20. Halo Lan and Concept Art
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Welcome back tot he 404EVER world, everyone!
I’ve been busy working hard, as usual. So far my computer seems to be functioning better than ever after the repairs, thank goodness. I hope you all are doing well out there.
This time I want to talk about Halo Lan. Even though it’s not so clear at the start of THE PHANTOM PLEASURE comic, she’s basically the deuteragonist. I hope you like Halo’s official portrait art, I really tried to illustrate the attitude difference between her and Echo…
While Halo Lan is much more expressive and open than Echo, she’s somehow more deceptive. Maybe she just maxed out her discretion skill? Anyway, part of her confidence (Echo would say arrogance) comes from spawning in the comparatively upscaled GOGG REPUBLIC OF PEOPLE. While technically part of GEO-CITY ONE, The GRP is a breakaway society, hidden and impossible to access by outside users. Some slumbags view the GRP as a paradise, but many don’t believe it truly exists. GRP ‘People’ regard the rest of GC1 as a punishing, badly designed, buggy nightmare world and would rather self-delete than login there.
Halo is high level, even by GOGG REPUBLIC standards. She has a perfect Em-Pass rating (top-tier empathy score), which grants her a very privileged lifestyle in GRP society. Unfortunately for her, this status does not transfer into the rest of GC1, but don’t worry; Halo has a backup for everything.
As a Jump-Cutter Job Class (Live Social Influencer), Halo is able to use her high attraction and manipulation skills to charm the common GC1 users. Additionally, Halo is equipped with a Promo Suit that scans a user’s ad preferences, and can auto-generate damn-near blinding promotional hallucinations.
Another big help for Halo (and hell for Echo) is the so-called ‘Promotitis X’…
Promotitis X is an unstoppable virus that’s begun to spread through GC1. Promo screens are popping up everywhere, clipping straight through walls, floors, and even unlucky users. The screens seem to be greasing the path for Halo’s entry, as most of them seem to feature her face. Or maybe that’s just what Echo sees when she looks at them?
In any case, whatever these ads are selling can’t be bought, at least not in the PUBLIC ACCESS ZONE or any other accessible area of GEO-CITY ONE, leading many to think that these ads are growing straight up from the GOGG REPUBLIC. Who knows… Maybe if you follow them back to the source, you might end up breaching your way into paradise?
I’m going to add some more terms, locations, characters, and art to the INSTRUCTION MANUAL soon! Please check back there next week. I’m working on a million different things at once (including survival) but I will always, always, always keep creating art and story for you all.
Much more to come, thank you all for your time and attention <3
