Alex didn't know it yet, but tonight the game would stop being a game.
"Somewhere in the code, something was already watching the players log in."
"DAMN IT!" In a random apartment at night, a gamer's frustrations ,despite his win, filled the air.
Empty chip bags crinkled underfoot whenever he shifted.
Alex's house was a mess, typical of a casual gamer's room.
His room was a disaster: a battlefield of empty wrappers and cans, an open notebook resting on the sofa, and a discarded Coke can beside the window.
For a gamer, though, this was nothing unusual.
---
"Aaaah, I'm bored!" Alex groaned. "Can someone bring me something harder?!"
He collapsed onto his dusty bed, covering his eyes. "When will they call me?" His voice sank low.
The screen displayed a "You Win!" message, and a green light filled the room, the hollow glow of a victory earned offline.
No cheers, no rival voices—just him and the hollow, green glow.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Alex shot up to answer the ringing phone, but a sudden tremor ran through his hands.
He chuckled. "Oops," holding the phone like a joystick before readjusting.
"Hello! Zoe, how are you?!" Alex said.
For an instant, the phone felt heavier than it should.
"Oh, hey! Alex, I'm f—"
"So, are we playing?! We're playing, right?!"
Zoe sighed, the rest of her greeting swallowed by his excitement.
"Oh… yes. Sure, why not," she said, her tired voice softened at the edges.
"The others are coming, right?" Alex asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Y—"
Alex didn't wait—he burst in before she could finish.
"LET'S GO!!" Alex roared, fists pumping as the phone dangled in the air.
"Alex? Alex, are you there? …Alex?" The line ended with a single beep.
---
Rushing toward the computer, Alex grabbed the VR headset from the desk, its neon lenses casting eerie light across the trash-strewn room.
He flicked through the cluttered desktop until his cursor landed on the icon of a wicked dragon:
Dragon's Bane: Bastion.
The dragon icon pulsed once, then the screen darkened.
The main menu unfolded into the image of a looming dungeon.
Alex slipped into the familiar server, the one where his party always gathered.
He slid the headset over his eyes, the world around him fading as torches flickered against stone walls… illuminating a gateway that led deeper in.
Names of wandering players drifted above every corner of the dungeon.
Most names flickered past, unfamiliar, strangers lost in the crowd… until a single tag glowed brighter than the rest—'ZoeGirl.'
"Zoe!" Alex's shout reached her as she walked toward him, her steps wobbly, the awkward stride of someone still learning the game.
"Oh, Alex, hey!" Zoe said with a wave.
"You're still rocking the dwarf skin, huh? This guy cracks me up!" A soft laugh came from Zoe, not mocking, just warm.
Alex smirked, already firing back.
The laugh softened the air between them, a reminder of how easy things felt.
"Says the one always using the elf skin." Alex poked Zoe, grinning as his hand brushed against her leg.
"So, we're waiting for the others… huh…" Alex said, rubbing the bridge of his nose absentmindedly.
"Y-yeah! Of course!" Zoe replied.
Both stared as the party members departed for their quests.
"Zoe, I've been thinking," Alex said, a goofy smile spreading across his face.
"Y-yeah…" Zoe replied, her voice trembling slightly.
"Isn't it nice to stay here? I mean… you see no life problems. "You don't have to think about real life," he added, staring at the glitched sky.
The glitched sky shimmered, casting soft light over the two of them.
"This place is just to relax." He reached for her hand.
He held it gently, unsure if she'd pull away.
"Um… uh…" Zoe stammered, her fingers hesitating.
Ping! A new alert popped up.
"Oh! He joined!" Zoe said, her voice lifting as she quickly pulled her hand away from Alex's.
A huge figure appeared, the name JAX floating above him, his frame filling the screen, massive and immovable—a mountain of a man.
Jax booted Alex's tiny avatar like a soccer ball straight into the dungeon's main door.
"GOAL!!" he shouted.
Zoe's gasp cut through the laughter.
"Jax!!" she cried, her voice edged with worry.
"You know that I'm always here for you, Zoe… I even bought this VR just to play with you." Jax's giant fingers held Zoe's hand.
