I woke at noon, my body feeling... different.
24.2% stronger than baseline.
The T-Virus had given me a permanent 15%.
And five hours of intensive gameplay had added another 9.2%.
I raised my hand—the same hand that had been weak, thin, utterly useless just a week ago.
Now?
I gripped the edge of the wooden table—the heavy table that normally required two people to lift—
And raised it with one hand.
With absolute ease.
"Unbelievable." I whispered, setting the table down carefully. "This... is real."
But the thing more important than my new strength?
**I had a plan.**
A plan to make my family stronger.
To protect them in this cruel world.
To build something... that no one could destroy.
I looked at the window—sunlight streaming through the cracked glass.
"Alright, Liu Chen." I said to myself. "Let's begin day four."
---
I went downstairs to the kitchen and found my mother—Liu Mei—preparing lunch.
"Good morning, Chen. Or should I say good afternoon?" She smiled, but her eyes were worried. "You slept through the entire morning. Are you alright?"
"Better than ever, Mother." I sat at the wooden table. "Actually, I need to tell you something important."
She put down the knife, wiped her hands on her apron, and turned toward me.
Her eyes—warm brown but cautious—studied my face.
"What is it, son?"
I took a deep breath.
"Do you remember the game? The experience you had two days ago?"
Her face changed—a clear memory crossed her eyes.
"Of course. How could I forget?" She touched her right hand, as if remembering the sensation of holding the knife, stabbing the zombie. "I felt something I haven't felt in... years. Courage. Strength. The ability to fight."
I smiled. "Well, Mother, there's something in the game. Something very valuable. Something... that could change our lives."
Her eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"
I leaned forward, lowering my voice even though we were alone in the kitchen.
"It's called the T-Virus."
---
Her eyes widened slightly. "Virus? Chen, that... sounds dangerous."
"In the game's story, it is dangerous. It's the virus that turned all the village residents into those monsters—the zombies." I paused, giving her a moment to absorb the idea. "But deep in the secret laboratory, beneath the mansion, there's a different version. A **stable** version."
"A stable version?" She repeated the words slowly.
"Yes. The scientists in the game—a company called Umbrella—tried to fix the virus. Remove the dangerous side effects. The version they created—the prototype—doesn't turn humans into monsters."
I looked directly into her eyes.
"Instead, it permanently increases strength. 15% muscle strength. 10% speed. 20% cellular regeneration."
Mother was silent for a long time, processing the information.
I saw her mind working—this woman who had lived in the cultivation world her entire life, where strength meant everything, understood exactly what these numbers meant.
"15% permanent strength." She whispered. "Without cultivation. Without spiritual roots."
"Exactly."
"And you... found this?"
I paused.
How do I explain? How do I tell her I'm from another world? That I know this game because I played it hundreds of times in my previous life?
I can't.
So I told half the truth.
"No. One of the customers found it. The young scholar—Marcus. He solved complex puzzles, reached a hidden laboratory deep in the mansion, and found the virus."
"And what did he do with it?"
"He was afraid." I smiled bitterly, remembering the bespectacled young man who saw the word 'virus' and panicked. "He saw the label—'T-Virus Prototype'—and thought it would kill him. He said he didn't want to risk it."
"But you...?"
"I used it." I stood and lifted the wooden table—which normally required two people—with just one hand.
Easily. As if it were made of straw.
Mother gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
"Oh... oh my god."
I set the table down carefully. "15% permanent strength from the T-Virus. Plus 9.2% from five hours of intensive gameplay. I'm now 24.2% stronger than I was four days ago."
I sat back down and looked into her eyes—my mother's eyes, now filled with tears.
"And I'm telling you this, Mother, because I want you—and I want Father—to find this virus too."
---
She reached across the table and grabbed my hand—tightly, warmly.
"Chen... you're trying to protect us."
Her voice trembled.
"Your whole life, we were the ones protecting you. Caring for you. Hiding you from this world's cruelty."
Tears—real tears—began flowing down her cheeks.
"And now... you're the one trying to protect us."
I felt something tighten in my throat.
"In this world, strength is everything, Mother." My voice was serious, firm. "The weak are exploited. Robbed. Beaten. Killed. And no one—no one—cares."
I held her hand with both of mine.
"I won't let that happen to you. I won't let this cruel world hurt you."
Mother's tears flowed freely now.
"My son. My dear son."
