Joon-ho stood there, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. The man before him, Jin-ho Gyeung, was undeniably the same figure he had seen once before—the one who had broken the very fabric of NexaRealm's reality. But something was different this time. The man's appearance had changed slightly, though it was still unmistakably him. The same air of mystery surrounded him, but his demeanour was… off. Jin-ho moved with a hesitance that hadn't been there before, as if he were trying to reacquaint himself with a world he was only partially familiar with.
As Joon-ho watched, Jin-ho's eyes darted around the boss arena, his gaze lingering on the strange architecture and the remnants of the battle that had just unfolded. It was as if he was seeing it all for the first time, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He fumbled with the interface, his movements awkward and unsure. The fluidity and confidence Joon-ho had expected from someone who had just obliterated Zorath with a single punch were absent. This man, who had seemed so powerful and untouchable mere moments ago, now appeared strangely out of place.
This odd behaviour didn't add up. NexaRealm has been a global phenomenon for years, with almost every person on Earth at least somewhat familiar with its mechanics. The idea of someone not knowing what to do in the game was almost inconceivable in this day and age. Maybe four years ago, when the game was still new and people were just learning the ropes, this might have been understandable. But now? Everyone knew NexaRealm, or at least the basics. So why did it seem like Jin-ho was struggling with something as simple as navigating the interface?
Joon-ho's thoughts raced as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Could it be that Jin-ho was someone who had never played before? Or was there something else going on, something deeper that Joon-ho couldn't quite grasp? The man seemed both aware and unaware of the world around him, like a veteran soldier who had forgotten how to wield his weapon but still remembered the feel of it in his hands.
Joon-ho's eyes narrowed as he continued to observe Jin-ho. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the same man who had shattered the norms of NexaRealm, who had appeared out of nowhere to save him. But the question that burned in Joon-ho's mind was simple yet profound: who exactly was Jin-ho Gyeung? And why did he seem so unfamiliar with the world that had captivated billions?
Joon-ho's mind was a storm of questions, each one demanding to be asked, but he didn't know where to start. Jin-ho's presence was so unsettling, so abnormal, that Joon-ho's usual sharp instincts were dulled by confusion. How could he ask this man, this enigma, what he needed to know when he wasn't even sure what that was? The most burning question was clear enough, though—what was Jin-ho, really?
The more Joon-ho considered the situation, the more he realized that Jin-ho didn't seem alarmed by anything he was doing. Did Jin-ho even know the gravity of his actions? His first appearance had sent shockwaves through NexaRealm, causing such a catastrophic breach that the entire Korean server had to be taken offline. The aftermath was unprecedented, with Director Hye-su herself forced to issue a public apology for the disruption, which had rippled across the globe. The game, beloved by billions, had never experienced such a massive failure.
Joon-ho remembered the days of confusion and speculation that followed. Theories ran rampant—was it a hacker? A glitch? Has a new event gone wrong? No one knew for sure, but the one thing everyone agreed on was that whatever had happened was tied to a mysterious player, one whose identity and purpose remained shrouded in secrecy. And now, that very same man stood before Joon-ho once again, as if nothing had ever happened.
The implications of Jin-ho's reappearance hit Joon-ho like a ton of bricks. If Jin-ho was here, did that mean the servers would shut down again? Would the entire game collapse once more? Joon-ho knew he had to act quickly—he couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He had to get answers before Jin-ho disappeared again before the system potentially detected him and pulled the plug on everything.
But where to begin? The questions swirled in Joon-ho's mind, each more urgent than the last. Did Jin-ho even know that his very presence was a violation of the game's rules? Did he understand that his existence had the power to break NexaRealm? And if he did know, what did that mean? Was Jin-ho a rogue element, a virus, or something else entirely? The more Joon-ho thought about it, the more he realized there was only one question that could cut through the confusion.
"What are you?" Joon-ho finally asked, his voice tinged with a mix of desperation and determination.
For a moment, Jin-ho seemed to pause, as if considering the question. His eyes met Joon-ho's, and for an instant, the world around them seemed to freeze. The answer to that question could change everything—it could unravel the mystery that had plagued NexaRealm for months. But would Jin-ho tell the truth? Would he lie to protect whatever secret he held? Or worse, would he simply vanish, leaving Joon-ho with nothing but more questions?
