Chapter 3

"No, no way. It's a joke, right? Game characters actually came to life?"

Leo stared back and forth between the computer screen and Ellie's face, utterly disbelieving.

Ellie still smiled at us, looking just like a normal kid.

"Brother, did you find Ellie's favorite thing? It's getting late, Ellie needs to go home. Hurry and tell Ellie!"

My hands trembled, not from fear or nervousness, but from excitement!

I thought I'd never see my friends again, the ones who'd been with me for five years.

A game shutting down is sad and helpless.

No matter how much you don't want it to, if the developers decide, everything you poured your heart and soul into—the people, the things, the account—can disappear overnight.

And you're powerless to stop it.

The moment I saw the shutdown announcement, my blood ran cold. My mind was consumed by uncontrollable panic.

I couldn't imagine how I'd live without them.

But now, they were back.

Even if it was in this terrifying form that spread panic among the public, I felt overjoyed!

"Ellie's favorite thing? Who the hell knows? She's just a starter zone guide. Her storyline is less than one percent of the game."

Leo's eyes darted around. He suddenly grabbed me and shoved me forward forcefully.

"Ask him! He knows! He found it!"

*Slam!* He shut the dorm door, leaving me and Ellie locked outside.

Through the transparent window on the door, he smirked at me triumphantly:

"I'm not dying. You can die first, you monster."

"Besides, didn't you love studying character lore? Now's your chance to shine, good luck!"

His eyebrows were raised, showing the arrogant swagger of a spoiled rich kid.

He was utterly vicious.

Just like he used to be, telling classmates I was crazy for treating screen characters as real people, leading everyone to ostracize me.

It made my teeth itch with hatred.

Fine, Leo, you treat me this way, don't blame me.

I looked at Ellie:

"Ellie, I know what your favorite thing is, but after I tell you, you have to go ask that big brother over there. That big brother also wants to answer your question."

Ellie tilted her head:

"That big brother also wants to play with me? Okay! You tell me first, and after you do, I'll go find him!"

Leo instantly panicked, pounding on the metal door and cursing:

"Alex, you bastard! You're trying to get me killed! Why don't you just answer it yourself?"

"Damn it! Damn it!"

I ignored him, leaned close to Ellie's ear, and whispered so only we could hear:

"Our little Ellie loves big machetes."

A flash of insight sparked in Ellie's eyes. She giggled:

"Brother knows so much."

Leo's pounding on the door grew louder:

"What did you say?! Tell me! Alex, you can't just leave me to die! We're roommates!"

"But... that's the wrong answer!"

What?!

Wrong answer? How could that be?

I was stunned, and Leo froze too.