New World Online I
The jarring, insistent blare of an alarm clawed at Lin Feng's consciousness. His eyelids, heavy and crusted, peeled open, and a wave of disorienting confusion washed over him. Above him, the familiar, faintly water-stained ceiling of his dormitory stretched, a pattern of imperfections he'd traced countless times. The stale scent of instant noodles and old textbooks hung in the air, a scent that now felt utterly alien after months steeped in forests and echoing dungeons.
He pushed himself up on one elbow, the springs of his cheap metal bed groaning in protest. Across the narrow room, his roommate, Wei Jian, lay sprawled on his own bed, seemingly oblivious to his predicament. Wei Jian was engrossed in a video playing on his phone, the tinny sound of a pop song faintly audible. The mundane, ordinary scene was a jarring dissonance against Lin Feng's last vivid memory.
Confusion hit him like a sudden cold splash of water. The last thing he remembered was the chilling grip of finality. Lin Feng had been deep within New World Online, battling a hidden boss named Roland. It was the culmination of an arduous questline for a legendary sword, a challenge he'd spent weeks preparing for. Nevertheless, the silent, black silhouette of the knight's phantom blade had cleaved through his defenses, and then… darkness. He had braced for the familiar flash of the respawn screen, the reassuring sight of the starting town's fountain, but instead, he was here. Back in this cramped dorm room which he had long departed from.
His fingers, trembling slightly, fumbled for his phone on the bedside table. It was exactly as he remembered it from his college days – the screen cracked in the upper right corner, a spiderweb of lines, yet still functional. He pressed the power button, and the glowing display flickered to life. His breath hitched. The date blazed back at him: July 1st, 2025!
A dizzying rush of adrenaline mixed with disbelief. He had gone back in time. Exactly one week. One agonizing, pivotal week before the global launch of New World Online, the game that would soon consume the attention of the entire planet, eclipsing every other form of entertainment. It was the world's first true VRMMORPG, a technological marvel birthed by the enigmatic New World Inc., boasting an unheard-of 100% realism.
Lin Feng vividly recalled the initial frenzy, the breathless reviews, the sheer impossibility of the virtual world described by early players. He remembered feeling a pang of regret for not joining the initial rush, for being held back by final exams and financial difficulty. He'd started late, far behind the curve, a lone warrior in a world already populated by seasoned adventurers. Yet, through sheer, grueling hard work, relentless dedication, and the sharp edge of his innate gaming skills, he had systematically climbed the ranks, painstakingly closing the gap, eventually cementing his position as a top-ranker in China. Now, as the implications of the date truly sank in, a thrilling realization dawned. He had a chance. A second chance. To do it all again, but this time, from the very beginning, armed with foreknowledge that no other player possessed.
Lin Feng didn't waste a second. He immediately secured a loan, sufficient to pre-order both New World Online and the necessary, cutting-edge VR device.
"Whoa, you really going to pre-order that new game?" his roommate, Wei Jian, exclaimed from his bed as he heard of his plan. "I heard it was fairly expensive. When did you get that much money laying around?"
Lin Feng looked at him, a glint of determined conviction in his eyes. "I took out a loan to buy it," he admitted. "It's a worthwhile investment, trust me. You should pre-order one too."
Wei Jian shrugged, a skeptical grin on his face. "Nah, I think I'm good. I barely have enough money to afford food this month, let alone take out a loan for something I might not be able to pay back."
"Haven't you been spending most of your money on that gacha game?" Lin Feng retorted.
"That's a necessity in my life; you should play it too," Wei Jian declared, already back to his phone.
The week flew by in a blur of anticipation. True to the shipping estimates, the sleek VR headset arrived just in time for the game's official launch date. Lin Feng's heart hammered in his chest as he held the device, the culmination of his memories and his second chance.
That evening, with the dorm room blessedly empty as Wei Jian was out, Lin Feng slid the headset onto his head. The familiar loading screen greeted him, a cascade of glowing lines and text. "Link Start!" he declared loudly, the words echoing in the silent room, a private incantation for his new beginning.
He moved quickly through the character customization, making only a slight adjustment to his hair color. He kept his username as Lin Feng, knowing from his past life that popular names would be snatched up instantly. Moments later, the digital world solidified around him. He stood in the bustling medieval town of Ethfoolin, the City of Fools – the familiar starting hub of the game, and the second most popular player hub on the vast continent of Arcadia. The sounds, the sights, the very air itself, were just as real as he remembered. His second life had truly begun.