Deep Sea Game -Aquatic Frontier- 'The Truth of the "God-Tier Game" Beginning at the Boundary Between Reality and Virtual' 1

Synopsis

A mysterious special experience event is held, to which high-scoring gamers who have made a name for themselves in the latest games are invited.
The protagonist, a gamer named Van (Shogo), boards a luxurious flying airship with high expectations.
However, the fun comes to an abrupt end, and due to an inexplicable anomaly, the ship is led into an unknown region of the deep sea.
What he sees through his goggles is a world of wonders, filled with artificial structures that defy reality.
The guide states calmly, 'Everything you have experienced so far is just a prologue; the "real game" begins here.'
In an extreme situation where virtual and reality intersect, Van, along with friends with whom he has deepened his bonds through games, challenges the truth and hidden purpose of this massive experience in this sci-fi mystery adventure.

Part 1: The Invitation and the Floating Paradise

Prologue: The Door to the Ordinary and the Extraordinary

A triple monitor setup is arranged to cover the entire wall.
On the largest screen in the center, a colorful fantasy RPG world is spread out.
On the left screen, a strategy wiki is open, and on the right, a stream from a popular game streamer is playing.
On the desk, multiple controllers of different shapes and colors are placed carelessly, and a well-worn gaming chair sits in the middle.
This is my castle, Van—my real name is Shogo.

Ever since I graduated from high school, I have spent my days doing nothing but part-time jobs and playing games.
No, to be precise, it might be more accurate to say that I spend the money I earn from my part-time job on games, and dedicate all my other time to them.
Hang out with friends? Online, of course.
Travel? Exploring the vast fields within a game is enough.
Whenever I have time, I have a controller, a smartphone, or a mouse and keyboard in my hands.

It was on that day, when I had finished my daily quests as usual and was checking the rankings of the online game I participate in.
The raid boss clear time ranking I was aiming for had once again been taken by a rival by a narrow margin.
'Damn it, just one more step...! No, is this the limit with my current party composition? Should I boost my firepower a bit more, or increase the number of debuffers...'

As I stared at the screen, strategizing for my next attempt, a new mail notification appeared small on the taskbar.
I thought it was just an advertisement from a game company or some suspicious spam, and at first, I decided to ignore it.
However, I noticed an unfamiliar label, '[GameExperience]', in the sender field, and my interest was piqued a little.
I clicked to open the email. It was written in an eye-catching black font on a simple white-based design.

'Dear Chosen Player,'
What is this, some kind of chuunibyou thing? I thought for a moment, but my eyes were glued to the following text.

'Thank you very much for your continued patronage of our game content.
We would like to express our sincere respect for your outstanding play skills and deep game knowledge.
Therefore, we cordially invite you to a special advance experience event, which will mark the beginning of a "new gaming experience"'

'...Huh? A special advance experience event?'
I continued reading the text.
It seems that I was invited because my high scores and achievements in various games I have played in the past were recognized.
And it hints that this "new gaming experience" will be something completely new, overturning the concepts of games as we know them.

'This is not just a game. It is a true "experience" where reality and virtuality fuse to shake your five senses.
We will keep the details under wraps until the day of the event, but this will surely be a stage worthy of a true player like you.'

'Reality and virtuality fuse...? Shake your five senses...?'
It sounds suspicious, if anything.
How did they get my personal information?
High scores in what game, exactly?
The other, anxious part of me asks.
But an emotion that overwhelmingly surpasses that begins to well up.

'New gaming experience'
'Overturning the concepts of games'
'A stage worthy of a true player'
These kinds of hype phrases are nothing if not things that tickle a gamer's heart.
Perhaps this is a chance to witness the birth of an incredible "god-tier game".
No, it seems to be more than just a level of game playtesting.
They call it an "experience".

'...I'm going. I have to go, don't I!'
Feeling an excitement like I had been selected for a beta test of a new game—no, even more than that—and with my heart racing in anticipation of an unknown "god-tier game," I clicked the button to accept the invitation.

At the meeting place, other young people who also exude a gamer aura are gathering. Everyone looks somewhat restless.
The designated location was a facility with a sophisticated design, a little away from the city center, but one that seemed to have gathered the best of the latest technology.
When I presented my invitation email and ID at the entrance, I was led to a waiting area after a simple check.

