.Dust and Zoe entered their room, the warmth of the cozy inn wrapping around them. It was simple but comfortable, with a small table in the center, two chairs, a single bed in the corner, and a window offering a view of the bustling city square outside. A faint smell of fresh wood and faintly burnt candles filled the air, adding to the medieval charm.
Dust placed the small bag of food they'd purchased on the table and looked at Zoe, who was already staring at the meal with wide, eager eyes.
"Let's split this," he said, sliding her a portion of bread and a steaming bowl of stew.
She hesitated, taking the bowl in her hands. "It smells so real…" she murmured, lifting it closer to her face.
Dust sat down and broke off a piece of bread. "That's because it is. Full-dive VR is designed to trick your senses, remember? Smell, taste, touch—it's all part of the experience. Eat up; it's better than starving, even if it's just virtual."
Zoe took a tentative bite of the stew, her eyes lighting up. "This is wonderful," she said, her voice filled with genuine delight. "I can feel it—like, I can actually feel it filling my stomach. I can even taste the spices."
Dust chuckled. "Yeah, full-dive tech is something else. Even sleep feels real here. You wake up rested, like in the real world."
She nodded, her excitement tempered slightly as she glanced toward the bed. "So… about the sleeping arrangements…"
Dust raised an eyebrow. "We'll figure it out. You take the bed first. I'll crash later."
Zoe looked relieved. "Okay. Thanks."
After they finished their meal, Zoe excused herself to bathe. Dust leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling and replaying the day's events in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that they'd been lucky so far. Between the demons, the betrayal by those fake merchants, and narrowly making it to the rift, they'd barely scraped by.
Zoe returned from the bath, her damp hair clinging to her face and neck, her cheeks flushed from the heat. She wore a simple cotton shift provided by the innkeeper, and though she looked exhausted, there was a calmness in her expression now.
"Your turn," she said softly, avoiding his gaze as she climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Dust nodded, grabbing his towel and heading for the bath. The warm water did wonders to clear his head. As he scrubbed away the day's grime, he thought about Zoe's timid nature. She was like a rabbit—scared of every shadow, yet determined to stay close. He'd have to protect her, especially now that they were marked as a team.
When he returned to the room, Zoe was already asleep, her breathing slow and even. Dust quietly sat by the window, looking out at the city.
He was lost in thought when the distant sound of laughter caught his attention. He glanced at the street below and saw a familiar group—two men and two women he'd met when buying the game.
Curious, he decided to step out for some air. As he approached, one of the women noticed him and waved.
"Well, look who it is," she said with a sly grin. "Dust, right?"
"Yeah," Dust replied, folding his arms.
The group laughed, the taller of the men stepping forward. "So, have you come to your senses yet? Ready to be our tank?"
Dust frowned. "Not interested."
The shorter woman rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You're wasting your potential as a thief. Tanks are the backbone of every party. Be smart."
Dust smirked. "I'll manage."
Before they could press further, a cold, familiar voice interrupted.
"Well, isn't this cozy?"
Dust turned to see Simon stepping out of the shadows, his smirk as smug as ever.
"You've got quite the little entourage, don't you?" Simon said, his tone dripping with mockery.
Dust tensed. "What do you want, Simon?"
Simon shrugged. "Just passing through. Thought I'd see how Zoe's doing. You know, after I so kindly didn't take her first."
Dust clenched his fists, but before he could respond, a melodic voice cut through the tension.
"Is there a problem here?"
Everyone turned to see a striking elf stepping into the dim light, her silver hair shimmering under the lantern glow.
"Who the hell are you?" Simon snapped.
The elf ignored him, her piercing green eyes locking onto Dust. "You looked like you needed some backup."
Dust relaxed slightly. "You could say that. And you are?"
"Call me Astoria," she said, a faint smirk on her lips.
Astoria stepped between Dust and the others, her gaze sharp. "Leave him be. He's not interested in whatever nonsense you're pushing."
Simon laughed. "Oh, and what are you? His bodyguard?"
Her smirk widened. "If that's what it takes."
The group hesitated, clearly unnerved by the elf's confidence. Finally, Simon scoffed and backed away.
