《MMORPG: I was BUGGED》 Chapter 1: The Long Slumber Ends

Chapter 1: The Long Slumber Ends ? ?

Tubes and wires snaked their way across Xin''s body, connecting him to the pulsating rhythm of life-sustaining equipment. The steady symphony of beeps and hums filled the room, merging into an otherworldly melody that reverberated within his consciousness. As he gingerly opened his eyes, a veil of confusion and disorientation shrouded his thoughts. The harsh re of fluorescent lights pierced his vision. A surge of panic coursed through his veins when he attempted to speak, only to be met with silence. His vocal cords betrayed him, emitting only a rasping rasp that scratched against his throat. W-wha . . . what happened? His parched lips struggled to form words, the muscles having forgotten to shape sounds. With wide eyes filled with equal parts fear and curiosity, Xin gazed at his surroundings, searching for answers in the somber stillness. He stumbled upon a familiar face. His mother. She looked aged. Nearing her forties, her once supple face was dry. Dark bugs stretched her eyes down, and she looked thinner, pale, and sickly. "Mm . . . mom . . ." Xin''s hand reached out. Evelyn rose, the chair scraping the floor from her haste. Her tears were falling down her cheeks as she opened the door and shouted. "Doctor! Doctor! My son! My son has woken up!" As Xiny there, his consciousness gradually emerging from the depths of slumber, he found himself caught in the ebb and flow of his mother''s conversation with the doctor. Their words melded into a symphony of concern and medical jargon, yet amidst the confusion, fragments of memories began to resurface, crashing against the shores of his mind with painful intensity. It was as if each recollection carried the weight of an ocean wave, threatening to overwhelm him. He remembered the incident that had robbed him of four precious years of his life ¡ª a simple misstep on a flight of stairs, a collision with an unyielding stone that had sent his world spiraling into darkness. How could a single ident exact such a heavy toll? The enormity of the loss seemed iprehensible, an unjust twist of fate that defied logic. Yet, as Xin absorbed the realization, time seemed to blur and warp, the boundaries of past and present blending together. Four yearspressed into a fleeting moment as if the passage of time had been suspended, frozen in hazy memory. It felt as though the events of that fateful day had urred only yesterday, refusing to release their grip on his brain. Confusion etched lines upon his brow as he struggled to reconcile the disparity between the years stolen and the sensation that they had been but a brief sliver of time. The gap in his memory left an ache in his heart, a void that yearned to be filled. There were things he did understand, though. One, he still couldn''t leave the hospital. They still had to run some checks on him and do some therapy so he could be integrated into society as if nothing had happened. And two . . . his mother must have paid millions in these four years to keep him alive. But where did she get the money? They weren''t rich, and his mother was the only sole provider in the family. He didn''t know his father. He had left them before they were even born. Evelyn worked as a secretary in a multibillion corporation. Though she earned decently, there was no way that she could afford this. A sudden burst of energy shattered the tranquility of the room as the door swung open, revealing a young woman with vibrant fake golden locks cascading down her waist and captivating ocean-blue eyes. "Mom!" she eximed, her voice brimming with excitement. "Did Xin really wake up?!" Their gazes locked, and in that instant, Xin''s heart stirred with recognition. It was his twin sister, Xiaxia, standing before him. Time seemed to stand still as their eyes met, and a rush of memories flooded his mind. They had once been inseparable, two halves of a whole, but a rift had driven them apart, casting a shadow over their rtionship. Where Xin had been guarded and distant, Xiaxia was a ray of sunshine, radiating warmth and exuberance like the ever-changing bold color of her hair. Her infectious cheerfulness had always been the antidote to his solemnity. However, their bond had fractured, leaving them adrift in separate worlds. Yet, as tears welled in Xiaxia''s eyes and streamed down her face, realization dawned upon Xin. In that vulnerable moment, the barriers that had divided them melted away, and a flicker of the past rekindled within his heart. "Y-you . . ." Xiaxia''s quivering chin betrayed her attempts to contain the torrent of tears streaming down her face. Without a moment''s hesitation, she rushed to Xin''s side, her anguish finding release in a forceful p against his head. "You IDIOT! How can you slip and fall into ama?! I thought that you''re the careful one here?!" The room erupted in a flurry ofmotion as Xin recoiled from the unexpected blow. Evelyn shot up from her seat in rm and shouted, "Xiaxia!" The doctor caught off guard, stood frozen in his ce, his shock mirrored on his face. Xin''s lips parted his instinct to protest halted by the piercing gaze of his tearful sister. Wide-eyed, he absorbed the impact of her words, unable to look away from the depths of her sorrow. The sting of the p was nothingpared to the anguish etched upon her face. Struggling to wipe away her tears, Xiaxia choked on her words, "Don''t you know how worried we were? You idiot. They said that you''ll never wake up. They said that you''re already dead, but we refuse to believe it . . . four years . . . Four years of waiting, hoping, and praying . . . You reckless fool." Xin''s heart melted. "S . . . S-so . . . rry . . ." Xiaxia''s palm swiftly connected with his head once more, the force of the p reverberating through the room, almost rattling his skull. "The HELL you are!" Evelyn couldn''t contain her exasperation any longer. Her voice rose in a resounding yell. "XIAXIA!" Chapter 2: Whispers of Longing and Uncertainty

Chapter 2: Whispers of Longing and Uncertainty ? ?

