The soft morning sunlight spilled across **Jiwoo Han's** cozy apartment in Seoul, bouncing off the monitors that still hummed faintly from her late-night gaming session. Today wasn't just another day—it was her **24th birthday**.
Jiwoo sat cross-legged on the floor, oversized hoodie swallowing her petite frame, her short shoulder-length hair slightly messy, a lollipop sticking out of her mouth. People often underestimated her because of her appearance. She liked that.
Her best friend, **Yuna Seo**, lounged elegantly across the couch, legs crossed, laptop perched on her lap. Beauty, charisma, and brains all in one package. Reality shows adored her, and producers begged for appearances.
"Happy birthday, babyface," Yuna teased, tossing a small velvet box across the floor.
Jiwoo caught it in one hand and unwrapped it. Inside gleamed a brand-new gaming mouse, sleek and precise, neon lights pulsing faintly. Her eyes sparkled.
"Yuna! This is… expensive!" she exclaimed, popping her lollipop back in her mouth.
"Relax," Yuna said with a shrug. "I make money while I sleep. Plus, I know what you want most. Your ticket to the top, right?"
Jiwoo smiled softly. "Yeah… if only it were that easy."
Yuna smirked knowingly. "Nothing's easy when you aim for the stars. Speaking of which, remember my ex? The one glued to his keyboard?"
Jiwoo laughed. "Oh god, yes. You left him for good reason. He's probably still stuck in his bubble."
"Not anymore," Yuna replied, glint in her eyes. "He's a pro gamer now, top 5 team. And he's relentless."
Jiwoo giggled. "Bold, just like you."
The two girls laughed, the hum of Jiwoo's gaming PC blending with their voices. Yuna was fiery; Jiwoo, though small and seemingly fragile, had a spark no one noticed—until she gamed.
---
Later, her parents called.
"Jiwoo, happy birthday, princess! Are you eating well?" her father's warm voice resonated.
"Yes, Appa," she replied, smiling.
Her mother's voice cut sharply. "Jiwoo-ah, you're twenty-four now. When will you stop wasting time on games? You cannot live on dreams forever."
Jiwoo's smile faltered. "Omma…"
Her father whispered only to her: *"I can support your dreams… but I cannot argue with her, or I'll end up sleeping outside."*
Jiwoo laughed. Even he couldn't go against her mother's insistence on practicality.
---
That night, Jiwoo lay in bed with **Liora**, the tiny golden-eyed cat, curled at her side.
The cat wasn't ordinary. Its eyes glowed almost unnaturally, and its presence sent shivers down her spine. It refused to leave. Somehow, it felt… familiar. Powerful. Almost alive with strength hidden beneath its soft fur.
Jiwoo shook her head. *Imagination,* she whispered to herself.
---
Two months later, life shifted.
Jiwoo returned to Seoul to pursue eSports, despite her mother's disapproval and her father's cautious support. College filled her mornings, training her evenings, tournaments her nights.
Yuna continued her glamorous career while supporting Jiwoo, bolder than ever.
The Seoul eSports scene was ruthless. But Jiwoo had something none of the other competitors did: instinct. Raw, unmatched, precise.
Across town, in a towering glass-and-steel building, **Minho Kang** adjusted his suit cuffs. Son of a tycoon, every move measured. But in the gaming world, he was **Ares**—undefeated, untouchable, feared.
His team prepared for the Seoul championship. Whispers of a new challenger reached him.
"She's from Korea," a teammate muttered. "Nickname Nyx. Small, cute… almost fragile. But her gameplay—"
Minho cut him off, dark eyes glinting. "Potential doesn't win championships. Talent without control is worthless."
Unknown to him, Nyx—or whoever she really was—was a girl.
---
The night before her first major tournament, Jiwoo lay awake. Monitors glowed faintly, Liora curled at her side.
Dreams came unbidden: stars exploding, galaxies twisting, a throne of radiant light, and a shadowed figure beside her. A crown slipping from her head. Blood. Betrayal. Love incomplete.
She awoke, heart pounding, holding Liora tightly. The golden eyes glimmered knowingly.
*Something is coming. Something bigger than games. Something I've already lived…*
Unseen, across the city, Minho scanned the new player files. Fate was moving, and soon, two lives would collide—rivalry, love, and power waiting at the horizon.
---
> *"Somewhere in Seoul, Minho's dark eyes scanned the files again—he didn't know it yet, but fate had already chosen its players?