Alone, at the top of the Illusion Tree - Chapter 1 - The First Dive

The young man sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the massive, pearlescent VR Capsule that now dominated his tiny, cluttered apartment. It hummed with a soft, promising energy, a stark contrast to the dusty silence of his NEET existence.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOY89VUEJT
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“Alright… this is it. The great escape,” he muttered to the empty room, running a hand through his unkempt hair. “Two billion people can’t be wrong. Or maybe they can. Who cares? It’s gotta be better than this.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWn2fJ9kJI
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He’d blown the last of his savings on this thing. The game itself, *Illusion Tree*, was a one-time purchase. The real cost was the capsule—the only hardware advanced enough to deliver the promised “second reality.” No subscriptions, no microtransactions. Just… a new life.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD05NDrL8N
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With a deep breath, he climbed inside. The gel-filled contours molded to his body with a sigh. A holographic interface flickered to life before his eyes.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxCvKqjjIX
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[Welcome to Illusion Tree. Please state your player name.]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNkV66HKWV
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He’d practiced this. “Eon. Eon Moonlicht.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpUTeMGLuD
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[Confirm character name: Eon Moonlicht?]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9OmTs6PMO
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“Confirm.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSwWjUhqDW
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[Initialization complete. Connecting to the World Tree. Enjoy your new life.]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3t6oWm8XI
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The hum of the capsule faded, replaced by an absolute, silent white.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEQeS2kaY5
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A voice, ancient and resonant, filled the void. It wasn't heard; it was *felt*, vibrating in his very soul.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw56Nhw2mqT
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From the chaos of the primordial code, twelve deities emerged. They forged the World Tree, Illusion Tree, from dreams and logic. Each god poured their essence into an Orb, a fragment of ultimate power. But ambition shattered their unity. A divine war raged, scattering the Orbs and their divine weapons to the farthest roots and highest branches of the Tree. Now, only echoes of the gods remain, and mortals tread the paths they forged. Your journey begins at the end of their story. Your choices will write the next.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSWm8Hj9Yr
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The white dissolved into a breathtaking, golden space. Before him stood a being of impossible beauty, her wings not of feather, but of crystallized light. Her voice was like a symphony. “Welcome, soul. I am your guide to genesis. To step upon the path, you must first choose your first identity. Who will you be in this world?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsTpsmAiTI
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A colossal, shimmering menu materialized, listing thousands of classes: Dragon Knight, Arcane Weaver, Shadow Dancer, Rune Smith, Celestial Bard… the list seemed infinite.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzGaVyrhHi
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“The timer begins now,” the angelic guide said gently. “Choose wisely, for your beginning shapes your journey.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0urIdvAbpY
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A clock appeared above her head. [00:59]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvktjDU0n9s
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Eon’s heart hammered against his ribs. The pressure was immense. Every class glowed with potential, a promise of power and purpose. But he remembered the video, buried deep in the algorithm,351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSYK2P7yyn
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titled “Three Things I’d Do if I Started Over Again | Illusion Tree.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYx9VaRAna
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The third point, delivered by a calm, masked avatar, was seared into his memory.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNib6sSrCJV
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“Do not choose a class. Let the timer run out.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9w3K3j8SM
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The comments were a torrent of rage.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3TVSLUE5o
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SCAM!351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EJX8xkVqc
I tried this and it ruined my account!351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlAIRuEsAP
Waste of time, you spawn with NOTHING!351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoUoWYCX6T
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Yet, the uploader never responded, never defended themselves. The mystery of it, the sheer contrarian absurdity, called to Eon. His entire life had been about having nothing and making nothing of it. Why should a game be different?351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANCDCfjT05
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“I… choose nothing,” Eon said, his voice firmer than he felt.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5SwLBTLvr
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The angel’s serene smile didn’t falter, but the light around her flickered almost imperceptibly. “Nothing? That is not a path available on the menu, traveler.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCneoRkkepP
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“I know. I’m not picking anything. I’ll wait.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC9AR6UzUj
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The timer ticked down. [00:45]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbdBM2v1V5
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“This is most unwise,” she urged, her melodic voice gaining a sharp edge. “To refuse a class is to refuse the very foundation of this world. You will be granted no starting weapon, no armor, not even the most basic skill like <Appraise> or <Sprint>. You will be less than a newborn. You will be… a void.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL20J3JVCNH
