In 2015, "The World" game was destroyed, resulting in CC Corporation rebuilding it with data from another game. They launched "The World R:2" in 2016, and this is where Haseo, a beginner, experiences being PKed but fortunately brought back to life by a stranger who goes by the name Ovan. Although the game is plagued with PKs, Haseo manages to get support from a Harvest player, Shino, and this leads him to join the Twilight Brigade guild, whose goal is to discover the fabled "Key of the Twilight." The events of the story take place before those of .hack//G.U.