"This isn't over," he muttered, disappearing into the shadows.
Astoria turned to Dust. "You're welcome."
Dust nodded. "Thanks. Guess I owe you one."
She tilted her head. "Consider it a favor. If you ever find yourself on the brink, call my name. I'll come."
Before he could reply, she vanished into the night. Dust stared after her, shaking his head.
"Things just keep getting weirder," he muttered, heading back to the inn.
Zoe was still asleep when he returned, curled up under the blanket. Dust sat by the window again, watching the city as it settled into the quiet of the night. One thing was clear—this world was full of surprises, and he'd have to stay sharp to protect Zoe and survive.
Meanwhile
Simon stepped into the dark corner of the tavern, trying to clear his mind. The drink in his hand barely did anything to calm the anger that swirled within him. He couldn't stop thinking about Zoe and the way she had brushed him off for that thief, Dust. She wasn't a gamer, didn't belong in this world, but she chose Dust—some rookie thief—over him. Simon gritted his teeth.
His mind raced as he thought about how to make her see who could actually protect her. And then, a voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to see a familiar group—two girls and two guys, the ones he had met when buying the game earlier. They were seated around a table, muttering angrily among themselves. Simon edged closer, his ears picking up their conversation.
"That Dust kid," one of the girls spat, "he's a joke. Not even the tank we wanted. He's useless, doesn't even know what he's doing. And now he's out here playing the protector for that girl. What a waste."
The other girl huffed in agreement. "I don't get it. We could have used him for something useful, like being a real tank, but he's just a thief. He doesn't fit with what we need."
One of the guys grinned. "And now he's messing with our plans. We needed him to do some real damage, but now he's just... taking up space."
Simon listened intently, his lips curling into a sly smile. He could feel the opportunity forming in his mind. Dust was a rookie, useless to these players, but it wasn't Dust that was his main target anymore—it was Zoe.
He stood up, nonchalantly walking toward their table. The group fell silent, looking up at him as he slid into a chair with his drink in hand.
"What's the issue?" Simon asked casually, though the anger in his voice was impossible to miss.
The two girls exchanged frustrated looks. "That Dust kid," one of them said, her voice filled with venom. "We wanted him to be our tank, to join us in the quests. But no, he's stuck playing some useless thief. He's got no idea what he's doing, and he's dragging us down with him."
"Sounds like a total waste," Simon muttered, though his eyes glinted with something darker. "You know, I know the girl he's with. Zoe, right?"
The group paused, glancing at each other in surprise. The guy who had been silent until now spoke up. "You know her?"
Simon leaned back in his chair, his voice low and mocking. "Yeah, I know her. And I know something about her that you guys might not. She's not a gamer. She doesn't belong in this world. You think Dust is her protector, but she's just clinging to him because she doesn't have anywhere else to go. She's lost."
The two girls exchanged skeptical looks, but Simon's eyes narrowed, locking on them as he continued.
"If you want to break Dust, you don't need to go through him. You want to break him for real? You go through her. She's his weakness, you see. You get to her, and he'll crumble. Trust me."
There was a pause as his words sank in. The guys at the table exchanged glances, their expressions slowly shifting as Simon's suggestion took root in their minds.
One of the boys leaned forward. "You think she'd break him? Just like that?"
Simon smirked, savoring the moment. "It's easy. She's already insecure. She doesn't know what she's doing. If you make her feel alone, make her realize that Dust is just a joke... she'll abandon him. She'll leave him. And when that happens, he'll have nothing. His world will fall apart."
The other girl crossed her arms, looking hesitant. "So what do you want in exchange?"
Simon leaned forward, his voice cold and calculating. "I'll help you break them, but in return, I want her. Zoe. I know you guys have been eyeing her, and once Dust is out of the picture, she'll be free to choose. She's mine. She'll come to me when Dust fails her. And then, I'll take her. After all, it's better to have someone like me guide her, right?"
The group remained quiet for a moment, but Simon could see the gears turning in their heads. The plan was simple—break Dust by breaking his connection with Zoe, and once that happened, Simon would step in, take Zoe under his control, and leave Dust shattered.
