Final score: 8/10

This manga is truly thrilling, and it feels a lot like reading Eden no Ori, Bloody monday or Bokurano. The way the plot unfolds is riveting, and there is a lot of tension in the scenes since the mangaka does not shy away from showing gore or death. You actually feel invested in the characters and their mission; and that's great!

What spoils it for me overall is the ending. When the MC meets the eye and receives the explanation for what is happening (which I won't summarize, as it is a spoiler), I found myself unable to relate to the story anymore. The questions and themes being explored by the manga till then suddenly seem to become pointless in the face of the massive cost of this setup. What's worse, it is truly difficult to sympathize or understand the motivations of the 'villain' character. You're forced to accept it as it is, and it really ruins the immersion. Moreover, the resolution does not give sufficient closure to the characters we've known throughout the manga. Honestly, the chapters leading up to this reveal, up until the MC collects the necessary items, is great. The manga hits a peak around chapter 38 and then declines.

This manga raises questions about AI and humanity. Can AI become 'human?' Can humans get so invested in a virtual world they abandon their real one? What does it mean to live a fulfilling life in a fake world? And so on. It is fascinating, but none of these questions get explored in the depth they deserve. I hope the mangaka continues working and developing his ideas.

If you have some free time, this is worth reading. At 47 chapters it's not going to take more than 2 hours of your time. And most of the manga is thrilling. But, unfortunately, the ending virtually guarantees that this won't be something you remember and re-read in the future.