Time slipped away like a fleeting dream, and a week had whisked by before he knew it. Xin''s therapy had made steady progress, evident in his newfound ability to walk without stumbling, write with steady hands, and speak without the burden of gasping for breath. To Xiaxia, the improvements seemed almost futile. Her brother had always been a man of few words, choosing silence as his preferredpanion long before thea had imed him. His reserved nature and inscrutable expression had often frustrated her, leaving her longing for a glimpse beneath the mask he wore. She could understand him even without the words, though. They were twins, after all. She understood him the most. Even now, as Xin regained his physical capabilities, his demeanor remained unchanged. His face remained an enigmatic canvas, betraying no hint of the thoughts and emotions swirling within. As the sunlight gently filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room, Xiaxia, sat at the bedside, methodically peeling an apple. Her eyes were filled with a mix of concern and curiosity as she broke the silence that enveloped them. "What are you going to do once you''re out of here?" she inquired. With their mother absent, Xiaxia had taken on the role of caregiver, shouldering the responsibility of tending to Xin''s needs. Xin''s gaze was fixed on the glowing screen of his phone, absentmindedly twirled a long strand of his stark white hair between his fingers. His lips twitched with a hint of contemtion as he pondered her question, his mind searching for an answer amidst the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that consumed him. A faint sigh escaped his lips as he finally responded, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty, "I''ll . . . think about it." With his long hair cascading past his waist, Xin thought of the idea of getting a haircut first once he was free from the confines of the hospital. He idly twirled a strand of his pristine white locks, knowing all too well that Xiaxia held a deep disdain for their unusual hair color. It had often been the target of teasing from their peers, and does Xiaxia opted to wear bold color to escape suchments and attention. Their mother, who possessed a natural mane of rich brown hair, had clearly not passed down this distinctive trait. The origins of their striking hair colory in their father, a topic Xin had long chosen to avoid delving into. The thought of their father''s absence and the mysteries surrounding him brought a pang of difort to Xin''s heart, and he quickly pushed it aside. "You could start school again," Xiaxia proposed. "You could take an advancement exam and break free from the confines of the same year." Xin listened intently to her words, his expression unreadable. Deep down, he understood the significance of her suggestion. While she and his peers had already embarked on the journey of college life, he was left behind, frozen in time by the four-year gap that had stolen away his youth. It was a bitter reality that he had to confront. The idea of returning to school at the same year before he had an ident didn''t sit well with him. He contemted the possibility of taking an advanced exam, an opportunity to bridge the gap and catch up to his peers. However, he knew the limitations of such an endeavor. Even if sessful, it would only propel him forward by a mere two years, leaving him perpetually trailing behind. A heavy weight settled upon Xin''s shoulders as he grappled with the disheartening truth. The world had moved on without him, leaving him in a state of suspended progression. The thought of returning to high school while his peers ventured into the realms of higher education gnawed at his self-esteem. Xin dispersed the depressive thought. He should be d that he was still alive. He paused when he stumbled upon a familiar name on his phone. "Hey, are you listening to me?" Xiaxia asked, "I said that you don''t have to think so hard. It''s still early in the semester, and if you pass the advancement exam, you can join me at Fate Academy." "Where''s Meilyn?" Xin asked instead. The room was suddenly filled with a sharp, jarring sound as metal knives shed together, drawing Xin''s attention towards his sister. Xiaxia''s countenance had darkened, her face etched with tension as she gritted her teeth in frustration. "Forget about her," she dered forcefully, her wordsced with an unmistakable disdain. Xin''s eyes met Xiaxia''s. He knew all too well that his sister held no fondness for Meilyn, but he couldn''t help himself. Meilyn was his girlfriend, after all. "When will shee?" Xin pressed on, undeterred by his sister''s outburst which he dismissed as a mere disy of immaturity. Xiaxia''s frustration grew evident as she red at him, but Xin''s expression remained impassive, determined to get an answer. Avoiding his gaze, Xiaxia huffed, her voice filled with a mix of annoyance and disappointment. "No, she hasn''t visited you in nearly three years." Perplexed, Xin persisted. "But why?" Exasperated, Xiaxia clenched her fists and let out a frustrated growl. "Stop