Ava's legs still trembled as she leaned against the cold stone wall. The Guardian's remains littered the floor, slowly fading into dust, but the tension in the air didn't dissipate. The eerie glow of the runes cast flickering shadows across the chamber, making it feel even more oppressive.
Luke sheathed his sword, his face grim as he glanced at the notification floating in front of them. "200 Bond Points isn't much," he muttered.
Ava wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands still shaking from the adrenaline. "Not much? We nearly got killed for those points."
Luke didn't respond. Instead, he began walking toward the exit, his movements slow and careful. Ava could tell he was still in pain from the Guardian's strike, but he didn't let it show.
She pushed herself off the wall and hurried after him. "Hey, you're hurt. We need to get you some help."
Luke shook his head without looking back. "I'll be fine. There's no time for rest in this game."
Ava caught up to him, frowning. "No time for rest? You're bleeding, Luke. You need to heal before the next challenge."
"I've been through worse," he said tersely, his eyes fixed ahead. "And besides, we don't know when the next challenge will come. It's better to keep moving."Ava crossed her arms, frustration bubbling up inside her. "You keep talking like we're in some kind of war. This is still a game, right? There have to be ways to heal, get supplies, something.
"Luke paused at the base of the stairs, finally turning to face her. His eyes were hard, but there was something else there too—something vulnerable.
"You still don't get it," he said quietly. "This isn't like any game you've played before. There are no health potions, no respawns, no easy way out. The system gives us just enough to survive, but every challenge pushes us closer to the edge. If you get too comfortable, you die.
"Ava stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. She had hoped, deep down, that Luke was exaggerating—that there was some way out of this nightmare. But the fear in his eyes told her otherwise.
"Then what do we do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Luke glanced up the staircase, his jaw clenched. "We keep moving. And we stay one step ahead of whatever the game throws at us next."
Ava's mind raced as she followed Luke back up the stairs. Her heart ached with confusion and fear, but beneath it all, a stubborn determination began to take root. She wasn't going to sit back and let this game destroy her. She was going to fight, just like Luke, and she wasn't going to let it break her.
As they reached the top of the staircase and stepped back into the Plaza of Bonds, the world seemed eerily quiet. The sky above had shifted to a dull gray, the sunlight muted by thick clouds that hadn't been there before. The once-bustling plaza was now nearly empty, save for a few wandering figures who looked just as lost and haunted as Ava felt.
Luke led her to a quiet corner of the plaza, near one of the ornate fountains. He sat down on the edge, his expression unreadable, while Ava sank onto the stone beside him, exhaustion catching up with her.For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sound of the trickling water was the only thing that filled the silence between them.
Finally, Ava broke the quiet. "So, what's next?"
Luke ran a hand through his hair, his gaze distant. "We wait for the next match. The game will send us another challenge soon enough."Ava frowned. "How do you know so much about this game? You said you've been here a while, but… you don't seem like a regular player."
Luke's expression tightened, and he didn't meet her eyes. "I'm not."
Ava leaned forward, curiosity gnawing at her. "Then how did you end up here?"
He was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "I didn't sign up for this. I was pulled in… just like you."
Ava blinked in surprise. "You mean, you were forced into the game?"
Luke nodded, his jaw clenched. "I logged in one day, thinking it was just another RPG. But then the system trapped me. And every day since has been a fight to survive."
Ava's stomach twisted. "So… we're trapped here? For how long?"
Luke's eyes darkened. "Until we win—or until we lose."
Ava's heart sank. She had hoped for answers, but now she was left with even more questions. "Is there a way to win?"
Luke hesitated, then slowly nodded. "There's a rumor… that if you find your true soulmate and complete all the challenges together, the system lets you go."
Ava stared at him, stunned. "So, this really is a twisted dating sim?"
Luke gave a humorless laugh. "In a way. But it's more than that. The game isn't just about love or romance. It's about trust. It pushes you to your limits, tests every part of you, and if you break…" He trailed off, his eyes filled with shadows.
Ava shivered, the weight of what he was saying settling over her like a heavy blanket. She had thought this would be fun—a little escape from her life. But now it felt like a trap, one she had no idea how to escape from.Suddenly, another notification flashed before them, causing both Ava and Luke to freeze.
New Match Initiated.
Player: Kara
Class: Sorceress
Role: Soulmate Candidate for Luke
Ava's eyes widened as she stared at the message. Another match? For Luke?
She turned to Luke, but his face was unreadable, his eyes locked on the notification. "What does this mean?" Ava asked, her voice tight with confusion.
Luke didn't answer for a moment, his jaw clenched. "It means the game isn't done messing with us yet."
Before Ava could ask anything more, a portal materialized in the plaza, shimmering with a soft, golden light. From within stepped a tall, elegant woman with long silver hair and glowing violet eyes. She wore intricate robes adorned with arcane symbols, and her entire presence exuded power and grace.
Ava's stomach dropped as the woman's gaze settled on Luke with a knowing smile. "So," the woman said, her voice smooth as silk. "You must be my match."
Ava's chest tightened with an unexpected surge of emotion. Luke was her match—or at least, he had been. Now this new player, Kara, was here. The game had changed the rules.
And Ava wasn't sure how she felt about it.