered the game library through the holographic function. There, like a treasure, lay the most anticipated game of the year. I started the download.

"Downloading," I specified.

"Same here," Haruto replied.

The process took just under three minutes. Everything ready to start.

"Let's go over the strategy, Ed."

"Let's do it!"

"I'll send you a message once we get into the game, to team up." There was a pause. "Don't rack your brain with the character editing. It's not final."

"Got it!"

"Oh, and don't skip the equidistant calibration. It's important."

"Okay!"

"Perfect. I have nothing more to tell you. We'll see the rest there."

I looked at Maia; the maid watched us with an optimistic, slightly sad expression.

"See you later, Miss Maia!" I said.

She said goodbye to me with a little tap on the forehead. She did the same to Haruto.

"Have fun for me, okay?"

"We will," Haruto replied. "See you, Maia."

"Bye, bye."

I clicked "start game," and a window popped up instantly.

[Starting the game will activate the deep immersion function. Do you wish to activate deep immersion? The body will enter a state of "rest" upon acceptance. Please read the following points. 1. The five senses will not be able to capture information during "rest." 2. Conscious body movements will be blocked. 3. The life support drone will be activated by default when deep immersion begins. If you agree with the points mentioned, please recite the phrase "initiate connection."]

My mouth curved into an imperceptible smile.

"Initiate connection."

The world went black. My very reality transformed into zero.