Minutes gone by, and we've arrived at the playtesting room at the 2nd floor and when i open the door to the room, us both are greeted with the quiet sounds of the machines as all the attendants in the room are immersed in the Dive-gear they're wearing on their head. (Oh. It's awkward, alright)

These Dive-gears are the pieces of equipment needed for our project.

If Virtual Reality headsets is a medium for the games that one will boot up within their own personal computers, Dive-gears is a little more heavy on the price and requirements it needs to be inatalled and work properly.

From the outside, it may look like we're just sleeping with VR headsets attached ontop of a bunkbed, and that is exactly what is needed before one is able to Dive in.

The 'bunkbed' is of course, the main component of these Dive-gears. Heavy processing workload specialized CPUs, 4x64 DDR5 RAM, Water-cooling technology with the maximum efficience able to put out more than 30 celcius, all this from a trusted and known manufacturing company that 'supports' the project and acts as our main sponsor.

Controllers and other hand-motion tools don't exist for Dive-gears as the project took solely within our conciousness assisted by the 'bunkbed', making those tools obselete.

1 pcs of these Dive-gears costs at least 375 $ U.S Dollars, complete with the 'bunkbed'.

We're not sure about the right pricing for the game but i estimate it'll be above 80 $ when it's In The Gold.

Sara faces me, nodding towards all the slumbering attendants. "Alrighty then, which one of us is "Diving In" first?"

I approach the closest Diver after closing the door. "That'a not a proper question you'd be asking the others, but...I'd say you first, being the boss and all"

"Oh my, if that is what... wait, are you looking for a chance t-"

I put my right index infront of her again. "No, i am not looking for a chance so i can oogle you. Sheesh, it's too late for you to be wary of your body being fondled with in this situation? Should've done that back in your room"

"I always wondered if you're a psyc-"

"You're way too obvious, that's all"

"Fine, fine, you win"

I follow after her, she picks the farthest and empty Dive-gears from the other testers in the room. 'Course she does, these afterall are her own sets, including another 3 closest to it. 4 sets in total.

They're engrained with marking specifically to tell which is the common's and VIPs'.

I just happened to be her appointed guy and so i have the privilege to be directly by the boss herself, so we both straps our Dive-gear simultaneously. (Countdown starts from 15 to 30 seconds and i need to calm my heart for my first time Diving)

I can only see black with few lights seeping in inside the Dive-gear i'm wearing.

[ Booting : 6 % ]

I feel my right hand being gripped tight. (... Damn, why now of all time ?)

[ Booting : 23 % ]

"Ey, i thought you've Dived right in first, Boss?"

"It's Sara"

"... Why're you holding my hand before the dive, Sara?"

"Can i not surprise you before it?"

"*sighs* But of course.

I'll welcome you if you asked for it, is all i'm saying"

"... I hope we get to meet again shortly after"

"No promises, though. So to make it easier, how about some catchphrases and words that'll make it easier for both of us to know each other ?"

"Hmm? I guess your usual one will do. Mine is-"

"You tease?"

". . . Is that ... ugh, so annoying! I bet you're grinning from the sound of it"

"Because you're filled with charms, i have the strength to do so"

[ Booting : 74 % ]

"Well, enough chitchat, i'm just 5 seconds away so let's try our best in there, yeah? "

"I will . . . Arl? Don't die and . . . I lo-"

Something within me just urges me to say the one thing if i were to be said one. "Me too" I tightened my grip on her hands before all my senses, even the sense of touch, came to a halt.

I can only see darkness, before lights starts to seep in at some point. (I get the last one but what's about the earlier one ? 'Don't Die'?) I have mixed feelings about this. And i also noticed how it feels like we'll be away for some time.

Why? 'cause time flows differently in the Dive.

While it's 3-4 weeks in the game, on the outside it's only about 1-2 hours.

That and my intuition telling me something is gonna happen on the outside not far from now on.

(. . . Should've bought a gift for my little brother first)

My conciousness is fading away when my vision disorientates, spiraling onto the center of a dot that enlarges revealing coloured tubes with spinning waves and all kinds of particles.

(Whoa, i'm being sucked in a wormhole of sort. Seeing it directly, i can see why many people still prefer these genres mix-ups even until now. I totally made the right decision on not experimenting with the HUD on that plane... hopefully. Oh, i see light. Can't wait to see what's over yonder)

. . .

. . . It's . . . dark and . . . cold . . . and yet . . . i had the feeling . . . that i have . . . experienced this before . . . not too long. . . ago . . .

... It's beginning to feel warm, and there's some ... light ... fading in... and i'm starting to... get used to this... feeling...

I'm standing on a white blue-ish flat plane with snows falling and it's ever reaching. (This sure feels surreal, but how do i turn down the brightness? It's too white for my preference. Damn, if only there was some kind of guide for this)

Silence commences. (... Just a second away now... Anytime you're ready. . . I know it's loading but does it really want to keep me waiting?)

The sound of 'fwip' came from my behind. " *warps* Greetings, Diver! I, an Autonomous Dive Instructor Unit, will be your guide for this course!"

I faces backwards, and see a flying drone with a big blue core as it's eyes. I am reminded of a similar object akin to this.

I instill my face to put on a diajointed look. (... Okay, why it gotta be that lightbulb copycat? Anyways, can you tell me how many of the Divers are and where they are currently?)

"Sure do know how! All you gotta do is to speak 'HUD'. Whether it's out loud, whisper, silently or in heart it does not matter, so long as you thought of opening the 'HUD' it will appear before you and Only You. There, will appear options such as Accessabilities Menu, Audio, Visual and World Options, Divers, Command, Debug, Dive Out, and many others for you to check!"