Finally, one of the boys nodded. "Alright, let's do it. If this works, we'll make sure you get Zoe."
Simon's grin widened. "Deal. Once Dust is out of the way, Zoe will come crawling back to me. I'll be the one to save her from all this chaos, and when it's all over, she'll be mine."
---
As the group began to discuss their next steps, Simon couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. The game was just starting, and he already knew how to play it. Dust might think he was protecting Zoe, but he was only digging his own grave. Zoe, naive as she was, would soon realize that she needed someone strong—someone like Simon.
Tomorrow, everything would fall into place. And when Dust finally broke, Zoe would be the one to turn to him, her knight in shining armor.
---
**Scene: Hidden Room in the City**
The room was dimly lit by the flicker of candlelight, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Maps of the world were pinned up on the walls, and small bookshelves filled with ancient texts stood to one side. In the center of the room, Astoria, the elf who had once saved Dust, was studying a detailed map laid out before her. Aurora entered, her movements silent but purposeful, as she made her way over to the table.
Astoria didn't look up as she spoke. "The players are in motion, just as we expected. Dust and Zoe… they're becoming closer. They're still unaware of the true game at play."
Aurora nodded slowly, her gaze cold and calculating. "Good. We need them that way. Dust is still strong, but the cracks are starting to show. If Zoe is the one who triggers his breakdown, it will be perfect. We've set everything up—now, we just need to wait for the right moment."
Astoria's eyes narrowed slightly. "Zoe's death will break him. But how certain are we that she'll follow through? She's still a wildcard."
Aurora smiled, though the expression didn't reach her eyes. "She's not a wildcard, Astoria. She's a necessary piece. She's here to break him. If she dies in the process, it's not just his downfall—it's the beginning of his transformation. Zoe's death will be the catalyst. He'll be left broken, empty, desperate. That's when we'll offer him the choice. The choice to embrace the darkness. To become the Demon Lord."
Astoria paused, her thoughts turning over the implications. "And Zoe? What if she doesn't die, or worse, what if she's more resilient than you've planned?"
Aurora's expression softened for a moment, but it was a softness laced with cruelty. "Zoe has one purpose. She's been chosen for this. She's in this to break Dust, whether she knows it or not. If she survives, we can always bring her back with Aliss. She'll be restored, ready to support him in whatever form he needs. We'll repair the damage. But if she dies? We'll have the perfect opportunity. He'll be at his weakest, and we'll be there to pull him into the darkness."
Astoria considered the plan, her mind calculating the risks and rewards. "And once he's broken, you'll have him. The Demon Lord will rise, and the game will change."
Aurora's smile deepened, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. "Exactly. Once Dust is ours, everything will fall into place. He'll become the tool we need, and Zoe…" She looked away, her voice cold. "Zoe will play her part in all of this, even if she doesn't know it yet. She'll be a bridge to Dust's transformation. Once he's lost, he'll be ready to embrace the power we offer."
Astoria turned away from the map, her expression unreadable. "And what if he doesn't embrace it? What if he resists, even after Zoe's death?"
Aurora's eyes flicked back to the elf, her gaze hard. "That's when we step in. We'll show him the alternative. The darkness will consume him eventually, one way or another. But it's best if he chooses it willingly. And when he does, we'll make sure he's ready for the role he's meant to play."
Astoria nodded, her mind racing with the implications of the plan. "And Zoe? After everything is done, what happens to her?"
Aurora's gaze was sharp, her voice icy. "She'll be revived, restored by Aliss. She'll be another piece in the puzzle, another pawn we can control if necessary. But once Dust is ready, she won't matter. She'll be by his side, of course. But she's expendable. The Demon Lord is the one we need."
Astoria smiled, a rare, approving smile. "It's a dangerous game, but it will work. I'll stay close, ready to assist when needed."
Aurora turned to leave, her voice calm and calculating. "Make sure you're ready. Once Zoe's death happens, the path to the Demon Lord's rise will begin. We'll be ready to take advantage of it."
Astoria nodded once more, then watched as Aurora disappeared into the shadows, already anticipating the chaos to come.
---
**End Scene.**