As the silence stretched, Joon-ho's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't know if the system would detect Jin-ho's presence again and trigger another shutdown. If that happened, Joon-ho would lose his chance to uncover the truth. He needed to hear something, anything, that could make sense of this surreal encounter.
Jin-ho's expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that hinted at a deeper knowledge, a truth hidden just beneath the surface. Would he reveal it? Or would this encounter end like the last one, with more questions than answers? Joon-ho held his breath, waiting for the response that could change everything.
Jin-ho stood silently, his eyes locked on Joon-ho as if weighing the gravity of the moment. The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken possibilities. Joon-ho could see the conflict in Jin-ho's expression, the way his brows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line, as though he was wrestling with something deep inside himself. Whatever Jin-ho was about to say, it was clear that it carried immense weight.
Finally, Jin-ho took a step closer to Joon-ho, who was still sitting on the ground, too stunned by the recent events to rise. Jin-ho's presence was imposing, almost otherworldly, and as he loomed over Joon-ho, the atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier. When he spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried a sense of urgency that made Joon-ho's heart race.
"Before I tell you what I am," Jin-ho began, his gaze unwavering. "I need you to promise me one thing."
Joon-ho's breath caught in his throat. A promise? The request sent a shiver down his spine, filling him with a mix of anticipation and dread. He didn't know what Jin-ho was about to reveal, but the seriousness in his voice made it clear that this was no trivial matter.
"What is it?" Joon-ho asked, his voice unsteady.
"Whatever conversations, actions—everything that occurs between us—must stay a secret," Jin-ho said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "No one, not one soul, should know about this. If you can promise that, then I will tell you everything."
Joon-ho's mind raced. A secret? What could be so important that it had to be hidden from everyone? The offer was tempting, almost too good to be true. If Jin-ho had the answers to the mystery that had shaken NexaRealm to its core, then this was Joon-ho's chance to learn the truth. But the conditions…
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy Joon-ho became. It seemed almost too convenient as if the scales were tipped in his favour. He was the one being offered answers, while Jin-ho seemed to be asking for very little in return. And that made Joon-ho suspicious. What was the catch? There had to be one.
"What happens if I can't promise that?" Joon-ho asked cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge Jin-ho's reaction.
Jin-ho's expression hardened, and he took another step closer, his presence now almost suffocating.
"You must," Jin-ho said, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "Right now, you've become an acquaintance—a partner in crime, so to speak. Meeting me, talking to me… it's already put you in a position where you have everything to lose. Everything you know, everything you own, everything you've built in NexaRealm—it could all be taken from you."
Joon-ho's heart sank as the implications of Jin-ho's words settled in. He had been so caught up in the mystery, in the allure of discovering the truth, that he hadn't considered the dangers. But now, it was clear—he was in over his head. Jin-ho wasn't offering him a gift; he was giving him an ultimatum. If Joon-ho didn't agree to keep their interactions a secret, then he risked losing everything.
The weight of the situation pressed down on Joon-ho's shoulders. He realized that he wasn't privileged in this promise—he was trapped. Jin-ho had cornered him, leaving him with no other choice but to agree. If he didn't, if he refused to keep the secret, then he would be the one to pay the price. And that price could be far higher than he was willing to risk.
Joon-ho clenched his fists, his mind spinning. He thought of everything he had worked for in NexaRealm, everything he had achieved, all the hours and effort he had poured into the game. Could he throw it all away? And for what? To go against a force he didn't understand, to break a promise that could cost him everything?
No. He couldn't risk it. As much as it pained him to admit it, Jin-ho had him backed into a corner. There was only one choice left.
"I… I promise," Joon-ho said quietly, his voice barely audible. The words tasted bitter on his tongue, but he knew he had no other option. He had to keep this secret, no matter what. Not from Director Hye-su, not from his childhood friend Soo-jin—no one could know about this.
Jin-ho nodded, a small, almost sad smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"Good," he said softly. "Then I'll tell you everything."
As Joon-ho sat there, his mind reeling from the weight of the promise he had just made, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just crossed a line. A line that, once crossed, could never be uncrossed. And now, there was no turning back.