The stars glimmered faintly above Silvercrest City as night draped the Ren family estate. Inside, the warm aroma of steamed dumplings and herbal stew filled the dining hall. Everyone was seated—grandfather, father, uncles, cousins, and even the ever-curious Aika, her eyes darting between dishes and conversations.
Dinner that night was calm but charged with an unspoken energy. The family had accomplished much in the last few days. Laughter mingled with the clink of chopsticks. Conversations drifted from martial progress to minor estate matters. Kaito, however, sat silently, eyes focused but distant, already planning for what came next.
Time flies when the wheels of fate begin to turn again, he mused.
After dinner, Kaito returned to his room and sat by his bedside drawer. He opened it, revealing the AI module and the origin record tome—the latter already safely hidden within a bookcase behind a decoy panel.
With a thought, the AI connected to his neural interface.
"AI, show me a list of available properties near the villa, suitable for conversion into a digital training facility."
A detailed layout appeared before his eyes, displaying terrain, structure integrity, and connectivity parameters.
One building stood out: a privately owned factory, just a kilometer from their estate. Quiet location. High walls. No current tenants.
Kaito saved the location, already planning a visit. This will be the foundation of Genesis.
Next, he opened the acquisition draft for the top ten small-to-mid studios across Silvercrest City. He had already written them the day before, just hadn't sent them out yet.
"AI, finalize and dispatch acquisition invitations to the following ten studios. Use anonymous routing protocols."
With a mental prompt, ten digital dossiers were fired across the city's secure network grid. Each package detailed a formal offer from an unnamed backer looking to invest in pre-Glory expansion. To anyone reading them, it might seem like some wealthy second-generation preparing to test the waters. Perfect cover.
Only Kaito knew the truth.
And he wasn't done yet.
The next morning arrived with pale sunlight and a crisp breeze. Birds chirped on the high window rails as Silvercrest slowly stirred to life.
Kaito stood by his window, watching the golden halo spread over the rooftops. His AI prompted him with a blinking alert:
"Glory hardware launch announced to public. Virtual helmets and nutrient cabins now available."
He nodded. Now it begins.
Prices and availability ticked in:
Grade D Helmet – 1,000 credits (6 hours limit) Grade C Helmet – 3,000 credits (8 hours limit) Grade B Helmet – 6,000 credits (10 hours limit) Grade A Helmet – 100,000 credits (12 hours limit)
· Cabins had a steeper scale:
· Bronze Cabin: 1 million credits
· Silver Cabin: 3 million credits
· Gold Cabin: 7 million credits
· Platinum Cabin: 15 million credits
Each higher grade promised greater immersion, faster mental sync rates, and full-body connection—essential for those aiming to dominate Glory. Cabins included nutrient circulation systems, allowing continuous gameplay without physical fatigue. Helmets were more affordable, meant for the general public, but restricted to part-time usage due to physical strain.
.
By noon, the markets had already started to ripple. Kaito's stocks began inching upward.
At the same time, several large conglomerates—noticing the public rush—began attempting last-minute investments. But the surge had begun too early. The general public, awakened by the announcement, had flooded in faster than anticipated. Prices soared. Supply strained. And Kaito? He had entered the field days ago.
They're too late now.
Before lunch, a knock echoed across the entryway.
Kaito opened the door to find Mei Rin, wearing a confident smirk.
"I hope you're not planning to leave without me," she said, stepping in.
"You're early," Kaito replied casually, gesturing her in. "Come in."
She arched a brow. "I heard from your mother you've been up to something big. I figured I'd see it myself."
Kaito chuckled inwardly. His mother only knew half the story.
He turned, tapping his wrist. "Give me a second—I need to confirm some routes."
In truth, he wasn't chatting on any call. The AI interface synced with his neural feed as he mentally input commands.
"Cross-check the draft list. Locate updated addresses for each candidate. Prepare courier drone dispatch for direct invitation."
Mei Rin peered over his shoulder. "So... these are the people you want for your studio?"
Kaito nodded. "Yes. The most promising young talents across Silvercrest. Some were known for topping charts in competitive eSports. Others made their name in tactical strategy platforms. No one's famous yet. But I've been watching them for years."
Of course, what he didn't say was that he knew who would rise. In the previous timeline, these names shook entire arenas.
Within moments, the AI uploaded flight data to his family's private drone fleet. Sleek black drones with crimson trim hovered from their docking crates, each programmed to deliver a sealed Genesis invitation card to a specific address. The meeting location and date were included, inviting each target to visit the Genesis facility a week later for trials.
All except one.
There was one he would meet personally.
Tatsuo Guren—future alias Razorblade. A silent monster in Glory's assassin class, feared and untouchable in the rankings. Unlike the others, he had never joined any guilds in the past. Kaito wasn't going to let that happen again.
He memorized the address again. It hadn't changed. He'd visit personally before the week was out.
Just as he was finishing, a knock interrupted the moment.
"Brother!"
The door opened with a rush. Aika appeared, eyes shining. "I heard you're making a studio! I want to join!"
Kaito blinked. "You still have school. You're only 14."
"But I can play at night!" she said, hands on hips. "Just a little every day. And I'm not bad, you know!"
He paused, then smiled. "Fine. You can join—after homework. And only two hours a night."
"Deal!" Aika cheered, throwing her fists in the air.
Behind her came four more voices. His cousins entered, all visibly excited.
The tall one with an athletic build stepped forward. "Cousin, you can't leave us out. We've trained with you. You have to let us in!"
Kaito looked at each of them and nodded.
Ren Hiroto, eldest of the four and serious-minded, skilled in tactical games.
Ren Kaede, a fast thinker, known for her reflexes.
Ren Daichi, playful and bold, often the loudest voice.
Ren Suzune, quiet, observant, but sharp as a blade.
"All right," Kaito said. "Welcome to Genesis. But you'll go through the same trials as everyone else."
"No favoritism?" Daichi groaned.
"None," Kaito said.
Mei Rin laughed. "Fair enough." and so the foundation was set.
The cheerful hum of the morning blended with the scent of miso soup and warm rice. Everyone had gathered for breakfast in the central hall, the table once again brimming with fresh dishes.
Mei Rin had joined the family without hesitation, sitting beside Kaito like it was second nature. Grandfather greeted her with a nod, while Third Uncle chuckled as he piled her bowl high. Aika kept sneaking glances at Mei Rin with a mischievous grin, whispering questions about gaming and asking if she would help pick her in-game class.
Kaito sat quietly amid the lively exchange,.
As they finished, he leaned toward Mei Rin. "Let's go."
She tilted her head. "Where?"
"There's someone I need to recruit personally. Someoneimportant"