Chapter 3: Chapter 3 – Moving and Horizon Online’s Release

Things were moving pretty fast after that, and a month had passed. It was enough time to accept they had traveled to the past with a game item, no matter how absurd it sounded.

Ferin had arranged everything Atlas needed, including settling his $10,000 debt to the government and buying a new VR capsule for him.

Getting a capsule that was currently sold like a hot cake was simple because of her connection with the manufacturer company. One of the owner's children was her best friend.

Not only that, but she also forced him to move with her. The reason was simple. She was lonely being alone in her condo, especially after spending more than 2 years together with him in the same home. They were pretty much inseparable by now.

That, however, brought a controversial scandal to the internet. Ferin, as she had said, was a pretty popular model who appeared in many big online magazines and news. She had even been invited to some programs before.

The fact she was sitting close to a man and called herself his girlfriend brought a scandal. Many people became curious about it. Her reputation was said to have taken a nosedive from this scandal. Even her manager and agency messaged her about this.

However, she didn't care about it. She only cared about Horizon Online, that was all. So, she made a decisive move by posting on Strike, a social media used by many people.

[I am dating Atlas, and all rumors are true. Please don't bother me and my relationship.]

Her arrogance was clear in her words. But, her personality was already famous among other people. Rumors spread. Many people called out Atlas and dug into his past. When they found out he was poor, they called him a gold-digger and said he should stay away from Ferin.

The worst part was her agency. They called her and told her to kick him out when they found out he had moved Into her condo.

It angered Ferin, and she made another post.

[If you keep bugging us, then I better retire from the entertainment industry.]

Atlas saw the message as she made it while lying on his lap.

"Is that okay? Won't you be asked to pay a fine if you retire right now? That's the reason why you kept modeling until your contract was over back then."

"Nothing to worry about, At. My agency won't fire their number one. Rather, if they do fire me, I can just focus on Horizon Online. I have enough to last us for 5 years, and we can always make money from the game. Rather, pat me, please. I am so angry they called you a gold-digger!"

"Hmm, well."

Atlas hummed and patted her, just as she requested. She purred in happiness.

"I mean, they aren't wrong. Right now, I am a definition of a no-use man, someone who relies on his girlfriend to pay for his debt."

"Don't say that! You're the best man I ever met." She retorted, looking at him from below with a pout. "That makes me angry, you know?"

"Hahaha, sorry."

He chuckled at her cute pout and caressed her cheek, pinching them lightly. She tried to get out but was unable to and ended up melting in his hand.

"You can be angry, but stand up now, Fer. The game will be released soon. We don't want anyone to take the hidden quest ahead from us accidentally."

"Oh, you're right! I didn't check on the time because I read those frustrating comments."

Horizon Online's server would be online soon, at 10 AM local time. Atlas needed to prepare himself to level up fast and get the hidden item he hadn't managed to get in his past. This was a new game+ for those who had future knowledge.

"Do you remember our plan, Fer? Please don't mess up the character creation. The reason why we played this early should've been clear."

"I know already. Creating the character will take most of our time today if our RNG isn't that good."

"That's right."

Atlas nodded and urged her to move. Once she did, he stood up and stretched his body.

Ferin also jumped off the couch and both walked to their bedroom together. Inside, two VR capsules sat side by side. The one on the left was pink in color, and the one on the right was white. She customized her capsule because it looked cute, according to her.

Without stopping to do anything else, they opened their capsule and climbed in. Once inside, Atlas looked to the side at Ferin.

"Well then, let's log in. I will see you in the beginner village."

"Hehe, see you in your new character."

Having said their goodbye, Atlas closed the capsule with a button and dived inside the VR world.

[Entering Lobby.]

A mechanical voice rang in his ears, and his vision changed. He appeared on what appeared to be a harbor, with the sea spread in front of his eyes.

Many ships were docked, but they didn't take any of the beauty this place had to offer. Rather, they seemed to make this place complete.

Atlas was on one of the largest ships. It was rocking against the wave and made his foothold unstable, but he liked this feeling. He wore what seemed like a rough sailor outfit. His favorite roleplay was to become a pirate, after all.

'My old Lobby.' He thought as he looked around. A feeling of nostalgia awakened in him. 'This is still so nostalgic. It's been a month since I entered the VR world.'

While he wanted to enjoy it any longer, he unfortunately couldn't. He immediately opened a screen with a list of the games he had.

Surprisingly, he had many of them, as he dreamed of becoming a streamer in the past. But, after a while, he realized he had nothing to offer and stopped focusing on Horizon Online. That was his best decision ever.

After scrolling for a while, he found the game that he had been searching for. He was on time. There was only 10 seconds before the server went online.

Everyone must've counted down now. On the first day, Horizon Online boasted more than ten million players. Atlas still remembered how it broke the record back then. Unfortunately, he wasn't one of those ten million players in the past.

But he was given another chance. Now, he and Ferin would be able to be part of those ten million. The countdown kept decreasing. When it reached zero…

"And start."

He immediately pressed start, and his avatar was transported into the game with a blue flash.

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