"Oh… thank you…" Her voice wavered, torn between gratitude and unease.
Alex stood up, watching from behind the door before stepping toward them.
His fists clenched at his sides, jealousy burning through him.
"Don't waste your time on people like him. He's just another wannabe gamer."
"What are you doing, Jax? We're a guild!" Alex said, his small fingers jabbing at Jax.
"We? Says the one who thinks he's a wise sage. Get a life!" he sneered, his voice heavy with scorn.
"Calm down, you both!" Zoe said, a sob catching in her throat.
"Or I swear I'll quit this guild!!"
Neither Alex nor Jax dared to move.
Those words made Alex and Jax freeze in place, then snap into a salute like scolded recruits.
"Yes, ma'am!"
---
"Let's all take a breath and wait for our fourth—Zara. Sound good? …Zara, alright?" Zoe clasped her hands together, her voice softening as she spoke.
"Sure." Alex jabbed a thumb up with the grin of a proud grandfather.
"Taking a breath behind the screen? Not bad." Jax scratched his head.
The waiting dragged, and with every minute, Zara's absence grew heavier.
The dungeon plaza flickered with passing avatars, most heading off on quests.
"Guys, maybe we should just start. It's getting late…" Zoe said, her avatar idle as she checked her phone behind the screen.
---
The three figures entered the dungeon.
"Dragon Quest, huh?" Jax said, swiping through the quests with his massive finger like a bored kid flipping channels.
"Yes, I think it's—"
"Moron!" Jax yelled, cutting Alex's voice off.
"Forget your boring quest. We're doing the Wizards one."
"Okay." Alex let his shoulders slump, his arms dropping limp at his sides.
Zoe gave a weary sigh but didn't interfere.
The three figures approached the quest, a transition pulling them into a dark realm speckled with glowing fireflies.
For a moment, their footsteps were the only sound.
"I'm fired up! Come here, old man!" Jax pounded his chest like a war drum.
"Right on!" Alex said, walking ahead of them, his short steps pattering like a child's, too slow to keep up as his nose buried in a guidebook, falling behind with every step.
Out of the corner of his eye, Alex caught sight of something strange, a shadow in the shape of a cube, hovering silently in the air. For an instant, he thought it was a bird, wings folded against the dark.
"What… is that?" he whispered, eyes locked on the shape as it drifted unnaturally against the stillness. A chill pricked the back of his neck.
Before he could take a step closer, Jax's roar shattered the moment.
"ALEX, YOU FOOL!"
"Let's find that stupid wizard and kick his butt!"
suddenly, Zoe's avatar froze in the middle of the dark realm
"Zoe? You okay?" Alex said, poking her, the book tucked under his other arm.
"ZOE?!" Jax shouted, but she didn't respond.
After a moment, the avatar blinked.
"Oh… sorry, guys. I think my time is up," she muttered, frustration pulling her gaze down.
"…We just barely started!" Alex said, swinging his book in front of her.
"Alex… it's been two hours since we started," Zoe replied.
"And I guess Zara's absence is the exam we have tomorrow. You didn't forget, right?"
"Screw exams! LET'S GET THIS QUEST D—" A booming shout from Jax echoed
Her avatar flickered once, the pink glow around her name dimming.
Zoe left the game.
---
Jax's avatar froze for a moment. Alex laughed nervously under his breath.
"I… I think that's it, huh? What about we—" Alex said, scratching his bald head with the edge of the book.
Alex's words hung in the air, unanswered.
Then Jax's avatar twitched once, and his voice broke the quiet.
"Loser."
Jax left the game.
Alex stopped for a moment, then lifted his head. A faint flicker of loneliness passed through his eyes.
"Guess that means more fun for me!" He lifted his head high, forcing a grin and bolted toward the castle as if nothing had happened.
Behind the screen, tears welled in Alex's eyes. After completing the quest, he lifted the VR headset and set it on the desk.
"Loser, huh…?" His voice trembled as tears fell onto his arm.
His shoulders shook, though no sound escaped him.
