Thunderous cheers rippled across the stadium like an earthquake made of human voices.
"AND THAT'S IT! A WORLD RECORD SET IN UNDER ONE MINUTE! ABSOLUTE SIN TAKES IT HOME!" The commentator's voice exploded over the loudspeakers, barely audible over the roar of the crowd.
Ren Yakovlev—known in the esports world as Absolute Sin—removed his neural visor with practiced grace, unfazed by the thousands of eyes watching his every move. His black hair was damp with sweat, his expression cool and unreadable beneath the edge of his half-mask: a han'nya-style demon smile that covered the lower half of his face. Only his cold ocean-blue eyes betrayed the slight twitch of exhaustion, quickly replaced by the steel calm of someone who had been doing this for far too long.
He didn't wave. He never did.
Sin didn't need to wave to get attention. He was the final boss of the VR competitive scene, the guy sponsors lined up to throw money at, and the guy every other finalist secretly hoped would disqualify at the last minute so they might have a chance.
He stood up, adjusted the gloves on his hands, and walked off the platform like it was just another Tuesday.
Behind the scenes, camera crews and commentators scrambled to prepare for the post-match interview. He gave them a polite nod and sat in the designated chair under the blinding stage lights.
The reporter leaned forward with an excited gleam. "Absolute Sin, that was… unreal. A record-breaking win in 58.6 seconds. How do you even prepare for a tournament like this?"
Ren's voice was calm, clipped—professional. "Same as always. Research, muscle memory, execution."
"No nerves?"
He tilted his head slightly. "You don't get to play at this level if nerves still matter."
"Fair enough! So, Sin—what's next for the world champ? Still sticking with Satisfied, or are the rumors true? We heard you might be jumping into YGGDRASIL when it launches next month."
Ren let the silence hang for a moment before he responded. "I preordered on the first day. Of course I'm playing."
The crowd erupted again from behind the studio glass.
"And the rumors about building another paladin-type character?"
His smile, hidden beneath the mask, was evident in the arch of his visible eye. "You'll see."
The reporter laughed nervously. "Mysterious as ever. Any last words to your fans out there?"
Ren stood up. "Log off. Touch some grass."
The broadcast cut to the outro as the stage lights dimmed.
Later that evening, Ren met up with one of the only people he genuinely liked: Touch Me.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite antisocial god." Touch Me grinned, his broad shoulders still clad in a custom exo-suit designed to match his iconic in-game paladin look. "You were disgusting out there."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, I think?"
"You wiped the floor with a tier-five PvP build using nothing but a counter-sequence and footwork. I've seen AI surrender slower."
They bumped fists as they made their way to the rooftop of the arena—one of the few spots in Neo Kyoto that wasn't caked in neon smog. Even then, the skyline was dim and the air smelled of ozone.
"Surprised you came alone," Ren remarked, glancing at the empty seats around them.
Touch Me chuckled. "Girlfriend's mad. Said I've been spending more time studying YGGDRASIL previews than her."
"You have been watching beta breakdowns on loop."
"I need to be prepared!" Touch Me leaned on the railing, gazing out over the arcology's sealed skylight. "You seen what this game can do? Open class structures. Custom race paths. Free PvP and guild base design. It's gonna make Satisfied look like Pong."
Ren nodded. "The lore system alone is insane. And the item crafting… You can bind morality-based enchantments to gear. You get better buffs if your character's choices match your alignment."
"Exactly! You gonna stick with a paladin?"
"Most likely. YGGDRASIL's paladin tree is deeper than anything we've ever played with. Multi-layered synergy with holy spells, aura effects, judgment builds... If the leak about the Blessed Knight subclass is true, it'll be game-breaking."
Touch Me smirked. "Sounds like you've already planned your entire build."
Ren didn't deny it.
"I've run the theorycraft. Paladins with the right racial class path get innate holy resistance and magic regen. Stack that with mana shields, and you're unkillable in duels. Add Divine Executioner and you're cutting through undead like wet paper."
Touch Me gave him a long look. "Still all business, huh?"
Ren didn't reply.
"You ever think about making a fun character? Roleplaying a bit? Or is it still all about staying on top?"
Ren exhaled. "Fun doesn't pay the bills. Strong builds do."
Touch Me went quiet for a moment.
"You know... It's weird. You're one of the most fun guys to hang out with in guild chat. But in person, you're like a machine."
"Can't afford to be anything else."
The wind blew, thick with the stench of synthetic air filters and acid haze. In the distance, a digital billboard showed a trailer for YGGDRASIL, promising limitless adventure and player freedom.
Ren stared at it, and for just a second, something in his shoulders loosened.
"I need this game," he muttered.
Touch Me turned. "You okay?"
Ren gave him a dry smile. "I'm always okay. I'm just... tired of being who I have to be."
They sat in silence for a while, two friends watching the world rot beneath corporate lights and poisonous clouds, dreaming of another life in a virtual world where they could finally be who they wanted.
"Y'know," Touch Me said eventually, "you should really consider changing that name before launch."
Ren groaned. "Don't remind me."
"I mean it. Absolute Sin? Really?"
"I made that account when I was thirteen and had peak eighth-grader syndrome. And now it's trademarked. Do you know how many brands are built on that name? I can't change it."
Touch Me was laughing now.
"It's my dark history," Ren muttered, covering his face.
"Well," Touch Me said with a grin, "if your dark history's that embarrassing, then I can't wait to see your avatar when we log in."
Ren glanced up at the billboard again.
"I just hope... it feels real enough."
Touch Me looked at him.
"It will."