She stood, walked around the table, and pulled me into an embrace—
A tight, desperate embrace, full of everything we couldn't say.
"I'm so proud of you, Chen." She whispered in my ear. "So very proud."
And in that moment—I felt something break in my chest.
All the pain. All the weakness. All the despair that the original Liu Chen had carried—
Vanished.
Replaced by something stronger.
**Purpose.**
---
After lunch—warm soup with vegetables and rice—we returned to the back room.
Mother stood at the door, looking at the mysterious computer, the gleaming black headset.
"Alright, Chen." She took a deep breath. "Tell me exactly what I need to do."
"Sit here." I pointed to the chair. "Today, we'll play differently. You won't be playing alone."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll guide you. Step by step. I'll tell you where to go, what to do, how to avoid dangers." I pointed to the small monitoring screen on the side. "See, I can see what you see. I can help you every moment."
She sat, her hands gripping the edge of the chair nervously.
"Alright. I'm... I'm ready."
I helped her put on the headset, adjusting the straps.
"Breathe, Mother. Remember—this is just a game. Nothing can truly hurt you."
"Just a game." She repeated to herself. "Just a game."
I started the system.
---
**[The Beginning - The Forest]**
Mother's character appeared in the familiar forest—the massive trees, thick fog, pale moon.
On the monitoring screen, I saw her standing motionless, turning slowly.
"Chen... this... is amazing." Her voice was filled with wonder. "The trees look so real. I can feel the cold."
"Yes, Mother. Now, do you remember the way to the cabin?"
"I think so. Forward, then right?"
"Exactly right. Move slowly. Carefully. The zombies only appear if you get close to them or make noise."
She moved—very slowly, each step deliberate—through the fog.
I saw her virtual body moving cautiously, hands extended slightly for balance.
"Excellent, Mother. Keep going like this."
She reached the cabin—the small, cracked wooden structure.
"Go inside. On the table, you'll find weapons and resources."
She entered and looked around.
On the table: the handgun, bullets, the green herb.
"Take everything."
She collected the items—slowly, carefully, as if afraid to break something.
---
When she exited the cabin—
**Aaah... aaah...**
The groan.
A zombie appeared from behind a tree—gray rotting skin, empty white eyes, open mouth.
I felt Mother's tension—even through the screen, I saw her character freeze completely.
"Mother, breathe. Remember—this is just a game. Just images."
"Just a game. Just images." She repeated to herself, voice trembling.
"Raise the handgun. Remember how?"
"I... I think so."
She raised the handgun—with slow, shaking movements.
"Good. Now, aim for the head. Do you see the head?"
"Yes."
"Wait until it gets a bit closer. Not too close—about two meters—then pull the trigger."
The zombie approached, one step, two steps—
**Bang!**
The shot fired—
And missed. It passed beside the zombie's head, hitting a tree behind it.
"It's okay! It's okay, Mother! Shoot again!"
The zombie got closer—
**Bang!**
This time—
**[Headshot! Critical Damage: -100]**
**[Enemy Defeated!]**
The zombie fell and dissolved into gray smoke.
And for a moment—complete silence.
Then—
"I did it! Chen, I did it!"
I heard her laughter—laughter of relief, joy, triumph.
"I did it. I really did it! I killed that thing!"
I smiled, feeling warmth in my chest.
"Well done, Mother. Very well done."
---
We continued.
I guided her through the forest—the safest path, avoiding dangerous areas.
"Now, Mother, there will be more zombies. But remember—don't waste bullets. Bullets are limited. Only kill what you must. Avoid the rest."
"How do I avoid them?"
"With silence. With slowness. If they don't see you, they won't attack. They walk in circles, waiting. Just wait until they turn their backs, then move quickly."
And slowly, patiently, she learned.
She learned how to move quietly—small steps, no noise.
She learned how to wait—sometimes a full minute, watching the zombie, waiting for the right moment.
She learned how to survive—without unnecessary fighting, without wasting resources.
"Excellent, Mother. You're learning quickly."
"Thank you, son." Her voice was more confident now. "This... is easier than I expected. Once you understand the rules."
She reached the mansion—the massive building on the hill, dark windows, heavy wooden door.
She entered the grand hall—the chandelier, marble stairs, eerie paintings.
"Wow." Mother whispered. "This is... beautiful and terrifying at the same time."
"I know. The whole mansion is like this. Now, on your left, there's a door. Enter it."