The glow of the monitor painted his face, cold and unfeeling.
With a swift move, he yanked the wire from the computer, then threw himself onto the bed, covering his eyes.
"And tomorrow's the exam… great."
---
The next day, Alex left his apartment. The table was set but abandoned: an unopened box of cornflakes and a carton of milk gathered dust. He glanced at it once, then looked away. He hugged his books close, as though they were armor, and stepped out toward the university.
Alex's eyes were glassy, every step slow and mechanical, as though his body had left his mind behind.
An arm hooked around his shoulder, pulling him closer. "Yo!"
Alex trembled for a moment, striking an awkward karate stance. "Don't touch me—oh.
Zara…"
---
The sudden voice jolted Alex from his trance.
"Sorry for yesterday, folks! Exam duty called for me!" Zara saluted like a soldier preparing for battle, a serious frown aimed at the university's looming building.
Alex laughed, pressing a hand to his temple and masking his ache with a smile. "It's completely alright."
Liar, Alex thought,his heart pounding.
"Alright?! That's the word I want to hear!" Zara began drumming her hand on Alex's shoulder like a rapid-fire attack, each smack hard enough that another might topple him.
His chest tightened, though he kept smiling.
Zara leaned closer, studying his face carefully.
"I've seen that smile before… you're upset, right?!" Her voice rang with recognition.
"No. I'm just… I—"
"Don't fake it with me, soldier! We'll play tonight, I promise!" Clasping her hands together, she struck an apologetic pose
"Now, no time to waste! See ya!" Zara bolted toward the university gates, her arms slicing the air like a marathon sprinter's.
Alex exhaled, the grin fading the second she was gone. He rubbed his arm where she'd patted him, his eyes lowered with a frown.
A figure watched from behind the building, her whisper barely carrying: "Alex…"
---
When Alex stepped in, the university crowd parted. A figure dressed in black from head to toe appeared, his face framed by smudged dark makeup and jet-black hair.
"Alex! There you are!" the figure called, walking toward him, the chain clattering with each stride.
Students turned to stare, whispering at the unusual sight.
Alex's voice cracked. "Jax?"
"I missed you so much, man," Jax said, his words dripping with unexpected warmth.
"You… did?" Alex forced a weak smile, scratching behind his ear, his tone edged with nervousness.
"Yes, man…"
His smile lingered too long. Alex's chest tightened as Jax leaned closer. The crowd grew quiet, sensing something off.
Then Jax's hand shot up, squeezing Alex's throat. Whispers rippled through the students, rising into uneasy murmurs.
"I did…"
"Let me g—" Alex's voice cracked, breaking apart with every word.
"What did you say? You mean let you *game*? Huh? You've always been like that!"
The crowd held its breath, no one daring to move.
"Do you want me to kill you right now?!" Jax's grin widened as his voice thundered.
"Do you want a GAME OVER?!"
Alex's vision blurred, his knees threatening to give way. His books dropped.
THUD.
A copybook slammed into Jax's head.
"Let Alex," Zoe said, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
"Z… Zoe…" Jax muttered, his hand lowering. His voice cracked, softer now, almost guilty, as he let Alex drop to the ground.
Alex's breaths came in ragged gasps, color slowly draining from his cheeks.
Zoe rushed to his side. "Are you okay?!" Her voice was sharp with panic. She dropped beside him, one hand steady on his shoulder, the other hovering helplessly.
The crowd exhaled in unison, whispers breaking the silence before they drifted back toward the university.
"Zoe…" Jax muttered, taking a step back, though his shadow still loomed over them.
His fist tightened. "Why do you always care for him?" His words came out strained, almost breaking.
"…Just forget him." His voice faltered, caught between anger and something softer.
"He's nothing but a nerd trying too hard." His trembling hand shot out, jabbing toward Alex.
Zoe's silence weighed heavier than words. Then she turned to Jax, her eyes giving nothing away.
"Sorry, Alex, about yesterday." She patted his shoulder gently.
"We'll play tonight, okay? I'll make time for it." Her voice was a whisper, but unshakable.
