Chapter 2

The day Sword World shut down, the wind was brutal.

I stood by the dorm window, watching as a patio umbrella-base and all-got ripped from the ground and hurled down the street. A store clerk bolted outside, trying to catch it, but the wind shoved him back like he weighed nothing.

Every news channel was looping the same footage: global storms appearing out of nowhere. Scientists threw out theories, but none of them made sense. Online, people were already calling it the end of the world.

Meanwhile, I was staring at the dwindling food stash in our dorm. The storm wasn't letting up, and my supplies wouldn't last past tonight.

Sarah, my roommate, didn't seem the least bit concerned. She lounged in her chair, scrolling through her phone.

"Told you you should've sold your account while you had the chance," she said, smirking.

She stretched like a cat. "I got eighty grand for mine. Once the money hits my account, I'll be drowning in takeout-even if delivery fees jump to a hundred bucks."

She shot me a look. "You? You're screwed. Hope you enjoy starving."

I ignored her. No point arguing. She clearly didn't realize no one in their right mind would pay that kind of money for a game account after the servers shut down. It was almost definitely a scam.

I stood up, heading to the bathroom to wash up.

That's when it happened.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the room.

"Sword World dungeon successfully initialized. First mission: Find Coco's favorite item near the village entrance. Time limit: 24 hours. Failure will result in erasure."

I froze.

"Coco?" I whispered.

Sarah groaned. "Oh, what the hell? A mission? Who's pulling this dumb prank?"

I didn't answer. Because I knew that name.

Coco.

She was an NPC in Sword World-the village chief's granddaughter. A sweet little girl who loved playing hide-and-seek near the village gates.

But this couldn't be real. It had to be some weird coincidence.

Before I could process it, someone started banging on the door.

Hard.

Sarah groaned again. "Oh, for-who the hell is pounding like that?" She stomped over and yanked it open.

Jessica stood there.

Her clothes were torn. Blood smeared across her arms, her neck-everywhere. She swayed, barely clinging to the doorframe.

"Help… me…" she rasped.

Then, before either of us could move-

She collapsed.

The sickening thud of her body hitting the floor sent a bolt of terror through me.

And then I saw her.

A little girl stood just beyond Jessica's crumpled form, in the dimly lit hallway.

She couldn't have been older than six or seven. Twin pigtails, a simple dress, a lollipop in her hand. She rocked slightly on her heels, big eyes sparkling as she looked at us.

Then she smiled.

"Big sister," she said sweetly, tilting her head. "Did you find my favorite thing yet?"

Sarah jolted back like she'd been electrocuted. "What the-where did this creepy kid come from?! Where are your parents?!"

I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

Her face. Her voice. Her clothes.

Down to the last detail-

She was Coco.

Not just similar. Exactly the same.

My stomach twisted into knots. This wasn't possible. She was a game character.

I took a step back, my pulse hammering-

Something cold brushed against my leg.

A deep, unnatural chill, like icy fingers dragging against my skin.

I looked down.

Jessica.

Lying there, motionless. Her skin pale. Lips blue.

A sick dread curled in my gut. My fingers hovered near her wrist. Trembling. Hesitant.

I touched her.

Cold.

Not human cold.

Like a body that had been dead for hours.

I jerked back so fast I nearly fell.

"She's-she's gone!" My voice cracked.

Sarah scoffed. "Gone? What the hell are you talking about? Are you losing it?"

Before I could respond-

Every screen in the room flickered to life.

My phone. Sarah's laptop. The TV.

The usual dorm noise vanished, swallowed by a single emergency broadcast.

A news anchor filled the screen. Their face was pale, their hands gripping their notes like a lifeline.

"This is an emergency announcement," they began, voice tight with barely concealed fear. "After extensive investigation, authorities have confirmed that the recent global anomalies are linked to the martial arts game Sword World."

My blood ran cold.

The anchor pressed on, their urgency growing. "We are now urging anyone familiar with this game to come forward and provide information."

Then their expression shifted-subtle, but unmistakable. Their eyes darted off-camera.

Their voice dropped lower.

"If you encounter anyone resembling NPCs from the game-do not engage."

My skin prickled.

"Avoid contact at all costs. Do not speak to them. Leave the area immediately."

A long pause. Then, almost too quiet to hear-

"If you must interact with them… answer their questions carefully."

The anchor swallowed hard.

"Incorrect answers may result in-"

Static.

The feed glitched. Cut to black.

Then, the message repeated.

Do not engage with NPCs. Do not make eye contact. Answer questions with extreme caution.

And then-

A slideshow of game NPCs flashed onto the screen.

And staring back at me, clear as day-

Coco.