The system announcement hadn't stopped echoing. My phone vibrated endlessly in my pocket—notifications from every platform, every guild, every friend request. Everyone wanted to know who had slain the Abyssal Warden solo. I yanked the device out and stared at the screen. Thousands of messages, dozens from verified accounts of top players, and even emails from guild leaders offering alliances I hadn't asked for.
I sank onto the edge of my bed, heart still hammering. "This… this is insane," I muttered. My hands shook as I scrolled, each message blurring into the next. "I didn't even finish exploring the dungeon yet. How are they all seeing this?"
The system pinged again. A new notification appeared in-game:
[World Broadcast: Player 'RivenShadow' has defeated Abyssal Warden.]
I froze. RivenShadow. That was the name assigned to me when I first logged in. My gaming alias—but now, it was global. My real name didn't matter. The world knew me as this shadowed figure, the kid who survived a dungeon no one thought anyone could solo.
My stomach turned. Fame in the real world was one thing—but in a death-linked game? That meant danger. Real danger. Every player out there now knew I was capable of survival, and that made me a target.
I ran my hands through my hair. "I didn't sign up for this," I whispered. But my own voice sounded weak, even to me. I'd taken the risk. I'd made it through the dungeon. And the system… the system was broadcasting it like a trophy.
A soft chime signaled an incoming message. Not from my phone—but in-game. A private notification from someone I didn't know:
[Unknown Player]: "Congratulations. You've caught their attention."
I blinked at the message. "Their… attention?" I typed back nervously, fingers trembling.
[Unknown Player]: "Yes. The world is watching now. Every dungeon, every kill, every move you make will be scrutinized. And some are not pleased you survived."
Cold dread crept over me. "Not pleased… why?"
[Unknown Player]: "Because you're no longer just a player. You've become a threat. And threats are either controlled—or eliminated."
The message disappeared. My chest felt tight. I looked at my VR headset on the desk, the soft green glow reflecting in my eyes. I'd chosen this world because I thought I could control it. I thought it was just a game.
I realized now—it was never just a game.
The abyss wasn't finished with me, and neither were the players who had been watching. Some would be allies. Some would betray. And somewhere in the shadows, a force was already moving against me.
I whispered to myself, voice barely audible, "I survived the dungeon… but am I ready for the world?"
A shiver ran down my spine as I stared at the ceiling. The reality of it all finally settled in. The world was watching, and now, survival meant more than just fighting monsters. It meant outsmarting humans too.