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"Logan, has Northstar Games sent anything yet? Where is she? It's almost three o'clock. The show starts at 3:00 p.m. sharp—we can't stall any longer!"
Backstage in Hall 8, Director Zane checked his watch for the third time. The numbers on the display felt like they were mocking him.
Logan Fairchild—blue suit, slicked-back hair, and the kind of calm you only get after surviving too many corporate disasters—rolled his eyes. "They're still on the subway. Yelling at me won't make the train go faster."
Today, Halls 7, 8, and 9 of the Convention and Exhibition Center were all under Skybound's banner. The expo stretched wide like a miniature city—booths stacked with posters, demo stations, merch counters, and LED walls blasting trailers on loop.
Every major domestic developer had shown up.
Some came to promote new releases.
Some came to sell collectibles.
Some came to flex budgets and look dangerous.
And Skybound's Game Expo—one of the biggest in the country—pulled crowds like a magnet.
A day pass was only 69 yuan, cheaper than most fandom events, and people could try dozens of games on the spot. For visitors, it was a steal.
"What? No cosplayers?"
Please.
Of course there were cosplayers.
And not the casual, homemade kind you saw at small conventions. Game expos hired professional models, because developers understood exactly what the audience wanted—and they never hesitated to deliver.
At one booth, Starlight Interactive had lined up tall models in stylized "ancient fantasy" outfits for their title Jade Blade Online—flowing fabric, polished props, dramatic poses.
At another booth, the hottest mobile title on the market, Neon Drift Squad, had even more aggressive marketing: bright colors, bold costumes, and hostesses designed to stop people in their tracks.
A swarm of "master photographers" had already formed there, cameras clicking nonstop, producing "content" for the internet like it was their sacred duty.
But Skybound's own stage?
That was the real monster.
Hall 8 held the main platform: hundreds of square meters, a massive display screen, a towering structure with lighting rigs and audio that shook the floor. Hundreds of seats were filled, and even more people stood along the outer ring.
It was 2:50 p.m.
Director Zane's headache was growing teeth.
This wasn't about being picky. It was about optics.
Northstar Games was the centerpiece of today's awards—five nominations, four wins. If no one showed up to accept the trophies, the headlines would be brutal.
Skybound had invited bloggers. Streamers. Journalists. Live coverage was guaranteed. And in this business, one ugly headline could poison an entire season.
> "Skybound's biggest awards go unclaimed—has the platform lost influence?"
Director Zane didn't even want to imagine it.
Skybound had reportedly spent over 20 million on the event. A mess like that would get someone dragged into a meeting and shredded.
At exactly 3:00 p.m., Logan raised his walkie-talkie and spoke sharply. "Time's up, Director. Start the show. We can't keep everyone waiting."
Director Zane scanned the room—developer representatives seated, audience restless, cameras already rolling.
He nodded once. "Fine. Call Northstar again. Tell them the expo is live. They need to move."
"Copy."
Director Zane stepped onto the stage with the microphone, becoming host by necessity. Behind him, a group of beautifully dressed dancers joined in, turning the opening into a quick burst of energy and noise—bright lights, loud music, and the kind of hype that made people forget the backstage panic.
After the opening performance, Director Zane smiled at the crowd.
"Welcome to the Skybound Summer Carnival. I won't waste your time."
Then he cut straight to it.
"First award: Best Online Game Bestseller!"
The developer reps in the front rows sat up straighter, like students hearing their names might be called.
Director Zane dragged the suspense just enough, then flicked his hand. On the giant screen, three nominees appeared in clean, bold letters.
"Dream of Immortals."
"Iron Cavalry War Song."
"Gods and Demons World 2."
"Congratulations to Dianneng—Dream of Immortals takes the award!"
Applause rolled forward. A rep from Dianneng walked up to accept their trophy while the screen displayed Skybound's evaluation—economy system, item farming, long-term retention. Standard corporate praise.
Outside the seating zone, the crowd started murmuring immediately.
"How is it Dream of Immortals? That game is pay-to-win and grindy!"
"It's not bad if you grind hard enough. You can catch up."
"You can sell your account if you quit. A game that holds value is still a good game, right?"
Near the front row, a girl wearing a single Bluetooth earbud spoke into her phone, livestreaming with casual confidence.
This was Tanya—a gaming influencer with millions of followers, invited as a special guest by BiliZone.