She entered—a luxurious dining room. Long table, carved chairs, extinguished candles.
"Search the table. There should be a file—an old yellow paper."
She found it.
**[File: Spencer's Diary - Entry 1]**
*"The experiments have begun. Umbrella promised me immortality.*
*Power without end.*
*Instead, I fear they've created something... monstrous.*
*Something beyond control."*
"This... is sad." Mother said quietly. "This man, Spencer, just wanted to live forever. And instead, he destroyed everything."
"Yes, Mother. The story is tragic. Sometimes, seeking power at any cost... leads to destruction."
A brief silence.
"Is this... a lesson for me?" She asked with an amused tone.
I laughed. "No, Mother. You're seeking power to protect your family. That's completely different."
---
She continued, exploring room after room—a library full of old books, a music room with a cracked piano, a bedroom with a shattered massive bed.
Then—in a narrow dark corridor—
Ambush.
Three zombies appeared—one from the front, two from the sides.
"No!" Mother shouted.
She tried to shoot—
**Bang! Bang!**
She hit one, but the others were fast—
They attacked from the sides, biting, scratching—
**[You Died!]**
**[Return to Last Save Point]**
Mother removed the headset, face pale, hands shaking.
"I... I failed."
"No, Mother. You didn't fail. You **learned**." I said firmly, placing my hand on her shoulder. "Now you know that corridor is dangerous. Next attempt, you'll be ready. You'll take a different path."
"Next attempt?" She looked at me, eyes full of doubt.
"Yes. We try again. **Together**."
She looked at me—and in her eyes, I saw something change.
Fear... turning into determination.
"Alright." She took a deep breath. "Again."
---
The second attempt was much better.
I guided her through the mansion—avoiding the dangerous corridor, taking a winding path through the old kitchen.
And she found something.
In the knight's room—a room full of armor and old weapons—
On the head of a knight statue—
A key.
A small golden key, shaped like a shield.
"A key! I found a key!" Mother shouted with genuine joy.
**[Obtained: Shield Key]**
"Excellent, Mother! This is one of three keys you need to reach the secret laboratory."
"Three keys?"
"Yes. The Shield Key—which you just found. The Jewel Key—in the mirror room on the second floor. And the Skull Key—in the dark basement."
"The dark basement." She repeated in a dry tone. "Sounds... terrifying."
"It is. But I'll be with you every step."
---
After two solid hours—I broke the one-hour rule because she was family—
Mother had found:
✅ **Shield Key** (in the knight's room)
✅ **Jewel Key** (with my help, she solved the mirror puzzle—arranging mirrors to reflect moonlight onto a statue)
But she hadn't found the Skull Key yet. The basement was too dark, too frightening for the first proper session.
She removed the headset, exhausted but elated.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Two out of three!" She said proudly.
"Well done, Mother. Tomorrow, we'll find the third. And then—"
"The laboratory. And the virus."
"Exactly."
She stood and tried moving her arms—rotating them, flexing them.
"I feel... stronger. Much more than the first time."
**[Ding! Customer Liu Mei completed two hours!]**
**[Rewards:]**
- **+2.4% muscle strength** (total so far: 3.5%)
- **+1.9% reaction speed**
- **+1.4% stamina**
- **Enhanced techniques:** "Stealth - Level 2", "Resource Management", "Puzzle Solving - Level 1"
I looked at the notification, then at Mother.
"3.5% stronger in just two days." I calculated aloud. "If you keep playing an hour daily—in two weeks, you'll be 10-12% stronger. In a month, 20-25%. And when you get the T-Virus?"
I smiled.
"You'll be stronger than most ordinary people in this city."
Her eyes widened.
"This... will change everything."
"Yes, Mother. **It will change everything.**"
She hugged me—a tight, warm, grateful embrace.
"Thank you, Chen. For giving me this chance. For giving me... hope."
I felt something tighten in my throat again.
"Always, Mother. **Always.**"
---
After Mother left to prepare dinner, I remained in the back room for a moment.
And I didn't hear—but if I could have read her thoughts at that moment—
I would have heard:
*"My son. My little son.*
*He was always weak. Broken because of having no spiritual roots.*
*I saw the pain in his eyes. Every day. Every moment.*
*When other children flew, he walked.*
*When they fought, he hid.*
*And all we could do—his father and I—was protect him.*
*Hide him from the cruelty.*
*But now...*
*Now my son is building something great. Something that gives hope to the weak. Power to the powerless.*
*And he's not doing it just for himself.*
*But for us. For his family.*
*I'm proud of him.*
*So very proud."*
---
By five in the evening, customers began arriving.
