Lin Feng's breaths came in short, sharp gasps. Shadows twisted around the school hallway like living smoke, walls bending, lights flickering.
The girl stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing. "There. That's who's controlling it."
Lin Feng followed her gaze. At the end of the hallway, a figure stood calmly, hands tucked into a dark coat. The red glow of the device pulsed from their pocket, rhythmic and ominous.
"So… it's you," Lin Feng muttered. His fists clenched. Every reset, every calculated move, every near-death… it all led here.
The figure tilted their head, voice smooth, cold: "Impressive. But predictable."
Lin Feng's instincts screamed. This wasn't just a test. This was a trap, designed to push him, break him, see how far he'd go.
Time seemed to stretch. The hum from the device grew deafening. Lin Feng's eyes darted around—every second counted. He had ten… nine… eight…
The girl whispered, "We fight together. Don't hold back."
Lin Feng nodded, feeling adrenaline spike through every vein. Shadow figures lunged from the walls, school lockers flew like missiles. He dodged, rolled, spun—moving faster than ever, every action instinctive.
He leapt. The world slowed. The shadow controller's eyes widened—just for a moment. Lin Feng's fist connected.
Click.
The device blinked violently, then went dark. Silence.
Lin Feng stumbled back, chest heaving, sweat and dust coating him. The shadows evaporated. The school felt normal again, but he knew better. This was only the beginning.
The girl stood beside him, smiling faintly. "You survived the first stage. But there's more. Much more."
Lin Feng's gaze hardened. "Then I'll be ready. No resets, no second chances. I fight… on my terms."
The camera pans out: the school is quiet, the sunset casting long shadows, but far above, unseen in the sky, the faint red blink of another device pulses. The game isn't over.