My name is Aliss, and this is my story.
"It's a nice day for a hunt," Edgardo said, his voice calm, yet filled with excitement. He activated his ability, searching for me. He'd find me—he always did.
Or so he thought.
I smirked from the shadows. My latest creation, a cloaking device, worked flawlessly. I was invisible to his senses, despite his close proximity. Edgardo moved away, distracted by other hunters calling for his help. Perfect. Now I could move.
The night was my ally as I swiftly leaped from rooftop to rooftop, my movements fluid and calculated. Tonight was critical. My family needed the prize money, and I was determined to win.
There, ahead—my target. A black-haired boy with an MP5 in hand. A rookie. He had no idea how to use his abilities effectively. I approached silently, closing the distance quickly. With a swift kick, I disarmed him, sending his gun flying to the side. His panic was brief before my knife found its mark.
"I'm sorry, boy," I whispered softly, piercing his heart. "But I need to win this time."
Before anyone could react, I disappeared into the shadows, blending seamlessly with the night.
As I continued moving, I sent a message to the vampire team's side chat: *"How many of us are left?"* The response came quickly, and it shocked me—*"Only you and one other person."*
The remaining survivor quickly replied: *"It's just you now. They got me."*
A distant gunshot rang out. I was the last one standing.
I needed to be careful. The game had grown intense. I darted through the streets, sometimes using the rooftops for cover, as I hunted down the remaining weak hunters. Stealth was key—I couldn't afford to let them know where I was.
---
**Chapter 2: The Endgame**
Eventually, they cornered me. I had thought I was safe, but the hunters were relentless. I found myself trapped in an underground research facility. I had planned to loot some supplies, but my cover was blown. They knew exactly where I was.
Edgardo's voice echoed through the dark space, full of anger. "This is the end, Aliss," he shouted. "You betrayed us by joining the vampire side. You were never meant to win. We can't let you get stronger. We have to eliminate you now."
I could hear the sound of his Colt revolver being cocked, the cold metal clicking in the silence. My heart raced as he aimed at me. But something inside me snapped. I wasn't just a hunter—I was a vampire, and vampires had abilities no human could match.
Without thinking, I opened my abilities menu and selected a unique skill I'd been saving. The moment I activated it, my senses heightened. Time seemed to slow down as I moved, my speed increasing exponentially.
I leaped into the air, dodging Edgardo's bullet as if it was a slow-moving object. In that split second, everything around me seemed to move in slow motion. I could hear every heartbeat, every breath. It was as if the world had become a symphony of sounds, with my enemies' hearts playing the final notes.
I drew my dual Desert Eagles and started firing. The bullets tore through the air, faster than anyone could track. I concentrated, pulling blood from the fallen enemies to form a shield around me. Bullets pinged harmlessly off my new blood barrier as I closed the distance between myself and Edgardo.
I spared him until the very end.
"See, Edgardo?" I said, my voice dripping with satisfaction. "I really want to win. You can't stop me today. You couldn't stop me from loving whoever I wanted either. You made him disappear from the game, but I've waited for this moment. Now, it's my turn."
With that, I pulled the trigger, sending a single bullet into his head. He crumpled to the ground without a sound.
The rest of the enemies were already cheering, and I stood there for a moment, letting the victory wash over me.
---
**Chapter 3: The Reward**
The virtual audience erupted into applause as the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"And we have a winner! What an incredible play! Aliss, using her vampire abilities with such skill, has defeated all her opponents. She truly made her mark on the competition. A play like this will change the way professional players approach the game. Aliss, come to the stage to receive your reward!"
The crowd continued cheering as I walked toward the stage, a sense of pride swelling in my chest. This wasn't just about winning—it was about proving I was the best. The sponsor, Tesla, had generously offered a $250,000 prize, along with a new VR capsule to experience the upcoming game, *Faye Rift*.
As I reached the stage, I took the check with a smile, but there was something more in my heart. My mother's health had been deteriorating, and I had promised her that I would take care of her. Now, I could finally afford the surgery she needed. I handed her half of my prize when I got home, but it didn't feel like enough. There was a lingering emptiness in me, a sense of guilt. I had betrayed someone to get here—someone I cared about.
"Thank you," I whispered to the announcer. I quickly left the stage, wanting to disappear from the limelight. They didn't need to know who I was, not in real life. I didn't want them to see my face.
That night, I returned home, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders. My mother was in the hospital, but now she had a chance. She would survive.
Aliss sat in her small, dimly lit room, the reality of her victory in the tournament still sinking in. She had won. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. A new virtual capsule. All for her mother's health. But even now, a part of her felt hollow, as though the game—the one thing that had given her hope—wasn't enough to fill the emptiness inside. Not yet, anyway.
The doorbell rang, and Aliss stood up, wiping away a tear before quickly composing herself. She opened the door, and there it was—her prize. A brand-new *Faye Rift* VR capsule, sleek and glowing with an otherworldly light. She couldn't help but smile as she took it in her hands, feeling the weight of what it represented.
After all the hardships, after all the pain she'd endured, this was her chance. Her mother could now get the surgery she desperately needed, and for the first time in a long time, Aliss felt like she had control over her future.
She quickly set up the capsule in the corner of her room, eager to dive in. Her hands trembled as she strapped herself into the seat and initiated the boot sequence. The lights in her room flickered as the system powered up, and soon she was engulfed in a soft glow that filled her vision.
