My hands trembled as I clutched my phone, the cold glass pressing against my palm. I stared at the glowing screen, my heart sinking with each passing second as I read the dreaded text that flickered before me.
[Insufficient Funds]
I blinked, hoping it was just a glitch in the app's server. I tried again, pressing the button with increasing desperation.
[Insufficient Funds]
[Insufficient Funds]
[Insufficient Funds]
"Fuck."
With a mix of frustration and despair, I repeatedly smashed the button for the 10x pull, my fingers dancing anxiously over the screen.
"One more pull, just one more, and then I'll stop. Please."
No matter how many times I pressed, the screen remained unchanged, cold and unyielding, as the game event faded into oblivion, lost to time.
"Fuck?!"
I hurled my phone onto the bed, the dull thud echoing in my small, cluttered room.
Today marked the final opportunity to pull the elusive 6-star warrior, Night Walker Yosu.
"If only I had her, I could break into the top 10 in PVP."
Sulking, I navigated to my bank account, dread pooling in my stomach like a lead weight.
"That package for 2,000 gems with an extra 1,000 gems cost $50."
My eyes wandered the screen, desperately trying to will the numbers to change.
[Chunky Piggy: $10.00]
"Was I scammed, or did someone log into my account?!"
I scrolled through my bank history, heart racing.
[My Warrior: 2,000 gem package | -$50.00]
[My Warrior: 2,000 gem package | -$50.00]
[Final Finale Pull: 50 rubies package | -$25.00]
[Mom | +$135.00]
...
"I see, someone used my account to buy these packages."
"Fuck. They drained my entire weekly spending in a day. I should ask Mom for another allowance."
I opened my bedroom door, anxiety clawing at my chest.
As I descended the stairs, nausea twisted my insides, the familiar scent of home becoming suffocating.
Before I could turn the corner into the kitchen, voices carried to me, thick with tension.
"We need to stop giving him money, dear; at this point, his chances of returning to reality will be little to none."
"I know, but I can't just stop. Remember when we tried that last time? The neighbors almost called the cops when they heard him wailing."
"Mom, I think we should stop giving Liu money. It's hard to say, but he'll just remain locked in his room, doing who knows what."
"I want Liu to teach me again before we move. Why did he stop?"
...
"Dear, we're both getting older, and we won't be here forever. I know you won't like this decision, and neither will you two, Miyu and Ken, but if he doesn't step back into reality by next year, I will have to kick him out."
Betrayal coursed through me like ice as I overheard those words from Dad.
"He's going to throw me out?! For what?! I have done nothing wrong!"
I retreated to my room, trying to mask the fact that I had eavesdropped on their conversation.
Surveying my space, I realized the weight of my existence.
"I spend my days reading manga, watching anime, and playing games. My room is a shrine to escapism, walls adorned with posters and figurines I bought with my parents' hard-earned money, while they toil away from dawn to dusk, and my siblings focus on their futures. What have I done? What did I accomplish today? Yesterday? Over the past months? Years?"
As my gaze fell on old photographs, a wave of regret washed over me, and I collapsed onto the floor, surrounded by manga.
"Where did it all go wrong?"
"It's been six years since I achieved anything significant. I'm already 26; people my age are getting married, having kids, and building careers, while I'm just eating, sleeping, and wasting my days leeching off my exhausted parents."
I looked around my room again, and a dark idea crept into my mind.
Grabbing my phone, I searched for the average life insurance payouts—how much do people receive after their loved ones die?
After sifting through numerous articles, I made up my mind.
I got up and rummaged through my closet, finally unearthing a sturdy belt.
"If I can't help myself or my family while I'm alive, maybe I can ease their burden by leaving this life behind—with insurance."
I fashioned the belt into a noose, my heart racing as I prepared to jump. Just as I was about to take that final step, my phone vibrated, startling me.
Checking the screen, confusion washed over me as I saw a message from an unknown number.
[From: @min]
M: Hello, I am sending you this message wondering if you would be interested in testing a Gacha game. We noticed you have a long history of enjoying GACHA games, so we would like to invite you to a beta version of Anastasis. This job is PAID with benefits.
The message felt oddly serendipitous.
[From: Lin Lu]
M: I'd love to test the game, but could I have the company's name before I agree to anything further?
"If it's legit, they should have no issue giving me the company's name."
[From: @min]
M: Our company's name is Echo Games; we're still fairly new as our company was established this year.
I quickly searched for Echo Games and was relieved to find it was legitimate.
Though it was a new company without any published games yet, my suspicions lingered.
[From: Lin Lu]
M: I'm still somewhat suspicious, so could I receive a down payment just to rule out you being a scammer?
[From: @min]
M: Please provide us with your bank number, and we'll send you the first half.
With a mix of hope and anxiety, I sent them my bank account number.
Moments later, my phone pinged with a notification.
[Echo Games | +$500.00]
Joy surged through me as I straddled the ground, elated about my first earnings not originating from my family.
Once I stood, excitement coursed through my veins as I replied.
[From: Lin Lu]
M: I will partake in the testing.
[From: @min]
M: Here's the link to the app [xxxxxx]; it's not public yet, and you cannot share it. After downloading, please review this form before signing it. This will lead you to another form where you'll input your information before we can add you to our company as an employee.