And today?
Today there was a **crowd**.
Not just the regular customers—but new faces. Many of them.
**Kyle** arrived first, grinning enthusiastically.
"Chen! Ready for my daily hour!"
**Marcus** came, carrying a notebook, looking excited to explore more of the game's puzzles.
**Elena**, cold as usual, entered silently—but I saw the spark of interest in her eyes.
**Thomas** the blacksmith, his hands full of scars, bowed slightly.
"Master Liu. I came for my session."
And five **new** customers—who came after hearing rumors in the market:
- A young girl, shy, hiding behind Kyle (her name was **Lily**)
- Two men from the city guard
- A middle-aged merchant
- An elderly woman (!)
Everyone—each one of them—came to try "the miraculous game that grants real power."
Then—
The door opened again.
And every head in the room turned.
---
A woman entered—and the moment she crossed the threshold, **the very air changed**.
She was in her mid-thirties, but her beauty was... timeless.
Skin smooth as white silk, flawless. Deep black eyes—intelligent, sharp, assessing everything with a single glance. Long black hair flowing down her back like a polished ink waterfall. Sharp but feminine facial features—high cheekbones, defined jaw, naturally full lips.
She wore luxurious silk clothing—**deep purple** with intricate gold embroidery—accentuating her graceful figure elegantly without being revealing.
But the most impressive thing?
**The aura.**
A powerful aura—**very** powerful—pressing down on the entire room.
**Foundation Establishment stage, at least fourth level.**
Maybe fifth.
Everyone in the room—even **Elena**, who was in late Qi Condensation—felt it.
**Presence.**
And I—
I froze.
Not from fear (well, a little fear).
But because I—good heavens—had never seen a woman this beautiful in my life.
In my old world, I spent most of my time in front of screens. I was a poor gaming cafe owner. I had no social life. No girlfriends. I barely talked to women outside passing customers.
And here, in this body, the original Liu Chen was similar—isolated, shy, broken, without confidence.
But now—
Now a woman with this beauty, this presence, this **power**, was standing in my small shop.
I felt my face heat slightly.
*Calm down, Liu Chen. Don't be a fool. This is a potential customer. Act professionally.*
---
Derek—who was standing near the window—jumped suddenly, eyes wide.
"**Mother**?! What are you doing here?!"
**His mother?!**
The beautiful woman—Victoria—cast a cold glance at Derek.
"Derek, my dear son." Her voice was smooth as silk, musical, but with an edge of **steel**. "When my son starts disappearing every day, and returns talking about an 'amazing place' and 'incredible power' and 'an unbelievable experience'..."
She paused, looking around the shop slowly—at the walls, the customers, at me.
"It's a good mother's duty to investigate personally."
Derek's face reddened. "But—but Mother, I told you it's completely safe!"
"Safety is relative, dear." She looked at the customers—Kyle, Elena, Thomas, the others—one by one, as if evaluating each person with a single glance. "Especially when it involves something claiming to increase power **without spiritual cultivation**."
She turned toward the shop itself.
She looked at the cracked walls. The worn wooden floor. The dusty silk shelves untouched for months.
One eyebrow rose—slowly, with obvious skepticism.
"It looks..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "...**modest**."
Kyle—who could never keep his mouth shut—laughed.
"Modest? Lady Wei, this place is **amazing**! Tell her, Chen!"
But before I could respond, Victoria turned directly toward me.
And when our eyes met—
I felt it.
**Pressure.**
Heavy, crushing pressure, as if a mountain were pressing on my shoulders.
This wasn't just a powerful cultivator.
This was someone accustomed to **control**. To **judgment**. To seeing the truth behind lies and appearances.
Her deep black eyes examined me—not hastily, but with frightening precision.
As if she were **peeling my layers**, one by one.
My strength. My weakness. My secrets.
And for a moment—just one moment—I wondered:
*Does she see? Does she know I'm not the original Liu Chen?*
I swallowed hard and forced myself to stand firmly.
*Don't look away. Don't show fear. You're the owner of this place.*
"You..." Her voice cut the silence like a sharp blade. "Liu Chen, correct?"
"Yes, my lady." My voice was steadier than I felt inside. "Owner of this **Gaming Hall**."
