The eerie blue sun hung high above the horizon, unnaturally beautiful. It held a strange allure that made one lose themselves, intoxicated by its glow.
Because of it, the entire landscape was draped in a deathly stillness—a beauty both haunting and mesmerizing. Soulshadow Tianyou stood frozen, utterly captivated by this lethal radiance.
"Master! Master!" Loli Monkey urgently shoved Tianyou’s shoulder, sensing something amiss.
"Huh…?" Soulshadow Tianyou snapped back to reality. She shook her head, pressing a hand to her forehead, her gaze distant and unfocused.
Legends said the Plague Deity could bewitch minds—far more treacherous than true gods. No verified proof existed of any player ever slaying one, though rumors of solo victories were rampant.
"Could this blue sun be the Plague Deity?" Soulshadow Tianyou muttered to herself.
"Master, this place feels… wrong," Loli Monkey whispered.
"I know…"
This map was nothing like the sunlit forest they’d just left. In fact, it clashed violently with every map they’d ever known.
It was like stepping from a bright morning straight into the apocalypse. Or switching from a casual online game to a horror title without warning.
"Master, should we move forward?" Loli Monkey tugged at Soulshadow Tianyou’s wolf-fur cloak.
"Hold on~ Little Monkey. I’m starving." Tianyou’s lips twitched at the corners.
"Ugh… Fine. Eat first. I’ll wait here." Loli Monkey’s expression went deadpan. *Why now, of all times?*
In Mystic Box, avatars felt hunger—not because the characters needed food, but because the player’s real body did. The system simulated this to remind players to eat. The game menu even displayed real-world time and set automatic alarms.
"I’m logging off then. See you soon, Little Monkey." Soulshadow Tianyou ruffled Loli Monkey’s hair, pulled up the menu, and logged out.
Her avatar vanished in a flash of white light atop the hill. Loli Monkey sighed, then dissolved into light herself, following her master.
---
I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the triangular ceiling. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. This wasn’t my old home anymore.
I sat up, set the game helmet aside, and crawled toward the foldable ladder at the back of the attic. Gently lowering it, I carefully climbed down to the second-floor hallway.
"Tiancheng! What’ve you been doing up there all afternoon? I was about to call you down for shift change." The convenience store owner appeared at the stairs, broom and plastic bag in hand.
"What’s the broom for, boss?" I squinted.
"To poke you down with," he grinned.
"…" Speechless.
"Your shift starts now. Here." He tossed me the bag.
I opened it—a plain bento box. "Thanks, boss."
"Deducted from your wages. And this." He pulled a key from his pocket. "Lock up around eleven."
"Got it. Thanks." I took the key.
He nodded, patted my shoulder, and headed to his room, muttering, "Ah~ Where to grind for gear today? Gotta save up…"
I watched him go, then took over the register. From six PM to past eleven, I manned the store. After locking the doors, I stood below my attic room and called toward his door: "Goodnight."
Then I climbed back to my tiny space, put on the helmet, and plunged once more into the game.
Friday today. Saturday tomorrow. Sunday after. Two and a half days before school again… Ugh. Hard to get motivated.
---
Soulshadow Tianyou logged back in, reappearing on the damp, gloomy hillside.
She glanced around—and saw a beam of white light coalescing beside her. Swirling data particles solidified into color and form. Loli Monkey materialized like a player… no, her login effect was far flashier than any human’s.
"Little Monkey." Soulshadow Tianyou pulled up her menu while calling out to her high-IQ pet.
"Master! You’re here! I’ve been waiting forever!" Loli Monkey cheered.
"Let’s go. Time to clear this fishing village map."
"With me? Easy mode!"
Side by side, they began their descent toward the foothills.