Gathered there were young people around my age.
At first glance, they look like ordinary, modern young people, but if you observe them a little, you can immediately tell that they are not just anyone.

A guy with what looks like a high-spec laptop peeking out of his backpack.
A guy who is constantly fiddling with his smartphone with his fingertips, scrolling through the screen at high speed.
A guy whose conversation is full of words like 'update,' 'nerf,' and 'bug.'
Their clothes are varied, but I feel a certain common 'aura' about them.
Yes, they are all people on the side of 'holding a controller whenever they have time.'

Everyone is somewhat restless, just like me.
They look like they are nervous about their first offline event, and they also look like they are building up expectations for the "new experience" that is about to begin.
They exchange glances as if probing each other, or are already having a lively time in groups that seem to be acquaintances.
It's just like an offline event venue for a large-scale online game.

"Wow, there are quite a few people here. Everyone looks like a hardcore gamer."
I also tighten my grip on my backpack, stand against the wall, and observe my surroundings.
Naturally, I start profiling each person based on their appearance, guessing what kind of games they might be good at.
That big guy over there is probably into FPS or fighting games.
Is the kid quietly looking at their smartphone in the corner into puzzle or simulation games?
Ah, that group is definitely an MMO crew.

Embarking into the Unknown

After a while, a staff member in a suit appeared and began guiding the participants in order.
It seems we are being divided into groups of 20.
I was assigned to the 15th group.

"Mr. Van, this is your group. Please, this way."
Guided by the staff, I headed toward a massive door at the back of the waiting area.
When the door opened, a sight I never could have imagined spread out before me.
I was led into a spacious area that reminded me of a luxury cruise terminal.
Docked there was a vehicle that was far too futuristic to be called a ship.

It had a smooth, streamlined shape overall, and its surface was covered in a glossy, special material.
There were few windows, but transparent panels were embedded in parts of it.
"This is... a vehicle?"
Surprised voices and murmurs rose from the other participants as well.
Both the terminal and the vehicle had designs that looked like they belonged in a game world.
It felt surreal, yet strangely well-crafted and realistic.

A man was standing in front of the vehicle.
He was dressed neatly in a suit, his back straight.
He had almost no expression, quietly watching the participants.
He must be Kazumasa Hirata, the guide mentioned in the invitation email.

"Welcome, everyone. My name is Hirata, and I will be your guide today."
His voice was smooth but lacked inflection, sounding almost like a machine.
I couldn't read any emotion from him at all.

"From here on, you will board this 'Floating Ship Explorer' and experience the introductory part of a 'new gaming experience'.
Please, proceed inside the ship."

"Floating ship"? At that word, murmurs broke out among the participants again.
A ship that floats? Does that mean it flies through the sky instead of sailing the sea?
Expectation and confusion mixed at the surreal sound of it.

Flying Entertainment Cruise

The interior of the vehicle, or rather the floating ship, was even more sophisticated than the exterior.
Spacious areas like those on a luxury cruise ship were furnished with futuristic designs.
The floor was soft, and the walls and ceilings were fitted with indirect lighting.
There was almost none of the noise typical of a vehicle; it was quiet and comfortable.

I sat in my assigned seat and fastened my belt.
Outside the window, the terminal scenery was still visible, but Hirata's announcement played.
"Everyone, please check your seatbelts. We will be taking off shortly."
Take off? So it really does fly in the sky.

Tension and excitement mounted.
The floating ship began to move, surprisingly quietly.
There was no sound and almost no vibration.
The scenery outside the window slowly moved away from the ground.
It felt just like the camera angle rising in a game.

I felt a slight sensation of my body lifting.
Then, a strange feeling of weightlessness arrived, as if I were being freed from the gravity I had felt until then.
"Whoa, are you serious!?"
Someone shouted involuntarily.

Looking out the window, the buildings on the ground shrank rapidly, and our perspective climbed higher and higher.
The blue sky drew closer, and white clouds became visible below us.
"It's floating...! It's really flying in the sky!"
"No way! This isn't CG, is it!?"
Cheers erupted from inside the ship, and voices of surprise flew back and forth.