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“I’m used to it,” Eon retorted, a defensive smirk on his face. “Isn’t this supposed to be a real second life? In real life, you don’t get to pick ‘Dragon Tamer’ as a starting class. You figure it out.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS46O4VwdF1
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“This is not your world!” she insisted, her composure cracking for the first time. A divine frustration leaked into her tone. “It has rules! You are not ‘figuring it out,’ you are wilfully crippling yourself! Why would you do this? What possible logic drives you?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkez33pbCwY
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“Let’s call it an experiment.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRGqISJodl
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“It is folly!” The space around them shuddered. “You tread a road of pure anguish. The wilds will devour you. Other players will scorn you. The world itself will not acknowledge you! This is not a brave challenge; it is a surrender before you have even begun!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKgQIBJOo6
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“Then I surrender,” Eon said, meeting her glowing gaze. “But I’ll do it on my terms.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jnqr5rxuq
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[00:03… 00:02… 00:01…]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSrANrKgKD
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The magnificent menu shattered into motes of light. The angel’s form seemed to dim. The disappointment on her face was profoundly, unsettlingly real.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgBk8EdVj8
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“So be it, Eon Moonlicht. You enter the world as a paradox. A blank page. May your story be worth the pain of its writing.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0pYW8vekV
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The golden chamber imploded into a vortex of color and sound.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODCS1XReDD
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Sensation returned all at once. The smell of damp earth and baking bread. The feel of a warm breeze on his skin. The sound of a bustling crowd and chirping birds. Eon blinked, his eyes adjusting to the vivid sunlight of a perfect fantasy village square. He looked down at himself. Rough-spun tunic, soft linen pants, bare feet. Absolutely, utterly ordinary.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpNzMEZJoq
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A notification hung in his vision, transparent and mocking:351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtaJG5DhWZ
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[ Class: None ]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadheyLnjho
[ Equipped: None ]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRRhUFTGKF
[ Skills: None ]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXq3YIggnP
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“Well,” he whispered to himself, wiggling his toes in the grass. “Here goes nothing.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtgL4UvgDY
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The starting village, Haven’s Reach, was flooded with new players, all clad in their starting gear. Leather armor, simple robes, Initiiate’s staves. Eon, in his peasant clothes, stood out like a sore thumb.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuUZZ82TPS
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“Hey, you there!” a boisterous young man in chainmail called out, clanking over. “You just pop in? What’d you roll? I went Guardian. Gonna be an unkillable tank!” He thumped his chest plate.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejEEiI0QNb
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“Uh, I didn’t… roll anything,” Eon said.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDhlvjQjgk
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The Guardian’s smile faded. “What do you mean? Everyone picks a class.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb2ssI2S8M
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“I didn’t. I waited out the timer.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDY9bK6X5Y
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A nearby Archer, stringing her bow, burst out laughing. “You did what? Oh, man, I heard about that! There’s some stupid rumor on the forums. You actually fell for it?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnlXbTSQxq
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The Guardian stared in pure disbelief. “But… why? You have no gear. No skills. You’re literally a level-zero NPC.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gnF1k74ga
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Their conversation attracted a small crowd. A Mage in blue robes sneered. “Look at this! A true noob! I didn’t think they actually existed.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJBRA2ga30
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“Hey, buddy,” the Archer said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “You know you’re basically just XP for the tutorial slimes, right? They’re gonna have to respawn you so many times your brain will get dizzy.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS4AG6n4Zm
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The crowd erupted in laughter. Eon tried to push past them, his face heating up.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdtfC0qndp
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“Wait, wait, don’t go!” the Guardian said, stepping in front of him. “I’m feeling charitable. I’ll mentor you. First lesson! How to punch air!” He demonstrated with a slow, exaggerated punch. More laughter.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrIUDtT3vQ
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“Second lesson!” the Archer chimed in. “How to run away crying! It’s gonna be your most-used skill!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilT3yk1WG6
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Eon shoved past them, their jeers following him. “Thanks for the offer! I’ll manage!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uz4H5rOJj
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He made his way to a small equipment stall run by a grizzled NPC smith. “Excuse me,” Eon said. “I’d like to buy a knife. The cheapest one you have.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fomziqeg5
