The central plaza of Lumora glowed under bright artificial sunlight. Jax Thorn pushed his old cleaning cart along the same marble path he had walked day after day. His back ached from the constant bending and his hands felt rough from endless work. In the game called Eternal Throne, players lived like gods. Their power and money inside the game turned into real influence outside. NPCs like Jax were treated as nothing more than tools to serve, clean, and die again and again.Five years ago the game had merged with the real world. Players now came into this place with full senses and treated the starter city as their personal playground. They killed and humiliated NPCs whenever they felt like it, just for fun or quick experience points.A heavy boot suddenly slammed into Jax's ribs and sent him flying sideways. The cart tipped over and soapy water spilled across the marble floor. Pain shot through his body, sharp and real, because of how deeply the game had fused with reality.Loud laug

Jax stood in the middle of the crowded plaza, breathing hard through the pain. Blood ran down his side from the deep cut. His ribs ached with every breath and his arms felt heavy from blocking the sword. The small amount of power he had stolen helped him survive longer, but it was still not enough to beat a high-level player like CrimsonKing69.The crowd around them had grown quiet. Players whispered to each other and pointed at the scene. An NPC was actually fighting back and hurting a real player. This had never happened before in the starter zone.CrimsonKing69 touched his burned shoulder and glared at Jax with pure hatred. His face was red and his breathing came fast."You think that little spark means anything?" he shouted. "I will crush you right here in front of everyone."He raised his glowing red sword again and stepped forward. The blade shone brighter this time as he poured more power into it.Jax knew he could not win a long fight. His health was too low. One strong hit wo

The underground tunnel was cold and narrow. Water dripped from the ceiling and made the ground slippery. Jax moved carefully through the dark with Mira right beside him. His injured leg throbbed with every step and the cut on his side burned like fire. The cloth Mira had tied around the wound was already soaked with blood. He felt weaker with each passing minute, but he could not stop.Behind them, the sound of CrimsonKing69 searching the warehouse grew louder. Crates crashed to the floor and angry curses echoed down the tunnel entrance. The player was getting closer.Jax's heart pounded hard in his chest. He placed one hand on the damp wall to steady himself. The small stealth skill helped him move quieter, but it did not remove the pain or the tiredness in his body.Mira stayed close. Her breathing was fast and scared, but she did not complain. She sometimes reached out to help him when he stumbled on the uneven ground."We are almost at the main maintenance area," she whispered. "T

Jax stood bleeding in the dim underground room. His body felt like it was falling apart, but he refused to fall. Mira stayed right behind him, her hand gripping his arm tightly. The shadowy figures of the Overseers stepped out of the tunnel and spread across the space. Their forms were tall and dark, with glowing red eyes that looked straight through him.CrimsonKing69 turned his head and saw them too. For a second, even he looked nervous."What the hell are those?" he muttered.One of the Overseers raised a hand. A cold, mechanical voice filled the entire area."Anomaly detected. NPC entity has breached core rules. Deletion protocol engaged."The air grew heavy and thick. Jax felt a strong pull inside his chest, like the game itself was trying to erase him. His stolen power flickered weakly. The single level he had taken from CrimsonKing69 helped him stay on his feet, but it was not nearly enough.He pushed Mira gently behind a broken machine. "Stay low," he told her. "Do not let the

The massive dark energy ball hung frozen in the air, just inches from Jax's face. The three seconds of Glitch Pulse were ticking down fast. His body was already at its limit. Blood covered his clothes. His arms shook badly. Every breath felt like knives in his chest.But he was done running.He was done taking hits.Time to end them.Jax looked straight at the lead Overseer and CrimsonKing69. His voice came out low and cold."You both made the same mistake. You thought I would stay weak forever."He reached out with everything he had left and pulled hard on the frozen energy ball.[Critical Theft Attempt: Deletion Wave Fragment][Warning: Host Body Critical. Transfer May Cause Collapse.]The dark energy fought back like it was alive. It burned through his veins like molten metal. Jax screamed through gritted teeth as the pain ripped him apart from the inside. His knees buckled, but he forced himself to stay standing. Mira grabbed his arm to keep him from falling."Just a little more,"