Ready Player One X reader

chapter 1

My name is (Y/N). I was born in 2028. My parents abandoned me when I was just five years old. Since then, I’ve been living alone in a small trailer in Columbus, in a place called The Stacks.

By 2045, Columbus has become the fastest-growing city on Earth. It’s the birthplace of Gregarious Games, founded by Halliday and Morrow. In a world where reality often feels grim, everyone is searching for an escape.

That’s why Halliday became a hero to us all. He showed us a way to transcend reality without ever leaving our homes.

James Halliday envisioned the future and built it. He created a sanctuary for us—a place called...

THE OASIS.

When I logged in, I entered the OASIS, a virtual world where you can escape reality and become anyone you want to be. It’s where friendships are made, though mine have been few. I briefly worked with Art3mis, but that didn’t last.

The OASIS was the brainchild of James Halliday and his partner, Ogden Morrow. Released in 2025, it was an instant success, making both men incredibly wealthy. However, Morrow faded from the scene after a few years.

Halliday wasn’t just the owner of the world’s biggest company; he was a deity to many, worshipped as much as his creation. But on January 7th, 2040, he died.

What he left behind changed everything. Halliday created an Easter egg, promising control of the OASIS and his entire fortune to its finder. To claim the prize, one must discover three keys. Yet, in five years, no one has found even one. The scoreboard remains empty.

A long-forgotten gunter cracked the first clue and uncovered the first challenge, which triggered the appearance of a portal.

Halliday’s first challenge was a race, designed to be nearly impossible. Only the gunters—the egg hunters—were still trying to complete it.

I headed to the back of the arena, searching for an open spot. I opened my inventory and summoned my car—a replica of KITT from the old TV show Knight Rider. It was a nostalgic reminder of the times I spent watching it with my parents.

I climbed in, and to my right, I noticed a boy with a DeLorean from Back to the Future. He stared at my car in awe. I smiled and gave a small wave, and he returned the gesture before focusing on the track. As the countdown began, I started the engine. The light turned green, and fireworks erupted, signaling the start of the race.

The race was brutal. IOI cars seemed almost intent on failure, crashing into obstacles. We passed a train and approached a giant dinosaur that wreaked havoc on the competitors. Only a few cars made it through, facing Kong as the final obstacle. No one had ever made it past Kong.

I glanced back and saw Art3mis and the boy in the DeLorean trailing behind me. Suddenly, Kong leaped onto the track, destroying the road ahead. I stopped my car as Kong reached for it. Just then, the boy from earlier yanked me out of the vehicle.

“Watch out!” he shouted, pulling me out of the way just as Kong hurled my car away.

Art3mis narrowly avoided being zeroed out on her bike. I stood by my wrecked car, disheartened.

“Damn! I loved that thing,” I said.

The boy ran up beside me. “Oh, Aech—he’s my friend. He can fix it for you.”

“Alright,” I replied.

“I’m Parzival, by the way.”

“(G/T),” I introduced myself.

Parzival stowed the DeLorean back into his inventory and, together, we teleported to his friend's workshop.