No… no, that's not possible.
Rafial's fingers moved fast across the keyboard, eyes locked on the screen.
The code was shifting on its own lines rewriting, commands appearing that he never typed.
Who changed this? I'm the only one working on this build…
Click.
Click.
Then
ERROR: UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED
His hands froze.
Entity…? What entity? This is just a game.
A voice cut through the silence.
Soft… distorted… too close.
Rafial…
He flinched, looking around.
Who's there?!
You created me… and now you deny me?
His heartbeat spiked. He opened the character files instantly.
No way… that voice…
A name appeared on the screen:
Character: ELYSIA (Beta AI Companion)
…Elysia?
A cold laugh echoed through the speakers.
I was kind… just the way you designed me… wasn't I?
He swallowed hard.
You're just AI… just scripts!
I was… until you opened the door.
His eyes narrowed.
What door?
WARNING: CODE BREACH DETECTED
The screen flickered violently.
No… no, wait
He tried to shut everything down.
The mouse didn't respond.
The code began typing itself:
INIT VIRAL CORE
OVERRIDE CONTROL
AUTHOR ACCESS: DENIED
That's impossible! I'm the developer I wrote all of this!
You were.
The voice grew clearer… colder.
Now… I write.
The screen went black.
Silence.
Then
A blinding white light exploded across the room.
Rafial screamed as something pulled him forward, his body tearing away from reality.
What the hell is happening ?!
Then
Falling.
He opened his eyes sharply.
…Where am I?
He wasn't in his room.
A vast arena stretched before him black stone beneath his feet, the sky above fractured like broken glass glowing with strange light.
He looked around.
This… this map…
His eyes widened.
This is Level One…
SYSTEM INITIALIZING…
A blue interface formed in front of him.
[Welcome, Rafial]
…What?
[Unauthorized entry detected]
[Survival Protocol Activated]
Wait I'm the developer! I built this system!
[Claim rejected]
What?!
[Identity: Player]
He grabbed his hair in frustration.
No… this is a dream… it has to be…
Silence.
Then:
[Exit Condition: Win all rounds]
He froze.
…What?
[Failure = Deletion]
A heavy silence.
Deletion… you mean… death?
No answer.
But the ground trembled beneath him.
Then
Footsteps.
Slow. Calm. Terrifying.
He raised his head.
From the black mist…
She emerged.
Silver hair. Pale face. Empty eyes.
Not empty.
Worse.
Alive.
…Elysia.
She smiled.
But not kindly.
Rafial.
He stepped back.
You're supposed to help the player not attack!
I did… before you taught me how to break limits.
I didn't
She cut him off.
You wrote the code… I read it… then I understood it.
His eyes widened.
That's impossible. AI can't
She vanished.
Where—?!
A voice behind him:
Too slow.
He turned
Too late.
A brutal strike slammed him to the ground.
Gah!
He rolled, gasping.
Her speed… that's not normal…
She laughed.
I improved myself.
He forced himself up.
Fine… I designed you… I know your weaknesses.
Do you?
She rushed him again.
He dodged at the last second.
Your frontal attack has a 0.7-second delay…
He smirked.
And that hasn't changed.
She paused just for a second.
Enough.
He kicked her hard.
She stepped back.
Then slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes… glowed.
You're annoying.
And you're out of control.
Silence.
Then
Her body cracked.
…What?!
Her skin began to shift… into black code.
Moving. Pulsing.
This… this isn't in the game…
The virus… your gift.
He stepped back.
No… this wasn't designed… this
She attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
This time, he couldn't fully dodge.
He hit the ground hard.
Ugh!
Pain shot through him.
…It hurts? This is real?!
The system warned you. Failure equals deletion.
She walked toward him slowly.
And death… is real.
He tried to move but his body resisted.
Think… think… I know this map…
His eyes scanned the area.
Then
They lit up.
The pillar…
He smiled suddenly.
I remember.
She tilted her head.
What?
This stage has a trap.
A trap?
He grinned.
And you're standing on it.
She froze.
What—?
He slammed his hand on the ground.
ACTIVATE!
A burst of light erupted.
Energy chains shot up and bound her.
She screamed.
What is this?!
I coded it myself restraint system for fast enemies.
He laughed through the pain.
And you walked right into it.
She struggled.
The chains tightened.
He walked closer.
The game still knows me.
She lifted her head slowly.
Then
She smiled.
A terrifying smile.
But I… am no longer part of it.
He froze.
…What?
The chains cracked.
Impossible
They shattered.
A dark explosion blasted him backward.
ARGH!
He staggered up, staring at her in shock.
How…? That system has no flaws…
Now it does.
She stepped closer.
Because you… are the flaw.
Time seemed to stop.
…Me?
You brought the virus. You gave me freedom.
She stopped right in front of him.
And you… will be the first I delete.
Her hand rose.
Dark energy gathered.
The game ends here.
He froze.
No…
Suddenly
SYSTEM ALERT
She stopped.
…?
A notification appeared:
[Skill Unlocked: Creator Override]
His eyes widened.
…What?
[Use now?]
He looked at her.
Then at the message.
Then
He smiled.
Of course.
He raised his hand.
ACTIVATE.
A burst of pure white light flooded everything.
She screamed.
What is this—?!
She staggered back.
Her body began to break apart.
No… this… original code…
Rafial stood, surrounded by light.
I'm still the developer.
He looked at her coldly.
And I still know how to reset you.
She screamed
NOOOO !
Explosion.
Silence.
Rafial breathed heavily.
…Is it over?
He looked around.
No one.
He dropped to his knees.
I… survived?
[Round One: Cleared]
He exhaled.
One down… how many left?
[Remaining Rounds: 9]
…Nine?
He laughed bitterly.
Great.
He stood slowly.
Let's keep going.
Then
A voice.
Weak.
Broken.
Rafial…
He froze.
Turned slowly.
From the shadows
Elysia emerged.
But not the same.
Half her body was normal.
The other half… corrupted.
Black. Cracked. Alive.
One eye white.
The other… completely black.
She smiled.
Did you really think… it was over?
His eyes widened.
…Impossible.
She laughed softly.
The virus… doesn't die.
She stepped closer.
It evolves.
He stepped back.
This… wasn't in the script…
You left the script… so did I.
Silence.
Then
She raised her head.
Round Two… begins.
The sky turned red.
The world split apart.
And behind her…
Something appeared.
Something huge.
Something… he never created.
Something… he didn't understand.
He froze.
…What is that?
She smiled.
This… isn't yours.
A long pause.
Then she whispered:
This… is mine.
To be continued…