| Prince (Chinese: 1/2 王子 Èrfēnzhīyī Wángzǐ) | |
| Author: | Yu Wo (御我) |
| Cover Artist: | Ya Sha (亞砂) Ikusabe Lu (戰部露, Zhànbù Lù) Xiao Qiang (小強) |
| Country: | Taiwan |
| Language: | Traditional Chinese characters |
| Pub Date: | October 4, 2004 — August 15, 2005 |
| Media Type: | Print (Paperback) |
Prince (Chinese: 王子 Èrfēnzhīyī Wángzǐ) is a series of nine Taiwanese novels written by Yu Wo (御我). They are published by Min-Hsien Cultural Enterprise in Taiwan and were released between October 4, 2004 and August 15, 2005. In 2006, the novels were adapted into a manhua by Choi Hong Chong (蔡鴻忠) which were published by Tong Li Publishing.
The plot takes place in a futuristic world where surreal virtual reality games exist. The protagonist is a 19-year-old female student named Feng Lan (風藍), who is challenged into playing the newly arrived game Second Life by her twin brother. As the first person to log into the game, Feng Lan is given a wish which she uses to give herself the privilege of creating a male avatar whom she names as Prince. In game, she strives to prove to her brother Feng Yang Ming (風揚名) that she can be a capable player.
Feng Lan is a 19-year-old girl who is challenged by her twin brother to play a virtual reality game called Second Life. Being the first player to log onto the game, she is allowed to distinguish her real life looks from her avatar; thus she creates a handsome male elf named Prince. In game, she forms a team called the Odd Squads which consists of: Lolidragon, a female hidden game moderator; Ugly Wolf, a beast race Priest character; Doll, a necromancer; Guilastes, a bard with an attraction to Prince; and Yu Lian, a female mage. As the story progresses, the Odd Squads compete in a tournament emerging victorious and are awarded a large city which they name as Infinity City which Prince is voted to lead. Before the city is open to the public, Prince leaves in search of comrades to serve under her and wanders onto another continent. There, she befriends her real life friends, Lu Jing and Yun Fei and becomes involved in a hidden quest which awards her with two NPCs with self-awareness, Kenshin and Sunshine.
As the plot progresses, Prince learns that a self-aware NPC named Lord of Life is commanding an army of NPCs to delete the humans which will prevent them from returning to the game. In response, Prince gathers players throughout the game in order to combat the threat. It is revealed Long Dian is the cause of the AI rebellion and wishes to gain eternal life through Second Life. Long Dian's NPCs take control of the world's superweapons and forces the world's best scientists to give him a new body. Prince and her companions defeat Long Dian's new super-human body, ending his reign of terror. During the battle, Guilastes saves Feng Lan's life and Feng Lan eventually chooses and marries Guilastes.
During Prince's recruitment for Infinity City, she becomes involved in the affairs of in game player Nan-gong Zui (南宮罪 Nángōng Zuì). Nan-gong's sister, Ice Phoenix (浴冰鳳凰 Yù Bīng Fènghuáng), falls for a playboy in Second Life named Fan (梵 Fàn). Fan does not care for Phoenix and uses her feelings for him to his advantage. As such, Prince intervenes, allowing Phoenix to realize Fan's true personality.
Lu Jing (綠晶 Lǜ Jīng) and Gu Yun-fei (古雲非 Gǔ Yúnfēi) are Feng Lan's classmates. Their in game classes are Daoshi and Barrier Master respectively. She meets them in Second Life when she wanders onto another continent. She later takes the two and has them join Infinity City. As the series progresses, two are able to deduce her identity as Prince.
The series is written by Yu Wo and was published by in Taiwan between October 4, 2004 and August 15, 2005. The novels were reprinted in 2012 with redone artwork and character descriptions when the eighth volume, signifying the end of the story, was released.
Written by Yu Wo and illustrated by Choi Hong Chong, the 1/2 Prince manhua was serialized in Dragon Youth Comic (龍少年 Lóng Shàonián).