asking me about her!" She abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room, the sound of the door mming echoing through the air. But before the door shutpletely, she couldn''t resist one final outburst. "Forget about that girl! She''s the reason why you ended up in this state, you fool! She doesn''t care about you anymore!" The words from Xiaxia reverberated in his mind, drowning out the echoing sound of the door. ''She doesn''t care about you anymore!'' Xin couldn''t ept her deration. Despite the forcefulness of her statement, he couldn''t bring himself to believe it. Meilyn was more than just a girlfriend; she was a childhood friend. They had shared countless moments together, long before she gathered the courage to ask him out. ''Even if you don''t want me anymore . . . I''ll still be here for you.'' Those were the words she often spoke. The image of her warm smile and kind eyes remained etched vividly in his mind. It was as if it had happened just yesterday. He recalled the day he was runningte for their date, rushing to their designated meeting spot when he had slipped and fell. Yet, he had never held her responsible for the mishap. Not even for a moment. Driven by a surge of longing, he instinctively reached out and pressed the call button, his eyes shimmering with a glimmer of hope. Time seemed to slow down, each passing second feeling like an eternity as he anxiously waited for the connection to be established. But instead of the familiar ringtone or the sound of her voice filling the air, a cold and detached robotic voice abruptly shattered the silence. ''The number is out of service.'' His heart plummeted, sinking like an anchor into the depths of his chest. But he couldn''t me her if she moved on and forgot about him. He was dead four years ago and might never wake up. Who would want to stake their future on a person who might never wake up? The uncertainty and depression might have taken a toll on her, and it would have been better if she did move on and continued with her life if that would make her happy. Despite the disappointment, Xin''s longing to see Meilyn remained unabated. A flicker of hope danced in his eyes as he contemted the idea of paying her a visit at her house when he got out of the hospital. The thought of their potential encounter brought a small, tender smile to his lips, a rarity in his recent days of solitude. The mere prospect of seeing her again stirred a mix of emotions within him, and an unfamiliar sense of excitement bloomed in his chest. As he envisioned their reunion, a surge of anticipation coursed through his veins. It had been so long since he had felt this kind of eagerness. The possibility of reconnecting with Meilyn ignited a spark within him, dispelling the heaviness that had lingered for too long. Xin paused when he saw something popping on his notification. [Guildbane: Battle for Domination''s four-year anniversary event ising!] Guildbane? When he recalled before hisma, that virtual game was heavily promoted and popr to the masses. He wasn''t into games, so he wasn''t interested at that time, but now . . . it was all the news talk about. Xin turned off his phone and decided to sleep. He was too tiredtely, maybe because of his medications. Falling asleep, he dreamt of the time when he was with Meilyn. Those were the happiest days of his life and the only time that he could show emotion, even a little bit. He and Meilyn went through a lot . . . Surely she couldn''t just forget about the years that they were together. Chapter 3: Gambling on Games

Chapter 3: Gambling on Games ? ?

The shock was an understatement when the cab drove them into the poor area in Zone A. This was where the mass housing was located. Towering apartment buildings stood in rows, tightly packed together, leaving little space to spare. The units were tiny, some measuring just around twenty square meters, and frequently filled with a multitude of people. Now, standing in front of Xin was the very same apartment, a small room permeated with the pungent stench of sweat, decay, cigarettes, and alcohol. The air was heavy with the sounds emanating from the neighboring room. "Augh . . . you must be shocked, right?" Evelyn started as she mustered a weak smile.. "What happened to our house?" Xin asked. "Ah well . . . things happened and . . . I had to sell our house. But don''t worry! This is only temporary. I''m currently hunting for a house right now, near our previous one." Xiaxia rolled her eyes and opened the door. "Mom, don''t babysit him. Tell him the truth that you had to sell the house to pay his medical expenses and that we''re in a huge debt right now because of him." "Hurrah!" Evelyn reprimanded her daughter, but Xin only stood at the entrance without saying a word, his face filled with unspoken thoughts. Xin couldn''t help but feel the weight of his mother''s sacrifices as the truth settled in. She had sold their house and possibly more just to cover his medical expenses. Guilt gnawed at him, knowing that he had be a burden to his family. "Don''t pay attention to Xiaxia''s