**[Inside the Game - The First Zombie]**
After Victoria tested the handgun, she exited the cabin.
On the screen, I watched her character move with confidence—calculated steps, head held high, eyes scanning every corner.
Then—
**Aaah... aaah...**
The familiar groan.
A zombie appeared from behind a decrepit tree—gray rotting skin, empty white eyes, open mouth revealing broken teeth.
I expected Victoria to tense up—most beginners do.
But instead?
She stood completely still.
Calm. Controlled. Observing.
Ten seconds of silent observation.
"Interesting." Victoria whispered. "It moves slowly. Irregular walking pattern. But when it sees a target..."
The zombie turned toward her, sniffed the air—
And ran.
But Victoria was ready.
She raised the handgun—in one smooth, professional motion—and aimed.
**Bang!**
**[Headshot! Critical Damage: -100]**
**[Enemy Defeated!]**
First shot.
Silence in the room.
Even Derek—who had died dozens of times on his first attempt—gaped.
"Mother... killed it with the first shot?!"
Elena, usually cold, raised an eyebrow. "Perfect accuracy. On her first try." She looked at me with curiosity. "How?"
"When you hunt an animal, you aim for the head. When you kill an enemy, you aim for the head." Victoria said simply. "Why should monsters be different?"
She put the headset back on.
"Continue."
---
The next hour was... a lesson in absolute professionalism.
Victoria didn't waste a single bullet.
Every shot—a headshot.
Every movement—calculated, efficient.
Every decision—logical, cold.
She moved through the mansion with frightening efficiency—
Found the dining room. Read the files. Solved the puzzles.
When she faced the **Hellhound**—the massive, fast, terrifying zombie dog that killed Kyle three times—
She dodged it. Studied its movement pattern. Waited for the right moment.
Then—
**Bang! Bang! Bang!**
Three shots. One to the leg (to slow it), two to the head.
**[Enemy Defeated!]**
"Efficient." She said simply.
Thomas, who was watching, shook his head in admiration.
"This lady... if she weren't a cultivator, she'd be a great military commander."
---
But the most impressive thing wasn't the combat.
It was **the puzzles**.
In the library room, she found a puzzle—books arranged on shelves, a plaque on the wall saying:
*"When knowledge is read in the correct order, the path shall open."*
Most customers needed my help to solve this puzzle.
But Victoria?
She read the plaque. Looked at the books. Noticed something—
"The dates." She whispered. "The books are arranged randomly, but each has a publication date."
She began rearranging the books—from oldest to newest.
**Click!**
A secret door opened.
"Excellent." She said with satisfaction.
Even I was amazed.
*She solved the puzzle in two minutes. Without any help.*
---
And at the end of the hour—
Victoria reached what no one else had reached on their first session.
**The Laboratory**.
The hidden room, deep beneath the mansion, where the T-Virus was created.
Her character entered—glowing green test tubes, old yellow computers, scientist corpses on the floor.
"This..." Her voice was quiet, contemplative. "The place where it all began."
She looked at the large screen in the laboratory—the same screen where Marcus found the virus.
**[T-VIRUS PROTOTYPE - SAMPLE 003]**
**[WARNING: BIOLOGICAL HAZARD]**
**[AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED]**
"T-Virus." She said, reading the words carefully. "The same virus that turned the village into monsters."
"Yes," I said. "But this is a stable version. Safe."
"And to reach it?"
"You need three keys. But that will require more sessions."
She slowly removed the headset.
Looked at me—directly, deeply.
"Master Liu."
"Yes?"
"This game..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "It's not just entertainment. Is it?"
"No. It's not."
"It's a **treasure**." She said decisively. "A treasure that surpasses traditional cultivation. A way to grant power even to those without spiritual roots."
She stood—slowly, gracefully—and looked around the room.
At the customers waiting their turn. At Derek, smiling with pride. At me.
"I'll return tomorrow, Master Liu. And every day after."
Derek jumped with joy. "Really, Mother?!"
"Yes." She looked at her son with rare tenderness. "It seems you were honest, Derek. This place..."
She looked at me again.
"**Truly special**."
Then—something unexpected—
She bowed.
A small bow, but **genuine**.
From a Foundation Establishment cultivator to an ordinary human without spiritual roots.
"Thank you, Master Liu. For this exceptional experience."
And she left, her purple silk robes flowing behind her.