Aliss closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she found herself standing in the heart of a vast, stunningly beautiful virtual world. The air was thick with magic, the ground beneath her feet was rich with vibrant colors, and a sense of awe washed over her. She'd never been so ready to escape reality.
But something was different this time.
"Welcome, Aliss," a calm, slightly mechanical voice resonated in her mind.
Aliss turned to see the avatar of *Aurora*, the AI assistant who had guided her throughout the tournament. She had a serene, almost ethereal presence, her flowing robes shimmering with an otherworldly glow. "You've won," Aurora continued. "You've done what was necessary to secure your future, and I'm proud of you."
"I did it," Aliss whispered, her voice full of wonder. "I can finally help my mom."
Aurora's smile was subtle, but it carried an understanding. "That's only the beginning. But first, I have something important to tell you."
Aliss's brow furrowed. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
Aurora's tone shifted slightly, her eyes glowing brighter. "No. But you're not quite where you think you are."
Aliss blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Aurora let out a soft laugh, almost like a hum. "The game isn't live yet, Aliss. You've connected to the *Faye Rift* system, but it's not time. You still have ten days before the full launch. In this period, you'll have time to prepare, to train, to understand the world of *Faye Rift* better. Your journey has just begun, but the real adventure is yet to come."
Aliss felt a sense of disbelief wash over her. Ten days? She had thought everything was already set, that the game had begun the moment she logged in.
"Ten days?" she repeated, her voice quiet, as she tried to grasp the magnitude of what Aurora had just said.
"Yes," Aurora responded calmly. "But do not worry. These ten days will be crucial for you. You will have time to acclimate, to understand the inner workings of the world, and to train yourself in the ways of *Faye Rift*. But I need you to know that you are not alone."
Aliss's mind raced. She had so much she wanted to do, so much she wanted to explore. But if it was true that the game hadn't even launched yet, she felt an odd mixture of frustration and anticipation.
Aurora continued, almost as if reading her thoughts. "In these ten days, you will learn more about your path. Your role will not be defined by just your actions in the game—it will be shaped by the choices you make here, in this time before the official launch. And I will be here to help guide you through it."
"But what does that mean?" Aliss asked, her voice tinged with impatience. "What's the next step?"
Aurora's avatar took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "I chose you, Aliss, because of the choices you made. The way you handled your past, the sacrifices you've made for your family, and the way you've set your sights on something greater than yourself. You were not just a pawn in a game. You were a player in your own right. And that's why I believe you can accomplish what others cannot."
Aliss's chest tightened with the weight of Aurora's words. "I don't understand. Why me? Why did you choose me?"
Aurora's expression softened, almost like a smile. "Because you understand the pain of loss. You understand what it means to fight for someone you love. And you understand the darkness that can consume a person if they're not careful."
Aliss's heart skipped a beat. She knew what Aurora was referring to—the boy who had been taken from her. The boy who had disappeared in the chaos of her past. *Dust.* The one who had been her salvation—and now, the one whose fate was tied to the future of *Faye Rift*.
"Dust…" Aliss whispered, her voice almost breaking.
Aurora nodded slowly. "Yes. Dust. He is connected to *Faye Rift*—his destiny will unfold here, in this game. But there is something you must know. He has yet to embrace his full power. You cannot meet him just yet."
Aliss felt her heart drop. "What do you mean? Where is he?"
Aurora's voice remained calm, but there was a hint of something foreboding. "He is on a path of his own, a path that will lead him to become a Demon Lord. But that path is not yet complete. When the time comes, you will find him, but only when he has reached his true potential. Until then, you must wait."
Aliss's chest tightened. *Demon Lord?* The boy she had loved, the boy she had trusted, was on a path that would lead him to darkness.
"And when that time comes," Aurora continued, "you will have a choice. You will be able to guide him, to help him see the light again—or to let him be consumed by the darkness."
Aliss swallowed hard. "But… why are you telling me this now? What should I do until then?"
Aurora smiled faintly. "Use this time wisely, Aliss. The players in *Faye Rift* are not all who they seem. There are those who will try to manipulate Dust, to turn him toward their own ends. Four players, in particular, are already after him. They will try to control him. You cannot stop them yet, but you will prepare. You will become strong enough to help Dust when the time is right."
Aliss's resolve hardened. She wasn't going to sit idly by and wait. "I'll be ready. When the time comes, I'll save him."
Aurora's expression softened with approval. "I know you will."
As the conversation ended, Aliss stood in the virtual world, the weight of Aurora's words settling into her heart. The game hadn't started yet. But her journey had already begun. And the next ten days would be crucial.
She would train, she would prepare, and when the time came, she would save Dust—before it was too late.
Aliss stood in the grand hall, still adjusting to the weight of her new role. Anastasia, unaware of her tournament victory, looked at her with suspicion. "You're the new bodyguard?" the princess asked, voice cool. Without warning, she attacked, testing Aliss's reflexes. Aliss barely blocked the swift strike, realizing this was no easy task. Anastasia stepped back, scrutinizing her. "You're not ready. But you're good enough. I'll give you 10 days to train with the military and police. Prove you can keep up, and maybe you'll earn a place by my side." Aliss nodded, determination burning in her eyes.