I start to walk around him circling. (OK. What if i need to show my Status like Health, Mana and the likes to someone other than me? Like say, to the other Divers and Quests that requires for it?)

"The same as before, only you need to think or talk of 'Show HUD' and it will be visible to the others, even the non-Divers!"

I stop as i came to realize things. (Wait, i thought it's just the Divers from the gist of it?)

"Not true at all. The Admins decided that the inhabitants are better if they were to have the developed advanced intelligence . Surely you know this the best, Alan Hassani?"

(... If that's what they wanted, i have no say to it. Anyways, i'll try out the stuff you just mentioned.

(HUD) )

A black rectangular message filled with white texts shoeing 'Debug', 'Audio', Accessability', 'Gameplay', 'Visual', 'Command', 'Log(s) and many others but the one i am searching for, is 'Diver(s) .

(Oh yeah, it shows up after i thought of it! Hmm, i like to experiment on something... (HUD)

The message disappears as i thought of it. (He~eh? It closes alright. (HUD - Diver(s) )

The message appeared again but instead of showing all of the previoud texts, it now shows 4 empty collumns with the only texts of 'Diver' above those columns that may suppose be their names.

(Ohohoho, it shows! ... Wait... Hold on a sec, 4 Divers? Guide!)

"Yes, Diver?" The Guide talks from above me.

(Hey. I thought there were at least 10 Diving before me and Sara Dive In this ongoing project?)

It just stays there, with lights flickering in and out.

(... Guess i gotta wait, huh?

You know what, i'll just gonna meddle with something else. (HUD). Let's see...

Show me the latest log of the Divers right now)

With me having said that, what appears before me is a text log. (There's a lot of text here alright, but there's only 2 Divers talking in the chat box before me and Sara) Of all the rambling nonsense about meta, builds and clans, there's a specific part i'm interested in.

(Focus on that one, show me it's content)

# log archive : 45

Jackal : Man i'm stuffed, don't wanna go back debugging that damned grey forest again if i could help it.

Damnit, i really wanna go back home after the break tonight but i've been stuck here for . . . how long, again ?

Gaius : 3 hours. That got you down bad?

Jackal : Says the one who's just camping around the site and not even observing the whole thing!

Gaius : You coulda just Dive Out, you know? This is why i'm grossed out by 'immersive' players

Jackal : I'm telling you again and again, the option to Dive Out doestn't appear at the HUD! Here's the Screenshot if you still don't believe me!

Gaius : I've seen this many times now, i'm bored, anyways i'mma Dive Out to continue my writing, later.

... J? You there?

Jackal : Yeah i'm here, what's a matter? Can't Dive Out like you said? Huh, what's this picture?

Gaius : ... I guess we're both stuck, then. Wonder how many days outside until the Admin fix this

Jackal : ... Terrific

My skin shivers after closing it. (... That's... a little worrying. (HUD) )

I start to confirm all of the white texts that are there.

(Hmm, it's still there, so maybe there's something wrong with their gear? Oh well.

(HUD-Dive Out. . . HUD, Dive Out . . . Guess i'm done for good, 'cause this isn't funny anymore... Though i did jinxed myself by having said that intuition in my head anyways. If i'm gonna die for real, at least i wanna have Sara by myside before that and live a somewhat balanced slow and fast life... If only she was here with me. I just hope all of those moments aren't fabricated for her parents to see...

This is getting gloomy. Guide, i wonder if i can go have a chat with the other 3 while in this plane?...

Uh, Guide?)

I waited for at least 15 seconds before the it's lights came back to their stationary state again. "*beep beep, beep* Yes, Dear Diver?"

I take upon myself to crouch on the floor or to be exact, squatting because my head starts to shoe stars. (Ngh... Can i go have myself message with the other Divers in this plane? I'm getting lonely with the game's loading the world)

"I am the one who losds the world you're going into and No you cannot chat with the other Divers, as you will need to meet with them directly at least once while in the Dive"

My body start to feel heavy on the upper side. (... Guide. Will i'll be able to encounter you in the Dive?)

"You can find me on one of the 'Unknown Ruins' scattered in the Dive"

I am reminded of a certain character with the nickname and characteristic that suits it well. (Gui . . . I'm tired of that. From now on you'll be called Alk and call me Arl)

It flickers light faster than before for a few second. "... Authorization Override... Success."

I look down and furrows my eyebrows. (... Alk, what'll happen if i die in the Dive? Would i respawn and nothing happens? Would i have to start back from scratch again? Or would my brain overloads, and die for real?)

For some second, it flickers before showing red lights replacing the blues. " *error beeps* This information is not available. Is there anything else?"

(Huh? What do you mean by that? Answer me! What will happen if i die in the Dive?

Will i go back to this plane or standby until a squadmate picks me up and revive me or do we Dive Out?)

"Information Classified"

(Shit! I guess i have to meet with the other 3 regarding that matter . . . Wonder if it's Alfred again, honestly. That doesn't make it any easier so I'll have to look into the others' logs for more information and hopefully it'll make it easier to live while in the Dive.

Alright Alk, how do i Dive In?)

"Say the keyword "Dive On" and-"

(Dive On!)

*woosh* The room starts to shrink little by little, showing a portal towards me.

I sprint and jump right into it. (Later Alk! Whoo!)

My body felt as if it's beeing squeezed as if it were done soe to fit in a little shape. (Ugh, i still can't get used to this feeling after all!)

" (echoes) ... I do not understand this one" I heard Alk talks behind my back, but when i face backwards, the portal is not there.

(Just gotta see what's one the other side ... I wonder who i'll be?)

. . .