The year was 2357, November 1, in the lower levels of Hox-I Mount City.
A teenage boy lay sprawled on his messy bed, his face tired and smudged with grease. He pushed up the pair of homemade goggles resting on his forehead—an invention created by the person he admired most.
His room was cramped, cluttered with scavenged parts and half-finished gadgets. Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice boomed from outside the room.
"Glenn! Wake up!"
"Yeah! Coming!" Glenn shouted back. He quickly washed up and grabbed his oversized bag—the same bag he used for looting scraps and for school.
Today was the day he and his uncle visited his mother's grave.
The walk through the lower districts was always the same. Hox-I was a massive megacity, layered like a tower, but Glenn lived in Gings Level—a low-class zone where the lights flickered and metal creaked when the wind blew.
They reached the apartment-type cemetery, a narrow tower filled with stacked memorial units. Glenn rested his hand on the cold metal plate bearing his mother's name.
"Never forget your mother's words, boy," his uncle murmured.
"Yes, Uncle Drew," Glenn whispered.
Moments later, they parted ways. Glenn headed straight for school, waving goodbye.
Students stared at him the moment he stepped onto campus. Some made faces. Others pointed at his large scavenger bag. Glenn didn't mind. The bag was a gift, and one of the few things that truly mattered to him.
He arrived late to Room BE200.
He stood at the doorway, catching his breath.
"Hello everyone! I'm Glenn—sorry I'm late!"
The teacher sighed. "Find a seat."
Glenn scanned the room and approached an empty spot next to a boy wearing glasses. His right arm was a sleek bionic prosthetic.
"Uh… can I sit here?" Glenn asked.
The boy nodded. "Sure. Name's Mjay."
The lecture dragged on, but as soon as class ended, Glenn noticed Mjay slipping on a thin neural headset. His eyes unfocused for a moment, like someone diving into a dream.
Glenn leaned closer. "Hey… what's that you're playing?"
Mjay smiled slightly. "It's N.O.—short for Neuro Online. It links to your neural current. Instead of controlling a character, it sends your consciousness into the game world."
He tapped the side of the device. "You loot, fight, craft—everything feels real. Think Ready Player One, but way more intense."
Glenn's eyes widened. "That sounds… crazy."
"Oh, it is," Mjay said. "You want to try sometime?"
Glenn blinked in amazement. "That sounds incredible… but are you sure? Isn't that thing expensive? I don't really have money to pay for anything."
Mjay waved it off. "Don't worry about it. I still have Version 1 at home. If you want, you can check it out—try it first. And if you like it, I'll consider the old version my gift to you."
Glenn's eyes widened. "For real? That's… cool! Yeah, let me check it out!"
Scene: At Mjay's Home – Glenn Tries N.O.
Glenn slipped on the older N.O. headset. The device hummed softly, and suddenly his chest tightened with excitement. The world around him blurred—then vanished.
In an instant, he found himself standing on the moon.
A soft, gray dust field stretched in every direction. The sky above was pitch-black, dotted with stars. Glenn turned around—only to freeze.
A figure identical to him stood there… wearing nothing but a pair of briefs.
Glenn made a face. "Ugh—why am I only wearing that?!"
He lifted his feet experimentally and felt weightless.
"Whoa… this feels like I'm actually floating. So this is what the moon really feels like…"
Before he could explore further, a tall alien-like old man appeared. The creature had elongated limbs, pale skin, and held a wooden walking stick.
"Welcome to N.O., young player," the alien said gently. "Apologies if I startled you. Worry not—I am here to guide you."
The old man explained the basic systems of the game and gestured to the nearly naked avatar.
"In Neuro Online, that form represents you. You may adjust the face, body, color—anything. Think of it, and it shall reshape."
Glenn focused, imagining a humanoid form with slightly blue skin—similar to the beings from the Avatar movie. His avatar shimmered and instantly transformed.
"Excellent," the old guide said. "Now, let us continue."
A swirling wormhole ripped open in front of them. Glenn jumped back in shock.
The old man chuckled. "Ah—do not fear. This wormhole transports new players to the actual game world. Step through, and your adventure begins."