Chapter 2

On the first day after Eldoria Online shut down, a fierce wind swept outside.

A convenience store's awning on the roadside was ripped up, base and all, flying several meters away.

The frantic clerk tried to stop it but was pushed back by the strong gusts.

The news repeatedly broadcasted reports of this global storm.

Experts took turns analyzing it, but there was no definitive explanation.

Some even speculated it was the end of the world.

I looked at the dwindling food supply in our dorm and felt a surge of panic.

The wind wouldn't stop, making it impossible to go out. My remaining supplies would only last until tonight.

Leo, however, was completely unconcerned:

"See? I told you to sell your account with me."

"I made a fortune, eighty thousand bucks! Once the money clears, I can order takeout even if delivery costs a hundred. You just wait to starve!"

I didn't bother arguing with him. He hadn't even considered that with the game shut down, no one would pay big money for an account; it was probably a scam.

I got up to go to the bathroom and wash up when a mechanical system voice suddenly sounded:

"Eldoria Online dungeon upload successful. Fantasy dungeon initiated. First mission: Find Ellie's favorite thing!"

"Time limit: 24 hours. Failure will result in annihilation."

"Ellie?"

"What the hell is that sound? A mission? Who's the crazy person talking?"

Leo and I spoke at the same time, but our questions were completely different.

Ellie was a character in Eldoria Online, the village elder's granddaughter in the starting zone.

She usually loved playing hide-and-seek in the grass by the stream near the village entrance, a really cute kid.

But this must just be a coincidence, right? Same name.

*Knock, knock, knock.* The dorm door suddenly rattled. Leo walked over and opened it:

"Who is it?!"

"Mark? What happened to you?"

I leaned in to look. Mark was covered in blood, weakly clinging to the wall:

"Help, help me!"

He stammered the words, and before we could react, he collapsed to the floor.

Behind him emerged a small girl with two pigtails, holding a lollipop, her big eyes blinking.

She squinted at us and grinned:

"Big brother, did you find Ellie's favorite thing?"

Leo jumped back in fright:

"Where did this kid come from? You scared me! Kid, where are your parents?"

I stared at the girl's face, finding it increasingly familiar.

Wasn't this Ellie from Eldoria Online? Her clothes and appearance were identical to the game model.

How could someone look exactly like a game character?

Unconsciously, I shifted a step to the side—a habitual movement when I was thinking.

But a sudden chill pierced my calf, making me flinch.

What was that? So cold.

I looked down.

It was Mark!

I knelt down and touched him. Mark, at some point, had stopped breathing. His whole body was ice-cold, like he'd just been pulled from an ice cave.

I scrambled back onto the floor, stunned:

"Dead! Someone's dead!"

"Dead? Are you losing your mind?" Leo turned back to glare at me, annoyed.

At the same moment, computers, TVs, phones—every electronic device worldwide—suddenly switched to the same screen.

"Experts have confirmed that this anomaly originates from a fantasy game: Eldoria Online."

"Urgent broadcast: We are seeking information from anyone familiar with this game!"

"Remember, if you encounter anyone who strongly resembles a character from the game, do not stop! Do not look, do not listen, evacuate immediately!"

"If you unfortunately encounter one, please answer any questions they ask with extreme caution. A wrong answer will lead to death!"

"Repeat: All citizens must answer any questions posed by these characters with extreme caution!!!"

"Now broadcasting character game screenshots."