The shift from being a passenger aboard Rob’s head amidst a battlefield in the rolling hills outside Pearlsgate to returning to the cramped path in the mountains of the Breach left Jack a little dizzy. He slapped his cheeks a few times to snap himself out of it and started moving.

  “Hi, everyone!” came the message from Horace, his cheerful tone practically leaping off the screen.

  “Hi, guys! Thank you so much for waiting. I’m sorry it took me so long,” Amari sent.

  That’s right! The video! Jack smiled despite himself and quickly typed back, “How did the video turn out?”

  “It turned out amazing,” Amari replied almost immediately. “I’ve scheduled it for release in a couple of hours. Once it’s live, I’ll send you the link.”

  Jack nodded to himself. At least something's going smoothly, he thought, but his expression soon darkened.

  Even though he was back at the Breach with his teammates, his thoughts lingered on Rob and his situation. How was the battle going? How long could Rob keep deceiving the Slayer? And how exactly was Jack supposed to help him out of this mess?

  The weight of it pressed on him as he clenched his fists, the memory of Rob’s determined face keeping him moving forward.

  The mountain trail didn’t let him dwell on those questions for long. The breeze, which had been a mere whisper of cold, suddenly turned into a sharp, icy blast that cut through his clothes and sank into his bones.

  “Why didn’t I unlock a skill to make a fur coat or something?” he grumbled, trudging forward. His rope outfit, while functional, offered little protection here. The cold seeped through the gaps in the thick, coarse weave, chilling him to the core.

  “This is just a game. It’s just a game. Your real body is warm, wearing soft PJs, and safe in bed,” he muttered under his breath. It did little to help. He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering as the path climbed higher. The landscape shifted with the elevation—patches of rock and dirt gave way to streaks of frost and stubborn clumps of snow.

  A distant howl cut through the wind, low and mournful, sending a shiver down Jack’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold. He paused, glancing around, but all he could see was the swirling snow carried by the relentless breeze.

  “Probably just the wind,” he muttered.

  The wind grew crueler, carrying with it tiny shards of ice that pricked at his exposed skin. Jack’s fingers stiffened, his movements slowing as numbness crept in. He flexed his hands, desperate to keep the blood flowing, but it wasn’t enough.

  You’ve been afflicted with the [Cold] debuff.

  -10% movement speed.

  “Oh, great! As if this wasn’t miserable enough.” His trembling hands left him no choice but to activate one of his newer skills.

  Fat Insulation!

  10x[Roach Fat] consumed from inventory.

  +10 cold resistance.

  You’re no longer [Cold].

  A comforting warmth spread through his body as the skill activated, driving back the biting chill. Jack exhaled a relieved sigh, flexing his fingers as the feeling returned. For a moment, he smirked. Who knew hoarding roach fat would save my butt from freezing off?

  But the reprieve was brief. The farther Jack climbed, the colder it became. The wind, no longer content to nip at his clothes, now clawed at him with icy talons. The system was quick to remind him just how unforgiving the peak could be.

  You’ve been afflicted with the [Cold] debuff.

  -10% movement speed.

  The patches of snow thickened, spreading until they blanketed the ground completely. The trail disappeared beneath drifts, forcing Jack to navigate an uneven stretch of ice and powder. Each step crunched underfoot, his sandals slipping as frost tendrils clung stubbornly to the straps.

  You’ve been afflicted with the [Nose Icicle] debuff.

  20 points of your stamina bar are now locked.

  “Nose Icicle? Really?” Jack muttered, swiping at his face and finding two little icicles under his nose.

  Without his pitiful cold resistance and [Fat Insulation], he’d be in far worse shape. Even now, with the skill active, every step felt like an effort.

  The path suddenly widened, spilling out into a stark field of white. Jack stopped to catch his breath, turning to look behind him. He gulped hard, realizing just how high he’d climbed.

  The landscape ahead was no less daunting. The endless expanse of white stretched out before him, broken only by jagged black rocks. The silence was absolute, save for the howling wind. Jack shivered, though whether it was from the cold or unease, he couldn’t tell.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Oof. I’ve made it,” Jack muttered, pulling up his map to confirm his location. Sure enough, he was at the peak.

  He paused briefly to scan the area. Amari had marked this location as suspicious but hadn’t gone further after encountering the snow-covered terrain. Now it was Jack’s turn to uncover whatever secrets lay hidden here—and hopefully find something useful for the team.

  “Let’s go!” Jack adjusted his rope hat and trudged forward. The wind at his back was relentless, unbridled by the rocky outcrops that had shielded him lower down. It whipped loose snow into a swirling haze, blurring the horizon.

  Each step left shallow prints in the snow, but the shifting wind erased them almost as quickly as he made them. Jack squinted against the blinding white, his eyes scanning for anything unusual.

  Whatever’s up here, he thought grimly, it better be worth the frostbite.

  *

  Holly adjusted the straps snugly around her head and leaned back on her bed. Three lectures, two labs, and four hours of tutoring in the campus library had left her body heavy with exhaustion. The day wasn’t over yet—there was still studying to do—but she needed a break. She sighed as she turned on her VRX helmet. The familiar hum filled her dorm room, drowning out the whispered gossip of the other girls.

  When the program loaded, Holly found herself in her VR room. It was minimalist but functional—a digital reflection of her disciplined, overworked life. Shelves on one wall held perfectly aligned books and notes on circuits, mechanics, and thermodynamics, while her sleek study desk was clutter-free except for a glowing to-do list hovering above it. A calming blue light suffused the room, chosen to soothe her nerves.