---
**[Ding! Rewards]**
**[Customer Victoria (Wei Clan) completed one hour!]**
**[Performance: Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]**
**[Rewards:]**
- **+3.1% muscle strength**
- **+2.8% reaction speed**
- **+2.4% accuracy**
- **+1.9% stamina**
**[Enhanced Techniques:]**
- **"Sniping - Level 1"**
- **"Threat Assessment - Level 2"**
- **"Resource Conservation - Level 2"**
- **"Complex Puzzle Solving - Level 1"**
Derek whistled loudly.
"Three percent?! From just one hour?!"
Elena—who got 1.2% in her first session—frowned.
"How... how is that possible?"
I looked at the notification and understood.
*Better performance = better rewards.*
Victoria didn't die once. Didn't waste a bullet. Solved every puzzle quickly.
Of course she'd get higher rewards.
---
After Victoria left, the sessions continued.
**Kyle** played his daily hour—
Died twice (ambush in the dark corridor), but improved significantly.
**[+1.5% strength, +1.2% speed]**
Kyle's total hours so far: **3 hours**
---
**Elena** played in silence—
Cold efficiency, no emotions. Killed, explored, progressed.
**[+1.6% strength, +1.4% speed, +1.1% accuracy]**
Elena's total hours so far: **2 hours**
---
**Thomas** returned to the in-game workshop—
Spent his entire hour crafting something new.
**[Chest Armor Piece - Good Quality]**
**[+0.9% strength, technique: "Armor Crafting - Level 1"]**
Thomas's total hours so far: **2 hours**
---
**Marcus** played with enthusiasm—
Explored the library in the mansion, read every file, took notes.
"This is amazing!" He said, eyes sparkling. "The story... so complex!"
**[+1.1% strength, +0.8% speed, technique: "Research and Analysis"]**
Marcus's total hours so far: **2 hours**
---
**New Customers:**
**Lily** (the shy girl)—
Very scared at first, but Kyle helped her.
"Don't be afraid! It's just a game!"
After half an hour of hesitation, she started enjoying it.
**[+0.7% strength, +0.5% speed]**
Lily's total hours: **1 hour**
---
**The Guards** (two of them)—
Played together, cooperated, military strategy.
"Left! I've got you covered!"
**[Each: +1.0% strength, +0.9% speed, technique: "Team Coordination"]**
Their total hours: **2 hours** (one each)
---
**The Middle-aged Merchant** -
Played very cautiously, avoided combat as much as possible.
"Unnecessary risks are bad for business!"
**[+0.8% strength, technique: "Avoidance and Escape"]**
His total hours: **1 hour**
---
**The Elderly Woman**—
Everyone was surprised when she requested to play.
"I'm old, not dead!" She said sharply. "Let me try!"
She played... and loved every moment.
"In my youth, I was a warrior! This reminds me of the old days!"
**[+0.6% strength, +0.7% speed, +0.9% stamina]**
Her total hours: **1 hour**
---
By nine PM, the last customer left.
I sat in the back room, exhausted but happy.
I took out my notebook and started calculating:
**Today's Income:**
- Victoria: 5 gold coins = **500 silver coins**
- Kyle: 1 silver
- Elena: 1 silver
- Thomas: 0.05 silver (1 hour × 5 copper)
- Marcus: 1 silver
- Lily: 0.05 silver
- Guards (×2): 0.1 silver (5 copper each)
- Merchant: 0.05 silver
- Elderly woman: 0.05 silver
**Total Today: 503.3 silver coins!**
More than half a gold coin. In **one day**.
But more important than money?
**The total hours count.**
I opened the System interface:
**[Gaming Hall Statistics]**
**Total Gameplay Hours (All Customers):**
- Day One: 5 hours (Kyle, Marcus, Elena, Thomas, Derek)
- Day Two: 8 hours (multiple sessions)
- Day Three: 12 hours (new customers + additional sessions)
- Day Four (today): 14 hours
**Grand Total: 39 hours**
**Progress Toward Goal: 39/50 hours**
**Remaining: Only 11 hours!**
I smiled—a wide smile.
*Tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll reach fifty hours.*
*And everything will change.*
---
But before sleeping, there was something I had to do.
**Playing**.
I put on the headset and started the game.
My character appeared where I left off—deep in the mansion, close to the laboratory.
"Alright. Let's continue."
I played for two hours—
Explored. Fought. Solved puzzles.
Found a **secret room** behind a movable painting.
Inside—a treasure chest.
**[Found: Assault Rifle + 50 bullets!]**
"Yes!"
Much better weapon than the handgun.
I continued playing—
Another hour passed.
Then—
**[Warning! Boss approaching!]**
**[Transformed Lord Spencer]**
I stopped.
*The final boss.*
"Not tonight." I told myself. "Need to prepare first."
