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⠀ Then Solomon adjusted his glasses, a grim smile on his face. "The game is finally getting interesting." ⠀

⠀ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗: [𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗘_𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥_𝗟𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗷𝗶_𝟬𝟬𝟱] 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗦: 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦. ⠀

⠀ "Because he’s being overwritten," Solomon said. "He isn't just being attacked; he's being integrated." For a split second, nobody moved. ⠀

⠀ The scraping grew louder. Like wheels rolling over stone. Jin’s hands froze. “That’s not coming from the game,” he whispered. ⠀

⠀ Another voice suddenly burst through the speakers. Shaking. Panicked. “H-hello? Something attacked us—Lan Wangji is gone—he just—he just—” ⠀

⠀ Another voice suddenly burst through the speakers. Shaking. Panicked. “H-hello? Something attacked us—Lan Wangji is gone—he just—he just—” ⠀

⠀ ⠀

⠀ “Well,” Solomon said, “it’s only the beginning. They’re still brave.” Static crackled through the speakers. Then voices. ⠀

⠀ 𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. ⠀

⠀ Without anyone touching them, the screens flickered back on. The game loaded by itself. No launcher. No login. Just a black void swallowing the display before an image slowly appeared. ⠀

⠀ Wei Wuxian stretched lazily, chair creaking under him. “You guys are terrible at reassurance,” he muttered. “We can’t guarantee your safety? Real comforting.” ⠀

⠀ The developers had already logged out. The monitors dimmed back to neutral desktops, but no one moved from their seats. ⠀