Haven Online: Brewing Chaos

Chapter 5: Game Start

The sound of the doorbell filled Fenix with excitement. It was Saturday, the day he had been eagerly waiting for—the day his VR pod would arrive.

After days of careful research, he finally settled on the perfect one. He poured over reviews, compared prices and features, and thoroughly researched every aspect. Confident he had made the right choice, he couldn't wait to begin playing Haven Online.

'And start my revenge,' he thought with a satisfied smirk.

Admittedly, it wasn't solely for revenge; Fenix had a genuine passion for the game and its vibrant virtual world. Haven Online also served as a therapeutic outlet for his Pyrophobia (fear of fire), greatly aiding in his coping with the condition.

As the delivery men set up the pod in his room, Fenix's mind wandered to his memories of playing Haven Online. Despite being stuck gathering plants for that shady corporation in his previous life, he had always found time to explore the game's vast world.

He also spent countless hours on forums, reading about other players' adventures, and watching live streams on KiloXA, a website where players could broadcast their in-game experiences and earn some extra cash.

Because of that, he knew about many hidden and unique locations inside the game. If he had been more interested in grinding for levels, he could have easily become a top-ranked player. However, the idea of spending all day grinding monsters didn't appeal to him at all.

Snapping himself out of his thoughts, Fenix noticed that the installation of the VR pod was complete. His anticipation grew as he looked at the sleek, futuristic equipment now taking up a significant portion of his room.

In his past life, the idea of him purchasing such costly equipment for playing a game would have been unimaginable. After all, the VR pod alone had a hefty price tag of $35,000, not to mention the monthly medical assistance fee of $100. And let's not forget the cost of nutrient solutions on top of that - $200 per case.

The mere thought of how much money he had spent left him with a strange feeling. He realized that his days of being frugal weren't behind him yet. In his previous life, he would have never spent such a large sum of money. Luckily, the pod came with a year's worth of nutrient solution, so he wouldn't have to worry about that expense for now.

With everything set up, Fenix thanked the delivery men and saw them out. Walking back to his room, he couldn't help but admire his new VR pod. It was as big as a small twin-sized bed, with an elegant oval shape and a small hatch.

As he approached the pod, Fenix couldn't resist running his fingers over its smooth, cool surface, admiring its refined, cutting-edge design. With a smile, he opened the hatch and felt a surge of excitement as he saw what lay inside.

There was a plush, comfortable mattress that was perfectly designed to cradle his body during long hours of gameplay. He also noticed electronic eyewear connected to the pod, ready to transport him into the immersive world of Haven Online.

Small electrodes were waiting to be hooked up to his body, ensuring a seamless connection between his physical form and the virtual reality realm. He also saw small plastic tubes sticking out of the interior walls, part of the nutrient delivery system that would sustain him while he played.

The pod was truly a marvel of engineering, effortlessly blending comfort with cutting-edge technology. It was worth every penny he spent on it.

Fenix furrowed his brow as he looked at the tubes, struggling to recall their function. Then, he remembered from his research that they converted the nutrient solution into gas, which would be absorbed by his body while he was in virtual reality.