I ended the session.
**[Ding! Host played 3 hours!]**
**[Rewards:]**
- **+3.8% muscle strength**
- **+2.9% reaction speed**
- **+2.1% stamina**
- **New techniques: "Rifle Aiming", "Tactical Combat"**
**[Host's Total Strength:]**
- T-Virus: +15%
- Total Gameplay (8 hours): +13.0%
- **Total: 28% stronger than baseline!**
I stood, feeling the power flowing through my muscles.
I lifted the heavy wooden table—
With just two fingers.
"Incredible."
28% stronger.
Still much weaker than cultivators.
But for an ordinary human?
I was becoming **strong**.
---
## Day Five - Morning
I woke up early this time—six AM.
Washed my face and looked in the cracked mirror.
Same face. But... different.
Muscles more defined. Face less pale. Eyes sharper.
"The change is real." I whispered.
I went downstairs and found my father—Liu Wei—preparing breakfast.
"Chen! You woke up early!" He seemed surprised. "Are you alright?"
"Better than alright, Father." I sat down. "Actually, I want to talk to you about something."
---
My father sat down, his face serious.
"What is it, son?"
"Did Mother tell you about... the game? About the changes?"
"Yes." He looked at his hands—strong hands, hardened from years of work. "She said she feels stronger. Faster. And that there's something in the game—a virus—that can make her permanently stronger."
"All of that is true, Father."
Long silence.
"And you want me to play too."
"Yes."
He looked at me—deep brown eyes, wise, tired.
"Chen, I'm a simple man. I sell silk. I work with my hands. I've never held a sword in my life."
"I know, Father."
"But..." He paused. "If this game can protect my family. Make me strong enough to protect you and your mother..."
He looked at me directly.
"I'll play."
I felt something warm in my chest.
"Thank you, Father."
---
## Father's Session - The Old Warrior Awakens
After breakfast, I took my father to the back room.
He looked at the computer, the headset, with cautious curiosity.
"This... the device your mother talked about?"
"Yes. Sit down, Father. I'll guide you through every step."
He sat—slowly, stiffly—and let me place the headset on his head.
"Prepare yourself, Father. You're about to enter a world... completely different."
I started the game.
---
For the first few moments, my father was completely silent.
Then—
"Oh... oh my god."
His voice was filled with pure wonder.
"This... is real. The trees. The fog. The smell. Everything... real."
"Yes, Father. Now, move forward slowly."
He moved—cautiously, like a man walking on thin ice.
He reached the cabin. Found the handgun.
"What's this?" He examined it curiously.
"A weapon. Called a handgun. It fires small metal pieces at high speed."
"Like... a crossbow?"
"Sort of. But much more powerful."
He tried it—
**Bang!**
He jumped, startled by the loud sound.
"This... is powerful!"
Then—the first zombie appeared.
My father froze.
"Chen... what is that thing?!"
"Zombie. Monster. But remember—it's not real. Just a game."
"Just a game." He repeated to himself, voice trembling slightly.
The zombie approached—
My father fired—
**Bang! Bang! Bang!**
Three shots, all missed.
The zombie reached him, bit—
**[You Died!]**
He removed the headset, face pale.
"I... died."
"It's okay, Father. Everyone dies the first time. Even me."
He looked at me. "Really?"
"Really. Now, let's try again. Together."
---
The second attempt was better.
I guided him—step by step, advice after advice.
"Aim for the head, Father. Wait until it gets close. Now—fire!"
**Bang!**
**[Headshot! Enemy Defeated!]**
"I did it!" My father shouted with joy. "I really did it!"
I laughed. "Well done, Father!"
He continued—died twice more, but learned.
And by the end of the hour—
He was killing zombies with reasonable efficiency.
He removed the headset, panting but smiling.
"This... is exhausting. But exciting."
**[Ding! Customer Liu Wei completed one hour!]**
**[Rewards:]**
- **+1.3% muscle strength**
- **+1.0% reaction speed**
- **+0.8% stamina**
- **Technique: "Firearm Usage - Level 1"**
He stood and moved his arms.
"I feel... something different."
"You're stronger, Father. By 1.3%. It may seem small, but after a month of daily playing?"
"I'll be a different man." He finished the sentence, eyes gleaming.
"Exactly."
---
By noon, customers started arriving again.
And today? There were more.
**15 people** waiting their turn.
Regular customers + new faces attracted by rumors.
I sat down and calculated:
*39 hours so far. I need 11 more hours.*
*With 15 people waiting... we'll reach the goal today easily.*
But there was a problem—
**Only one device**.
Even if everyone played one hour, it would take **15 consecutive hours**.