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The smith looked him up and down, his brow furrowed. “You’re new. What’s your class, lad? Gatherer? Skinner? I’ve got good starter knives for both.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKNcba0ucf
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“I… don’t have a class.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2DSL7qsT4
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The NPC’s friendly demeanor vanished instantly. He scowled. “No class? Then I’ve got nothing for you. Can’t have untrained fools waving sharp metal around. You’ll poke your eye out, or worse, someone else’s. Move along. You’re scaring off proper customers.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyrjveiUrf
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From behind him, a player buying a sword chuckled. “Even the AI knows you’re a lost cause, man. Give it up.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9WW4KqyaQ
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Defeated, Eon moved to a potion vendor, an elderly woman with a kind face. Maybe she’d take pity.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnDsRzT5v5
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“Hello, dearie. A healing potion for the road? Only a few copper.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhUmScs7RC
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“I’d like one, but I don’t have any money. Or a class.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cQuSKS89b
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The woman’s kind eyes narrowed. “No class? Then I cannot, in good conscience, sell you a potion. Without the <Potion Lore> skill granted by a class, you might misdose. You could poison yourself! The liability! Shoo, now. Come back when you’ve found your purpose.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpFopqy8yW
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The final humiliation came at the village inn. The common room was packed with players celebrating their new beginnings. Eon slipped in, hoping to just listen and learn.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMENXPQU1r
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A hush fell over part of the room. Then a loud, mocking voice rang out. “Well, well, look what the cat dragged in! Or should I say, what *didn’t* drag anything in! It’s Mr. No-Class himself!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpdqr3jG4q
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A barrel-chested Warrior stood up, raising a tankard. “A toast! To the biggest idiot in Haven’s Reach! May your respawns be quick and your failures be entertaining!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UION0Qjhf
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The room roared with approval. Another player yelled, “What’s your build, man? Is it ‘Optimist’ or ‘Masochist’?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Za26mUu5m
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“Maybe he’s roleplaying a village idiot! Hey, do a trick! Can you eat mud?”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzjsbNAfUr
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Eon turned on his heel and marched out, the sound of their laughter feeling like physical blows against his back. He didn’t stop until he passed through the village’s main gate, the guard NPC simply shaking his head in pity.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgzcZ0V0w1
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The sun was warmer outside the walls. The grass was greener. The air was free of their mockery. Before him, a wide, peaceful meadow stretched out. And there, bouncing aimlessly, was a small, gelatinous, green Slime. The most basic of basic monsters.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3pHfinsWQ
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It was the only thing in this world that wasn’t laughing at him.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlimZ5m4Uxf
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“Okay,” Eon breathed, his heart starting to pound not with embarrassment, but with anticipation. “Just you and me.”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL3B3sH0gJ
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He approached cautiously. The slime noticed him, gave a cheerful little wobble, and hopped forward. Eon lunged, swinging a wild punch. His fist sank into its cool, jelly-like body with a soft *squelch*. It didn’t hurt it much, but the impact stung his knuckles.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzh6MpHxkP
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The slime retaliated, launching itself and smacking into his leg. It felt like being hit with a wet bag of sand—not deadly, but surprisingly solid and painful.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dq1dELNSh
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“Yowch! Okay, you little jerk!”351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky9OaACC0B
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This wasn’t a quick game fight. This was a clumsy, gritty, undignified scrap. He couldn’t just press a button for a skill. He had to actually move, dodge, and swing. He kicked at it, his bare foot connecting with the same squelching sensation. He overbalanced and fell onto his backside in the grass.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKIn67wo2v
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The slime hopped onto his chest. He grabbed it with both hands, the substance oozing between his fingers, and with a grunt of effort, he ripped it in two. The two halves quivered for a moment before dissolving into a faint, shimmering mist.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjp3CUt6cG
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A warmth flowed into him. A transparent, grey text appeared in his vision, simple and profound.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rLpMGL8j2
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[Strength +1]351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvCANX3S3S
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Eon lay there in the grass, chest heaving, covered in faintly glowing slime residue. He started to laugh, a real, breathless, incredulous laugh that echoed in the quiet field.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVWXnw5ihq
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He had nothing. No class, no skills, no gear, no respect.351Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ3OzgpAyb
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But he had one single point of Strength that he had earned all by himself. And for the first time in a long time, that felt like everything.

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