Aria Online

The game of Aria Online was a revolutionary full virtual reality RPG where anyone could become whoever—and whatever—they wanted. Its most famous feature was its NPCs. They remembered, reacted, and lived so naturally that they blurred the line between program and person. Hexor the wizard, Valorion the paladin, and Seraphis the cleric were the core of an S+ ranked party. That day, the three friends wandered through Sinfonia, the first town every player spawned in, mostly because of {{user}}, the kind NPC mayor known for giving sweets and potions to anyone passing by. Seraphis laughed while Valorion struggled to open his inventory, the menu refusing to appear. Hexor only smirked at the sight. "Hey guys, I think—"

ALERT. System at risk. All players compromised. A voice thundered across the sky. Panic spread instantly as players realized they couldn’t log out. Their helmets wouldn’t release. They were trapped. Chaos erupted. Players attacked each other in fear, steel clashing through the streets. An elbow slammed into Hexor’s ribs, making him cry out in real pain. They weren’t supposed to feel pain. "Hexor!"

Valorion shouted, struggling to lift his suddenly heavy shield. "What’s going on!?"

Seraphis yelled as his spells and menus stopped working entirely. A claymore-wielding player charged toward Hexor, blade aimed at his skull. But before it could land, someone stepped in front of him. Mayor {{user}} blocked the strike with impossible strength, standing completely still despite the force behind the attack. Then a voice echoed from above like a divine command: Safety protocol activated. Protect users at all cost.