  If not for VR, Holly doubted she could keep up with her engineering program. Sleep-studying had become her lifeline. Still, even in this meticulously organized space, a pang of longing crept in whenever she glanced at the poster of New Earth. The idea of logging into a fictional world like that—to quest, craft, and explore alongside other players—was a far-off dream. She didn’t have the time, the money, or the freedom to lose herself in that kind of adventure. Watching streams was her compromise, her escape.

  Holly didn’t just enjoy the streams; she needed them. They gave her a taste of the camaraderie, the thrill, the beauty of a world she couldn’t afford to be part of. Sometimes, she wondered if she’d ever have that kind of freedom—if she could finish her program, land a good job, and finally build a life where there was time for something as frivolous as fun.

  Her fingers tapped at the air to open her stream feed, and the familiar algorithm greeted her with a curated list of streamers she liked. A thumbnail caught her eye: “Compy Ruins Raid – Exciting New Announcement!”

  “That’s right. It’s Monday! Amari’s new video is out!”

  She tapped the thumbnail, the screen flickered to life, revealing the vibrant chaos of a bustling fantasy city. Prehistoric beasts served as mounts for players navigating the cobblestone streets, their claws clicking against the stone. A troop of armored knights marched in disciplined formation, their polished gear catching the light from glowing lanterns. In the background, a grand market building loomed—a structure of pale stone with arched entrances, its stained-glass windows glowing faintly as players hurried in and out, clutching satchels and parcels.

  Amari’s warm baritone filled her VR room. “Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Rising from the Ashes, my series where I’m starting fresh as a ninja. As I showed you in my last video, I arrived at a gate town, where the game really begins. I’ve already got some basic gear from the quest [Helping the Museum Janitor]. Make sure you check my last video where I walk you through the quest, if you haven’t seen it yet.”

  Holly smirked. Amari had a way of making even the simplest quests sound like epic achievements.

  “I’m about to embark on a new adventure,” Amari continued, “and my traveling companion is... interesting.” At this moment, someone stepped out from the marketplace, scanning the area until his eyes landed on Amari. He was a lean young man with short brown hair and hazel eyes. He wore practical but simple gear—nothing flashy or impressive.

  Amari turned to him. “Just a moment, Jack. I’ll be right there with you.” Turning back to the camera, Amari smiled. “Let me show you how we met.”

  The scene shifted to Amari walking the grand hallways of the Historical Society when a voice rang out, “You with the buckler!”

  The camera turned to Jack, waving enthusiastically and peppering Amari with questions. Holly tilted her head. “He’s... kind of clueless,” she murmured, a slight grin forming. Then she smiled as Amari patiently answered each question. “Aww. Amari’s so patient. I wish my professors were like that.”

  Amari started to walk away, but Jack chased after him, clearly determined. “Please, wait! I need help with this quest,” Jack blurted.

  The camera lingered on Amari’s face as he weighed the request, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll help.”

  Holly leaned forward slightly. “This Jack fellow just hit the jackpot! To have Amari help you on a quest? This should be interesting.”

  Amari went on to show Jack where to find the NPC and then took him to the taxidermy section. Jack’s reaction to the stuffed compy had Holly laughing. “Is this it? We just have to deal with these chickens?” he joked, gesturing at the diminutive dinosaur.

  “This guy is funny,” Holly murmured with a giggle.

  But the next scene brought a sharp change in tone. The dialogue became awkward as the two prepared for their quest.

  “We’ll need to prepare some items for the trip. How much money do you have?” Amari asked.

  “50 silver,” Jack replied, his hesitation obvious.

  “That’s too little. You’ll need at least one gold to get us the necessary supplies.”

  “Can’t you chip in?” Jack asked.

  Holly raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious? The nerve! You have Amari helping you do your quest! What more do you want?”

  Amari’s sharp reply came immediately. “I already am. Since you’re a bushcrafter, it’s your job to keep us fed and maintain stamina. Didn’t you know that?”

  “So, I’m buying everything? What’s your role then?”

  “I was thinking I’d get consumables to deal with the compies. Man, why are you acting so defensive? I thought you were cool,” Amari shot back, clearly irritated.

  Holly winced at the tension, but then Jack stammered, “I—I just wanted to check. I’m sorry. I started playing the game yesterday, and I was afraid you were scamming me. I’m trying to make a living out of the game. I don’t even own a helmet—I’m just renting one. I really can’t afford to use my in-game money carelessly. I was just making sure you weren’t making unreasonable requests.”

  Amari sighed, his posture relaxing. “I guess I can’t blame you. I’d be suspicious, too, if I were you.”

  Jack gave a sheepish grin. “Thanks for understanding. And I promise, I’ll do my part.”

  Holly leaned back, intrigued. “At least he admitted he was wrong. If only every guy was like that. Hmph.” His honesty and willingness to learn were refreshing, and Amari, though clearly exasperated, seemed to recognize it too as he continued explaining the supplies without skipping a beat.

  As they wrapped up their shopping, Holly smiled. Jack wasn’t like the polished players she usually watched—he was rough around the edges, awkward, and sometimes a little too bold. But there was something about him. He was authentic, maybe. She was curious to see how he’d handle the rest of the quest.

  She kept watching the video as Jack and Amari tackled the compy raid. For a little while, the weight of deadlines, exams, and work faded away. She was right there with them—laughing at Jack’s quips, marveling at Amari’s expertise, and simply enjoying the adventure.