Full moon night.

The moonlight barely entered through the broken windows of the abandoned school building.

Ghost slowly moved through the dark corridor while holding a flashlight in one hand and a combat knife in another. The old walls were stained with blood marks and strange claw scratches that looked far too deep to be made by normal humans.

The atmosphere itself felt alive.

Like something inside the darkness was breathing.

His footsteps echoed lightly through the empty halls while dust floated slowly in the cold air.

The sound design itself felt terrifying.

Every small movement inside the game created uneasiness.

A broken classroom door moved slightly because of the wind.

Somewhere upstairs, a chair dragged across the floor.

A distant metallic knocking sound echoed from somewhere unknown.

Miles quietly leaned forward while playing.

"Damn..."

Ghost slowly equipped the night vision glasses.

The screen instantly turned into eerie green shades.

Rusty lockers.

Broken desks.

Old warning signs written in blood.

A child’s drawing on the wall.

Everything became visible in horrifying detail.

The atmosphere became even worse after the night vision activated because now every hidden corner looked suspicious.

Ghost carefully lowered his footsteps further.

The game mechanics even reacted to sound.

The louder the movement, the higher the danger indicator became.

Miles looked impressed already.

Ghost moved through another corridor.

A dead body suddenly appeared hanging upside down from the ceiling.

Even June jumped slightly beside him.

Miles laughed.

"That caught you too?"

June crossed her arms.

"The atmosphere is actually scary."

Ghost continued moving forward.

According to the mission objective displayed on screen, he needed to recover a mysterious artifact hidden somewhere inside the abandoned school before sunrise.

But the deeper he entered the building, the stranger things became.

Whispers slowly started appearing through the audio.

Not understandable words.

Just strange breathing and distorted voices.

Then Ghost finally found it.

A large rusted metal door at the end of the corridor.

Symbols were carved across its surface.

Blood marks surrounded the edges.

"This must be the objective room," Miles muttered.

Ghost tried pushing the metal door slowly.

It would not move.

The game immediately showed a warning.

"Excessive force may attract hostile entities."

Miles nodded slightly.

"Interesting."

So instead of forcing it open, Ghost stepped backward carefully.

Then suddenly his foot accidentally pushed a loose metal block lying on the ground.

The block rolled loudly.

Before he could react, a broken metal gate behind him collapsed violently with a deafening sound.

The entire corridor echoed.

Red warning lights suddenly flashed on the game HUD.

Threat detected.

Threat detected.

Threat detected.

Miles immediately sat straighter.

The previously locked metal door slowly creaked open by itself.

The sound was horrifying.

And then they appeared.

Dozens of glowing figures inside the darkness.

Green eyes shining through the night vision.

Rotting flesh.

Broken jaws.

Twisted limbs.

Zombies.

A massive swarm rushed toward him instantly.

June unconsciously leaned forward too.

Miles grinned.

"Oh this is good."

Ghost immediately switched stance.

No guns.

The game forced close combat because firing weapons attracted even larger hordes.

Ghost dodged the first zombie and stabbed another through the throat before spinning sideways.

The movement system looked smooth and brutal.

A zombie jumped from the ceiling.

Ghost kicked it into a wall.

Another grabbed his arm.

The breathing sounds intensified.

The corridor became chaotic instantly.

Miles reacted quickly while playing.

Ghost fought carefully without wasting stamina.

The zombies kept coming endlessly.

Then he suddenly found an opening.

Ghost pushed two zombies aside and sprinted down another hallway while the creatures screamed behind him.

The game music intensified heavily now.

The entire chase sequence looked cinematic.

He turned a corner.

Another door appeared ahead.

Unlike the rusted surroundings, this door looked different.

Golden.

Ancient.

Strange glowing patterns moved slowly across its surface.

June whispered softly.

"That definitely looks like a boss room."

Ghost rushed toward it while the zombies continued closing in from behind.

The moment he pushed the golden door open, the music stopped completely.

Silence.

Then footsteps echoed slowly inside the dark chamber.

Heavy.

Cold.

Ancient.

A tall figure slowly emerged from darkness.

Wings made entirely from bones spread across the screen.

A black robe flowed unnaturally despite there being no wind.

Its face.

A skull.

Empty eyes glowing faintly beneath the hood.

The atmosphere itself became freezing.

Even the zombies behind Ghost suddenly stopped.

Then slowly backed away in fear.

The figure raised a giant scythe.

A horrifying metallic scream echoed throughout the room.

The sound design alone sent chills through the spine.

Then the creature slowly pointed the scythe toward Ghost.

And at that exact moment.

Miles’ phone screen suddenly turned black.

Prototype End.

Miles stared at the screen for two whole seconds.

Then he suddenly laughed.

"Woah."

He leaned back slowly.

"This game is going to be a blast."

June smiled watching his reaction.

"That Grim Reaper boss was insanely well designed."

Miles nodded immediately.

"The sound design is crazy too."

He looked genuinely impressed now.

"And this is only a prototype?"

June nodded.

"They sent it after I replied to their mail yesterday."

Miles looked back toward the dark screen thoughtfully.

"The atmosphere is very immersive."

June added calmly.