Impossible in one day.
"I need to organize this better." I whispered to myself.
I decided:
**Booking system.**
I wrote on a small wooden board:
```
Available Sessions Today:
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Victoria
- 1:00 - 2:00: Derek
- 2:00 - 3:00: Mother (Liu Mei)
- 3:00 - 4:00: Kyle
- 4:00 - 5:00: Elena
- 5:00 - 6:00: Thomas
- 6:00 - 7:00: Marcus
- 7:00 - 8:00: New customer 1
- 8:00 - 9:00: New customer 2
```
I hung the board on the door.
"Nine customers today. Nine hours."
*39 + 9 = 48 hours.*
*Very close, but not enough!*
Then I thought—
*Wait. I can also play!*
*If I play two hours tonight...*
*48 + 2 = 50 hours exactly!*
I smiled.
"Perfect."
---
**12:00 PM - Victoria**
She returned exactly on time—as usual, punctual and organized.
"Master Liu." She bowed slightly. "Ready for my second session?"
"Of course, Lady Victoria."
She played for a full hour—
This time, with the keys she collected yesterday (Shield Key from the book puzzle), she continued progressing.
Found the **Jewel Key** in the mirror room (solved the puzzle in 3 minutes!).
"Two out of three." She said with satisfaction. "Tomorrow, I'll find the third and reach the virus."
**[+3.0% strength, +2.7% speed, +2.2% accuracy]**
**Victoria's total hours: 2 hours**
---
**1:00 PM - Derek**
Played with enthusiasm—
"Today I'll surpass Mother's level!"
He didn't surpass (died four times in the same room), but improved significantly.
Found the **Shield Key** finally.
**[+1.9% strength, +1.6% speed]**
**Derek's total hours: 3 hours**
---
**2:00 PM - Mother (Liu Mei)**
"Today, Chen, I'll reach the laboratory." She said with determination.
And for the first time, she played **without my direct help**.
She remembered everything I taught her.
Moved carefully. Fought smartly. Solved puzzles patiently.
And found the **Skull Key** in the dark basement!
"Three out of three!" She shouted with joy.
But time ran out before she reached the laboratory.
"Tomorrow." She said, eyes determined. "Tomorrow I'll take the virus."
**[+2.6% strength, +2.1% speed, +1.7% stamina]**
**Mother's total hours: 4 hours**
**Mother's total strength so far: 6.1% (from gameplay only, no virus yet)**
---
**3:00 PM - Kyle**
Played with full energy—
Fought the **Hunter** (amphibious creature), died three times, but succeeded in the end.
"Yes! I killed it! Killed the strongest monster so far!"
**[+1.7% strength, +1.4% speed, special reward: +50 experience points]**
**Kyle's total hours: 5 hours**
---
**4:00 PM - Elena**
Played with her usual cold efficiency—
No wasted movement. No wasted bullet.
Reached the laboratory door (but without keys).
"Next time." She whispered to herself.
**[+1.8% strength, +1.5% speed, +1.3% accuracy]**
**Elena's total hours: 3 hours**
---
**5:00 PM - Thomas**
Returned to the workshop—
This time, he crafted **full armor**: helmet, chest piece, gloves.
Each piece was **excellent quality**.
And at the end of the session—
**[Crafted Items: Complete Armor Set - Excellent Quality!]**
**[Special Reward: Armor will be transferred to the real world!]**
Golden flash—
And the three pieces appeared on the table in front of him!
Real iron armor, sturdy, beautiful.
"This..." He touched it with trembling hands. "I made this in a virtual world... and it became **real**!"
**[+1.0% strength, technique: "Advanced Blacksmithing - Level 2"]**
**Thomas's total hours: 3 hours**
---
**6:00 - 9:00 PM - New Customers**
Three new customers played, one after another:
1. **Young Merchant** - very scared, died 8 times, but loved the experience. **[+0.6% strength]** - 1 hour
2. **Female Cultivator** (Qi Condensation stage) - very good, killed 15 zombies. **[+1.4% strength, +1.2% speed]** - 1 hour
3. **Elderly Man** - played very slowly, but enjoyed it. **[+0.5% strength]** - 1 hour
---
By nine PM, the last customer left.
I sat down, exhausted, and opened the System interface:
**[Gaming Hall Statistics - End of Day Five]**
**Today's Hours:**
- Victoria: 1
- Derek: 1
- Mother: 1
- Father: 1 (from morning)
- Kyle: 1
- Elena: 1
- Thomas: 1
- New customers: 3
**Total Today: 10 hours**
**Grand Total: 39 + 10 = 49 hours!**
**Progress: 49/50**
**Remaining: Just one hour!**
I looked at the number and smiled.