Even the usually calm gamers couldn't hide their excitement at this sight.
I also caught my breath.
I had flown in the sky in game worlds many times, but experiencing this in reality (or in a form as close to reality as possible) felt completely different.

The floating ship transitioned to stable flight, and Hirata's announcement played again.
"From here on, you will enjoy various latest game attractions to your heart's content on this floating ship, the 'Explorer'. Please feel free to explore the ship and prepare for the next 'experience'."

Latest game attractions?
Does that mean this floating ship itself is a giant arcade, or perhaps some kind of game space?
At Hirata's words, the participants' excitement grew even further.

The Sprouting of Interaction and Friendship

The seatbelt sign turned off, and the participants stood up all at once.
Everyone was looking around the ship with eyes full of curiosity and expectation, as if they had just entered a new map.

The interior of the ship was more spacious than I had imagined.
There were state-of-the-art VR game booths, competitive games that could be played on giant screens, a space lined with analog but elaborate card games and board games, and even attractions like mystery-solving and escape games.
It was a space that any game lover would find irresistible.

At first, everyone was absorbed in the novel games, playing intently by themselves, or sizing up the room to see if there were any other players who had made a name for themselves online.
I also tried a few games, and every single one of them had graphics, operability, and quality of experience that were on a completely different level.
This might just be a glimpse of a "new gaming experience."

After a while, the atmosphere inside the ship began to change little by little.
Participants who had been playing silently by themselves started talking to the players next to them, or naturally forming teams for attractions that required cooperative play.

"How do you beat this boss?"
"Hey, this is impossible alone!"
"Someone, help me out with this!"
Such voices began to be heard from all around.

Gamers, after all, might be creatures who want to share interesting games and the joy of conquering them.
I stopped in front of a VR shooting attraction in a corner of the ship.
The latest VR goggles and the controller in my hand felt just like real firearms. Just as I was about to start by myself, a large young man standing at the adjacent booth called out to me.

"Hey! Solo? This is definitely more fun if you do it with two people!"
It was a carefree, cheerful voice.
He seemed to be a participant from the same group as me.
With his slightly brownish hair cropped short and his muscular build, I could sense an aura that suggested he was well-versed in FPS and competitive games.

"Oh, really? Then, shall we do it together?"
I readily agreed, and we challenged the shooting game together.
We shot down enemies appearing one after another while calling out to each other.
His playstyle was the type where his body moved before he thought.
He seemed good at stepping forward without fear of risk and drawing the enemies' attention.

I calmly provided support from the rear, prioritizing the elimination of dangerous enemies.
Our coordination clicked perfectly.
"Whoa! Van, nice cover! I almost died there!"
Suddenly, he called me "Van" as if he knew my game name.

I was surprised, but it was probably displayed on my profile or something.
"Oh, Statsman. You're the one rushing in too much. It's all over if you die."
I called him back by what seemed to be his game name.
His name was "Statsman."
It was a name typical of an FPS player.

"Hehe, my body just moves on its own! But Van, your support is a real lifesaver! Your aim is insane!"
"Statsman, your charge drew the enemies' attention perfectly. Thanks to that, I was able to shoot them from the side."
By the time one round of play was over, we had hit it off completely.
We acknowledged each other's playstyles and, as if we had been friends for a long time, began to call each other by our game names and engage in idle chatter.

"Hey, Van. What shall we do next? That card game over there looks kind of difficult, but doesn't it look interesting?"
In the direction Statsman was pointing, there was a card game with what looked like complex rules explained.
The opponent was indeed an AI, but it seemed to require a considerable amount of thought.

A person who had their eye on that game was nearby.
"That game likely hinges on resource management. It looks like the type where the development in the early stages changes the latter half significantly."
It was a quiet voice.
The owner of the voice was a slender, bespectacled, quiet-looking young man.
He also seemed to be a participant from the same group as us.

His name was "Medows."
It was the name of an intellectual gamer who seemed good at strategy games and puzzle games.
"Oh, Medows! You think so too? I'm not good at that kind of stuff. It looks kind of hard."
Statsman spoke to Medows.