She tilted her camera toward the stage and said, "Honestly, I'd accept Dream of Immortals or Gods and Demons World 2 winning. But not Iron Cavalry War Song."
She scrunched her nose. "The graphics are great, gameplay is solid, but the social part is trash. What's the point of an online game without real community? If I can't show off and make friends, I'd rather play single-player."
She waved a hand dramatically. "And don't say single-player is dead. That's a lie. Domestic single-player is struggling. Globally? There are masterpieces every year."
Then she leaned closer to the mic, voice turning playful.
"This year, the usual big companies will win most awards. But there's one exception—Northstar Games."
"I checked Skybound's July sales. Climb or Break hit around 170,000 units. And Night of the Full Moon has over 130,000 reviews with a ridiculous 98% positive rating."
She grinned. "Northstar will win at least two. Easy."
Someone in chat apparently asked about Northstar's official account.
Tanya laughed. "Oh, the famous official mascot account? Don't expect them to show up. People keep saying it's run by a bald forty-year-old dude."
She snorted. "Internet legends are always funny."
The first winner finished their speech. Director Zane returned to the stage and announced the second award, then the third. One after another. Smooth flow.
But his sweat?
It wasn't stopping.
Because the timer in his brain kept flashing one message:
Where is Northstar?
At last, the online categories were done.
And now came the single-player awards.
Director Zane inhaled slowly, stepped back onto the stage, and spoke clearly.
"Next: Best-Selling Single-Player Game."
On the screen, the nominees appeared:
Climb or Break.
Night of the Full Moon.
Dream Castle.
Cute & Fun.
The moment the screen showed Climb or Break—that dark figure with a hammer—an explosion of laughter hit the hall.
Somebody yelled, loud enough for the microphones to catch it:
"Northstar Games, you absolute monsters!"
The crowd howled even harder.
Everyone understood the curse. That game had broken friendships, keyboards, and maybe a few souls. It earned every bit of love and hate.
Even other developers were smiling.
Tanya laughed so hard she almost shook her phone. "See? I told you! The best-selling award is locked!"
Director Zane forced his focus back into place.
He raised the mic.
"Congratulations to Northstar Games—Climb or Break wins Best-Selling Single-Player Game!"
Applause surged.
"And now, Northstar Games—please come to the stage and receive your award."
A pause.
A long pause.
Front-row developers leaned forward, trying to see who would stand up.
Nobody moved.
Director Zane felt his stomach drop.
He adjusted his collar and smiled like he wasn't dying inside. "Due to a small issue, Northstar may be a little late."
Then he did something risky.
He pushed forward anyway.
"So we will announce the next award."
His hands trembled slightly behind the cue card.
Because the next award?
Also Northstar.
"Best Narrative—nominees: My War Story, Night of the Full Moon, Song of Life…"
Director Zane paused.
The crowd immediately started whispering.
Tanya laughed into her stream. "Look at this! I told you! Two awards. Maybe three. Night of the Full Moon might take art too!"
Most developers stayed neutral—because honestly, nobody could deny it.
Night of the Full Moon was strong. Original. Beautiful. And that "romantic game company" wave had kept Northstar trending on Official Blog for half the week.
Director Zane exhaled and announced:
"The winner is… Northstar Games—Night of the Full Moon!"
He didn't even wait for applause to settle.
"Next: Best Art. Nominees: Night of the Full Moon, Dream Castle, Fantasy Story!"
"The winner is… Northstar Games—Night of the Full Moon!"
Now the hall was buzzing.
Outside the seating area, the crowd got louder.
"Three nominations, three wins?! That's insane!"
"I'm going to tease Northstar's official account again!"
"Night of the Full Moon might be game of the year. The gameplay is clean and the art is gorgeous."
"Has Skybound ever had a small studio sweep like this before?"
Even Tanya's grin looked half shocked now. Two wins was expected. Three was already wild.
Director Zane tightened his grip on the mic and pushed through.
"Next: Player's Voice Award. Nominees: Night of the Full Moon, Song of Life, Cute & Fun."
"The winner is… Northstar Games—Night of the Full Moon!"
For a second, the hall froze.
Then it erupted.
"One game, three awards?!"
"Northstar is going to break the sky!"
Director Zane's headache returned full force.
There were no more wins for Northstar coming up… but they still had nominations.
And still—
nobody from Northstar was on stage.
Just as he was about to spiral, movement hit the side entrance.
Skybound staff pushed the crowd aside, forming a narrow path through the outer ring.