*One hour.*
*I can play it now.*
---
I looked at the clock—nine thirty PM.
*Two hours until midnight. Enough time for a final session.*
I put on the headset and entered the game for the last time today.
---
**[One Hour of Intensive Play]**
I played with complete focus, non-stop.
Collected the **three keys** (I had found two yesterday).
Reached the laboratory door.
Placed the keys—one, two, three.
**Click. Click. Click.**
The heavy steel door slowly opened—
**Creaking ominously...**
I entered the laboratory.
Glowing green test tubes. Old yellow computers. Scientist corpses on the floor.
And in the center—a large screen:
**[T-VIRUS PROTOTYPE - SAMPLE 004]**
**[STABLE VERSION - SAFE FOR HUMAN USE]**
**[AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED: 3 KEYS]**
I pressed the screen—
**[AUTHORIZATION GRANTED]**
**[DISPENSING SAMPLE...]**
A machine opened, and a green vial appeared.
**[Found: T-Virus Prototype!]**
But... I stopped.
*No. I won't take it.*
*I already took one from Marcus.*
*This one... should remain for another customer who deserves it.*
I left the vial and continued exploring.
Found **secret files** about Lord Spencer:
"The transformation is complete. Spencer is no longer human. His power exceeds anything we've seen. But his mind... completely lost."
I read every file, understood the complete story.
Then—checked the time.
An hour passed.
"Enough for today."
I exited the game.
[Ding! Host played one hour!]
[Rewards:]
+1.4% strength
+1.1% speed
+0.8% stamina
[Host's Total Strength:]
T-Virus: +15%
Gameplay (10 hours total): +16.5%
Total: 31.5% stronger than baseline!
[Host's Total Gameplay Hours: 10 hours]
Then—
[Ding! Ding! Ding!]
A massive golden notification filled the screen!
[🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉]
[50 Hour Goal Reached!]
[Final Total: 50 hours exactly!]
[Rewards will be granted automatically at midnight!]
[Upgrade will begin in: 2 hours and 23 minutes]
[Duration: 6 hours (12:00 AM - 6:00 AM)]
[Warning: Entry to the shop prohibited during upgrade]
[Anticipated Rewards:]
✅ Complete shop renovation
✅ +2 additional devices (total: 3)
✅ Special reward for Host
✅ New Goal: 150 hours
I smiled—a wide, exhausted, happy smile.
"50 hours. We did it."
I looked at the window—10:30 PM.
"An hour and a half until midnight."
Time to sleep.
Midnight - Silent Upgrade
In the back room, while the entire city slept—
Something began.
[12:00 AM - Upgrade Initiating...]
A faint golden light—invisible to the human eye—slowly filled the back room.
The System began its silent work.
[Progress: 5%...]
The cracked walls—which had suffered decades of neglect—
Began to change.
The cracks... disappeared. One by one. As if an invisible hand was erasing them from existence.
The old peeling paint—faded.
And in its place, new paint appeared—deep dark blue, smooth, elegant, looking regal.
[Progress: 15%...]
The decayed wood on the walls—rotting in some places—
Gradually transformed. Fibers rebuilt. Color returned. Strength returned.
It became solid new wood, shiny, strong.
[Progress: 30%...]
The worn wooden floor—
The broken, cracked, uneven planks—
Disappeared. Literally melted into nothing.
And in their place, a new floor grew—
Premium hardwood, polished to the point that it reflected the faint moonlight from the window.
[Progress: 50%...]
In the center of the room—in the empty spaces on both sides of the original device—
Something began forming from nothing.
Tiny golden particles—almost invisible—gathered together.
A wooden table... appeared slowly, from bottom to top.
Beautifully carved. Solid. Elegant.
Then—on the table—
A computer tower materialized. Black, sleek. A screen. Keyboard. Mouse.
And a VR headset, glowing with soft blue light.
Second device.
[Progress: 75%...]
On the other side—
The same process repeated.
Table. Computer. Headset.
Third device.
[Progress: 90%...]
The lighting changed—
The old dim candles disappeared.
Crystal lanterns appeared on the walls, glowing with soft golden light.
The windows—the cracked dirty glass was replaced with perfectly clear glass.
Even the air became purer, fresher.
[Progress: 100%!]
[Upgrade Successfully Completed!]
The golden light faded... then disappeared.
And silence returned.
But the shop—
Would never be the same again.