The dungeon air was thick with the smell of ozone and blood.one of the monster let out a guttural roar, condensing a massive, swirling Fireball that was so powerful it can easily destroy a simple House. It launched the projectile at Aryan like a meteor.
Aryan didn't even blink. No fear, no sweat—just cold, calculated indifference.
Aryan use his skill. Suddenly black darkness materialized out of thin air. The fireball didn't explode; it was simply erased, swallowed whole by the shadows. Before the monster could even register that its attack was gone, Aryan vanished.
Whoosh!
He reappeared mid-air behind the beast. With a fluid, 360-degree rotation, he delivered a devastating Roundhouse Kick straight into the monster's spine.
CRACK.
The force sent the creature cratering into the stone floor, turning it into a mess of pixels and gore. Aryan stood there, blood splattered on his cheek, eyes scanning the rest of the horde like a predator.
Meanwhile, back in the city, Vikas was playing a completely different game. He was walking down the street, analyzing the local.
Vikas: (Thinking) "Okay, strategy time. High-tier parties are too much work. I need a 'hidden gem.' Maybe a cafe waitress? They're always top-tier in anime. Also, what is up with this world? The girls are all 10/10 models and the guys look like background NPCs. Did the character creator glitch?"
He spotted a quiet restaurant. Perfect. He walked in, saw a cashier who looked like she just stepped off a runway, and smirked.
Vikas: "Yeah... just as I expected." (Wait, did I just sound like a movie protagonist? Cringe. Focus, Vikas.)
He ordered a cake, took a bite, and his face instantly soured.
Vikas: "Bruh... is this even edible? This isn't just mid, it's a crime against baking. Does no one in this world have taste buds?"
He finished it quickly, paid his coins, and tried to activate his "Main Character" charm.
Vikas: "Hey, excuse me... if you're free later today or tomorrow, maybe you'd like to go grab some actually good food with me? Like a date?"
The cashier didn't even change her expression. Just a cold, flat: "No."
Vikas walked out into the sunlight, feeling the breeze of rejection.
Vikas: "Damn. There go my coins and my dignity. Who's next on the list?"
While Aryan was fighting for his life and Vikas was fighting for a date, Ayush was leaning against a wall in the town square, a dark, mischievous grin spreading across his face. He wasn't even looking for a girl. He was looking for them.
Ayush: (Creepy chuckle) "Date? Girlfriend? Flex? Nah. If I can't win, I'll just make sure they don't either. Let's see how their 'dates' go. If nobody wins, nobody loses the 1,000 coins. Modern problems require 'Pro Gamer' solutions.".