"Gaming Hall." She repeated the words slowly, as if tasting something strange and unfamiliar. "An interesting name for a place claiming to grant **real power**."
Then—she stepped forward.
Just one step.
But it was enough.
She was close now. Close enough for me to see my reflection in her black eyes. Close enough to smell her perfume—jasmine and almonds, rich and intoxicating in an elegant way.
"Let me be frank, Master Liu." Her voice lowered—quieter, but more dangerous. "My son is precious to me. Very precious. And when someone—someone without spiritual roots, without cultivation base, without reputation in this city—starts attracting his attention daily?"
A thin smile, cold as ice.
"I become very cautious."
Heavy silence filled the room.
Derek stepped forward. "Mother, this isn't fair—"
"Silence, Derek."
One word.
And he fell silent. Immediately.
I looked at Victoria—at this woman who was equally beautiful and terrifying—and took a deep breath.
Then I said, quietly and steadily:
"You have every right to doubt, Lady Victoria."
Her eyebrow raised slightly. "Oh?"
"In this world, frauds are many. Empty promises are more. And a good mother—"
I looked directly into her eyes, without blinking.
"—protects her family."
Pause.
For a long moment, she didn't move. Didn't speak.
She studied my face silently—searching for lies, fear, weakness.
Then—slowly—
She smiled.
A small smile, but genuine this time.
"Bold. I like that."
She stepped back, giving me space to breathe.
"Very well then, Master Liu. You claim your 'game' grants real power. Let's see if your claim is true."
She turned toward Derek.
"How much do you pay per session?"
"One silver coin per hour, Mother. For cultivators."
"One silver coin." She looked at me. "Reasonable."
Then—something unexpected—
She opened an embroidered purple silk pouch at her waist and pulled out—
Not one silver coin.
But five gold coins.
She placed them on the old wooden table—
Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.
One by one, with calculated movements.
"Gold?!" One of the new customers gasped.
"Five gold coins?! That's... that's five hundred silver coins!"
Kyle whistled in admiration.
But Victoria didn't look at them. She only looked at me.
"I prefer to overpay." She said simply, as if talking about the weather. "To ensure I won't waste my time."
A statement.
A clear, unmistakable statement.
She was saying: "I'm not an ordinary customer. Don't try to deceive me. Don't play games with me."
I took a deep breath, then nodded respectfully.
"Understood completely, Lady Victoria. Please."
I gestured to the chair beside the computer.
Victoria's Session - When a Legend Plays
She sat—with perfect elegance, complete control—and looked at the strange black headset before her.
"This... device?"
"Yes. Resident Evil VR. Put it on, and the virtual world will begin."
She picked it up—carefully, skeptically—and examined it from every angle.
Then, slowly, she placed it on her head.
The monitoring screen lit up.
Her character appeared in the foggy forest.
And for the first time since entering the shop—
I saw her eyes widen behind the headset.
"This... what is this?!"
Her voice—usually controlled, cold—was filled with genuine wonder.
"Another world, Lady Victoria." I smiled. "A world where you become the strongest."
On the screen, I watched Victoria's character standing motionless in the forest.
But unlike most beginners—who stumbled, looked around in confusion, moved awkwardly—
Victoria moved with immediate confidence.
One step. Then another.
Every movement was controlled, deliberate.
Of course. I thought. This is a woman accustomed to combat. To absolute control of her body.
"Lady Victoria," I said quietly, "ahead of you in the fog, there's a small wooden cabin. You'll find basic weapons and resources there."
"Weapons?" A tone of genuine curiosity. "What kind of weapons?"
"A handgun. A combat knife. A green healing herb."
"Handgun..." She repeated the word, unfamiliar on her tongue. "Something from... a distant land, I assume."
"Yes," I said carefully.
She moved through the fog—slowly, but without hesitation or fear.
She reached the cabin. Entered. Picked up the handgun.
And for a moment, I saw her character examine the weapon carefully—turning it in her hand, feeling the weight, examining the mechanism.
"Strange design." She said in an analytical tone. "Not a sword. Not a spear. But... I can feel the latent power within it."
"Fire at the wooden wall. Try it."
She did.
Bang!
The shot echoed through the speakers.
Her character stepped back—not from fear, but from surprise.
"This..." She paused. "This is magnificent. Like thunder, contained in a small piece of metal."
I smiled. "Welcome to Resident Evil, Lady Victoria."