words, alright?" Evelyn pleaded, her smile strained. "You don''t need to worry about anything. I''ll take care of everything." Xin remained silent, his fingers curling tightly into his palm as he stepped inside the house. The unspoken gratitude and remorse swirled within him, and he couldn''t find the right words to express his emotions. The room in the mass housing apartment was small and suffocating, offering little respite from the outside world. The air hung heavy with a stale odor. Thebined scents of various households, intermingled with traces of cooking, cleaning products, and the faint hint of mildew, created an unpleasant atmosphere. The walls, worn and faded, seemed paper-thin, failing to provide any significant sound instion. The voices of neighboring upants spilled through the thin barriers, their conversations blending into a cacophony of noise. "It isn''t much, but this is our new home," Xiaxia said dully and entered her room. Before she shut the door, she slipped from the gap and said, "There''s only one room in here, so you sleep here on the floor." "Hey!" "It''s fine," Xin said and went over to the living room that also served as their dining area. "Where will I put my things?" Evelyn''s face was sorry. "Just put it in the boxes over there. Sorry, I still haven''t bought any furniture for your clothes." "Don''t worry about it. These boxes are fine." Xin started to reorganize his clothes while his mother excused herself to make dinner. There was only a small foyer, and after that was a tiny kitchen that had little room to maneuver. After the kitchen was the living and dining area that served as Xin''s sleeping quarter as well. The remaining two doors were probably the bedroom and the bathroom. As Xin unpacked, the reality of their living situation finally sank into his head, and this made him decide what to do. ======= "I''ll find a job tomorrow," Xin said when they were having dinner. They were sitting on the floor with a small table at the center. As he expected, his mother was quick to protest. "What are you talking about, Xin?" Evelyn said with a serious face. "What about school?" "I won''t go." Xiaxia''s eyes went to him and their mother while she kept eating from her bowl without a word. "No," Evelyn replied with a hard tone. "You will take the advancement exam and go to college. End of story." "But¨C" "If you''re worried about the expenses and debt, don''t. I''m not weak and old that I couldn''t pay for it. You only focus on school and let me handle the rest. Let me do my job as your mother," Evelyn said with no room for argument. ". . ." Xin didn''tment anymore. He knew that stubborn jut of his mother''s lips ¨C there was no talking to her. He would let go of this for now and bring up the topic in the following days. "There''s a way to earn decent money even while you''re going to school, you know," Xiaxia chimed in. "And I''m not talking about part time jobs." "Xiaxia, that thing is a scam." Xiaxia nced at Evelyn and responded with a straightforward tone, "It covers my tuition fees and even paid for Xin''s hospital bills." Evelyn was at a loss for words, unable toe up with a retort. She simply returned to her meal, muttering, "That''s despicable." Curiosity filled Xin''s eyes, although his expression remained unchanged. "What is it?" he inquired. Xiaxia locked eyes with him, a wide grin spreading across her face. "It''s called Guildbane." Xin''s forehead crumpled. "That game?" "It''s more than just a game. It''s a massive empire worth trillions of dors, where anyone has the chance to be incredibly wealthy overnight!" Xiaxia spoke with passion. "This game has its own currency system, where one thousand gil is equivalent to one real dor! If you spend an hour grinding in the game, you can easily earn at least ten dors. And if you''re lucky enough to find rare items, the earnings can be even greater!" Xin wanted to interject, but Xiaxia continued without pause. "But the real moneyes from raiding dungeons, participating in contests, and winning guild wars! If you manage to reach the top ten in the leaderboards, you could even be a celebrity! Actually, even the top one hundred would be impressive!" "When did you be a game addict?" Xin asked when he had the chance to finally interject. Xiaxia''s earlier enthusiasm faded, and she nced at him with ackluster gaze. "Since money became a part of it." Evelyn mmed her te down, her frustration evident. "That game is nothing but a scam." Xiaxia scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Anything that is easy money is a scam to you, Mom." "So you''re already ying this game?" Xiaxia''s gaze shifted to Xin, and her head tilted up with pride. "Hm~Hm~. I''ve already established a guild in this game. Aren''t I amazing?" "So you''re already a pro?" "GuUKk . . ." Xiaxia fell on her high throne. She quickly recovered and cleared her throat. "N-no. But I''m getting there." ". . . Hmm . . ." "What?! What''s with that disgusting look on your face?! Are you starting a fight, huh?!" Chapter 4: A Feline Transformation

Chapter 4: A Feline Transformation ?