"They asked if you liked the concept and whether Sterling Enterprises would be interested in funding the full development."

Miles immediately answered.

"Interested?"

He chuckled.

"I want to play the full game already."

June laughed softly. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Honestly, I still cannot believe investors are rejecting this."

Miles shook his head.

"Most investors only chase safe money."

Then he looked toward her.

"Tell them I want a full pitch meeting."

June nodded.

"In Star Harbor?"

Miles smiled faintly.

"Yes."

He looked once more toward the frozen image of the Grim Reaper still faintly visible on the dark screen reflection.

"Call them here."

.....

The twins rushed inside through the main door the moment they returned from school.

Their small shoes made hurried sounds across the polished floor as they practically bounced into the living room with their school bags hanging loosely from their shoulders.

Hope immediately threw her bag onto the sofa.

Asher copied her one second later.

Hope raised both hands excitedly.

"Big broo. We are home."

Asher narrowed his eyes suspiciously while looking at Miles sitting comfortably beside June.

"Big broo... you look very excited today."

Then his eyes sparkled.

"Are you going somewhere to eat something yummy?"

June immediately laughed softly hearing that.

Miles leaned back against the couch with a smile.

"How did you even come to that conclusion?"

Asher proudly crossed his arms.

"Because whenever adults smile like that, food is involved."

Hope nodded seriously.

"He is right."

June chuckled again.

Hope then noticed the tablet and files beside June.

"Big sister June... are you doing homework?"

Asher instantly corrected her proudly.

"That is called work from home."

Hope puffed her cheeks.

"I know that."

Then Asher suddenly touched his stomach dramatically.

"I am hungry."

He looked around the villa.

"Where’s mama?"

Miles answered calmly.

"Mom and father are at the restaurant."

Hope blinked.

"Mom said she won’t be going today"

Miles nodded.

"Someone booked the entire venue today. It is going to be very busy there."

June added gently.

"The kitchen staff is probably preparing food right now."

Miles suddenly looked thoughtful.

"Hmm."

Then he smiled slightly.

"How about we order takeout for lunch?"

Asher’s eyes instantly lit up like stars.

Hope jumped happily.

"Yes."

"Yes."

Miles pointed toward the kitchen.

"Then go politely request the staff not to cook too much food."

Hope saluted dramatically.

"Okie dokie."

The twins immediately rushed toward the kitchen at full speed.

Their excited voices echoed through the hallway.

June watched them disappear with a warm smile.

"They are cute as always."

Miles quietly smiled while listening to their voices in the distance.

Then he looked toward June.

"So."

"What do you want to eat for lunch?"

...

Vespera City.

Inside a luxurious penthouse suite overlooking the city skyline, Aveline Chevalier calmly sat near a long dining table while elegant music played softly in the background.

The table was filled with expensive dishes prepared by private chefs.

But despite the luxurious atmosphere, the woman herself looked irritated.

Her assistant quickly entered the room carrying a tablet and several documents.

Aveline slowly wiped her lips with a napkin before speaking.

"Tell me."

"What did you find?"

The assistant carefully stepped closer.

"Miss... I think Miles Sterling knows about the drug."

Aveline slowly leaned back in her chair.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Continue."

The assistant took a breath.

"From what I found, Kyle Sterling had been missing for months."

"And Jax Mordecai came to Star Harbor specifically to get his nephew back."

"But he was working together with Rehman Nawwar."

"That cannot be a coincidence."

Aveline silently listened.

The assistant continued carefully.

"And since the entire world already knows Miles Sterling played a major role in stopping the attack..."

"...it means Miles was directly involved in everything surrounding Kyle."

"Corbin Mordecai also confirmed that Jax was captured for espionage."

"Kyle is dead."

"The laboratory burned down."

"So if anyone still knows the formula..."

The assistant looked directly toward her.

"It should be Miles Sterling."

Aveline slowly placed her fork down.

The sound echoed lightly across the quiet room.

"So..."

"What exactly do we have on Miles Sterling?"

The assistant immediately opened the files.

"Miles Sterling."

"Son of Edward Sterling."

"Edward Sterling died in a conspiracy case decades ago."

"Then Miles disappeared for years."

"After that... he suddenly reappeared."

"He now owns Sterling Enterprises."

Aveline listened quietly.

The assistant frowned slightly.

"But apart from public business information... there is almost nothing else available."

"His current family details are hidden."

"His face does not exist inside any accessible government database."

Aveline’s expression finally shifted.

"Not available?"

"Isn’t he a Haven citizen?"

The assistant nodded nervously.

"He is."

"But it feels more like someone intentionally locked his identity away."

"The person I contacted for deeper access suddenly disappeared this morning."

Aveline’s fingers slowly tapped the table.

The assistant lowered his voice.

"I think someone powerful is protecting him."

Aveline slowly pushed her plate aside.

Her lips curved faintly.

"Interesting..."

She stood up and walked toward the massive glass window overlooking the city lights.

"Why would someone go this far to hide a single man’s identity..."

Her reflection appeared cold against the glass.

Then a small smile appeared on her face.

"Looks like..."

"We have to step into Star Harbor ourselves."