Following the demise of the very successful virtual reality MMORPG "The World," a new version of the game—The World R:2—is released. Haseo, a novice to the game, believes he has made some questing companions on his first day. However, as if to ridicule his feelings, they murder his character for fun. Fortunately, he is rescued by Ovan, a strange one-armed player who promises to tour him about The World. Haseo had a fantastic first year in the game, playing alongside Ovan and his cleric companion Shino. This tranquil existence is disturbed when Shino's persona is assassinated by a recognizable figure known as Tri-Edge, whose victims have all gone into comas in the real world. Haseo swears in a bout of fury to find the elusive Tri-Edge and kill him.