Later that night, when he heard the snores from the adjacent room, Xin looked over his phone to check this game called Guildbane. He was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, and the only light wasing from his phone. Xiaxia was telling the truth. ying this game would yield money, and pro yers were more popr than celebrities at this point. He was even amazed that top yers earned like a million a month at a minimum! Xin was happy and contented if he could earn enough to pay his debt and get their house back. Though he didn''t know about games, he had nothing to lose if he tried his luck in this virtual world. Xin heard the opening and closing of the door, and after that was his sister''s voice. "I know that you couldn''t sleep. Are you searching about Guildbane?" Xin nodded. Xiaxia stopped in front of him. "Here" Xin turned his attention to his sister, who was holding out a worn-out headgear. Despite the dim lighting, he could see that it had seen better days. The paint was peeling, revealing the shiny metal beneath. Curiosity filled his voice as he asked, "What''s that?" Xiaxia smiled and replied, "It''s a gift. Your birthday is just a few minutes away, and you''ll need this if you want to y the game." ncing at the clock, which showed [11:44 PM], Xin shifted his gaze back to Xiaxia. "You''re still awake? Don''t you have sses tomorrow?" Taking a deep breath, Xiaxia responded eagerly, "I won''t be sleeping anytime soon. Guildbane''s anniversary is about to begin, and they''re giving away gifts! I can''t afford to miss that!" Xin gingerly epted the helmet, realizing that it was the necessary headgear for ying the game. However, he noticed that it appeared old and slightly outdated. It must be an earlier model, he thought to himself. Xiaxia''s voice broke the silence, cautioning him, "Be careful with that, alright? It''s the very first headgear from when Guildbane wasunched. It could fetch a hefty price if sold." "Then why didn''t you sell it?" Xiaxia''s reaction was almost explosive. "Because it holds sentimental value that can''t be bought with any amount of money, okay?!" Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she continued, "I should have realized that someone as emotionally detached as you wouldn''t understand. Anyway, let me show you how to use it first." Xiaxia went to his side and exined the many buttons on the headgear. It was only a simple mechanism of on and off, and the machine would do the rest. Xiaxia exined the limitations of the old headgear, saying, "This model is rtively safe, but you can only y the game for about two hours a day before it needs to be recharged. And you can''t y while it''s charging. The newer models have unlimited gaming time even when charging, but theye with a hefty price tag, costing hundreds of thousands nowadays." She encouraged Xin, saying, "Give it a try. It might be a bit confusing at first, but you''ll get used to it. Just make sure Mother doesn''t catch you wearing it." "But how will you y if Mom is sleeping right next to you?" Xiaxia''s smirk grew wider. "I make enough money now, so Mom doesn''t mind." "Is that so?" Xin asked dully. Xiaxia''s smile fell. "Can''t you at least show a little pride for your sister? I''ve even helped pay off some of your hospital bills, you know." "Ahh . . . thank you . . . ?" Xiaxia''s vein bulged on her head. "What''s with that tone? Do you want me to hit you?" "It''s my usual voice," Xinmented and inspected the helmet. Xiaxia sighed. "Forget it. I''ll bete for the event if I keep talking to an ice block like you." Xiaxia rose from the floor and headed towards her room. Just before opening the door, she offered a final warning, "By the way, the machine will scan you first to prevent multiple ounts. Once you create your Avatar, you''ll be transported to a beginner''s ind along with other new yers." "You''ll have to stay on that ind until you''re familiar with the game. Once you leave, you won''t be able to go back, so make sure youplete all the quests there before deciding to move on, okay?" "I take it you didn''t finish all the quests?" With the helmet securely on his head, Xin pressed the power button. "GuuKk!" arge arrow pierced Xiaxia''s heart before she gritted her teeth. "You''re really are infuriating!" She shot him a final nce before closing her door. "Good luck." ======= As Xin entered the game, he found himself in a stark white room. In front of him, small hologram boxes formed the shape of a face. Feeling a bit disoriented, Xin regained hisposure when the face spoke with a robotic female voice. Xin hesitated for a moment before responding, "Um . . . yes?" As the AI finished counting down, a figure materialized, closely resembling Xin''s own features. Xin was amazed when the Avatar looked exactly like him, and he took his time to process this virtual reality before him. A sizable hologram appeared before Xin, presenting a range of options to modify his avatar''s appearance. With a press of a button, he could alter various features to create a different persona. The thought of making his avatar a girl didn''t sit right with him, so he discarded the idea. After careful consideration, Xin decided to make his avatar slightly younger and shorter, with ck hair ented by streaks of white strands and silver eyes. There was no semnce of this Avatar to him, but he was satisfied with the oue and pressed ". . . Okay." Name . . . Xin paused and thought for a moment. Nothing came up in his head, except the name of his fat tiger cat a long time ago. "Lord Schrodinger." What could possibly go wrong, right? [WARNING! Once you choose a name, you can''t change it for the next 30 days!] Xin pressed proceed.