"As Van said, it looks interesting. If you don't mind, would you like to play together? I think we can understand it more deeply if we have someone to strategize with."
Medows proposed to us.

"Sounds good! I'll borrow Medows' brain."
I agreed immediately.
Statsman also
"Count me in too! I might drag you guys down, though!"
he said, raising his hand energetically.

The three of us took on that card game.
Statsman had an intuitive playstyle, but Medows analyzed the situation with surprising calmness and gave precise advice.
"Van, let's focus on defense for now."
"Statsman, it might be better to save that card until the next turn..."
Medows' instructions were always close to the optimal solution, like an excellent military strategist.

Based on Medows' strategy, Statsman and I moved our pieces with our respective playstyles.
Statsman's bold move paid off, and my calm judgment saved us from a pinch. When the three of us clicked, we were able to win easily against the AI.

"Whoa! We won! Medows, you're amazing!"
"Van, your judgment was top-notch too!"
Statsman excitedly patted our shoulders.
"Medows, it's all thanks to you. It would have been impossible alone."
I was genuinely impressed.

"No, it's only because of Van's precise situational judgment and Statsman's courageous actions."
Medows smiled modestly.
Because of this, Statsman and I came to trust Medows completely.

Medows also seemed to recognize our different strengths.
And so, we naturally began to call Medows "Medows," and he began to call us "Van" and "Statsman" by our game names.

The three of them decided to walk around the ship together.
The next thing that caught our eyes was a VR adventure game where you can freely explore a vast fantasy world.
As we were talking about how this seemed like a genre McCalmont would like, "McCalmont" himself was nearby.

"Ah, this game has amazing graphics! I wonder how far you can go?"
He said in a carefree voice while drifting through the VR space with relaxed movements.
He was also a participant in the same group, and his name was McCalmont.
He carried an elusive, free-spirited atmosphere about him.

The fact that he liked MMORPGs and open-world games was understandable from his appearance and attitude.
"McCalmont! So this is where you were. Let's play this game together," I called out.

"Oh, it's Van! Are Statsman and Meadows with you too? Sure, let's do it—maybe we'll find something interesting."
McCalmont readily agreed.
The four of us logged into the same VR adventure game world.

Statsman wanted to charge at monsters indiscriminately, Meadows carefully observed the map's terrain and objects, and McCalmont kept heading off the main route in unfamiliar directions.
I was in the role of looking at the big picture, supporting their actions, and sometimes correcting our course.

"Hey, Statsman! That's a trap!"
"Meadows, did you see some kind of strange mark?"
"McCalmont, where are you going!"
At first we were scattered, but by combining our individual playstyles, we made unexpected discoveries.

McCalmont found a hidden passage behind a cliff he happened to pass by, and Meadows identified the location of a hidden treasure chest by inferring from the terrain.
Statsman cleared the path with his bold combat, and I analyzed the situation to direct us toward efficient routes.

"Whoa! McCalmont, you found an amazing spot!"
"Meadows, your deduction was spot on!"
It was many times more fun to utilize each other's strengths and help one another as we progressed through the game.
At first, we only knew each other's game names, but as we played together, laughed, and sometimes overcame crises, a solid bond began to form between us.

Even after the game ended, we naturally stayed together.
Statsman, Meadows, and McCalmont.
Before I knew it, I was calling them by their game names, and they had started calling me Van.
It was like a game party that had jumped out into the real world.

"Man, that was fun! What should we do next?"
Statsman's eyes were shining.
"It seems there are other unknown games on this ship. As Van said, it seems worth exploring."
Meadows analyzed calmly.

"Haha, Statsman, you've got a lot of energy. I'm going to take a break. That fluffy sofa looked comfortable to sit on."
McCalmont does things at his own pace.
"A break is fine, but since we're here, let's do something. I wonder if there are any interesting events."
I had also completely started to enjoy being with them.

On the flying airship, the four of us gamers were enjoying the ultimate "gaming experience."
At this time, we had no way of knowing that the extraordinary events about to occur were not merely an extension of a game.

Link

Part 1: The Invitation and the Floating Paradise
Part 2: The Incident and the Invitation to the Deep Sea
Part 3: Arrival at the Undersea Facility and the Mystery
Part 4: The True Beginning