A delicate voice shouted, "We're here! We're here!"
A woman in a suit—hair tied up neatly—came running, pulling a young man by the hand.
She looked frantic.
He looked resigned.
Logan Fairchild jogged over, shouting at security, "Open the door! Let them in!"
The side door swung wide.
Director Zane saw them and nearly sagged in relief.
Northstar. Finally.
They sprinted up the steps and onto the stage, arriving like a storm at the last second.
But the moment the woman reached center stage—she stopped.
The panic vanished from her face like a switch flipped.
She looked up, and the crowd finally saw her properly:
A cute, youthful CEO face. Cheeks flushed red from running. Hair bun slightly messy. Professional clothes… paired with an expression that didn't quite match the authority of the outfit.
Capable. Disheveled. Adorable.
A strange mix.
Director Zane didn't waste a second.
"Congratulations to Northstar Games for winning Best-Selling Game, Best Art, Best Narrative, and Player's Voice!"
He turned toward her.
"Please deliver your acceptance speech."
He handed her the microphone and stepped away like a man escaping an explosion.
Backstage, he exhaled hard.
He'd been one second away from disaster.
Below the stage, whispers spread fast.
"Northstar's representative is that young?"
"And she's… kind of cute."
The woman—Vivian Frost—held the mic like it weighed a ton.
More than a thousand eyes were on her.
Her palms instantly went sweaty.
Without thinking, her free hand reached sideways and grabbed the young man's sleeve—holding onto him like he was a safety rail.
"I… I'm Vivian Frost," she began, voice shaky. "CEO of Northstar Games. Nice to meet everyone."
She swallowed, forced herself to continue.
"I'm very grateful to Skybound, and to the players, for recognizing us. This award—no, these awards—they don't just belong to Northstar. They belong to every player who loves our games."
She paused. Her face got redder.
Then she panicked.
"I… I…" Her eyes flicked to the man beside her like she was begging for rescue. "Uh—Ethan, you speak!"
And she shoved the microphone toward him like she was throwing a grenade away.
The hall burst into laughter.
"This is Northstar's boss?"
"Bro, she's cute as hell."
"Wait… the way she talks feels like that official account."
"No way the CEO runs the official account."
Vivian pressed closer to Ethan, half hiding behind him, still clutching his sleeve.
Ethan Reed took the mic calmly.
His posture was steady. His voice was clean. No panic. No stumbles.
"Good afternoon," he said. "I'm Ethan Reed, creative director of Northstar Games."
Instantly, the room felt more professional—because Vivian's earlier meltdown made Ethan look like a corporate assassin by comparison.
"It's a great honor to receive four awards from Skybound today. On behalf of our team, thank you to every player who supported us."
He paused, then added, "And we apologize for arriving late. There were delays outside of our control. We appreciate your patience."
Important line, steady and sincere.
"But we made it."
He looked across the crowd.
"Northstar is a studio that believes in exploration. Like players, we have passion for games. We want to open new doors—new markets, new experiences."
Then he allowed himself a small smile.
"And I'll shamelessly use this moment to share what we're building next."
The room leaned in.
"We're developing a major single-player title—our biggest challenge so far. Estimated production cost: over ten million. Target release window: January next year. Gameplay and story will follow Northstar's core style."
He lifted his chin slightly.
"And its title is—Neon Myth."
Big announcement.
"Please look forward to it."
"My speech is concluded."
He turned slightly, looking at Vivian—still gripping his arm like she'd drown without it.
"Boss Vivian," he said with a helpless smile, "anything to add?"
Vivian shook her head violently, like her life depended on it.
Right then, Director Zane returned—accompanied by four trophy carriers in elegant outfits.
The trophies were handed over.
Ethan and Vivian each took two.
Four trophies. Four wins. One stage sprint.
They were guided offstage and toward their seats.
Around them, developers stared with open curiosity—measuring them, judging them, trying to understand how a small studio had pulled off a sweep.
Ethan stayed calm.
Vivian shrank a little, cheeks still burning.
Was I super embarrassing just now? her face basically screamed.
She wanted to hide under the chair.
At home, she could act fierce.
Outside?
She turned into a mouse.
And she hated it.
But the trophies in her hands were real.
And the crowd's attention was real too.
Northstar Games wasn't a rumor anymore.
It was a threat.
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Extra chapters available on patreon ❤️🔥
patreon.com/Samurai492
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