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The VR world...

Yes, the technology of this world is so advanced that they have figured out how VR technology works and use it very well. Although the aesthetics of the human civilization fell somewhat behind, don’t let this fool you; they’ve gone far into researching the technological tree.

Although there are many uses for the VR world, for martial artists, its most common function is for fighting. Martial artists must fight after all.

There are tons of games, events, competitions, and arenas available in the VR world one could go to experience the hype and excitement of a fight. The best part is that, nowadays, VR tech has advanced to a level where it could start influencing the body. Meaning that, so long as the right permissions were given, what happens in the VR world will have some slight effect on the user’s physical body.

As expected, VR tech of this level isn’t cheap. A whole VR cabin costs around 100,000 to 150,000 GMCs (Grand Martial Credits), and that’s not including the mods and the bills that come with it.

100,000 GMCs are enough for a family of five to spend for an entire year. To use that just to buy a piece of technology that’s mostly used for entertainment is something only the upper-class citizens and families will do.

With how expensive it was, even the hero could only settle for a VR helmet for a good while, an older version of VR tech that doesn’t include the advanced beneficial effects of VR cabins.

Mikel bought a VR cabin for Ren for his graduation gift. It hadn’t been used too much since Ren was busy with his practice, but now, he’s looking at it for added benefits.

He already had a full grasp on the recent techniques he practiced. And as much as he’d love to move on and learn more, he knew that he couldn’t do so without experiencing some form of combat.

Martial artists must fight. It’s in their blood, it’s the purpose of its establishment, and it’s the reason why it’s still being taught to this day.

Even Ren with all his talent and advantages can’t go on without experiencing combat.

And since he couldn’t find a reliable sparring partner in the clan and is still not allowed to go to dungeons to experience live combat, diving into the VR world should do for now.

Ren had already registered and made a VR account the night he received the VR Cabin. He didn’t fiddle much with it and just explored the basic and common functions of the VR world since then.

He had a small world that he could decorate and change according to his preferred aesthetics. Ren experienced what it’s like to be a god while reorganizing his small world, and it felt great.

Once he was done, his small world turned into a tiny paradise. It’s bright and sunny; the earth is filled with lush and vibrant greenery with a cool and crisp breeze carrying the scent of flowers.

It’s the perfect place for him to unwind and relax. It’s quiet, peaceful, serene, and incredibly relaxing. So much so that Ren sleeps here instead of his actual bed. He prefers lying on the grass and falling asleep here instead of in his real-world bed.

Well, there isn’t really that much of a difference where he sleeps. It’s just a matter of preference for him.

This was how Ren used this cabin since he got it. But that changes now, obviously.

Fortunately, it wasn’t so difficult to use the VR Cabin. The controls were user- and beginner-friendly; there’s also an AI that’s ready to assist at any given moment.

With but a thought from him, the list of channels he could go to experience some actual combat unfolded before him. There are dozens of them, each one offering a unique experience for the participants. Some had difficult challenges, some had prize offers, some had more audience, and others were just reskinned versions of the popular worlds.

Ren filtered this list; anything that was not approved or verified by the world system was removed, and with that exclusion alone, at least 75% of the channels on the list were gone. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The reason why Ren did this was to prevent himself from being scammed. This isn’t to say that all the unverified channels out there sought to scam their audience, but there are certainly some who would, and even with all the rules and regulations that the VR World set to prevent this from happening, some people will still find loopholes to take advantage of just for the sake of earning credits.

Ren wasn’t a tech-savvy person; he never was even in his previous life. The number of times he clicked on a link that led to his social media accounts being exposed was frankly embarrassing.

He wasn’t one to point fingers or become suspicious of everybody who looked or sounded shady, but he didn’t want to be scammed either, so he had to do something to protect himself.

Only those that bear the acknowledgement and the insignia of the World System can guarantee that he would accidentally sign away his life for something incredible.

Keep in mind that the World System isn’t something that the government, the Grand Martial Union, that is, created. The World System predates the GMU. The GMU could exert some semblance of control over the World System but not completely, never completely.

Ren knows the origin of the World System since he knows the story, but that’s not important right now.

Anyway, the World System isn’t an enemy. It exists to help humans; that’s its priority. It has its own rules and protocols. Therefore, Ren could trust it in matters like online scamming prevention.

With the list to choose from shortened, Ren had a much easier time sorting through his preferences.

He was interested in those channels that offer prizes, but his main concern was how to gain experience.

[The Challenger’s Rise]

That’s the name of the world he chose in the end.

[The Challenger’s Rise] is a simple combat arena with a daily audience of about 75k people.

The rules in this world were simple. Participants could either participate in PvP (Player vs. Player) or PvM (Player vs. Monster). They could participate solo or join a party; the challenge changes depending on their choice, of course.

This world was verified not only by the World System but was also sponsored by the Grand Martial Union. Ren even remembered it being reported in the Royal News Channel too, and that’s because of the prize offers it has.

It’s very popular, and the world is always crowded with people. Ren wouldn’t have any difficulties finding challengers here.

Ren wasn’t aiming for the prizes. He’s too weak to even think of those. He just wants experience.

But before he participates in a match, there are a couple of setting changes that he needs to do.

One of which was the realism setting. This refers to the rate at which his virtual experience becomes translated into his physical body.

Ren cranked it up to 75%, which was also the maximum it could currently go. This meant that everything he experienced in a virtual fight, be it hitting someone or getting hit, would be transmitted in a very realistic way to his physical body in the cabin.

He’s getting to feel 75% of the consequences of his actions. Meaning that any bruises, pain, injuries, etc. will be transmitted to his actual body. The cabin will stimulate the sensations on its own to replicate the feeling.

Of course, there’s an exception to this, the main one being death.

Oh yes, dying is very possible in the VR world. In fact, it’s because it’s VR that humans become more unhinged and less terrified of death.

If it’s a quick death, then the VR Cabin will simply cut off the experience. It wouldn’t stimulate the sensation of the user dying so quickly. Even more so for slow and torturous deaths. The VR cabin, upon sensing the user’s distress, will immediately sever the connection to the VR world to wake up the user in the real world.

Ren didn’t mess with the settings in this part. He kept them as is for his own benefit and safety.

It was only after he was done adjusting the settings that went into the world of [The Challenger’s Rise].

Upon his arrival there, he was immediately swarmed by the noise.

There were a lot of people around him, excitedly discussing the events happening in the arena.

No, he didn’t spawn in the middle of the arena right away to start his challenge. He spawned near the tavern outside of the arena where most of the visitors go.

This world didn’t just contain the arena; it had taverns, pubs, inns, and other places as well.

The arena itself was obvious from afar. The structure reminded him of the Roman Colosseum in his previous life.

Watching the match live costs VR credits, but people could also watch from the outside since there were large system windows broadcasting the fight attached to the outside walls of the coliseum itself.

Ren decided to watch a few matches for now to become more familiar with this place.