Alex blinked, his lips parting, but no words came.
Rising to her feet, she brushed the dust from her robe and fixed Jax with a cold stare.
"I have an exam. Excuse me."
She brushed past, her hand pressing his shoulder aside.
---
The crowd that had lingered began to thin, leaving only the two of them.
Jax stayed frozen for a moment, locked in place.
"She doesn't play that stupid game for you," he said. His words rumbled, weighted with scorn.
"She's just too kind."
Alex rubbed at his throat, the echo of Jax's grip still burning there.
He lowered his eyes, but his fists tightened at his sides.
Jax stepped forward, the space he left behind felt emptier, colder.
"Who even cares about exams?" Alex stood up slowly and walked in the opposite direction, dragging his steps like he had nowhere to be.
The figure finally moved, shadowing him step for step.
"I'm nothing but trash…" His hands traced his throat as he walked.
"My future's already gone…" His shoulders sagged, eyes locked on the ground.
For a moment, he thought about turning back.
As he drifted forward, he stepped into a place that, to others—strangers—shined like a game store, but to him it was only shelves of groceries.
---
The neon lights above buzzed faintly, guiding him inside.
Signs screamed "99% OFF! 1000% OFF!" . nonsense numbers filling every corner.
Who cares about those deals… Alex exhaled, his hand sliding along the rows of DVDs.
"…What's the point of gaming anymore?"
"…Maybe it's time I quit—" Alex turned and bumped into a short girl, sending a pack of DVDs tumbling from her arms.
"Oh, sorry…" Alex bent down, helping her up. The touch of her small hands made his face flush.
"It's fine, really!" the girl said, scratching the back of her head.
…Weird girl, acting like nothing happened.
…Strange. Most people would fuss, but she just shrugged it off.
Cotton-candy hair—unmistakably e-girl.
Her presence felt like a glitch in his dreary routine.
"Ah—sorry!" He blinked twice, wondering if she was even real.
For a moment, Alex forgot about the DVDs scattered across the floor. Then he crouched to gather them.
Suddenly, his breath caught.
The titles blurred together as he picked them up, meaningless covers of action films and rom-coms.
But then, one stood out.
Dragon's Bane: Bastion.
"You… you're actually gonna play this?!" Alex's voice trembled with excitement.
"Y-yes!!" the girl shouted back.
"Oh—sorry, I didn't introduce myself," Alex said, clutching the stack of DVDs, *Dragon's Bane* resting on top.
"I'm Alex. Nice to meet you." He extended a hand, helping the girl up.
"My… name… is… uhm…" The girl froze, as if searching for it.
"…Call me Sofia!" She scratched her head again.
A weird grin spread across Alex's face, half-awkward, half-thrilled.
For a second, her laughter echoed louder than the buzzing neon. Her scent was pleasant, like perfume too expensive for a student to afford.
Alex paused for a moment.
*My DVD's scratched a bit… I might order a new one.
"I'll be right back, Sofia!" Alex waved before stepping toward the multiplayer DVD aisle—only to find nothing left, just dust and empty space.
"How could the most wanted game vanish from every shelf?" Alex thought.
The shelf stretched on, empty, almost mocking his hope.
He rubbed the corner of the case with his thumb, frowning.
"Alex!" Sofia called, holding a bag of DVDs.
"On my way!" Alex answered.
"Wow, the last copy? You hit the jackpot! This game'll change everything."
Alex shook Sofia's hand in congratulations.
"Change everything, huh?" Sofia whispered, a smile curling on her lips.
Alex paused for a moment, then lifted his fists. "Trust me
, you won't regret a second of it!"
If I give you my favorite server name, will you join me there?"
"Sure!" She chuckled softly, almost daring him.
She scanned the QR code and sent herself to the server's website. Her fingers hovered briefly over the screen, hesitant.
"Thank you, Alex! …See you later." Her blush spread across her face, and Alex felt a sudden warmth in his own.
"See you later!" Alex's wave was wild, his hand trembling with more hope than he'd ever admit.
---
Alex rushed home and plopped onto his bed with a long exhale. "What a day."
