The provided chapters detail the early history of the popular MMORPG "SPARKS ONLINE" and the initial experiences of a father and son within its successor, "SPARK ON FIRE."
Thirty years prior to the current narrative, in 2069, "SPARKS ONLINE" launched with ambitious claims of unparalleled graphics, action, and story. Its key features were a deep role-playing element driven by a grand narrative and cutting-edge graphics, and a highly action-oriented combat system utilizing advanced AI to mimic human movement. The game's "Battle Arena," a one-on-one PvP mode, became particularly popular. The operating company, "Eight's Place," had developed a proprietary cheat detection program, promising a fair environment that attracted professional gamers and propelled the game to global popularity.
However, three years after its launch, a crisis emerged. An undefeated player, "Milia," achieved 300 consecutive wins in the Battle Arena, raising suspicions of cheating despite the game's robust detection system. Investigations into Milia's account revealed the player's real name to be Nao Hahama, a third-grader at the time of account creation, who had accumulated zero in-game purchases. Further investigation into Nao's family revealed his parents, Asahi and Shiori Hahama, as the registered credit card holder and line contractor, respectively. Despite extensive checks, no evidence of cheating was found. Analysis of in-game footage showed Milia, a female high school student avatar, exhibiting impossibly precise movements, controlled solely by keyboard, even outperforming an advanced AI opponent. The development team, led by the chief, concluded that Nao was a prodigy, not a cheater. The game director, however, saw an opportunity to leverage this talent, proposing Nao be central to a new project. The development team unanimously opposed this, citing ethical concerns and the risk to player trust. Despite their protests, the director pushed forward, driven by sales figures, and publicly announced a "Challenge Milia Luxflow" event, sparking a massive backlash and controversy among players.
The narrative then shifts to the present, where the legendary player Milia Luxflow is revealed to be Nao Hahama, now a father of one, who has long since retired from gaming. He recounts his past to a friend, Tanaka. Nao's son, Yuki, is about to enter high school. Nao shares a humorous anecdote about Yuki's late realization of Santa Claus's true identity, highlighting Yuki's analytical mind.
The story then transitions to Nao and Yuki playing the new full-dive MMORPG, "SPARK ON FIRE." Nao, initially hesitant about full-dive technology, is persuaded by Yuki to try it. They create characters: Nao, embracing his past persona, chooses a cute, blonde, long-haired loli avatar named "Milia," while Yuki creates an elf-like male character named "Yuki." Their first in-game experience is overwhelming due to the hyper-realistic sensory feedback, a stark contrast to Nao's older gaming experiences.
During their initial exploration, Nao, as Milia, is instantly defeated by a rare "Red Slime." Yuki, however, manages to defeat it and explains that Nao inadvertently landed the first hit, allowing him to obtain a rare item, the "Red Crystal Rod S." Nao learns about the game's mechanics, including the "personal talk" feature, which functions like telepathy, and the importance of the tutorial quest for obtaining essential items like an expanded inventory. He also discovers the game's monetization system, particularly the expensive item box expansion packs, and the rarity of certain items. Nao's initial plan to sneak into Yuki's guild apartment is thwarted by his low level and lack of gear, forcing him to focus on acquiring better equipment through the game's gacha system. He also reflects on his past as a NEET who won the lottery and spent his fortune on in-game purchases, a stark contrast to his current situation. The chapters end with Nao preparing to engage in the gacha system to acquire items, particularly a "Mini Skirt Santa Costume" for Yuki's avatar, and reflecting on the game's advanced AI and the emotional impact of playing alongside his son.
