When Dawn Break is announced, Jiang Fei reacts the same way millions of other players do, he immediately wants in.
The game is supposed to be different from everything that came before it. Instead of staring at a screen for hours, players enter a virtual world so realistic that many people start treating it less like a game and more like a second life. For students, office workers, and gaming enthusiasts alike, launch day becomes one of the most anticipated events of the year.
There is just one problem.
Jiang Fei cannot afford to play.
The specialized gaming pod required to access Dawn Break costs far more than his family is willing to spend, and his father has little patience for arguments involving virtual worlds and online adventures. While his friends prepare for launch, Jiang Fei is left thinking that he will miss out entirely.
Things become a little strange after he finds a ring.
At first, it does not seem particularly important. In fact, Jiang Fei spends more time worrying about getting into Dawn Break than figuring out where the ring came from. Before long, however, he starts noticing that it behaves in ways that make no sense, especially after he finally gains access to the game.
As Jiang Fei explores Dawn Break, he discovers a world crowded with players chasing opportunities of their own. Guilds compete for resources, rare quests attract fierce competition, and even a small advantage can make a noticeable difference. For someone who enjoys games as much as Jiang Fei does, it is exactly the kind of place he never wanted to leave.
The ring, however, refuses to remain a simple curiosity.
The more Jiang Fei uses it, the more questions it creates. Some are connected to the game, some are connected to the real world, and a few seem connected to things he does not understand at all.
For Jiang Fei, logging into Dawn Break starts as a chance to play the game everyone is talking about. It does not stay that simple for very long.