He wandered into the kitchen, poured the flakes into a bowl, milk sloshing slightly.
…I hope tonight comes fast… can't wait to log in.
When night fell, the computer was already on.
Alex waited for a member notification to pop up.
BEEP BEEP!
The phone's ringing sent a shiver down his back. He rushed to answer.
"Hello! Zoe…" Alex said, his voice calm.
"Oh hey… Alex. I'm already in."
*Already in?!* Alex hurried to check the server. He froze, staring at Zoe's pink name—and then Jax's.
Seeing Jax's name, Alex frowned for a moment, but something else caught his attention.
A warning flashed: SERVER 1—DOWN.
His stomach twisted. The server shouldn't even be running, yet names were already glowing inside.
Wasn't this server 12? And… Down? But players are joining already? Alex thought.
"Just a tiny glitch… not worth worrying about." Alex put the VR headset on.
"Let's go!!"
He slid the headset over his eyes, the real world fading. A faint rush filled his ears, like being pulled underwater.
Pixelated torches flickered along the stone walls, casting dancing shadows on the gateway ahead, illuminating a path that led deeper into the dungeon.
Names of wandering players drifted above every corner. Each tag glowed, bobbing gently as though alive.
"Hey! The last spot!" Zoe's pink name glowed first among the drifting players.
"Hey! Zoe!" Alex waved his stubby dwarf hand energetically, eyes darting over the floating names, searching for friends. Then a figure approached.
"Heloooo!! There, folks!!!"
"Look, it's Zara!!" Zara called out, and Zoe ran into her arms.
Alex watched the reunion—an elf hugging a mage—a small smile tugging at his lips.
Zara adjusted her mage hat and approached Alex with a teasing nudge, making him tumble lightly to the ground. For a moment, it felt like old times.
"See? I told you I'd come."
The guild's energy lifted, the dungeon corridor alive with chatter and motion
The warmth of the guild's reunion made the dungeon feel less imposing.
Until Jax approached slowly, his voice thin: "May I come in?"
Alex placed a hand on his beard, declaring, "What you did to me in front of the students is unforgettable!"
His jaw tightened, the words heavier than his voice admitted.
Then—Zoe's avatar brushed his shoulder with a gentle pat. Her smile was small, quiet, but steady.
Her eyes met his, steady, pleading—not for him, but for the guild that still held together by a thread.
Alex froze, his dwarf chest puffing as if to protest. But he forced out a laugh, beard bouncing. "Come in, little boy! Ohohoho!"
A hush fell for a heartbeat, as everyone waited to see what Jax would do.
His feet shuffled like he wished he were anywhere else. He avoided eye contact—especially with Zoe, who laughed carefree.
The guild laughed, and for a moment, all grudges melted away.
But the silence that followed hinted the wound wasn't fully closed.
I don't see Sofia around… maybe she hasn't joined yet, Alex thought brushing his beard
The laughter didn't last long. A weird, glitching, almost mechanical tone filled the dungeon, echoing from above yet somehow audible to all.
It was the kind of sound that made teeth ache, like static pressed against the skull.
"Hello! Contestants!" the voice boomed, and every player froze in place.
A massive cube with a smiling face hovered above them, pulsating strangely. Its grin stretched unnaturally wide, bending as though the code itself strained.
"Are you all ready?"
"Ready for what?!" a player shouted.
"What's happening?" another added.
What's going on?! Alex thought, until a flash of memory struck him.
Something's wrong… the empty aisle, Sofia's words.
Alex froze on the spot. The air felt sharp, impossible to breathe.
His heart pounded so hard he felt it in his throat.
Players around him remained frozen, eyes wide, mouths open.
It looked less like avatars glitching, more like statues carved mid-breath.
"Alex, you okay?! Alex!!" Zoe shook him urgently.
Alex's body trembled behind the screen. He tried to remove the VR headset, but it wouldn't budge; it felt tight, locked to his head.Sweat trickled down his temple, blurring his vision.
The smiling box above continued, voice unnervingly calm:
"To the Million Dollars Game!"