Letheon: Lethe Online

What doesn't kill me, Might make me kill you .1

A young girl, dressed in attire reminiscent of a nymph, gracefully moved in a circular pattern around a slumbering young man, nestled peacefully upon the lush grass. This picturesque scene, reminiscent of nymphs found in the second city known as The Land of Gua, was unfolding in an unexpected location – the Beginners Town. This designated starting point served as the official bind spot for new players, offering them a foundation to embark on their gaming journey, learn the ropes, and ascend in levels.

In a world where technological innovation had catapulted Japan into the forefront of the modern era, the realm of possibilities knew no bounds. Yet, despite this boundless potential, mastery in any field remained a challenge that not everyone could conquer. There were underlying factors contributing to this difficulty, twofold in nature. First, there existed a subset of individuals who were unable to fully harness their inherent powers. Whether stemming from fear or a deficiency in natural aptitude and practical experience, the utilization of these abilities proved elusive.

Secondly, a unique restriction was imposed – the prohibition from taking virtual life. In the infancy of Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (VRMMORPGs), game content leaned towards the whimsical, designed to be child-friendly. Monsters sported bizarre forms, creating a sense of detachment from reality that justified their virtual demise. However, should these digital creatures exude a more graphic and visceral portrayal of violence – if blood sprayed, if dying heartbeats resonated through one's senses, if gory entrails emerged from a monster's wound, or, worst of all, if brains exploded upon being struck – the implications would be dire. Such a violent depiction could result in legal ramifications, with game developers finding themselves entangled in legal proceedings.

Thus, while the virtual realm held the promise of boundless horizons, intricate dynamics shaped the intersection of technology, human capacity, and societal norms, dictating the boundaries within which the digital world could evolve.

Letheon, however, diverged from the norm. Within the game's core essence lay an unwavering focus on the battle against monsters, a conviction held by the game developers who believed that perfecting this element was the key to the game's triumph. Their commitment was evident in the painstaking realism they instilled into these battles, an endeavor that ventured into the realm of cruelty.

The developers' definition of realism extended beyond mere aesthetics. While grotesque details such as spilling organs, erupting brains, or wriggling maggots were eschewed, the splattering of blood remained vividly authentic. The creatures engaged in combat refused to remain passive recipients of injury. Instead, they displayed a fierce realism – wounded monsters reacted by moving defensively, bellowing in wrathful protest. This level of verisimilitude posed a challenge for many, leading some to abandon the game in the face of their inability to confront and conquer the virtual adversaries. This marked a form of perceived personal failure, a stumbling block for those seeking enjoyment but being met with stress.

Acknowledging this dilemma, the game developers implemented an elegant solution – an elaborate tutorial. The goal was to ensure a seamless entry into the game, preventing undue stress and disillusionment. After all, the concept of gaming inherently clashed with the notion of being burdened with distress.

Aiken, grappling with a profound sense of disbelief, found himself enveloped in shock. The events leading up to this bewildering moment played on a loop in his mind. He vividly remembered the bus abruptly colliding with a truck, his consciousness seemingly extinguished in an instant. However, his immediate surroundings betrayed his expectations. He was inexplicably within Letheon, lacking comprehension of how or when he had logged in. Doubt and confusion clouded his thoughts, leaving him to contemplate whether his mind had succumbed to the clutches of an intricate delusion or hallucination, culminating in his surreal presence within this alternate realm.