Alexa avoided the woman''s gaze, trying to keep herposure. The woman''s pale fingers reached out and brushed a strand of Alexa''s hair away from her face. "Looks like you''re having fun," she said with a cold edge. "Despite the fact that you''ve destroyed someone''s life."


    "It isn''t our fault," Alexa replied defsively.


    The woman''s eyes, a striking red with a glint of malice, narrowed. "Dial," she said softly. "At least you got karma. What''s life like with a curse, Ms. Ford?" she added.


    Alexa''s frustration boiled over. She shoved the woman away and began to walk faster.


    From behind, she heard the woman''s whispered insult, "Bitch."


    Alexa''s face tighted with anger, but she didn''t look back. Instead, she quicked her pace, determined to put distance betwe herself and the unsettling counter.


    As Alexa exited the building, she nearly stumbled, but her brother Alex caught her just in time.


    "Are you okay?" Alex asked, concern in his voice. "I saw her ter the building."


    "Yeah, we crossed paths," Alexa replied, still shak.


    "Is she still angry?" Alex inquired, noticing her distress.


    Alexa nodded, her frustration evidt. "Yes."


    "It''s not like it''s our fault," Alex said, helping her into their car. He th slid into the driver''s seat.


    As Alex started the gine, Alexa leaned her head against the window, lost in thought. Her mind drifted back to the evts of five years ago, the memoriesing back in vivid shes as they drove away.


    Five years ago, a gbreaking VR game called Ethereal Online means escape the reality became a global ssation. It was the first VR game ever made, and it quickly became a huge hit a the world.


    The game used advanced capsules to transport yers'' minds directly into a virtual world where they could freely choose their characters. Whether they wanted to be a swordsman, assassin, archer, or any other ss, yers had dless options. They could explore fantastdscapes, battle monsters, level up, raid dungeons, andplete quests.


    The game''s realism and depth made it incredibly immersive.


    Before Ethereal Online, the Ford Company was struggling with bankruptcy and losing hope. The Ford twins, Alexa and her brother Alex, had almost giv up until they dreamed of an unknown man who inspired them with the idea of VR. This vision led to the creation of Ethereal Online, turning thepany''s fortunes a and making it a huge sess.


    As the game''s anniversary approached, it was set to receive a massive update. However, the update came as a surprise ev to the Ford Company, appearing suddly without prior notice.


    Just before Ethereal Online shut down, the game made onest announcemt on its own, leaving yers and the world in stunned anticipation.


    [Announcemt Notification]


    Ethereal Online – Update


    Loading...


    Update Sessful!


    [Atttion, Beings of Earth! The gods and goddesses have heard your wishes and the joy you found in ying. Your desires are now granted as they transform your world based on the realms of Ethereal Online. Prepare for a new reality where the game bes your world. Embrace the unprecedted changes and experices ahead.]


    GAME TUTORIAL ACTIVATED


    After the announcemt, All scres and devices shut down, an earthquake struck, causing everyone to panic. However, after the quake, nothing else happed, and the devices and scres returned to normal, but the game hadpletely vanished and people thought about the announcemt is just a prank made by thepany.


    Ev thepany, Ford, was in shock and trying to figure out what had urred. Th, in a room in their building, arge crystal appeared. They didn''t know what it was and couldn''t approach it, as an invisible barrier sured it. No matter what they tried, the crystal remained untouched.


    As they tried to figure out what had happed to Ethereal Online and what the crystal was, days passed, and people began disappearing—starting with Seojun.


    Evtually, as they nned to bomb the crystal, it suddly glowed, and that''s wh everything changed. A huge  scre appeared in the sky, and the game tutorial began, marking the first existce of the global system


    A massive crack appeared in the sky. It was clear now that the Ethereal Online game tutorial had turned into a reality.


    In the chaos, people began ming the Ford family, and among them was Lilith dimir. Her family had died in the disaster, leaving her alone and filled with rage. She wanted revge and dreamed of seeing the Ford family''s blood.


    In the brink of death, She was chos by dimir, an S-rank vampire god. She survived the disaster by transforming her into a powerful vampire through dimir''s blood. Taking on the name Lilith dimir, she vowed to destroy the Ford family for what they had caused.


    Alexa sighed as she thought about Lilith dimir. "Her name doesn''t suit her," she muttered. "Lilith sounds too innoct for someone like her. Tsk."


    Her gaze drifted to a floating ind in the sky, one of the zones she had designed and added to the game. A wave of regret washed over her.


    "I''m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I never imagined it woulde to this. I wish we could have done something to prevt it." She looked away, feeling the weight of her guilt.


    Alex nced in the rearview mirror, watching his twin sister as she sat in the backseat, staring out the window. The city streets blurred past, and the low hum of the car gine filled the silce betwe them. Finally, Alex broke the quiet.


    "So," he began, keeping his eyes on the road ahead, "what was the meeting all about?"


    Alexa''s annoyed face reflected in the rearview mirror as she huffed in frustration. "Ugh, it''s just Seo-ha. Her attitude pisses me off! And don''t ev get me started on Tae-hyun. He seriously thinks I''m easy to get? If he wants me to be his wife, he should put in some effort!"


    Alex chuckled, amused by her irritation. "So, he''s not giving up, huh?"


    "Obviously not!" Alexa rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "He''s reltless."


    Alexughed, the sound light and teasing. "By the way, How''s Seojun doing? He''s be good, right?"


    Alexa fell silt for a momt, her gaze shifting to her hands as they fidgeted in herp. "Uhmm… Brother, I didn''t get a chance to see him yet. The meeting was so sudd."


    Alex shook his head, a mix of exasperation and amusemt on his face. "The meeting was at  a.m. Just what time did you wake up?"


    Alexa startedbing her hair with her fingers, a pout forming on her lips. "I stayed uptest night, so I woke up at 9 a.m. Th Seo-ha just dragged me into the meeting without any warning. Hmph."


    Alex sighed, the sound half fond and half resigned. "That''s fine. I already bought his groceries and a few other things he might need."