Blinded by the prospect of finally contributing, I signed the form and downloaded the app without hesitation.
Once the download finished, I was about to open it when I noticed something strange.
All my other Gacha games had vanished.
I attempted to reinstall them, but the download button was unresponsive; only the newly downloaded app worked.
"Fuck, all of my 6-stars are gone."
Sadness washed over me as I swallowed my losses and opened Anastasis.
After accepting the terms and conditions, a simple prompt appeared on the screen.
[Name: ?????]
Confused, I pondered if the game was still in its early stages.
[Name: TheChosenOne]
[Error]
[Name: LinBling]
[Error]
[Please enter your name]
"What if I use my real name?"
[Name: Lin Lu]
[Welcome, Lin]
[Deciding your rarity and skills]
"Wait, I don't get to choose them myself, not even skills? This is off to a bad start."
[Rarity Decided]
[Skills Chosen]
The screen faded to black before transforming into a bird's-eye view of a sprawling city.
As I gazed down, I noticed the urban landscape was strikingly modern, with NPCs going about their daily lives. The graphics were so lifelike that I half-expected my phone to overheat from the detail, yet it remained cool and responsive.
As the camera panned down, it finally focused on a male character standing amidst the bustling streets.
When I rotated the camera, shock coursed through me—I was staring at my own likeness!
The character bore my hair, mouth, nose, and body—every detail a perfect replica.
"Is this magic? I could understand if they used my face through facial recognition, but to recreate my entire being is astounding."
I tested the controls, tapping the environment, and was surprised by the seamless movement; each action felt instinctive, as if I were truly living within this character's skin. I could see the fluidity of muscle movement, the grace of motion.
Suddenly, the screen trembled violently.
I rushed to a nearby window, witnessing chaos unfold outside as people scattered in a frenzy, screams filling the air.
Determined to survive, I directed my character into the streets, driven by the urgent goal that materialized.
[Get to safety]
"Where?! I don't see a map or anything. Maybe I should just follow the crowd."
As I sprinted alongside the throng of panicked citizens, I noticed the police directing everyone to one side.
"I guess I'm going that way, too."
Ducking beneath a barricade, I ran headlong into an alleyway, searching for a potential exit or hiding spot.
A loud explosion shattered the chaos outside, reverberating through the alley and sending shockwaves through my body.
"Whatever's happening out there, it's dangerous!"
Suddenly, the ground beneath me gave way, the world folding into darkness. As I fell, panic clawed at my throat until I landed softly on a marble surface.
"Was that an illusion, or was it real?"
The darkness faded, and I found myself in a grand lobby filled with shimmering light, the atmosphere vibrating with anticipation. Pillars of ivory shot up towards a vaulted ceiling, adorned with a crystalline chandelier that sparkled like a million stars.
In front of me floated a small orb, its radiant glow illuminating the space.
"Welcome, chosen one," it chimed, its voice echoing like wind chimes. "You are now an NPC in this game, overseen by the Master, who shall now roll his beginner pulls."
"Wait, I'm not pulling?"
A chilling realization crept over me as I stood there, frozen. The orb continued, "In this realm, you are not the Master but merely an NPC. Remember, just because you're an NPC doesn't mean the Master won't sacrifice you. Once you're gone, there's no retry."
"Wait, does that mean I'll lose my source of income if I die? How do I ask that orb myself?"
Before I could form the question, my character was engulfed in a blinding light, and everything around me went black.
Moments later, the darkness receded, revealing my character awakening on a cold, cement floor alongside four other bewildered souls.
As we all stood and took in our surroundings, the weight of confusion pressed down on us, spiraling into chaos.
[Received ★★ Dom]
"Where the hell are we?!"
[Received ★★ Amber]
"Why are we here?"
[Received ★ Jun]
"Where are my parents?!"
[Received ★ Steve]
"Mom, Dad?! Where are they?"
[Received ★ Liu]
"Where am I?"
The orb from earlier reappeared, its voice slicing through the panic like a knife.
"Shut the fuck up! You were all chosen by luck and now live under the Master's decree. If he commands you to fight, you will fight. If he tells you to run, you will run. Accept your fate."
A heavy silence fell, fear gripping our hearts.
Finally, someone broke the stillness.
"Where are we?"
"You are in the Master's lobby. From this point onward, you will obey every command given to you."
"What if we refuse to cooperate with you and this Master?"
"Then you will be replaced. It may not happen today, tomorrow, or even this week, but it will come. And when you are replaced, you will die."
Gasps echoed in the chamber, the atmosphere thick with dread.
Hearing the orb's answer ignited an uproar among the crowd.
"We didn't want to be here, and now we're told we'll be killed if we don't comply?!"
"Fuck you, take me back!"
"Return me home!"
The orb began to laugh, the sound chilling and mechanical.
"Looks like the Master has taken note of your loud opinions. Arm yourselves; there's an armory in that building. You all will embark on your first mission."
Anger boiled over, but the orb remained unfazed by our rebellion.
My character took the lead, stepping toward the armory, my heart racing with both fear and determination.
Inside, the space was dimly lit, weapons and equipment scattered haphazardly on the floor.
"Fuck it; since my character lacks stamina, let's use this."
[★ Liu equipped slingshot]
[★ Liu equipped wooden staff]